Sin #60: Superhero Movie

We all know how it goes. A kid is stung by a radioactive spider or a scientist is exposed to gamma rays or maybe a rich man with a childhood trauma decides to put on a costume; everybody has a clear idea of the origin of superheroes. In a way their stories are very silly, basic juvenile fantasies about idealism and justice. When relieved of any rationale or psychological depth all they amount to are endless fights between good and evil.

Movies about superheroes resonate when they deal with darker themes. In Christopher Nolan’s “Batman Begins” we meet a man lost in his own guilt and obsession, he then begins his training and finds a way to channel his fears and create a symbol against the criminal underworld. He doesn’t put his mask for purely idealistic purposes, there’s a fetishistic element in his obsession, as if punishing the guilty will bring his soul some kind of redemption (his moral code, however, prevents him from killing). The further consequences of his action lead to dire results in Nolan’s brilliant sequel “The Dark Knight”, where Batman meets an enemy beyond his comprehension. The Joker represents anarchy and chaos, a force of evil meant to corrupt the ordinary and mundane and show the darker side of human nature. At the end of “The Dark Knight” Batman is on the run, becoming a fugitive from the very people he swore to protect.

There’s a movie in theaters right now that has caused some controversy for its depiction of violence and foul language involving minors, that movie is the aptly named “Kick-Ass” which is one of the most enjoyable takes on the superhero genre I’ve seen. “Kick-Ass” doesn’t have the panache of the Nolan films since it doesn’t take itself too seriously but it’s interesting in the way it collides naïve heroism with brutal cold-blooded realism. Yes, “Kick-Ass” is a high school nerd obsessed with comic books but there’s an element of truth to the character and the movie perfectly captures the teen spirit in a globalized internet frenzy media world (in which facebook, twitter, youtube and myspace have become a major aspect in the way we interact with each other).Even though the movie is named after its protagonist, the most memorable character remains Hit-Girl (in a star-making performance by Chloe Grace Moretz); she is a deadly weapon in the disguise of a sweet innocent child. All I’ve got to say about the movie is that it’s a lot of fun. Another recent example that cleverly parodies the genre is “Defendor” starring Woody Harrelson in a story about a mental patient who becomes a masked vigilante. It’s an unconventional film that starts funny but gradually becomes poignant and rather sad(and features yet another terrific performance by Harrelson).

The thing about the superhero narrative arc is that it becomes tiresome after a while; for example, I thoroughly enjoyed the first “Iron Man” in part because it is an economical and ingenious action movie and in part because Robert Downey Jr. remains one of the most charismatic actors in the movies. But the Iron Man sequel didn’t do it for me because it felt like a hollow and unplanned marketing plug. Contrary to “The Dark Knight”, the story didn’t expand its themes and give maturity to its characters. Since superhero movies are pretty common these days (ranging from the heroes of Marvel and DC comics) it’s pretty certain that we’ll see a lot of takes on the genre. Let’s hope at least one or two can shake the monotony.