Director Martin Scorsese has long been established as a cinematic genius, serving as the mind behind masterpieces such as “Goodfellas,” and “Taxi Driver.” Recently, the 76-year-old filmmaker has made headlines, not only for the promotion of his upcoming film “The Irishman,” but also due to statements he made regarding comic book films and how they lack the qualities to be considered as “cinema.” Though it can be acknowledged that the studios behind these films are certainly driven by the prospect of the lucrative earnings and business opportunities that these films may provide, this does not always influence the intentions and the ideas of the filmmakers producing them, for many of them possess the artistic integrity which shall drive them to craft personal cinematic spectacles which most certainly meet the qualifications to be perceived as art.
With over 50 years worth of experience in the film industry, in addition to a collection of many critical and commercial successes defining his career, it would be a no-brainer to assume that the director is certainly a prominent source of authority when it comes to determining the fine line between artistic “cinema” and commercialized “film.” Though comic book film franchises can be seen solely as cash cows and merchandise sellers, it must be understood that the majority of the time that is the fault of the studios distributing them. However, when considering a film’s overall quality, it should be the thought and passion put forth by its writers and producers that is the primary focus, rather than the amount of money that it has made.
In his recent interview with Empire Magazine, Scorsese himself defined cinema as being “human beings trying to convey emotional, psychological experiences to another human being.” Though comic book movies certainly place a large emphasis on action and special effects, there are many instances in which they remember to include heartfelt and resonant stories to go along with them.
Because of their immense appeal to mainstream audiences, comic book films act as the perfect outlets to promote social changes in society. Take the films “Black Panther” and “Wonder Woman” for example. With their groundbreakingly diverse casts, and powerful messages which speak to certain social groups, both films have been recognized as milestones in the superhero film genre. Because of their respective successes and influence, the films have paved the way for studios to try and do the same for other groups in the future, with movies such as Marvel’s “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings” having the green light for production.
Despite their fantastical elements, there have been instances in which comic book movies have presented plausible, realistic subject-matter. Take the recent release of “Joker,” a film which sparked controversy prior to its release due to its realistic portrayal of mental illness, in addition to the violent actions carried out by the main character, Arthur Fleck (Joaquin Phoenix, “The Sisters Brothers”), which possessed an unfortunate resemblance to real-life events. Despite its grim story and characters, the film itself still conveys emotional and psychological ideas and feelings which may strike hard into the hearts and minds of viewers, just as what Scorsese said cinema is meant to do.
Even if their stories do not always provide room for deep thought, comic book movies are still fit to be distinguished among films considered to be cinema due to the time, effort, and passion put into them. Contrary to the words of cinematic geniuses such as Martin Scorsese, comic book films are most certainly cinema and will continue to be a crucial part of it for years to come.
Image from Netflix via YouTube
