8. Naff Love Stories
There's something about the majority of comic book movie love stories that mean they only ever feel "tacked" on, as if the filmmakers needed to pad out the story or fulfil an obligation for romance, and whoever had been tasked with writing the script felt had the least fun writing that part, because, hey, it doesn't involve punching people's heads off of their skulls! What's more, the love stories rarely feel... well, "real." Christopher Nolan arguably crafted the most interesting comic book love story with Bruce Wayne and Rachel Dawes - she wasn't all that interesting, but at least he had the guts to blow her up. Miranda Tate, her "replacement" in The Dark Knight Rises, existed purely as a plot point - we don't believe that Bruce falls for her in that space of time. It's too quick. Spider-Man aside, the Marvel movies are sorely lacking in this department: Thor and Jane? Pah. There's no substance there. Tony Stark and Pepper Potts? More believable, I suppose, but there's no spark. And the romance we witnessed in Man of Steel? Well, Clark and Lois had zero chemistry as far as I could tell: they were together, "just 'cause." Filmmakers need to ensure that they're investing as much effort into the love stories and romantic plots as they are the rest of the movie - when the action scenes get boring and we're sick of watching Thor smash bad guys with his hammer, we're going to want something emotional and invested to work with. But it takes time to develop.