Glass shows how ridiculous superheroes actually are
Glass was undeniably something of a mixed bag. While it had some great ideas on a foundational level, it wasn’t particularly groundbreaking and a good portion of the storytelling was muddled or unclear.
While I enjoyed Glass more than Shyamalan’s surprise hit, Split, it didn’t come close to equaling the creative heights of Unbreakable which was pitch-perfect in nearly every regard.
But for all the negatives that can be leveled against the film, there were moments of pure delight that helped remind me why I liked Shyamalan films in the first place.
One of those moments took place in the climax of the film. I think it’s safe to assume that it’s not a spoiler saying that there is a standoff at the end of the film between Bruce Willis’s Overseer and James McAvoy’s The Horde.
But more interesting than the final battle itself is the moment when a character rushes through a door to behold the two titans staring each other down from across a green lawn.
The way this scene is filmed puts you in the eyes of the beholder and help you understand what it could be like in real life if you happened to stumble across the moments preceding an epic superhero battle.
Would you be struck with with a wave of awe, or an overwhelming sense of bewilderment? Let’s face it, seeing two figures in costumes — even outfits as practical as the ones worn in Glass — would automatically strike anyone as ridiculous.
In his own words, Shyamalan categorized Glass as the “first truly grounded comic book movie.” While that point is certainly debatable, Glass does provide us with a good sense of what a potentially real life superhero clash might look like.
Even Christopher Nolan’s grounded take on Batman is still absurd to a certain degree. If you actually saw a grown man wandering around in a bat suit, fear is probably the last thing that would enter your mind.
This might sound like a criticism of Glass, but it’s actually quite the opposite. Having that moment of awareness where you realize how ridiculous the situation is helps to make it more endearing.
Seeing superheroes fight as you maybe would in real life is in a way more thrilling than seeing an overly choreographed superhero battle like when the Avenger’s ganged up on Thanos in Infinity War.
Because what almost every Avengers battle is missing is brutality. Honest action is refreshing when it looks like it wasn’t planned. Seeing the Horde clash with the Overseer doesn’t feel stylized or unrealistic, which in turn makes it both ridiculous and enjoyable.
