There is nothing quite like seeing your favorite superheros make the jump from page to screen. Although there have been many ventures in the past to make these characters quite literally jump off of the page, the 21st century has been the golden age of the Comic Book movie and has created a whole new genre. Here is the best of the best, in our opinion anyway.
10 Hellboy
Any time that Ron Pearlman gets to dress up is a good time. Dress him up as a demon summoned by the Nazis in the Second World War, and well you’ve got a great time. Mr. Del Toro has brought to life a unique and lovable character that struggles against his very nature to overcome it with good.
9 Superman
Possibly the first successful venture into the comic book world by Hollywood, Richard Donner’s vision of Kal-El is indeed a classic that has stood the test of time. Christopher Reeves became a household name due to his convincing portrayal of the Man of Steel, as he is forever in our hearts.
8 Batman (1989)
When Tim Burton’s vision danced across cinemas in 1989, critics and audiences alike were thrilled and delighted. The now iconic performance of Jack Nicholson as The Joker is widely regarded as one of the best villains in film history. With the Burton brand of spooky fun, Batman will be forever on this list.
7 Spiderman
After years of being held up in red tape and “development hell”, fans thought that they would never see their favorite wall-crawling hero hit the silver screens. Thankfully he did and not surprisingly, he stuck. With the force of Stan Lee and Avi Arad behind it, Spiderman opened up the modern comic-to-film explosion, and for that we are grateful.
6 X-Men
A great cast, unique director, strong characters, cutting edge visual effects, all delivered to millions of fans that received it with joy. Bryan Singer overcame criticism to deliver one of the best comic-based films of all time and managed to please the masses and the fans, an astounding feat by any measure.
5 X2
Superior to the original in almost every aspect, X2 once again exceeded expectations and delivered even more character development and deeper stories. The inclusion of Nightcrawler was a brilliant choice as well as the unification of the two “X” sects to defeat a common enemy. Unfortunately the trilogy peaked after the departure of Bryan Singer and James Marsden.
4 The Punisher (2003)
Although the it was released to less fanfare and did not receive the budget of other films in the Marvel family, The Punisher succeeds on many levels and hold up as not only one of the premier comic book features, but also a great action film in its own right. With great acting by Thomas Jane and John Travolta, biting action and a permeating theme of revenge, you need to be on Frank Castle’s list.
3 Iron Man
With loads of beautiful special effects, explosive action, and crackling humor, Iron Man is one of the most critically praised films in the genre and for good reason. Robert Downey Jr. returns to the big screen as Tony Stark, weapons manufacturer and his alter ego, Iron Man, in a nice balance of heart, heroism, and humor.
2 Spiderman 2
With a returning cast and director, as well as the brilliant Alfred Molina as Doc Ock, and a deeper more character driven story, the sequel excels in every area that the original lacked, which wasn’t much. A better villain, better action, and somehow more believable, Spiderman 2 is a landmark film in the recently crowded landscape of comic book films.
1 Batman Begins
This is it, the standard by which all other films in the genre are judged. Christopher Nolan took a successful franchise, reinvented it, and somehow made it better than we could have ever imagined. The first film of this type to rely on story rather than special effects and action alone, Batman Begins is first in class in every field. Terrific direction, a superb ensemble cast, and finally the first truly realistic environment that has come along. We give this film our highest recommendation; see it and you will know why.
Popularity: 29% [?]
Mon, May 5, 2008
Jake's Picks, Top 10's