Why do Superhero Movies Appeal to You?
Why do Superhero Movies Appeal to You?
There’s a lot to like when it comes to superhero movies, there’s action, drama, there can be comedy, horror, suspense, fantasy, any number of genres. But when it comes right down to it, can you specifically narrow down what it is about these larger than life figures that creates that appeal that makes you keep watching them year after year? And if there’s something about them that you don’t like, what do you think that is? Even when it comes to a movie that’s not universally loved, like the recent Iron Man 3, it can pull in some major money. Several of the biggest box office draws in the past ten years have been superhero movies. Is it the escapism? The wish fulfillment of a hero that is able to save at least a part of the world from problems bigger than the ones we face in real life? Is it merely the spectacle of watching two or more beings with amazing powers have a larger than life fight on the big screen? Or could part of it be the personal commitment to that it takes to make the sacrifices that every superhero has to make at one point or another and wonder if you could ever find the same strength within yourself? Along those same lines, is it about seeing a role model, something that you could aspire to be in your wildest dreams, if you happened to be a billionaire or got hit with the right combination of radioactivity that didn’t just give you cancer? Let’s hear what you have to say. Leave a comment and share your thoughts.
Posted on May 22, 2013, in Blogs and tagged discussion, movies, Superhero. Bookmark the permalink. 24 Comments.
Flights, Tights, and Movie Nights 
I’ll be back to comment tomorrow (I hope) – I like these movies because they remind me of my childhood but I am off to walk the dogs and have some supper and then some bed and everything – nice post!
Thanks, I do try to come up with good discussion topics inbetween the superhero movie reviews.
I think a portion of why I do will come out in my post tomorrow, bw.
I’ll be sure to stop by, I don’t get around to your site often enough.
Pure escapism, plus am giant nerd!
Hey, non-nerds love superhero movies too!
Not to the extent I do 😀
I love any superhero/fantasy story because in some way I think they exaggerate the best of us. I love the stories because they take everyday life and make it bigger. What you lose is bigger, what you sacrifice is bigger and what you gain is bigger. They make me want to be better than I am. And, like all fairy tales, they remind us that the dragons can be defeated. 🙂 I love superhero movies and fantasy stories cause they are an exaggerated, epic reminder to keep fighting for what is right, good and weaker than you. 🙂
That’s a great way of looking at it, thanks for commenting, I appreciate it!
🙂
Great words,
Thanks
The escapism is a large part of it, and so is the spectacle. It’s just plain fun to watch things that can’t happen in real life.
The spectacle makes me wish I could make it to theaters more often.
Same here. There are a lot of films, not just superhero ones, that I would prefer to watch in the theatre if I could afford it.
The appeal of superhero movies is seeing heroes use their powers for good, without any personal attachment to the situation. But it’s something we don’t see too much of these days. I’d like to see more of that really.
Yeah, nowadays most of the superhero villains have some sort of personal vendetta against the hero, instead of just some overarching nefarious plan.
I think it was Tim Burton’s Batman that started the trend of villains having some personal connection to the hero, be it their origin story, or something else. They all seem to do it now.
They’re so much fun! When they’re good they turn me into the kid I used to be, reading comics and geeking out on all the crazy powers. But I also appreciate the low-budget ones too, as they are their own brand of fun.
I love the nostalgia of some superhero movies. It can be so great sometimes.
I think it’s just the fun of watching people with powers duke it out. I always love it when action scenes go over the top with some outrageous crap that could never actually happen, and there’s nothing that can do more of that than superheroes.
Although I did hear that Fast and Furious 6 did some of that kind of stuff, only with cars instead of superpowers. I’m really hoping that Man of Steel is going to have at least one epic fight scene. Superman vs. Zod with Zack Snyder at the helm = outrageous crap?
Hi, Bubbawheat:
Nice looking digs!
I’ve been a DC ‘Batman’ fan since I was a kid in the 1960s. With ‘Superman’ pulling up behind ‘Blackhawk’ and Joe Kubert’s superb ‘Sgt. Rock of Easy Company’.
There’s something about a guy or woman going up against the odds and usually coming out on top. Which was writ large with a team of allied WWII mercenary pilots and Sgt. Rock. Though even more so with ‘Batman’. Which may explain my fascination with Don Pendleton’s Mack Bolan, ‘The Executioner’ paperback series from its start in the 1970s. And Stan Lee’s attempt or homage to Bolan with Frank Castle, ‘The Punisher’.
It’s interesting that you mention The Executioner, that’s a series that Thomas Jane also mentioned when I got the chance to talk to him about his Punisher short. Thanks for stopping by!
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