{"id":3421,"date":"2016-05-03T06:09:23","date_gmt":"2016-05-03T10:09:23","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/students.com.miami.edu\/reviewing\/?page_id=3421"},"modified":"2016-05-03T06:41:48","modified_gmt":"2016-05-03T10:41:48","slug":"new-action-films-offer-comedy-emotion","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/students.com.miami.edu\/reviewing\/?page_id=3421","title":{"rendered":"New action films offer comedy, emotion"},"content":{"rendered":"

Posted May 2, 2016<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

By AXEL TURCIOS<\/p>\n

Although we are only four months into 2016, this year has already proved to be full of captivating and action-packed films. \u201cDeadpool,\u201d \u201cBatman v Superman\u201d and \u201cThe Jungle Book,\u201d each exemplify films that take the audience through a journey of action, comedy and emotion.<\/p>\n

\"batmanEach film is adapted from a published work that has been regularly reinterpreted across a variety of platforms and is a part of the action\/ adventure film genre.<\/p>\n

\u201cDeadpool\u201d and \u201cBatman v Superman\u201d began as comic books, the former hailing from Marvel and the latter from DC Comics. Deadpool\u2019s character was featured in the 2009 film \u201cX-Men Origins: Wolverine,<\/em>\u201d but the current movie of the same name is the first film centered on the unique hero.<\/p>\n

Although action\/ adventure movies have become some of the most commonly produced today, the genre first began to see wide mainstream popularity in theater in the 1940s with the rise of cowboy adventure movies. Its growth in the movie market continued into the 1960s with the popular \u201cJames Bond\u201d movies. The following decades saw martial arts-themed action and adventure movies and then some of genre\u2019s most quintessential films during the 1980s, including \u201cDie Hard\u201d (1988) and \u201cThe Terminator\u201d series (1984).<\/p>\n

As computer generated images (CGI) abilities advanced at the turn of the twenty-first century, action-adventure movies were able to showcase intense fight scenes that grabbed the viewer\u2019s senses, in such films as the \u201cBatman\u201d series. The early 2000s also saw a rise in action-adventure movies about superheroes and comic book legends, which have made up a major portion of Hollywood\u2019s large-budget blockbuster films in recent years.<\/p>\n

\"theAction\/ adventure films are known for their intense scenes involving physical challenges. The main character in adventure films is often involved in a number of fight and chase scenes throughout the movie, causing films of this genre to be known for fast-paced storylines punctuated by a number of action-packed confrontations and pursuits.<\/p>\n

Whether the fighting is with guns, martial arts-style, or involves supernatural powers, action films always include physical confrontation. Similarly, pursuit scenes can be on foot, by car, by skis, or even spacecraft, but are almost always present in films of this genre.<\/p>\n

One of the most common critiques of action films is that the frequent physically focused scenes often cause movies that fall under this genre to lack substance in their storylines. That being said, a valuable action\/ adventure film balances visually stimulating confrontational or chase scenes with an engrossing storyline and interesting characters.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Dark Knight\u201d is a widely successful action film that embodies this balance of a thought-provoking storyline with intense battle scenes throughout. \u201cDeadpool,\u201d currently in theaters, also exemplifies a film filled with stimulating combat scenes that also includes a storyline that can stand on its own.<\/p>\n

The best action films are also known for embracing special effects and CGI. Films like \u201cThe Terminator\u201d and \u201cStar Wars\u201d used advanced effects for their time to illustrate such design elements as weapons and explosions that contribute to the fight scenes that constitute action films. \u201cThe Jungle Book\u201d (2016) relies almost completely on CGI to create a fast-paced jungle world.<\/p>\n

\"DeadpoolThe title characters in \u201cBatman v Superman\u201d are synonymous with superhero movies and their comic book likenesses have inspired countless adaptations since their debuts in the mid 20th century.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Jungle Book\u201d is based on Rudyard Kipling\u2019s classic 1894 novel. It has been adapted into both live action and animated feature films before the rendition currently in theaters.<\/p>\n

\u201cDeadpool,\u201d rated R, has earned more than $750 million since its February release. It tells the story of Wade Wilson (Ryan Reynolds), the comic antihero as described by critics who hilariously and vulgarly fights through a series of outrageous and gory tasks in order to save the woman he loves.<\/p>\n

Wade\u2019s tale begins violently, and continues that way for the duration of the movie. We first see him in take out multiple unknowns in the middle of a public road before he is restrained by Colossus (Stefan Kapicic), an X-Men recruit and resorts to cutting off his own hand in order to escape.<\/p>\n

The story then rewinds to a happier time, when we see a mask free Wade (who moonlights as a hit man) meet and fall in love with Vanessa at a bar. After learning he has terminal cancer, Wade turns as a last resort to a sadistic scientist named Ajax (Ed Skrein) who promises him a cure. His cancer does go away, but only after every inch of his skin is left horribly disfigured.<\/p>\n

Too scared to see Vanessa post-treatment, Wade takes on the persona of Deadpool and bides his time planning to find Ajax and demand a remedy for his disfigurement. The film ends in a climactic battle scene after Ajax kidnaps Vanessa in order to lure Deadpool to him, and although Deadpool learns that there is no way to cure his appearance, Vanessa is able to look past it.<\/p>\n

\u201cBatman v Superman,\u201d starring Henry Cavill and Ben Affleck, rated PG-13, has garnered more than $830 million since its March release. The film examines the two famous DC Comics superheroes as Batman tries to take out his revenge on Superman at the same time as the infamous Lex Luthor in the sequel to an earlier Superman film entitled \u201cMan of Steel.\u201d<\/p>\n

After Superman destroys much of the city of Metropolis, Bruce Wayne becomes convinced that he is too dangerous to exist. Lex Luthor (played by Jessie Eisenberg) shares Batman\u2019s negative opinion regarding Superman and is simultaneously planning to import kryptonite (material from the Superman fictional universe) in order to foil him.<\/p>\n

After attending a party at Luthor\u2019s house, Wayne comes into possession of data from Luthor\u2019s company, and later steals kryptonite, planning to use it to battle Superman. Luther kidnaps Superman\u2019s mother and tells him that he must kill Batman in order to get her back.<\/p>\n

Although the two heroes fight almost to the death, they are able to put aside their differences to fight Luthor at the story\u2019s close (with the help of Wonder Woman), and Superman is believed to have died at the hands of Luthor\u2019s genetically modified monster. The film ends with a hint that presumed-dead Superman is actually not so.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Jungle Book,\u201d rated PG has earned more than $390 million at the box office since its April 15 release. The film turns Mowgli\u2019s classic story into a visually stunning piece with a star-studded cast including Bill Murray, Ben Kingsley, Lupita Nyong’o, Christopher Walken and newcomer Neel Sethi as the lead role.<\/p>\n

Mowgli is a \u201chuman cub\u201d living among a pack of wolves in the jungle. After being forced to leave his pack after the villainous tiger Shere Khan (Idris Elba) threatens his wolf family and begins to pursue him, Mowgli begins a journey back to human settlement with Bagheera (Ben Kingsley), the wise black panther who rescues him as a baby human.<\/p>\n

After becoming separated from Bagheera during a fight with Shere Khan, Mowgli learns from a mysterious snake named Kaa (Scarlett Johansson) that Shere Khan\u2019s hate for him comes from his facial burns inflicted by Mowgli\u2019s father years ago when the tiger attacked him and Mowgli. Mowgli also learns about the \u201cred flame,\u201d which is how the animals refer to fire, a human-made force that is the most destructive thing in the jungle. A friendly bear named Baloo (Bill Murray) rescues Mowgli from near death and implores him to use his taboo human tricks to help him hoard honey.<\/p>\n

Mowgli eventually decides that he does not want to return to human civilization and he is reunited with Bagheera. When he finds out that Shere Khan has killed the wolfpack leader over him, Mowgli returns to his home and uses his human tricks along with jungle knowledge to thwart the evil tiger.<\/p>\n

Story-wise, each film has an exciting plot full of adventure and at times, violence. \u201cDeadpool\u201d manages to stand out by miles over the current Marvel movies being released because of its inappropriate yet absolutely perfect comedy. Such lines as \u201cPlease don\u2019t make the super suit green \u2026 or animated!\u201d (In homage to Reynolds\u2019s character in the flopped movie, \u201cGreen Lantern\u201d) <\/em>pepper every scene of a movie that otherwise would be almost too grim and violent to handle.<\/p>\n

Deadpool\/Wade often breaks the fourth wall to crack jokes to the audience, which definitely adds comedy to the film\u2019s storyline and allows viewers to make a connection with the character as well.<\/p>\n

In fact, writer Paul Wernick did an excellent job with Deadpool\u2019s character and viewers will find themselves taken with an arrogant and profane hit man and rooting for him throughout the film. His use of humor during absolutely every situation makes \u201cDeadpool\u201d stand out among the many superhero movies in the current market.<\/p>\n

The story of \u201cThe Jungle Book\u201d is fast-paced and filled with adventure from the opening scene of Mowgli running through the jungle. Its plot line is basically the same as that of previous renditions of the classic tale, but director Jon Favreau uses such narrative elements as fast paced, realistic chase scenes and suspense over Mowgli\u2019s fate to demand attention during the whole film.<\/p>\n

The relationships between Mowgli and his jungle family are believable and heartwarming, as is the film\u2019s resolution. However, family-friendly content of the \u201cJungle Book\u201d does not mean the movie lacks action and viewers will find themselves hanging on to every intense scene of Mowgli fleeing from Shere Khan.<\/p>\n

Batman v Superman\u2019s story also comes packed with action but it fails to measure up to either \u201cThe Jungle Book\u201d or \u201cDeadpool.\u201d The film is filled with tense combat scenes from beginning to end and peppered with small details about Bruce Wayne (Affleck) and Clark Kent (Cavill)\u2019s personal lives, such as Kent\u2019s relationship with Lois Lane (Amy Adams) and Wayne\u2019s vivid dreams.<\/p>\n

However, the film fails in trying to incorporate so much action while at the same time squeezing both characters\u2019 personal lives into the rare action-light scenes. It seems that director Zack Snyder could not decide whether to lead the production in the direction of the classic superhero action film or that of a darker, more thriller-esque movie, and landed somewhere awkwardly in the middle with \u201cBatman v Superman.\u201d The result is a clouded and underwhelming film, a consensus that seems common among reviewers.<\/p>\n

\u201cBatman v Superman\u201d also underwhelms in terms of visuals. For such a large budget project, the movie does not include any CGI (computer-generated-imagery) or visual elements that particularly capture attention and artists could have done much more to enhance such effect-heavy scenes as the final battle against Luthor\u2019s monster. In what seems to be a pattern of the film, the monster is overdone with elements like fire and light and fails to impress as a result.<\/p>\n

On the contrary, both \u201cDeadpool\u201d and \u201cThe Jungle Book\u201d stun visually. Not only is Deadpool\u2019s opening credit scene hilariously genius, referring to the director as \u201can overpaid tool\u201d and written by \u201cthe real heroes here,\u201d but it is a perfect visually driven introduction to the harmony of romance, action, and comedy to follow, heavily relying on CGI.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Jungle Book\u201d truly amazes with its animation and visual elements. Everything on screen other than Mowgli is computer generated, and the result is a beautiful jungle setting and realistic animal characters. The use of color and the detail in both characters in setting take viewers through a completely convincing visual journey through Mowgli\u2019s jungle adventure.<\/p>\n

All three films boast star-studded casts, and the talent lives up to expectations in each. As Deadpool, Ryan Reynolds could not be more perfect, and he makes no secret about his love for the character, who he plays completely believably.<\/p>\n

As Baloo the bear in \u201cThe Jungle Book,\u201d Bill Murray elicits a laugh at almost every line, but the real star of the film is Neel Sethi, who plays Mowgli in his first acting role. Because he is basically the only non-CGI image featured in \u201cThe Jungle Book,\u201d Sethi had to act out the entire film standing by himself in front of a green screen. However, he manages to portray Mowgli in an authentic and empathetic way.<\/p>\n

\u201cBatman v Superman\u201d had high expectations to live up to before its release, and since the film hit theaters, it has received less than positive reviews. Nonetheless, Ben Affleck did manage to live up to the hype in his first role as Batman, which he portrays menacingly in order to give the movie one of its sparse positives.<\/p>\n

Although \u201cBatman v Superman\u201d has made more at the box office than both \u201cDeadpool\u201d and \u201cThe Jungle Book,\u201d the film has been received less-than positively by reviewers and the consensus is that the heavily anticipated project failed to live up to the hype.<\/p>\n

Contrarily, \u201cDeadpool\u201d seems to be a surprise hit in both the sales and press departments, considering it focuses on a rather lesser-known Marvel character, and its perfect blend of witty comedy, romance, and action most likely explains its success. Although it has not yet had enough time to catch up to \u201cBatman v Superman\u201d or \u201cDeadpool\u201d in earnings, critics have received \u201cThe Jungle Book\u201d positively, crediting the film\u2019s beautiful visuals and spot-on casting as their reason.<\/p>\n

As action\/ adventure films, each of the three works delivers and represents their genre in a unique way. Fast-paced, adventurous scenes are common in \u201cDeadpool,\u201d \u201cThe Jungle Book,\u201d and \u201cBatman v Superman\u201d and fans of action\/ adventure films will not be disappointed by any of the three.<\/p>\n

\u201cBatman v Superman\u201d features the most epic fight scenes, like the battle against Luthor\u2019s monster, so those who especially like the action elements of this type of film will be sure to find themselves entertained.<\/p>\n

\u201cDeadpool\u201d puts a unique spin on the classic action and adventure piece with its heavy use of comedy and its antihero-superhero main character. Although not as violent as \u201cDeadpool\u201d or \u201cBatman v Superman,\u201d \u201cThe Jungle Book\u201d manages to pack a near constant amount of visually stimulating jungle action into its rendition of the classic story and certainly lives up to its action label.<\/p>\n

Each of these films are entertaining and box office successes. However, Batman v Superman\u2019s underwhelming visuals and lack of a focused storyline result in Snyder\u2019s much anticipated film failing to live up to the high expectations leading up to its market release. Contrarily, \u201cDeadpool\u201d and \u201cThe Jungle Book\u201d both shine as examples of unique and stimulating action\/ adventure films.<\/p>\n