Tom Hanks Says ‘We’ve Had 20 Years’ of Comic Book Spectacle but Now Moviegoers Are Asking: ‘The Story Is What? The Point of This Movie Is What?’

As a seasoned movie critic with decades of film-watching under my belt, I must say Tom Hanks‘ perspective on the current state of comic book movies resonates deeply with me. Having witnessed the evolution of these genres from their humble beginnings to today’s blockbuster spectacles, I can’t help but feel a sense of nostalgia for the simpler times when storytelling was the primary focus.

In a recent episode of the “Happy Sad Confused” podcast, Tom Hanks clarified that he hasn’t met with Kevin Feige about joining the Marvel Cinematic Universe or dined with James Gunn to discuss the new DC Universe. However, Hanks has always been supportive of comic book movies. He’s now observing a shift in audience preferences, as they seem to be gravitating towards more authentic storytelling rather than just VFX-heavy spectacles based on comics.

Hanks mentioned how in the 1970s and ’80s, they attempted to create TV adaptations of Captain America, Spider-Man, and even Batman (like the Adam West version). However, the technology back then wasn’t advanced enough to replicate the visuals from the comics. But nowadays, with modern technology, it is possible to achieve anything. He pointed out that Christopher Reeve’s Superman was one of the closest attempts due to the innovative technology used for wire removal. When we saw him fly, we truly believed a man could fly. It was truly remarkable.

Tom Hanks mused, “Nowadays, we’re basking in wealth of resources for visual storytelling, which has led us to ponder once more about the essence of a good tale. He added, ‘You can imagine a grand spectacle like Lake Michigan filled with cuckoo clocks forming a mythical three-headed dragon that torches Chicago. That’s possible, but why? What is the narrative and what message does it convey about us? Initially, we watched DC and MCU films to find better reflections of ourselves. I often feel like an X-Man, confused as Spider-Man, angry like Batman, loving my country as much as Captain America, yet we’ve been there before. We’ve had two decades to delve into such themes, and now we’re moving towards a new era where it’s: What’s the story here? What’s the theme? What’s the purpose of this film?’

Comic book adaptations have struggled to perform well at the box office lately, with upcoming films such as “Shazam: Fury of the Gods,” “The Flash,” “Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania,” and “The Marvels” all failing to impress. This year has seen similar disappointments with “Madame Web” and “Joker: Folie a Deux.” The latest installment of “Vemon,” “The Last Dance,” opened to its trilogy’s lowest earnings yet. However, Marvel’s “Deadpool & Wolverine” is proving an exception, becoming the second highest-grossing film of 2024 and setting a record as the biggest R-rated release ever with $1.3 billion in revenue. According to Hanks, audiences are no longer solely captivated by visual effects alone; they seek more depth and substance in their films.

The industry frequently argues that if something is successful, it can be repeated. However, the viewers are already one step ahead. They recognize the repetition and respond with, “I’ve seen this before. What’s next?” It’s not just about visually stunning moments. It’s about the story – what does it tell me about myself? Each year seems to bring new ground in terms of self-exploration.

Watch Hanks’ full appearance on the “Happy Sad Confused” podcast in the video below.

2024-11-05 02:17

Tom Hanks Says ‘We’ve Had 20 Years’ of Comic Book Spectacle but Now Moviegoers Are Asking: ‘The Story Is What? The Point of This Movie Is What?’

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