All of the feels
Movie studios have the indigenous task of giving consumers an experience they will remember. Their main objective is to evoke an emotion. Be it happiness, sadness, anger, empathy or anything pertaining to a human emotion. If a film achieves any of these tasks it sets forth, they have won. Not particularly monetary, but in the communicative sense.
They have reached inside of the viewer’s brain and tapped a thought of something or a feeling of something. This is their criteria when making a film. This is why they hire the director they do or the writer. The end product should be something that moves a person in some way.
Yes, even the ‘Fast and The Furious’ movies evoke some sort of emotion for paying customers. If that’s your bag, then so be it. We, as humans, are all wired in different ways. Some may get emotional over John Rambo’s final scene in First Blood, while others may snicker or not even grasp the pain of the PTSD our beloved hero really suffers from. Maybe you cried when E.T. ‘died’, maybe you didn’t.
How about when the Champ died? Ghost? City of Angels? Close Encounters? Usual Suspects? Rocky? Any of these get the juices flowing? Some feel movies are to entertain and not evoke an emotion. This writer completely disagrees with that notion.
Either Lying or Out of Touch
One doesn’t spend at least two hours of their lives to be entertained and not feel a single emotion. It’s dang near impossible really. Anyone that preaches the entertainment aspect and not the emotional side of a film is a bit out of touch and missing the entire point. They are also completely lying.
I recall back in 1980, it was the first time a movie actually moved me. Superman The Movie was going about ‘entertaining’ me and my hero was winning at every turn. Let’s recall the scene together, shall we? As the earth below Superman’s love split apart, Lois Lane was succumbing to her death and not able to do anything to stop it. Our superhero was off saving the rest of the planet as he was forgetting the whereabouts of Lois Lane. A distraction occurs as he hears Lois cry for help. The love of his life is in trouble. Can he, will he get there in time to save her. He races, he arrives, only to see Lois’ lifeless body in the vehicle under the rumble. He retrieves her ever so gently. Superman feels the loss of his love. Sadness turns to anger as he looks to the sky and screams.
Well, we all remember this scene, right? It affected me. It made me realize for the very first time that my superhero was vulnerable. Superman became more ‘human’ to me at that moment. That moment is etched in my brain for the rest of my comic book movie watching life. It had that profound effect for every single comic movie I ever viewed thereafter. The clarity was deep, for me. Let me reiterate, not everyone feels this way, but I did and some do.
Hard on the outside, but a little soft in the middle
Superheroes have vulnerabilities that do not have to entail a green rock. Vulnerabilities of losing a mother and father or a loved one. Being bullied at school. Doing the right thing, always. So many aspects I can drone on about, but I’m talking about the human element of our heroes. If a film touches on this, they usually win.
Green Lantern is not critically acclaimed in the superhero movie genre. Why do you think that was? Yes, the CGI was on point, check, the costume, check, but it all came down to a character no one connected with. That is crux of the issue with that movie. Why did the same actor kill it with Deadpool? The studio made the character relatable. We understood and cared what Wade was going through.
In the Man of Steel, the final battle with Zod ended in a way many fans were disappointed with. My thought was, well they just made Superman as human as can be. Anyone in their right frame of mind would have done the same thing, therefore I connected. I understood why Superman had to do what he did. Not everyone felt the same way because some fans felt it was out of place for Superman to do something like this. I personally didn’t care, I liked the emotional pain Superman (Henry Cavill) endured right after he snapped Zod’s neck. It was powerful. It moved me. It was right then I connected to Henry Cavill as Superman. (Until the second film, details below soon).
That Superman movie was meant to do this. For some it turned them away because of their full belief of the Superman character never getting to the point of killing. While I respect the thought process here, I disagree. In this writer’s opinion, it’s alright to evolve a character into something else. It’s called interpretation from that particular creator. Every creator has their vision of a character and wants to push the envelope.
Frank Miller said it best while InvestComics LLC was on the Fan2Sea Cruise Comic-Con. Someone asked what he thought of the Daredevil Netflix series and if he felt the story was not conducive with his Daredevil run. He said “I didn’t watch the show and I don’t plan to. That said, I do not see an issue with one’s interpretation of a character as being wrong in any way at all. Every creator has their vision and why can’t we accept a different form or take on a character?” Truer words have never been spoken out of the hundreds of shows and panels we have gone to.
Notable Movie Scenes
Here are a few movie scenes that should have moved the needle in some way. In my opinion of course. Have these scenes affected you? Left that indelible mark? Made you think? Made you sad? Made you angry? What emotion did it hit for you? Did it make you think of something in your personal life?
Avengers Civil War
In 2016, Avengers Civil War had a couple of strong scenes, but none more powerful than Tony Stark watch Winter Soldier murder his own mother on video. Wow was this hard to imagine being in Tony Stark’s position. The audience cared for a reason. We all connect to the Tony Stark character. Marvel Studios has done a superb job making the audience care about our heroes.
…I remember leaving the theater asking myself, why didn’t that move me?…
Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice
Which quickly brings me to Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice in comparison. Let’s understand, I’m not comparing Marvel and DC movies here, what I’m doing here is comparing the character development aspect. When Superman battles Doomsday and surrendered himself to save mankind, while very noble, it didn’t feel right. This writer didn’t care that Superman just died. I cared more so when it happened in the comic book than I did on film. I remember leaving the theater asking myself, why didn’t that move me? It should have, right? It wasn’t because I knew he was eventually going to come back, it still should have hit me someplace in the skin. It didn’t. I thought about it all afternoon and arrived at my conclusion rather quickly. I didn’t care because the character never attached itself to my heart, my mind, my movie soul. I just didn’t really care.
If Warner Brothers had made Superman the same guy that killed Zod in the first movie, yes I probably would have cared that he nobly sacrificed himself for mankind. I didn’t get “that guy”, that human aspect, therefore I thanked ‘Supes’ for saving the world and I moved on….quickly.
Dark Knight Rises
Warner Brothers did get it right with the Alfred talk to Bruce Wayne in Dark Knight Rises. The ‘I won’t bury you’ talk. A poignant, powerful moment in that movie and trilogy. The audience at that point was connecting to Bruce Wayne’s hurt. Him feeling sorry for himself and the loss of Rachel. The audience connected with Alfred too. Alfred setting the record straight, burning that letter, recalling Bruce’s youth. Powerful stuff here.
Death is a recurring theme within the superhero lure. It’s an ‘easy’ way to attach an audience (IF done correctly) to a character. Everyone can relate in some way to ‘death’, so it’s the ‘go-to’ for character building. Most of the time it’s not so much the actual death of the hero that gets the audience, it’s the emotional breakdown of the one being left behind. Let’s visit some of the moments in comic book movies that have pulled on our heartstrings.
Amazing Spider-Man
Andrew Garfield as Peter Parker starred in Amazing Spider Man (2012) and Amazing Spider-Man 2 (2014). One moment in each film really showed off this dudes acting chops and tore up the audience as well. In the first film, Peter listens to a dying Captain Stacy tell him to stay away from Gwen. Peter reluctantly agrees.
As if that wasn’t heartbreaking enough, Gwen sees Peter after her father’s death and confronts Peter, fully knowing their relationship is no longer. Peter confirms this. It’s a hard two scenes not to get wrapped up in. Emma Stone and Andrew Garfield do a terrific job here.
Amazing Spider-Man 2
In the second film, things get real emotional as Spidey tries to save Gwen from a fall, only to web save her, but killing her by her head snapping her neck. It was hard to watch Peter go through this AGAIN, but this time with the love of his life. Kudos to Andrew Garfield for his portrayal in both movies. So many doubters and they were proven wrong.
Thor 1 & 2
Both Thor movies had some defining moments that brought out the Kleenex. Thor’s Dark World in 2013 had two scenes worth of mention.
First being when Loki was stabbed by Kursed while Thor watched. Thor’s reaction was the clincher here. Thor also witnessed his mother getting killed by Malekith.
It wasn’t so much that the lifeless body lies in Odin’s arms thereafter, it was the funeral that took place that choked everyone up.
Probably till this day, one of the best scene scores of any Marvel movie. The score absolutely moved people. Amazing scene. The first Thor movie had Loki finding out he was abandoned and looked after by his new daddy and mum. Odin explained to Loki that the Frost Giants were not interested in having him around, so they left him for dead. The whole time, after all of the years of thinking his real mother and father were Odin and Frigga, they weren’t. Loki and Odin have a heart to heart as Loki screams at Odin in emotional anguish. It’s a riveting scene that sets the tone for Loki as we know him all these years later.
The Punisher
Lionsgate films in 2004 tried their hand at a fan favorite character; The Punisher. Thomas Jane made a terrific Frank Castle and a Punisher. The movie was okay by most standards and held up its own. It was far from blockbuster and many characters were simply miscast. The painstaking moment in this film comes at the price of his family. His wife and child. Wow was this hard to watch.
Guardians of the Galaxy 1 & 2
Guardians of the Galaxy 1 & 2 have their gut-wrenching moments. In the first film, a young Peter (Starlord) is brought into the hospital room at his mother’s request. As she extends her hand our young Peter turns away and mother then flatlines. Yes, that hurts.
How about when Groot gives up his life for the sake of his comrades? Before his demise, Groot utters “We are Groot.” Rocket’s reaction to Groot’s decision is as heartbreaking as it gets. In the second Guardians of the Galaxy film, Yondu gives up his life for Peter Quill and the gang. Another moment that kicks you in the gut.
The Avengers: Age of Ultron
The Avengers: Age of Ultron had a death moment that goes back to what I said earlier. It’s more of the pain of others as opposed to the death of a hero that gets moviegoers.
Quicksilver races in front of Hawkeye, who himself just used himself as a human shield to save a child, as Hawkeye is about to get bombarded with bullets, Quicksilver gets all of the lead and saves Hawkeye and child. A bit of a goofy death gaze from Quicksilver as he falls down, but his sister (Scarlet Witch) feels the presence of her brother’s death and screams in despair. This scream saves the scene and makes the list.
Captain America: First Avenger
Captain America: First Avenger sees our hero flying a plane into its death spiral. Well, not really a spiral, but the plane is going down. He speaks with the love of his life, Peggy Carter as the plane descends. Could you imagine what it would be like to speak with a loved one knowing that this will be the last time you speak with them and there is nothing you can do about it. This scene was a tough one. Moviegoers knew there wasn’t anything that Peggy and Steve could do to change the outcome here. Very sad indeed.
There are many comic book movie moments I excluded on this mini-list for the sole purpose of wanting to hear which were your defining sad moments that rocked your world. I expect some very deep, very uncomfortable, sad moments coming up in the new Avengers: Infinity War movie. There will be death, there will be sadness and blood on Thanos’ hands. I for one look forward to this. Not the death part, the part where the movie evokes that emotion inside the pit of my stomach and I want to kill Thanos myself If I could. Oh yes indeed, Marvel Studios will get you there. They’ll make you want to reach right inside the screen and kill Thanos yourself. Marvel has been on point so far up to this point, what makes you think for a second they’ll miss their mark now? They won’t miss. They’ll hit the bullseye and you know they will. Until then, do not keep those emotions in check, let them free. It’ll make for an overall better movie experience if you do.
-Jay Katz
Jay Katz, a comic book collector since 1983, is the owner/creator of InvestComics LLC since 2005. Originally a magazine before the website launched in 2005, InvestComics LLC is the number one speculative/entertainment comic book source on the internet.
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