Written by Cayce Bower
Superhero movies have gone through many changes over the decades, and I would like to say they have gotten better overall, but they have changed. One common characteristic of a superhero movie is the strong, heroic, law-abiding, morally right, good-natured man or woman that stands on the side of justice, and saves the day by the end of the film (and hopefully by the time you finish your popcorn). In these movies, movies like Superman (Richard Donner, 1978), where Superman flies in faster than a speeding bullet and has to make the right choices for the good of all. There was violence, but I believe it is fair to say that superhero movies back in the day had less violence overall…or at least less graphic violence.
Anymore, the “good” superhero has become less popular in these films. Audiences today want to see superheroes that appear to be more human, flawed, having a darker side to them. People became introduced to Batman (Tim Burton, 1989), which was a huge success, appealing to the audience's desires for a “hero” who is willing to step way outside of the law, and maybe even abandon morals to accomplish their tasks. They also watched perhaps an even darker movie when they saw Blade (Stephen Norrington, 1998), the trench coat-wearing half-man, half-vampire. These movies created less of a calling for those superheroes like Superman, who decides that he will not kill. Audiences want to see someone like Wolverine, who very often does not think twice about slashing a foe with his adamantium-claws, or Rorschach, who is completely fine with using unconventional methods to get things done in the movie Watchmen (Zack Snyder, 2009). These "antiheroes" are becoming more and more popular as time goes on, and superhero movies are being made.
Recently, a trailer for the movie Deadpool (Tim Miller, 2016) has been released, and it has been advertised as a movie with an R-rating, and rightly so. Any hardcore Marvel fan can tell you that Deadpool is not really someone to have as a role model. As one can see from watching the trailer, the film will contain copious amounts of blood, guts, killing, swearing, and other elements that 20th century audiences would have been shocked to see…and much of it will come from the main character himself.
Antiheroes are generally people who have had a rough past, and "have a sense of not belonging" (Explore Science Fiction Movies). They're also usually really resourceful as well as dangerous, and, as previously indicated, they're willing to do things that a hero would not do. Maybe that is why audiences are connecting with them, which increases the antihero's popularity.
Sources:
"Anti-heroes in Science Fiction Movies." Explore Science Fiction Movies. Web. 22 Sept. 2015.
"Blade." IMDb. IMDb.com. Web. 6 Oct. 2015.
"Deadpool." IMDb. IMDb.com. Web. 22 Sept. 2015.
"Superman." IMDb. IMDb.com. Web. 6 Oct. 2015.
Superhero movies have gone through many changes over the decades, and I would like to say they have gotten better overall, but they have changed. One common characteristic of a superhero movie is the strong, heroic, law-abiding, morally right, good-natured man or woman that stands on the side of justice, and saves the day by the end of the film (and hopefully by the time you finish your popcorn). In these movies, movies like Superman (Richard Donner, 1978), where Superman flies in faster than a speeding bullet and has to make the right choices for the good of all. There was violence, but I believe it is fair to say that superhero movies back in the day had less violence overall…or at least less graphic violence.
Anymore, the “good” superhero has become less popular in these films. Audiences today want to see superheroes that appear to be more human, flawed, having a darker side to them. People became introduced to Batman (Tim Burton, 1989), which was a huge success, appealing to the audience's desires for a “hero” who is willing to step way outside of the law, and maybe even abandon morals to accomplish their tasks. They also watched perhaps an even darker movie when they saw Blade (Stephen Norrington, 1998), the trench coat-wearing half-man, half-vampire. These movies created less of a calling for those superheroes like Superman, who decides that he will not kill. Audiences want to see someone like Wolverine, who very often does not think twice about slashing a foe with his adamantium-claws, or Rorschach, who is completely fine with using unconventional methods to get things done in the movie Watchmen (Zack Snyder, 2009). These "antiheroes" are becoming more and more popular as time goes on, and superhero movies are being made.
Recently, a trailer for the movie Deadpool (Tim Miller, 2016) has been released, and it has been advertised as a movie with an R-rating, and rightly so. Any hardcore Marvel fan can tell you that Deadpool is not really someone to have as a role model. As one can see from watching the trailer, the film will contain copious amounts of blood, guts, killing, swearing, and other elements that 20th century audiences would have been shocked to see…and much of it will come from the main character himself.
Antiheroes are generally people who have had a rough past, and "have a sense of not belonging" (Explore Science Fiction Movies). They're also usually really resourceful as well as dangerous, and, as previously indicated, they're willing to do things that a hero would not do. Maybe that is why audiences are connecting with them, which increases the antihero's popularity.
Sources:
"Anti-heroes in Science Fiction Movies." Explore Science Fiction Movies. Web. 22 Sept. 2015.
"Blade." IMDb. IMDb.com. Web. 6 Oct. 2015.
"Deadpool." IMDb. IMDb.com. Web. 22 Sept. 2015.
"Superman." IMDb. IMDb.com. Web. 6 Oct. 2015.
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