“Project Power” (Project Power, 2020) brings us a new and particular vision of a group of “superheroes” or, at least, normal individuals who acquire special skills thanks to the intake of a pill. But they are not alone in this olympus of vigilantes with good intentions who want to make a difference. We take advantage of this premiere in pure action, and we have the perfect excuse to dig into other super-powered stories that run from the classic protagonists in spandex. WATCHMEN: THE VIGILANTES (Watchmen, Zack Snyder, 2009)
Everyone has something to say for and against the adaptation of the series created by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons in 1986, a very successful story that allowed the comic to be recognized as an art in its own right, rather than a minor or alternative medium. Zack Snyder and his visual style transport us to a dark and dystopian 1985, where the masked vigilantes who knew how to defend the world were called to retreat. But the murder of one of these veterans sets in motion a series of investigations, the gathering of the remnant heroes and a diabolical plot that could destroy everything. You can’t ask for more stylistic fidelity, although many don’t like certain changes in the original story. It can be viewed at: AMAZON. MYSTERY MEN (Mystery Men, Kinka Usher, 1999)
Filmmaker Kinka Usher cemented his extensive and successful career based on award-winning television commercials, but in 1999 he paused to bring to the big screen the adaptation of the comic book series created by Bob Burden and edited by Dark Horse. This fantastic adventure, starring a group of superheroes with rather absurd powers trying to save the city, is considered a commercial failure, but acquired cult movie status thanks to its fine-tuned dialogue, many of which were improvised by a large cast that includes Ben Stiller, Hank Azaria, William H. Macy, Janeane Garofalo, Greg Kinnear , Geoffrey Rush and Tom Waits himself.EL CUERVO (The Crow, Alex Proyas, 1994)
In 1994, Alex Proyas adapted James O’Barr’s eponymous comic and, much to his regret, made Brandon Lee an urban legend, as famous as his dark character. During “Devil’s Night” the city of Detroit is whipped by a band of maniacs led by Top Dollar, last responsible for the murder of rocker Eric Draven (Lee) and his fiancée Shelly. A year later, Eric is resurrected with the help of a crow and walks back among the living for the sole purpose of collecting revenge. A supernatural and immortal force that will not stop until each of the culprits tastes a little of their own medicine. SUPER (James Gunn, 2010)
Before playing in the major leagues of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, James Gunn exercised his superheroic muscles with this comedy-drama that breaks quite a bit with the standards of the genre, starting with its peculiar protagonist. Frank Darrbo (Rainn Wilson) is a simple cook who decides to create a vigilante alter ego to recover his wife, who fell under the bad influence of a drug dealer. Thus cries Crimson Bolt, a flesh-and-blood hero with many good intentions, but zero skills and skills to deal with the bad guys. Frank is not alone in his crusade. Libby (Ellen Page), comic book lover, becomes his sidekick, not understanding that this is the real world, more violent and less romantic than what is shown in the vignettes. It can be viewed at: AMAZON. POWER WITHOUT LIMITS (Chronicle, Josh Trank, 2012)
Let’s put aside the “Fantastic Four” fiasco (Fantastic Four, 2015) and focus on Josh Trank’s best superhero movie: this fake “found footage” centered on a group of friends who acquire powers, and from there it all starts to go out of its way. Dane DeHaan, Michael B. Jordan and Alex Russell are the boys in question, three marginalized teenagers who, after crossing with a strange crystalline object, gain telekinetic abilities. Andrew (DeHaan) takes the most profit and the one with the most power comes together, so much so that the initial ‘jokes’ get out of hand, and very soon becomes a threat to himself and the rest. HANCOCK (Peter Berg, 2008)
We’re used to seeing Will Smith in a “savior hero of the world” plan, but this Peter Berg adventure shows him with a rather different attitude: a super-powerful guy who doesn’t inspire confidence or good vibes, rather quite contempt and antipathy. Not to mention all the destruction he causes every time he takes action. After saving The Life of Ray Embrey (Jason Bateman), this PR expert decides to help him “clean up” his image and turn it into a truthhero to the world. But things get complicated when he meets his wife Mary (Charlize Theron), who hides a few secrets and connections to his past. You can watch it on: NETFLIX. KICK-ASS (Matthew Vaughn, 2010)
Matthew Vaughn plays it and adapts Mark Millar’s violent comic book centered on Dave Lizewski (Aaron Taylor-Johnson), a supporting student and comical fanatic, who has no better idea than to become a New York vigilante. We talk about a young man without powers, abilities or motivations, although a lot of perseverance, even after finishing several times in the hospital. The fate of Kick-Ass changes when he crosses paths with Hit-Girl and Big Daddy (Nicolas Cage), ending in the crosshairs of powerful dealer Frank D’Amico (Mark Strong), his men and another young vigilante, Red Mist (Christopher Mintz-Plasse), son of the mobster who seeks to set the rookie hero.EL PROTECTED (Unbreakable, M. Night Shman, 2000)
Shyamalan seeks to repeat the feat of “Sixth Sense” (The Sixth Sense, 1999) and, with the millions raised and fame achieved, is dispatched with a “comtourra” story long before the genre invaded the screens. Bruce Willis is David Dunn, a security guard who, after becoming the sole survivor of a terrible rail accident, discovers that he is indestructible and decides to use this “power” to help society. The filmmaker’s idea of the hero/villain antithesis and its origins is great; achieves a dark film with good climates, but as with the vast majority of his works, disails towards the end and unproves the great villain on duty in the figure of Samuel L. Jackson.DEFENDOR: A HERO WITHOUT IGUALOR (Defendor, Peter Stebbings, 2009)
Not everything are superpowers and layers to the wind, there are also ordinary people who want to make a difference in a rather dark world. In this case, Arthur Poppington (Woody Harrelson), an ordinary man – albeit with several delusions in tow – who becomes the vigilante Defendor to protect the city and its inhabitants from the yoke of the mobsters and corrupt. A bit of comedy, quite a bit of drama and all the bizarre that an independent film can bring to the genre. With the help of a young prostitute (Kat Dennings), Defendor will patrol the streets in search of his arch-enemy: Captain Industry, in fact, a drug-trafficking criminal. MEGAMENTED (Megamind, Tom McGrath, 2010)
This DreamWorks film aims to answer the old question of: what if the bad guys won? Tom McGrath, responsible for “Madagascar” and its aftermath, tells the story of two little ones who were thrown into space, abandoning their respective planets, and sent to Earth (something very similar to what happened to Krypton’s son). One grew to become the brightest and most fiendish mind, although all his attempts to seize Metro City have been held back by the other small, mature and adopted as Metro Man, the local superhero. But one day the hero is defeated, and having the city under his control, Megamente discovers that his life no longer has any purpose without an enemy to face. You can watch it on: NETFLIX.
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