All modern superhero movies owe a lot to the work of Richard Donner with the original “Superman” movie, whether it’s “Wonder Woman,” or “Shazam!” or “Guardians of the Galaxy.” Of course, many recent superhero movies go for a darker and grittier tone that’s far removed from the bright optimism of Donner’s 1978 film, and it turns out Donner is not a fan of this trend.
In an interview with The Telegraph, Richard Donner admits he finds it staggering to see how popular superhero movies have become since the ’70s. “When you see it done right, by my standards, it’s so fulfilling,” Donner said. “I’m very happy and proud when I see them. When it’s done wrong, it’s such a disappointment.”
What does he find disappointing, exactly? Well, as Donner puts it “There are so many people that make superheroes so cynical, it’s depressing. When they’re dark and bleak and angry with themselves and the world, I don’t find it entertaining,” the director added. “I think there’s enough reality going on for that. We just got over four years of that. I think we crave the opposite.”
Honestly, I don’t blame him. There is plenty to like about “Avengers: Endgame” or even parts of “Batman V Superman,” but there’s no denying the difference in tone. But wait! Donner was not done with his hot takes. When asked about last year’s comments by Martin Scorsese on Marvel movies being like “theme parks,” Donner responded, “Well, I’d like to be able to make one of those theme park rides!”
He then added, “The problem is, a lot of times, we see in our industry that when the technical lens becomes readily available, it’s totally misused. But at the same time, every once in a while you really see quite a wonderful story with one of these films.”