3. Accept The Comic Book Origins
Without comic books, Hollywood would still be struggling to find a huge money making medium they can adapt. Rarely does a film that doesn't accept its origins work. The Dark Knight Trilogy is one of those instances. Worst Offender: Man of Steel: As well as being too serious, MoS felt ashamed of calling itself a comic book movie. Goyer even stated so, "We're approaching 'Superman' as if it weren't a comic book movie, as if it were real..." At times it tries too hard to be an art house film while at other times it wants to be another Nolan Batman film. As a result, the film is unbalanced and lacks focus. Some argue Superman is a simple superhero to write. He is an inspiring figure with a very strong moral sense of right and wrong. Others argue he is a complex character. He is a god-like being who internally struggles not to wipe out the human race every day. Fans expressed their dislike for a more realistic Superman. MoS's Superman cannot save everyone and continuously struggles to find hope in people. "Why can't Superman be fun?" is what fans asked each other. Christopher Reeve's portrayal is forever etched into the minds of fans. He embodied Clark Kent's clumsiness and modesty as well as the heroism of Superman. His Superman is the most iconic. Goyer's more modern take works for today's setting, but also concurrently removes the essence of the character. Why can't the perfect being work in today's darker superhero films? Why must he be gritty? Best Example: Kick-Ass 2 and Thor: The Dark World: Kick-Ass 2 was a faithful adaptation to its comic book. Of course, the most controversial scenes had to be removed or toned down. The Motherf*cker shooting little kids would stir up some controversy, especially after the Sandy Hook tragedy. Still, the tone and spirit of the comic was captured even without Matthew Vaughn returning. As Colonel Stars and Stripes would say, "Try to have fun. Otherwise, what's the point?" Thor 2, while perhaps not the most faithful to its source material, still understood it was a comic book movie, not an art film on the intricacies of Gods. It's a popcorn blockbuster personified. It's enjoyable, funny, and exciting. Is it the best superhero film ever? No. Is it a good way to waste an hour and 52 minutes? Yes.