As a cinephile with over four decades of movie-watching experience under my belt, I must say that Tom Hanks’ assessment of superhero movies resonates deeply with me. Having grown up watching the original Superman and Batman films, I can attest to the emotional impact they had on audiences. However, in recent years, it seems as though the genre has lost sight of what made it so special – character development and meaningful storytelling.
Tom Hanks is the most recent big-name actor who has joined the movement against superhero films. Although the comic book movie industry has faced some setbacks in recent years, it remains strong with the Marvel Cinematic Universe staying consistent and the DC Universe getting a new look from James Gunn and Peter Safran. While fans of comic books are happy to see the genre regaining its strength, Hanks and other actors and filmmakers are hoping that the dominance of this genre will eventually come to an end.
In an interview on the Happy Sad Confused podcast with Josh Horowitz, promoting his latest film “Here”, Tom Hanks expressed his discontent towards the continuous reign of superhero movies at the box office. Unlike some other filmmakers and actors who seem to be expressing negative opinions purely for contrast, Hanks admitted that he previously appreciated the genre as it stirred genuine emotions within him. As he put it, “There was a phase, and I think many others felt the same, where we watched DC and MCU films to see improved versions of ourselves.” However, the actor feels that today’s superhero movies have lost their personal touch, with studios focusing more on CGI spectacle rather than character-driven narratives. He further added:
“God, I feel like an X-Men sometime. I am as confused as Spider-Man. I am as angry as Batman is. I love my country as much as Captain America. We’ve been down that road. We’ve had 20 years to explore that kind of thing, and now we’re in an evolution and place where it’s: And the story is what? The theme is what? The point of this movie is what?”
Do You Agree With Tom Hanks’ Assessment of Superhero Movies?
Tom Hanks emphasized his viewpoint by stating that contemporary superhero films are primarily produced to generate revenue, rather than crafting a captivating narrative. In essence, he said, “The industry tends to think if it works once, it’ll work again. However, the audience is always one step ahead. They recognize the repetition and ask, ‘Is there something new here?'” He further explained that the advancements in CGI have significantly influenced the types of movies studios choose to produce. In a humorous tone, he added: “It’s like they’re stuck in a loop, and I can’t help but wonder if they’ve run out of ideas.
“Imagine a scenario where you dream up Lake Michigan, fill it with cuckoo clocks arranged in such a way that they create a three-headed dragon spitting fire, annihilating Chicago. While this is theoretically possible, the question remains: What is the significance and message behind this fantasy? What does it reveal about us?
The internet often takes pleasure in expressing opposing views to grab attention, especially when a popular franchise like Marvel becomes successful. People will argue that it doesn’t belong in “real cinema” or claim it was never any good just for the sake of controversy. Yet, sometimes critics, actors, and audiences bring up valid points about the industry (who would have thought?). In this instance, Tom Hanks’ comments seem to stem from a deep affection for the genre, as shown by his past connections with characters such as Spider-Man. However, given the current state of big blockbuster franchises in the 2020s, Hanks’ remarks echo Martin Scorsese’s famous criticism, which appears increasingly relevant as time passes.
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2024-11-05 17:31