I’m doing a column on what was the best superhero movie ever made (not counting the serials from the 40s and 50s.)
Any thoughts?
PAD
I’m doing a column on what was the best superhero movie ever made (not counting the serials from the 40s and 50s.)
Any thoughts?
PAD
• 
I’m torn whenever I consider this. Two choices come to mind:
1.) Superman: The Movie. Richard Donner did a great job of bringing the iconic Superman to live and making us all believe a man could fly. Pa Kent’s collapse in the field brings a lump to my throat every time. And the Fortress of Solitude scene’s breathtaking. Whenever I see the film, I feel like I’m a kid again.
2.) The Rocketeer. It’s a great homage to the serial-era films, with swashbuckling adventure and romance served up without any irony. This one, I saw in my late teens, I think, and it left me just as breathless and awed (and not just because of Jennifer Connelly).
One’s an obvious pick; the other is probably written off as a kids’ movie since it was done by Disney. But those are my two contenders.
Superman The Movie. Not only the best superhero film of all time but maybe one of the greatest American films of the last thirty years. It had drama, comedy, action, and romance. It took it’s subject matter seriously and it made a skeptical audience, who wasn’t sure a man could fly, believe.
Well, it depends on your criteria – are you concentrating on Comic Book adaptations? If not, Darkman is an option.
I’m fond of The Rocketeer, although I haven’t seen it in years.
Superman II is great, although not without it’s flaws.
Spider-Man was just missing- something- for me. I’ve never been able to put my finger on it. I actually preferred Daredevil. Pulpier.
Of course, you can get into the infinite debate over what is a superhero. Is James Bond? Is the Terminator in T2? Is Buffy? Is Angel?
As long as you don’t answer with the Golan and Globus Captain America, I won’t argue too heavily.
Superman. The Batman and SpiderMan movies were great, but Superman was the first to make a superhero REAL. And if you leak into Superman II, the battle in Metropolis (throwing a bus, tossing a villain into the Coke sign in Times Square) is still the only “Super Fight” I’ve ever seen worthy of a comic book.
My first thought is either Superman I or II. But then I think of Nicholson’s performance in Batman and I realize it’s a tight race. Gotta give the small nod to the Boy Scout’s first though.
Road to Perdition would have been #1 if it weren’t for “the trigger not pulled” change.
Tobin
-tpl
Either Batman Returns or Daredevil. Those where some real good ones.
But please, heaven strike you down if you do, DON’T even think about the last two Batman Films. Those ones stunk, and should be wiped from the face of the earth.
Just kidding, but really, try to put the past Two Batman films out of your mind.
I also have to agree with Superman: The Movie–which is just about as pitch-perfect as you can expect–and The Rocketeer–which is a just-plain-fun, rousing adventure that’s too often unfairly overlooked. (I love the moment when Paul Sorvino’s mobster turns on Timothy Dalton after he learns the latter is a Nazi. “I may not make an honest living, but I am one hundred percent American!”)
Superman II‘s super-powered fight in Metropolis was fantastic, too. I suspect that the upcoming Matrix sequels will include some aerocombat that will put Superman II to shame, but that shouldn’t make us forget how ground breaking and incredible that whole sequence was.
For the historical minded, I’d suggest The Adventures of Captain Marvel as the best of the old-time movie serials’ comics adaptations.
I note Darkman was mentioned, too. Didn’t PAD mention this movie as a perfect comic book movie (just without having originated in comics) in a BID years ago?
“What constitutes a super hero?” Good question. Because, when the Gauls take their magic potion in the ASTERIX movies, they become easily as strong as SPIDER-MAN. If they qualify, I’d give the second ASTERIX film (MISSION CLEOPATRE) the nod.
As for SUPERMAN, it would have qualified, but blew it on two fronts.
This is the movie where the WB folks got their inspiration for Pinky & the Brain. Look at the bad guys: one’s a genius, the other’s … well, not insane, exactly, but a dolt. Certainly not the sort of useless git Luthor would have as right-hand man.
Worse: once Supes is shown turning back the clock by flying the right way around the Earth, all suspense, er, flew out the window as we knew that, no matter what happens, Supes can make it right by going back in time. Bad move, that.
Those two bad screwups really hurt the film for me and took it out of the running.
If tv movies count, I’d give, not first prize, but definitely honorary mention to the DOCTOR STRANGE film (1977). Low budget, but it was fun, even without a wizened Chinese as the Ancient One. And, oh! that Morgan! *drool*
The best superhero movie? My vote goes to Superman! Although I also liked the first Batman flick, Superman was easier to believe thanks to a more convincing Metropolis over Gothamcity + the fact that Christopher Reeves portrayed a very convincing hero (very unlike Dean Cain with his flashy suit in ‘Lois and Clark’) which doesn’t seem as simple (Ben Affleck, anyone?) as a lot of actors seem to think. How about the worst superhero movie ever? ‘Nick Fury: Agent of Shield (David Hasselhoff)’, ‘Fantastic Four’ or ‘Generation X’?
If you consider Batman a “Super” hero, then I suggest that no super hero movie has as much, fun, thrills, and adventure as…
The Mask of Zorro
Have to agree with Superman: The Movie. It is the only one of the superhero flicks that I see as a classic. Amazing performances by all involved, iconic score, etc. Honorary mention goes to Unbreakable. Even though not directly based on a comic, just an amazing film.
Superman: The Movie; slightly edging out the first sequel because I just can’t abide Zod’s magic levitating finger zap or the superpower-reversal-chamber-double-cross-thingy at the end.
The Rocketeer; largely forgotten (except by this crowd it would seem) but I felt it was spot-on in every way.
Honorable mention for X-Men; just because I love seeing Patrick Stewart and Ian McKellen acting opposite one another. I would have gladly paid $$$ for an X-film that consisted of nothing but a two-hour chess match between them.
Good Question: “Best Superhero Film Ever?” The first thing that would need to be answered is, “What type of Superhero?”. Comic based, science fictional, or just fictional.
I’m torn on this question since there are a couple of Super Hero films I enjoy to watch over and over.
SuperMan,Blade,Spider-Man are amoung the best comic to the big screen films in my opinion.
The movie “The Rocketeer” is a favorite of mine also just because it seems be very well-rounded and easier to relate to.
All in all, just too many to choose from and then try to label it the best.
Some great choices there.
I have to agree that Superman and Batman are both deserving of the nod. Reeves and Nicholson really brought their respective parts to life.
The Matrix is just a kick ášš comic book movie. And I wholeheartedly agree with John H. above that Mask of Zorro is pure comic book fun.
X-Men and Spider-man hit pretty close to their source material, which is a big plus in my book. And they were entertaining.
It surprises me that the Blade movies are not mentioned. As good as these other films are, I give the Blade series high marks for what it accomplished.
I’m not sure if any of that actually answered your question.
Bobby
Bobby Nash
Writer @ Large
Superman- The Movie
It’s gonna be a long time before they top this one.
Daredevil
Derivative, sure, but it had the heart and soul that are sorely misssing in a lot of comic-books flicks. And there are shots in the film that look just like vintage Gene Colan panels.
Batman
I’m gonna have to give this a tie with Daredevil. As a twelve year old kid at the time this came out, Batman became my only obsession for years afterward. I ate the cereal, hung the posters on my wall and screened the VHS tape daily until I memorized every single line of dialouge. That’s the test of a great movie- if it drives you completely insane.
I’d have to with Spider-man or Superman. Both were excellent, stayed true to their comic book forebearers, and were just lots of fun.
I think Superman I and Spider-Man have come closest to accurately adapting comic book superheroes to the screen, while still being quality movies in their own right.
However, for me the best superhero movies are the ones that are not actually based on a published character, such as The Matrix, Darkman and RoboCop.
These movies are not forced to choose what elements of a previously existing character to keep, alter or discard in order to adapt them to the screen. It’s a necessary process for any adaptation, which can dilute the original appeal of the concept. Also, because the original source is not a comic book, there is less tendency for producers to feel the need to incorporate “camp” elements into the film.
Having said that, I have also enjoyed, to varying degrees, comic book-adapted superhero movies such as Batman I and Batman Forever, The Rocketeer, The Phantom, The Crow, the Blade movies, X-men and Daredevil.
Superhero movies that didn’t do it for me: Supes III & IV, Batman Returns, Batman&Robin, Supergirl, Swamp Thing, The Shadow, the Crow sequels and (as if this really needs to be even said) the early 90s Captain America and Punisher.
Wait- you know what was a kick-ášš movie? Remo Williams: The Adventure Begins. Of course, I was only 11 at the time…
I don’t know whether I ‘d call it the very best Super-Hero film. But if the Rocketeer is a contender then so should The Phantom.Pure unbridled pulpy fun, without constantly and annoyingly winking at he audience the way the Shadow was. He’s Tarzan, Indiana Jones and Batman all roled into one.
This is the movie where the WB folks got their inspiration for Pinky & the Brain. Look at the bad guys: one’s a genius, the other’s … well, not insane, exactly, but a dolt. Certainly not the sort of useless git Luthor would have as right-hand man.
I understand folks who hate the campy elements from the first Superman movie. It is absurd that Lex Luthor has an underground lair in the heart of the city, an attractive moll and a doltish sidekick. But at the same time, campy elements like that are part of the Superman mythos (I mean, who really turns evil because they go bald?) so I appreciate how the movie incorporated some of that lighter flavor without letting it overpower the movie (as happened in the later Batman films.) My opinion only; your mileage may vary.
Worse: once Supes is shown turning back the clock by flying the right way around the Earth, all suspense, er, flew out the window as we knew that, no matter what happens, Supes can make it right by going back in time. Bad move, that.
The time-travel climax of the first Superman is doubtlessly controversial. Within the space of the movie itself, it doesn’t bother me as a suspense-killer since it’s the last super-feat Superman does. It makes sense that Superman’s last super act in the film is the most super yet. (IIRC, when originally the first two movies were being developed together, the time-travel climax would have ended the second movie; the creators brought it to the end of the first one in case the sequel never got made so that they could still show that most super of super feats.) And the fact that Superman can travel in time doesn’t kill the suspense of his future adventures for me any more than other sorts time-travel stories in Star Trek or Back to the Future or whatever else. Time travel stories intrinsically involve a lot of suspension of disbelief; nothing in the Superman movie climax makes me unable to suspend that disbelief–either for the single movie itself or for its sequels. But again, your mileage may vary.
When I went to see Unbreakable, I left the theatre feeling like I had just read a really good comic.
Superman I, Blade I and Batman I are my votes for best.
I’d have to put my vote in for “Superman” or “Superman II” (or the both of them together).
Christopher Reeve had just the right look to pull the part off – and, for two hours, you actually could suspend your disbelief enough to feel that man *could* fly.
Now, if the last two films could somehow make their way into a black hole, or some other singularity, we’d be just fine…
For me, it would have to be the first Superman movie. Saying it had its flaws is like saying a beautiful, vivacious woman eats crackers in bed. I wouldn’t kick her out for a few crumbs!
Everyone seems to be on the same track…
The first two Superman movies were really good, if you ignore the couple of major flaws each has.
The first Batman was well done, if a major departure from the comic…
And the Spider-Man and X-men movies were well done, if again you ignore the flaws…
But I wonder if “Batman: Mask of the Phantasm” counts? I know it isn’t a live action movie, but it was a cinematic release, and it was pretty true to the character.
Plus Mark Hamills’ Joker is hilarious.
And what about “the Shadow”?
My money goes to:
Superman I: I did believe a man could fly.
Superman II: The best supervillian fight ever!
Batman: Tim Burton rules!
Spider-Man: I’m biased. Spidey has always been my favorite superhero. That being said, Raimi hit the nail on the head with this movie. Only thing I didn’t like was the Goblin’s costume.
I’ve got to put my vote in with the popular also-ran here…The Rocketeer. Perfectly captured the comic, the idealized period and the characters.
I was surprised when I watched the first Superman film again last year when I got the DVD–I was really emotionally attached to it. I’d forgotten how much over the years, but it connects to something. I’d still put Rocketeer first, though.
JUDEX. An annoyingly hard to find movie but well worth the trouble. From the same genius who did LES YEUX SANS VISAGE, possibly the best horror movie ever.
Best super-hero film of all time?
How about M. Night Shamaylan’s “Unbreakable”, which breaks down the very essence of a super-hero to a truly human experience?
After that, by far, the rollicking Rocketeer movie. Sorry I can’t agree with you on the James Horner music. I play it often in my car as I’m barrelling down I-65.
I have to vote for Superman II also. I liked the first one but the fight scene in the second one was just fantastic.
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I just loved the scene where Zod is threatening to execute the Daily Planet staff if Superman doesn’t show up and then from outside the huge hole in the wall of the skyscraper you hear “Zod!” Zod turns and sees Superman hovering in midair with his arms crossed and Supes says “Care to step outside?” God, Christopher Reeve had such prescence in that movie!
Fazhoul
The Flash TV movie. Very true to the spirit of the comics without an ounce of campiness anywhere.
I’m glad I wasn’t the only who thought “The Rocketeer”, “The Shadow” and “The Phantom” were good super hero movies. I really loved all three and were sorry they faded at the box office. I was also sorry “Unbreakable” didn’t have a sequel which I thought I read it was originally set up as a proposed trilogy, but also faded.
I wouldn’t have thought “The Rocketeer” just from the question, but now that I think about it, that movie was a lot of fun. I oughta rent that sometime.
Going by personal favorites, I have to say Spider-Man, just because it was everything I wanted from the movie. I didn’t even mind the Green Ranger… um, Goblin.
Plus, that one guy who wrote the novelization did an okay job, I guess.
I hated Unbreakable, and yet it was one of the most interesting takes on the superhero I’ve seen.
I did love Batman, though Jack’s Joker was not the Killing Joke Joker that I loved at the time.
Maybe, though, The most overlooked so far is The Crow, which really captured the look and feel of the comic with nary a trace of kitsch or sillyness.
Yeah, I vote for The Crow.
Emphatically.
Wait- you know what was a kick-ášš movie? Remo Williams: The Adventure Begins. Of course, I was only 11 at the time…
Oh, yeah. Remo Williams was perfect Saturday afternoon matinee stuff.
I can’t believe I forgot that one.
Bobby
Bobby Nash
Writer @ Large
Problem with The Shadow and The Phanton.
The Shadow was never really a super-hero, the same way most people thought it was. He was basically a guy who used the dark of night to be a vigilante.. hmmm… sounds familiar… except this one used his guns for the reason they were invented. The movie blew from my pov… cause I enjoyed the pulps.
But if The Shadow was a superhero, then so was doc savage, and a few others. (let’s not get into the doc savage movie)…
Remo Williams is again, a vigilante, coming from the “pulp” novels of the Destroyer, in its 130s… not sure if he’s a “Super”hero either…
The Phantom was great as an adventure movie. In fact after seeing the Mummy, i thought that Stephen Sommers wanted to do the Phantom right…
But, Treat Williams was too much, and while the Phantom has never done great on this side of the atlantic, I believe several people actually believed he existed in his country of Africa.
Was he a “Super” hero or just a hero in purple tights?
Superman is my choice of Super-Hero movie… but Unbreakable is definitively one of the best out there.
(I also enjoyed Shazam and Isis in the 70’s, so that shows where my taste is)
Travis
I’ll cast my vote for UNBREAKABLE. Not only is it a dámņ fine film in its own right, and the most believable superhero film yet, but you can see Shyamalan using techniques of comic book storytelling in his filmmaking. I don’t know if I’ve ever seen another film that relied so heavily on closure.
Best adaptation? I’d say X-MEN. Sure, SPIDER-MAN was more joyous and fun, but X-MEN managed to find the heart of each and every one of its characters, while paying homage to the serious issues of prejudice and alientation underlying the X-Men since their debut.
Of course, if anyone wants to bring up THE MATRIX, I won’t argue too much…
Well, I always thought that Superman: The Movie was too cheesy, even for those days. The Smallville scenes are alright, but … nah.
I liked the Phantom… but the end was terrible. And I wonder if he really qualifies as superhero — imo, he’s a classical pulp adevtnure hero, like The Shadow or Doc Savage. The same, albeit differently, goes for the Crow or Blade (or even Matrix) — it’s not really superheroes we’re talking here.
Daredevil, although often different from the book and maybe a tad bit too Matrix-ized and the main actor was just all wrong… but on the other was so full of lovely little bits and pieces and so close to various storylines from the actual comic book that it just, imo, is one of the best superhero movies so far.
If we stick to classic superheros…
Daredevil.
The Crow is a masterpeice, as is Conan The Barbarian. The Shadow, The Rocketeer, and Batman (1989) were all great. I loved the Superman movies when I was kid, but I watch them now and just cringe at how campy & dated they are …
My vote?
Spider-Man edges the others out. Of course, as a MAJOR Spider-Man fan, I’m a little biased, but this one just really worked for me…the casting, the origin, the action, everything.
VERY close second is Superman: The Movie. I find its a great film. My only complaint is, as much as I’m a Superman fan, I find it a *tad* long.
Then I’d list Superman II, followed by X-Men. Haven’t seen Daredevil.
The Batman films…ehh. Didn’t work for me. The first two are REALLY dark, the last two are really light, and there’s no perfect balance.
Rocketeer’s good, but I haven’t seen it in ages. Also, call me nostalgic, but I like the Flash Gordon film, with Max Von Sydow as Ming the Merciless…really fun as a campfest.
Surprised no one has mentioned that Dolph Lundgren classic, “The Punisher”… 🙂
I’m glad that some other folks mentioned “Unbreakable”. I have trouble ranking any other superhero movie higher.
“Rocketeer” was wonderful fun. “Superman” was the best that had appeared to that date.
“Spider-Man” had many elements that were nearly perfect — the wall-crawling sequences come to mind, as well as the look on MJ’s face as Peter walks away in the final scene that says (at least to me) that she suddenly knows all.
In the honorable mention category, “Batman and Robin” was an execrable film, but George Clooney played the best Bruce Wayne that we’ve seen so far. If only he’d had a decent script…
Not just because it hasn’t been mentioned yet, but also because it genuinely IS my personal favorite superhero movie…
Mystery Men. In one film, they managed to incorporate so many different superhero-related tropes, from the obvious to the subtle. New-superheroes-team-up-to-rescue-established-hero. Offspring-of-original-hero-takes-up-identity-and-powers-to-avenge-father’s-murder. Villains-all-team-up-to-become-villain-supergroup.
Nearly all the archetypes are there: the popular superhuman who’s his city’s icon (and who hides his identity with a pair of glasses); the brilliant inventor; the quick-tempered guy; the wise mentor guy; the young, enthusiastic sidekick-type; the token female.
Of course, the genius of the film is that so many of those old cliches are turned on their ear. I mean, who was expecting what happened to Captain Amazing, HALFWAY through the film???
They even have little easter eggs for enthusiasts, such as the bit about finding a superhero just on the verge of being big, “like a Human Torch before he hit.” They could have picked any super-character to name-check there, but they picked very first Marvel superhero. I loved that.
Also, I believe Mystery Men is possibly the only modern superhero film in which the concept of the superhero is already established as a given when the movie begins. The film opens with a pan over Champion City (great name!), and we already see huge statues erected in honor of Captain Amazing. What was great about that was that it’s exactly how modern comic books are, with the heroes already well-established (unless you happen to be checking out something like Miller’s Man Without Fear or Byrne’s Man of Steel), but for a film it was entirely unconventional.
I think it was because of this and other blithe unorthodoxies scattered throughout it that the movie wasn’t commercially successful, but they’re also what make it such a treat for superhero fans.
It’s not a film that necessarily takes the concept of the superhero deadly seriously, the way the majority of Superman I does for example… but Mystery Men is certainly one of the most complete and affectionate renderings of the superhero concept on film that I’ve ever seen.
A cape, a mask, a secret cave filled with wonderful equipment, an alter-ego as a wealthy fop –
The Mask of Zorro, of course!
Another interesting choice – one that more ably defines the “hero” in superhero, is
Hero At Large.
Coming straight from the comics, I’m loving all of the new stuff. X-Men, Spiderman, and Daredevil are all wonderfully amazing. X2 and Hulk look like they are going to rock the house, baby!!
For comic book-like movies, Darkman and The Matrix (which is really just a rip off of Plato’s allegory of the cave) receive top nods.
But, I’ll put my actual vote in for… well, 1/2 vote for Mystery Men and 1/2 vote for Unbreakable. Both movies delved remarkably well into what it means to be a comic book.
Someone mentioned the FLASH tv-movie. I saw it more as an episode. But if one accepts television episodes as part of this ‘competition’, then my nod goes to the “Ghost” episode of THE FLASH.
Not only was it very good (keeping in mind its tv budget limitations) as a comic book super hero instalment, but the opening bit, showing Nightshade fighting the Ghost in the 50s, done as a black & white tribute to the Republic serials of the 30s and 40s, was just superbly executed.
Wow… don’t see anyone pushing for The Heroic Trio yet! It’s a Hong Kong film (with all the wire work and weirdness that entails), but provides three delightfully different super-heroes, an unstoppable enemy (or, actually, two) and some action set-pieces beyond compare.
Best superhero movie? Possibly Darkman, with it’s classic ending in which the, for lack of a better word, hero walks into the darkness after uttering the words, “I’m Darkman.” Great stuff.
In a close, close second would be Spider-Man. Sure there were a few goofy bits, but none of the out-and-out moments of campy ridiculousness or massive plot holes (not even worried about because, hey, it’s just based on a comic book) that marred many of the other movies.
Um, have you seen X2 yet, Peter?…
(a-hem) Best super-hero film? “The Empire Strikes Back”. Or “Star Wars”, depending on your world-view: whether you’re a “good conquors all” or a somewhat more melancholy “the hero doesn’t always succeed”. As my tastes tend more towards the latter, “Empire” is my choice. And I think (although I’m sure I’ll quickly be proved wrong) one would be hard pressed to say either Superman or Batman or Mystery Men (cough, cough) are better films.
Now, if it came down to comic book superheros, after a great deal of thought I am throwing my weight behind Superman 2. Batman comes close, but suffers slightly from Burton’s obsession with developing the brooding atmosphere of Gotham, whereas Superman focuses more compeltely on the story. And as for the sequel over the original Superman…again, it gets back to that whole world-view thing. Sometimes, no matter how noble and good you are, you just can’t get everything you want; that’s what being a hero is all about, making the tough decisions and sacrificing your desires for the greater good. In Superman, Supes gets everything by turning back time. In Superman 2, he has to give up his desire to have a normal life with the woman he loves in order to save the world from tyranny. That’s the kind of story that speaks to me more.
Batman was great, but sometimes just a bit over the top. I do want to single out Michael Keaton, who I thought was both a great Batman and a great Bruce Wayne, and showed a distinctive dychotomy between those two personalities, much as Christopher Reeves did in the Superman movies.
For me it probably would be “Spider-Man”, which to my mind captured the essence of Spidey to a tee, with “Batman”, “Superman” and “X-Men” (listed alphabetically as they are too close to call) in joint second place.
I positively hate “The Rocketeer”, mainly because I did not grow up on the kind of ‘B’ serials it emulated and as for the “non-superhero” superhero films I’d have to say: The Mark of Zorro (Tyrone Power, Basil Rathbone), not The Mask of Zorro!
I vote for Xmen and Keaton’s Batman. Though Unbreakable was an excellent film too.