CFE's 100 Comic Book Movie Countdown

[CFE]

Countdown Review Links:

1: [post=16804615]SUPERMAN: THE MOVIE (Richard Donner, 1978)[/post]

2: [post=16798702]THE DARK KNIGHT (Christopher Nolan, 2008)[/post]
3: [post=16793132]BATMAN (Tim Burton, 1989)[/post]


4: [post=16787519]SUPERMAN II (Richard Lester/(Richard Donner), 1980)[/post]
5: [post=16782594]ROAD TO PERDITION (Sam Mendes, 2002)[/post]
6: [post=16778242]BATMAN RETURNS (Tim Burton, 1992)[/post]
7: [post=16772854]THE ROCKETEER (Joe Johnson, 1991)[/post]
8: [post=16766806]WATCHMEN (Zack Snyder, 2009)[/post]
9: [post=16760988]X2: X-MEN UNITED (Bryan Singer, 2003)[/post]
10: [post=16755437]BLADE (Stephen Norrington, 1998)[/post]

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11: [post=16748884]Batman: Mask of the Phantasm (Bruce W. Timm and Eric Radomski, 1993)[/post]
12: [post=16744358]The Crow (Alex Proyas, 1994)[/post]
13: [post=16740169]Batman Begins (Christopher Nolan, 2005)[/post]
14: [post=16735596]Spider-Man II (Sam Raimi, 2004)[/post]
15: [post=16730677]Iron Man (Jon Favreau, 2008)[/post]
16: [post=16724323]Sin City (Robert Rodriguez and Frank Miller, 2005)[/post]
17: [post=16718732]The Incredible Hulk (Louis Leterrier, 2008)[/post]
18: [post=16712385]Spider-Man (Sam Raimi, 2002)[/post]
19: [post=16707244]X-Men (Bryan Singer, 2000)[/post]
20: [post=16702899]Superman Returns (Bryan Singer, 2006)[/post]

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21: [post=16697378]American Splendor (Shari Springer Berman and Robert Pulcini, 2003)[/post]
22: [post=16690979]A History of Violence (David Cronenberg, 2005)[/post]
23: [post=16684522]Art School Confidential (Terry Zwigoff, 2006)[/post]
24: [post=16677731]Akira (Katsuhiro Ôtomo, 1988)[/post]
25: [post=16672554]Blade II (Guillermo Del Toro, 2002)[/post]
26: [post=16668375]Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (Steve Barron, 1990)[/post]
27: [post=16664530]Wonder Woman (Lauren Montgomery, 2009)[/post]
28: [post=16660141]Justice League: The New Frontier (Dave Bullock, 2008)[/post]
29: [post=16655616]Hellboy II: The Golden Army (Guillermo Del Toro, 2008)[/post]
30: [post=16650785]Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker (Curt Geda, 2000)[/post]

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31: [post=16645262]V For Vendetta (James McTeigue, 2005)[/post]
32: [post=16639600]Batman & Mr. Freeze: Sub Zero (Boyd Kirkland, 1998)[/post]
33: [post=16635864]Daredevil (Mark Steven Johnson, 2003)[/post]
34: [post=16632095]Spider-Man III (Sam Raimi, 2007)[/post]
35: [post=16627187]HULK (Ang Lee, 2003)[/post]
36: [post=16621556]Batman Forever (Joel Schumacher, 1995)[/post]
37: [post=16616171]Blade: Trinity (David S. Goyer, 2004)[/post]
38: [post=16609797]Conan The Barbarian (John Milius, 1982)[/post]
39: [post=16604313]X-Men: The Last Stand (Brett Ratner, 2006)[/post]
40: [post=16599995]Men in Black (Barry Sonnenfeld, 1997)[/post]

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41: [post=16595641]From Hell (Albert and Allen Hughes, 2001)[/post]
42: [post=16590182]The Mask (Chuck Russell, 1994)[/post]
43: [post=16584931]The Spirit (Frank Miller, 2008)[/post]
44: [post=16579618]300 (Zack Snyder, 2007)[/post]
45: [post=16573669]Punisher: War Zone (Lexi Alexander, 2008)[/post]
46: [post=16568031] Superman: Doomsday (Bruce W. Timm, Lauren Montgomery and Brandon Vietti, 2007)[/post]
47: [post=16563284]Hellboy (Guillermo Del Toro, 2004)[/post]
48: [post=16557902]Constantine (Francis Lawrence, 2005)[/post]
49: [post=16552213]The Punisher (Jonathan Hensleigh, 2004)[/post]
50: [post=16546130]Ghost World (Terry Zwigoff, 2001)[/post]

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51: [post=16539602]Timecop (Peter Hyams, 1994)[/post]
52: [post=16533570]Batman: Mystery of the Batwoman (Curt Geda and Tim Maltby, 2003)[/post]
53: [post=16527867]The Phantom (Simon Wincer, 1996)[/post]
54: [post=16523358]Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer (Tim Story, 2007)[/post]
55: [post=16519170]TMNT (Kevin Munroe, 2007)[/post]
56: [post=16514261]Batman: The Movie (Leslie H. Martinson, 1966)[/post]
57: [post=16508521]Mystery Men (Kinka Usher, 1999)[/post]
58: [post=16502629]Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze (Michael Pressman, 1991)[/post]
59: [post=16496915]Ultimate Avengers II: Rise of the Panther (Will Meugn​iot and Dick Sebas​t, 2006)[/post]
60: [post=16491338]Fantastic Four (Tim Story, 2005)[/post]

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61: [post=16485475]Wanted (Timur Bekmambetov, 2008)[/post]
62: [post=16481004]Ultimate Avengers: The Movie (Curt Geda and Steven E. Gordon, 2006)[/post]
63: [post=16475434]Superman III (Richard Lester, 1983)[/post]
64: [post=16468457]Men in Black II (Barry Sonnenfield, 2002)[/post]
65: [post=16462035]Judge Dredd (Danny Cannon, 1995)[/post]
66: [post=16455682]Ghost Rider (Mark Steven Johnson, 2007)[/post]
67: [post=16449335]The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen (Stephen Norrington, 2003)[/post]
68: [post=16444953]The Trial of the Incredible Hulk (Bill Bixby, 1989)[/post]
69: [post=16440633]Conan the Destroyer (Richard Fleischer, 1984)[/post]
70: [post=16436093]The Punisher (Mark Goldblatt, 1989)[/post]

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71: [post=16430215]Death of the Incredible Hulk (Bill Bixby, 1990)[/post]
72: [post=16424554]Spawn (Mark A.Z. Dippe, 1997)[/post]
73: [post=16419152]30 Days of Night (David Slade, 2007)[/post]
74: [post=16413393]Bulletproof Monk (Paul Hunter, 2003)[/post]
75: [post=16408593]Captain America (Albert Pyun, 1990)[/post]
76: [post=16404463]Red Sonja (Richard Fleischer, 1985)[/post]
77: [post=16397680]Superman and The Mole Men (Lee Sholem, 1951)[/post]
78: [post=16391876]The Incredible Hulk Returns (Nicholas Corea, 1988)[/post]
79: [post=16385504]Elektra (Rob Bowman, 2005)[/post]
80: [post=16379095]Batman & Robin (Joel Schumacher, 1997)[/post]

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81: [post=16372830]Swamp Thing (Wes Craven, 1982)[/post]
82: [post=16367759]The Crow: Salvation (Bharat Nalluri, 2000)[/post]
83: [post=16363267]Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III (Stuart Gillard, 1993)[/post]
84: [post=16357723]Supergirl (Jeannot Szwarc, 1984)[/post]
85: [post=16350967]The Return of Swamp Thing (Jim Wynorski, 1989)[/post]
86: [post=16345168]Captain America II: Death Too Soon (Ivan Nagy, 1979)[/post]
87: [post=16339556]Barb Wire (David Hogan, 1996)[/post]
88: [post=16333630]The Crow: City of Angels (Tim Pope, 1996)[/post]
89: [post=16328716]Nick Fury: Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. (Rod Hardy, 1998)[/post]
90: [post=16324830]Virus (John Bruno, 1999)[/post]

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91: [post=16319273]Captain America (Rod Holcomb, 1979)[/post]
92: [post=16312595]The Crow: Wicked Prayer (Lance Mungia, 2005)[/post]
93: [post=16307048]Catwoman (Pitof, 2004)[/post]
94: [post=16300961]Tank Girl (Rachel Taladay, 1995)[/post]
95: [post=16294414]Steel (Kenneth Johnson, 1997)[/post]
96: [post=16288730]Man-Thing (Brett Leonard, 2005)[/post]
97: [post=16284392]Son of the Mask (Lawrence Guterman, 2005)[/post]
98: [post=16278969]Howard The Duck (William Huyck, 1986)[/post]
99: [post=16273425]The Fantastic Four (Oley Sassone, 1994)[/post]
100: [post=16268382]Superman IV: The Quest For Peace (Sidney J. Furie, 1987)[/post]

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[Ace of Knaves]

Nice idea CFE.

 

[Eggyman]

Cool.

Is there 100?

 

[CFE]

#100

Superman IV: The Quest For Peace (1987)

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Directed by ... Sidney J. Furie
Story by ... Lawrence Konnor, Mark Rosenthal and Christopher Reeve
Screenplay by ... Lawrence Konner and Mark Rosenthal
Based on Characters Created by ... Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster

Christopher Reeve ... Superman / Clark Kent
Gene Hackman ... Lex Luthor / Voice of Nuclear Man
Jackie Cooper ... Perry White
Marc McClure ... Jimmy Olsen
Jon Cryer ... Lenny
Sam Wanamaker ... David Warfield
Mark Pillow ... Nuclear Man
Mariel Hemingway ... Lacy Warfield
Margot Kidder ... Lois Lane
Damian McLa****n ... Jeremy
William Hootkins ... Harry Howler
Jim Broadbent ... Jean Pierre Dubois
Stanley Lebor ... General Romoff

The Man of Steel crusades for nuclear disarmament and meets Lex Luthor's latest creation, Nuclear Man.

------------------------------

Ughhh....Let's just get this out of the way right now.

Now you all know the story.

After a chain of unfortunate events enacted by the outrageous firing of director Richard Donner, including the poor recieving of 'Superman III" and the terrible turn of "Supergirl," The Salkinds signed the rights for a 4th installment to Menahem Golan and Yoram Globus of the Cannon Group. Such was the downfall.

A proposed budget of $40 million was all but drained into a pathetic $17 million, Cannon offered Reeve the moon and then some to get him back (including the funding of his project 'Street Smart') and god knows how, but they actually got their hands on Gene Hackman. But due to the fact that the Salkinds were no longer involved, it makes sense that both Hackman and Margot Kidder would be more open.

The returning cast of the aformentioned along with Jackie Cooper and Marc McClure is a welcoming anchor, as it had been in the entire series. But the injection of new blood through Sam Wanamaker, Jon Cryer (Wait...Ducky? What's Ducky doing a Superman movie? Probably the same thing Richard Pryor was doing in "III") and that poor poor soul called Mark Pillow left tons to be desired.

Mariel Hemingway's legs do well to distract you though, so that's something.

Now the idea of Superman using his god-like abilities to shape the comings and goings of humanity (in this case, destroying nuclear armaments) is interesting when handled well...so the concept for "The Quest For Peace" was solid, if not the execution.

The Visual effects, or lack thereof, are utterly laughable.

And thanks to a 90 minute (90 MINUTE!?) running time, the film is a jumble, since it's well documented that 45 minutes were cut out of the original 135 minute version. Plot threads come and go and you don't even notice. Concepts are introduced and immediately forgotten for the sake of getting a gag in. And even though it's a Superman film, in which you're dealing with an alien who looks human and can fly, shoot heat vision and blow ice breath...the laws of physics are thrown out the window. Don't believe me? According to 'The Quest for Peace' (and as hilariously pointed out by the agonybooth) there's air in space...AIR IN SPACE...GAHHH!

The one singular driving force of the film remains however...the one and only Christopher Reeve. With his charming take on the Last Son of Krypton, not even the abyssmal efforts of Cannon could shake the late actor from giving it his all.

Reeve will always be Superman to me...

-------------------------------

 

[Eggyman]

It always baffled me how much of a step back the FXs had in this film.

It's been a while since I saw it, but at one point, after getting watted by Captain Combustable and losing his cape, didn't Supes grow old and and catch a cold?

It was cool how the bad guy left footprints though.

 

[The Shredder]

It always baffled me how much of a step back the FXs had in this film.

It's been a while since I saw it, but at one point, after getting watted by Captain Combustable and losing his cape, didn't Supes grow old and and catch a cold?

It was cool how the bad guy left footprints though.

Yeah, Supes got his neck scratched and eventually got really sick, and began deterioating as well. I vaguely recall during the commentary for Superman IV, that supposedly some people took the scenes as a allegory for AIDS.

Visual effects? They REALLY took a backseat in this one!

 

[Eggyman]

Yeah, Supes got his neck scratched and eventually got really sick, and began deterioating as well. I vaguely recall during the commentary for Superman IV, that supposedly some people took the scenes as a allegory for AIDS.

Visual effects? They REALLY took a backseat in this one!

I think it's extemely funny when people look so deep into things. I can understand with some films, but you see some people really reaching for a deeper reason, pained at the thought of just taking it as it is.

 

[The Shredder]

I think it's extemely funny when people look so deep into things. I can understand with some films, but you see some people really reaching for a deeper reason, pained at the thought of just taking it as it is.

And you would assume if there was any film that doesnt really need to be looked into much, Superman IV would be on that list.

But with some, apparently not.

 

[Eggyman]

And you would assume if there was any film that doesnt really need to be looked into much, Superman IV would be on that list.

But with some, apparently not.

I know. It's like...

Reporter from the Upward-Pointing Nose, writes:

I watched Super Mario Bros. earlier in the day, my martini quivering in my firm grip as the tension and tenderness escalated in a crescendo of goose-bumped melancholy. The feverish energy of the emotional pallet shook the foundations of my soul as I noticed the undertones of the beast: the two brothers paralleling the conflict and friendship between the two warring countries in the Middle East – always tension filled, yet drawn to each other like doves in a summer sky.

Simply beautiful and masterfully done, the director bringing a subtle sombreness to the lifeblood of this new yet already timeless classic of brotherly love and emotive, adrenalin-fuelled action.

Fin.

------------

Sometimes it's just too much.

 

[The Shredder]

Thats amusing to say the very least.

 

[Ace of Knaves]

That's beautiful Eggy, truly beautiful...

*wipes tear from eye*

 

[CFE]

Yeah, Supes got his neck scratched and eventually got really sick, and began deterioating as well. I vaguely recall during the commentary for Superman IV, that supposedly some people took the scenes as a allegory for AIDS.

Visual effects? They REALLY took a backseat in this one!

Is that from the Mark Rosenthal commentary?

And tell me about it...I mean I know budget played a big part of things. So apparently Superman can only be made to fly (well) with anything from $55 million upwards...

Some of the model work wasn't too bad...Like Superman pushing the moon or plugging up Mt. Etna.

But whenever I try to look for the good in "The Quest For Peace" I'm just reminded of that damn Great Wall of China fiasco...where Supes uses his 'Home Depot Vision' ... Visible wires...the hideous green tinge on all the flying shots...ughhhh

UGHHHHH!!!

 

[The Shredder]

Is that from the Mark Rosenthal commentary?

Thats the one.

And tell me about it...I mean I know budget played a big part of things. So apparently Superman can only be made to fly (well) with anything from $55 million upwards...

Some of the model work wasn't too bad...Like Superman pushing the moon or plugging up Mt. Etna.

But whenever I try to look for the good in "The Quest For Peace" I'm just reminded of that damn Great Wall of China fiasco...where Supes uses his 'Home Depot Vision' ... Visible wires...the hideous green tinge on all the flying shots...ughhhh

UGHHHHH!!!

Cant argue that.

And whenever I think of just how bad Superman III was, all I have to do is think of Superman IV, and III doesnt look quite as bad.

 

[CFE]

#99

The Fantastic Four (1994)

[YT]gcpmM-eTESI[/YT]

Directed by ... Oley Sassone
Screenplay by ... Craig J. Nevius and Kevin Rock
Executive Produced by ... Roger Corman
Based on Characters Created by ... Stan Lee and Jack Kirby

Alex Hyde-White ... Mr. Fantastic / Prof. Reed Richards
Jay Underwood ... Human Torch / Jonathan 'Johnny' Storm
Rebecca Staab ... Invisible Girl / Susan 'Sue' Storm
Michael Bailey Smith ... Ben Grimm
Ian Trigger ... The Jeweler
Joseph Culp ... Dr. Doom / Victor von Doom
George Gaynes ... The Professor
Kat Green ... Alicia Masters
Carl Ciarfalio ... The Thing

In this Marvel Comic adaption, four astronauts get bombarded with cosmic rays when an accident occurs...creating the ultimate family of super heroes!

----------------------------------------------

To be fair, "The Fantastic Four" is not as bad as everyone says. Let me rephrase that. It's not as unentertaining as all of its negative reviews might suggest. That being said, it's still a substantial amount of ****. But it has a foot in the territory of **** that still makes for a fun watch.

Now I've discussed my choice to place this film above "The Quest For Peace" with a few people, including Ronny Shade...and I'd like to take a moment to explain that reasoning.

With Roger Corman's involvement, you already have a big indication of how the film's gonna go. Hell, you drop Corman's name into the mix and an instant scent of cheese fills the air. And on top of that it was the 'supposed' first entry of a series. A first entry that already have a sense of low quality.

"Superman IV" on the other hand, despite retaining similar negative attributes, was the 4th installment of a series. And not only was it a film that had fallen from grace...it had fallen from a huge, HUGE grace established by Richard Donner. It's still heartbreaking to watch that series of films in a degrading row.

Anyway, back to the "FF."

Veteran television actor Alex Hyde-White leads the way as Reed Richards, the brilliant scientist who, along with his crew, gains bizarre powers after an outer space mishap. He's left with the ability to stretch and contort his body to outrageous lengths. His future wife, Sue Storm can suddenly turn invisible, while her brother, Johnny may now ignite himself at will. Then there's poor Ben Grimm the lovable lug whose body morphs not only into a mass of craggy, orange rock...but into a totally different actor.

Just as the friends are becoming accustomed to all of this, they are called upon to rescue the world from certain chaos. It seems Reed's old colleague Victor von Doom is living up to his namesake, and that villainous Jeweler isn't exactly helping old ladies cross the street, either. Can our heroes save the day? Of course they can; like any superhero movie, it's just a question of how and when.

What's striking about "The Fantastic Four" is how amateurish it is in virtually every aspect. The dialog is so lame and tired it sounds like it was written by a junior high drama class. The acting is so unpolished it makes a third-rate afternoon soap opera look like Shakespeare. The special effects are surprisingly good considering the minuscule budget, but there are still some positively embarrassing moments. When The Human Torch fully ignites his body, for instance, the entire movie briefly turns into a cartoon, almost exactly like those Kirk Alyn 'Superman' Serials.

Of course there wasn't a whole lot to work with in the script. There is a fairly coherent story here, but it's all so simplified. When Reed and Ben decide to go into outer space, they simply drop by the Storms' house and ask if they'd care to join them.
Is it really that easy? Don't these sort of things require, oh, I don't know, years of training and expertise?

Ultimately, "The Fantastic Four" is saved from being a complete turkey because it's just so damn innocent. You can tell the people involved, as little talent or experience as they had, really tried. They just didn't know the final result would be so embarrassing.

------------------------------

 

[theoneandonly]

i have never seen this, heard many things though
is it better than new FF though?

 

[PyroChamber]

I never realized there were even 100 comic book movies.

 

[CFE]

Actually, if you look up the user kookevin3 on YouTube, he's uploaded the entire film in parts...

It's worse than the Tim Story films...but that's not saying too much.

And there's more than 100...because I'm also counting animated films, TV films, comic strip films and unreleased works such as 'FF 94'

 

[Eggyman]

lol

Just started watching it, CFE... I'm even laughing at the titles hahaha - the film is doomed already with a guy called George Gaynes credited

/immature

 

[Eggyman]

LMFAO!

'Hi, Mrs Storm. Can Johnny and Susan come to outer space with us?'

 

[WeaponXProject]

LMFAO!

'Hi, Mrs Storm. Can Johnny and Susan come to outer space with us?'

Wow did George Lucas write the dialogue for this.t:

 

[The Shredder]

Hard to believe Corman's FF was supposed to be essentially a springboard for a TV series. Or atleast thats what the people involved with this were led to believe.

 

[Kahoot]

Actually, if you look up the user kookevin3 on YouTube, he's uploaded the entire film in parts...

It's worse than the Tim Story films...but that's not saying too much.

And there's more than 100...because I'm also counting animated films, TV films, comic strip films and unreleased works such as 'FF 94'

Do you mean like Garfield and stuff?

 

[CFE]

Actually, I meant to angle that towards more pulp heroes (Phantom, Shadow, etc.)

Kiddie Comics like Garfield, Richie Rich, Dennis The Menace and Casper will not be featured on this list.

 

[Hurm...]

This is a cool idea CFE. Keep going!

 

[Spider-ManHero12]

Great idea, IMO. Keep 'em coming!