CFE's 100 Comic Book Movie Countdown

[kedrell]

Well now that I'm out of school for a few weeks, I think I'm going to take the opportunity to review some of the films that didn't make it on the list...as well as some of the comic strip films ("The Shadow," "Dick Tracy," etc.)...

I'd love to read some of your reviews for original superhero films as well(Unbreakable, Hancock, The Incredibles, etc.).

 

[bullets]

Well lets hope "Wolverine 2" is better..."Deadpool" to for that matter.

Yeah there's a whole slew on the horizon that I'm ready to see and review, etc...

I think Wolverine 2 will be better because expectations won't be so high. They could take the story anywhere and not offend as much.

I agree about there being no ending . It was rushed and abrupt .

 

[kedrell]

I think Wolverine 2 will be better because expectations won't be so high. They could take the story anywhere and not offend as much.

I agree about there being no ending . It was rushed and abrupt .

Wolverine never had high expectations from the fan base. X3 made sure of that.

 

[returntovoid]

Originally Posted by boydston_14
My friend brought up an interesting thing about the X-Men movies and Wolverine: Why does Wolverine have to cry in all of them?

He's too invincible. So they decide to hurt him emotionally instead

They could have given him passive emotion, as in feeling too much pain or getting too depressed that you are unable to react.

 

[CFE]

Green Lantern: First Flight (2009)

[YT]pUcsi66YxL4[/YT]

Directed by … Lauren Montgomery
Written by … Alan Burnett
Based on the DC Comics Character Created by ... John Broome and Gil Kane

Christopher Meloni ... Hal Jordan / Green Lantern (voice)
Victor Garber ... Sinestro (voice)
Tricia Helfer ... Boodikka (voice)
Michael Madsen ... Kilowog (voice)
John Larroquette ... Tomar Re (voice)
Kurtwood Smith ... Kanjar Ro (voice)
Larry Drake ... Ganthet (voice)
William Schallert ... Appa Ali Apsa (voice)
Malachi Throne ... Ranakar (voice)
Olivia d'Abo ... Carol Ferris (voice)
Richard Green ... Cuch (voice)
Juliet Landau ... Labella (voice)
David L. Lander ... Ch'p (voice)
Richard McGonagle ... Abin Sur (voice)
Rob Paulsen ... Weaponers (voice)
Kath Soucie ... Arisia (voice)
Bruce W. Timm ... Bug Boy (voice)
Jim Wise ... Lieutenant (voice)

Test pilot Hal Jordan finds himself recruited as the newest member of the intergalactic police force, The Green Lantern Corps.

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

Now…if Martin Campbell’s live action approach to DC Comics’ resident emerald avenger is anywhere near this standard, I’ll be breathing a huge sigh of relief, regardless of my feelings on the casting of Ryan Reynolds (my personal pick would’ve been Nathan Fillion).

Despite the original Green Lantern, Alan Scott, who was created in 1940, Lauren Montgomery’s “Green Lantern: First Flight” focuses on the greatest Green Lantern to ever patrol sector 2814....Hal Jordan, the heroic test pilot created by John Broome and Gil Kane in 1959 as a part of DC Comics’ Sliver Age revitalization under the watchful and visionary eye of legendary editor Julius Schwartz.

The film picks things up as a typical origin story when mortally wounded Lantern Abin Sur crash-lands on Earth and advises his power ring to seek out a worthy successor. The ring chooses Jordan (Christopher Meloni) and abducts him in a flight simulator, taking him to Abin, who in turn relinquishes his duties to Hal and thus beginning our story.

Now one of the things I commend most about the film is that, rather than treat the origin like a vain attempt at recreating the live action “Spider-Man” films…in which we’d most likely be following Hal solely on Earth as he discovers his newfound abilities while simultaneously dealing with the drama of his relationship with Carol Ferris, yatta yatta yatta…the film picks Jordan up by his proverbial ‘boot straps’ and plunges him into a sweeping intergalactic opus populated by bizarre aliens, deep space travel, epic combat and intrigue…all without the mundane of Earth as a backdrop. Fantastic!

As the new rookie is faced with the ominous and awe-inspiring Green Lantern Corps, he quickly realizes that his role in things is merely a tiny piece of the mosaic. Turns out, Green Lanterns act as a giant police force for the entire cosmos, keeping vigil on 3600 Sectors! Among the more noted members are Kilowog (Michael Madsen), Tomar Re (John Larroquette), Ch’p (David L. Lander) and Boodikka (Tricia Helfer)…but no member of the Corps is held in higher regard then the Green Lantern that patrols sector 1417, Sinestro (Victor Garber). Asking the Guardians of the Universe, the council that created both the Corps and the Battery which powers the rings with the Green Element, to take Jordan under his wing, Sinestro begins to train Hal and see if he has what it takes…starting with finding Abin Sur’s killer.

After some grunt investigation, the Corps discovers that a murderous renegade known as Kanjar Ro (Kurtwood Smith) is responsible for the atrocity…but as it turns out, Ro didn’t kill Abin Sur alone. He had help…inside help…and before the day is done, Hal Jordan will have to prove himself as the heroic Green Lantern he must become in order to defeat his mentor turned ultimate adversary…Sinestro!

“First Flight” is not necessarily the easiest universe to be immersed in, especially for someone who, unlike me or other fans, isn’t as knowledgeable about the Green Lantern mythology. So right off the bat, it takes somewhat of a risk and, taking the time to look at the film without the rose-colored glasses of a fanboy, I can see how one might possibly get bored…But thankfully, the scale and quality of the storytelling should be more than enough to entice and entertain. Plus it helps if you’re a science fiction buff. Which leads to another aspect I loved about the film; it’s subtle (and not-so) references to the realm of sci-fi. The most notable one is the similarity between Labella’s Bar and the Mos Eisley Cantina from “Star Wars” … then there’s the death of Kanjar Ro’s right hand, in which his body is brutally sucked out into space through a small breach in the hull of a ship…just like the Alien Newborn from Jean-Pierre Juenet’s “Alien: Resurrection.” And of course Kurtwood Smith playing a vicious killer…sort of like his turn as Clarence Boddicker in the 1987 Cyberpunk thriller “Robocop.”

While none of DC’s animated projects post the ‘Ink and Paint’ days of old have the cinematic gruffness that “Batman: The Animated Series” and “Superman: The Animated Series” do, the animation work going on here is stellar. Just the sheer scale and magnitude brought to the project is breath taking. I love the color schemes of the various planets as well, especially the purple hues of Oa. And while the tangibility of 2D Cells is missed, I’ll admit that the more contemporary technique of animation works in favor of giving the characters are more natural and precise sense of timing as far as body language and facial expressions, etc.

The cast, as with every DC Animated Project since “Batman: TAS” is just remarkable. Meloni brings a weathered tinge to Hal without making him a gruff, Clint Eastwood type…which wouldn’t have worked for a ‘wet-behind-the-ears’ Jordan that an origin story calls for. And who couldn’t love getting the grizzled voice of Mr. Blonde himself as Kilowog! I thought Madsen did a terrific job given how little he does. Same goes for Tricia Helfer (“Battlestar Galactica&#8221 as Boodikka.

But I think it’s obviously clear that the show stopper is Victor Garber’s silver-tongued and deceptive take on Sinestro. Easily my favorite performance in the picture, I just love the approach taken by Alan Burnett’s story. Here, Sinestro is to “First Flight” what Alonzo was to “Training Day,” and it’s a great angle to take with the character given the already-established story of him being the fallen ‘Lucifer’ of the GL Corps in the comics.

One of the shocking aspects about the film were the liberties it took, like having Boodikka side with Sinestro…and the act of killing off Tomar Re (off screen to boot…what a cop out!) and of course having Hal bond with the Green Element itself for the finale…which I honestly didn’t see coming upon first viewing.

On the technical side of things, I found the film to be better paced than “Superman: Doomsday” and “JL: New Frontier” and just a hair (or two) above “Wonder Woman,” although that was a tough call for awhile.

I’m also a newfound fan of composer Robert Kral (who also wrote the score for “Superman: Doomsday&#8221 and his work here is as sweeping as the very cosmos that Hal travels.

Altogether, “Green Lantern: First Flight” is a sterling example, once again, of DC and Warners’ superiority over Marvel Comics on the animation front of media. It’s compelling, has a great sense of humor and action and, in my opinion, is the best to date of DC’s Animated Universe line. Let’s see if “Superman/Batman: Public Enemies” will top it (i.e. I think it will…but that might just be me).

But not to have Jordan out done by Supes or Bats, Green Lantern is a gripping display of heroism and learning to face the fear of the unknown…both throughout the sea of stars out there and well as what dwells within your own soul. And above all, “GL: FF” is a great jumping off point for those who wish to get more familiar with the character, especially in time for the live action adaptation that’s to come soon enough.

You better learn that oath quick…because as far as DC Comics is concerned, it’s gonna be the next big thing!

Enjoy!

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9/10

 

[SuperFerret]

Irony, thy name if CFE. I just started watching this as I saw that you posted. I do have to say that, after being an avid fan of Law & Order:SVU, Meloni fits Hal fairly well voice-wise, although I was surprised to hear it.

 

[CFE]

Agreed...he did a very good job.

 

[CFE]

Superman/Batman: Public Enemies (2009)

Directed by … Sam Liu
Written by … Stan Berkowitz
Adapted from the Graphic Novel by … Jeph Loeb and Ed McGuiness

Executive Produced by … Bruce Timm, Benjamin Melniker, Michael E. Uslan and Sam Register
Produced by … Michael Goguen, Alan Burnett and Bobbie Page
Voice Casting and Direction by … Andrea Romano
Storyboards by … Jay Oliva
Editing by … Margaret Hou
Original Music Composed by … Christopher Drake

Kevin Conroy ... Batman / Bruce Wayne (voice)
Tim Daly ... Superman (voice)
Clancy Brown ... Lex Luthor (voice)
Xander Berkeley ... Captain Atom (voice)
Corey Burton ... Captain Marvel (voice)
Ricardo Chavira ... Major Force (voice)
Allison Mack ... Power Girl (voice)
John C. McGinley ... Metallo (voice)
CCH Pounder ... Amanda Waller (voice)
LeVar Burton ... Black Lightning (voice)
Calvin Tran ... Hiro Okamura / Toyman (voice)
Mark Jonathan Davis ... Newscaster / Additional Voices (voice)
Brian George ... Gorilla Grodd / Additional Voices (voice)
Jennifer Hale ... Starfire / Killer Frost (voice)
Alan Oppenheimer ... Alfred Pennyworth (voice)
Andrea Romano ... Giganta / Computer / Additional Voices (voice)
Bruce W. Timm ... Mongul (voice)

Labeled as outlaws of the United States Government, Batman and Superman fight to save the world and clear their names.

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In comics, partnerships flicker…team ups occur…crossovers come and go…

But one duo, the pinnacle…stands mythic above all others.

For when the Man of Steel and the Dark Knight join forces, you can bet it’s going to be the stuff of legends.

And as far as the DC Universe’s Animated Line (to date) is concerned, it hasn’t gotten quite as legendary as director Sam Liu’s “Superman/Batman: Public Enemies.”

Adapted from the kick ass Jeph Loeb/Ed McGuiness graphic novel, “Public Enemies” is an action packed romp through damn near the gamut of the DCU…weaving a story of politically charged vendetta, brutally bombastic combat and a who’s who laundry list of appearances, both hero and villain, in a struggle against evil that takes a national turn.

With America thrown into economic and civil upheaval, she becomes desperate enough to turn to the most unlikely of leaders with the election of Lex Luthor (Clancy Brown) into the Oval Office.

Using his silver tongue and an outreach program to make super heroes and metahumans become agents of the US Government, Luthor faces his first major crisis as President with the foreboding approach of an enormous Kryptonite meteor…heading directly for Earth.

However it’s a direr situation that the world knows. Fueled by his unquenchable obsession with destroying Superman (Tim Daly), Lex uses his refusal to comply with the current administration as a means of discrediting him in the eyes of the public…and said obsession has taken over, distracting the President from saving the planet.

Now dubbed a social outcast with a billion dollar bounty on his head, the Kryptonian powerhouse must turn to the only ally he’s got left…Batman (Kevin Conroy) to help clear his name, stop the meteor and end Luthor’s reign once…and for all.

Working with such a massively scaled story and a bunch of material to cover, “Superman/Batman: Public Enemies” already has a lot to live up to. It’s unfortunately anorexic 67 minute (67 MINUTE!?) runtime doesn’t do the source material any favors. Thankfully, the project still has Bruce Timm in its corner.

Despite an almost unavoidably predictable story, the film trims off the fat and succeeds as well as it does thanks in most part to its wonderful pacing. It maintains the intrigue of the comic and most of its important story beats (save one which is sorely lacking…I’ll get to it in a moment) while creating an incredible forward momentum that doesn’t ease up…that refuses to let go of the audience.

If only ALL Comic Book films could be more this way.

Aside from the intriguing bit where it’s speculated that John Corben…a.k.a. Metallo…is potentially the lowlife mugger that gunned down Bruce Wayne’s parents, most of what made the book so great is kept intact…much appreciated.

Although that funky kiss between Lex and MetaHuman Affairs official Amanda Waller is just as shockingly ‘yuck’ here as it was in the book.

But much like the book, the cameos…oh man…they just keep on coming!

Power Girl, Silver Banshee, Katana, Starfire, Gorilla Grodd, Mr. Freeze, Captain Marvel, Bane, Giganta, Black Manta, Captain Atom, Hawkman, Mongul, Nightshade…it’s almost endless; reminiscent of what made the latter seasons of “Justice League: Unlimited” such a fanboy dream!

And most fortunately (or unfortunately for some) the comic book’s goofiest plot device is still very much alive. 13 year old Hiro…a Japanese answer to Superman’s old enemy Toyman (only he works with our heroes rather than against them) and his crazy-as-hell skyscraper tall Half Superman/Half Batman robot!

To quote Batman himself upon seeing the behemoth machine…

“Wow.”

Still it’s comics, what do you expect?

The cast is yet another solid assembly for DC. As one of the fortunate who started at the beginning with seeing “On Leather Wings” on FOX Primetime and grew up on “Batman: The Animated Series” and “Superman: The Animated Series,” it was such a pleasure not only to have the now iconic Kevin Conroy back in the cape and cowl…but they went all the way back past “Justice League” voice actor George Newbern to the OG animated Supes…Tim Daly! Hearing these two men together again brought back fond memories of the “World’s Finest” movie…truly, those voices, for me, define both Bats and Big Blue, as they do for an entire generation of us fans. My childhood came to life again with this project.

Not only that…we even got Clancy Brown as Luthor again! So awesome…

The supports are filled with a well constructed collection of character actors…including “Star Trek: The Next Generations” LeVar Burton as Black Lightning, “Smallville”s Alison Mack as Power Girl…Ricardo Chivara as Major Force and even John C. McGinley in a small cameo as Metallo.

Just a tremendous cast, one of their best so far.

The art direction and animation is polished and makes a lovely companion to the graphic novel, fusing the animation stylings of the Timmverse with McGuiness’ exaggerated cartoony artwork in a seamless fashion. The palette is a wonderfully bold mix…light-hued purple nights and royal blue skied days…the backgrounds in Washington, Japan, Metropolis…all exquisite work. It’s more pristine, personally, then other efforts like “Justice League: New Frontier.”

It’s all primary colors and bold heroics here and it benefits the adaptation nicely.

Accompanied with Christopher Drake’s dynamic yet less present score (to mimic the fact that the two most powerful men in the DCU have to go under the radar, I assume), “Superman/Batman: Public Enemies” is a film that I’m personally of two minds about…

On the one hand, if you look deep enough, the film can be see as a message to never lose faith or sight of your goals in the face of evil or adversity…to always trust in yourself and do what you feel is right despite having the rest of the world oppose you.

But on the other, I see it as a perfect example of what makes Superman and Batman simultaneously the great myths that they are.

The Greeks have their Gods…The Catholics have their Saints…The Druids have their Deities.

And we have our Comic Book Superheroes.

Consider this…we’ve all seen images and the like of young children, playing within the rubble of some war-torn providence on the other side of the world.

They know nothing of the freedoms and luxuries you and I take for granted.

They don’t deal with the oddities and absurdities that get shoved down our throats every single day…they don’t care about who’s going to win the next “Dancing with the Stars” or how much money the next “Twilight” movie’s going to make.

“The Hills”

Jon and Kate Gosselin

Bill O’Reilly

Miley Cyrus

“Gossip Girl”

Barack Obama

Despite any sort of good intentions, they could honestly care less.

But…have you noticed…in many of those same images, those same children can be seen in t-shirts…adorned with an iconic ‘S Shield’…or an equally symbolic Black-Winged Bat over a field of yellow.

Truly, more than anything else…Superman and Batman are universal, reaching all corners of the globe.

In a time where people are more concerned with voting for the next American Idol than they are of voting for the next President and Nobel Peace Prizes seem less like awards and more like trinkets won in a raffle…

The purist and truest ‘icons’ and ‘idols’ America has to offer…are a Kryptonian Moses sent down the sea of tranquility to become the ultimate immigrant and savior of all mankind…and a man broken by violence, having the two most important things in his life torn from him who rose from the ashes of tragedy to have vengeance clad in the blackness of winged night.

From the isolation of the Great Depression to the bleakness of World War II…from the constant conflicts between culture and counter-culture to the increasing threats of terrorism, both at home and abroad…The Man of Steel and The Dark Knight have been through it all…and they have never once wavered in their morals, their beliefs of what is right and what is wrong…

They are a contemporary example of goodness, 70+ years in the making to date, that we can all look up to.

Superman and Batman represent to the world that despite all the hardship and chaos, we must always hold onto the hope that out there waits good men ready to act on a moments notice to protect us and shelter us from evil.

Believing that goodness exists in the world is a need we all have…and these two pillars of heroism, despite being a fictional representation, are clearly a respected one.

I’ve never been known for having a real man to look up to, thanks to own falling out and disappointment with my father.

Batman and Superman where the answer to that problem for me.

Icons that not only deserve my respect…but have earned it with courageousness and bravery in the face of unbelievable odds, both in their adventures and even in the real world.

“Public Enemies” is a fitting tribute to the Man of Tomorrow and the Caped Crusader.

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9/10

 

[Kahoot]

These DC Comics animated films really bug me, only half of them are ou on R2 DVDs so I can't ever hope to see half of them

 

[GlasgowBat]

i thought the same....but then i bought a region 1 online and a region convertor disc. The DVD worked fine on my DVD player......but i'm still annoyed that i wasted £10 on that pointless convertor nonsense

 

[TruerToTheCore]

I've always asked myself why you left out this classic comic book movie? Haven't you seen it or no cartoons?!



the sequel is "not so good"

 

[DX]

Speaking of DCAU movies, CFE, could you post a review of Batman: Gotham Knight (if you've seen it)? I haven't seen it, but I have been kind of interested yet the anime part has been keeping me away.

 

[spider-neil]

CFE, I think you've done a marvelous job on the sci-fi 100 but I really disagree with you on the superhero top 10.
for instance SM2 would be in my top 3 (didn't even make top ten). but I respect its your opinion.

 

[Infinity9999x]

CFE, I think you've done a marvelous job on the sci-fi 100 but I really disagree with you on the superhero top 10.
for instance SM2 would be in my top 3 (didn't even make top ten). but I respect its your opinion.

Yeah, everyone had their own top ten versions. I wouldn't have ranked the old Supes movies very high, since I've never been a big superman fan.

Of course, I might have even ranked SM2 lower than CFE, because while I know it's a good movie, as a Spider-man adaptation I think it's lacking in quite a few areas.

But again, it's everyone's taste. I do love reading CFE's reviews though.

 

[spider-neil]

Yeah, everyone had their own top ten versions. I wouldn't have ranked the old Supes movies very high, since I've never been a big superman fan.

Of course, I might have even ranked SM2 lower than CFE, because while I know it's a good movie, as a Spider-man adaptation I think it's lacking in quite a few areas.

But again, it's everyone's taste. I do love reading CFE's reviews though.

exactly, its an opinion so I shouldn't get myself bent out of shape of it. for instance I don't rate any of tim burton's batman.

 

[Infinity9999x]

exactly, its an opinion so I shouldn't get myself bent out of shape of it. for instance I don't rate any of tim burton's batman.

Yep. And regardless of if we agree with him or not, nobody can say CFE doesn't put lots of thought and give solid reasons why he views the films as deserving their particular placement.

 

[spider-neil]

Yep. And regardless of if we agree with him or not, nobody can say CFE doesn't put lots of thought and give solid reasons why he views the films as deserving their particular placement.

each to their own but to use spider-man 2 again, its pretty much better than all of 2 of the movies in the top 10. better villian developement, better characerization, better pacing, better action. last word on the matter, CFE has his opinion and I'll have mine I will say though my top 10 pretty much falls in line with rottentomato/meta critic top rated superhero movies.

 

[Infinity9999x]

each to their own but to use spider-man 2 again, its pretty much better than all of 2 of the movies in the top 10. better villian developement, better characerization, better pacing, better action. last word on the matter, CFE has his opinion and I'll have mine I will say though my top 10 pretty much falls in line with rottentomato/meta critic top rated superhero movies.

I won't deny SM2 has good development, plotting, and it quite easily has one of the most energetic fight scenes of any superhero movie.

However, I just don't think it's the best Spider-man movie if you get my meaning. I didn't like that they made Doc Ock a good guy "deep down" and that the arms were influencing him. MJ was written absolutely horrible, in fact, I consider it an insult to give her the same name as the strong willed firecracker from the comics. The Spider-man personality is underplayed yet again, and the supporting cast is almost non-existent. And I got tired of the campy "lets watch Pete get knocked down/fall down/make a fool of himself because he's so nerdy" humor.

However, these are criticisms in terms of the comics. I realize that SM2 is a very good movie. A very, very good movie in fact. But I don't think it's all that good in terms of being an adaptation.

It's the same with the Bourne movies or Jurassic Park. As adaptations, they're horrible. Bourne in particular has almost nothing in common with it's respective novels. However, as movies they're fantastic.

That's more or less how I view SM2. Great movie. Average adaptation at best.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jurassic

 

[spider-neil]

I won't deny SM2 has good development, plotting, and it quite easily has one of the most energetic fight scenes of any superhero movie.

However, I just don't think it's the best Spider-man movie if you get my meaning. I didn't like that they made Doc Ock a good guy "deep down" and that the arms were influencing him. MJ was written absolutely horrible, in fact, I consider it an insult to give her the same name as the strong willed firecracker from the comics. The Spider-man personality is underplayed yet again, and the supporting cast is almost non-existent. And I got tired of the campy "lets watch Pete get knocked down/fall down/make a fool of himself because he's so nerdy" humor.

However, these are criticisms in terms of the comics. I realize that SM2 is a very good movie. A very, very good movie in fact. But I don't think it's all that good in terms of being an adaptation.

It's the same with the Bourne movies or Jurassic Park. As adaptations, they're horrible. Bourne in particular has almost nothing in common with it's respective novels. However, as movies they're fantastic.

That's more or less how I view SM2. Great movie. Average adaptation at best.

I was talking about SM2 in comparison to others in the top ten rather than in comparison to the original source material.

 

[Infinity9999x]

I was talking about SM2 in comparison to others in the top ten rather than in comparison to the original source material.

Oh, I get ya. That is a tougher one. Road To Perdition is a hard one to argue, and I think TDK is better as well...the Burton Batman films, when I compare them purely as films, probably aren't better than SM2...Watchmen I think may have been better, but that's a hard one for me to rank. Simply because I viewed the movie like I viewed the novel. I understood the themes and the points the story was making...but I didn't necessarily like it that much. I enjoyed it, but it wasn't something I would sit down and read just for the heck of it, same with the movie.

I personally enjoyed X2 more than SM2, but that was because I was more invested in SM2 then I was in X2. Blade and Rocketeer are both ones I haven't watched in forever, so I can't really talk about them.

The Superman movies are hard ones. I understand that they're well made movies, I also understand that Raimi takes a lot from those movies...of course I think that's a big reason why I wasn't as big of a fan of his movies. So for my personal list I probably wouldn't have either Superman in my top ten.

But again, I respect CFE's placement, and it's not like he just randomly placed them. Like I said, you certainly can't say he doesn't back up his opinion with valid points.

 

[spider-neil]

Oh, I get ya. That is a tougher one. Road To Perdition is a hard one to argue, and I think TDK is better as well...the Burton Batman films, when I compare them purely as films, probably aren't better than SM2...Watchmen I think may have been better, but that's a hard one for me to rank. Simply because I viewed the movie like I viewed the novel. I understood the themes and the points the story was making...but I didn't necessarily like it that much. I enjoyed it, but it wasn't something I would sit down and read just for the heck of it, same with the movie.

I personally enjoyed X2 more than SM2, but that was because I was more invested in SM2 then I was in X2. Blade and Rocketeer are both ones I haven't watched in forever, so I can't really talk about them.

The Superman movies are hard ones. I understand that they're well made movies, I also understand that Raimi takes a lot from those movies...of course I think that's a big reason why I wasn't as big of a fan of his movies. So for my personal list I probably wouldn't have either Superman in my top ten.

But again, I respect CFE's placement, and it's not like he just randomly placed them. Like I said, you certainly can't say he doesn't back up his opinion with valid points.

again, fair enough. I just remember leaving the cinema (after watching SM2) thinking, 'that is the best superhero movie I have ever seen'.
I haven't seen road to perdition and I think TDK is better because I left the cinema thinking 'that is the best superhero movie I have ever seen'.
I think superman 1 has a fair arguement of being better.

what is the criteria? closeness to source material? then sin city and 300 should be a lot higher. action? again others should figure higher.
anyway kudos to CFE for making a extensive list.
from a personal point of view my top ten is

TDK - no question my favorite superhero movie ever

SM2 - okay there are no wise cracks but the character developement, villian, action and pure HEART in this movie is fantastic

Superman 1 - showed that you can have a superhero as the main character, take the source material seriously and still make a mega hit

Iron man - funny, clever and action packed

SM - I waited decades for this to hit the big screen and sam didn't disappoint

X2 - improved on the first movie in every way

BB - brilliant reboot

superman 2 - great sequel, loved this as a kid

hellboy 2 - looked stunning, improved on the original and is close to the source material

blade - paved the way for modern marvel movies and a great movie as well

it's all about opinions though as people will have things higher if they like movies that are grittier, darker, closer to the source material, etc.
I will close by saying what ever criteria you use SM2 shouldn't be out of the top 10. I mean batman returns better than SM2, really? even if you take out all the special effects and purely have the peformances. I actually thought BR was a TERRIBLE movie. oh well, each to their own.

for the record batman returns 77% on RT
top 10 by RT score

1. TDK 94% av 8.5/10
2. SM2 94% av 8.3/10
3. STM 93% av 8/10
4. IM 93% av 7.6/10
5. SM 90% av 7.6/10
6. X2 88% 7.4 av 7.4/10
7. superman 2 87% av 7.4/10
8. hellboy 2 87% av 7.1/10
9. BB 85% av 7.7/10
10. road to perdition 82% av 7.5/10

(now check out my top ten again, made before looking at the rotten tomato scores)

CFE top 10 RT score

1. STM 93% av 8/10
2. TDK 94% av 8.5/10
3 batman 70% av 6.5/10
4 superman 2 87% av 7.4/10
5. road to perdition 82% av 7.5/10
6. batman returns 77% av 6.5/10
7. the rocketeer 65% av 5.9/10
8. watchmen 64% av 6.2/10
9. X2 88% 7.4 av 7.4/10
10. blade 55% 5.7/10

 

[CFE]

A BOY AND HIS HERO

[YT]JirLW6KNmxk[/YT]

The CFE Reviews, Essays, Thoughts and Opinions​

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For some people it’s a famous musician…

For others it’s a Football team…

But for me…heroism seeks justice on the rain soaked streets of Gotham City…clad in the solemn armored garb of winged vengeance, striking terror into the hearts of the superstitious and the cowardly. He fights to symbolically avenge the irrational murders of the two things most coveted by any child and in spite of all the tyranny, the tragedy…the bloodshed and violence that follows in his stead, he knows that the path he has taken, while insurmountably difficult and inevitably unconquerable, is one of true bravery and hope.

The hope that maybe…just maybe…the symbol he represents can stir others to stand up, take charge…and do what is right.

But until the day that this revolution comes, he must continue to brave a battleline he himself has drawn.

No matter how often or for how long I step away from him, Batman will always remain a constant, intregral part of my life...and I always find myself being drawn back into his mythology time and again.

He’s been there since the beginning…both for me and for an entire legion of fans who continue to cheer him on in a unfathomable crusade against crime that has spanned over 70 years since his creation at the hands of Bob Kane and Bill Finger in September of 1939.

And to show my appreciation, as I often tend to do on several occasions, I’ll be taking the month of April (my birthday month) to go as in-depth with my observations, thoughts, feelings and opinions on the caped crusader and his adventures over the last 7 decades.

Every single Motion Picture Serial, Film, TV Series, Animated Series, Motion Picture Score and Motion Picture Soundtrack will be given an in-depth review. (NOTE: This will include Special Extended editions for the Joel Schumacher Bat-Films and Animated Bat-Film Reviews …as well as the debut of my ‘Batman: GOTHAM KNIGHT’ Review).

And Ranked lists for the tops in Batman will be included:

The Best Batman Stories
The Best Batman Graphic Novels
The Best Batman Writers and Artists
The Best Batman Video Games
The Best Batman Websites
The Best Batman Fan Films
The Best Batman Parodies

As well as complete dossiers on every single actor and actress who has portrayed these legendary characters.

And it’s all capped with an in-depth personal essay that FINALLY answers the one question nearly everyone in my life has asked of me:

“Why do I like Batman?”

You really want to know?

This is it.

This is MY ode to ‘Bat-Mania’...as only CFE can do it...

And it begins this April…in 'BAT-WORLD'

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[Mrs. Sawyer]

Awesome! t:

 

[Kevin Roegele]

I love that you've done this huge project, CFE...amazing. In fact, I would say this is the best collection of superhero movie reviews I have seen anywhere on the net. And you know I have seen a few.

 

[CFE]

Comicg from you Kev, that means a lot. Thanks man.