chronicle may have nothing to do with Marvel and DC’s popular franchises, but that’s what stopped it from being one of the best superhero movies in recent memory. Taking a unique found-footage approach to filmmaking, the film follows the exploits of three high school friends who stumble upon a power that grants them superhuman abilities. Where this story deviates from the typical formula, however, is the friends’ inability to master their powers as they lose control of themselves. Regardless of whether Chronicle 2 still happens, The original story is unique.

Since most of the superhero movies released today are from Marvel or DC, it was refreshing to see a story that wasn’t yet very popular on the big screen. It made the film more unpredictable and since it couldn’t rely on familiar faces or recurring characters, it had to use the story to draw the audience into this unique world. chronicle also had an excellent castwith actors like Dane DeHaan and Alex Russell giving some of their strongest performances. It is also one of Michael B. Jordan’s best films as his character was arguably the most outstanding.

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Chronicle is one of the best non-Marvel/DC superhero movies

The film doesn’t need recognizable heroes to be great

In a world where Marvel and DC have essentially owned the superhero genre, it’s extremely satisfying when a new project comes along and proves that new, independent stories can be just as exciting. chronicle does not have the nostalgia or sentimentality audiences keep coming back to Marvel and DC, so it was always going to be tough for the film to make a name for itself – but it does so on its merits alone. The story is compelling, the characters are fun, and the fantasy/sci-fi elements are really creative.

Marvel and DC benefit from their instantly recognizable characters – as soon as Thor’s hammer or Captain America’s shield appear on the screen, it is clear which direction the story is going. But chronicle The element of surprise was maintained by having the characters be regular people, with no recognizable tools or clothing. Seeing familiar characters on screen is great, but it can also be beneficial to have characters that the audience doesn’t immediately recognize.

Chronicle’s Akira inspiration worked better than a live-action remake

The anime could never be portrayed fairly in live action

Although it can be said that chronicle is a largely original story, but that doesn’t mean it is completely free of influences. In many ways, the narrative (and visual style) of the film is very similar to the Akira Manga and anime that follows a biker named Kaneda who tries to save his friend after he gets caught up in a top secret government project. There are differences in the character names and dynamics, but the general atmosphere and progression of the stories are very similar. While it is easy to assume that chronicle merely copied Akira, The film is much more than just an adaptation.

Animation is very difficult to translate into live-action formats with the same dynamic vibrancy – there is a certain level of wonder and mystique that is always lost when adapting manga and anime into live-action films. That is precisely why chronicle works better as a standalone superhero story. Live-action anime TV shows can work very well because the episodic format allows more time to develop the many characters and relationships, but Akira is simply too complicated to cover in two hours without the added freedom of animation.

The unique film style gives Chronicle a fresh style

Another aspect of chronicle What sets it apart from the competition is its found footage approach. The film is shot from the perspective of these friendsand follows them closely as they discover their powers and later learn how to use them effectively. This is a smart decision that really allows the audience to connect with the characters and understand their motivations, which is sometimes difficult in ensemble films like Chronicle. It also removes much of the distance between the audience and the characterswhich can sometimes be a problem with unrealistic superheroes.

The mixture of found footage and superhero spectacle gives chronicle a clear tone that has never really been done in this subgenre. The film immediately grabs the audience’s attention by offering them something new and then earns their attention with a powerful, compelling story that offers twists at every corner. It is surprising that after chronicle‘S Success, but perhaps this success could not be repeated quite as successfully.

chronicle

Chronicle is a found-footage superhero film similar to films like Cloverfield, and follows three high school students who are brought together by a mysterious alien artifact. After stumbling upon a mysterious hole in the middle of the woods, they find a crystal that gives them inexplicable powers that grow stronger over time. The film shows the teens practicing their newfound abilities, but when a friend gives in to the temptation for power and control, things quickly spiral out of control.

director

Josh Trank

Release date

1 February 2012

Studio(s)

20th century

Authors

Max Landis, Josh Trank

Pour

Michael Kelly, Anna Wood, Ashley Hinshaw, Michael B. Jordan, Alex Russell, Dane DeHaan, Bo Petersen

Duration

84 minutes

budget

12 million US dollars

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