Stream-of-consciousness thoughts about X-MEN: FIRST CLASS, & superhero movie fans/critics in general

[thehefner]

For a movie that's getting so much praise as to be called "second only to The Dark Knight", X-Men: First Class was far more dumb, annoying, and frustrating than I was expecting. Oh, make no mistake, there's a lot that is excellent about it too. Pretty much everything with Magneto. Unsurprisingly. I mean, duh. But until I can do a full, spoiler-riddled review for discussion with others who've seen it, all I can say is that so much of it is stupider than I think most critics seem to be talking about.

I'm reminded of how some people called Thor and Iron Man "dumb action movies," even when they meant that as praise, whereas the stupid in X-M:FC far out-stupids those films. Hell, I'm further reminded of how people dismissed Iron Man's status as a great film opposite The Dark Knight, which was clearly the better superhero film for no other reason than because it was so dark and serious. I'm getting seriously sick of people, especially comic fans, equating "fun" with "stupid." I guess even geeks are guilty of the Oscar mentality that a comedy or action/drama with comedic elements can't be a Capital-G "Great" Movie.

Tangent: But it goes more deeply than that as far as geeks are concerned. Some time back, I read an essay that posited a theory that many geeks are deeply insecure about their passions, mainly after years of being told that the things they love are juvenile, only for kids, and that they need to grow out of it. To compensate, they want their superheroes and their cartoon adaptations to be dark, gritty, SERIOUS, so that they can feel like they're enjoying "adult" entertainment. Thus, we get a tone-deaf, blindly stupid Transformers film, which somehow removes all sense of enjoyment out of a huge-budget film about giant robots hitting each other.

Second tangent: Thor was also, coincidentally, called "The next Dark Knight by io9.com. Not only has this proved not to be the resounding case with movie or comic fans alike, but it's also an obnoxious reminder of how TDK remains flawless in the general esteem of fans and critics. When's the last time any of them have seen it on a TV screen, where the problems with that film are so much more evident? Seriously, if somebody really wants to earn my respect and interest in a superhero film they're espousing, call it "the next Batman: Mask of the Phantasm instead.

Comments

[pokeyburro.livejournal.com]

Given the above, how did you feel about the G.I.Joe movie? (This feels like something that should be knowable with a search, but I don't see it in your tags, and Google can't reach that far.)

[thehefner.livejournal.com]

From the first twenty minutes we watched before we gave up, I found it ridiculously stupid, but at least entertainingly so for a little while before it became stupid in a mediocre and boring way. The G.I. Joe comics showed that there's actually great potential for those characters, but the movie seemed more interested in being a modern take on the TV show.

[mellifluous-ink.livejournal.com]

Was there a tag at the end with advice? Because seriously, I think that would redeem the movie for me no matter how stupid. XD

[thehefner.livejournal.com]

I would sit through the whole thing if there were. As it was, I think we got a "now you know" line-drop, and that was it.

[pokeyburro.livejournal.com]

That's too bad. That's also quite understandable. I'm trying to remember where I heard this: "Of all the movies each actor thought he was in, I liked the movie Joseph Gordon Levitt thought he was in the best." There's truth in that. JGL's vision might have been the one you'd like, too.

Transformers is dumb because it can't even do gritty seriousness correctly, IMO. At least TDK did it right.

So, let's see... fun, smart comic-book-y movie... Well, you didn't like Scott Pilgrim... don't remember how you felt about Kick Ass... or Wanted... would R.E.D. count?

[harper-knight.livejournal.com]

Did you get up to the bit with the power armor? That scene is worth watching even if nothing else is. I mean.. it has power armor.

[thehefner.livejournal.com]

We stopped right around the Brendan Frasier cameo, so no, I don't think so.

[surrealname.livejournal.com]

i will tell you right now that the opening to the original cartoon g.i. joe movie from the 80s is, like, 7 of the most intense fucking minutes you will ever experience. it's... shockingly violent is the only way i can put it.

[fifthie.livejournal.com]

Getting out of this movie at any point before the sinking ice is objectively a victory.

Yes you heard me, sinking ice.

[thehefner.livejournal.com]

... Wait... ice actually sinks in this film? It defies reality that much?

By the way, I'm honestly delighted to see you comment here. Your comments at Box's LJ and especially scans_daily are consistently smart and entertaining.