The Trend: Realistic, grittier reboots and reimaginings. After the disastrous Batman and Robin practically sounded the death-knell for the franchise in 1997, Christopher Nolan picked up the reins and delivered one of the best superhero movies ever made, one that is now frequently cited as a direct inspiration by countless movies that roll off the Hollywood production line. Bruce Wayne's transformation into the Caped Crusader is one of the most well-known origin stories in popular culture, but this was the first time it had unfolded onscreen and it is to Nolan's credit that the audience remains engrossed in the story despite it taking an hour for Batman to show up in costume. About as far away from the high camp of Joel Schumacher's movies as it is possible to get, Batman Begins is an altogether darker, more cerebral take on the Dark Knight. As well as being a critical and commercial success, it also inadvertently became one of the most influential movies of the decade. There are countless movies that have named Nolan's origin story as an influence in taking an established property and updating it for a modern audience; Casino Royale, Terminator Salvation and next year's Terminator: Genesis, Star Trek, Sherlock Holmes, Rise of the Planet of the Apes, the G.I. Joe franchise and the upcoming Robocop and Godzilla, to name but a few.
I don't do social media, so like or follow me in person but please maintain a safe distance or the authorities will be notified. Don't snap me though, I'll probably break. I was once labelled a misogynist on this very site in a twenty paragraph-long rant for daring to speak ill of the Twilight franchise. I stand by what I said, it's crap.
