Rank the Superhero films
- Thread starter Kai Lord
- Start date
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Viking Bastard
Adventurer
While I don't think Keaton was especially good as Wayne, he was just downright creepy and intimidating as Batman.Ristamar said:
Those eyes... and the voice!
*Shiver*
Viking Bastard
Adventurer
I'm not good with lists (anyway, they are in constant flux and change at
least daily).
I can tell you what I think about the live action superhero movies though
(I'm gonna ignore the Animated ones for now).
.
THE SUPERMAN MOVIES
Superman
This movie is a cinematic masterpriece. Solid performances on all fronts
(except for Gene Hackman, but that's another discussion for a later time).
Sadly, it's kinda dull after the magic wears off.
Superman II
Everything the first movie is and more. Gene Hackman is even less over
the top! Great movie.
Superman III
Gene Hackman wouldn't play ball for the third time, so they created a new
villain that was exactly like Luthor. What exactly is missing I can't say, it's
just kinda dull. When I saw it for the first time though (when I was five), the
scene where the villain's sister get turned into somekinda robot-thingy by
the giant supercomputer frightened me nearly to death.
Superman IV: The Quest for Peace
Urgh! Must repress memory! Agh! At least it's not as bad as Batman &
Robin.
.
THE BATMAN MOVIES
Batman
Although not a perfect adaption story wise, it captures the essence of the
Batman comics perfectly as well as the Batman character. Despite utter
butchery of the character of Jim Gordon, the solid performances of Jack
Nicholsson as the Joker and Micheal Keaton as Batman (less solid in the
Bruce Wayne department) this movie was very enjoyable.
Batman Returns
Good movie, more moving and better script than the first one but looses
something as Tim Burton goes into hyperdrive. Too much Tim Burton not
enough Batman. If he had scaled himself back just a little (like he did with
the PotA reimagining) this movie could've been even better than the
original.But because of the bad adaptions of the characters and over-the-
top Burton-ism the film sometimes leaves a bad taste in my mouth.
Batman Forever
While I left the movie theatre somewhat dissatisfied as a long time Batman
fan, I also left the theatre rather entertained. So like I've said before: As a
Batman film it sucked, but as a superhero flick it was good fun
entertainment. Val Kilmerwas a horrible Batman. Chris O'Donnel made a
good Dick Grayson (if maybe a bit too old). Tommy Lee Jones was very
disappointing as Two-Face. If he had just stuck to his old-badarse-yet-wise
routine he would've been perfect. Jim Carrey gave a wonderful
performance as the Riddler, although the story behind the character was
very bad and unfaithful to the comic.
Batman & Robin
Just a sad, sad movie.
.
THE MARVEL MOVIES
X-Men
Good example of knowing what to keep and what to ditch. The only thing
that keeps this movie back is the wasted potentional. Good film that
could've been great. But, seeing their somewhat limited budget and time,
it's understandable.
Spider-Man
The best and most faithful adaption of the bunch, but like Superman, is
kinda dull after several viewings. This is a movie based around magic and
when it's gone, little is left (except Willem Dafoe's amazing performance
which rivals Jack Nicholson's).
Daredevil
Although very enjoyable, I've reached the conclusion that it needed maybe
a bit more 'oomph!' and a little less melodrama. Ben Affleck surprised me
as a very good Matt Murdoch, but did not fit as well as Daredevil. Jennifer
Garner was as I feared completely wrong for Elektra. She's too stuck in the
good-girl-routine and simply does not radiate that 'exotic' quality Elektra
needs. Micheal Clarke Duncan was absolutely perfect as Kingpin and Colin
Farrell was good as Bullseye but the character could've used more work
story-wise. Foggy was perfect.
.
OTHER
Spawn
Great first half, but then... goes to heck. A good example why the creator of
a comic should NOT have complete creative control over the movie.
McFarlane tried to stick five years of continuity into a two hour film. Half
way through the writers saw that they couldn't do that successfully
and just stuck some clumsy last-battle-fate-of-humanity-ending onto the
second half. This could've been so great, but... *sigh*
.
More superhero movies I enjoyed but didn't bother writing anything about
are: the Blade movies, the Rocketeer, the Shadow, Mystery Men,
Unbreakable, Darkman and more.
least daily).
I can tell you what I think about the live action superhero movies though
(I'm gonna ignore the Animated ones for now).
.
THE SUPERMAN MOVIES
Superman
This movie is a cinematic masterpriece. Solid performances on all fronts
(except for Gene Hackman, but that's another discussion for a later time).
Sadly, it's kinda dull after the magic wears off.
Superman II
Everything the first movie is and more. Gene Hackman is even less over
the top! Great movie.
Superman III
Gene Hackman wouldn't play ball for the third time, so they created a new
villain that was exactly like Luthor. What exactly is missing I can't say, it's
just kinda dull. When I saw it for the first time though (when I was five), the
scene where the villain's sister get turned into somekinda robot-thingy by
the giant supercomputer frightened me nearly to death.
Superman IV: The Quest for Peace
Urgh! Must repress memory! Agh! At least it's not as bad as Batman &
Robin.
.
THE BATMAN MOVIES
Batman
Although not a perfect adaption story wise, it captures the essence of the
Batman comics perfectly as well as the Batman character. Despite utter
butchery of the character of Jim Gordon, the solid performances of Jack
Nicholsson as the Joker and Micheal Keaton as Batman (less solid in the
Bruce Wayne department) this movie was very enjoyable.
Batman Returns
Good movie, more moving and better script than the first one but looses
something as Tim Burton goes into hyperdrive. Too much Tim Burton not
enough Batman. If he had scaled himself back just a little (like he did with
the PotA reimagining) this movie could've been even better than the
original.But because of the bad adaptions of the characters and over-the-
top Burton-ism the film sometimes leaves a bad taste in my mouth.
Batman Forever
While I left the movie theatre somewhat dissatisfied as a long time Batman
fan, I also left the theatre rather entertained. So like I've said before: As a
Batman film it sucked, but as a superhero flick it was good fun
entertainment. Val Kilmerwas a horrible Batman. Chris O'Donnel made a
good Dick Grayson (if maybe a bit too old). Tommy Lee Jones was very
disappointing as Two-Face. If he had just stuck to his old-badarse-yet-wise
routine he would've been perfect. Jim Carrey gave a wonderful
performance as the Riddler, although the story behind the character was
very bad and unfaithful to the comic.
Batman & Robin
Just a sad, sad movie.
.
THE MARVEL MOVIES
X-Men
Good example of knowing what to keep and what to ditch. The only thing
that keeps this movie back is the wasted potentional. Good film that
could've been great. But, seeing their somewhat limited budget and time,
it's understandable.
Spider-Man
The best and most faithful adaption of the bunch, but like Superman, is
kinda dull after several viewings. This is a movie based around magic and
when it's gone, little is left (except Willem Dafoe's amazing performance
which rivals Jack Nicholson's).
Daredevil
Although very enjoyable, I've reached the conclusion that it needed maybe
a bit more 'oomph!' and a little less melodrama. Ben Affleck surprised me
as a very good Matt Murdoch, but did not fit as well as Daredevil. Jennifer
Garner was as I feared completely wrong for Elektra. She's too stuck in the
good-girl-routine and simply does not radiate that 'exotic' quality Elektra
needs. Micheal Clarke Duncan was absolutely perfect as Kingpin and Colin
Farrell was good as Bullseye but the character could've used more work
story-wise. Foggy was perfect.
.
OTHER
Spawn
Great first half, but then... goes to heck. A good example why the creator of
a comic should NOT have complete creative control over the movie.
McFarlane tried to stick five years of continuity into a two hour film. Half
way through the writers saw that they couldn't do that successfully
and just stuck some clumsy last-battle-fate-of-humanity-ending onto the
second half. This could've been so great, but... *sigh*
.
More superhero movies I enjoyed but didn't bother writing anything about
are: the Blade movies, the Rocketeer, the Shadow, Mystery Men,
Unbreakable, Darkman and more.
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VorpalBunny
Explorer
Some excellent points, Viking. I think you were a little too leinent on Batman Forever though, but I agree with you regarding Batman Returns.
One minor nitpick: the traitor cop in Batman is named Eckhart. It's not Harvey Bullock (which is good considering that Eckhart is murdered by Jack Napier).
One minor nitpick: the traitor cop in Batman is named Eckhart. It's not Harvey Bullock (which is good considering that Eckhart is murdered by Jack Napier).
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Viking Bastard
Adventurer
Ah, you're right of course. The characters just seemed so similar (despite the traitor bit) that my mind just lumped them together.VorpalBunny said:
PS. The wonders of the EDIT button.
Viking Bastard
Adventurer
How was Bullock different pre-crisis?
Seeing that Batman wasn't re-booted during the crisis like Supes
(only retconned a lot) I didn't realise there would be any difference.
Seeing that Batman wasn't re-booted during the crisis like Supes
(only retconned a lot) I didn't realise there would be any difference.
The pre-Crisis Harvey Bullock was part of a conspiracy to get rid of Commissioner Gordon. In the past, Bullock was fired by Gordon (he was inept and crooked) and he was rehired by Mayor Hamilton Hill (and/or Rupert Thorne) to cause havoc. He was inept and a troublesome and one of his pranks resulted in Gordon suffering a heart attack. Bullock, who never wanted to hurt Gordon, had a change of heart and sort of became an ally of Gordon. So, while he was not as vicious as the Eckhardt-character in Batman: The Movie, the pre-Crisis Bullock was a crooked cop.Viking Bastard said:
The post-Crisis Bullock took years in real-life to show up as a Batman character. In fact, I don't think the character really existed before the appearance of Tim Drake, the third and current Robin. This version is a good, if rough and generally hygiene-challenged, cop who, for a while at least, wanted a tougher Batman. In fact, he sort of liked the way Azbats was handling things during the whole Knightsquest thing. The character was never fired by Gordon and was, in fact, highly respected and admired by Gordon, going as far as remaining in Gotham during No-Man's Land. A totally different, relatively honorable character.
Viking Bastard
Adventurer
Thanks, although I knew all that (and more) about the post-crisis
version. Although he quit the Gotham PD recently after killin'
Gordon's shooter.
.
When (year/decade-wise) was the pre-crisis Bullock in Batman continuity?
EDIT: After some internet searchin', I seem to have discovered
that the pre-crisis history of Harvey Bullock is still in continuity.
version. Although he quit the Gotham PD recently after killin'
Gordon's shooter.
.
When (year/decade-wise) was the pre-crisis Bullock in Batman continuity?
EDIT: After some internet searchin', I seem to have discovered
that the pre-crisis history of Harvey Bullock is still in continuity.
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Ghostwind
First Post
I can't believe that any one hasn't mentioned The Tick in their list of superheroes. Granted, it was only a cartoon series and a really bad very short-lived TV series, but he still an iconic superhero that has been slated for the big screen four different times. All of them, of course, never made it beyond the first draft of a script... 
