3. Watchmen (2009)
Zack Snyder‘s vision of Alan Moore and Dave Gibbon‘s seminal Watchmen mini-series was somewhat polarizing. As a huge fan of Moore’s work, specifically that of Watchmen, I can safely say that 2009’s Watchmen does as good of a job sticking to the source material as any film in the MCU. Sure, there are differences between the comic and the film, but all the themes are still there, and that’s what Watchmen was all about, right?
Questions of morality are raised as the characters envelope themselves in a crusade to uncover a conspiracy set in an alternate reality where the Cold War rages on, bearing no end in sight. Characters like Rorschach and the Comedian blur the lines of what is acceptable in dealing with the myriad injustices of our world, while Nite Owl struggles to regain his sense of identity amidst the chaos of life and its ever-changing circumstances. At the same time, Dr. Manhattan, the only “true” super powered member of the group, gradually loses his connection with humanity, resulting in a cataclysmic event.
How would our world react to a being that could control the very fabric of time and space? Where do we fit into this strange and rare existence? How do we feel when the innocent are punished for no other reason than that there is evil in the world that wishes to do them harm, and how far would we be willing to go to stop it? Watchmen engages all these dilemmas during its somewhat bloated run time (especially the Director’s Cut), but the philosophical queries that are posed to the viewer can and should be exciting, even during moments that lack action.
Watchmen is absolutely not for everyone. It cannot be enjoyed over a pint of beer with your old fraternity brothers (if you have such… things), for it is a film for those that wish to face the truths of their morality and their existence. Enjoy it when you will not be distracted by outside forces, and dare to indulge the mysteries within.
::Long Pause::
Alright, this next one is a monster… get ready.
2. Dredd (2012)
Oh yes. I absolutely love this film. Dredd is everything that fans of the titular character have wanted for a long time. Admittedly, I was scared when this film was announced in the wake of that… other version, but I was pleasantly surprised and beyond satisfied with the results. Warning: Dredd is absolutely not for children. Let’s begin.
Karl Urban plays Judge Dredd, a futuristic law enforcer who acts as a one-man judge, jury, and executioner. And boy is he brutal. Judge Dredd takes no guff from criminals, and will not hesitate to throw the proverbial book right in their faces (bullets too). Given that one of Dredd’s trademarks is never removing his helmet, Urban faced the challenge of acting convincingly using only his mouth. I believe I speak for much of the fandom when I say he did an overwhelmingly fantastic job, and that I kind of wish he played Robocop in the reboot…oh well; dreams and stuff.
We also get to meet Judge Anderson, who is a Judge with psychic abilities. This, along with the presence of some dirty Judges leads me to believe that if we ever got a sequel (please, please, PLEASE!), we might be meeting Judge Death along the way. More dreams. Dreams everywhere about this film.
Like 1987’s Robocop, Dredd pulls no punches when it comes to violence and satire. A stand-out scene during a mall shootout ends with the loudspeaker declaring “the Level 1 food court will reopen in 30 minutes, thank you for your patience” as bodies are hauled away and blood is swept up by some zamboni looking contraption. Hilarious? Well, I sure think so.
Lastly, watch for a great homage to the aforementioned Robocop when Dredd gives the whole “20 seconds to comply” speech to a group of thugs. Capital!
Alright kids it’s time for the number one spot in the countdown. I guarantee you are not ready for this one! I’ll grab my flame shield while you prepare yourselves.
1. Batman: The Movie (1966)
It’s goofy! It’s campy! It’s hilarious! It’s… Batman? Yes that’s right. If you took Batman, Adam West, and The Naked Gun and put them in a blender, it would be Batman: The Movie. That might sound odd to some, but the fact of the matter is that during the Silver Age of comics, Batman was reduced to the “straight man,” while his Rogues Gallery became comical, harmless buffoons. To learn more about why, click here!
The Silver Age of comics is an undeniable part of the history of what we all love, and Batman: The Movie lampoons it with deftness and bravado. From the opening credits, the producers give a little message that in no way is this film to be taken seriously. A narrator even opens up the film proper with an update of what the Dynamic Duo are up to! That’s some Silver Age goodness right there. In fact, the laughs virtually never end in this film. It’s just that funny. The first action sequence depicts Batman being attacked by an obviously rubber shark, which he swiftly dispatches using Bat Shark Repellant (yes, “I’m deadly serious.” Anyone who gets that reference wins). Also, watching Batman and Robin tackle The Riddler’s “criminal conundrums” is a sight to behold.
So comedy aside, let’s talk about why I think this is the most accurate overall live-action portrayal of Batman so far. First, the costumes. They look really goofy, but they are actually fabric leotards and not armor! Remember when Batman didn’t wear armor for about fifty years? You should, because it happened. Oh, and Batman’s costume is blue and grey. Kudos gentlemen, kudos. Second, and most importantly, Batman: The Movie manages to capture the essence of Silver Age Batman flawlessly. Of course this is not the dark and brooding Batman that most fans are familiar with, but that Batman only truly came back after Frank Miller‘s The Dark Knight Returns, which gave way to the Tim Burton and Christopher Nolan films (and Joel Schumacher‘s, but more on him later). In contrast, I personally feel that many elements of Batman as a whole were largely ignored or underutilized in subsequent theatrical efforts; especially in Nolan’s films.
Lastly, I’d like to give at least some credit to what Joel Schumacher was attempting, as I believe that with Batman and Robin specifically, he was trying to emulate the Silver Age style of Batman that was popularized on screen by the 1960’s television show, and by Batman: The Movie. It didn’t work, but I think it was just bad timing considering what Batman was doing in the comics at the time.
I’ll leave you with just one of the great quotes from this film: “Don’t be put off by [our costumes], ma’am. Underneath this garb, we’re perfectly ordinary Americans.” ~ Burt Ward as Robin.
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