2023 SUPERHERO CINEMA
2023 SUPERHERO CINEMA
Superhero movies have been dominating the box office for over a decade with their cinematic universes of heroes and villains. But lately, many fans have been losing interest due to noticeable declines in storytelling and/or overall quality. Expectations were high with installments such as Marvel’s Multiverse of Madness & Quantumania, but audiences generally seemed underwhelmed by both. DC’s Shazam: Fury of the Gods came and went without many people even noticing. Then a winning streak happened with three onsecutive comicbook movies that dropped halfway through 2023. Due to the notably better storytelling within them, it seems that audiences are once again anticipating superhero cinema with enthusiasm. Here’s a look at those films along with a brief explanation of what makes them stand out from some of the others.
GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY: VOLUME 3
The first movie on our list of outstanding 2023 superhero cinema is Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, a Marvel masterpiece directed by James Gunn. Unlike the previous Marvel film Quantumania, this movie is the perfect blend of action, comedy, flawless CGI, and heart. It also comes with a memorable soundtrack of classic rock songs that span a few decades. The characters are all given an adequate amount of screen time; no easy feat given it’s large ensemble.
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 stands out from some of the other recent Marvel films that dropped during their Phase 4. It doesn’t feel so formulaic, while also staying true to these characters we’ve grown to love. The movie does not take itself too seriously, but still delivers an exciting and emotional story. You could say that it feels far more balanced than it’s recent predecessors. We’re introduced to new and interesting threats, including the long overdo Adam Warlock.
THE HIGHLIGHTS
One of the many highlights of this movie is the incredible performance by Chukwudi Iwuji as The High Evolutionary, the film’s main antagonist who wants to create the perfect race by experimenting on different species. This mad scientist with a god complex is ruthless and charismatic, posing a serious threat to the Guardians, and countless other beings he creates. He also has a personal link to Rocket, which adds a large dose of drama and suspense to the plot.
Another highlight is the emotional story surrounding Rocket, still voiced by Bradley Cooper, which deep dives into his origin. Rocket has always been a sarcastic and cynical character who hides his pain behind jokes and insults. In this movie, he finally confronts his past as a genetically modified raccoon who was tortured and experimented on. He also finds love and acceptance in Lylla (voiced by Linda Cardellini), a fellow animal hybrid (otter) who becomes his soulmate.
The film’s humor is some of Marvel’s sharpest yet. There’s a scene in which Mantis uses her psychic powers to make their adversaries do such ridiculous things that the theatre audience around me lost it. You’ll laugh aloud at these absurd situations, the witty dialogue, and astute references. The film also strikes a balance between it’s humorous moments and its tear-jerking ones, seamlessly blending comedy and drama. It’s action sequences in the film are shot with precision and rank among the best we’ve seen in the MCU. This third and possibly final chapter is just as good as anything from the highly regarded Phase 1 of the MCU.
ACROSS THE SPIDER-VERSE
The second movie on the list is Across the Spider-Verse, directed by Joaquim Dos Santos, Kemp Powers, and Justin K. Thompson. This movie is a sequel to Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (2018), which won an Oscar for Best Animated Feature. In this film, Miles Morales/Spider-Man continues with his multiversal story arc. To combat a fresh new villain who calls himself the Spot, who jeopardizes the multiverse, he once again joins forces with Gwen Stacy. This adventure lands him in another world where we meet an endless array of Spider-Men…women…and even a Spider-Rex. He and a new group of Spider-People from different universes team-up before he ends up clashing with the leader of this Spider-army Miguel O’Hara.
Across the Spider-Verse is an absolute marvel of animation and storytelling. It utilizes a distinctive aesthetic that combines hand-drawn animation, CGI, and comic book elements. Additionally, it addresses the idea of parallel universes and alternative realities in a plot that is intricate and engaging. Characters who reflect various cultures, backgrounds, and personalities are diverse and lively in this tale. It’s packed with sentiment, wit, action, and suspense.
THE HIGHLIGHTS
The stunning visuals in this film, which display various aesthetics for each universe the characters explore, are among it’s highlights. One universe may draw inspiration from anime, another from noir movies, another from video games, etc. Every universe has its own set of laws and logic, and these dictate how the characters relate to it.
The intricate storytelling, which connects numerous storyline lines and character arcs across various timelines and realms, is another strength. Issues such as identity, accountability, free will, destiny, family, friendship, love, loss, sacrifice, and heroism, among others are woven into the plot. The film also pays tribute to many Spider-Man comics and films that had an influence on it’s development.
The character of Gwen Stacy, better known as Spider-Woman or Spider-Gwen, voiced by Hailee Steinfeld, has been given greater complexity. She is a strong, self-reliant heroine with her own challenges and goals. She also has a problematic relationship with Miles and a complicated one with her father as well. She meets Miguel O’Hara (voiced by Oscar Isaac), also known as Spider-Man 2099, who develops into a complex opponent for both her and Miles. Miguel is a forward-thinking Spider-Man who, even if it means harming or killing other Spider-People, wants to save the multiverse from collapsing.
Across the Spider-Verse is a groundbreaking and innovative movie that pushes the boundaries of animation and superhero genre. Seeing it on the big screen is a must!
THE FLASH
The third movie on the list of quality superhero cinema this year is The Flash, directed by Andy Muschietti and starring the highly controversial Ezra Miller. In it, Barry Allen/the Flash travels back in time to prevent his mother’s death but causes unintended consequences that alter reality. He finds himself in an alternate universe, in a different time, up against threats that are beyond anything he’s ever faced without the help of the Justice League. Although the it’s currently not performing well, the majoriy of critics and audiences who have seen it agree that it is a good movie.
THE HIGHLIGHTS
The Flash is a big and ambitious picture that examines the concept of time travel and its repercussions. It also pays respect to the history and tradition of DC comics and films by including multiple incarnations of beloved characters like Batman. There’s some fan servicing too, recasting popular actors like Michael Keaton and Michael Shannon as Batman and General Zod, respectively.
The film’s team did their best to salvage what they had after years of rewrites, production halts, and lost money. Indeed there is some wonky CGI in a few scenes, but alas they managed to tell us a compelling story. On a budget that was most likely running dry, they manage to represent the complex idea of Speed Force rather well.
Sasha Calle‘s performance as Supergirl, who substitutes Superman in this timeline, is one of the movie’s stengths. She comes into the movie late, but quickly becomes an ally to Barry & friends. Her scenes are a lot of fun, and she has a personal relationship to Zod, who in a twist, has come to Earth looking for her instead of Superman.
Michael Keaton’s cameo as an elder Batman from a parallel timeline, who serves as Barry’s mentor and friend, is probably the thing moviegoers are loving most about this film. In the 1989 and 1992 Batman movies, he exhibited the charm and charisma that made him iconic. Along with adding humor and depth to the plot, he and Miller actually have great chemistry. And you can’t deny how amazing it is hearing that classic Danny Elfman theme song when Batman leaps into action. Regardless of the box office numbers, The Flash is an entertaining experience that throws some interesting surprises at viewers.
CONCLUSION
The acclaim that these three recent superhero films are receiving from viewers is well-deserved. Although their tones and styles vary, they all have one thing in common: they are all good examples of what fans had been missing. Their reviews have all been incredibly favorable. Now let’s hope that both Marvel and DC keep this trend going and maybe we’ll see those numbers start to go back up as well.
