Making Corny Look Cool

Superhero films did a lot for our geeky tastes in the past decade. While Spiderman and Batman were always cool to us, many people only experienced them through atrocities like Batman & Robin, or though the cheesy, kid-oriented cartoons on Saturday mornings. And while it's always been cool to wear a Superman or Batman shirt, other superheroes have been getting some needed love without people looking like giant losers.

This has also been great for less mainstream-worthy fictional worlds. Things like Transformers never had a chance to be cool. They were always these complicated little toys that went along with a kid's TV show. And now look at it - three movies later and people aren't ashamed to admit that they love Transformers.

The same is true of Star Trek. Seriously, who knew Star Trek could ever be a thing? It tried breaking ground years ago, but the movies never had much liftoff with a wide audience. Now you've got a movie that, while it's obviously Star Trek, looks nothing like the stereotype attached to the show and those who are fans of it.

I realized this as my family was watching G.I. Joe Retaliation. I remember the toys from my childhood - they were the only toys with actual joints, so they made excellent objects to throw down the stairs. I tried to watch the show and read the comic, but it was just too cheesy. The colors were bright to the point of hilarity, the names were almost too cool, and the advanced technology seemed... "dated" isn't the right word for high tech weaponry, but I personally never felt impressed by their futuristic tools.

But look at me now! I would actually sit down and read a G.I. Joe series because the movie makes it look so cool. I sat down with my kids and watched some of the Transformers episodes last year and probably enjoyed it a bit more than they did. I tried watching Star Trek, but a man can only handle so much cheese!

Has Hollywood, for all its evils, brought you in to a fictional world you never thought you'd enjoy? Or are you a purist who think they take too many liberties and dilute what your favorite comic is all about?


See you tomorrow!

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