Rank the Superhero films

[Chun-tzu]

Can someone point me to a list of superhero movies?

Well, let's see what I can list off the top of my head. I'm sure others will add in ones that I miss.

Classic heroes: The Shadow, The Phantom, Rocketeer

DC Comics heroes: Superman I-IV, Supergirl, Batman I-IV, the Batman movie based on the 60's show, 2 Batman animated features (Mask of the Phantasm, Sub-Zero), Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker, the Swamp Thing

Marvel Comics heroes: Spider-Man, X-Men, Blade I-II, Daredevil, The Punisher, Captain America (a few of these), Fantastic Four, some Hulk TV movies (based on the TV show)

Independent comic heroes: The Crow I-III, Spawn, The Mask, Gen-13 animated

Movies-only heroes: Meteor Man, Darkman I-III, Mystery Men, Unbreakable

Other Comic Book Hero movies: Dick Tracy, Judge Dredd, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles I-III

There are a bunch more movies based on comics that aren't super-hero comics (like Road to Perdition, Ghost World, and so on). This list also excludes any TV pilot movies or the like (e.g., various multi-part animated shows have been combined to 1 feature-length video).

 

[Viking Bastard]

I wouldn't call Spawn or Gen-13 independent comics and Mystery Men are based off comics (somewhat well known I would've thought, a spin-off of the Flaming Carrot).

Other superhero movies are: Blankman, Orgazmo (kindof) and the Batman/Superman: World's Finest (animated).

 

[Zeddan]

1) Spiderman (2002)
2) Superman (1978)
3) Rocketeer (1991)
4) Unbreakable (2000)
5) Darkman (1990)
6) Blade (1998)
7) Batman (1989)
8) Remo Williams: The Adventure Begins (1985)
9) The Mask (1994)
10) Conan The Barbarian (1982)

There's my list. Only Onw Batman movie, and only one Superman Movie. Superhero sequels tend to be less than ideal. I include Conan because he was pretty much a superhero.

 

[Apok]

#1 - Batman. To me, no comic inspired movie will ever come close to being as good as the original Batman movie.
#2 - Spiderman. Okay, so this one comes close. Not as good as Batman, but highly engaging and with good actors.
#3 - Superman. It's a classic that I never get tired of watching.

I think the reason those are my Top 3 is because of the villians and heroes. Jack Nicholson as the Joker, William Dafoe as Green Goblin, Gene Hackman as Lex Luthor, Michael Keaton as Batman, Toby Macguire as Spiderman, and Christopher Reeve as Superman. Six outstanding actors who played their parts to the hilt and, to me, became those characters so completely that I cannot easily separate them from those roles in my mind.

#4 - X-Men
#5 - Superman II
#6 - Blade
#7 - Batman Returns
#8 - The Phantom
#9 - The Shadow
#10 - The Crow

These choices are based on how good the movie was in terms of acting and story, not how true they were to the comic. I haven't seen Daredevil yet, so I can't comment on how good or bad it is.

 

[Fenros]

1. Spiderman
2. Superman
3. The Rocketeer
4. Blade
5. Batman: Mask of the Phantasm
6. X-Men
7. The Crow
8. Batman
9. Superman II
10. The Shadow
11. Daredevil
12. Batman II
13. Batman Forever
14. Superman III
15. The Phantom
16. Batman and Robin
17. The Punisher
18. Superman IV The Quest for Peace
19. Spawn


That's my list from best to worst. In my opinion.
I consider 11 to 14 to be crappy enough for me to not watch ever again unless I'm super bored. Except for 15 thru 18, which I vow never to watch again ever (even if super bored) unless forced to at gun point. Then there's number 19, which if forced by gun point to watch....I'll just ask to be shot instead. Save myself the agony.

I did not list "Unbreakable". It is a super hero movie and a good one at that. But I'm keeping out the super hero movies that never had their own comic first off the list. Thus, "Darkman" isn't on the list either.

"Dick Tracy" isn't on the list either because, even though it was a comic book first, he's not a super hero. He's a detective. So doesn't qualify for my list.

"Conan" did have a comic book, but I don't consider him a super hero either. I consider him a Fantasy Hero.

 

[The Serge]

1. X-Men: This is the best comic book adaptation because it best captures the feel and attitude of the series in its hay-day. The drive here is equality and fitting in more than anything else and we see this theme repeated from start to finish. There is also the sense that there has been an invisible war brewing for a long time of which most homo sapiens are unaware. Finally, the graphic did not overpower the film, a usual failure for most movies.

2. Superman the Movie: Again, Superman was captured to perfection. The performance delivered by Christopher Reeves and the deeply religious overtones and Americana images were fantastic. And finally, there is no super-hero score out there better or more memorable than Williams' March from Superman, and no villain theme better than The March of the Villains.

3. Batman: Mask of the Phantasm: This and the next movie are the basis upon which all future Batman franchise movies should be based. Why can't the morons in Hollywood get this right? This is a very decent cartoon that features a very grim Batman, a truly socipathic Joker, and a background story that comes close to perfection in capturing The Dark Knight.

4. Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker: Again, we come far closer to capturing Batman in this than in any of the four late 90 Batman movies. Particularly in the flashback scene, we see how vicious the enmity is between The Batman and The Joker and what has been at stake. A fantastic film.

5. Unbreakable: Great stuff. This is a great film that sort of offers a new look, a refreshed look, at the idea about superheroes... a deconstruction, if you will. We see what Superman could have been and we see how a hero can be an everyday Joe. This is a great film burdened by a severe slowness and drag. Still, it's a fantastic movie with strong performances.

6. Spiderman: Not bad at all. Toby Maguire was great and the handling of the origin was impressive. The score did not capture the feel of Spiderman (far too gothic and oppressive) and the whole motivation on the part of the Green Goblin was lame (the whole Father/son theme was poorly handled). Furthermore, aside from the overall patriotic feel of the film, there was no real "threat" inherent. The Green Goblin's motivation changes drastically in the middle of the movie and never makes much sense (and I hated his costume). Still, not a bad movie.

7. Batman the Movie: Another one that's not bad. But certainly not great. While some of the elements associated with The Batman mythos are captured (the Hellish Gotham, the 30's atmosphere, etc.), we never learn much about the title character or his motivations or how he accomplishes what he accomplishes. The casting was also poor... Sure, Jack Nicholson had the face and sinister nature of The Joker, but I'm sure there were other actors who could have captured both the attitude as well as the physical appearance of the character. Same with Keaton's Batman... A decent performance, but Batman is very much a Darth Vader sized character and Keaton simply doesn't have the physical presence to make it work. Finally, the Vicki Vale thing was garbage. Still, I have a soft place in my heart for this, so I rank it seventh.

8. Daredevil the Movie: Not too bad. But not great either. This movie is like a wide, but incredibly shallow pool of water. A lot of great effects, fantastic shots, and incredible potential, but absolutely no character development, real explanation, or threat. We never really understand how dangerous The Kingpin is. And, we see another one of the great faux pas of comic book adaptations: TOO MANY CHARACTERS! The Elektra/Bullseye thing was poorly handled. I mean, she witnesses her father's murder, goes out the next night to avenge him, just happens to run into Daredevil, just happens to be found by Bullseyes... Uh uh. But, still a better film than any of the later Batman or Superman movies.

That's it. The dearth of decent movie adaptations is telling since I can't reach 10. All the others were complete crap, IMO.

As for new Batman films, I don't see what the problem is. It would not be difficult to create a brand new image while maintaining. Handle the character in a fashion similar to a decent horror film. You never really see much of the character, but instead you see his shadow, glimpse his cloak, or see a passing shot of him. Over time, give the audience more and more of him until the end. Treat it sort of like The Usual Suspects. And, focus the attention either on Wayne or Gordon. Cut out the romance... or have the romance with another character (Gordon, if one goes with Year One). Or, you could go with a Law and Order type set-up with a psuedo-mystical element.

 

[Hand of Evil]

I am surprised to see no one list Buckaroo on their list!

 

[Mr Fidgit]

and (unless i overlooked it) no one mentioned The Specials, either

http://us.imdb.com/Title?0181836

 

[Viking Bastard]

The Rob Lowe wannabe-X-Men film?

Is it worth anything? I haven't seen it.

 

[Ristamar]

Batman Forever was a fine superhero film but a bad Batman movie.

Batman & Robin was just bad.

Me = Agree 100%, on both counts.

And for the record, I thought Keaton was the best Bruce Wayne/Batman of the three actors that most recently portrayed the Dark Knight.