I had a chance to see The Incredible Hulk a few days ago, and couldn’t help but walk out of the show with a big grin on my face.  Any of you who have had a chance to see the green behemoth pummeling his way into theaters know that this time around surpasses Ang Lee’s version of the Marvel monster, which was released in 2003, for a number of reasons.  OK, that’s a pretty presumptuous statement - in my opinion, it was much better.  I don’t like people putting words in my mouth, so I try not to do it to others.

Without giving away any of the movie, it moves at a slower pace than I would have expected, most likely to cover the character background of Bruce Banner and his lonely life on the run from authorities.  There are a few high-energy moments, but everything pales in comparison to the final fight scene between the Hulk and his adversary.  If you go to see this movie, the finale alone is worth the cost of admission in this guy’s mind.  My recommendation: check it out if you like that genre.  You should enjoy it, but it won’t be the best superhero movie out this summer - not by a long shot.    

Since I figure there are thousands of sites out there where you can get a movie review, I wanted to write a post about something else that is equally as interesting and perhaps very telling of the way our society functions.  It is a pattern that has existed in the underbelly of our culture throughout the 20th century, but hasn’t received any real media attention until the last 25 years, I would say.  

Superheroes.

The universe of men, women and beasts that incorporate every extreme aspect of daily life, pushing seemingly normal people to great lengths and accomplishments; great despair and torment.  They give us a look at to what would happen should we allow technology to change us, or let our primal nature take control.  The comic book attraction has always been one that has been laughed at, I would assume for reasons including a rather rabid and devoted fan base, the interpretation of the hobby not being “productive”, and the overall nerd stereotype that it was associated with. 

While I can’t say that much of that has changed, the genre has most certainly found it’s niche in the mainstream entertainment media.  For the past few decades, superhero films, toys and video games are a big money-maker, and people don’t seem to be as ashamed or embarrassed to show that they like this stuff.  The primary demographic hasn’t changed, of course, but the following has grown outside and in large numbers as well.  Is it because they have become somehow “less geeky?”  Maybe the improved special effects at the theater make the films more enjoyable, or they do the work that imagination used to, depending on how you look at it.  Either way, there is no denying the popularity of it.

It has been theorized that during times of recession, candy and movies tend to do very well.  I’m not sure if that is because of the inherent connection between the two, or the fact that people like to be comforted and escape from reality for a while.  I know I’d sure like to escape these gas prices for a bit.  Assuming that’s true, what better to boost spirits than those hopeful stories of superheroes?  They feature everyday people (usually) put in extraordinary situations, and then pit them against each other in a fight for what we all hold in high esteem: justice, good and prosperity.  Rarely, will you see a superhero who does not defy the odds and beat the enemy, and equally as rare are the heroes without massive character flaws.  To me, they are overblown projections of the human spirit - our own psyches on overdrive.  We identify with the these fantastic beings, and when coupled with today’s entertainment technology, we revel in them.

Within the next 2 years, there are six proposed films coming our from Marvel alone, and at least another three from their counterpart, DC.  Is this just a passing fad, a defense mechanism to a way of life that is financially harder than it was a few years ago?  Perhaps.  Or maybe it is just a medium that is due.  Regardless of the reason, if the quality is maintained, I’ll continue to eat up all of the movies they churn out.  With any luck, Dungeons and Dragons will eventually find its way into the mainstream.

Ah, who am I kidding?  Enjoy the summer lineup! 

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