Superhero Movies?

Takuan

lol, random I know, but this is from one of my favorite superman movies.

I really like this clip because Luthor seems to reach a level of enlightenment for a moment, sort of a super powered satori. lol

Do you guys have any favorite superhero movies? I've pretty much loved everything animated that DC/WB has put out recently. Other than the animated movies, I really like "Watchmen", "V for Vendetta", all of the Batman movies (except for "Batman and Robin"), and "Captain America: The First Avenger".

Bunks

Not trying to rain on anyone's parade but I have always thought super hero stuff was for little kids?

Same with Star Wars and those other sci fi films.

Each to their own I guess.

My wife thinks its strange that I like to watch grown men chase a ball around a stadium!

Takuan

Oh we'll have to fix that misconception, my friend! Definitely check out some of the movies I mentioned. They're not all kid stuff.

Superhero's were originally meant for children, but, as those children grew up, they became more adult oriented. This is why the themes change in comics over the decades. I mean, take Batman villains for example. They go from comical characters to freaking psychopaths (i.e. the Joker, who bludgeons Robin to death in one of the comics... with a crowbar). "Batman: The Dark Knight Returns", another example, is definitely not meant for children, too many hookers and cannibal mutants.

karasti

I've always been interested in why so many man like super heroes so much I don't mean that negatively, I just don't get it. Same way my husband doesn't get why I pick up chick flicks just because I know they'll make me cry, lol. I like some of them, but I'm not a big comic book heroes type of person. I just have a hard time getting into them. Spiderman is ok, enjoy the Batman series, don't like avengers or fantastic four or xmen. Just not my thing.

However, I did reply to one of the MN Twins pitcher's tweets at 3am (I blew out my knee yesterday bowling and was up all night. boo. )about LOTR, and he responded back to me, so now he's my favorite player! I hated baseball until I met my husband, so conversion is possible in some areas.

I don't expect my husband will actually ever enjoy watching Legally Blonde, Stick It, Save the Last Dance or any of the things he watches for me, so it works out.

Cinorjer

I quit reading comic books a few years ago, after a lifetime of reading and following the superheros. Yes, they are escapism. So is just about every work of fiction, but each genre has its rules and tropes. Comic books were morality plays. Good always wins in the end, if heros are willing to step up and make the sacrifices necessary. With power comes responsibility. There are lines the good guys don't cross, no matter how necessary it seems, because they are the good guys. That sort of thing. Long before I'd heard of Buddhism, I'd learned that compassion and helping others and sacrifice is the highest virtue from superhero comic books.

I said comic books were morality plays. Not so much anymore. As marketing and business decisions gutted their audience, the companies decided the "hip" readers wanted shock and death and torture and a cynical world we would desperately wish to escape from, not to. The lesson learned now is, you can't trust anyone, and your actions don't really matter in the end, and people are nothing but ants being stomped on by forces far beyond your control. The companies were bought by huge entertainment corporations for the express purpose of mining the stories for characters to put on the movie screen. At least the movies seem to understand the rules of the superhero world. I highly recommend the movies, but the comic book is pretty much now a dead medium. They committed slow suicide.

BhikkhuJayasara

Bunks said:

Not trying to rain on anyone's parade but I have always thought super hero stuff was for little kids?

Same with Star Wars and those other sci fi films.

Each to their own I guess.

My wife thinks its strange that I like to watch grown men chase a ball around a stadium!

I also think it's strange to watch grown men chase a ball around a stadium.. but it's also strange that women like to watch the same boring, repetitive rom coms every week at the movies lol.

now animated shows! thats fun ! Lest we forget that the original cartoons were shown before movies and were watched by adults..

personally I always loved batman for the same reason I love the buddha.. two regular guys who do extraordinary things. I never cared much for the other super heroes pretty much the same way I never cared for gods and such.


oh and as a P.S - as a Libertarian, V for Vendetta has always been up my ally.. although I never read the graphic novels, just the movie.

Takuan

Jayantha said:

Bunks said:

Not trying to rain on anyone's parade but I have always thought super hero stuff was for little kids?

Same with Star Wars and those other sci fi films.

Each to their own I guess.

My wife thinks its strange that I like to watch grown men chase a ball around a stadium!

I also think it's strange to watch grown men chase a ball around a stadium.. but it's also strange that women like to watch the same boring, repetitive rom coms every week at the movies lol.

now animated shows! thats fun ! Lest we forget that the original cartoons were shown before movies and were watched by adults..

personally I always loved batman for the same reason I love the buddha.. two regular guys who do extraordinary things. I never cared much for the other super heroes pretty much the same way I never cared for gods and such.


oh and as a P.S - as a Libertarian, V for Vendetta has always been up my ally.. although I never read the graphic novels, just the movie.

If you like Batman, check out "Superman: Red Son". It's the story of Superman, if he had been raised in the USSR. There's a version of Batman that I can only describe as a cross between normal Batman and V, from "V for Vendetta".

lobster

Griff the Invisible
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1509803

RebeccaS

I haven't seen many superhero movies! Spiderman was awesome, and the old Supermans were cool. The new Batman movies obviously rock, and I have a soft spot for the old ones.

I love the comic books though. I'm definitely a Marvel girl. I started reading them when I was like 20 which is weird, but I totally love them.

how

I am not sure I can think of a superhero film that wasn't also ego candy. Of course, watching my ego snarfing it all down can be a bit of a distraction in a movie..
The closest thing to a superhero who didn't seem like ego bait was the common being who selflessly steps up to the plate to do what was right. Like a hobbit in the Lord of the Rings.