Iron Man Schmiron Man! These are the 10 Best Comic Book Films of All Time
Comic book film fans are very vocal about what they like and don’t like. You could even accuse them of occasionally being a little extreme in their opinions. In these cases, the word ‘hyperbole’ generally comes to mind. “Spider-Man 3 is the worst movie ever made!” followed by “Iron Man is the best comic book film EVER!!!”. It’s interesting how quickly people swap out the number one spot on their best comic book film lists and quickly forget those gems that started it all. Having said all of that, even though I know 89% of you have already skipped this write up and jumped right to my list, I thought I would start things off by attempting to address a few concerns you may have regarding my top ten comic book films list. You know, just to cover my ass a little here. After all, this isn’t really my genre. I’m not a hardcore comic book fan like you are, but I can honestly say that I do really love the films on my list. Anyways, here we go:
First off, if this were a top 11 list, Blade 2 would be on it. Unfortunately, a top 11 list simply isn’t socially acceptable in this list-making era of the internetz. I struggled between Blade 2 and X2: X-Men United. In the end, I went with X-Men 2 simply because it’s the only ‘team’ superhero film on my list.
Second: Although I didn’t mind Iron Man, I really didn’t think it was anything new or special. How many times can I watch a superhero fight a bigger and badder version of himself?
Third: I’m trying to focus on somewhat traditional comic book heroes here. (I suppose there are a few exceptions on my list.) Trust me, I have some weird gauge in my head that decides what counts and what doesn’t. Some films that didn’t ‘count’ for this particular list include: Ghost World, A History of Violence, American Splendor, Road to Perdition…you get the idea.
FOURTH-LY, as of the writing of this article, I have NOT seen Hellboy 2 or The Dark Knight. And even though I loved the first half of Batman Begins, it just wasn’t strong enough as a whole to make it on my list.
Having said all of that, let’s jump right into it. The following is my own personal list of what I consider to be the top ten comic book films of all time. Enjoy.
10. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1990)
The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles were a pretty big part of my childhood. Mainly due to the fact that it was the last cartoon I became really attached to before ‘growing up’. GI Joe was off the air and The Transformers turned to shit after the movie, but the Ninja Turtles were weird and fresh and had some pretty awesome toys. Needless to say, I was very excited by the idea of a live action movie adaptation. I remember standing in line for what seemed to be hours at a now defunct local theatre, and actually NOT getting in. It was THAT popular at the time.
I suppose looking back on it now, it might be a little dated. It’s drenched in early 90’s rap, full of frizzy hair-do’s and relies on some somewhat childish humour; but there’s one element that this film has that pretty much secured its spot on this top ten list; the Jim Henson Creature Shop. (I bet you thought I was going to say Corey Feldman.) The film came out the year of Henson’s death, which means the costumes were built during the true Henson-helmed era of the studio. Man do I love me some man-in-suit action.
I guess this would be one film on my list that might be coasting on some old-fashioned nostalgia. On the other hand, I can honestly say that upon recent viewings of The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, I hold strong to my opinion that this is a fun film that keeps things refreshingly simple in a time where most films in this genre feel the need wedge in a more serious, adult element. (Perhaps a valid complaint for fans who didn’t think the film stuck closely enough to the somewhat adult oriented original comic book.)
9. X2: X-Men United (2003)
Although I didn’t mind the first X-Men film, I thought it fell victim to a common problem faced by comic book movies; the origin story is always more interesting than the final battles. Bryan Singer did a great job introducing the characters, but sort of squandered the final thirty minutes. It was a little anti-climactic, and the choice of a Statue of Liberty battle seemed a little TOO clichéd.
Thankfully, X2 opens with a pretty massive blast, giving us one of the greatest character introductions in comic book film history. All of the original X-Men are also back, only this time Storm isn’t Jamaican. (Or whatever that accent was suppose to be. It certainly wasn’t Kenyan.) We also get an all too-short introduction to Colossus, my favourite X-Man! I do think the whole weapon X thing seemed a little muttled, but Brian Cox was awesome as Stryker. Overall, the cast has been pretty strong throughout this entire franchise.
8. Sin City (2005)
Maybe this entry is a bit of a cheat in terms of the guidelines I set out at the start of this post, but it just doesn’t feel right doing a top ten comic book films list without acknowledging Sin City as a sort of trend setter, jump starting the ‘frame by frame’ approach to adapting comic books/graphic novels for the big screen. (Not that there’s many examples thus far, but just you wait.) It’s also single handedly responsible for making Frank Miller a bankable name in Hollywood. As for the film itself, it’s a visual accomplishment simply due Robert Rodriguez’ success in bringing Miller’s drawings to life. He still manages to maintain his do-it-yourself approach, this time bringing BFF Quentin Tarantino along to guest direct a scene, giving him a taste of life in the digital world. In the end, Rodriguez would fail in converting him.
The stories are dark and exceedingly violent, but completely old fashioned. The heroes are weathered and gruff men, all over the age of 30. A rarity nowadays, considering the recent trend in casting only the young and attractive in the hero roles. I love the meaty, beaty, big and bouncy approach to the action, indulging in brute force, blunt trauma and unadulterated revenge. There’s rarely a graceful or honourable death in Sin City, and I love it.
7. Hellboy (2004)
Let’s face it; Guillermo Del Toro has been giving Peter Jackson, George Lucas and Tim Burton a run for their money over the past few years. His love of monsters and fairy tales has given us some pretty unusual imagery and his dark sense of storytelling has managed to challenge typical summer blockbuster audiences. Hellboy was actually his second comic book adaptation, the first being the AWESOME Blade 2. (A movie that, as I mentioned, I really wanted to include on this list.) It’s pretty clear that he respects Mike Mignola’s original source material, making use of some great practical make up effects to recreate his strange set of characters.
It’s no wonder Del Toro was drawn to this material, considering the opportunities to exploit the idea of a crew of monster fighting…monsters. I love the entire subway sequence. (I thought the tunnel exploration is actually quite reminiscent of Blade 2.) The Lovecraft inspired Sammael’s are a formidable opponent, multiplying by two every time they’re killed, creating a cane toad-esque infestation underneath the city. They’re also a great example of a successful combination of man-in-suit and CG effects. I also love the iconic design of Karl Ruprecht Kroenen, the Nazi assassin built out of complex clockwork.
Not unlike Spider-Man 2, I think Hellboy has a great way of mixing the fantastic with the dramatic. The character of John Meyers gives us that relateable ‘in’, making the Bureau of Paranormal Research & Defense a little easier to swallow. Also, the jealousy Hellboy feels towards Liz Sherman is actually quite charming.
6. The Crow (1994)
Obviously inspired by the success of Tim Burton’s dark take on Batman, Alex Proyas decided to take things one step further, adapting James O’Barr’s bleak graphic novel ‘The Crow’ for the big screen. Like Burton, Proyas makes inspired use of miniature cityscapes, matte paintings and old-school compositing to bring to life his seemingly timeless, morose universe. Proyas visually tips his hat at Ridley Scott’s Blade Runner, showing us what that unique vision of the future may have looked like in the 1990’s.
Of course it’s almost impossible to discuss The Crow without mentioning the on-set death of Brandon Lee. His untimely passing almost seemed to have mythic consequences, adding an extra level of power to his performance. It’s interesting to compare this to the recent death of Heath Ledger, and the resulting effects it’s had on people’s seemingly idealistic perception of his performance as The Joker. Who knows, maybe he is THAT good. We’ll see.
5. Danger: Diabolik (1968)
Mario Bava’s 1968 adaptation of Angela and Luciana Giussani’s Italian comic book ‘Diabolik’, is considered by some to be the first comic book to film adaptation. In a way, that’s not really true. As you’ll see on my list, I’ve included the big screen adaptation of William Dozer’s Batman television series, filmed and released in 1966. Two years previous to Bava’s Danger: Diabolik. I suppose you could say that Batman: The Movie is simply an extension of the television show, whereas Danger: Diabolik is the first pure comic to film adaptation. Just one of Mario Bava’s many innovations.
The movie is drenched in style, celebrating the colours and composition of the original comics. Ennio Morricone provides one of his finest and most sought after soundtracks, mixing his trademark unusual vocalizations with a swinging score rooted in the 1960’s pop and surf elements associated so closely with the spy genre. Check out my video review below for expanded thoughts on this classic.
4. Batman: The Movie (1966)
Seeing as just last week I reviewed the blu ray re-release of Batman: The Movie, I’ll just reprint what I wrote there, here:
Although William Dozer’s production of Batman was a hit when it aired on television in ’66, it certainly polarizes today’s fans. Some appreciate the campy take on the caped crusader, recognizing the fact that the show is a great example of some intelligent, satirical humour. Others prefer their costumed super-heroes a little more dark and disturbed. Personally, I see merits in both representations of Batman, but I certainly have more fun watching Adam West and Burt Ward strapped to giant, ill-conceived, impractical death machines. There’s also a lot to be said about a hero who carries an assortment of aerosol Bat-sprays to combat multiple types of dangerous aquatic life forms.
This feature film spin-off, directed by Leslie H. Martinson, stays true to the spirit of the original series, but like any big-screen adaptation, slightly enhances the scale. Rather than a single villain, Batman: The Movie features the entire ‘Rogue’s Gallery’, including The Penguin, (the “pompous, waddling master of fowl play” as played by Burgess Meredith) The Joker, (the “clown prince of crime” as played by Cesar Romero) The Riddler (the “count of criminal conundrums” as played by Frank Gorshin) and Catwoman, (the “fiendish feline” as played by Lee Meriwether). The film also raised the overall stakes as the fiendish four turn the members of the United Nations into piles of coloured dust, thus threatening the ENTIRE WORLD! The exploding shark is pretty terrifying as well.
I’d have to say my favourite scene in the entire film is the giant bomb sequence. Batman and Robin infiltrate the villain’s secret hideout, which happens to be located on the second floor of a saloon.
Robin: When you think, Batman, with those 4 supercrooks hangin’ around, it’s amazing somebody hasn’t already reported this place to the police!
Batman: It’s a low neighborhood, full of rumpots. They’re used to curious sights, which they attribute to alcoholic delusions.
Robin: Gosh, drinking is sure a filthy thing, isn’t it? I’d rather be dead than unable to trust my own eyes!
They quickly discover it’s a trap when Batman comes upon a giant, fizzling bomb waiting to blow them all away. He decides to dispose of the bomb, alerting the patrons of the saloon of the impending danger. (Watch as the two heavy set women in the foreground ignore his warnings, deciding instead to continue eating their chicken wings.) Batman runs along a populated pier, bomb raised above his head, looking for somewhere to throw it. As time runs out, he encounters every imaginable obstacle…a nun, a marching band, a woman pushing a baby carriage, baby ducks…until finally he mutters the line, “Some days you just can’t get rid of a bomb!”. Trust me, it’s classic. It’s all about the delivery. You really had to be there.
3. Superman: The Movie (1978)
Richard Donner’s Superman may not be the first comic book adaptation, but it’s certainly the first comic book blockbuster. It clearly set the standard for super-hero movies to come, and featured some state-of-the-art special effects that, to a degree, still hold up today. (Maybe?) An argument could also be made for Christopher Reeve’s take on The Man of Steel/Clark Kent as being the best super hero performance in the history of comic book films. (Perhaps slightly hyperbolic, but definitely worthy of consideration.)
It’s pretty normal for comic book films to inject moments of humour, but Superman is genuinely funny. It’s an early sign of Donner’s ability to mix humour and action, as demonstrated later in his career with films like The Goonies and Lethal Weapon. It’s also interesting to note the A-list talent and character actors assembled for this film. Just look at the list; Gene Hackman, Terrance Stamp, Ned Beatty, Jackie Cooper, Glenn Ford and of course, Marlon Brando. That’s a pretty solid line up considering this was years before comic book films were bankable.
So before you ask, I did consider Superman 2 for this list. In some ways, I think it’s better than the first. I even considered listing this spot as ‘Superman/Superman 2’, but decided against it. I went with the first one simply because of its importance as the first real comic book blockbuster, and without part one, there wouldn’t have been a part two!
2. Batman (1989)
This was my first theatrical comic book film experience, and I remember being totally blown away. I was completely caught up in the Batman hype, reading the novelization in advance of the film, accidentally buying the Prince version of the soundtrack thinking I was getting Danny Elfman’s score, and yes, I even had those giant Batman buttons that everybody used to wear. It’s also the first movie I recall having a bit of a pre-release backlash concerning the casting of Michael Keaton in the role of Bruce Wayne. This is obviously before the internet, so I assume this info circulated in issues of Starlog Magazine or episodes of Entertainment Tonight. I don’t know what’s better, getting your movie news from anonymous, fanboy bloggers or John Tesh.
I remember being really weirded out by Tim Burton’s use of animation in the first ten minutes of the film. (An overhead shot of a silhouetted Batman, completely hand animated.) Ssetting Batman in a timeless, noirish universe was also an interesting choice. You have to remember, previous to this, all we had was Adam West’s portrayal of the caped crusader. (Which I love.) Not to mention, Tim Burton’s only previous film was Pee Wee’s Big Adventure, so it seemed only natural that Burton would take the campy approach. (Could’ve been interesting.)
1. Spider-Man 2 (2004)
I’m thinking this might be a controversial choice for my number one spot, but I can honestly say I don’t understand how it could be. Spider-Man 2, in my opinion, is the perfect mix of comic book action and human drama. Most comic book films seem to have problems handling overall tone, trying too hard to mix the serious and the silly, and failing miserably. Spider-Man 2 does this with grace, riding a fine line between a character drama and goofy action film. I think that’s what makes this film so re-watchable.
Alfred Molina’s Doc Ock works both as a character and a super-villain, making good use of his mechanical arms in some pretty creative action sequences. The first Spider-Man seemed to lose a bit of it’s steam once The Green Goblin entered the picture, but Doc Ock manages to celebrate the villainous melodrama while still retaining a sense of character, rather than resorting to a caricature. By this time, Peter Parker is a little more complex as well, having spent a good chunk of time fighting crime without any real benefits.
Spider-Man 2 is one of only comic book films to satisfyingly achieve a sense of the fantastic while grounding itself in thematic elements that are completely relatable. It’s one of the only comic book films that has me empathizing with its superhero. A rare accomplishment.
Comments (83)
Hmm… I sense another appearnce on Digg.
I guess FilmJunk will be down for another two days.
Good job, Jay. Great article.
Posted by Jon Rocks on July 17th, 2008Jay, this list proves you are the fucking man, well done sir…well fucking done…
Posted by Bob the Slob on July 17th, 2008Hey guys,
Thanks for the comments!
BTW, I had to repost them myself because I ran into some major technical issues getting this post up and working properly. Everything looks like it’s up and running now though.
Posted by Jay C. on July 17th, 2008One seriously overlooked comic book film that I greatly enjoy, more because of the concept and the look rather than the over used story and setting, is the Jamie Lee Curtis starer Virus.
Posted by swarez on July 17th, 2008I watched it again the other day and it holds up very well. Sure it’s basically the same ‘ol trapped in an industrial space trying to escape an alien creature but the concept of biomechanics is really cool. Plus Phil Tippet’s CG creature is really nice.
Interesting. I haven’t seen Virus, and I certainly didn’t know it was based off of a comic book. I’ll have to check it out.
Posted by Jay C. on July 17th, 2008I loves me some Blade 2. Despite mediocre acting and some sketchy plotting and overly ‘clean’ set design, the film just kicks on-screen. It is one of the best shot (in terms of visual aesthetics) and has some great wire-fu action to boot (too bad Donnie Yet gets a pretty short-end of things on screen).
Perlman is fun, and Kristofferson is doing his best ‘slept-three-days-in-the-alley’ nick nolte impression.
The reaper mouths are simply off the hook and show what is to come in GdT productions later on.
And for me, the thing actually achieves the elusive tag of ‘cool’ where most comic book flicks only half-way get there.
Blade 2 is the one of my favourites.
Posted by Kurt on July 17th, 2008It was a struggle leaving it off of the list. (Well, maybe ‘struggle’ is a strong word.)
Posted by Jay C. on July 17th, 2008Also Jay, Joseph Losey’s “Modesty Blaise” (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0060708/ ) was around in 1966 too. Certainly an early (the earliest?) comic book flick
It beating “Batman: The Movie” to the cinema by about 3 months…(sure it was in the UK, but whatever)…
Posted by Kurt on July 17th, 2008Good call. Heard of it, haven’t seen it. I’ll definitely be looking for it.
Posted by Jay C. on July 17th, 2008By the way. Great list, love Diabolik being there (not a surprise with you bing a superfan of that one)….there is a good mixture of films there instead of the usual post 1999 ‘ho-hum’ listings of films.
Diversity. Nice.
Posted by Kurt on July 17th, 2008blade 2 had something I had wanted to see for a long while…a homeless man in an extreme action fight scene…sure he was a reaper, but he was adorned in stereotypical homeless man clothing. I had no clue WHY I wanted to see this sight…but thankfully guillermo showed it to me.
Also, Jay, I am happy to see that there are other film writers out there that follow the code of “People are too quick to change thier number one and forget everything before it”…I feel very strongly about this, most people seem to completely forget all the achievments of film’s yesteryears the second they walk out of a theater with any semblance of smile on their face. I do my best, with the help of Matt Damon, to tackle the subject here:
http://www.quickstopentertainment.com/2008/03/10/opinion-in-a-haystack-the-neon-mobile/
It’s the first thing I talk about in the column…oddly I go on to vent my long with held disgust at Batman Forever right after that. Again…well done on the list.
Posted by Bob the Slob on July 17th, 2008No Oldboy?
Posted by Matt Gamble on July 17th, 2008No Oldboy. First off, I didn’t know it was a manga comic. (I hate manga) Second, even if I did, it would probably have been weeded out of my selection process along with Ghost World, Road to Perdition and A History of Violence. I guess the best way to describe my process of inclusion is to just say that I chose films that are not only comic book adaptations, but ‘comic book films’.
It makes sense my own head!
Posted by Jay C. on July 17th, 2008I would put Batman Begins, Superman 2 and M. Night Shaylman’s Unbreakable on my list. Unbreakable is one of the great origin stories of a super hero ever told!
Posted by entertainmenttodayandbeyond on July 17th, 2008Sorry I just realized it’s comic book, and not super heros films. Still Unbreakable is a great movie!
Posted by entertainmenttodayandbeyond on July 17th, 2008Hmm. Never heard of Danger: Diabolik and STILL haven’t seen The Crow. It’s NetFlix time…
Posted by Cinexcellence on July 17th, 2008I agree with your selection of Sin City, Hellboy, and of course Batman (Greatest Comic Book Movie ever) I didn’t notice the hand-drawn Batman the first time I watched it as a kid, though. But the other movies I could live without. I would have included 300, Batman Begins, X-Men, Iron Man, Blade, Road to Perdition, and The Mask.
Posted by Matt on July 17th, 2008Man this is a terrible list.
The only one that should be here is Sin City.
How could you put Tim Burtons Batman on the list, and # 2 is just crazy. Tim Burton is one of the most overated film makers ever, and Batman Begins was a 1000% better than Tim Burtons in every way.
And what about Iron Man? This was easily one of the best movies of the year so far, I was shocked none of you guys had it on your top 5 movies of the year so far, because it cleary was one of the top 5, if not hands down # 1. This should definitely be in the top 3 best comic book movies ever.
You also completly forgot about 300, what the hell, 300 was an amazing movie, you can’t tell me that it was worse than Teenage Mutant Ninja Fuckin Turtles.
Posted by Steven on July 17th, 2008Hey Steven,
I didn’t forget 300. It just didn’t make my list. I didn’t like it as much as you did. Same goes for Iron Man.
Just curious…what is it about Iron Man that makes it deserving of a spot in the top 3 comic book films of all time? (I certainly disagree with #1 film of the year.)
Posted by Jay C. on July 17th, 2008Just watched the Crow a couple of days ago and it still holds up really well. And it doesn’t hurt that Michael Wincott is in it and he’s one of the biggest bad asses not working as much as he should be in cinema today. I have a huge man crush on that dude.
Diabolik has been sitting on my shelf for over two years now and I have yet to put it in my player to watch it. Going to have to remedy that soon.
I don’t agree with everything on the list, TMNT for one, but Blade 2 is high on my list, as well as Hellboy, Tim Burton’s Batman, Batman Begins, Spiderman 2, X-Men 2.
Posted by swarez on July 17th, 2008Its an ok list, but do you really think Batman 1966 is better than Batman Begins? Good call with the Turtles!
I just made a similar list, but focused on the Top 10 Sequels.
http://servewithchips.blogspot.com/2008/07/superest-sequels.html
Posted by Chip Chief on July 17th, 2008Hey Chip Chief,
Yeah, I do. I love Batman (1966). Dark and serious isn’t always better in my books, and I thought the second half of Batman Begins got pretty stale.
Posted by Jay C. on July 17th, 2008Great list Jay. I still haven’t seen Batman: The Movie, but I’ll get to that soon. I remember loving Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles as a kid and haven’t seen it in years. I wonder if it still holds up.
I’m glad to see all the love for Blade 2 in the comments. It’s definitely in my top 10 comic book films.
Posted by Primal on July 17th, 2008Fair enough Jay, at least the Bat got some props. Not to knock the 1966 Batman… I actually really enjoyed the TV series, I just liked Begins better. I am just glad you didnt put Batman Returns on your list. I hate the people that sing endless praise for that freakfest.
Posted by Chip Chief on July 17th, 2008This is a solid list. The only placement I agree with 100% is Spider-Man 2.
Why is Blade 2 so much better than the first!? The slick & shiny urban setting was way better than dusty Prague imao. Sure, the part where Frost explodes looked awful but otherwise it was all good. I don’t get why no one is listing it. Plus, if Sin City can find it’s way on the list then Blade can also. He’s actually traditional enough (having debuted in a the 60′s Spider-man book makes it so).
Heres the Rundown:
10. Haven’t seen it in ten years so I can’t say anything. My VHS copy got chewed. (I too was an enormous fan before “growing up”).
9. Why don’t people like X3? I don’t love Brett Ratner or anything but Professor X dying was the last time I can remember feeling sad in a movie.
8. Frame by frame isn’t as a good thing as you’d think. The V/O was not appropriate for film (as I’ve said many times in these comments) and the pacing was off. Plus, overall I liked the ambitious look; but the CG backgrounds were often unnecessary and flattened the depth of field too much for me.
7. Acceptable choice but should be lower. If this passes Blade could have.
6. Acceptable choice but should be lower. If this passes Blade definitely could have lol.
5. Your video inspired me to Netflix this and I enjoyed it. Thanks. You have a great (surprisingly unannoying) hipster style to your video reviews.
4. Don’t remember it but I’m planning on buying the BD after your glowing review.
3. I would have gone with the sequel. At this point in the list I’m thinking this is more of a: “10 Most Important Comic Book films of all Time”.
2. I like Batman Begins better but it is technically worse (relentless pacing, horribly shot hand-to-hand combat, Katie-fucking-Holmes). Maybe you should have waited for The Dark Knight. (Seeing Hellboy 2 probably wouldn’t have changed a thing.)
1. Jesus would agree with you.
I’d hope to see a different list if you were a comic fan but this is Film Junk and not my blog (which I just started and you should click on my name to see. Having you leave comments would be awesome. You guys showed me how fun blogging about movies can be.)
Posted by Ryan M. on July 17th, 2008Fun list Jay. I agree with you on Burton’s Batman. Great movie, wonderful casting and delicious style. Good call.
I’m going to have to check out Blade II again since everyone seems to really praise it. I only saw it once in the theater and thought it was mediocre. I shall revisit.
I have to say I’d pick Superman II over part I, but to each his own. I don’t really like part 1 much at all. In fact, I’d even take part III for the Pryor element over part 1.
Iron Man is way over-rated. Fanboys are imbeciles.
Hate those fucking Spiderman movies. All of them. Although I will agree that part 2 is the best of the three.
Keep it up. One digg on a silver platter coming up.
Posted by Andrew James on July 17th, 2008Hey Ryan M., I totally listed Blade in Post 17. It is way better than Blade II, despite what the Blade II lovers say. I generally agree with your rundown, except for the praise for X3 and Spiderman 2.
Posted by Matt on July 17th, 2008First of all, thanks for misusing “it’s” again, my friend. (This is Reed, not, oh, man, I’ve forgotten her name already.)
I bought a used copy of the Virus DVD for $1.99. I remember watching it on television. It was alright as far as entertainment goes. Mainstream critics hated it.
I fell asleep in Blade 2 in the theatre.
Superman was “genuinely funny”? Not even Richard Pryor could make a Superman movie funny.
As for people quick to change their number one, this is human nature.
I don’t appreciate Tim Burton’s films as well. I think everyone agrees that Batman Begins wasn’t very good in the last half. Why didn’t Christopher Nolan realize this? I didn’t like Michael Keaton’s portrayal of Batman. And I don’t like Christian Bale’s performance either. Neither has captured the conflicted essence of Batman. Batman’s fighting in the movies has been too clunky. I think he should be more acrobatic.
Spider-Man 2 was overrated IMO. Too many people jumped on the Roger Ebert bandwagon on this one. After the end of the subway fight, I did like the heartwarming scene with the people in the subway car. I have a problem with Tobey Maguire’s portrayal of Peter Parker.
I enjoyed the first half of X-Men. When Professor X died in X-Men 3, I didn’t feel sad.
Jay is definitely hip. He can get away with wearing a Star Trek shirt with the Original Series U.S.S. Enterprise on it, and neither appear as a geek nor a postmodern, ironic, overbearing hipster.
What’s a BD? And why would Jesus agree with Spider-Man 2 being at the number one spot? (We are talking about the biblical Jesus, right?)
Batman and Superman are my favourite comic book heroes. I guess I enjoy the source material more.
Posted by Reed Farrington on July 17th, 2008You don’t appreciate Tim Burton? I thought only morons who can’t get past the style wrote him off. Howcome you don’t like it?
Posted by Henrik on July 17th, 2008Reed,
Can you share some examples of my misuse of ‘it’s’ and ‘its’? I’m scared to even try and fix them after all of the issues I had getting this post up to begin with.
Posted by Jay C. on July 17th, 2008@Reed Farrington: “What’s a BD? And why would Jesus agree with Spider-Man 2 being at the number one spot? (We are talking about the biblical Jesus, right?)”
BD is the official abbreviation of Blu-ray Disc. I don’t believe in Jesus (in terms of him being the son of a god) but it was just a sacrilegious joke saying that the only perfect human being would think Spider-Man 2 is the best superhero movie ever (and his opinion would be fact wouldn’t it).
“I don’t appreciate Tim Burton’s films as well.”
I appreciate them; I just don’t think they are incredible.
“And I don’t like Christian Bale’s performance either.”
Whoa. He’s my favorite living actor.
“Jay is definitely hip. He can get away with wearing a Star Trek shirt with the Original Series U.S.S. Enterprise on it, and neither appear as a geek nor a postmodern, ironic, overbearing hipster.”
Posted by Ryan M. on July 17th, 2008Lol. I kinda get that from the virtual image I have of him. His lack of the sickening swoop bangs helps. “I’m so original yet I style up just like a million other pretentious fucks.” Of course no hipster says that cause they don’t realize the fallacies of their ways.
Jay,
Good list. Spider-Man 2 is great. I’m glad it’s number one. It would be close to my number one, but I’d have to say that now that I’ve seen THE DARK KNIGHT that it automatically goes straight to the top spot. I am biased, I guess. He’s always been my favorite. But, I would also give props to BATMAN: THE MOVIE, mostly because I think it’s genuinely funny. Also, the ’60s TV show was what got me into the character in the first place, so I will always love it.
I’m not so big on Guillermo Del Toro, and I’m just not sure why. I thought HELLBOY was okay, but nothing special. And I found BLADE 2 to be completely underwhelming. But I liked PAN’S LABYRINTH a lot. I hope I like HELLBOY 2 as much as you guys did.
Ah, TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES. Takes me back to being a kid. I loved that movie when I was younger. I haven’t seen it in ages. I would love to revisit it again.
Anyway, here’s my list (in no order):
1. SUPERMAN 2
2. X-MEN 2
3. BATMAN
4. SPIDER-MAN 2
5. BATMAN BEGINS
6. SUPERMAN
7. X-MEN
8. BATMAN: THE MOVIE
9. TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES (based on what I remember)
10. THE DARK KNIGHT
And you might ask: What makes THE DARK KNIGHT so good? My answer: It’s got balls. Hope you guys like it.
Posted by James L. on July 17th, 2008I think Jay’s next list should be “Top 10 comic book movies I didn’t know were actually comic books and are even better movies then my first comic book movie list”.
Posted by Matt Gamble on July 17th, 2008Actually Matt, I’m pretty content with the list I have here. I think these films are the best examples of adapting the comic book medium to the big screen. Old Boy was good, but I don’t love it because it was a comic. I haven’t seen Virus or Modesty Blaise, but they would have to be pretty damned good to bump any of the films I’ve included off of my list.
Posted by Jay C. on July 17th, 2008I actually think your list is solid, but I wouldn’t be pulling my end of the bargain if I let you off easy.
Posted by Matt Gamble on July 17th, 2008Fair enough and completely understandable. At least it had nothing to do with the inclusion of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.
Posted by Jay C. on July 17th, 2008Secret of the Ooze would have been ballsier.
Posted by Matt Gamble on July 17th, 2008Out of curiosity, do you like christopher nolans other films like memento and are you even looking forward to the dark knight.
Posted by Drew on July 17th, 2008I’ve liked all of his films. I loved the Prestige. Following was good as well. And yes, I am looking forward to The Dark Knight.
Posted by Jay C. on July 17th, 2008So why no batman begins on the list?
Posted by Drew on July 18th, 2008Great list Jay.
Am I the only one that wishes Burton’s Batman Returns was on the list? Maybe it’s just a personal favourite of mine, but I love that film, much more than Burton’s first one. Some great dark humour, and the origin stories of the penguin and Catwoman work well without getting in the way.
Posted by Liney on July 18th, 2008TWO batman additions, neither of them being a Christopher Nolan adaption? What sort of list is this? If you wanted to make a list of “10 most influential comic book movies” then maybe, just maybe I’d include the classics. But many of these movies, especially considering the genre have NOT stood the test of time and now, are exceedingly campy and horribly animated. This is an incredibly elitist list, that fails to acknowledge the fact that it’s only within the last few years that comic book movies are really upping the ante, and gaining any true credibility.
The Dark Knight is one of the greatest movies I’ve seen in recent years and Batman Begins is amazing in its own right. Spider-Man 2 was excellent, true. But your failure to include TDK/Batman Begins or Iron Man is baffling.
Posted by stevie_boy on July 18th, 2008hey stevie_boy,
You said:
“This is an incredibly elitist list, that fails to acknowledge the fact that it’s only within the last few years that comic book movies are really upping the ante, and gaining any true credibility.”
You do realize that four of the ten movies on my list have come out in the last five years right? This is exactly the point I was trying to make with this list. It seems the fans of these comic book films have some sort of short term amnesia, instantly forgetting anything that’s come a year previous to what’s currently their ‘favourite’ comic book movies.
First off, I state right at the top that I haven’t even seen Dark Knight, so how could I possibly include it on my list? It wasn’t even out yet. And as I write this (Friday morning), it has only had one midnight screening under its belt. Your shock at it not being on my list is the perfect example of the brand of fanaticism surrounding these movies.
“If you wanted to make a list of “10 most influential comic book movies†then maybe, just maybe I’d include the classics.”
So you’re telling me that influential ‘classics’ have no place on a personal top ten list? Oh right, that’s because everyone forgets about the classics as soon as the newest, biggest film hits the theatres. It’s not about what resonates, it’s about what’s new, right? LAME.
Posted by Jay C. on July 18th, 2008Speaking of hyperbole and The Dark Knight, it’s currently at no. 4 all-time on imdb.com
http://www.imdb.com/chart/top
The integrity of this list is impeccable.
Posted by Henrik on July 18th, 2008Batman Begins was ok. I don’t think it was amazing like some people. But the Dark Knight was amazing. BB was a B- DK A Heath’s Joker makes Jacks look campy.
Posted by theman on July 18th, 2008I’m a moron who can’t get past Tim Burton’s style even though I can’t recognize his style.
I rewatched the first 4/5ths of Blade II last night, and I understand why I fell asleep. To me, the action is underwhelming. And without dialog, I fall asleep.
“Spider-Man seemed to lose a bit of it’s steam” is the example where “it’s” is used wrong. But out of curiosity, I searched your entire article and it was the only case of misuse! So I’ll concede that it was a typo.
I haven’t read a bad thing about The Dark Knight, yet. I think The Rolling Stone critic said it may become the best motion picture of the year deserving The Best Picture Oscar. Holy hyperbole, Batman!
Posted by Reed Farrington on July 18th, 2008“I’m a moron who can’t get past Tim Burton’s style even though I can’t recognize his style.”
Ooohhh defensive. It’s always easy to play the role of the victim, it makes you noble and honorable.
Posted by Henrik on July 18th, 2008No, Henrik, I’m not being defensive. I really am a moron. Jay will testify to that.
Where the hell is Film Junk’s The Dark Knight review?!? C’mon, the movie’s been out for at least 32 hours. Your opinion is the only one I can rely on for an objective opinion. (Wait, is Warner Bros. subsidizing this site now?) I can’t believe this movie is the 4th greatest movie of all time.
I can’t wait until The Dark Knight is released on DVD.
Posted by Reed Farrington on July 19th, 2008Do you own a DVD player?
Posted by Henrik on July 20th, 2008I smell some beef a-cookin’ betwixt Henrik and Reed Farrington … FILM JUNK FIGHT!!!!
Posted by Joel on July 20th, 2008I have one Batman DVD player, one Superman TV/DVD player, two Hello Kitty DVD players, one Pioneer laserdisc/DVD combo player, and two cheapie DVD players (one’s broken).
I also have the HD DVD Xbox 360 player and the one HD DVD movie that came with it.
How do you like that artillery, Henrik?
(Yeah, my artillery is out-of-date, but it’s alright with the right ammunition. I prefer phosphors over diodes and crystals as well.)
Posted by Reed Farrington on July 20th, 2008Jay,
Now that you’ve seen the dark knight where would you rank it on the list?
Posted by Drew on October 17th, 2008I watched Iron Man over the holidays. (The copy I watched had the occasional person getting up to go to the bathroom or the snack bar or both, so it felt like I was in a theater.)
Iron Man was entertaining. I couldn’t understand how this movie could have made so much money, but now I sorta understand. I admit Robert Downey Jr. probably was the reason why this film was so entertaining. He has a way of being flippant, but he’s also able to convey emotionality. It may be naive of him to have a total change in opinion about weapons after being captured, but I went with it. The movie made the Iron Man suit believable.
I liked Ang Lee’s Incredible Hulk, so I can’t understand why people hate it so much. Hulk dogs? Why do people hate that so much?
Posted by Reed Farrington on December 28th, 2008I thought 300 was far better than alot of movies on this list and the first Conan movie was better than some. Just my opinion though.
Posted by Mike on February 1st, 2009Anyone else interested in Green hornet comin out, and what the fuk is up with Seth rogan playing him, i dont know, im not sure he can do it if they wanna make it a serious role
Posted by Movie Man on March 8th, 2009Well, first off Ironman was better than all of the ones on the list, by far. Superman sucked. All of the Chris Reeve superman movies were varying degrees of suckiness. Batman (the original), while mildly entertaining, would barely be in the top 50 even if there weren’t 50 made. And it was better than the other one on the list. Anyone who grew up reading Batman comics will tell you why, Michael Keaton was NOT Batman, in any way shape or form. Neither was Adam West for that matter but that was comedy. The Iconic Batman was tall, dark haired, extremely handsome, muscular and sophisticated. Michael Keaton (and for that matter all of the rest who have tried to portray him) are none of those things. By contrast, Robert Downey jr IS Tony Stark. I pretty much agree with the rest of the choices. Constantine is also and awesome movie which is one that I have watched the most, it has virtually infinite replayability for me.
Posted by Joe on March 12th, 2009So here is my top 10:
1 Ironman
Posted by Joe on March 12th, 20092 Constantine
3 Hellboy
4 Sin City
5 Spiderman (all)
6 Fantastic 4 (all)
7 Blade (all)
8 X Men (1&2)
9 Superman Returns
10 the Incredible Hulk
Actually the above list is wrong. If you will but aside your own individual egos, I think you will realize my list is 100% accurate. As follows, from best to worst (least bestest):
1) TMNT
Posted by Shut-Up Ed on March 13th, 20092) Batman Dark Knight
3) Sin City
4) 300
5) Batman
6) Superman Returns
7) Iron Man
8) Hellboy 2
9) Blade
10)The Crow
I’m going old school.
1. Superman (1978)
2.Danger: Diabolik (1968)
3.Batman: The Movie (1966) “Sorry, but FUCK Tim.”
4.Swamp Thing (1982)
5.Howard the Duck (1986) Yeah I put it on the list.
6.The Punisher (1989)
7.Rocketeer (1991)
8.The Shadow (1994)
9.Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1990)
10.Tank Girl (1995)
10.5. Sheena (1984) Ooops… didn’t mean to type that.
Posted by Matt on March 26th, 2009Correction: Burton had two studio films prior to Batman. You forgot what got him the job: Beetlejuice. Cool list. I don’t agree completely with some of the choices or placement, but you do make mention of some notable movies.
Posted by Danny on March 28th, 2009Blade Trinity
Posted by Finfrosk on April 20th, 2009Batman 2
WANTED (!)
Hulk and The Incredible Hulk combined (for the best Hulk-experience)
You just have to watch both, and forget the bad parts in your head afterwards, making one kickass movie.
Same goes with The (two most recent, haven’t seen the Dolph-one) Punisher-movies. Although Punisher War Zone is like being inside a comic.
The Spiderman-movies are somewhat dorky, the CGI in the first one is… is.. Well, ragdoll anyone?
If I have to pick one of em, it’s gotta be Spiderman 3. Except Venom is waaay to small and humanlike.
I really liked the list until I got to the bottom. Spider Man 2? That movie wasn’t even the best in the trilogy let alone every comic book movie ever. That movie really shouldn’t even be in the top ten. You say Ironman shironman but I think everyone will agree that Ironman was a better film than Spiderman 2.
Posted by mdiggity on July 12th, 2009Great stuff, Jay. Although I have my reservation as far as Hellboy and some of the oldies are concerned, but as long as you have Spider-Man 2 on #1, you have my vote
Posted by Badmash on August 9th, 2009My top ten movies based on comic books..
10.Hellboy
9.Batman Begins
8.Spiderman
7.Superman The Movie
6.The Mask
5.300
4.Iron Man
3.The Crow
2.The Dark Knight
1.Watchmen
Honorable Mentions..
Posted by Jason on August 10th, 2009From Hell
Road To Perdition
A History Of Violence
American Splendor
I love the list. Don’t agree with it at all, but enjoyed it nonetheless.
I don’t know why people have such trouble with “its” and “it’s”. It’s very simple: if it still makes sense if you substitute “it is”, then “it’s” (the contraction) is correct. If not, use “its”. The other thing to remember is the possessive for “it” doesn’t use an apostrophe.
CORRECT: I need you to fix my car’s engine.
CORRECT: I need you to fix its engine.
WRONG: I need you to fix it’s engine.
In the third example, with the apostrophe, “it’s” is a contraction for “it is”. If you substitute “it is” for “it’s”, you end up with “I need you to fix it is engine.” This doesn’t make sense.
Class dismissed.
Posted by Kevin on August 27th, 2009Glad somebody added Watchmen to the list. What, no Richie Rich? — Laffmaster Bill
Posted by Laffmaster Bill on August 31st, 2009Mystery Men and MIB should also be considered….Laffmaster Bill
Posted by Laffmaster Bill on August 31st, 2009The Rocketeer and The Shadow would make a great 1930′s double bill. Add Raiders to a 30′s triple bill — too bad Raiders doesn’t fall under your ‘comic book’ definition. — Laffmaster Bill
Posted by Laffmaster Bill on August 31st, 2009Very interesting list I must say. Definitely didn’t expect Spidey 2 at the top, but to each their own.
Posted by Snake Eyes on September 22nd, 2009I myself, also would have included Blade II, but other than that well done sir.
Posted by Chris W. on October 13th, 2009Worst.
List.
Ever.
Posted by TsengMao on November 3rd, 2009reed farrington needs to just shoot himself and please never pick up a computer again – anyone who judges any movie on the watching of shitty bootlegs needs to just stfu – your opinion really doesnt count.
Posted by skar on December 17th, 2009too many people watch shitty bootlegs or pre release v ersions of movies to save a few dollars ripping off the film makers and themselves as they watch film in (bad) ways that the film was never meant to be seen in.
the sound people are reduced to crap sound from crap microphones and the films look horrible.
skar, even when I go to the theatre to watch films like Star Trek and District 9, people still think I have a sh*tty opinion of those movies. To make you happy, I paid my $12.99 for an advance ticket to Avatar tonight. I hope a portion of that $12.99 ends up in James Cameron’s pocket.
skar, is it bad in your opinion to rent movies or to watch pay-per-view movies on your “crappy” television set? Is it bad to buy used DVDs? Never mind. I don’t want to get into this argument. Because I don’t give a f*ck about your opinion. Ha ha. Merry Christmas and Bah Humbug.
Posted by Reed Farrington on December 17th, 20092 words…
Mystery Men
Posted by James Watson on February 16th, 2010Unbreakable should definitely be on this list
the most intriguing comic book movie ive seen in years
Posted by gordy on March 7th, 2010Ok, Whoa. Unbreakable was garbage and Manny Shamalamadingdong is a hack.
I don’t agree with Spiderman 2. I mean dude unmasked in front of a whole subway car? In the comics, his identity was the one thing he held the closest to his heart. So, why? Sam Raimi spit in our faces 3x with those movies.
Basically, remove Spiderman, add Blade(as Chris W. said) and Batman(1989) would move to #1. I could accept a list like that.
Posted by Brick on May 1st, 2010now please a breakdown of this selection…… if u know anything about the art form of comicbookfilms then these are in your collection…. for 2 main reasons first there all classics second theyll turn comic critics/grandmas/non comic readers/ass holes/filmcritics too the dark side of comic books or comic films
Posted by gepeto on June 12th, 20101. THE DARK KNIGHT and why not
2. KICK ASS funniest spagehetti western
3. BATMAN BEGINS brought the bat back
4. WATCHMEN the concept and rorshachs end
5. HISTORY OF VIOLENCE viggo mortessen/ed harris wtf
6. SIN CITY beautifull pure cinema
7. XMEN 2 nightcrawler opening scene
8. ROAD 2 PERDITION p.newman/t.hanks/d.craig
9. SPIDERMAN 2 best of the trilogy
10.300 pure cinema gold
11.IRONMAN broughy downey back
and this will all change 2012 with bat3….. hopefully thor/green lantern/avengers will put a dent on my list… but my most anticipated is bat3 and NEMESIS well the casting of NEMESIS alone is pure crack…actors will pay to get this role batman/joker as one…what actor wouldnt want that
Great list! There’s a little known comic called “Sleepwalker” that I thought would have made a great movie.
Posted by Seth Hymes on September 8th, 2010All Batman movies have one major flaw, which for me disqualifies them from being on any appreciation lists, and this is it:
Posted by Harvey on January 23rd, 2011http://wp.me/pMW8w-2r
hey guys, im sorry but where is “V for Vendetta”? that should have definately made it in the top 10. i know the script was not the best but hugo weaving and nat portman were amazing.
Posted by HadiNizami on February 20th, 2011I agree with a lot, but not ALL of your list. I know not everyone liked Constantine, but I have watched it many times, and it is fantastic! I also loved IRON MAN, and V for Vendetta.
Posted by Gottarhyme on October 15th, 2011Leave a Reply