2012: The Zenith of Nerd Cinema?

Well. Yes and no. While it seems like a great year for genre films, and genre fans, I can't say that this will be a zenith.

 

Personally, I see it as the last bit of pedal to the metal that will drive hollywood off a cliff and into a collapse like in the late sixties. The suit's obsession with the summer season has most of these films crowding a 3 month period giving themselves, not time for either them or the audience to breath. Eventually, people will just start coughing back up what they try to force down their throats and these movies, no matter how good or high quality they are, will fail.

 

This will not only kill off the blockbuster mentality, but kill off entire genres

 

The problem is much the same as what happened 40-45 years ago. Hollywood was an over commercialized entity spewing the same over budgeted crap until people got sick of it and walked away. But back then instead of scifi and comic book movies, it was westerns and musicals primarily. And look what happened to those genres today. Effectively killed both of them.

 

This is what we get for having the sugar cereal, mba, make money at any cost businessmen take over hollywood after jaws and star wars. We get people who can't see beyond the market share, and branding opportunities instead of art and creation focused people who were after not only hits but films that had a long lasting cultural impact.

It certainly has a potential for greatness.

 

Let's see how many Blade Runners, The Things, ET's, Dark Crystals, Wrath Of Khans, Poltergeists, First Bloods and Conan The Barbarians we get out of that list though before we start heralding a new golden age of geekdom.

MichaelM, That is some list of...Superhero Films and Fantastical Cinema!  I realize you did add more, so some of the...More includes...

1) G.I. Joe 2

2) James Bond 007's next film

3) Dredd

4) Ghost Rider: Spirit Of Vengeance

5) Resident Evil 5 in 3D

Other possible 2012 films are...TMNT Reboot, Godzilla Reboot, and Taken 2!

 

Bugsport, The Western did not, Die, it changed.  Science Fiction exploded, in the late 70's due to that little film...Star Wars!  What was Star Wars, but a western re-imagined.  A Gunslinger, a young hero, Young Heroes Mentor, a Damsel In Distress, An...EEEEEEEEEvil Villain, who wants to be in control.  Replace horses with spaceships, and bullets with laser beams, and you have one of the reason's for the death of the western.  Really though it is the...Evolution of The Western into modern science fiction.

Along with the tentpole stuff mentioned, cinema geeks should be getting that slew of Meghan Ellison-financed projects i.e. Wettest County, Cogan's Trade, possibly PTA's next.

Prometheus too.

 

Bugsport makes some interesting points. While I can appreciate the odd superhero, I hope he's right. If leads to another film decade like the 70s, everyone wins.

But at what cost Arjen.

 

While I crave a move back to the creator controlled hollywood of 70 to the early 80s (right before Cimino effed everything up with Heaven's gate) we have to realize that it came with certain costs. 

 

Duke

Yes westerns did die. Yes they did change as well. I use the term death in a purely metaphoric sense. They 'died' because their over exposure and inability to evolve to an increasingly downtrodden and cynical public (with the exception of the spaghettis and peckinpah of course) . While most of see the strained, filtered remains of that period, dozens more that we've forgotten were made. Were talking high profile westerns, b movies that used the same sets before they were torn down, c list pulp westerns that rarely were over 80 minutes long, an endless stream of western and pastoral tv (green acres and petticoat junction for example) and so many more. Eventually people got sick of the repetitive nature that the studios had inflicted these genres and refused to watch movies.

 

So westerns as an over-mined property of the studios died and left a stain upon its genre. Westerns were still made but at nowhere near the frequency prior to the collapse. Plus, classic westerns were rarely touched in favour of the revisionist western that used the genre and conventions to tell the story differently (outlaw josey wales, little big man, unforgiven etc) The western and its conventions dissolved into other genres, mainly its sense of adventure and high moral contrast. There is good to this (Sci fi westerns such as Brisco County Jr. and Firefly, and Han Solo) but even it did more harm than good because it allowed for the simplification of story telling which inadvertently attracted teenagers (the prime audience since Jaws) and fed into the evolution of the modern story structure we see in action, and block buster films nowadays.

 

No I'm not saying this is bad as a storytelling method, nor am I using this as a preamble to blast genre films for being rote (believe me I am a massive science fiction geek.) But I see that strains of the same virus that almost killed hollywood live in these new forms and due to the poor foresight of frankly, stupid people running the show in hollywood, we are merely seeing a relapse.

That's fascinating. Couple of points. First off, I don't believe the current business model is sustainable in the long run. The sure bet thing, which has resulted in so many geek properties getting the big budget treatment, is the same reason we're getting a Candyland movie. With that many ginormous movies coming out next year, with an average pre-marketing price tag of 100+, the only way they can possibly be profitable enough to continue with is raising ticket prices. Sooner or later, what with likely ongoing economic woes and the shorter and shorter screen-to-DVD window, people, especially families, are just going to stop going to movies. 

 

That said, I can't believe they'll stop making movies anytime before armageddon. They're one of the biggest industries in the world, and even if Hollywood somehow collapses into anarchy, they're going to keep making films. Distribution may change, but product will be a constant. I would be delighted to see the industry forced to reinvent itself in some fundamental ways. You're right that the outlaw 70s totally paved the way for Jaws and Star Wars, but isn't that just going to be a cyclical thing? Jaws and Star Wars happened because of course they happened, and at some point new movies will have the same effect on the world. But we might have to let everything break a bit first. 

 

Another thing about the westerns. The revisionist westerns that came out of the death of the studio westerns were, to my mind, the greatest achievements in that particular genre. And this from someone who went through years of parental John Wayne indoctrination. There are way fewer westerns now, but they're generally way better than the innumerable quickies rightly relegated to the dustbin of history, specifically because they're not the most profitable things to make. 

 

I see upheaval as interesting times, and I also see it as inevitable. This crazy ass 2012 schedule is going to be pretty fun to watch play out. It's possible a major studio folds, or more than one. There will be entire genres that could go away for awhile. Zenith might be the wrong word, it might be the Tipping Point. Again though, I think this is something that has to happen periodically, and hopefully, it will lead to more creativity, better storytelling, and innovations. 

I fear that with so many good properties we are more likley to get stinkers than not.  I have never been really sold on Spiderman, Star Trek Could end up being rubbish and no one has made a good Superman movie since Superman 2.

 

Still at least we will have a lot to talk about next year...

Are Warners really planning on releasing Superman 6 in the same summer as Batman 7?

Michael,

 

that is my biggest worry in all this. The fact they are all rushing to get these flicks out sooner and sooner cannot be good for quality.

Mcweeny's written an excellent piece about Mountains failing, and it points to a lot of the reasons that a change is gonna come. It's kind of depressing, and suggests that 2012 might be a real last gasp before shot gets bad. But optimistically, it could still be the death blow that leads to the Rennaissance.

Right, which is why I'm hesitant to say that that 2012 is the zenith of geek cinema.  For me, that had to be 2003.  That year, we had Ang Lee's Hulk, X-Men 2, ROTK, and the Matrix sequels.  The weakest of the lot were the Matrix sequels and those weren't terrible.

Sequels and remakes, oh my!

Not so much the zenith as the congestion, maybe.

 

I kind of see The Avengers as the film with the power to take the wind out of the sails of the partially nerd-powered superhero craze*. There is so much risk attached to that project what with its life support system being two "failed" franchise starters (the Hulk films), an affiliated franchise (Iron Man) that just delievered a successful but underwhelming sequel and two films that are in the can but haven't even come out yet. It's a huge experiment and the shock wave of failure could travel well beyond its borders. You've also got the Spider-Man reboot, which more or less starts that franchise back in the red in terms of risk.

 

Wolverine is an alluring wild card what with the talent involved, the Superman reboot later in the year is another wild card (though I personally lean towards it being a fatal misstep), and The Dark Knight Rises alone stands as being the closest thing to a sure thing as any in the pack, but nobody knows nothing, right?

 

 

 

 

*Green Lantern is going to be a disaster. Whether the disaster will be epic, middling, or mini, I couldn't say, but if I was a betting man, I'd put everything I had on that franchise being DOA. X-Men: First Class will probably do fine. This could all leak into how the Summer of 2012 (in terms of superhero/nerd properties) could can out.

 

 

 

 

 

MichaelM, Don't forget, 2008, was an...Awesome year!

1) Punisher War Zone

2) Iron Man

3) Hellboy II: The Golden Army

4) The Incredible Hulk

5) The Dark Knight

6) Wanted

7) Indiana Jones and The Kingdom Of The Crystal Skull

8) James Bond 007: Quantum Of Solace

9) Speed Racer

10) The Spirit

 

That is...7 comic book and or superhero adaptions, Indiana Jones, 007, and anime adaption Speed Racer!  2008 was chock full of goodness!

It's possible that we could see a similar situation with the big studios with what happened with the big record companies at the beginning of the decade. Higher prices, new faster illegal alternatives, new means of viewing (ipads, on demand) can lead to less tickets punched in a time of higher budgets. All of these movies could be great, but there just may be too many of them for them all to make money, which could lead to some big financial blows and ultimately a view by the industry itself as being bloated. Much like what happened with music in the past ten years the "indie" scene for movies can rise to a level where it's essentially almost mainstream. The big studios will hold onto their big tickets (the Katy Perry's/Transformers) but more and more independent films will find their way to higher grosses and higher exposure (your Arcade Fires/District 9's). This all depends on whether people are willing to walk away from the rising prices, and of course music and movies as an industry aren't quite as comparable because of the difference in what it takes to produce quality products, but ultimately this is something that I could see happening.

This idea makes a helluva lot of sense to me.

 

 

You make a good point, but watching a movie on an iPad just isn't the same as watching it in the theater.  I'd rather see Battle: Los Angeles (which just may be the most important film this decade) in the theater with a great sound system than on my iPad.  Of course, I'll probably go to a matinee, but you get my point...

 

 

Trust me, I don't think watching movies on an iPad is really a great idea either, but if John Doe can download Battle: LA for free and upload it on his iPad you can bet he won't care about the screen size or lack of a great sound system.

 

 

Honestly. It blows me away that whenever things don't go their way for one of their pet projects this forum immediately gets on its high horse about the laziness of studios and the stupidity of audiences, and yet here we are discussing whether this slate of cinematic junk food might represent geek culture at its peak. There are at least a half dozen of those films where I'll be actively happy to see them fail, cos some long overdue high profile failures are the only thing that might kill this culture of throwbacks and sequels and superhero shit. And with these redundant Spiderman and Superman reboots and the saturation of B and C list superhero projects, I wonder if audiences might finally start getting as tired of this stuff as I've been for most of the last decade.

Paul C, I will never get the hate for all the Superhero films, that have been made the last...13 years.  As a comic book fan, (especially Superheroes), I am only disappointed in a few as...Elektra, and Blade Trinity, (I never saw either Catwoman or Scott Pilgrim) since Blade cut a path that a...Legion of Superheroes has flown, ran, and clawed through with alot of success.  I think the Spider-Man and Superman re-boots will be far better, than the most recent takes on the characters.  Sam Raimi's Spider-Man trilogy, worked alot better before more...Awe-Inspiring Superhero Cinema arrived! Films like...Iron Man 2, Iron Man, Kick-Ass, X-Men Origins Wolverine, X-Men 1-3, Blade 1 and 2, and so much more.   Bryan Singer's Superman, was a Superdud, that turned Kal-El into the...Stalker Of Steel!  The Assemblege of...The Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes, should be just an...Awesome, sight to behold.  I am also eagerly looking forward to...Thor, Captain America, X-Men First Class, Conan, and Green Lantern in 2011, and in 2012, The Avengers, Neveldine/Taylor's Ghost Rider Spirit of Vengeance, The Wolverine (handicapped only by a...Journeyman director), Dredd, Spider-Man, The Dark Knight Rises, and Superman!

It's because superhero stories don't end, Duke.  The moneymen are terrified of the characters growing, or learning, or changing, because that would probably limit the punching and laser shooting. Hence, constantly restarting, repeating, etc.

 

Hmm, I have to agree with you on The Avengers. It's an interesting premise with a built in source material and audience, but its carrying a lot of baggage. Plus, Joss Whedon may be a geek favorite, but he does not have a whole of of experience tackling something that will undoubtedly be HUGE. It's a huge step and learning curve from directing Nathan Fillion and Gina Torres to directing Robert Downey Jr. and Scarlett Johansen. And, if Favreu was any indicator, Marvel is kind of flying by the seat of its pants about the whole Avengers initiative.

Gabe T, Well, then it is time to adapt characters, that have not been filmed before.  Other than animation, Green Lantern, has not received a live action series or film.   Other originals would be...Power Man And Iron Fist.  That would also be different, as PM and IF, fight street level criminals.  Their film would cost less, as the only special effect needed would be for Fist's...Iron Fist!  You could even have a...Tv spin off, Daughters Of The Dragon.  Then between the series and the film, you could include all kinds of b and c level heroes.  Of course on top of this I would set it in...The 1970's, and give Power Man his afro, yellow shirt, and tiara.  Iron Fist would wear something similar to his traditional get up.

If you had told me ten years ago that everyone would be complaining that we get are TOO MANY superhero movies each year, I'd have said you were nuts.  That said, hindsight is 20/20 and we are certainly getting a TON of them over the next two years.  Is it a good thing or a bad thing?  Probably a bit of both, especially depending on how some of them turn out.  Still, it is funny to think how much has changed in terms of the genre's popularity (and bankability) over the past decade.

S.D. Bob Plissken, I will not join the...Complainers, as I am, Reveling in Superhero Cinema!  When I was a pre teen and into my teen years, the only big budget Superhero films were, Superman, Superman 2, Superman 3, Supergirl, Superman IV Quest For Peace, and Swamp Thing.  Marvel produced a few tv films of Captain America featuring Reb Brown, wearing a Motorcycle helmet as part of his costume, and a see through shield.  Since 1998s Blade, there have been 35-45 Comic Adaptions, of which 30+ are Superhero films.  That is a...Huge jump in production.  2011, and 2012 there will be another...12 Superhero films.  To me, this news is just...SUPER, MAN!

MichaelM, I have been told I am rather...Long Winded.  Why tell a story in 1 line, when you can have...5?

So with no Mountains of Madness, No World War Z, no Dune, Viggo not in Superman, Aronosky's off Wolverine, all announced in the last 3 weeks, have we jinxed the so called Zenith? It's been a bad few weeks for geek cinema...