Comic Book movies have evolved quite a bit since the early days. Bigger budgets and advances in technlogy have allowed for an onslaught of new comic movies. This is a list of my favorite comic based movies of all time.
10. Blade 2 - The blade series is a mixed bag for me. Wesley Snipes was the perfect choice for the role and I couldnt see anyone else playing him. The original was an ok movie but Blade 2 really surprised me on how good it was. The action was great and I really enjoyed the story. Hands down the best of the Blade movies. Blade 3 was a abomination....perhaps when Snipes gets out of jail for tax evasion he can give us one last movie....
9. X-Men 2 - I compare this movie and franchise to what I said earlier about the Blade series. The first X-men was decent but not great. The second one finally allowed Wolverine to act like Wolverine. I've always been a proponent of an R-Rated Wolverine. This was the clost thing to that. I realize that comic movies really wont work with a R Rating but some characters just dont work with a PG13 restriction. I think my favorite part of that movie was the scene of Nightcrawler teleporting all through the White House. Then X-men 3 came out......what a flaming turd of a movie....they were killing main characters off right and left. The story was dumb, the deaths were dumb, the movie was dumb.
8. Iron Man - The return of Robert Downey Jr. This movie was just plain out fun. I really felt that Downey Jr. nailed the Tony Stark character. I'm sure that was because he had really lived like that early in his career. The only reason that this movie is not higher is that the bad guy in the movie was pretty lame. I love Jeff Bridges but he was terrible as the bad guy. I want to see Iron Man tested and doing more. Unfortunately that is the problem with the sequel also. I think that this is the first comic movie that I like the alter ego more than the hero.
7. Batman Begins - Christopher Nolan knows how to make an comic movie. Batman is one of those characters that when done right its wonderful. I think this was the first comic movie that really took the time to bring in good acting talent and not just big name stars. The reason Nolan is such a good comic book movie director is that he makes not just a good comic movie but a good movie. My wife who hates comic book movies loved the Batman movies. Sometimes you have to take a step back and realize that its a comic movie and not just a drama. Christian Bale, Liam Neeson, Michael Caine, and Gary Oldman...you cant get a better cast...oh wait.....check the end of this list.
6. Spiderman - I was so excited to see this movie. One of my favorite comic characters brought to the screen by one of my favorite directors. Sam Raimi, of Army of Darkness fame, got the gig and really hit it out of the park. The casting of Tobey was perfect and I absolutely loved the light hearted sense of humor which totally belongs in a spiderman movie. Willem Dafoe was a great Green Goblin and who can forget BOOOONNNESAAAW!
5. Superman 2 - Superman vs 3 Kryptonian Supervillians.....This was easily one of my favorite movies as a kid. Christopher Reeve was an amazing Superman and Terrence Stamp cemented himself as a comic book nerd God as General Zod. The special effects were terrible and there were some ridiculous made up super powers but when you were a kid ....you didn't notice that stuff. I still to this day love the hand crushing of Zod in the Fortress of Solitude. This was the end of the decent Superman movie era....Richard Pryor and Nuclear Man destroyed the franchise after this.
4. Batman - Michael Keaton as Batman? I remember thinking "Mr. Mom" is the Batman...this will never work!" I was wrong. Keaton delivered as Batman and Jack Nicholson gave us an amazing performance as the Joker. The real star of the movie in my opinion was the director Tim Burton. He gave us a style that no one had scene before. I still to this day love his version of Gotham City better than anybody else's. The city was cool, the suit was cool, and what about that Batmobile?....The Batman movies (Until Nolan) got progressively worse but I will always have love for the original.
3. Spiderman 2 - This was the perfect Spiderman movie. The whole character of Dr. Octopus was amazing. Alfred Molina did an awesome job and the special affects work on his tentacles was excellent. The action sequences were better than the original, especially the the subway scene. Unfortunately this was the last entertaining Spiderman movie because the studio neutered Sam Raimi for the 3rd installment. They have ditched Raimi and Tobey for the new Spiderman movie and I have a real bad feeling this new one with be terrible but we will see.
2. Superman - This is the movie that made me like comics. I was just a child when it came out but its influence on me was huge. The special effects dont hold up obviously to other comic movies, Gene Hackmans role as Lex Luthor was more comic than Menacing. There was just something about this movie that was magical to me. It was really the first mainstream comic book movie out there. Christopher Reeve was Superman and I dont think he was ever able to ditch that. The guy nailed his portrayal of Clark Kent and I dont think anyone will ever be able to duplicate it. Of course this pick for number 2 is biased because Superman is my favorite comic character but this movie is why I feel that way. Otisburg?
1. The Dark Knight - Flawless. The sequel to Nolan's Batman Begins is easlily the best Comic movie of all time. As much as I loved the Superman movie....it just doesnt compare. The acting was amazing....Obviously Heath Ledger's performance was iconic and will never be forgotten, but everyone in this movie was great. There were no weaknesses in this film. This movie was Oscar Worthy and I know that "The Academy" frowns upon movies like these but there wasnt a better movie that year. I am excited about the prospects of a third movie but I dont think they can top this. I loved the Joker in this movie but I might have been more impressed with the story arc that involved Harvey Dent. I really hope that future comic movies use this movie as a reference point on how to make a good comic movie.
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