In a very short time, Christopher Nolan will deliver the final chapter of his Batman Trilogy, The Dark Knight Rises. Nolan’s trilogy has represented a new dawn for superhero movies, much like George Lucas’ Star Wars Trilogy did for science-fiction. Amidst this new-found admiration and appreciation for superheroes, Hollywood has been overrun with a smattering of superhero films. So I feel I must take a moment and share the 10 superhero films that I consider personal favorites. Before we go any further, I must specify my criteria for judging these films.
Ultimately, more important than the film itself, is the hero it is about. There are movies that are exceptionally well-made that you will find totally snubbed from this list, and the simple explanation for that is that I either don’t like, or legitimately dislike the superhero it is about (cough-Spiderman-cough). To me, Superheros are idealistic representations of mankind. They personify the myths of old- our modern day Hercules, Achilles and Perseus. They are awe-inspiring, thought-provoking, and oftentimes genuinely bad-ass. Next is the film itself, and how much care and concern the filmmakers, actors and the rest of the crew show for the subject matter.
1) SUPERMAN: THE MOVIE (1978)
Directed by Richard Donner
The forerunner for anything minutely related to superheroes, is Superman. Even the phrase “super”hero wouldn’t exist without Superman. In 1932 Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster created the most popular fictional character of all time. In 1978, “Superman: The Movie” was released, and it’s phenomenal success would pave the way for future superhero films. Richard Donner, the film’s director, spearheaded the film with a mantra of verisimilitude – to make the film appear as real as possible. He wanted kids to believe in Superman like they did in Santa Claus. This dedication to such a fantastic ideal is what makes the movie incredible. Amongst the phenomenal cast was Marlon Brando as Superman’s biological father, Jor-El; and Gene Hackman as the film’s villain, Lex Luthor. And in the title role was a young unknown actor by the name of Christopher Reeve. The epic film featured the origin story of the infant Kal-El, his adoption as Clark Kent, and his destined role as Superman. It featured a diabolical plot by Lex Luthor, and a rousing finale. John Williams created one of his most masterful compositions for the film’s soundtrack, a score that has become synonymous with Superman, and superheroes in general. Donner made the film as bright and colourful as possible, paying tribute to the iconic character on whom it is based upon. Everything about the film, even the tagline – “You’ll believe a man can fly” – was filled with the same idealised, almost naive positivity that Superman is known for. And it delivered on all it’s hype with overwhelmingly positive reviews and a huge box-office intake. The most thrilling part about the film is Christopher Reeve’s performance. To step into the role of the most iconic character of all time is no easy task. But to see Christopher Reeve totally transform himself and deliver a committed, brilliant portrayal of both Superman and Clark Kent is truly extraordinary. I don’t even hesitate when I state in my opinion, that it’s the greatest performance in film history.
2) BATMAN BEGINS (2005)
Directed by Christopher Nolan
Christopher Nolan is a name that will be whispered with awe amongst fanboys all over the world. In 2005, Nolan breathed new life into the Batman film franchise, that was abandoned after Joel Schumacher took a giant dump on it and called it “Batman and Robin”. With Batman Begins, he brought a gritty realism that echoed that old mantra of verisimilitude. Except that realism is a bit different for Batman than it is for Superman. Batman is finally adapted with a reverence that we have never seen before. With Batman Begins, Nolan did something that very few directors do when handling a superhero film- He took it seriously. Revamping the characters origin story, the film depicts in vivid detail Bruce Wayne’s physical and psychological training that eventually shapes the Batman. In the title role, Christian Bale delivers a powerhouse performance as the Caped Crusader. I’ve heard several criticisms of his portrayal. However, as a dedicated fan of the comic, I know that Batman’s voice is described as “each word resembling a piece of glass cutting his throat on the way out”. So Christian Bale, unlike so many actors before him, shows true dedication to the character. In supporting roles are great performances from Gary Oldman as Lt. James Gordon, Michael Caine as butler Afred Pennyworth, and Liam Neeson as the mastermind villain, Ra’s Al Ghul. The dedication shown towards this film is reflected by the positive reviews it recieved, and Batman’s evolution into one of the decade’s most popular iconic characters.
3) THE DARK KNIGHT (2008).
Directed by Christopher Nolan
The Empire Strikes Back to Batman Begins’ Star Wars. Darker, grittier and more downright villainous. And Batman Begins was already full of all those things. Chris Nolan settles on The Joker, comics’ greatest villain, as the antagonist for Batman this time around. The clown price of crime is played by Heath Ledger. Michael Caine, Gary Oldman and Christian Bale return in their respective roles; and Aaron Eckhart joins the cast as Harvey Dent/ Two-Face. Chock full of chase scenes, action sequences and puzzling schemes “The Dark Knight” was prime box-office fare. And it’s incredible success at the time showed a new reverence for superhero films, from both audiences and critics alike. The film recieved tremendous praise for its visual effects, storyline, and performances. the most alluring part of the film for me is the deep psychological drama that it depicts between Batman and The Joker. The image of a man taken to the brink of chaos and his ideals terribly shaken by another who “just wants to watch the world burn” is chilling. It’s a vintage comic archetype that is characteristic of Batman and The Joker, and it’s perfectly captured in the film. And finally there’s the Academy-Award winning performance from Heath Ledger. What more praise can I deliver that hasn’t already been heaped upon him?
4) THE AVENGERS (2012)
Directed by Joss Whedon
Speaking of prime box office fare… The world is still shaking from the thunderous success that Marvel’s master plan “The Avengers” has had. I first heard talk of an Avengers film when “Iron Man” came out in 2008. The sheer enormity of such a project was enough to get fanboys around the world scoffing at such a preposterous idea. In a short 5 years, however, Marvel found huge success through it’s “Iron Man” franchise and moderate success with “Thor” and “Captain America”. It then hired geek-god Joss Whedon to helm the project, and I’m sure even the most skeptical of fans dared to hope for success. To say that “The Avengers” exceeded expectations would be an understatement. Whedon spearheads the project with all of the wit and charm that he is known for, and he creates a rousing film that is totally appealing. With jaw-dropping action choreography, and phenomenally well-written dialogue, The Avengers is all a fanboy could ever hope for, and much-much more. It also features the whole doggone cast delivering strong performances. Robert Downey Jr. is as charming as we’ve come to expect as Iron Man, and Tom Hiddleston is wonderfully cunning as Loki. Even Chris Hemsworth and Chris Evans, portraying Thor and Captain America, are more likeable in this film than in their solo films- It’s a testament to Whedon’s ability to create truly fascinating chemistry for his characters. Mark Rufallo steals the show with his performance as Dr. Bruce Banner/Hulk, capturing the character better than anyone before him has done. As a final note, I must state that I never was much of a Marvel fan. And I would never thought I would say it, but The Avengers deserves all the praise that it has and continues to recieve.
5) WATCHMEN (2009)
Directed by Zack Snyder
Anyone who claims to be a fan of comic books will have read Alan Moore’s masterpiece “Watchmen”, or else they’re pathetic hypocrites. Sorry if that was harsh. But that’s exactly what Watchmen is. It’s a seminal work to the medium of comics. It is to comics what “The Godfather” is to film. So I’ll be the first to say I had no faith in Zack Snyder when I heard he was adapting this masterpiece into a film. The story takes place in an alternate reality where superheroes are real, and have provided aid to the government. However in the midst of the escalating Cold War, paranoia has led to distrust of the the costumed heroes. And in the late eighties, at the height of the Cold War, a conspiracy emerges that revolves around the murder of a costumed hero. I expected a bit of a train wreck, but upon seeing the film, I was quite impressed. Upon re-watching it, I was further impressed, and I realized that it could very well be as good an adaptation as we will get. It’s not perfect, certainly. But I don’t see anyone “perfectly” adapting the comic book, because quite frankly, I don’t think it would be a good film. What makes the comic great is unique to the comic, and it’s medium. But Snyder finds his own unique ways to make his film great. Contrary to what I was expecting, the movie has a much more campy feel to it. It’s still the same dark storyline, but it features the gloriously stylized action that Snyder made famous in “300”. I realized that this reflects the oddly colorful and bright artwork that is present in the comic. In the end, the film is what I would expect if the panels in the comic could move. There are some clear issues, but they’re ones I feel cannot be resolved in a film. Snyder does his best, and in my opinion, its good enough. Also, the movie features the best opening titles of all time.
6) SUPERMAN RETURNS (2006)
Directed by Bryan Singer
Sadly underrated, and sadly misunderstood. “Superman Returns” was supposed to do for Superman what “Batman Begins” did for Batman. However, WB was disappointed with its $391 mil. box office showing. The sad thing is, “Returns” recieved positive reviews upon release, but has since been overlooked. I really feel like Singer’s Superman (one not so different from Donner’s original vision) just didn’t appeal to modern audiences. Singer delved deep into the character’s iconic status, and using astoundingly gorgeous visuals, crafted the most majestic image of Superman that we have ever seen. But I’m sure modern audiences just wanted to see him kick some ass. However, Singer showed sincere dedication and appreciation for the Man of Steel. He kept true to all the moral uprightness and stoicism of Superman, demonstrated in action sequences that were shockingly understated. There’s very little flash or flair to Superman’s movements or his character. He’s the humble, unassuming and sensitive hero of old. Kevin Spacey does a great job as Lex Luthor, conveying equal amounts of humor and intimidation. In the lead role, is another unknown by the name of Brandon Routh, and he does a great job, proving he’s a worthy replacement for the legendary Chris Reeve.
7) BATMAN (1989)
Directed by Tim Burton
DC’s first attempt to bring their other popular hero to film (independent from any TV shows) was a rousing success. Tim Burton is the perfect choice for director, bringing a Gothic flair to create a dark and grim Gotham City. Michael Keaton was originally berated and bemoaned by fans as a poor choice for Batman, but he proves them all wrong with a very strong performance. Jack Nicholson plays the Joker with a great theatrical and campy flair, perfectly capturing the Silver Age representation of the character. Danny Elfman contributes with a rousing score that I still find myself humming restlessly. It’s a truly entertaining and honest interpretation of the Dark Knight.
8) IRON MAN (2008)
Directed by Jon Favreau
The start of Marvel’s phenomenal collection of home-run films, and the comeback of a lifetime for Robert Downey Jr. Director Jon Favreau hits all the right buttons to create an explosive, entertaining vision of Iron-Man. The film features an origin story that is probably one of the very best for any superhero film. Robert Downey Jr. is fantastic as billionaire Tony Stark, bringing an irrevocable charm and wit to the character, making him instantly likeable. In a strong supporting performance is Jeff Bridges as antagonist Obadiah Stane. It also features some awe-inspiring visual effects and a butt-load of cool gadgets that will continue to evoke “ooh”s and “aah”s from audiences. The film brought a new vision for Marvel superheroes, and it continues to be a measuring stick for all films to follow up in that cinematic universe.
9) SUPERMAN II (1980)
Directed by Richard Lester
The second installment of the Superman franchise features a more existential Kal-El, and an epic set of supervillains. Superman faces off against a band of lost Kryptonian criminals with a desire for vengeance, led by General Zod- portrayed in iconic fashion by Terence Stamp. I understand there was a string of production issues with the film, including a change in directors, so its’ incredible that a great film can still come out of it. I normally wouldn’t be a fan of a Superman who approaches a near angsty state, but Christopher Reeve does an incredible job, portraying the character with a genuine emotion that would be hard to ignore. And the film also features a smattering of epic action scenes just like it’s predecessor.
10) BLADE (1998)
Directed by Stephen Norrington
Pure, unadulterated fun. Not only is Blade one of my favourite superhero films, but it would easily make it into a list of my favorite vampire films as well. In an inspired casting choice, the highly talented Wesley Snipes portrays the daywalker, Blade. Fairly different from the comic version, Snipes’ Blade is a more imposing, fearless, and downright bad-ass representation. Kris Kristofferson provides a strong supporting performance as Blade’s mentor, Abraham Whistler. Wesley Snipes in the lead role means two thing that instantly make the film appealing: A deep bone-chilling voice that I could listen to recite the phone book, and some ass-kicking action scenes and fight choreography. Add to that the visceral directorial style employed by Stephen Norrington and David S. Goyer’s fascinating storyline, and you’ve got a genuinely thrilling superhero/vampire/action film.
Special mentions: Batman Returns, Blade II, X-Men: First Class, Spider-Man, X-Men, Spider-Man 2, The Green Hornet.
calvindsilva 