Best superhero movie of all time? (Nominations thread)

[overgeeked]

The Rocketeer (1991), is the best super-hero movie. Still very watchable.

It’s a great movie and I would have included it, but I think it’s more pulp heroes than superheroes. It’s far more The Shadow, Doc Savage, and Indiana Jones than Superman, Batman, and Spider-Man.

And yes, I’m well aware of their entangled history.

 

[Reynard]

Folks are drawing much clearer lines as to what is a "superhero" than the history of the genre allows for.

Superman, the original Sandman, and The Spectre were all superheroes.

 

[payn]

You have just reminded me that a burlesque performer, of my acquaintance, really wants to do a Lady Rocketeer act some day.

There was a show on SyFy years ago about Cosplay and a gal did this and it was rather nice.

 

[The Soloist]

It’s a great movie and I would have included it, but I think it’s more pulp heroes than superheroes. It’s far more The Shadow, Doc Savage, and Indiana Jones than Superman, Batman, and Spider-Man.

And yes, I’m well aware of their entangled history.

Batman has no superpowers, he is a caped and hooded detective with gadgets. The Rocketeer is the same, he regular guy with a rocketpack, a cool helmet that knows how to fight hand-to-hand and has brains.

Either Batman is a pulp hero or The Rocketeer is a superhero.

Also:
"Gibson's characterization of The Shadow laid the foundations for the archetype of the superhero, including stylized imagery and title, sidekicks, supervillains, and a secret identity. Clad in black, The Shadow operated mainly after dark as a vigilante in the name of justice, terrifying criminals into vulnerability."

 

[Tonguez]

It’s a great movie and I would have included it, but I think it’s more pulp heroes than superheroes. It’s far more The Shadow, Doc Savage, and Indiana Jones than Superman, Batman, and Spider-Man.

And yes, I’m well aware of their entangled history.

There is no meaningful distinction between superheroes and pulp heroes - the Shadow has powers, Doc Savage is the Man of Bronze and Indy fights the same Nazis as Captain America. Tarzan and Conan have both appeared in contemporary Marvel comics - the tropes are identical

 

[overgeeked]

Batman has no superpowers, he is a caped and hooded detective with gadgets. The Rocketeer is the same, he regular guy with a rocketpack, a cool helmet that knows how to fight hand-to-hand and has brains.

Either Batman is a pulp hero or The Rocketeer is a superhero.

Also:
"Gibson's characterization of The Shadow laid the foundations for the archetype of the superhero, including stylized imagery and title, sidekicks, supervillains, and a secret identity. Clad in black, The Shadow operated mainly after dark as a vigilante in the name of justice, terrifying criminals into vulnerability."

There is no meaningful distinction between superheroes and pulp heroes - the Shadow has powers, Doc Savage is the Man of Bronze and Indy fights the same Nazis as Captain America. Tarzan and Conan have both appeared in contemporary Marvel comics - the tropes are identical

Couldn’t disagree more. They’re clearly cousins as one is the inspiration of the other, but they are distinct. There’s overlap in the Venn diagram between the high-end pulp hero and the low-end superhero, but there’s just too much unique to each that makes them distinct.

 

[Reynard]

Couldn’t disagree more.

Can you elaborate?

 

[James Gasik]

Can I vote for 75% of a movie? If so, Hancock.

If not, Defendor.

 

[Ryujin]

There was a show on SyFy years ago about Cosplay and a gal did this and it was rather nice.

I think that was CosPlayer Riddle Lecotey, on "Face Off."

 

[AnotherGuy]

Can I vote for 75% of a movie? If so, Hancock.

If not, Defendor.

Oooo I enjoyed Hancock - I only saw it once long ago.
Time for a rewatch!

EDIT: Thomas Jane's Punisher had some great moments (if we are discussing percentages)...but overall the movie suffered sadly.