If there is one thing that I have written about in the past that I find amusing is the inevitable need for a Comic Villain to monologue. This is brilliantly explained in the first Incredibles in this conversation between Mr. Incredible and Frozone:
Frozone: So now I’m in deep trouble. I mean, one more jolt of this death ray and I’m an epitaph. Somehow I manage to find cover and what does Baron von Ruthless do?
Mr. Incredible: He starts monologuing? (chuckles)
Frozone: He starts monologuing!
Mr. Incredible: Yep! (laughs)
Frozone: He starts like, this prepared speech about how “feeble” I am compared to him, how (rolls eyes) “inevitable” my defeat is, how (makes a dramatic hand gesture) “The world! Will soon! Be his!” Yadda yadda yadda…
Mr. Incredible: Yammering.
Frozone: Yammering! I mean, the guy has me on a platter, and he won’t shut up!
Now to be fair, many times when a script has a villain monologuing, it is to fill in some background information that they need the audience to have but they have not had a chance to put it in. And of course, sometimes it’s because the villains can’t help themselves. In Warner Bros. Shazam!, they have a scene that has some humor with the villains need for grandiose speeches.
In the scene, Shazam! (Zachary Levi) and Dr. Sivana (Mark Strong) are in the midst of their epic battle. At one point they end up a good distance away from each other and Sivana goes into his lengthy monologue about how Shazam! doesn’t stand a chance against him, and the normal villain spiel, except for one thing. Shazam! is so far away, he can’t hear him. As far as he knows Sivana’s just moving his mouth like Lance-a lot Links. This either means that Shazam! doesn’t possess super hearing, or he hasn’t learned how to access it. Either way, he assumes that Sivana is monologuing and starts mocking him. Since he assumes that Sivana can’t hear him either and his wit is being wasted, he finally says, “Aw Screw it” and goes after him.
This is just one of many scenes in Shazam! that addresses the superhero norms and sees them through the humorous side. If you have seen Shazam!, you know what I’m talking about. If you haven’t seen it yet. What are you waiting for? We at GVNation are waiting for your opinions on the film. So hurry up. You know you don’t stand a chance against us. Your typing skills pale….oops. Sorry. No Monologuing Zone.
Source: CBR.Com
Senior Writer at GeekVibesNation – I am a 50 something child of the 70’s who admits to being a Star Trek/Star Wars/Comic Book junkie who once dove head first over a cliff (Ok, it was a small hill) to try to rescue his Fantastic Four comic from a watery grave. I am married to a lovely woman who is as crazy as I am and the proud parent of a 18 year old boy with autism. My wife and son are my real heroes.
