Your best and worst of comic book movie adaptations?

Mark Pillow (WHY, Dear God, WHY DO I KNOW THAT?!?)

 

Best comic book movie?

Batman Begins. Nothing against the sequel, but I think this film has the perfect blend of action, atmosphere and character study.

Worst comic book movie?

Elektra. What. The. Fuck.

Most overrated comic book movie?

Donner's Superman. One could gather together the entire contents of a souvenir shop and it still wouldn't be as tacky as this film.

Most underrated comic book movie?

Daredevil. The leads do their best to suck the life from the film, but apart from that I really enjoyed it.

Best superhero/protagonist casting?

Patrick Steward as Charles Xavier.

Worst superhero/protagonist casting?

Halle Berry as Storm. The woman has repetedly demonstrated that she can't do genre, yet we have to put up with her faking what should have been a great character three times over? Blegh.

Best super villain/antagonist casting?

Ian McKellan as Magneto, for imbuing the villain with such humanity, despite Brett Ratner's best efforts. Runner up: Aaron Eckhart as Two-Face (nothing against Ledger, but Eckhart's arc was so much more humane and poignant).

Worst super villain/antagonist casting?

Kevin Spacey as Luthor (at least Hackman can be blamed on the 70s; what's your excuse, Spacey?).

Faithful adaptation but lousy movie?

Can't think of any at the moment (partly because I'm not as familiar with the source material for many of these films).

Loose adaptation but good movie?

I know I'm in the minority on this point, but The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen. Taken apart from Moore's work, I think it's a very fun film.

What comic book hasn't been made into a movie yet and who do you want to star in it?

Lost Girls.

But, more seriously, I'd love to see a thematically faithful adaptation of Runaways. No idea who would star considering the age of the protagonists; I think it would be best to go with largely unknowns.

Fictitiously yours, Trent Roman

 

This is one thing I don't get; at the end of the second film, Magneto tries to murder every human being on the planet. How did anything Ratner did make him any more of a villain?

An overly nostalgic director and script that dictated that he act like Hackman?

 

Magneto is supposed to hate humanity. It's the callous disregard for other mutants he shows in the third film that bothers me; it makes him into just your standard power-hungry maniac with no cause but himself. EDIT: Thinking about it more, I think it's actually a testament to the difference between the filmmakers that genocidal, X2 Magneto came across as more sympathetic, while X3 Magneto come off mostly as a bastard.

Fictitiously yours, Trent Roman

 

D'OH! I really need to read the header more slowly!

 

Best comic book movie? Superman: The Movie

Worst comic book movie? Fantastic Four

Most overrated comic book movie? The Dark Knight

Most underrated comic book movie? Daredevil

Best superhero/protagonist casting? Robert Downey Jr as Tony Stark / Iron-Man

Worst superhero/protagonist casting? Halle Berry as Catwoman / Patience Phillips

Best super villain/antagonist casting? Ian McKellen as Magneto

Worst super villain/antagonist casting? Arnold Schwarzenegger as Mr Freeze

Faithful adaptation but lousy movie? I can't really think of any offhand.

Loose adaptation but good movie? Blade

What comic book hasn't been made into a movie yet and who do you want to star in it? The Flash. I'm not sure who I'd want to star in it.

 

You know, I still think a better script and direction could have made Arnie a tolerable Mr. Freeze.

 

Best comic book movie?

The Dark Knight. Not even close.

Worst comic book movie?

Elektra. Can't believe I paid to see that. Fantastic Four was almost as bad, but I watched that on HBO one day out of sheer boredom.

Most overrated comic book movie?

Probably the older Superman movies. Although I've never cared for the character, so maybe I'm just biased.

Most underrated comic book movie?

The Punisher (Thomas Jane) or Daredevil.

Best superhero/protagonist casting?

Going to agree with RDJ as Tony Stark/Iron Man.

Worst superhero/protagonist casting?

Brandon Routh as Superman/Clark Kent. For once the idea of having an unknown in the role fails miserably.

Best super villain/antagonist casting?

Heath Ledger as The Joker. Following closely behind are Jackie Earle Haley as Rorschach and Aaron Eckhart as Harvey Dent/Two-Face.

Worst super villain/antagonist casting?

There are a billion of these, but the worst is probably Arrrnold as Mr. Freeze. Friggin' Schumaker picked the person who was least suited to that role, which was SUPPOSED to be of a small, nerdy villain who only turns evil in order to save his wife's life. Batman and Robin features the only adaptation of the character I can remember where he is a massive man.

Faithful adaptation but lousy movie?

Not really sure, I don't read a lot of comics.

Loose adaptation but good movie?

Going to say Wanted, because I was a fan of the original comic and was disappointed that they threw out 99% of the original material for the film. However, it wasn't that bad.

What comic book hasn't been made into a movie yet and who do you want to star in it?

The last comic that hadn't been made into a film that I wanted was Deadpool, but now there it is slated to be produced at some point in the near future. I thought that Ryan Reynolds was the perfect choice to play him, and I look forward to seeing where that goes.

 

Best comic book movie?

"X2: X-Men United".
Seems like every major good superhero/comic book movie that came after it (starting with "Spider-Man 2") result in it becoming more and more forgotten, but as far as I'm concerned, it still hasn't been topped. Of course "The Dark Knight" is deeper and more epic and "Spider-Man 2" has more heart, but they all have excesses that this movie wisely avoided by having less melodrama than the latter (except the unfortunate Cyclops/Wolverine weepfest) and less convoluted plotting than the former. It was also more streamlined and better paced, although it drags a bit at the end.

Worst comic book movie?

"Batman and Robin"
When I was 14 at the time, I could enjoy just about any movie, but even this one was too stupid for me to like, although I did kinda dig Uma Thurman in it.

Most overrated comic book movie?

"Sin City"
I don't see what the big deal is. It's cool how faithful it is to the graphic novel visually, but I found the characters completely shallow and lacking in substance. The only thing I really enjoyed was how innovative and wacky the violence was. I know it was done to make the movie more faithful to the graphic novel, but the constant voiceover narration annoyed me too.

Most underrated comic book movie?

"The Rocketeer"
Seriously the one I enjoy most after "X2". Well cast, with excellent special effects and production design (especially for its time). It's sweet, innocent, uplifting, exciting, and funny, just a perfect comic book movie for all ages (unlike so many of them). I don't know why more people aren't into it.

Best superhero/protagonist casting?

Robert Downey Jr. as Iron Man.

Worst superhero/protagonist casting?

George Clooney as Batman. Terrific actor, but looked and sounded ridiculous as Batman.

Best super villain/antagonist casting?

Terrence Stamp as General Zod in "Superman II". KNEEL BEFORE ZOD! His over-the-top, yet somehow simulataneously deadpan obsession with power and making Superman bow before him is endlessly hilarious.

Worst super villain/antagonist casting?

Arnold Schwarzenegger as Mr. Freeze.

Faithful adaptation but lousy movie?

"Sin City".

Loose adaptation but good movie?

I don't know. I don't read comic books.

What comic book hasn't been made into a movie yet and who do you want to star in it?

I'd love to see a good Wonder Woman movie. I was getting really excited when Joss Whedon was attached to it, but it's in limbo now after he left over disagreements with the studio. It's weird that she's one of the top, most important DC heroes
with Superman and Batman and still hasn't had a single film adaptation. Apparently Joss had picked Colbie Smulders from "How I Met Your Mother" for the role. Sounded good to me. Now that he's left, I don't know who will be cast or who I'd prefer.

All I know is I just hope they pick someone who actually has black hair, blue eyes, and is in the right physical shape to be convincing as an Amazon Princess. Call it petty fanboy nitpicking if you want, but I just HATE it when they do stuff like cast someone like Jessica Alba as The Invisible Woman and have to dye her hair and give her blue eye contacts. And it's not like they had to cast her because she was such a great actress and so perfect for the role...she was chosen for her looks, and she had the wrong look!

 

Best - The Dark Knight

Worst - Batman and Robin

Most over-rated - X-Men 2. I like it a lot, but I still think it's over-rated

Most under-rated - Daredevil

Best superhero/protagonist casting - Christopher Reeve as Superman/ Clark Kent (Hon. Mentions for Hugh Jackman, Patrick Stewart and Christian Bale)

Worst superhero/ protagonist casting - Jessica Alba as Invisible Girl/ Sue Storm

Best supervillain/ antagonist casting - tie up between Ian McKellen (Magneto), Heath Ledger (The Joker) and Willem Dafoe (Green Goblin)

Worst supervillian/ antagonist casting - Arnold Schwarzenegger (Mr Freeze)

Faithful adaptation but lousy movie. Hmmm, not sure that there's been one, to be honest. Most of the lousy movies have been lousy in part because of their lack of fidelity ( e.g. Catwoman), while I've pretty much enjoyed the faithful movies. How faithful is Elektra? It certainly counts as lousy, IMHO.

Loose adaptation but good movie - Batman (1989) though it's a only good movie, not a great one.

Comic adaptation as yet unmade & who do I want to star in it - Prince Namor, The Sub-Mariner with Mark Dacascos (if only).

 

Better question is how he was picked for best supervillain!?!

 

It's interesting to see a vague consensus emerging.

Christopher Reeve, Robert Downey Jr. Ian McKellan, and Heath Ledger are hits. DAREDEVIL is underrated. Swarzenegger, Halle Berry, and Shaq are scraping the bottom. And people still remember THE ROCKETEER fondly.

 

Best comic book movie?

Several are really good, but in such different ways it's hard to say one is "best" (though everyone has a favorite).

Superman: The Movie for sheer charm and the best chemistry between hero and love interest ever.

The Crow for atmosphere and pacing.

Batman Begins and The Dark Knight for bravado and character work.

Men in Black for verve and humor.

Fritz the Cat - do I really have to explain?

Worst comic book movie?

Now here's a list that could go on and on

X-Men Origins: Wolverine, Supergirl, Batman & Robin, Superman IV: Quest for Peace, Popeye (a Robert Altman film - go figure), 300, The Spirit

Most overrated comic book movie?

Toss up between 300 and Sin City. Mindless violence porn.

Most underrated comic book movie?

Witchblade (TV pilot movie), and if we can count the whole first season, I'll throw that in. Really, really interesting handling of what is highly visual source material with its own extremely understated visual style, fantastic characters and *gasp* a great fantasy plot - sadly a rare occurance in the realm of comic book adaptations.

Best superhero/protagonist casting?

I'll go for the unconventional rather than the obvious that have already been stated over and over - Pamela Anderson as BarbWire, a guilty pleasure of mine. She's a terrible actress but the part doesn't require much and she looks perfect. Wesley Snipes as Blade is pretty good too.

Worst superhero/protagonist casting?

Keanu Reeves as John Constantine. *shudder*

Best super villain/antagonist casting?

Dude - Terrance Stamp as Zod, naturally.

Worst super villain/antagonist casting?

Who played the bad guy in The Shadow? So forgettable I've forgotten him.

Faithful adaptation but lousy movie?

Sin City or 300, take your pick.

Loose adaptation but good movie?

Superman II - at the time it played wildly fast and loose with the character. Supes hitting it with Lois in the fabulous silver Kryptonian 70s hammock bed?

What comic book hasn't been made into a movie yet and who do you want to star in it?

Wonder Woman - it's utterly ridiculous that after 5 major Superman pictures, 6 Batmans, 4 X-Mens, 3 Spider-Mans, 1 Catwoman and 1 Elektra that there's never been a big screen Wonder Woman. As to who should play her, all I ask is someone who is tall and athletic. No petite beauties who look like they can't pick up a sandwich much less a tank.

 

Great choices, L.E.! Nice to see someone who agrees with me so much about comic book movies. 'Violence porn' really is a perfect term for "Sin City"...really explains why the only parts I liked were the violence. I forgot "Men In Black", which I think is also a very underrated comic book movie and Zod should definitely be getting more love in this thread . That part when he says "I DEFY YOU!" and yells "ZOD!" as the cameras cut away is probably the hardest I've ever laughed at a superhero movie (in a good way).

 

Best comic book movie?
The Dark Knight

Worst comic book movie?
Hulk

Most overrated comic book movie?
Superman: The Movie

Most underrated comic book movie?
Men in Black

Best superhero/protagonist casting?
Tommy Lee Jones and Will Smith as Agents K and J

Worst superhero/protagonist casting?
Ben Affleck as Matt Murdock/Daredevil

Best super villain/antagonist casting?
Ian McKellen as Magneto

Worst super villain/antagonist casting?
Tommy Lee Jones as Two-Face

Faithful adaptation but lousy movie?
Superman Returns

Loose adaptation but good movie?
The Rocketeer

What comic book hasn't been made into a movie yet and who do you want to star in it?
Thundercats. Casting would be as follows:
Thomas Dekker as Lion-O
Liam Neeson as Jaga (voice only)
Nathan Fillion as Tygra
Michael Clarke Duncan as Panthro
Morena Baccarin as Cheetara
Freddie Highmore as WilyKit
Dakota Fanning as WilyKat
Alan Rickman as Mumm-Ra

 

Best Comic Book Movie

-Batman Begins...I agree with those who have selected this as their choice. Dark Knight is a great sequel but Begins really GOT Batman.

Worst Comic Book Movie

- Batman and Robin, lots of other choices but I can't stand Batman and Robin

Most Overrated ComicBook Movie
-Spider-Man 2

Most Underrated Comic Book Movie
-Daredevil

Best Superhero/Protagonist Casing
- Christopher Reeve Superman The Movie

Worst Superhero/Protagonist Casting
- Alec Baldwin The Shadow

Best Super villain/ Antagonist
- Terence Stamp General Zod Superman The Movie, Superman II( the reason I continue watching both movies and collecting Geoff Johns run on Action Comics. Kneel Before Zod!)

Worst Super Villain/antagonist
- Tommy Lee Jones Harvey Dent/Two Face Batman and Robin

Faithful Adaption but lousy movie
- Spider-Man 3

Loose Adaption but good movie
- The Rocketeer

What Comic Book Hasn't Been Made Yet and who do you want to star in it

(some of these are in development already)

-Captain America: Brad Pitt (cliched choice but still,
Chris Pine as Bucky Barnes/Winter Soldier
Ralph Finnes (or someone like him) as Red Skull

-Green Lantern: David Boreanez as Hal Jordan

-Y the Last Man: Shia LeBeouf as Yorick Brown( even though it probably won't happen now with Shia)

 

For everyone saying Daredevil is underrated, have you actually watched it lately?

I used to think it was underrated, too, until I rewatched it about six months ago, and I couldn't sell my DVD fast enough. And that was the "better" director's cut. The only good thing in that was Favreau's "Fight Club" line.

It is a terrible, terrible movie.

 

Best comic book movie? X2 / Iron Man...I can never decide.

Worst comic book movie? Batman & Robin / Superman IV: The Quest for Peace / Catwoman...I can never decide.

Most overrated comic book movie? Based on this thread, Daredevil.

Most underrated comic book movie? Both Hulk and The Incredible Hulk.

Best superhero/protagonist casting? Christopher Reeve, Superman / Hugh Jackman, Wolverine / Robert Downey Jr., Iron Man.

Worst superhero/protagonist casting? Halle Berry, Storm and Catwoman.

Best super villain/antagonist casting? Heath Ledger, The Joker.

Worst super villain/antagonist casting? Mark Pillow, Nuclear Man.

Faithful adaptation but lousy movie? Daredevil.

Loose adaptation but good movie? Batman Returns.

What comic book hasn't been made into a movie yet and who do you want to star in it? Captain America, Matthew McConnaughey.

 

John Lone?

 

Well, if they do ever make that into a movie, at least we'll get another "Alan Moore Complains" thread going.

HOLY SHIT! I thought I was filling out the "worst" category!

I TAKE IT BACK! I TAKE IT BACK!!!