By Matthew Jackson
So, tomorrow, “X-Men Origins: Wolverine” will drop in theaters everywhere. Men will flock to theaters for the explosions and the stunts, women will flock to theaters to admire Hugh Jackman’s terrifyingly toned physique, and nerds the world over will hit the Internet and nitpick the flick to death because, well, that’s what we do.
It’s fitting that the flick is hitting on May 1, because this is the movie that will kick the summer season into high gear. Once the claws come out, strap in and hold on, because this ride doesn’t slow down until August. Sadly, in a summer filled with event films, “Wolverine” is the only major one based on a superhero, the tragic consequence of the cyclical nature of franchise films. Last summer brought us three knockouts: “The Dark Knight,” “Iron Man” and “The Hulk.” We got spoiled, so this year we have to settle for one short week of superhero bliss before “Star Trek” comes along and beams us up into space opera mode. But it doesn’t have to be that way, folks. You can head to the shelves of your local video store and relive the glories of superhero flicks past, even if you’re tired of last year’s fare already.
So, if you’re planning on waiting out the “Wolverine” crowd, and you’ve already seen “The Dark Knight” 18 times, here’s a few blasts from our comic book past to check out in the coming weeks.
Superman (1978)
The original superhero blockbuster, director Richard Donner just flat out knocked this flick out of the park. Don’t believe me? Dig this: “Superman” was the first movie of its kind, the first time anyone thought to put millions of dollars at stake on a comic book hero. I don’t know if you’ve ever read a comic book, particularly a comic book written before 1985, but comic books are, let’s face it, just a little bit on the corny side. Donner and company somehow managed to pay tribute to the melodrama of the colorful pages and at the same time transcended them, revealing the true power of stories that comic book fans believed in from day one. That, plus Marlon Brando, Christopher Reeve, Margot Kidder and Gene Hackman at his zany best, makes a classic that I never get tired of.
Batman Returns (1992)
I’ve never really understood the people who pick on this sequel to 1989’s “Batman.” Some said it was too dark, others said not dark enough, and comic book purists were once again furious at Tim Burton’s take on their beloved characters, particularly The Penguin. But you know what? Watch this movie and tell me if you’re not haunted by Burton’s spellbinding combo of set design, cinematography and Danny Elfman’s whimsically creepy score (and the fact that he set it at Christmas time didn’t hurt either). Add in Michael Keaton’s brilliance (he’s still the best Batman), Danny DeVito’s odd blend of malevolent and strangely adorable, and Christopher Walken’s freaky hair, and I don’t see any reason to complain.
The Crow (1994)
Unless you’re really a die hard comics fan (or are in the habit of watching TBS really late at night), you might not have heard of this one, but trust me, it’s well worth hunting down. In the 1980s a mechanic in Detroit named James O’Barr started drawing a comic book to deal with the death of his fiancé. A few years later director Alex Proyas and star Brandon Lee (son of the great Bruce Lee), brought O’Barr’s dark vision to the big screen. The Crow is the story of a dead man, Eric (Lee) who comes back from the grave one year after his murder to take revenge on the thugs who raped and tortured his fiancé and threw him from a window. It sounds creepy, but oddly enough, it’s a love story. The film’s mood is satisfyingly gothic, thanks in part to Proyas’ extensive use of miniatures and Lee’s spectacular face paint (still one of the most popular Halloween costumes on earth). In his final role (he died in a firearms accident on set), Lee sculpts a moving performance, pushing himself to every possible limit, with help from Ernie Hudson as an in-over-his-head cop and the great Michael Wincott as the gravely voiced villain Top Dollar. It’s the one comic movie that ever made me cry.
Hellboy (2004)
Before he was known as “The Visionary Director of ‘Pan’s Labyrinth,’” Guillermo del Toro proved his virtuosity with this gem of a superhero flick. Adapted from Mike Mignola’s Dark Horse Comics series, “Hellboy” is the story of a demon, raised from the underworld by Nazis, who now fights monsters for the U.S. government. Now 60 years old (but with the attitude of a teenager), Hellboy (Ron Pearlman) divides his time between shooting creepy things with a giant revolver, caring for his dozens of cats, and pining for Liz Sherman (Selma Blair) a pyrokinetic co-worker. I can’t speak for everyone else, but this movie has everything I love: big guns, monsters, demons, Rasputin, Nazis, giant piles of pancakes, eccentric professor, and lots of kittens. What’s not to love?
Spider-Man 2 (2004)
Long before he was the guru of the Spider-Man franchise, director Sam Raimi was doing incredible things with cheap cameras and no money. So, if you give him really expensive cameras and boatloads of money, he gives you the lighting fast, high flying thrill ride that is “Spider-Man 2.” Much like the original “Star Wars” trilogy, the second is the best for the webslinger franchise. The first was too plotted and the third was too … well, anytime you get Tobey Maguire dancing in the streets like a moron, you’re bound to turn me off. This one, though, this one was just right, largely (for my money, anyway) due to the understated villainy of Alfred Molina as Dr. Octopus. Of course, the gigantic budget and super awesome camerawork didn’t hurt either.
So there you have it. Forget the crowds. Pop your own corn, stay in, and watch superhero greatness from the comfort of your own couch.
