Superhero movies have been a staple of the movie cinemas ever since the turn of the century, with the release of “X-Men” in 2000. The two biggest superhero companies out there, DC Comics and Marvel Entertainment, have been competing for years to release some of the best movies in the industry. Just recently, DC released “The Suicide Squad” and Marvel released “Shang Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings,” both of which obtained high praise from critics and fans alike.
Directed by James Gunn (“Guardians of the Galaxy”), “The Suicide Squad” tells the story of super-criminals employed by the government who complete dangerous missions in exchange for time off their prison sentences. Amanda Waller, played by Viola Davis, assigns the Suicide Squad, consisting of Harley Quinn, Polka-Dot Man, King Shark, and Bloodsport, to overthrow the government of the hostile island of Corto Maltese. This film is able to wonderfully combine its dark humor and gory action scenes due to its R rating. As the name suggests, not everyone makes it out alive, and some death scenes are quite brutal. “The Suicide Squad” earns a 91% on Rotten Tomatoes, and is available to watch both on HBO Max and in theaters.
Set mostly in San Francisco, the plot of “Shang Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings” takes the audience through a whirlwind adventure of master Kung Fu artist Shaun, played by Simu Liu, and his best friend Katy, played by Awkwafina. As Shaun navigates through his past trauma and faces his present circumstances, he must look deep into his parents’ talents and family histories. The Marvel Cinematic Universe unites Shaun’s talents with magical creatures and individuals to help him defeat his biggest obstacle of all: his past. “Shang Chi’” especially focuses on staying true to traditional fighting styles and the overall culture of China. It earns a 92% on Rotten Tomatoes, and is directed by Destin Daniel Cretton.
After the perfect conclusion of “Avengers: Endgame,” many Marvel fans became skeptical of the future of the MCU. On the other hand, DC has had trouble finding its footing with the DCEU in a predominantly Marvel world ever since its creation in 2013 with “Man of Steel.” The success of both of these movies has given both DC and Marvel fans hope for a bright future of superhero films. So, many fans hold out hope for two of the most anticipated films of all time: “Spider-Man: No Way Home” and “The Batman.”
“Spider-Man: No Way Home” will tell the story of Peter Parker, once again played by Tom Holland, after his final encounter with the villain Mysterio, having to deal with a world that knows his secret identity as Spider-Man. He seeks out the help of Doctor Strange, and together they attempt to erase the memories of the entire world, but instead they open a gateway to something much more terrifying: the multiverse. “The Batman” stars Robert Pattinson as Bruce Wayne in the early years of his persona as the legendary superhero. With the help of James Gordon, played by Jeffrey Wright, Bruce faces the Riddler and many other criminals such as the Penguin and mob boss Carmine Falcone that plague the streets of Gotham City. In a similar fashion to “Dark Knight,” this movie showcases its dark and intense themes in the style of a horror movie. Make sure to catch both “The Batman” and “Spider-Man: No Way Home” in theaters later this school year.
Whether you’re a DC or Marvel fan, the future of both of these franchises look very bright, and the age of superhero movies has only just begun.