Top 5 Comic Book Movies - Our Picks

With comic book movies being released faster than a speeding bullet, we'd like to present to you our top 5 favorite comic book movies of all time. I'll be choosing 2 while Steve will be choosing 3.

Steve's List (in no particular order): 1. The Dark Knight Part of me wanted to throw a curveball and not pick a movie that seems to be the consensus pick for many but I’d be kidding myself if I didn’t start with The Dark Knight.  As many have probably done better reviews and more in-depth discussions, I’ll just try to quickly list the things that I liked most about the movie: incredible acting all around (includes the late Heath Ledger temporarily relinquishing his own persona and submerging into his Joker character), veteran actors with gravitas (Gary Oldman, Michael Caine), twisting plot, the Heat-like intro (Roger Van Zant, anyone?), the haunting feel of a comic book movie transcending its genre, epic soundtrack… Wait, let me stop right there because others could easily fill up that list for me. I feel like Hans Zimmer, despite his accolades, still does not get enough credit for all the soundtracks he has produced for blockbusters.  Soundtracks provide movies with that “epic feel” and can entice audiences as early as the teaser trailers.  I swear that if I ever see something like, “featuring music composed by the maestro Hans Zimmer…” in the trailer, I’d gravitate into the movie because I know I will have that epic experience throughout watching the film.  Heck, I could be eating potato chips while listening to his music and feel like kicking some serious arse (if you ever watched Death Note, I hope you appreciated this reference). “Do you wanna know how I got these scars?” 2. Batman Begins The story of Bruce Wayne’s scars was told in Batman Begins, TDK’s predecessor and unofficially the most successful reboot for a comic book franchise.  It’s as if Warner Bros saw Director Christopher Nolan’s early work, Memento, and told him, “Hey we really, really liked your movie. By the way, you know how Guy Pearce’s character forgets about stuff? Can you actually do that to our audience instead and make them forget about George Clooney’s Batman film, forever? You can have all the resources you want. Yes, we’ll pay for Liam Neeson, Morgan Freeman, and Michael Caine, too.” One of Nolan’s understated achievements in Batman Begins is how he was able to portray realistic versions of characters, which were otherwise labeled too comic-bookish. If you don’t believe me, please wiki the comic book versions of Scarecrow (Cillian Murphy) and Ra’s Al Ghul (Liam Neeson/Ken Watanabe).  No, I’m not saying Nolan should feature Robin in his films.  But on this front, he’s already made great strides ahead of the 1997 version of Batman (“Ice to see you!”).  The finished product basically secured the nail on the coffin of audience memories for Batman 1997 and granted those Warner Bros employees (assuming they weren’t fired) with one more story to tell on company holidays – this one starting with, “Hey, remember when we thought nipples on Batman’s costume was a good idea?” One last thing, then-detective Gordon’s conversation with Batman at the end is as good a setup for the next movie as it could get.  First, it hinted about TDK’s theme (“Escalation… we do something, the criminals come up with something better…”). Second, it introduced the arch-nemesis Joker, who had been dormant for 16 years since Jack Nicholson’s iconic performance. “It’s not who I am underneath, but what I do that defines me.” 3. Spiderman 2 In my mind’s picture, Spiderman 2 is like a pristine painting while Spiderman 3 is that same work of art painted over with hasty, convoluted brush strokes c/o the film studios desires.  It’s as if having a way better, even perfect, version of a film, but backwards! Here’s what #2 did right that #3 specifically overturned: 1) villains and their story arc; 2) occasional direct attempt at humor; 3) no Peter Parker dancing; 4) failing in making the movie “dark”. Comparing Spiderman 2 and 3 (and 1) doesn’t really do justice because film 2 stands on its own as one of the best comic movies.  It capitalized on its opportunity of being a sequel by branching off unencumbered and yet rooted from the origin story.  As iconic as Spiderman/Peter Parker is, one could easily relate to his struggles in film 2: job loss, financial problems, estranged best friend and love interest, loved one in debt, a overarching moral responsibility, and a burning secret.  Finally, my criterion for a favorite movie: a quote that I can remember. “…There’s a hero in all of us, that keeps us honest, gives us strength, makes us noble, even though sometimes we have to be steady, and give up the thing we want the most.  Even our dreams"

Merle's List (in no particular order): 4. V for Vendetta Not only is V for Vendetta my favorite comic book movie, it also happens to be on my top 10 favorite movies of all genres, perhaps partly because it does not present itself as a typical comic book movie. For one thing, instead of having an arch nemesis like most comic book formulas follow, V's enemy is the dictatorial government, the corrupt party that runs it, and the ideas that are associated with it. And while most movies of the genre focus on the idea of one superhero battling out one super-villain, V's goal of toppling down the government can only come into fruition with the help of the whole nation. Of course, the film also has its obligatory comic book elements; in particular, the mask and the "costume". Yet, despite the caricature-like nature of V's Guy Fawkes mask, he commands a tremendous amount of respect, more than I have ever found myself giving to other superheroes. It is not so much his eloquence, his diction, his old world chivalry... not even his prowess in fighting and knife-slinging (though action aficionados will be happy to know that this aspect is plentiful and in full cinematic glory); no, it is more because despite his seemingly invincible exterior, behind the mask lies not only the grandiose idea of freedom and of a people fighting for it, but also a human being in all his frailties and insecurities. And as the movie continues to unfold and expound on this by revealing V's past and unraveling his decisions for the present and the future, decisions which are substantially influenced by Evey, a woman he meets a year before his revolution, it is hard not to be completely riveted by everything this man represents - the man, the ideal, and the revolution. 5. Ironman There's something to be said about cocky, irreverent superheroes. Tony Stark (Ironman) doesn't really fit the cookie-cutter superhero type. He's a heartless (literally/figuratively) albeit charming man who's showy and not particularly obedient with the unspoken rules of costumed heroes everywhere. Unexpectedly however, he delivers on the "saving the world" rule. What we get as a result of this rather perplexing character, added to geniuses behind and on the scenes who know exactly how to portray him on a positive, like-able light, is a rather entertaining movie with witty lines, funny situations, and an all-around memorable depiction of what could have been another cliched story. It is also worth mentioning that the relationship between superhero and lead female is one of the most electrifying and captivating I have seen.