From “Batman” to “The Incredibles”: 10 origin movies of essential superheroes

Big words. Tim Burton’s ‘Batman’ is a clear example of that kind of stainless film capable of keeping the flame of his own talent, courage, fun and fun without time even touching it. The Gotham hero began his film career with one of the most rousing successes of the 1980s, admirably combining commercial triumph with a resounding artistic victory.

Don’t be fooled by Jack Nicholson’s unforgettable Joker: “Batman” is a masterpiece for much more than his villain. is an undeniable classic because each of the elements that compose it shine at the highest levels. A film that alone amplifies the action genre of the 1980s.

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“Wonder Woman” wasn’t a breath of fresh air in the bloated, ubiquitous superhero genre. She was a tornado, a whirlwind, a fascinating display of strength disguised as simplicity. And viceversa. At a time when billboards around the world were already receiving an average of five or six previews of characters from the most popular and recognizable comics in popular history, a vibrant, fun and exciting film like the one created by Patty Jenkins and Gal Gadot , with the same doses of immense responsibility, it could only be received with more than justified enthusiasm.

And it is that we are faced with a proposal that, being essentially another story of origins, manages to be much more. A classic adventure, a spy thriller, a romantic comedy full of charm and chemistry, a spectacular action film and, above all, the discovery and definitive confirmation of a character and an actress. who have come to stay.

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The king of Wakanda managed to agree with both critics and the public and industry. That’s what successful models have, which, beyond its social context and its indisputable extra-cinematic message, works wonderfully both as a potential vehicle for mass entertainment and as a nitroglycerin for expectations. With stunning Ryan Coogler directing at the helm, dazzling action scenes, a very wise cast, especially when it comes to the actresses, an unscrupulous soundtrack and a narrative nerve that has been all but lost in the latest Marvel installments, ‘Black Panther ‘is found, quite easily, among the best that the superhero genre has offered in recent years.

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If we speak in purely visual terms, ‘Dr. Strange (Doctor Strange) ‘, let’s ignore the obvious translation, it’s the best thing that’s ever come out of cinematic Marvel, offering dozens of images in which vertigo follow one another and collective hypnosis never falters. If we analyze the rest of the elements, everything is more than remarkable, from the supposed technical perfection, to the impeccable soundtrack of that genius named Michael Giacchino, passing through a five-star cast in which a Benedict Cumberbatch stands out on his own merits. , whose overbearing presence on the screen ends up transforming a character who could perfectly have fallen into the involuntary parody into a jewel full of charm and personality.

And that same feeling can be adapted to the set, because, in the beginning, ‘Dr. Strange (Doctor Strange) “had many elements that could have made it one of the worst films in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, yet we are faced with one of the studio’s best movies, full of action, fun and entertainment for viewers who subscribe to the genre and those who tend not to do it very often.

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When the echo of the applause and the collective madness aroused by ‘300’ subsided, Zack Snyder doubled down on his bet without leaving the comics. He changed Frank Miller for Alan Moore and ‘Watchmen’ appeared destined to raise eternal controversy between readers who see sacrilege in any movement related to their favorite work and those who live in permanent ecstasy when they see their favorite cartoons transformed. in (large) cinema. The (almost) unanimous opinion that Leonidas’ army has aroused has not been repeated with this team of complex superheroes submerged in the darkness of a society in constant risk of explosion.

Many see it as a masterpiece, the definitive adaptation of a comic to the big screen, the pinnacle of Snyder. Others, on the other hand, have experienced the greatest cinematic disappointment in recent years. And they were both right. Excellent for many minutes of its excessive duration (163 minutes), ridiculous at times, always excessive, ‘Watchmen’ is the particular iceberg of its director. Imposing, dazzling, inspiring.

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When you sit down to watch an M. Night Shyamalan movie, you are always looking for clues that fall along the way, for little bread crumbs that lead you home before he shows you the true path, the brightest destination. ‘The Protégé’, an excellent film that delved into the dramas and insecurities that live in the superhero’s mind long before Christopher Nolan seemed to invent it with his Batman saga, came after the social and cinematic phenomenon of ‘The Sixth Meaning’ as declaration of intent. On this occasion, Shyamalan asked the viewer more, he opted for a much slower and more introspective pace, constantly looking for visual poetry, the grandeur of the simplest things. And I got it. By the way, she once again played the last card with all the wisdom in the world.

Turning that twist into an epilogue, Shyamalan offered the full dimension of his message, revealed the entire game, achieved epicness through a handshake, finally finished drawing his two main characters, and let a emotion that was felt only by the length of the story. What for many, including Shyamalan himself, is the best film in his filmography, has taught that a final twist can be as necessary to the story as a prologue or key event in its development. Surprises aren’t always free. And in this masterpiece it is more than clear. A contemporary classic. One of the best films of the century so far. A universe of his own which, without our intuition, was born in the most exceptional way possible.

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The wonderful homage to our local superheroes with which Brad Bird dazzled the world in 2004, ‘The Incredibles’, was above all a love letter to the genre that, given everything that came after, was a real turning point, the real beginning of a flurry of characters. endowed with superpowers that clearly marked the last decade of cinema.

That’s why it’s curious to see how the story Bird wrote continues to remain in full force as one of those peaks that many films on the same theme try to approach with mixed results. A much more present influence than it might seem from the hand of a masterpiece of entertainment, a first-rate visual and narrative stunt.

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The genius shown by the always interesting Sam Raimi in his film adaptations of Spider-Man, especially in a ‘Spider-Man 2’ that remains one of the undisputed peaks of the genre, had already had a wonderful predecessor called ‘Darkman’. Starring Liam Neeson and Frances McDormand, both geniuses, this love letter to superhero movies found the best of its virtues in the passionate and exciting camera of a director obsessed with always playing to the max, putting all the visual meat on a skewer. in a permanent state of boiling.

What remains, in short, is the entertainment that does not offer seconds to breathe, managing to avoid the risk of yawning through continuous movement, unstoppable energy, constant entertainment and the state of total inspiration of a Raimi who undoubtedly delivers here one of his most memorable works. Long live the “Dark Man”.

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Superman, one of the main characters of the DC publishing house, was also one of the most brutal turning points the genre experienced four decades ago, when Richard Donner released a “Superman” that still remains today. one of the best and most iconic superhero movies ever.

Of course, times have changed and that innocent and colorful universe that was presented to us in the late 1970s was influenced (too much?) By the spirit of its partner Batman and ended up turning into darkness and solemn drama. A miscalculation that some have celebrated as a courageous and necessary change of substance and form, but which meant something akin to betrayal for the hero’s many fans from Krypton. In any case, we will always have to return to this entertainment gem starring an unforgettable Christopher Reeve, The best Superman in the history of cinema.

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