Fugitoid Jones
08-16-2003, 11:24 PM
Well, I just figgured' I'd make a list of what is in my opinion the top 10 greatest comic book/superhero movies ever made. So, if you have a few minutes to listen to my pointless rambles, feel free to indulge yourself. Keep in mind, these are just my opinions, and I by no means think that they are what everyone else should think. Well, here they are;
10. Spawn (1998)
I was in middle school at the time this film came out and I was a big Spawn fan. It was also the peak of the short lived Spawn-mania. I feel the movie lives up to the comic book legacy and follows the comics very well. Of course, they had to change the fact that Jason Wynn (Martin Sheen) killed Al Simmons rather than Chapel of Youngblood fame, but it saves the filmmakers from having to introduce the Youngblood universe into the
picture and adds to the tension between Spawn and Wynn. The costumes are really neat, and the special effects aren't bad for 1998. But the highlight of the movie is without a doubt Jon Leguizamo as the evil Clown.
9. Daredevil (2003)
If you can just ignore Ben Affleck for an hour and a half, your in good shape. Ben is really the only annoying thing about the movie, but I feel I can just ignore the fact that he's got no real talent and still enjoy the film. The plot is nothing that would make you think much, but I think it still tells a decent story. The costumes and settings are really good, too. The way in which the film was shot really gave the gritty feel and look that is very
similar to the Frank Miller version of the character. Michael Clark Duncan is great as the Kingpin, and Colin Farrel is amazing as Bullseye.
8. Dick Tracy (1990)
Not really a comic book superhero, but he's a comic strip detective, which is close enough. One thing that really sticks out in my mind is the colors. The entire film is shot using the seven basic colors, which really gives it a comic feel, along with the set designs that seem to pop out. The film also has a great cast with the likes of Warren Beatty, Al Pacino, Madonna, and Dustin Hoffman.
7. The Crow (1995)
I'm not too familiar with the original graphic novels, but from what I have seen, the movie seems to capture the gothic look and gritty feel. The director Alex Proyas has such a great visual style that helps define the movie. It's too bad that Brandon Lee was tragically killed while filming this movie. However, at least he was able to leave us with such a great final piece of work.
6. The Hulk (2003)
It's too bad this movie didn't do so well in the box office, because I thaught it was a great flick. I loved the split screen effects that made the movie look like a real comic come to life on the big screen. I just about wet myself everytime the split screens with the different camera angles would come up. The acting was well done and I thought the special effects were top notch. A lot of people bitched and moaned that the Hulk looked fake and they should have had a guy painted green. No human, no matter how jacked he is, could accurately play the 10 ft. tall, 800 lbs. monster that is the Hulk.
5. Superman (1978)
There is only one word to describe Christopher Reeve's portrayal of the Man of Steel: perfect. He plays awkward, clumsy and innocent while Clark Kent, and then becomes the boyscout "man we all wish we could be more like" himself Superman. Many people believe the second film to be better than this one, but I'll have to disagree. Richard Donner helped set the standards for what the Superman series would be like. I also like the fact that this movie told the history of Superman and I feel it was done real well. Plus, you can't go wrong with Marlon Brando in a movie.
4. X-Men (2000)/ X2: X-Men United (2003)
Both of these movies are just soo good, they're kinda tied, and I've got reasons for that. X-Men kinda introduced us to the characters and kinda introduced us into the X-Men universe. Now, I know that a lot of people are going "Yeah, but those weren't the original X-Men! They got them wrong!" People don't understand that not only did the director Bryan Singer probably want to introduce the more popular characters right off, but also when making a film, not everything that looks good on paper or it's original source will make a smooth transition onto film. Some things look good in writing, but can't really make the jump to live action. It's not like they're saying Spider-Man was born with his powers because his mother was an alien bug, or that Wolverine is really Prof. X's father after divorcing Lady Deathstrike to marry Sabretooth. Now, for X2. X2 was awesome because it not only focused on the "God Loves, Man Kills" story arc, but because they had already established the X-Men universe, they were able to play with it without many limitations. Hence we get my favorite character, Nightcrawler. Plus, the action scenes in the first movie were stellar, but they were simply amazing in the second.
3. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1989)
Now, everyone on this forum should already know this, but just for those that don't (you know who you are, you schmucks) the TMNT started out as a comic. Before the cartoon, before the breakfast cereal, before the toys, before the pajamas, before the trading cards, and even before the tupper ware, there was the comic. And this movie, more than anything, follows the first 11 comics of the original series. The movie was able to blend the popular cartoon version of the Turtles with the lesser known comic version of the Turtles extremely well. The grittier setting of New York is identical to the depictions in the comics, and the violence in the movie was on the same level that it is in the comics. What Steve Barron, the director could have done, was taken this movie in the cartoon direction and could have made this a big pile of kiddy plop. But instead, he made a beutiful, more serious Turtle film that was true to it's roots.
2. Batman (1989)/ Batman Returns (1992)
Much like both the X-Men movies, I had to have the first two Batman movies in the number two spot. Tim Burton really understood the pyschology of the character and his world, and I think that's why these two were soo good. Joel "I'm a schmuck" Shoemaker (i know i spelled it wrong, i did it on purpose) was only interested in getting big name stars to make brainless, cartoony action movies about Batman. Tim, on the other hand, focused on getting actors not only for their box office appeal, but their acting abilites as well. He also didn't focus on the action, but on the story and the characters. The first movie introduced the world of Batman. Tim got to play with the second movie because the world of Batman had already been established, so all the rules were out. The first two Batman movies also had Michael Keaton as Batman, which is like how Christopher Reeve's is with Superman. You can't picture anyone better for the role. The first two movies also had the best villians; Jack Nicholson as the Joker, Danny Devito as the Penguin, and sexy Michelle Pheifer as Catwoman.
....and now the greatest comic book/superhero movie ever made is...
Superman IV: the Quest for Peace! naw, just kidding...
1. Spider-Man (2002)
In my opinion, the best film adaptation of a comic book superhero. Some people say "it was too much of a teen movie" well, that's the idea, **** head. Peter Parker is a teenager. The film is focusing on a teenager. It really helps to have a director who knows the source material. Sam Raimi was a huge Spider-Man fan growing up, so he already understood and had a connection with the character. I really felt that this movie really had a Spider-Man feel to it. I'm not just saying that because it had some dude jumping around in a Spidey costume, but the film really made you feel like you were reading an issue of "Amazing Spider-Man". The dialogue was dead on, with Spidey cracking one-liners while thwarting villians, all the way down to that one instance where Mary Jane calls Peter "tiger". Tobey Maguire was a shoe-in for the role of the web-slinger, and Wilem Dafoe was very entertaining as the Green Goblin.
Well, there you have it. I'm sure your sick of me going off here, so now please feel free to comment and make objections.
Some other movies that didn't make the list because they weren't as good or I haven't seen yet are:
Howard the Duck, Ghost World, Judge Dredd, Men In Black, the Mask, The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, Supergirl, Captain America, the Punisher[/i]
10. Spawn (1998)
I was in middle school at the time this film came out and I was a big Spawn fan. It was also the peak of the short lived Spawn-mania. I feel the movie lives up to the comic book legacy and follows the comics very well. Of course, they had to change the fact that Jason Wynn (Martin Sheen) killed Al Simmons rather than Chapel of Youngblood fame, but it saves the filmmakers from having to introduce the Youngblood universe into the
picture and adds to the tension between Spawn and Wynn. The costumes are really neat, and the special effects aren't bad for 1998. But the highlight of the movie is without a doubt Jon Leguizamo as the evil Clown.
9. Daredevil (2003)
If you can just ignore Ben Affleck for an hour and a half, your in good shape. Ben is really the only annoying thing about the movie, but I feel I can just ignore the fact that he's got no real talent and still enjoy the film. The plot is nothing that would make you think much, but I think it still tells a decent story. The costumes and settings are really good, too. The way in which the film was shot really gave the gritty feel and look that is very
similar to the Frank Miller version of the character. Michael Clark Duncan is great as the Kingpin, and Colin Farrel is amazing as Bullseye.
8. Dick Tracy (1990)
Not really a comic book superhero, but he's a comic strip detective, which is close enough. One thing that really sticks out in my mind is the colors. The entire film is shot using the seven basic colors, which really gives it a comic feel, along with the set designs that seem to pop out. The film also has a great cast with the likes of Warren Beatty, Al Pacino, Madonna, and Dustin Hoffman.
7. The Crow (1995)
I'm not too familiar with the original graphic novels, but from what I have seen, the movie seems to capture the gothic look and gritty feel. The director Alex Proyas has such a great visual style that helps define the movie. It's too bad that Brandon Lee was tragically killed while filming this movie. However, at least he was able to leave us with such a great final piece of work.
6. The Hulk (2003)
It's too bad this movie didn't do so well in the box office, because I thaught it was a great flick. I loved the split screen effects that made the movie look like a real comic come to life on the big screen. I just about wet myself everytime the split screens with the different camera angles would come up. The acting was well done and I thought the special effects were top notch. A lot of people bitched and moaned that the Hulk looked fake and they should have had a guy painted green. No human, no matter how jacked he is, could accurately play the 10 ft. tall, 800 lbs. monster that is the Hulk.
5. Superman (1978)
There is only one word to describe Christopher Reeve's portrayal of the Man of Steel: perfect. He plays awkward, clumsy and innocent while Clark Kent, and then becomes the boyscout "man we all wish we could be more like" himself Superman. Many people believe the second film to be better than this one, but I'll have to disagree. Richard Donner helped set the standards for what the Superman series would be like. I also like the fact that this movie told the history of Superman and I feel it was done real well. Plus, you can't go wrong with Marlon Brando in a movie.
4. X-Men (2000)/ X2: X-Men United (2003)
Both of these movies are just soo good, they're kinda tied, and I've got reasons for that. X-Men kinda introduced us to the characters and kinda introduced us into the X-Men universe. Now, I know that a lot of people are going "Yeah, but those weren't the original X-Men! They got them wrong!" People don't understand that not only did the director Bryan Singer probably want to introduce the more popular characters right off, but also when making a film, not everything that looks good on paper or it's original source will make a smooth transition onto film. Some things look good in writing, but can't really make the jump to live action. It's not like they're saying Spider-Man was born with his powers because his mother was an alien bug, or that Wolverine is really Prof. X's father after divorcing Lady Deathstrike to marry Sabretooth. Now, for X2. X2 was awesome because it not only focused on the "God Loves, Man Kills" story arc, but because they had already established the X-Men universe, they were able to play with it without many limitations. Hence we get my favorite character, Nightcrawler. Plus, the action scenes in the first movie were stellar, but they were simply amazing in the second.
3. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1989)
Now, everyone on this forum should already know this, but just for those that don't (you know who you are, you schmucks) the TMNT started out as a comic. Before the cartoon, before the breakfast cereal, before the toys, before the pajamas, before the trading cards, and even before the tupper ware, there was the comic. And this movie, more than anything, follows the first 11 comics of the original series. The movie was able to blend the popular cartoon version of the Turtles with the lesser known comic version of the Turtles extremely well. The grittier setting of New York is identical to the depictions in the comics, and the violence in the movie was on the same level that it is in the comics. What Steve Barron, the director could have done, was taken this movie in the cartoon direction and could have made this a big pile of kiddy plop. But instead, he made a beutiful, more serious Turtle film that was true to it's roots.
2. Batman (1989)/ Batman Returns (1992)
Much like both the X-Men movies, I had to have the first two Batman movies in the number two spot. Tim Burton really understood the pyschology of the character and his world, and I think that's why these two were soo good. Joel "I'm a schmuck" Shoemaker (i know i spelled it wrong, i did it on purpose) was only interested in getting big name stars to make brainless, cartoony action movies about Batman. Tim, on the other hand, focused on getting actors not only for their box office appeal, but their acting abilites as well. He also didn't focus on the action, but on the story and the characters. The first movie introduced the world of Batman. Tim got to play with the second movie because the world of Batman had already been established, so all the rules were out. The first two Batman movies also had Michael Keaton as Batman, which is like how Christopher Reeve's is with Superman. You can't picture anyone better for the role. The first two movies also had the best villians; Jack Nicholson as the Joker, Danny Devito as the Penguin, and sexy Michelle Pheifer as Catwoman.
....and now the greatest comic book/superhero movie ever made is...
Superman IV: the Quest for Peace! naw, just kidding...
1. Spider-Man (2002)
In my opinion, the best film adaptation of a comic book superhero. Some people say "it was too much of a teen movie" well, that's the idea, **** head. Peter Parker is a teenager. The film is focusing on a teenager. It really helps to have a director who knows the source material. Sam Raimi was a huge Spider-Man fan growing up, so he already understood and had a connection with the character. I really felt that this movie really had a Spider-Man feel to it. I'm not just saying that because it had some dude jumping around in a Spidey costume, but the film really made you feel like you were reading an issue of "Amazing Spider-Man". The dialogue was dead on, with Spidey cracking one-liners while thwarting villians, all the way down to that one instance where Mary Jane calls Peter "tiger". Tobey Maguire was a shoe-in for the role of the web-slinger, and Wilem Dafoe was very entertaining as the Green Goblin.
Well, there you have it. I'm sure your sick of me going off here, so now please feel free to comment and make objections.
Some other movies that didn't make the list because they weren't as good or I haven't seen yet are:
Howard the Duck, Ghost World, Judge Dredd, Men In Black, the Mask, The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, Supergirl, Captain America, the Punisher[/i]