Best and worst comic book movies

[Set Harth]

Haven't seen Avengers yet, but for "best":

Batman Begins, the first Iron Man, the first two Superman films in their own time; Nolan's films as a "best trilogy" kind of thing; high points of the X-Men films.

Worst? Don't even wanna think about it...

[JD]

Icemizer wrote:

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The Shadow, the Phantom, Scott Pilgrim, Flash Gordon, Dick Tracy....thoughts?

I love Flash Gordon. I honestly never really thought about the fact that it is a comic book movie. When I think of Flash Gordon, I think of the old serials.
I enjoyed Scott Pilgrim when I watched it a few months ago. I don't know if I liked it enough to include it on my best list, but I enjoyed it, was glad I saw it, and would be willing to watch it again.

[suarezguy]

Best: Batman Returns, Spider-Man 2, Batman Begins, X-Men.

Worst: Batman Forever, Batman & Robin, Superman III, Hulk, Howard the Duck.

[Greg Cox]

Professor Zoom wrote:

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You know, I enjoy a lot of things about The Shadow and The Phantom, own them both on DVD. Not great, but fun. Flash Gordon I ADORE. Absolutely ADORE.

Haven't seen Scott Pilgrim yet.

And Dick Tracy... to be honest, once you take away the Art Direction... well, you don't have a whole lot left really. It's is a way to pass time, I suppose.

I have a soft spot for The Phantom (a good, old-fashioned Saturday matinee adventure) and The Shadow (great music and atmosphere), too, and Flash Gordon is a guilty pleasure whose dialogue is burned into my brain forever. "No, not the boreworms!"

I actually listen to the SHADOW soundtrack constantly when I'm writing. It's one of my top go-to soundtracks when I'm need of musical inspiration.

Saw DICK TRACY years ago, when it first came out, but have never been motivated to watch it again. I've only seen snippets of SCOTT PILGRIM on cable, but it looked cute; I'm going to have to find time to watch it from beginning to end sometime.

[Professor Zoom]

Greg Cox wrote:

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I actually listen to the SHADOW soundtrack constantly when I'm writing. It's one of my top go-to soundtracks when I'm need of musical inspiration.

I should check it out.

I would also recommend the Flash Gordon soundtrack... when you need inspiration to be AWESOME.

[Captain Craig]

I've somehow missed this thread the past few days.

Best:
Avengers
Blade
Spider-Man(Raimi)
X-Men
V for Vendetta
The Dark Knight(really only for Joker)

Worst:
Elektra
Catwoman
Steel
Tank Girl
Barb Wire
Punisher War Zone(I admit I like it somewhat but know it's bad)

Reading the thread reminds me I need to watch that TV movie of Generation X. Never have seen that or the Hasselhoff Nick Fury film.

[JD]

I didn't realize so many people liked V for Vendetta. For some reason I was thinking everyone hated it. I did like when I watched it back when it first came out on DVD. I remember absolutely nothing about it though, so I might have to rent it from Netflix some time soon.

[AvBaur]

JD wrote:

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I didn't realize so many people liked V for Vendetta. For some reason I was thinking everyone hated it. I did like when I watched it back when it first came out on DVD. I remember absolutely nothing about it though, so I might have to rent it from Netflix some time soon.

Do yourself a favor and read the comic instead.

The same goes for pretty much any Alan Moore adaptation. The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen is especially terrible. (but the comic is really good)

[Captain Craig]

No, watch the movie also.

It's not a page by page adaptation of V for Vendetta but there are a few sequences lifted directly out. A few changes in character backstory but the theme and tone of the movie contain the spirit of comic itself.

The film was overly bashed upon release. For some reason it had to be a literal translation for some and their minority voices were just loud at the time of it's release. The appreciation for it you're now seeing is proof of that to an extent.

I do blame the marketing team for billing it as an action film when really it's more of a drama with some action pieces. That may have also contributed to the non-fandom disappointment with it at the time.

[Mars]

Set Harth wrote:

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Haven't seen Avengers yet, but for "best":

Batman Begins, the first Iron Man, the first two Superman films in their own time; Nolan's films as a "best trilogy" kind of thing; high points of the X-Men films.

Worst? Don't even wanna think about it...

How about Power Puff Girls the Movie?

How about Popeye? That is an overlooked superhero movie based on a comic book. When Popeye eats his spinach, he's a superhero.

[Captain Craig]

Popeye started as a comic strip, just to split hairs or be pedantic about it, and then was in cartoons by Fleischer Studios. The same ones who did the Superman shorts that are real popular as well as Betty Boop.

[Mars]

^ But if you take a bunch of comic strips and put them together in one book, you have a comic book, and I have seen Popeye comic books by the way, he is just as much a comic book character as Superman.

[Fist McStrongpunch]

Best: X-Men, Watchmen, Nolan's Batman, all of the MCU, Justice League: Doom, Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths, Superman Vs. The Elite

Worst: X-Men: First Class, Catwoman, Batman & Robin, Supergirl, Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance, Elektra

[Captaindemotion]

Mars wrote:

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How about Power Puff Girls the Movie?

How about Popeye? That is an overlooked superhero movie based on a comic book. When Popeye eats his spinach, he's a superhero.

I'm probably in a tiny minority here but I actually really like the Robert Altman Popeye movie. Robin Williams is fantastic in the title role and Shelly Long and Ray Walston are pitch-perfect as Olive and Pappy/ The Commodore, while Paul Dooley and Paul L Smith are spot-on for Wimpy and Bluto. The sets are fantastic and it really looks like a Popeye comic or cartoon come to life. Harry Nilson's soundtrack is great too.

Its main problem is the slow pacing and the fact that Popeye doesn't eat his spinach till the end but it's still got many memorable moments and songs.

Apparently Genndy Tartatovsky is working on a CGI version of the character.

[Professor Zoom]

Captaindemotion wrote:

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I'm probably in a tiny minority here but I actually really like the Robert Altman Popeye movie. Robin Williams is fantastic in the title role and Shelly Long and Ray Walston are pitch-perfect as Olive and Pappy/ The Commodore, while Paul Dooley and Paul L Smith are spot-on for Wimpy and Bluto.

Shelly Duvall.