Ever since Christopher Reeve donned Superman's red cape, heroes have been steadily finding their way off the pages of the comic books and onto the big screen. Stars like George Clooney, Nicolas Cage, Robert Downey Jr., Patrick Stewart, Halle Berry, Edward Norton, and Christian Bale have zealously donned the costumes of superheroes. And the likes of Jack Nicholson, Heath Ledger, William Hurt, Jim Carrey, Gene Hackman, Michelle Pfeiffer, and Willem Dafoe have stepped into the evil minds of the evildoing bad guys. We're not talking B-movies here. This is grade A talent!
Millions of dollars are spent on costumes and special effects (to say nothing of the big salaries offered to the stars) in order to convert the cartoon images into lifelike reality. But is it worth the effort? Can these fantastic adventures make the trip from our minds to our theatres?
The answer, I believe, is "sometimes". Movies like "The Dark Knight" are legendary. Heath Ledger delivered one of the most powerful performances I've ever seen with his unique take on The Joker. "Iron Man", "The Incredible Hulk" (the 2008 version) "X Men" (the first two), and "Spider-Man" (all of 'em) did a solid job of creating an entertaining movie that was true to its comic book roots.
For those that failed - and I won't name names - I think the reason is that the directors and producers focused so much on action that they forgot one key element that resonates in every good comic book. The person behind the mask. Viewers, like readers, connect with a character that has depth. We want to understand this individual on a human level before admiring then on a superhuman one. We look for an emotional connection that begins with their "normal" persona. Superman is a character. Clark Kent makes him interesting because of the contrast. Peter Parker is so fallible that when he becomes Spider-Man, you root for the guy behind the mask.
Whether they make us laugh - like Will Smith's "Hancock" or Pee-Wee Herman's "The Spleen" ("Mystery Men") - or cheer, superheroes in the movies need to be as three-dimensional as they are on the pages of our favorite comic books. Moviemakers have to understand that what engages a reader is not just the explosions and battles, but the pages and pages devoted to giving us an in-depth understanding of this person. Many of the great comic books spend more space on the alter-ego than on the exploits of the hero.
If you're out there reading this, movie people, do your homework. Read lots and lots and lots of comic books before you dive into the script. Know what makes the characters likable, the villains despicable, and the stories so riveting that we comic book fans go back to the shelves time and time again. Because if all we want are buildings being destroyed and battles being fought, we'll watch the evening news.
The author is the Admin of Herobits.com at [http://www.herobits.com], where you can read about super heroes and check out the latest hero based card game and accessories. Enjoy the fantastic art of the Herobits kids card game [http://www.herobits.com].
