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Tag: Before Capes Were Cool

A look at superhero movies and TV from before 2000 and examining them both in the context of their day and from the present

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Before Capes Were Cool #15: Men in Black (1997)

March 26, 2018March 26, 2018 greatboosup

(Last of a four-part look at the 1990s’ attempt to transform niche indie comic book heroes into Hollywood blockbusters.) I don’t remember whether, when I went to see Men in Black in theaters on its initial release, I had known … Continue reading Before Capes Were Cool #15: Men in Black (1997)

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Before Capes Were Cool #14: The Mask (1994)

March 19, 2018November 12, 2019 greatboosup

(Part Three of a four-part look at the 1990s’ attempt to transform niche indie comic book heroes into Hollywood blockbusters.) I had considered not even bothering to cover The Mask here. We’re concerned about the “Why was the movie made … Continue reading Before Capes Were Cool #14: The Mask (1994)

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Before Capes Were Cool #13: Tank Girl (1995)

March 5, 2018November 12, 2019 greatboosup

(Part Two of a four-part look at the 1990s’ attempt to transform niche indie comic book heroes into Hollywood blockbusters.) Last time, we looked at 1990’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles adaptation, which was critically derided at the time of its … Continue reading Before Capes Were Cool #13: Tank Girl (1995)

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Before Capes Were Cool #12: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1990)

February 26, 2018November 12, 2019 greatboosup

We’ve talked about Tim Burton’s 1989 Batman casting a shadow over almost every subsequent superhero movie up to and including 2000’s X-Men. But this week’s movie, which was in development at around the same time, was in some ways equally … Continue reading Before Capes Were Cool #12: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1990)

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Before Capes Were Cool #11: Superman IV: The Quest for Peace (1987)

February 19, 2018November 12, 2019 greatboosup

Let me get this out up front: I actually kind of like this movie, so if that is a dealbreaker (and it’s understandable if it is), you might want to bail out here. Much of my affection is rooted in … Continue reading Before Capes Were Cool #11: Superman IV: The Quest for Peace (1987)

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Before Capes Were Cool #10: Flash Gordon (1980)

February 12, 2018February 12, 2018 greatboosup

One of the big problems of bringing superheroes to the screen has always been, “How do you keep the audience from just laughing at the inherent absurdity material?” Last time, we talked about how the 1966 Batman TV show and … Continue reading Before Capes Were Cool #10: Flash Gordon (1980)

Movies, Other150 Comments

Before Capes Were Cool #9: Batman (1966) vs. Batman & Robin (1997)

January 29, 2018January 29, 2018 greatboosup

For years and years, superhero fans hated the Adam West Batman TV show. And then one day, all of a sudden, they didn’t anymore. Funnily enough, the show had been extremely faithful to the comics as they had existed at … Continue reading Before Capes Were Cool #9: Batman (1966) vs. Batman & Robin (1997)

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Before Capes Were Cool #8: Nick Fury, Agent of SHIELD (1998)

January 22, 2018January 22, 2018 greatboosup

There have been two solo movies about the Incredible Hulk made in the post-X-Men landscape: 2003’s Hulk and 2008’s The Incredible Hulk. Reactions to both were mixed, and neither set the box office on fire. But people still talk about … Continue reading Before Capes Were Cool #8: Nick Fury, Agent of SHIELD (1998)

Movies39 Comments

Before Capes Were Cool #7: Justice League of America (1997)

January 15, 2018January 17, 2018 greatboosup

I’ve talked before about how, just within my lifetime, I’ve gone from starved for choice to spoiled for choice when it comes to superhero movies. Late last year, DC/WB released its big-screen Justice League movie, and I couldn’t work up … Continue reading Before Capes Were Cool #7: Justice League of America (1997)

Movies70 Comments

Before Capes Were Cool #6: Generation X (1996)

January 8, 2018January 17, 2018 greatboosup

It might seem odd that an X-Men spinoff got a movie before the X-Men proper, but if you look at the time and the place, it makes a certain amount of sense. It was the ’90s, dude, and you’ve got … Continue reading Before Capes Were Cool #6: Generation X (1996)

Movies175 Comments

Before Capes Were Cool #5: Batman Forever (1995)

January 1, 2018January 17, 2018 greatboosup

Batman Forever has a remarkably layered and thematically rich story. I mean, the screenplay is pretty bad, but the story? What the movie is actually about? Easily the best of the Burton/Schumacher Batman series. Before you hit the Back button … Continue reading Before Capes Were Cool #5: Batman Forever (1995)

Movies117 Comments

Before Capes Were Cool #4: The Rocketeer (1991)

December 18, 2017January 17, 2018 greatboosup

The Rocketeer, like Superman: The Movie and The Fantastic Four, strives to translate what you see on the comic book page right onto the screen. It is arguably one of the most faithful adaptations of a superhero comic ever made, … Continue reading Before Capes Were Cool #4: The Rocketeer (1991)

Movies210 Comments

Before Capes Were Cool #3: The Fantastic Four (1994, unreleased)

December 11, 2017January 17, 2018 greatboosup

There was no surefire formula for comic book movie success in the 20th century, but Superman: The Movie, which we discussed last week, makes it look pretty straightforward, right? You take your superheroes from the page and put them right … Continue reading Before Capes Were Cool #3: The Fantastic Four (1994, unreleased)

Movies290 Comments

Before Capes Were Cool #2: Superman: The Movie (1978)

December 4, 2017January 17, 2018 greatboosup

If you ask a contemporary fan to compile a list of the top five “best” superhero movies, they will likely mostly be movies made after 2000’s X-Men. I’m thinking the consensus picks are probably The Dark Knight, Spider-Man 2, one … Continue reading Before Capes Were Cool #2: Superman: The Movie (1978)

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Before Capes Were Cool #1: The Amazing Spider-Man (1977-1979)

November 27, 2017January 17, 2018 greatboosup

In the year 2017, if a kid wants to see a live-action Spider-Man, the young miss or master can choose from six movies (seven if you include Captain America: Civil War) starring three different actors. They can opt for the … Continue reading Before Capes Were Cool #1: The Amazing Spider-Man (1977-1979)

Movies244 Comments

Before Capes Were Cool #0: An Introduction to Pre-2000 Superhero Cinema and Television

November 20, 2017January 17, 2018 greatboosup

I had a dream when I was a kid, probably around 1993 or 1994, which would have made me nine or ten at the time. I say “dream,” but it was more like a movie trailer. We open on a … Continue reading Before Capes Were Cool #0: An Introduction to Pre-2000 Superhero Cinema and Television

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