Much of popular fiction's appeal lies in its exploration of the unknown and unknowable. It presents mysteries to its audience and reveals the inner workings of societies and infrastructures that the naked eye might never experience. Every turn of the page, cut of the film, or push of a button can serve to send its audience deeper and deeper into a whole new world.
One of the most repeated themes and images in film appears in the form of the mysterious men in black. These well-dressed men appear inpenetrable and guarded behind their dark shades and formalwear. They often represent agents of a secretive government program (see any James Bond film) or perhaps programs themselves (The Matrix). Who are these featureless men and what do they represent? It is a question that has almost grown stale with its commonality and yet still holds a powerful visual impact after all of its numerous appearances.
While most iterations of this common trope keep these characters on the outskirts of the audience's knowledge and perception, Barry Sonnenfeld's Men in Black addressed the identities of these outsiders head on. The film welcomed audiences to explore the hidden world of these "galaxy defenders" in a tongue-in-cheek fashion that thrived on showcasing the extraordinary that was hidden in plain sight. That was almost 15 years ago for the characters J and K, the odd-couple protagonists of Men in Black and Men in Black II; can Men in Black III bring back the action, comedy, sense of discovery, and heart that made the franchise so beloved in the first place?
