Comic book movies. They’re everywhere. With the MCU pumping out multiple films per year, and DC’s plan for their own cinematic universe in the works, there is seemingly no end to this world wide phenomenon. As for the MCU, as long as they can continue to make quality movies, I welcome the future. Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice looks promising as well. Personally, I’ve been waiting to see the Justice League battle Darkseid on the big screen for many years. I hope that one day I will be able to.
Yet, there exists a wealth of overlooked comic book movies from both recent times and decades past that I believe deserve a place in the “best comic book movie evaarr” hierarchy. The following list will detail which films I think should be entered into the pantheon of some of the best comic book movies to date. There are some frontrunners, for sure, but some of these selections may seem odd to the more casual fan. Hopefully, this list will turn some readers onto some comic book movies that have since become lost in the vast sea of “mainstream” releases.
Well then, let’s get started shall we? (No serious spoilers contained within…seriously.)
6. Guardians Of The Galaxy (2014)
Like I said, frontrunners. Now, this film wasn’t necessarily overlooked. In fact, it did quite well at the box office even though it stands as somewhat of a departure from the overall aesthetic of the MCU, specifically in the characters and humor department. Kids will enjoy Guardians of the Galaxy for its colorful characters like Rocket and Groot, while mom and dad can appreciate the adult-ish humor and bask in its wonderful soundtrack.
The reason I have selected Guardians of the Galaxy for this list is that it is somewhat of an underdog in that it is the only film released thus far in the MCU that does not feature a “fan favorite” character like Iron Man or Captain America. Nope, the Guardians are a rag-tag bunch of “idiots,” as Gamora so eloquently put it, who must learn to work together to overcome Ronan the Accuser. Each character has a stake in the mission however, which greatly enriches the story. Sound familiar? You bet it does. The first time I saw Guardians of the Galaxy, I could not help but be reminded of Star Wars. I suppose it’s the whole outlaws-in-space-battling-for-a-common-goal thing that gives the two films a similar quality. Not that that’s a bad thing at all. I believe it’s what sets Guardians of the Galaxy apart from the other films in the MCU, and it’s also what makes it my favorite cinematic offering from Marvel so far.
For me, the highlight of the film is Vin Diesel’s performance as Groot, the plant-like creature who represents the “life” of the group. While only speaking approximately three different words the entire movie, Groot manages to have as much character as any of the other Guardians. This can be attributed in part to Diesel’s performance, and upon watching the special features contained on the BluRay of Guardians of the Galaxy, this writer was surprised to see that very little post production work was done on Diesel’s voice.
With that out of the way, let’s shake things up a bit with the next entry.
5. Flash Gordon (1980)
Flash Gordon made his debut during the Golden Age of comics, and shortly after, his adventures were adapted into film serials. But it wasn’t until 1980 that the property was given the big screen treatment, which perhaps was due in part to the success of Richard Donner’s Superman in 1978. Enter Mike Hodges’ Flash Gordon.
There is so much that I love about this film that it is difficult for me to squash it into just a few short paragraphs! From the cast, which includes Timothy Dalton of James Bond fame, to the costumes and amazing set designs, I truly believe that Flash Gordon deserves a great deal more than just cult status. There are some aspects of the film that will seem dated to younger viewers, such as some of the effects and fight choreography, but even in the flashy, CGI infested world of today’s cinema, those aspects do nothing to hurt this great film. In a particularly great scene early on, our hero Flash, who just also happens to be the quarterback of the New York Jets, takes on a group of Ming’s lackeys by attacking them with large egg-like objects that he uses as footballs. Genius.
Underneath the plot, which consists of Flash Gordon leading a revolt against the aforementioned Ming the Merciless, there are wonderful shades of comedy, while the outer shell of the film is glossed in a shiny, campy glaze (mmm donut). The camp does not overwhelm; instead, it brings the film to another level, and it is a pleasure to watch as Flash takes on each challenge as he oozes with gusto.
Lastly, the entire score was composed and performed by Queen. Need I say more? No, I don’t really have to, but I will. There is an execution scene in the film where the sounds of Brian May’s guitars cry out in triumph, creating a great contrasting use of music to paint an incredible portrait of fantasy at its most fun. Watch it!
Oh, and speaking of Richard Donner…
4. Superman II: The Richard Donner Cut (2006)
Released straight to DVD and BluRay in 2006, Superman II: The Richard Donner Cut (from here, we will refer to it as Superman II: TDC), was intended to give fans Richard Donner’s original vision of the sequel to 1978’s Superman before he was replaced by director Richard Lester mid-production. There is a great article here that describes the differences between the two films (ProTip: there are many).
What Superman II: TDC achieves is to close out the story initially introduced in the opening scene of Superman, in which Jor-El (Marlon Brando) banishes General Zod and his crew to the Phantom Zone shortly before Krypton’s destruction. Watching Donner’s version helps me ignore the subsequent and inferior sequels in the franchise.
What really stands out for me in this film is the late Christopher Reeve‘s performance, specifically when playing Clark Kent. Don’t get me wrong, Reeve also makes a great Superman, but this is where I believe he truly shines. The goofy, small town farm boy version of Kent is on full display here, especially in his scenes at the Daily Planet interacting with Lois Lane, Jimmy Olsen (where was he in Man of Steel?), and Perry White. Reeve truly is a joy to watch. The film stands well on its own too, as there is a brief introduction recapping the events of the first film. In this way, even though Superman II: TDC is a sequel, it still manages to feel like its own, full movie.
A highlight of the film is during Superman’s battle with Zod in downtown Manhattan where Supes uses the side view mirror of a fuel truck to reflect Zod’s heat vision back towards him, scorching a large billboard in the process. The only part of the billboard that remains undamaged is a small portion behind Zod that reads “Cool it!” Nice touch!
For the second half of the list, I thought we’d darken things up a bit. Sound good?
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.
Do you agree or disagree with these selections? Share your thoughts in the Bat-Comments Section or on our Bat-Twitter page!