Men in Masks

Masks, often used to disguise identities, surely are iconic, if not more so than the characters who wears them. And not only do they work perfectly well hiding one's identity, they help create a long lasting identity that will be recognizable for everyone. Men in masks have been darting across the movie screen since the days of silents and serials, and their popularity shows no signs of diminishing.

Here are a few iconic movies with masked characters which have been permanently etched in our minds.

V for Vendetta

While it is quite rare for the protagonist of the film to wear a mask, and it's even rare to have the protagonist not ever remove the mask, till the very end. This mask has genuinely gained the title of legend in a very short time since the film's release. And adapting a DC graphic novel on the big screen is always a humongous task. Though the movie failed by creating a very accessible version of the ideology explored by Alan Moore, the only thing it got right was the visual treatment of V, played by the charming Hugo Weaving. The character has now grown to be associated with any act of non-conformism and anarchy by independent groups. This masterpiece can be streamed in India on Netflix.

The Mask

Talk about masked characters and the very first visual that comes to one's mind is none other than Jim Carry in the very popular The Mask. An entire movie is based around the mask itself, of course this one had to make it in the list. This movie transformed Jim Carrey into an even more Jim Carrey-ed version of Jim Carrey with green skin, stretchy arms, twirly legs and the propensity to function in cartoonish physics. The character is ridiculously funny, crazily intense and irrepressibly silly. While this character falls under the comic category, most others (keep reading) have got some mystery and thrill attached to them.

Watchmen

Who watches the watchmen? This is one of the most deathless lines from one of the most iconic graphic novels of all time, "Watchmen," created by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons. Though not a straight adaptation of this acclaimed 1986 graphic novel, HBO's recently released TV series of the same name, has already received acclaim from around the world and is a companion to the novel. This show follows quite a few interesting masked characters. The police force has to wear the yellow masks in order to hide their identities and there are many vigilantes both within and outside of the police itself. Played by Regina King, Sister Night, the main character, is heroic and violent when she needs to be. This show has landed major success and you can you catch it airing in India on Star World.

Daredevil

This is surely not a surprise. One of the very popular superhero television series, streaming in India on Netflix, Daredevil, has got a blind superhero showcased in the right manner, with a dark and gritty background. The show has got a mix of political and action with some serious matters being discussed through Matt Murdock's, the daredevil himself, day job as an attorney. This attorney in the day turned vigilante at nights, is a delight to watch. Currently streaming in India on Netflix, the show has a total of 3 seasons.

Batman

'The night is the darkest just before the dawn.'

The black-clad character emerges from the shadows, yet still keeps himself concealed, thanks to that trusty cowl that's become one of pop culture's most iconic disguises. Nolan's groundbreaking The Dark Knight trilogy is more like a classic crime thriller than the tale of a billionaire who dresses in bat-tights. The trilogy can be streamed in India on Netflix.

Deadpool

With two movies out, Deadpool has received immense acclaim all over the world. The supervillain played by Ryan Reynolds, who suits up like a superhero is an ordinary mercenary

turned freakishly powerful mercenary, looks a tiny bit like Spiderman, and is far more psychotic than heroic.

Deadpool points, shoots, jokes (repeats), often while cracking a wise right into the camera. With the many irreverent riffs on the superhero genre and raunchy rapid-fire humor, Deadpool is packed with cheerful swearing, lavish violence and frequent fourth-wall ruptures.

Spiderman

The next "Spider-Man" film starring Tom Holland is scheduled to be released on July 16, 2021.