If you find yourself feeling bored of every superhero film released since Endgame, you are not alone. The feeling of déjà vu is real, and there’s a reason why all films seem familiar. We try answering the all-important question- Why Super hero Movies Suck?
Why Super Hero Movies Suck? Comic book-based superhero films are supposed to elicit a sense of wonder and awe when you imagine them in your mind. I have often conjured epic battles between the legions of Thanos and the X-Men. For me, a perfect superhero film always has an interesting plot and a sinister villain.
Think Saruman the White from the LOTR series or even Joffrey from Game of Thrones, that tiny little twat of a king we all love to hate. While I understand I take examples from shows or films that had the luxury of time to invest in the backstories of said characters, is it still a lot to ask for if I want a decent enough villain that can bring the superheroes to their knees?
Before I get lynched by an angry mob of DC/Marvel fans, let me clarify. I’m referring to films post the Endgame finale. Although the DC cinematic universe has continued to spiral downwards with Wonder Woman 1984, Justice League, The Flash, and Black Adam, the Marvel films started to show signs of fatigue with the launch of The Eternals, Shang-Chi, and notable disasters such as Black Widow and The Marvels.
“The Making of a Hot Pile of Garbage Superhero Movie.”
What makes a superhero film suck? Surely there must be something the writers were aiming for before it all got lost in the millions of dollars it sucked up. It could be possible that there are already too many films to contend with, and we’re not even talking about lesser-known spin-offs such as Morbius and Madame Web here. To put things into perspective, we have listed a few pointers as to why superhero flicks seem to be boring.
1) Overused Humor Tropes – Superhero films used to be serious and gritty until Robert Downey Jr., aka Tony Stark, infused life into the first Iron Man film in 2007. Armed with sharp wit and a “Hell if I care” attitude, Tony remarkably skyrocketed into our hearts. With subsequent releases over the years, DC and Marvel carved a niche with characters such as Thor, Ant-Man, Guardians of the Galaxy, even Aquaman, all trying their hands at the funny fare.
Does it work all the time? For a while, it sure did. Everyone from Groot to the Hulk to Doctor Strange tried to bring about a fun flavor to the scenes. However, the recent releases such as The Flash (2023), Shazam! Fury of the Gods, and Blue Beetle strangely look alike in their treatment of humor.
2) Uninteresting Villains – Phase four of the MCU begins with Black Widow, followed by Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, Eternals, and Thor: Love and Thunder. So here’s a pop quiz! Quickly recall the villain names in these films. Apart from any die-hard Marvel fans, I am sure many would be hard-pressed to remember the villains or their motives to become one.
In Thor: Love and Thunder, I see Gorr the God Butcher as a wasted opportunity. In the comics, he is a formidable villain; unlike in the film (played by Christian Bale no less), he was a mere caricature of that character and is hardly shown killing any gods and has very little screen presence.
In the DC film Blue Beetle, Carapax is a henchman for Victoria Kord. That itself sort of undermines the fierce villainy of the comic book – Carapax, who is an archaeologist by profession and has stood up to superheroes such as Superman and even the Suicide Squad.
3) Uninspired Story – The thing about a lot of superheroes is that they always have the power of convenience. Superman, for example, could be as strong as one alien General or several gods, depending on the storyline. Now, why would I even be intrigued by such films when I know almost every other story has a god-like superhero? Shazam? Miss Marvel? Heck, even Star-Lord, the seemingly normal Earthling, turned out to be a god’s spawn!
The problem is there are too many films that provide similar content. You start with an origin story, drop in an uninteresting/clichéd villain that deviates from the source material. Throw in some dull humor and plot a story with a big bang-like event in the end. It is the final showdown that almost always kills my joy watching such films. Needless to say, you have Shang-Chi vs. Xu Wenwu showdown, Black Adam vs. Sabbac showdown, Shazam vs. the dragon in Fury of the Gods, and it goes on.
Being a comic book fan since childhood, I do believe that filmmakers need to take note of certain trends that could cause a film to become repetitive. While we have only spoken about the various shortcomings, there seems to be an elusive success formula too. For one, I would point out that not every film needs to end with a massive showdown. It could also be a grudge battle between a hero and a villain, just two angst-laden individuals fighting it out without the cosmic explosions or flying dragons. Hopefully, the remainder of Phase Four, which includes Deadpool and Wolverine, Captain America: Brave New World, and Thunderbolts, will try to break the ennui that is currently afflicting the superhero genre.
Read More
Racing Retro: The Racers Of Sega Genesis
For Fun videos check out our YouTube Channel
