Thought I'd break up the usual philosophical/theological writings by blogging about movies adapted from comic book characters. I'm a fan of the genre, so I thought I'd list the movies made so far from best to worst. But first a few comments on the criterion I've used. Firstly, I'm not listing the films according to how influential they are/were, or else films like Superman and X-Men would be much higher in my rankings. Instead, I'm listing the films according to overall quality, and, unfortunately (or fortunately, depending on how you look at it), Superman and X-Men do not compare well to many more recent films. Secondly, I won't include animated films, only live-action films; so films like Akira or Batman: The Dark Knight Returns won't be on the list, despite being excellent. Finally, I won't include superhero films not based on comic book characters, e.g., Robocop, The Matrix and Unbreakable. I give each film a rating out of 10. I apologize ahead of time: I may get a little wordy in my comments. There will be spoilers.
Here's my list:
1. The Dark Knight (2008). Directed by: Christopher Nolan; Starring: Christian Bale, Heath ledger, Gary Oldman, Aaron Eckhart, Michael Caine, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Morgan Freeman. Based on: DC Comic's Batman. This film set the gold standard for superhero films when it came out in 2008 - that standard seems unlikely to be broken any time soon. Heath Ledger's performance was spectacular and his Joker is one of the few truly impressive villains in superhero movies so far. He wasn't super powerful or physically imposing. He was just an evil genius, menacing precisely because he had no master plan other than destruction: an "agent of chaos". Also, an excellent performance by Christian Bale (perhaps his best of the trilogy) and undoubtedly the best performance by Gary Oldman of the trilogy. The core theme of three heroes (Wayne, Dent and Gordon) working together in a desperate but potentially futile attempt to make Gotham a better city has great pathos ("How does it make you feel...to know just how alone you really are?"). The combination of Heath Ledger's Oscar-winning performance, the dark neo-noir themes and the perfectly complementary musical score by Hans Zimmer, easily make it no. 1. (9/10)
2. Batman Begins (2005). Directed by: Christopher Nolan. Starring: Christian Bale, Liam Neeson, Michael Caine, Morgan Freeman and Gary Oldman. Based on: DC Comic's Batman. This film has one irritating flaw: Scarecrow and his cronies have been tipping a toxin into Gotham's water mains for weeks. This toxin is activated when water is vaporised. So no one had showers or boiled any water in those weeks leading up to the grand finale? This flaw could have been explained away rather easily (e.g., 'The toxin has a much higher boiling point than water, and only the micro-wave generator is powerful enough to vaporise the toxin in the water mains', etc.), but Nolan and his team never seemed to notice the problem or didn't think it important enough to include a few lines of dialogue explaining away the problem. Anyway, I can overlook this flaw, because in all other respects this film was spectacular. As a superhero origin story, no other film is as satisfying or as stunning. Liam Neeson's performance was one of the best of his career. Morgan Freeman was excellent (as always). Michael Caine was perhaps the best of all (and got better as the trilogy continued). Finally, Christian Bale owned the role of Batman in a way no other actor has managed. OK, Michael Keaton and Ben Affleck's performances were both great in their way, but Bale is Batman in my mind. (8.8/10)
3. Logan (2017). Directed by: James Mangold. Starring: Hugh Jackman, Patrick Stewart, Boyd Holbrook, Stephen Merchant and Dafne Keen. Based on: Marvel's Old Man Logan graphic novel. The final film with Hugh Jackman as Wolverine (or Logan), is packed full of humanity and inhumanity. It contains some of the most moving moments and some of the most graphic violence in any superhero film so far - perhaps even more than Deadpool and Kick-Ass 2. The film is aptly named, as we see the human side of Logan/Wolverine in a way we only get glimpses of in other films. However, we also see Logan in full 'Weapon-X' mode - more than once! His devotion to Charles Xavier (Patrick Stewart) and his grudging feelings for his clone daughter, Laura, combine with unbelievable action to make this film unique among X-men films. Despite featuring several 'half-pint' characters, the film is the most adult superhero film to date. Both Jackman and Stewart pull off their best performances as their respective characters - and by implication the best performances in the X-men franchise to date. In sum, this film is exceptional in almost every respect. (8.6/10)
4. Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014). Directed by: Anthony and Joe Russo. Starring: Chris Evans, Samuel L. Jackson, Scarlett Johansson, and Robert Redford. Based on: Marvel Comic's Captain America series. Great action sequences? Check. Complex, intelligently crafted plot? Check. Greatly improves on its prequel? Check. Solid performances? Check. Fun new characters? Check. What more do you need? This movie further developed the characters of Steve Rogers/Captain America, Bucky Barnes/The Winder Soldier, Nick Fury and Black Widow. One significant criticism: I think it got rid of S.H.I.E.L.D. too soon! This meant a reduced role for Nick Fury in Age of Ultron and his absence from Civil War. (8.5/10)
1. The Dark Knight (2008). Directed by: Christopher Nolan; Starring: Christian Bale, Heath ledger, Gary Oldman, Aaron Eckhart, Michael Caine, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Morgan Freeman. Based on: DC Comic's Batman. This film set the gold standard for superhero films when it came out in 2008 - that standard seems unlikely to be broken any time soon. Heath Ledger's performance was spectacular and his Joker is one of the few truly impressive villains in superhero movies so far. He wasn't super powerful or physically imposing. He was just an evil genius, menacing precisely because he had no master plan other than destruction: an "agent of chaos". Also, an excellent performance by Christian Bale (perhaps his best of the trilogy) and undoubtedly the best performance by Gary Oldman of the trilogy. The core theme of three heroes (Wayne, Dent and Gordon) working together in a desperate but potentially futile attempt to make Gotham a better city has great pathos ("How does it make you feel...to know just how alone you really are?"). The combination of Heath Ledger's Oscar-winning performance, the dark neo-noir themes and the perfectly complementary musical score by Hans Zimmer, easily make it no. 1. (9/10)
2. Batman Begins (2005). Directed by: Christopher Nolan. Starring: Christian Bale, Liam Neeson, Michael Caine, Morgan Freeman and Gary Oldman. Based on: DC Comic's Batman. This film has one irritating flaw: Scarecrow and his cronies have been tipping a toxin into Gotham's water mains for weeks. This toxin is activated when water is vaporised. So no one had showers or boiled any water in those weeks leading up to the grand finale? This flaw could have been explained away rather easily (e.g., 'The toxin has a much higher boiling point than water, and only the micro-wave generator is powerful enough to vaporise the toxin in the water mains', etc.), but Nolan and his team never seemed to notice the problem or didn't think it important enough to include a few lines of dialogue explaining away the problem. Anyway, I can overlook this flaw, because in all other respects this film was spectacular. As a superhero origin story, no other film is as satisfying or as stunning. Liam Neeson's performance was one of the best of his career. Morgan Freeman was excellent (as always). Michael Caine was perhaps the best of all (and got better as the trilogy continued). Finally, Christian Bale owned the role of Batman in a way no other actor has managed. OK, Michael Keaton and Ben Affleck's performances were both great in their way, but Bale is Batman in my mind. (8.8/10)
3. Logan (2017). Directed by: James Mangold. Starring: Hugh Jackman, Patrick Stewart, Boyd Holbrook, Stephen Merchant and Dafne Keen. Based on: Marvel's Old Man Logan graphic novel. The final film with Hugh Jackman as Wolverine (or Logan), is packed full of humanity and inhumanity. It contains some of the most moving moments and some of the most graphic violence in any superhero film so far - perhaps even more than Deadpool and Kick-Ass 2. The film is aptly named, as we see the human side of Logan/Wolverine in a way we only get glimpses of in other films. However, we also see Logan in full 'Weapon-X' mode - more than once! His devotion to Charles Xavier (Patrick Stewart) and his grudging feelings for his clone daughter, Laura, combine with unbelievable action to make this film unique among X-men films. Despite featuring several 'half-pint' characters, the film is the most adult superhero film to date. Both Jackman and Stewart pull off their best performances as their respective characters - and by implication the best performances in the X-men franchise to date. In sum, this film is exceptional in almost every respect. (8.6/10)
4. Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014). Directed by: Anthony and Joe Russo. Starring: Chris Evans, Samuel L. Jackson, Scarlett Johansson, and Robert Redford. Based on: Marvel Comic's Captain America series. Great action sequences? Check. Complex, intelligently crafted plot? Check. Greatly improves on its prequel? Check. Solid performances? Check. Fun new characters? Check. What more do you need? This movie further developed the characters of Steve Rogers/Captain America, Bucky Barnes/The Winder Soldier, Nick Fury and Black Widow. One significant criticism: I think it got rid of S.H.I.E.L.D. too soon! This meant a reduced role for Nick Fury in Age of Ultron and his absence from Civil War. (8.5/10)
5. Captain America: Civil War (2016). Directed by: Anthony and Joe Russo. Starring: Chris Evans, Robert Downey, Jr. Based on: Marvel Comic's Civil War story-line. High quality performances by all
the cast? Check. Best action sequences of any superhero film? I think
so. Introduces even more cool superheroes to the Marvel Cinematic
Universe? Yep. Well planned plot? Yes. You can't ask for more (well, not from Marvel, anyhow). OK, there is one
plot flaw - or perhaps 'unanswered question' is a better way of putting
it: How come the Hydra base in Siberia still had power when it had
been completely shut down for years? The movie leaves this question unanswered. But that's a minor problem. There is also one irksome issue with the film that really applies to the entire Marvel Cinematic Universe: Unlike The Dark Knight where Rachel shockingly dies, radically altering the direction of the film, Civil War feels rather risk-free. This would have been the perfect film for one of the key characters to make a dramatic exit - considering the much heavier themes of this film compared to previous Marvel films. It would have been appalling if someone had died in Ant-Man, for example, because of the comedic nature of that film. But Civil War is clearly intended to be a much more serious and dramatic film, and yet the risk to the main characters is no greater in this film than in the more comedic films of the MCU. Despite this irritation, this film is quite good. (8.5/10)
6. Avengers: Infinity War (2018). Directed by: Anthony & Joe Russo. Starring: Robert Downey, Jr., Chris Hemsworth, Mark Ruffalo, Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson, etc. This film was the culmination of the Infinity War phase and it felt epic enough to carry it off. Shame Endgame fell kind of flat. Though, to be fair, Infinity War did set its sequel up to fail with that cliffhanger ending. That would be the one serious criticism I would make of this film. Everything else I enjoyed thoroughly. Top-tier action, strong performances, tight editing. (8.4/10)
7. Guardians of the Galaxy (2014). Directed by: James Gunn. Starring: Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Dave Bautista, Vin Diesel, and Bradley Cooper. Based on: Marvel Comic's Guardians of the Galaxy series. This film seamlessly combined
humor and cool action sequences, with a lively soundtrack from the 70s
and 80s and the most fun I've had in space since I first watched Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back. It has some flaws. Its villain, Ronan, is completely over the
top - but that kinda goes with the whole vibe of the film, which is deliberately
over the top. What is remarkable about this film is that it takes C-list Marvel characters (characters even Marvel fans didn't know much about) and turned this into a hit movie. Not easy to do. (8.2/10)
8. Dredd (2012). Directed by: Pete Travis (and Alex Garland, uncredited). Starring: Karl Urban, Lena Headey, Wood Harris and Olivia Thirlby. Based on: Rebellion Developments' Judge Dredd series. A re-boot of the Dredd character, this film is a
far better adaptation than its 1995 predecessor (starring Sylvester Stallone). Under-rated, I think, it is a top-tier action flick with memorable performances from Karl Urban, Olivia Thirlby and Lena
Headey. One weakness, I think, is there are some
similarities between this film and the 2011 Indonesian action flick The Raid.
Specifically, elite cops are sent on a mission into a high-rise
building controlled by a crime-lord and are sealed in and hunted by the
crime-lord's men. They are forced to fight their way out while dealing
with well-armed thugs and corrupt cops. So Dredd is not entirely original. But this weakness doesn't detract much from the adrenaline-rush. This is a more-than-adequate adaptation, and it's a pity it is so under-rated today. (8.2/10)
9.
Joker (2019). Directed by: Todd Phillips. Starring: Joaquin Phoenix,
Robert De Niro, Zazie Beetz, Frances Conroy. Based on: DC Comics' Batman
characters. In turns of performances, dialogue and overall style, this film might deserve to be higher on this list, except that it is not really a comic book film and was actually made in part to diss the genre - which pisses me off a little. This film could have been even better had Phillips taken the genre more seriously. The other problem is that the 'Joker' in this film is clearly not the Joker of the comics, which raises the question of how it could be a DC comics film at all. That said, the excellence of the performances and the overall quality of the film earn it a high ranking. (8.1/10)
10. X-Men 2 (2003). Directed by: Bryan Singer. Starring: Hugh Jackman, Patrick Stewart, Ian McKellan, Halle Berry, Famke Janssen, James Marsden and Brian Cox. Based on: Marvel's X-Men series. The best of the original X-Men trilogy - by far.
This film fills in some of Wolverine's back story and introduces the
genocidal William Stryker. It greatly ups the stakes, as well: the
mutants must fight for the survival of mutant-kind. Also, this was the most ambitious
superhero film until The Avengers nine years later, because it brought together
such a large ensemble cast of superheroes and yet managed not to get
bogged down with too many characters. (8/10)
11. The Avengers (2012).
Directed by: Joss Whedon. Starring: Robert Downey, Jr., Chris Evans,
Samuel L. Jackson, Tom Hiddleston, Chris Hemsworth, Scarlett Johansson and others. Based on: Marvel's Avengers series. Visually this is stunning and the action sequences are fantastic (in a
way totally different from the Dark Knight films). This film captures
more of the graphic novel vibe than the Dark Knight films, which aim for
gritty realism. Some strong performances all around, though Tom
Hiddleston's performance as Loki stole the show. The film greatly expanded the
scope of the MCU, with references to Infinity Stones and Thanos, setting up the 'Infinity War' phase of the MCU. (7.9/10)
12. Batman (1989). Directed by: Tim Burton. Starring: Jack Nicholson, Michael Keaton and Kim Basinger. Based on: DC Comic's Batman. Obviously, the smaller budget of this film
compared to later superhero films, and the lack of CGI
meant that Tim Burton couldn't do as much in the way of special effects
as Christopher Nolan or Zack Snyder. Where this film is strong is in the
great performances of Michael Keaton, Jack Nicholson and Kim Basinger, the way the film captures the dark look and feel of comic-book Gotham. Plus, there's the iconic music score by Danny Elfman. This film, drawing heavily on the more sombre Batman graphic novels of the 80s, paved the way for darker, more serious cinematic interpretations of the Dark Knight, leaving campy, comedic films like Batman: The Movie in the dust.
(7.8/10)
13. The Crow (1994). Directed by: Alex Proyas. Starring: Brandon Lee. Based on: Caliber Comics' The Crow series, by James O'Barr. A dark, chilling film in the neo-Gothic style.
Brandon Lee's performance is the great strength of the film, along with
the 80s-style action sequences and heavy, gothic horror themes and a rooftop rock concert. In many ways, this film is the exact
opposite of most other super-hero films (like Iron Man), in that it is unrelentingly dark,
with dark humour - though without being nihilistic. This was, in my opinion, the best comic-book film of
the '90s. Though it is not as widely known as it should be, it has achieved a kind of cult
status among fans of the genre. Definitely worth watching. (7.8/10)
14. X-Men: Days of Future Past (2014). Directed by: Bryan Singer. Starring: Hugh Jackman, James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, Patrick Stewart, Ian McKellen, Jennifer Lawrence, and others. Based on: Marvel's X-Men series. Visually stunning, incredible action sequences, excellent performances, and a complex, satisfying story-line. The back-and-forth through time was fun. This also contained Hugh Jackman's second-best performance as Wolverine (up-staging himself four years later in Logan) and brought together all my favourite X-Men actors: Ian McKellan, Patrick Stewart, Hugh Jackman, Michael Fassbender, etc. The one flaw for many people was they were left asking: How the heck does this film fit in with all the others? My answer: It doesn't, really, because it's supposed to take place in an alternate timeline/reality. (7.8/10)
15. Iron Man (2008). Directed by: Jon Favreau. Starring: Robert Downey, Jr., Terrence Howard, Jeff Bridges and Gwyneth Paltrow. Based on: Marvel's Iron Man. The film that launched the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Need I say more? OK. It introduced Iron Man to film and revived Robert Downey Jr.'s acting career - and he was excellent in the role, no doubt. As an origins story it is one of the best. No significant flaws, no convoluted sub-plots to confuse the audience (as in Batman v. Superman, for example) great CGI-style action, strong performances. (7.8/10)
16. Spider-Man 2 (2004). Directed by: Sam Raimi. Starring: Toby Maguire, Kirsten Dunst, James Franco and Alfred Molina. Based on Marvel's Spider-Man. This is easily the best of the trilogy starring Toby Maguire and directed by Sam Raimi. It has some great graphics (for its time), some fun action sequences and (most importantly) develops the character of Peter Parker/Spider-Man in the right direction. Also, Alfred Molina as Doc Ock is the best Spider-Man villian so far and great super-villains are too rare in live-action superhero films. (The one significant problem with the MCU is that only Loki, and maybe Ultron, are great super-villains. The others aren't that memorable, in contrast to Ra's al Ghul, the Joker and Bane in the Dark Knight Trilogy.) This film deserves multiple viewings. (7.8/10)
17. Thor: Ragnarok (2017). Directed by: Taika Waititi. Starring: Chris Hemsworth, Tom Hiddleston, Idris Elba, Cate Blanchett, Tessa Thompson, Mark Ruffalo, Jeff Goldblum. Based on: Marvel's Thor. A high-quality continuation of the Thor film series. This is, I think, the most enjoyable and ambitious version of Thor so far. This movie has a completely different tone to the previous films in which Thor has featured. It makes fun of, while still remaining faithful to, the previous Thor films - particularly how stiff and pretentious the characters often were. In tone it is far more like Guardians of the Galaxy than the other Marvel films. I would make one criticism, though. Like some other Marvel films, e.g. Avengers: Age of Ultron, the film relies too heavily on quips and gags. They come flying fast at you almost every minute of the film. Some are hilarious. Others fall flat. Showing more discernment in selecting which gags should make it into the final cut would have made for a better film. Still, just about every scene with Taika Waititi in it is comedy gold. I have two significant gripes with this film: (1) the tone of the film is so different from the previous two that the difference is jarring. This film moves the trilogy from B-grade Shakespeare in the first two films to Charlie Chaplin in the third. Odd, to say the least. (2) The film doesn't allow the serious moments time to make an impression before it moves on to the next joke. It is possible to make a film that is both funny and serious at the right times, but I don't think Waititi can make that film. (7.7/10)
18. V for Vendetta (2006). Directed by: James McTeigue. Starring: Hugo Weaving and Natalie Portman. Based on: DC Comic's V for Vendetta graphic novel. This is a dystopian political thriller based on a graphic novel intended as a dark parody of England under Margaret Thatcher, only in this version it is facists who rule England rather than neo-conservatives and a militant anarchist 'V' - who is terrorising the government (in the name of liberty, of course) - rather than unions on strike. The English can consider themselves lucky that this story is a gross exaggeration of the political excesses of the Thatcher era. This is an interesting film, if you can get past the obvious stereotypes and irritating oversimplification of the serious political issues that the film raises. (The film really just reflects the simple-minded left-wing politics of the graphic novel's author, Alan Moore.)
Hugo Weaving pulls off a impressive performance, considering that he wears a mask the whole time. However, Natalie Portman's fake English accent is terrible, utterly ruining her performance. I would be remiss if I didn't mention the standout performances of Stephen Rea as Inspector Finch and John Hurt as the maniacal Adam Sutler. Overall, if you are a fan of film adaptations of classic graphic novels, or you just like a decent action flick with some serious melodrama mixed in, you should like this one. (7.7/10)
14. X-Men: Days of Future Past (2014). Directed by: Bryan Singer. Starring: Hugh Jackman, James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, Patrick Stewart, Ian McKellen, Jennifer Lawrence, and others. Based on: Marvel's X-Men series. Visually stunning, incredible action sequences, excellent performances, and a complex, satisfying story-line. The back-and-forth through time was fun. This also contained Hugh Jackman's second-best performance as Wolverine (up-staging himself four years later in Logan) and brought together all my favourite X-Men actors: Ian McKellan, Patrick Stewart, Hugh Jackman, Michael Fassbender, etc. The one flaw for many people was they were left asking: How the heck does this film fit in with all the others? My answer: It doesn't, really, because it's supposed to take place in an alternate timeline/reality. (7.8/10)
15. Iron Man (2008). Directed by: Jon Favreau. Starring: Robert Downey, Jr., Terrence Howard, Jeff Bridges and Gwyneth Paltrow. Based on: Marvel's Iron Man. The film that launched the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Need I say more? OK. It introduced Iron Man to film and revived Robert Downey Jr.'s acting career - and he was excellent in the role, no doubt. As an origins story it is one of the best. No significant flaws, no convoluted sub-plots to confuse the audience (as in Batman v. Superman, for example) great CGI-style action, strong performances. (7.8/10)
16. Spider-Man 2 (2004). Directed by: Sam Raimi. Starring: Toby Maguire, Kirsten Dunst, James Franco and Alfred Molina. Based on Marvel's Spider-Man. This is easily the best of the trilogy starring Toby Maguire and directed by Sam Raimi. It has some great graphics (for its time), some fun action sequences and (most importantly) develops the character of Peter Parker/Spider-Man in the right direction. Also, Alfred Molina as Doc Ock is the best Spider-Man villian so far and great super-villains are too rare in live-action superhero films. (The one significant problem with the MCU is that only Loki, and maybe Ultron, are great super-villains. The others aren't that memorable, in contrast to Ra's al Ghul, the Joker and Bane in the Dark Knight Trilogy.) This film deserves multiple viewings. (7.8/10)
17. Thor: Ragnarok (2017). Directed by: Taika Waititi. Starring: Chris Hemsworth, Tom Hiddleston, Idris Elba, Cate Blanchett, Tessa Thompson, Mark Ruffalo, Jeff Goldblum. Based on: Marvel's Thor. A high-quality continuation of the Thor film series. This is, I think, the most enjoyable and ambitious version of Thor so far. This movie has a completely different tone to the previous films in which Thor has featured. It makes fun of, while still remaining faithful to, the previous Thor films - particularly how stiff and pretentious the characters often were. In tone it is far more like Guardians of the Galaxy than the other Marvel films. I would make one criticism, though. Like some other Marvel films, e.g. Avengers: Age of Ultron, the film relies too heavily on quips and gags. They come flying fast at you almost every minute of the film. Some are hilarious. Others fall flat. Showing more discernment in selecting which gags should make it into the final cut would have made for a better film. Still, just about every scene with Taika Waititi in it is comedy gold. I have two significant gripes with this film: (1) the tone of the film is so different from the previous two that the difference is jarring. This film moves the trilogy from B-grade Shakespeare in the first two films to Charlie Chaplin in the third. Odd, to say the least. (2) The film doesn't allow the serious moments time to make an impression before it moves on to the next joke. It is possible to make a film that is both funny and serious at the right times, but I don't think Waititi can make that film. (7.7/10)
18. V for Vendetta (2006). Directed by: James McTeigue. Starring: Hugo Weaving and Natalie Portman. Based on: DC Comic's V for Vendetta graphic novel. This is a dystopian political thriller based on a graphic novel intended as a dark parody of England under Margaret Thatcher, only in this version it is facists who rule England rather than neo-conservatives and a militant anarchist 'V' - who is terrorising the government (in the name of liberty, of course) - rather than unions on strike. The English can consider themselves lucky that this story is a gross exaggeration of the political excesses of the Thatcher era. This is an interesting film, if you can get past the obvious stereotypes and irritating oversimplification of the serious political issues that the film raises. (The film really just reflects the simple-minded left-wing politics of the graphic novel's author, Alan Moore.)
Hugo Weaving pulls off a impressive performance, considering that he wears a mask the whole time. However, Natalie Portman's fake English accent is terrible, utterly ruining her performance. I would be remiss if I didn't mention the standout performances of Stephen Rea as Inspector Finch and John Hurt as the maniacal Adam Sutler. Overall, if you are a fan of film adaptations of classic graphic novels, or you just like a decent action flick with some serious melodrama mixed in, you should like this one. (7.7/10)
19. Captain America: The First Avenger (2011). Directed by: Joe Johnston. Starring: Chris Evans, Hugo Weaving, Tommy-Lee Jones, Hayley Atwell and Sebastian Stan. Based on: Marvel's Captain America series.
A great introduction of Captain America to film. (We will try to forget earlier attempts in the 90s.) Another origin story
that is fun and inspiring. That's just what you expect from a
Cap film. While not as strong as its sequels, this film is a must-see for all Marvel fans. (7.6/10)
20. The Batman (2022). Directed by: Matt Reeves. Starring: Robert Pattinson, Zoe Kravitz, Paul Dano, Jeffrey Wright. This film is a bit of a mix. I really like the visual style. The music by Michael Giacchino fits very well with the tone of the film. I loved the fact that this film is a mystery, as previous film have failed to emphasize this crucial aspect of Batman's character. I also loved that the film is inspired my favourite Batman graphic novel: The Long Halloween. The performances were good, mostly, but do suffer from comparison to other Batman films. Pattinson is no Bale or Keaton. Wright is no Gary Oldman. I like Andy Serkis a lot as Alfred, but again he's no Michael Caine - and he wasn't int he movie enough. The biggest let-down of this film, apart from the less-than-subtle political messaging, but The Riddler. Riddler is done very well...right up until his identity is revealed. Dano's portrayal of Riddler was the one really disappointing part of this film. However, this may not be Dano's fault, as it appears it was the director's decision to make Riddler a pathetic loser. Dumb. (7.6/10)
21. Deadpool (2016). Directed by: Tim Miller. Starring: Ryan Reynolds, Morena Baccarin and Ed Skrein. Based on: Marvel's X-Men series. This film is crude: more crude than any comic book film adaptation to date, including Kick-Ass and Kick-Ass 2.
For a lot of people, that's part of the appeal of Deadpool as a
character. I wasn't quite so impressed, though. The plot of this film is
a little too simple, and many of the flaws are glossed over with
humour - sometimes funny, sometimes not. The film does have some genuinely funny moments and some excellent action sequences, but the crudity of the film and the simplicity of its plot
prevented me from placing it higher on my list. I suspect that, over the
years, this film - which currently rates very high in many people's
opinions - will decline in popularity once the hype dies down and it is
viewed more critically. However, this film does have one great quality: it is a brilliant satire of the superhero/action movie genre. It doesn't take itself seriously at all and even Ryan Reynolds as Deadpool is frequently being made fun of. It's taken decades for movie goers and critics to take comic book films seriously. At this point some superhero films (e.g., Batman v. Superman) are in real danger of taking themselves too seriously, consequently taking the fun out of the film. (Marvel has not made this error, yet.) You could see this film as correcting that developing error in the genre. Other films, such as Kick Ass and its sequel, both of which are, in many ways, similar to this film, have done satire; but this film does it much better. So, although I didn't like this film much, I have to acknowledge that it was well-executed. (7.5/10)
22. Blade II (2002). Directed by: Guillermo del Toro. Starring: Wesley Snipes, Kriss Kristofferson, Ron Perlman, Luke Goss, and Lenor Varela. Based on: Marvel's Blade series. The sequel to the successful Blade, starring Wesley Snipes, this film was directed by Guillermo del Toro prior to making Hellboy and its sequel, and is regarded by fans (including myself) as a significant improvement on the original. This film has a more complex plot and even better action sequences (though the CGI tends to detract from the realism of the fight scenes). Plus, it includes the talents of Ron Perlman and Luke Goss, both of whom would appear in Del Toro's later film, Hellboy 2. (7.5/10)
23. Edge of Tomorrow
(2014). Directed by: Doug Liman. Starring: Tom Cruise and Emily Blunt. Based on: A graphic novel, which is in turn based on a manga
comic, which in turn is based on a Japanese light novel entitled All You Need is Kill. This movie is a lot of fun, with a typically ntertaining performance by Tom Cruise. However, the real 'one to watch' in this film is Emily Blunt, who plays Rita Vratski, she-of-the-memorable-nickname - which I won't repeat here. This film is pure sci-fi, involving alien invasions, advanced, futuristic technology and time travel (sort of). Actually, its more like time loops, as time keeps reverting every time the main character, William Cage (Cruise), dies. It is this acquired ability that gives humanity an edge against the invading 'Mimics' - and a hope of victory. The plot is rather fresh and the action is cool. Overall, I really liked this movie. (7.4/10)
24. X-Men: First Class (2011). Directed by: Matthew Vaughn. Starring: James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, Rose Byrne, and Kevin Bacon. Based on: Marvel's X-Men series. This film really re-vamped the dying X-Men franchise, after the unimpressive performances of X-Men: The Last Stand and X-Men: Origins - Wolverine. Not as visually stunning as its sequel Days of Future Past (and the villain could have been more interesting), it did introduce Michael Fassbender, Nicholas Hoult, Jennifer Lawrence and James McAvoy to the X-Men universe. That's a plus. It also introduced a new generation to the X-Men universe. (7.4/10)
25. Spider-Man (2002). Directed by Sam Raimi. Starring: Tobey Maguire, Willem Dafoe, Kirsten Dunst and James Franco. Based on: Marvel's Spider-Man. The first Spider-Man live-action film made for the big screen. There are some silly parts to this film - like making Green Goblin accidentally kill himself while trying to kill Spider-Man - but over-all it is a solid origin story. Well directed by Sam Raimi, with an adequate performance by Toby Macguire, this film - along with X-Men and Blade - showed audiences and studios the potential of superhero films and sparked off the current superhero film phenomenon. (7.4/10)
24. X-Men: First Class (2011). Directed by: Matthew Vaughn. Starring: James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, Rose Byrne, and Kevin Bacon. Based on: Marvel's X-Men series. This film really re-vamped the dying X-Men franchise, after the unimpressive performances of X-Men: The Last Stand and X-Men: Origins - Wolverine. Not as visually stunning as its sequel Days of Future Past (and the villain could have been more interesting), it did introduce Michael Fassbender, Nicholas Hoult, Jennifer Lawrence and James McAvoy to the X-Men universe. That's a plus. It also introduced a new generation to the X-Men universe. (7.4/10)
25. Spider-Man (2002). Directed by Sam Raimi. Starring: Tobey Maguire, Willem Dafoe, Kirsten Dunst and James Franco. Based on: Marvel's Spider-Man. The first Spider-Man live-action film made for the big screen. There are some silly parts to this film - like making Green Goblin accidentally kill himself while trying to kill Spider-Man - but over-all it is a solid origin story. Well directed by Sam Raimi, with an adequate performance by Toby Macguire, this film - along with X-Men and Blade - showed audiences and studios the potential of superhero films and sparked off the current superhero film phenomenon. (7.4/10)
26. Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 2 (2017). Directed by: James Gunn. Starring: Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Dave Bautista, Vin Diesel, Bradley Cooper, Kurt Russell. Based on: Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy series. This sequel is not quite as fresh and original
as the first film. Also the central plot of an immensely powerful
father trying to corrupt his gifted son so that they can rule the galaxy
together sounds oddly similar to another classic movie sequel. On the plus side it is funnier at times than the first film and definitely more emotional, in a good way. It also has a more impressive super-villain in Kurt Russell and an enjoyable (minor) role for Sylvester Stallone - for those who are Stallone fans. Overall: good, not great. (7.3/10)
27. Superman II (1980). Directed by: Richard Lester. Starring: Gene Hackman, Christopher Reeve and Terrence Stamp. Based on: DC Comic's Superman series. A very satisfying sequel to Superman,
with Christopher Reeve back as Superman and Gene Hackman back as Lex
Luthor and the introduction of Terrence Stamp as General Zod. Like Superman, the film's weakness is its dated special effects, but it's strength is that Reeve shaped the role of Superman in a way that subsequent actors have failed to improve upon. Also, it improves on the original in that it has a stronger villainous trio, who are the equal of Superman. (7.2/10)
28. Hellboy II: The Golden Army (2008). Directed by: Guillermo del Toro. Starring: Ron Perlman, Luke Goss, Selma Blair and Doug Jones. Based on: Dark Horse Comics' Hellboy series. An improvement on it's predecessor, Hellboy 2 is, admittedly, a long way from the perfect comic book film, but it is also a lot of fun, with some interesting characters and some excellent action sequences. The plot of this film is a bit more complex than Hellboy - involving elves, mechanical armies and violent family disputes - and develops the main characters further. If you're looking for an alternative to the current stream of Marvel- and DC-based comic book films, this is where you should go (after Dredd, The Crow and Edge of Tomorrow). Overall, it is a solid film, by a talented director, worth watching more than once. (7.2/10)
29. Blade (1998). Directed by: Stephen Norrington. Starring: Wesley Snipes, Kris Kristofferson and Stephen Dorff. Based on: Marvel Comics' Blade series. One of only a few genuinely well-made comic book films of the '90s, this film tided fans over until the revival of the genre in 2000 with Bryan Singer's X-Men. It also spawned two sequels. (Sadly, only one of them was any good.) Like X-Men and Spider-Man this film also helped to show the potential of superhero films in a time when they were considered a joke by major studios and most film critics. In fact, this might be the only Marvel-character film to be any good prior to this millennium. That alone makes it worth watching, I think. Really, though, the best thing about this film is the fight scenes, which include some of the best choreographed action of the '90s, second only to The Matrix. Even many subsequent superhero films, with the benefit of more advanced SGI and significant advances in filming technology, do not contain as entertaining fight sequences as are in this film. (7.1/10)
30. Deadpool & Wolverine (2024). Directed by: Shawn Levy. Starring: Ryan Reynolds, Hugh Jackman, Emma Corrin, Matthew Macfadyen. Fun. Action packed. Crazy. This film is 90% fan service, done pretty well. Reynolds and Jackman produce typically strong performances as their respective characters. This is the sort of film you will enjoy and may watch again, but it isn't as original as the first film and it is unlikely to become a classic of the genre - its success depends too much on character inserts from other, often better films. (7/10)
31. Spider-Man: Far from Home (2019). Directed by: Jon Watts. Starring: Tom Holland, Samuel Jackson, Zendaya, Jake Gyllenhaal. Unpopular opinion: I think this is the best of the MCU Spider-man films. No Way Home felt a little try-hard, with the death of Aunt May, bringing back classic villains and the other Peter Parkers. This film stands on its own, without all that, and stands pretty tall. Like all the MCU Spider-Man films it has solid villains with strong performances and frenetic action sequences. The flaw of this film is the flaw of all the MCU Spider-Man films: it doesn't allow Spider-Man his independence. He's always got to be someone else's side-kick. In Homecoming it's Iron Man, in Far from Home it's Fury, in No Way Home it's his other selves. The MCU never quite let Spider-Man be his own character. (6.9/10)
32. Kick-Ass (2010). Directed by: Matthew Vaughn. Starring: Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Chloe Grace Moretz, Mark Strong and Nicholas Cage. Based on: Mark Millar and John Romita, Jr.'s Kick-Ass comic series. This is an ultra-violent dark parody of the
superhero/action theme. It involves a comic-book obsessed teen asking, 'Why hasn't anyone tried to be a real superhero?' and deciding to remedy this seeming deficiency. It's funny in parts, though the best part is probably the final action scene where 'Hit Girl' (Chloe Grace Moretz) defeats a dozen thugs and 'Kick-Ass' (Aaron Taylor-Johnson) blows up a mob boss with a bazooka (Oops: Spoilers!). The action in this movie is well choreographed. That's the up-side of this film. The downside is the excessive crude language. Overall, the acting is OK and the basic concept is quite original and amusing; so, if you're not put off by the crass language, this film is worth watching. (6.8/10)
33. Spider-Man: No Way Home (2012). Directed by: Jon Watts. Starring: Tom Holland, Zendaya, Benedict Cubmerbatch, Jamie Foxx, Wilem Dafoe, Alfred Molina, Marisa Tomei. This film got a lot of praise when it came out, in large part due to the fact that at the time most superhero films sucked ass through a (paper) straw. It's a good film. Good acting, good action. A lot of fan service. The problem is it relies too much on the fan service. It relies too much on nostalgia to carry the viewer along. It was fun to see beloved characters back for one last time, but that's not enough to call this a great film. Good? Yes. Great? No. (6.8/10)
34. The Dark Knight Rises (2012). Directed by: Christopher Nolan. Starring: Christian Bale, Michael Caine, Morgan Freeman, Tom Hardy, Gary Oldman, Ann Hathaway and others. Based on DC Comic's Batman. A disappointing sequel to The Dark Knight, marred significantly by an implausible central plot and numerous other plot flaws. It seems unlikely
that terrorists could hold a major city hostage for nearly 4 months in the
most militarily powerful country in the world and the U.S. government do almost
nothing to deal with the situation! Along the way, Bruce Wayne gets his back broken and some guy just pops
(punches!) his dislocated vertebra back into place, without any significant
nerve damage? Next thing we know he's doing push-ups! But not only is his recovery far too quick, he's even more powerful, ignoring the fact that at the beginning of the film he's a cripple, who has to walk with a cane! On top of that, Marion Cotillard's attempt
at being the villain was less than impressive and her death scene was terribly acted. And then there's the anti-climactic death of Bane, just minutes earlier.
There are other issues, e.g. at the start of the film, why did the CIA allow hooded prisoners onto their plane without checking who they were? Is it really plausible that the entire Gotham police force would be sent into the sewer tunnels all at once to check on a terrorist threat? (A major city like Gotham would have to have at least ten thousand cops. New York City, on which Gotham is supposed to be based, has over 30 thousand police.) How did penniless Bruce Wayne get back to Gotham after escaping from Bane's prison, on the other side of the world? How could Bruce Wayne swim back to shore after ejecting from 'the Bat' into the freezing waters of Gotham Bay, when he was bleeding out and wearing full body-armour?, etc. Had Nolan and his team worked harder on cleaning up the script, this film could have been as good as The Dark Knight. The film does have a few strong points: some awesome action sequences, a powerful (albeit, somewhat repetitive) musical score and a number of strong performances. Plus, it's Batman. And it's Christopher Nolan. (6.8/10)
There are other issues, e.g. at the start of the film, why did the CIA allow hooded prisoners onto their plane without checking who they were? Is it really plausible that the entire Gotham police force would be sent into the sewer tunnels all at once to check on a terrorist threat? (A major city like Gotham would have to have at least ten thousand cops. New York City, on which Gotham is supposed to be based, has over 30 thousand police.) How did penniless Bruce Wayne get back to Gotham after escaping from Bane's prison, on the other side of the world? How could Bruce Wayne swim back to shore after ejecting from 'the Bat' into the freezing waters of Gotham Bay, when he was bleeding out and wearing full body-armour?, etc. Had Nolan and his team worked harder on cleaning up the script, this film could have been as good as The Dark Knight. The film does have a few strong points: some awesome action sequences, a powerful (albeit, somewhat repetitive) musical score and a number of strong performances. Plus, it's Batman. And it's Christopher Nolan. (6.8/10)
35. Shazam! (2019). Directed by: David F. Sandberg. Starring: Rachary Levi, Mark Strong, Asher Angel. Based on: DC Comics' Shazam! This is the best film to come out of the disastrous DC Extended Universe. It's a funny film with likable characters and some solid performances from Levi and Strong. However, it doesn't really leave a lasting impression on the memory. I'm not sure why this is. I guess it just comes down to the fact that it was released at a time when good-but-not-great superhero movies were common. (6.7/10)
36. Spider-Man: Homecoming
(2017). Directed by: Jon Watts. Starring: Tom Holland, Michael Keaton,
Robert Downey, Jr., Marisa Tomei, Zendaya, Jon Favreau and Laura
Harrier. Based on: Marvel's Spidern-Man. The sixth, big-screen
Spider-Man film, this one is different in tone from previous films.
Firstly, its is more light-hearted (mostly) than previous incarnations
and Tom Holland is actually about the right age to play the part. This
film is enjoyable, and re-watchable. You want to see more of this
Spider-Man after watching the film. Tom Holland is excellent. Michael
Keaton is beyond excellent, managing to be both likeable and
intimidating. Despite the fact that he's the villain, you find yourself
rooting for him, at times. Robert Downey, Jr. and Jon Favreau are
familiar, in a good way. All in all, this film is another solid addition
to the MCU. The one criticism I would give is that, like a number of
recent Marvel films, it doesn't really take risks with the storytelling.
The same sense of familiarity that I've been getting with films like Doctor Strange
is also felt in this film. Recent Marvel films seem to be lacking real
distinctiveness, in contrast to the better films in the franchise, like Captain America: the Winter Soldier and Guardians of the Galaxy. (6.7/10)
37. Watchmen (2009). Directed by: Zack Snyder. Starring: Jackie Earle Haley, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Patrick Wilson, Billy Crudup and Malin Ackerman. Based on: DC Comics' Watchmen graphic novel. I'm not sure if this film is underrated or overrated by comic book fans. It was not a box-office hit the way many of the
previous films on my list were. In fact, it pretty much bombed at the box office. One can understand why. The film and the comic book it's based on are unrelentingly pessimistic portrayal of 'superheroes' and started the trend of 'deconstructing' the superhero genre. The film revolves around the mystery of a murdered super-'hero' (The
Comedian) and, as the story unravels, reveals the dark underbelly of the
superhero fraternity. Set in the mid 1980s, the film captures the
pessimism that often jaded comic book characters in that decade. It is
visually stimulating (though like all Zack Snyder not necessarily in a good way) and the plot develops at a steady pace and doesn't jump around too much.
The film does not (and cannot) adequately translate the complexities of the graphic novel, even with its 2.5 hours. However, the film has a number of memorable moments, including the opening credits sequence, with Bob Dylan's 'These Times They are a-Changin'' fitting perfectly with the theme of jaded nostalgia that pervades the movie. Most scenes with Rorschach are also memorable. The big problem with this film is the unevenness of the performances, with Jackie Earle Haley and Jeffrey Dean Morgan excelling, Billy Crudup and Patrick Wilson pulling off solid - though at times exaggerated - performances and Malin Akerman and Matthew Goode barely managing to act at all. (6.6/10)
38. Wonder Woman (2017). Directed by: Patty Jenkins. Starring: Gal Godot, Chris Pine, Robin Wright, Connie Nielsen, Danny Huston, David Thewlis. Based on: DC's Wonder Woman series. This is the first genuinely decent offering of the DC Extended Universe. It still doesn't reach the level of some pre-'Extended Universe' offerings by DC, i.e., Christopher Nolan's Dark Knight Trilogy and Tim Burton's Batman, but it's a solid and entertaining flick. Chris Pine is Chris Pine, meaning entertaining in a largely unmemorable way. Still, his comical charm works well when set alongside the slightly-awkward Diana (Gal Godot) as she adjusts to a foreign world.
The film does have a number of odd omissions that detract from the its theme, such as failing to appreciate the emotional impact the battle on Themyscira (early in the film) would have had on cosseted Diana. Instead of stopping to reflect on the pivotal death of Diana's aunt and role-mode, Antiope, and how it ties into the core theme of the horrors of war and how seeing real violence and death would affect Diana psychologically, the film rushes to Diana deciding to leave Themyscira in order to find Ares, the god of war. Another problem is the final act, which just degenerates into your typical hero-villain power-fest - a light show with very little genuine action or choreography. Overall, while the film is flawed, but a more satisfying addition to the DCEU than previous entries, and at the time left some hope for those who really wanted the DCEU to succeed. (6.5/10)
The film does not (and cannot) adequately translate the complexities of the graphic novel, even with its 2.5 hours. However, the film has a number of memorable moments, including the opening credits sequence, with Bob Dylan's 'These Times They are a-Changin'' fitting perfectly with the theme of jaded nostalgia that pervades the movie. Most scenes with Rorschach are also memorable. The big problem with this film is the unevenness of the performances, with Jackie Earle Haley and Jeffrey Dean Morgan excelling, Billy Crudup and Patrick Wilson pulling off solid - though at times exaggerated - performances and Malin Akerman and Matthew Goode barely managing to act at all. (6.6/10)
38. Wonder Woman (2017). Directed by: Patty Jenkins. Starring: Gal Godot, Chris Pine, Robin Wright, Connie Nielsen, Danny Huston, David Thewlis. Based on: DC's Wonder Woman series. This is the first genuinely decent offering of the DC Extended Universe. It still doesn't reach the level of some pre-'Extended Universe' offerings by DC, i.e., Christopher Nolan's Dark Knight Trilogy and Tim Burton's Batman, but it's a solid and entertaining flick. Chris Pine is Chris Pine, meaning entertaining in a largely unmemorable way. Still, his comical charm works well when set alongside the slightly-awkward Diana (Gal Godot) as she adjusts to a foreign world.
The film does have a number of odd omissions that detract from the its theme, such as failing to appreciate the emotional impact the battle on Themyscira (early in the film) would have had on cosseted Diana. Instead of stopping to reflect on the pivotal death of Diana's aunt and role-mode, Antiope, and how it ties into the core theme of the horrors of war and how seeing real violence and death would affect Diana psychologically, the film rushes to Diana deciding to leave Themyscira in order to find Ares, the god of war. Another problem is the final act, which just degenerates into your typical hero-villain power-fest - a light show with very little genuine action or choreography. Overall, while the film is flawed, but a more satisfying addition to the DCEU than previous entries, and at the time left some hope for those who really wanted the DCEU to succeed. (6.5/10)
39. The Amazing Spider-Man (2012). Directed by: Marc Webb. Starring: Andrew Garfield, Emma Stone and Rhys Ifans. Based on: Marvel Comics' Spider-Man. Andrew Garfield introduces us to a fun, somewhat light-hearted Spider-Man and makes us forget the horror of Spider-Man 3...Well, almost...Well, not really. This incarnation of Spider-Man is not as
faithful to the comics as the Sam Raimi trilogy, which takes
away somewhat from the overall effect of the film. Still, Garfield's performance is solid and entertaining. Plus, Emma Stone as Gwen Stacey has perfect chemistry with Garfield as Peter Parker. The big deficit of this film is that it tells much the same story as Raimi's first film, covering the same ground in a less entertaining way. (6.5/10)
40. X-Men (2000). Directed by: Brian Singer. Starring: Hugh Jackman, Patrick Stewart, Ian McKellan, Halle Berry, Famke Janssen, James Marsden and Anna Paquin. Based on: Marvel's X-Men series. As the first X-Men film, it introduced us to Patrick Stewart as Charles Xavier, Ian McKellan as Magneto and Hugh Jackman as The Wolverine. For this reason, it should perhaps rank higher. When it came out, it would have ranked inside the top 10. Unfortunately for X-Men the early twenty-first century revival of superhero films that it started has produced so many excellent films that it is now a fair way down the list. (6.5/10)
40. X-Men (2000). Directed by: Brian Singer. Starring: Hugh Jackman, Patrick Stewart, Ian McKellan, Halle Berry, Famke Janssen, James Marsden and Anna Paquin. Based on: Marvel's X-Men series. As the first X-Men film, it introduced us to Patrick Stewart as Charles Xavier, Ian McKellan as Magneto and Hugh Jackman as The Wolverine. For this reason, it should perhaps rank higher. When it came out, it would have ranked inside the top 10. Unfortunately for X-Men the early twenty-first century revival of superhero films that it started has produced so many excellent films that it is now a fair way down the list. (6.5/10)
41. Hellboy (2004). Directed by: Guillermo del Toro. Starring: Ron Perlman, Selma Blair, John Hurt, Doug Jones and Jeffrey Tambor. Based on: Dark Horse comics Hellboy series. You know those things that go bump in the night? He bumps back - hard. This is a fun movie, less sci-fi than supernatural. Hellboy, a lesser-known comic superhero, is an orphan demon raised to protect the world from supernatural threats?!? Unsurprisingly, there is a struggle between his 'true nature' and his upbringing. Destined to destroy the world, he is raised to protect it. I can't say this film is brilliant, but it is original and entertaining. Not bad, not brilliant - just fun. (6.5/10)
42. Superman (1978). Directed by: Richard Donner. Starring: Marlon Brando, Gene Hackman, Christopher Reeve, Margot Kidder, Glenn Ford and Trevor Howard. Based on: DC Comics' Superman series. This was the first major superhero film ever made. How could that not be great? And yet, the film has not aged as well as it might. It's not just the poor special effects (which were pretty good for the time), the film is more than a little silly, at times, failing to take key characters like Lex Luther seriously enough. Gene Hackman's Lex Luther makes for a rather underwhelming villain and his 'master plan' to destroy half of California in order to make billions in real-estate is idiotic. I feel I can't go with the majority on this and rate this film higher for sentimental reasons. Yes, it was the first major superhero film, but retrospectively it's just not that great. If I were writing a list of most influential superhero films, this film would be much higher on the list, but I'm making a list of the best superhero films - and this is no longer at the top. (6.5/10)
43. Men in Black (1997). Directed by: Barry Sonnenfeld. Starring: Will Smith, Tommy-Lee Jones, Vincent D'Onofrio and Linda Fiorentino. Based on: Malibu Comics' Men in Black series. A film that might not belong on this list, Men in Black is based on a comic series, but the main characters do not possess any superpowers. Instead, they possess advanced alien technology. Ultimately, though, if I limited this list to comic book heroes with superpowers, I'd have to leave all the Batman films, V for Vendetta, Kick-Ass and numerous other superhero films off this list. So this film goes on the list. Based on a comic book series from the early '90s, and starring Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones, this film is fun and outrageous in typical Will Smith style. It is a hilarious parody of the 'men in black' conspiracy 'theory' that developed during the height of the UFO mania in the '50s and '60s. (6.5/10)
42. Superman (1978). Directed by: Richard Donner. Starring: Marlon Brando, Gene Hackman, Christopher Reeve, Margot Kidder, Glenn Ford and Trevor Howard. Based on: DC Comics' Superman series. This was the first major superhero film ever made. How could that not be great? And yet, the film has not aged as well as it might. It's not just the poor special effects (which were pretty good for the time), the film is more than a little silly, at times, failing to take key characters like Lex Luther seriously enough. Gene Hackman's Lex Luther makes for a rather underwhelming villain and his 'master plan' to destroy half of California in order to make billions in real-estate is idiotic. I feel I can't go with the majority on this and rate this film higher for sentimental reasons. Yes, it was the first major superhero film, but retrospectively it's just not that great. If I were writing a list of most influential superhero films, this film would be much higher on the list, but I'm making a list of the best superhero films - and this is no longer at the top. (6.5/10)
43. Men in Black (1997). Directed by: Barry Sonnenfeld. Starring: Will Smith, Tommy-Lee Jones, Vincent D'Onofrio and Linda Fiorentino. Based on: Malibu Comics' Men in Black series. A film that might not belong on this list, Men in Black is based on a comic series, but the main characters do not possess any superpowers. Instead, they possess advanced alien technology. Ultimately, though, if I limited this list to comic book heroes with superpowers, I'd have to leave all the Batman films, V for Vendetta, Kick-Ass and numerous other superhero films off this list. So this film goes on the list. Based on a comic book series from the early '90s, and starring Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones, this film is fun and outrageous in typical Will Smith style. It is a hilarious parody of the 'men in black' conspiracy 'theory' that developed during the height of the UFO mania in the '50s and '60s. (6.5/10)
44. Ant-Man
(2015). Directed by: Peyton Reed. Starring: Paul Rudd, Evangeline
Lilly, Michael Douglas, Corey Stoll, Bobby Cannavale and Michael Pena. Based on: Marvel Comics' Ant-Man series. Part action, part comedy - this film is fun to watch and is
heart-warming at times. The theme of 'fathers and daughters' runs
throughout. The SGI is excellent and Paul Rudd is at his best. Plus, any
film with Michael Douglas is worth watching. Also, despite this being
the first Ant-Man film, Marvel cleverly manages to avoid making yet
another origin story by having Scott Lang take up the Ant-Man suit from
Hank Pym, the original Ant-Man. This leaves back-story to be explored
and secrets to be revealed. (6.5/10)
45. Batman Returns (1992). Directed by Tim Burton. Starring: Michael Keaton, Danny DeVito and Michelle Pfeiffer. Based on: DC Comics' Batman. An interesting sequel to Batman
that sees
Michael Keaton return in the titular role. This film has many of the
same
strengths as its predecessor in capturing the comic-book look of Gotham
and the feel of the comics. However, it has a number of real weaknesses,
including: (1) Penguin having real penguin soldiers (with missiles
strapped to their backs!), (2)
the way the film over-plays Selena Kyle's awkward and lonely
characteristics to make her seem more pathetic and (3) at times Penguin comes across as creepy and menacing and at other times as comical and pathetic, an awkward combination. This is odd, considering that overall this film is just as dark as its predecessor. I'm not certain what the cause of this paradoxical treatment of these characters was. Was it Tim Burton failing to take these characters seriously enough? Considering the the quality of the 1989 Batman, this seems unlikely. Was it the studio, insisting on adding more comical aspects to what they considered to be a too dark film? Maybe. Who knows? (6.4/10)
46. Constantine (2005). Directed by: Francis Lawrence. Starring: Keanu Reaves, Tilda Swinton, Djimon Hounsou, and Rachel Weisz. Based on: Vertigo Comics' Hellblazer comic book. One of a handful of supernatural-themed superhero films, Constantine is a long way from the fun easy-going films of Marvel. It is dark, without much
comic relief. Honestly, I
didn't like this film the first time I watched it. But I have to admit that the visuals are stunning and terrifying - which is to say, they have the desired effect. The film has OK acting, but nothing special. It does, however, manage to stand out because of it's supernatural-horror themes. Plus, there's Keanu Reeves, and even a lesser Keanu film is still worth the watch. (6.4/10)
47. The Rocketeer (1991). Directed by: Joe Johnston. Starring: Billy Campbell, Jennifer Connelly, Timothy Dalton. Based on: Pacific Comics' Starslayer comic series. Among superhero films, this one is unusual, because it is an homage to the upbeat (sometimes silly) comic strips of the '30s. What's more, it's actually set in the '30s. This film doesn't take itself, or its content, too seriously. It is at times quite silly, so that it might be dismissed as a rather childish film. Which is good, because I loved it as a child. It doesn't quite stand as high in my estimation these days, and the film definitely appeals more to a younger audience. Nevertheless, it was quite good compared to some other superhero films of the '80s and '90s and has rightly become something of a cult classic. (6.4/10)
48. Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 3 (2023). Directed by: James Gunn. Starring: Chris Pratt, Zoe Zaldana, Bradley Cooper, Karen Gillan, Chukwudi Iwuji. The tone of this film is much darker than the previous two, so there is much less humour. The best part of this film is the development of Rocket Raccon, as the film focuses heavily on his character. This story line is emotionally impactful, in a way I didn't expect. So, kudos to Gunn for for that. Sadly, the other main characters aren't developed much at all, and almost feel like accessories in the film. While it's the weakest of the Guardians films, this offering does at least benefit from being released amongst a dearth of decent superhero films. (6.3/10)
49. The Suicide Squad (2021). Directed by: James Gunn. Staring: Margot Robbie, Idris Elba, John Cena, Joel Kinnaman, Peter Capaldi. This is another film which benefited from being released amongst the drek of the early 2020s. It's an OK film, but it didn't really impress me. A lot of the humour doesn't really land well. Idris Elba looks bored out of his mind the whole film. Sylvester Stallone might as well be saying "I am Groot" the whole time for all the dialogue he's given. Then there's John Cena. The dude can't act. Even Dave Bautista has put in better performances. Margot Robbie and Joel Kinnaman carry this film, and it's not quite enough. Still, it's colourful and doesn't have any major plot flaws. (6.3/10)
50. Doctor Strange (2016). Directed by: Scott Derrickson. Starring: Benedict Cubmerbatch, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Rachel McAdams, Mads Mikkelsen, Tilda Swinton. Based on: Marvel's Doctor Strange. This is an above average entry in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, that neverthless, it feels a lot like 'Marvel-by-numbers'. By this I mean that you have an OK plot, a talented cast and lots of mind-boggling CGI action. It really doesn't take risks with its storytelling. The plot is somewhat predictable. The 'wisdom' of the Ancient One is the stuff of fortune cookies. (If you're looking for philosophy, read Aristotle.) This film amazes you with incredible CGI and makes you laugh at the right moments. That's the positive side. The negative side is that, precisely because of Marvel's phenomenal success, the studio does not seem to see the need to explore or experiment with the genre much further. Even the risk of translating Doctor Strange - one of the weirder Marvel characters - into film was made 'safe'. Admittedly, how Strange manages to defeats Dormammu is hilarious, unpredictable - and the highlight of the film. Still, Doctor Strange feels like a film bursting with potential, constrained by a by-the-numbers script. (6.3/10)
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