I love superhero movies. Everyone loves a great super hero movie. The classic good vs. evil story line that include great fight sequences with inspiring stories about a character rising up against conflict and succeeding. They’re almost inspiring enough to make the regular audience think, ‘I could do that, I could fight evil, and protect the citizens. Why not me?’ Or maybe that’s just me. I’ve always believed being a superhero couldn’t be that hard. Dressing up, having an arch enemy, and overcoming evil. Now I’ve never actually tried to be a superhero[except maybe once when I tried to make my own superhero movie when I was 15, but that’s a story for another time], but Hollywood has a couple of interpretations of what would happen if regular folk tried to become superheroes. Hit the jump for when Hollywood took a crack at when regular people become Super Heroes. Spoilers Beware.
Super
I recently watched this movie and I have to give it credit as to what inspired this post. This movie is the horrifically comedically dark tale of a psychologically damaged man named Frank who goes on a vigilante rampage after a drug dealer steals his wife from him. The Crimson Bolt (Rainn Wilson), uses his wrench of justice to beat up everyone from local drug dealers and people who bump cutsies in line. With the help of comic-book crazed sidekick, Boltie (Ellen Paige), they work together to try and bring down Jock (Kevin Bacon) who stole his wife (Liv Tyler). The dark tone and narratives Wilson provides adds an an overall ominous and comedically black atmosphere that’ll make you shake your head in shock or disgust. But in the good way.
Mystery Men
If I had to chose a favorite movie on this list, this one would be it. This is the tale of a B-Team of super hero posers who are called into action when the city’s main and successful superhero is kidnapped by an evil mastermind. This movie is star powered to the max including people from Ben Stiller to Eddie Lizard to Greg Kinear to Geoffrey Rush. Their talent isn’t wasted either. Great character development is portrayed through snappy dialogue and you can tell the cast has fun with each other as they shoot witty dialogue back and forth. The range of superpowers these regular folks have are hilarious, ranging from being extremely mysterious to only being invisible when absolutely no one is watching all the way to being extremely gifted with a shovel. The plot is as deliciously ludicrous as it’s colorful cast. Please pick up a copy of this movie now and join the colt following. NOW.
Watchmen
The only real serious movie on this list. But in all honesty, these folks aren’t really all the regular or nonsuper. They all have abnormal strength and one of them is even the product of some sort of nuclear reaction. I included them on this list, because although they aren’t necessarily normal folks, they aren’t like superheroes like Batman or Superman, but more like realistic heroes who don’t have any powers. Or maybe it’s the realistic alternative universe the movie is set in that makes me believe it’s not your regular super hero movie. Anywho, trying to explain the plot would be pointless because it’s awfully complex, but I’d recommend the movie anyways for its colorful cast and interesting storyline.
Kick-Ass
A stylish flick by Matthew Vaughn stars Aaron Johnson as Kick-Ass, a comic book geek who’s fed up with all the crime and dons a mask and a wet suit to fight evil. After being stabbed and hit by a car on his first adventure as Kick-Ass, he gets a metallic bone structure that ironically allows him to get his ass kicked even more. The film evolves past Kick-Ass himself when he gets involved with two real kick-ass superheroes and the mob that’s out to kill him. The story gets interestingly complex from there and displays horrifically violent and bloody scenes alongside its lightly dark and comedic tone that narrates the story. This is probably the last worthwhile Nicholas Cage movie he’s released in a long time. Or maybe even ever. I’m not completely sure.
Defendor
This is a relatively unknown gem starring Woody Harrelson as Defendor. Defendor’s alter ego is a psychologically damaged man who believes he was born to fight crime on the streets. Using marbles, a WWII shovel blade, and a large truck as his main weapons, Defendor more than often gets beat up when against the crime of the street, but that doesn’t stop him from believing he’s invincible. One of the more touching and moving films on this list, Defendor feels like the sympathy in a Forrest Gump type film.
Don’t forget to remind me where I’m ignorant. Tell me if I missed any others.
I just realized I forgot Unbreakable.
Watchman was a good movie, but I don’t find that it fits in with the others you have listed here.