The industry has evolved to the point where sometimes it doesn't even feel like a comic book movie. They can be legit, Oscar-nominated movies that are analyzed by the same people who look at dramas. Luckily, filmmakers are dedicating themselves to these projects to make them not-so campy or dumbed down.
With this evolution came an explosion of all these great movies, thus, I feel it is my duty to bring the top 10 comic book movies I have seen (but I'm pretty sure I've seen all the good ones anyway). Hopefully this list updates with coming movies such as Guardians of the Galaxy and Avengers: Age of Ultron, but those are still a little while away, so, we're pretty good with what we got, right?
I don't really feel like doing honorable mentions because there would be a lot of them. Plus, the top 10 distinguish themselves pretty significantly from the rest of the group, so, they wouldn't be very honorable, it would be more like just...mentions.
So here we go!
10. Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker
Heck yeah an animated movie made the list! Batman Beyond is one of the best super-hero shows ever, and was so good that it got a big enough following to get its own comic. So this wouldn't have made the list in like 2003 but hey, here we are. This is surprisingly a strong movie that ties in very well to the Batman Beyond mythos, continuing the story as well as bringing back several old faces exclusive to the show, such as the enemies that the Joker recruits, with all of them being previous villains. Not only that, but there is wonderful character development and even greater chemistry with Bruce and Terry as Bruce deals with the fact that the Joker is back and he is getting very personal. I also enjoyed Terry squaring off with the Joker and even outplaying him. But the star of the show is, of course, Mr. J. Whether it be on screen or on the page, the Joker will steal the spotlight. Mark Hamill returns to voice him and I'm not gonna lie, that is one of the main reasons the Joker is so effective. He is the definitive Joker, in my opinion, and you can tell that he brings a lot to the character. Just being able to see the Joker outwit not one, but two Batmans is great. I won't spoil the movie but it does have a pretty interesting twist that actually ties into the old Batman: The Animated Series show!
9. Man of Steel
Yeah, I put the Man of Steel up here. Why? Because it's the best Superman movie, hands down. The old ones with Christopher Reeves were cool but, I don't know, I just don't feel like that was Superman. Is this version the real Superman? Eh, I wouldn't say so. But it's a much deeper character. We know his past has affected his actions, we know his drives and why he keeps secrets. I also appreciate the movie a lot for skipping the whole Superman growing-up phase. We've seen it a million times and if you don't know it by now then you probably wouldn't know you're in for a Superman movie based off the title. Plus, it shows what Superman is like when he goes off the hook, and how destructive he can be. This film, more than the others, encompasses what Superman is capable of. We didn't necessarily need a whole drama trip, though we got one through a fragmented story, because we already know it. We know his personality and his background and the people most important to him. This film did a good job of getting straight to what it needed to get to, and also had top-notch action sequences to top it all off.
8. X-Men 2: X-Men United
Often regarded by some as the best comic book movie ever, X-2 was indeed the best Marvel movie in general for a long, long time. It was indeed the first comic film that didn't necessarily require one to know a lot of back-story, outside of the characters like Wolverine, Rogue, Iceman, Storm, and Nightcrawler. This movie was more a less a journey for Wolverine and Storm as they encountered and saved new people. Wolverine in particular learned more about his past and we came to learn the inner conflict he mentioned and displayed partly in the first film. Obviously Magneto was the villain but you kind of got the feeling that maybe Stryker was the true villain as he came very close to ending Xavier. It was a movie driven more by story and really less by conflict, displaying the inner workings of several characters both old and new. Granted, it's all kind of irrelevant thanks to Days of Future Past, but still, it's cool nonetheless. As one of the definitive comic book movies of all time, this certainly must make the list.
7. The Dark Knight Rises
The ending to one of the greatest trilogies of all time, TDKR showcases one of the best Batman storylines ever told in its own unique 2-and-a-half-hour long way that wraps up Nolan's Batman trilogy in a very good way, leaving barely any loose ends. While some say that this movie is riddled with plot holes and silly characters, I say nay. No film is perfect, and this film does have its fault, but I believe that the story and the characters in the film are excellent. Batman's struggle is cool, as well as seeing his arrogant attitude as he re-dons the cape after seven years. Catwoman is also a pretty cool character, as she is, in my opinion, a very close resemblance to the one from the comics. We don't really know what side she's on until it all goes down and it all kind of comes down to her. This movie does a good job of handling everyone's motivations and their goals, as well as their limits--a common theme in Nolan's trilogy. We were shown a crippled Batman, a crippled spirit, and then its rise out of the darkness. It also had a pretty good twist that got me the first time I saw it, though I feel kind of stupid in hindsight. Bane is also a terrific villain, showing no mercy and actually being a good war lord. I mean, not good as in running things right, but you can tell almost everything goes exactly as he planned, and he can adapt as necessary. Though there is quite a lack of Batman, the scenes he is back on are very refreshing and enjoyable. A good end to a near perfect trilogy.
6. V for Vendetta
Some of the coolest movie quotes to come out of movies are right here in this flick. I didn't even know it was a comic book until a while ago and once I knew, I was kind of blown away. This is a rather mature story for a comic, I thought at the time. Still, it was a heck of an interesting one. It's more of a political thriller more than it is an action movie, something rare in comic book films, but this one plays it perfectly. The main character, known only by V, is a revolutionist against a totalitarian government, eventually gaining the ability to manipulate the minds of the populous to his will. What I really enjoy about this movie is that he is not seen as a hero, he is a terrorist. Even to the people who see the government as corrupt and overbearing agree that his methods are wrong. He has very few known allies and is in very many ways similar to Batman if Batman were stuck in a totalitarian government and resigned to killing. The film's ability to contrast between V's very formal way of living and the depressing outside world is great, as is the mystery behind who is under the mask. Also the fight scene at the end is one of the coolest I have ever seen. Just saying. V for Vendetta is full of memorable moments, particularly the domino scene, and is a great change of pace for comic book movies, making it one unforgettable film.
5. Batman Begins
What some regard as the big change in comic book movies is also the beginning of Nolan's Batman trilogy. Batman Begins is most definitely the best origin film in comic book film history. This film showcases the horror young Bruce faced as well as the transformation he went through to become Gotham's symbol of justice in a time of complete injustice. Bruce Wayne in this movie is definitely the focal point and Christian Bale's portrayal of him was exactly what he needed to be. In a sense, there were three Bruce Wayne's that were being juggled: the fake billioinaire playboy who could care about nothing but money and women, the one that was serious about saving Gotham and knew its dangers, and the one beating criminals to a pulp. Each Bruce is show in various ways and is written so well as to never give away his real identity unless he intentionally does so. I also like the villains, they are very good in this film. From Falcone to Scarecrow to the one and only Demon, Ra's Al Ghul, each villain is handled well and each has their important role in the story. Speaking of characters, Jim Gordon, Lucius Fox, and of course Alfred play major roles, as well as fun roles where they are all not entirely serious and can provide some comedic relief. The action is very good in this film, too, as it is all about knowing your surroundings. Classic.
4. X-Men: Days of Future Past
20th Century Fox's answer to Marvel's Avengers film, there were no stops and few characters missing in the newest addition to the X-Men franchise. Drawing from the very famous storyline, this movie featured both the old and new cast of the X-Men franchise and handled both very well and just as the movie called for. People were worried about it being overcrowded or having too much of the new, but, I felt that it handled both very well. The old cast was great to see, as were the new additions to it that, while random, did need to be there to hold true to the original story. And the newer cast was great, too, as James McAvoy and Michael Fassbender cement themselves as Xavier and Magneto. This movie serves as not only a sequel to First Class, but also to the present-day X-Men franchise as well, and does the all-important erasure of all things bad in the X-Men series (such as letting Jean and Cyclops freaking die). I think the best part about this movie, though, is the way that it deals with the mission. Beast makes a point about time being like a river, that things are unavoidable. Really, the movie plays on that idea very well and shows that, no, they are the X-Men, they can do right in the world in any timeline. Xavier's struggles throughout the movie give him easily the best character development, with most of his scenes being some of the most memorable. Quicksilver is also another reason why the movie was so great. The little nods here and there to the lore are also great, and this movie has the best post-credits scene in Marvel history so far. This movie is by far the best X-Men movie and left me wanting a lot more out of these characters, something I hadn't wanted in a long time.
3. The Avengers
It's incredible that at one point people thought this idea was a pipe-dream and now Sony, 20th Century Fox, and DC are all trying this idea out. Marvel's The Avengers had a lot, a lot of hype going into it. If it worked, it would revolutionize the industry. If it didn't...then shoot. Luckily, it worked, and it worked beautifully. This is arguably the most comic book-like movie simply because of the whole crossover idea it plays on. In comics, it's great and fun to see characters working together, but when you get to see them do this on-screen with talented actors and actresses it is something else entirely. Simply the way that all of the characters were able to not only share screen time but get development in their own way! Each and every Avenger was given their own little mini-story amongst a larger one in a wonderfully written way. Not to mention it opened up the floodgates for Marvel Studios through the use of not only its villain but the army Loki used. It also felt like a comic in the way that it was action-packed. Most crossover comics indeed have a story and indeed have development, but people want to see their favorite heroes throwing down together, even fighting each other, and this movie does both. I loved being able to actually watch Iron Man and Captain America work together with the hand-blast-shield combo they have. This movie was also really, really funny, playing off the great chemistry that the actors have with each other. They were all quick-witted, almost as if reading through a comic book. I know I keep saying it, but what makes this movie stand out is just that: it is like reading a comic book. A long one, but a fun one nonetheless. The mid-credits scene is unforgettable and forever changed the Marvel Cinematic Universe without a doubt. All in all, the Avengers is the best crossover movie to date, and may just stay that way for a long time to come.
2. Captain America: The Winter Soldier
Unfortunately, good old America came and stole the show from the Avengers eleven months, to the date, later. The best Marvel movie (out of all the companies) ever earns its name by delivering the biggest game-changer to the Marvel universe that could have been conceived. There weren't too many plot twists if you were a fan of the comic, but there was one big reveal that it all led up to that nearly took me out of my seat, and thus, the story drove itself. There was not one thing about this movie that was unnecessary. Everything about it clicked. You could see it three times in three days and it would not get old...at least, that's what I did. It's also a difficult movie to discuss without giving it away, so I'll just say that is has the best story of all Marvel movies so far, one that is compelling and keeps you on the edge of your seat the entire time. What impressed me a lot, more than I anticipated, was the action, or just the fight choreography in general. Cap's throwdown with Batroc the Leaper in the beginning was fantastic and all of his fights were better than anything in the Avengers, honestly, just by the way they handled their hand-to-hand combat skills. Speaking of action...Falcon's wings were the coolest thing ever...why isn't he an Avenger in the films yet? Anyway, though, speaking of Falcon, he was a great acquisition that made this film so great. Having someone from the outside looking in on the situation was a great call, and he was an awesome sidekick for Captain America. A fun sidekick for Captain America was the always secretive Black Widow, who had more development in this movie than she will probably get in a while. We delved deep into her past and her character and it really helped move this story along. Cap's struggles with the right thing to do and what was necessary was also cool. It's always great to see a moral character struggle every once in a while with the truth. The Winter Soldier was great and deserved to be in the title. He is the best human weapon against Captain America, really, and considering his identity, he is quite the weapon. The Winter Soldier was everything I hoped he would be, too, as everytime he showed up, you knew it was going to get real bad real soon. Something had to blow up when he was around, whether it be by grenade or his sheer awesomeness. As always, there was a light element of comedy but because this movie had a lot of weight on its shoulders with the story and characters, it was squeezed in every once in a while. I find it hard to believe that a Marvel film will surpass this one is both impact and in sheer greatness.
1. The Dark Knight
I'm pretty much at a loss for words right now. This movie just...is. It's everything that a legit drama movie needs. It's everything a legit comic book movie needs. First of all, let's just start with what it is: the Joker has come into Gotham and seeks anarchy, seeks to bring the Batman down to reality about how the true nature of things, at least his true nature, works. So yeah, it's kind of got a lot of awesomeness there. Joker versus Batman is a story that will never grow old, it's one of the best rivalries in all comics...if not the best (oh, a new Top 10 idea, maybe?). But we continue. Next we get to see newest entrant to Gotham, Harvey Dent, an unstoppable force that will bring down the mob. Oh there's a mob element too? Heck yes there is. Then, we have to look at what this film is really all about. It's about chaos. Not order. Not how to destroy a higher-up society. No, just chaos, and how to spread it like a wildfire. The reason that this movie is as good as it is relies heavily on the struggle Batman has containing the Joker, or as the Joker said: "what happens when an unstoppable force meets an immovable object." Everything the Joker does, Batman reacts to, but it's all part of the Joker's plan. Everything that happens in the movie is something of the result of the Joker and becomes a battle of the minds. The big chase scene is a testament to that. As the Joker makes his move, so does Batman. Every scene they share together is a heart-throbbing moment. But this movie, more than any other, shows the true madness of the Joker, and the true morals of Batman. Be it a confused origin story, various plots with various goals, or just doing something completely out of the blue, the Joker is always in the game; meanwhile Batman, sworn to not kill, struggles with how to stop a man who will spread chaos is he doesn't do anything, but do to something, he must break his "one rule." The character surrounding these two are also great, as is the developing mystery of trust in the police force. Jim Gordon is once again a fun character whose role is upped and Harvey Dent, duh, actually has something of an origin story into his role as Two-Face. The way that his character transforms is indeed something that you would see in both a comic and a drama film: as it is slow and then when it hits, it makes almost perfect sense and causes more drama and tension to be added to the story. The story here is great, as all sides of this battle come head-to-head constantly and even by the end, there is no clear winner. Some say that this movie was the definitive DC movie, but I say nay, this is the definitive super-hero or comic-book movie of all time. It's been six years since its release and nothing has surpassed it, even in this great renaissance of comic book films. I doubt we'll see a change, and to be honest, I don't think there needs to be one. This film is both the film we deserve...and the one we needed.
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