Every year, DC and Marvel release a adventure-filled, action packed superhero movie that audiences flock to see, and every year I am left confused as to why people still see them. Sure, I see them just like everyone else does (and maybe that makes me part of the "sheeple") but I've never understood why I do. I mean, they all have the same story arch, have a few classic rock songs for the music nerds, some explosions, a traumatic death or event that inspires a main character to seek revenge, good defeats evil, and voila! The movie ends and we sit through 20 minutes of random computer generation animator's names until we get to see a one minute clip that foreshadows the NEXT film which will be more of the same. Whoopee.
Maybe we all see it because everyone we know sees it. Sure, there are a few comic nerds out there that feel some sort of nostalgia for watching their favorite characters come to life, but for the rest of us, its just another 2 hours that we spend watching a movie (and if its a reboot like Batman or Spider-Man, we're basically re-watching a film/plot we've already seen before, which is even more pointless.)
We have such a cult-like mindset when it comes to these movies, and its completely ridiculous. Maybe I have a superiority complex with films (well, not maybe; definitely.) Maybe I just think that a film with riveting character development, a well-written script, above average acting and a unique plot arch is more interesting than watching a 10 minute fight scene where people throw each other into buildings and fight bad guys. Some may argue that there is good character development in super hero films, or films that take the superhero story and interpret it differently (Deadpool) and I would completely agree. However, for the majority of superhero movies being released, its good guy fights bad guy and good guy wins (until next time when we make another billion dollar movie that's 90% CG and you give us 10$ bucks for it.)
I'm sick of the same archetypes over and over, and I'm craving depth. I want more genuine emotion. I want more female and POC leads (which, thankfully with Wonder Woman and Black Panther we'll finally get). I want more suspense and twists and turns.
If I have to see one more dark and brooding jar of mayonnaise fight a supervillain again, I'm gonna lose it.
I encourage people to seriously ask themselves before they see the newest superhero movie, "do I really enjoy this? Am I watching this only because everyone else is watching it?" Or, after watching a superhero film, ask yourself, "Did I enjoy that? Do I want to watch the sequel? Was I emotionally invested in the plot?" If the answer to all of those is no, I would reconsider my movie choices. If the answer is yes, keep doing you're thing. After all, I'm just a dumb teenager rambling about a genre that basically the entire world loves, so who am I to say anything?
Watch what you want, love what you watch, and go against the status quo (and Hollywood, not EVERY superhero movie deserves a sequel. At least you got the hint with Green Lantern, though.)
