Best superhero movie of all time? (Nominations thread)

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

Why isn't Blade "in the superhero column"?

I meant that it's not a part of why it might be the best superhero movie of all time or not.

The blood shower is a great scene, but I wouldn't use that scene to argue that it's a great superhero movie. I would argue that it's one of the best bits of vampire cinema, though. But that's another thread.

 

[Ruin Explorer]

I meant that it's not a part of why it might be the best superhero movie of all time or not.

The blood shower is a great scene, but I wouldn't use that scene to argue that it's a great superhero movie. I would argue that it's one of the best bits of vampire cinema, though. But that's another thread.

My brother in La Magra, you just cannot be saying The Dark Knight is potentially the best superhero movie and Blade isn't a superhero movie at all! Come on! Those two movies are like, sitting next to each other, they're both these very dark, moody classics loosely based on superhero comics, but pushing things in a distinctly more gritty (but definitely still a bit silly) directions. Either neither of them is "really" a superhero movie, or both are.

Blade… I don’t know I don’t feel like it’s held up well. Don’t get me wrong it was very stylish and stood out at the time, but a lot of that had to do with just a dead genre of crap films.

No way man. I watched it a couple of years ago. Apart from some of the SFX it absolutely rocks and definitely holds up. When did you last watch it? Blade 2 is a different story, sorry Guillermo.

Personally I think answering this is hard, because what's a superhero movie? I think it has to have at least a superhero and actual superheroism, not merely heroism, which would count out both Blade and The Dark Knight for sure, both of which would be in competition something different - "best movie technically about a superhero" (I think Blade would win that competition because Snipes + Kristofferson + Dorff is somehow, amazingly greater than Bale + Ledger, despite the latter two being, in theory, better actors, and Ledger's performance great). Logan and The Batman would probably also be in competition there.

But really "superhero movie", I think we've got to go with probably with one of:

OG Reeves Superman (possibly soon to be superceded, we shall see)

Batman (1989)

Avengers: Endgame (I say this with hate, it's not a great movie but it is an amazing superhero movie, for like sheer overwhelming superheroing - that works emotionally too, for the most part)

Or maybe a Spider-Man movie? Take your pick of many, including the Spider-Verses. If it's MCU Spider-Man, only No Way Home is truly a superhero movie.

 

[Reynard]

, only No Way Home is truly a superhero movie.

I have to ask: what's your metric for "truly a superhero movie."

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

My brother in La Magra, you just cannot be saying The Dark Knight is potentially the best superhero movie and Blade isn't a superhero movie at all!

True, that's not what I'm saying. I was just talking about how that's a great vampire movie scene. Blade overall is definitely a superhero movie -- and a very good one. More than it is a vampire movie, honestly, which makes sense, since it's a Marvel Comics adaptation.

 

[payn]

No way man. I watched it a couple of years ago. Apart from some of the SFX it absolutely rocks and definitely holds up. When did you last watch it? Blade 2 is a different story, sorry Guillermo.

Yeah, I just dont think much of it. Its not terrible, but I think its been outclassed and isnt the classic staple most folks do. I agree with you though, Blade II was a bit of headscratcher for me. The third one wasnt outstanding, but enjoyable.

Personally I think answering this is hard, because what's a superhero movie? I think it has to have at least a superhero and actual superheroism, not merely heroism, which would count out both Blade and The Dark Knight for sure, both of which would be in competition something different - "best movie technically about a superhero" (I think Blade would win that competition because Snipes + Kristofferson + Dorff is somehow, amazingly greater than Bale + Ledger, despite the latter two being, in theory, better actors, and Ledger's performance great). Logan and The Batman would probably also be in competition there.

Thats on a lot of minds I think. Though, after Watchmen, Logan is a close second on my list. However, part of what makes Logan so good is the simple story and all the history from the previous X-men movies. It gives it a boost, that the film alone wouldnt stand on. Third on the list id add would be Dredd, but im starting to cleave closer to comic book adaption than "superhero" movie but thats just my preference anyways.

But really "superhero movie", I think we've got to go with probably with one of:

OG Reeves Superman (possibly soon to be superceded, we shall see)

There was something about those Superman movies with Reeves. The child being slapped for lying (although telling the truth) all the Marlboro product placement... lol, they were of their time for sure. Though, I did like superman going around saving people, which is why Man of Steel was a bit of a bummer for me. It was more about Clark's bad ass alien battle, which yeah hes saving the planet, but he isnt really saving anybody individually which is what I loved about prior superman movies.

Batman (1989)

The Tim Burton effect made Batman feel more like Dick Tracy to me. It certainly had a style to it that I apreciate, but im not sure it would go on my best "superhero" list.

Avengers: Endgame (I say this with hate, it's not a great movie but it is an amazing superhero movie, for like sheer overwhelming superheroing - that works emotionally too, for the most part)

Same here with Logan, I think End Game benefits greatly from all the prvious work that lead to it. Best superhero movie? Na, but definitely one of the best capstone movies of all time.

Or maybe a Spider-Man movie? Take your pick of many, including the Spider-Verses. If it's MCU Spider-Man, only No Way Home is truly a superhero movie.

While I enjoyed all the Spidermans together in one movie, I really dont get the love of Hollandman. I preferred the Reimi flicks.

 

[AnotherGuy]

Finally somebody mentions Logan. 45 posts in, I thought I was alone.

EDIT: I missed Ruin Explorer's post at #42

 

[Ruin Explorer]

I have to ask: what's your metric for "truly a superhero movie."

Vibes! Did my post not illustrate that lol?

But more seriously, the other two Holland-Spidey films are, respectively, a super-corporate and kinda dodgy* coming of age story which uses the superhero stuff as a backdrop (it's not a bad movie, to be clear - indeed it's pretty good when it sticks to the fun stuff), and an inept and confusing movie that's not sure what it is, but kind of wanted to a "European Vacation" movie then just gave up on that in favour of a sort of a technothriller that is nominally about Spider-Man.

Whereas No Way Home is absolutely centered on and focused in on what it means to be a superhero, and what it means to do the right thing, even if you don't really want to, even if it costs you emotionally, physically, in your connections to others and so on. It also does a great job of capturing the essence of Spider-Man's (strong) morality, which was largely absent from his previous MCU appearances (he's blandly a "good guy" and not much else in those), and really puts it at the heart of the movie. This is actual superheroism, not mere "nice guy in a bodystocking" stuff.

* = I am very sensitive to moral double-standards if a movie preaches.

 

[billd91]

Huh? I was saying the plan wouldn't work because of anti-American sentiment.

Right. It strikes me as more of a recipe for uniting the rest of the world against America rather than with America. The constructed aliens really would be the external threat rather than the FO part of FAFO on America's part that Dr. Manhattan might be.

 

[Ruin Explorer]

Right. It strikes me as more of a recipe for uniting the rest of the world against America rather than with America. The constructed aliens really would be the external threat rather than the FO part of FAFO on America's part that Dr. Manhattan might be.

Yeah that's the big issue with that change - it is, if anything, going to make a WW3 more likely, not less.

 

[Dire Bare]

Right. It strikes me as more of a recipe for uniting the rest of the world against America rather than with America. The constructed aliens really would be the external threat rather than the FO part of FAFO on America's part that Dr. Manhattan might be.

I agree that swapping out the aliens for Dr. Manhattan was a huge mistake in the film . . .

But I love it anyway, it's still one of my favorite superhero films. To the point where I'm struggling to watch the recent animated version on Max.