With a multitude of comic book movies headed our way soon, I thought now was as good a time as ever to chronicle my favorite comic book movies. Note: Favorite does not equal "best" so don't shoot me for some of these choices. My best CBM's is a list for another day. That being said I present to you my ten CBM faves.
#10. Kick-Ass
Shameslessly funny and with a unique narrative, Kick-Ass and Kick-Ass 2 are great films to watch on any given day and proved that Rated R superhero films could work. Wonderfully different in their use of action, comedy and especially their choice of a main character. Chloe-Grace Moretz and Aaron Taylor Johnson will have to do pretty well in their respective careers to shake these roles.
#9. V for Vendetta
A very memorable political thriller that I honestly forgot was a comic book adaptation at one point. V for Vendetta features amazing performances from Hugo Weaving and Natalie Portman. The film and it's elements have implemented themselves into popular culture and it's very easy to see why. At one point references to this film may outweigh the people that actually remember it.
#8. X-Men : Days of Future Past
DOFP is an important film to me. The first X-Men movie came out when I was only three years old and I loved it. After X2 I watched the franchise take quite a few missteps along the way. I heard DOFP was coming out and after The Wolverine, which I quite enjoyed, so it was game time for Fox to do something great. I was afraid if DOFP was terrible or flopped financially then the X-Men I grew up loving would be over. My childhood was brought back from the dead because of this movie and I woulnd't have it any other way.
#7. The Incredible Hulk
This is the film that usually gets forgetten and it's criminally underrated. People forget that Edward Norton and RDJ pretty much jump started the MCU with their respective flicks. I like Mark Ruffallo but I saw no reason to get rid of Norton and it's even more stupid when you realize the supposed reason Norton and Marvel fell out. This movie has one of the most underrated actors ever using cars as boxing gloves. Need I say more?
#6. Watchmen
Watchmen is a film that divides comic book fans for some reason. Considering the fact it's on this list you can probably guess I really enjoyed it. Masterfully made with some spectacular casting and characters in it. Quoteable to the very end and it utilizes some very risky ideas with it. Aside from being a fan of the adaptation side of things, this is a great movie that should be checked out even if you never heard of Watchmen.
#5. Scott Pilgrim vs. The World
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I can't exactly point out why I love this movie so much. It's very quirky and it posseses this sophmoric meta humor similar to 22 Jump Street that I love in my films. Scott Pilgrim was hilarious but never felt out of place with it's jokes because a full-on epic battle could ensue the very next moment. It also includes roles for other CBM actors like Captain America himself Chris Evans and great actor but not-so-good Superman Brandon Routh.
#4. Howard the Duck
An unintelligent goofy and senseless 80's crapfest. Seriously this is a terrible movie. And I couldn't love it more.
#3. Hellboy
A pair of really good films that have been forgotten. I watch these films then I usually ask the wizard Shazam for the money to fund a third one. Guillermo del Toro is a genius for these flicks as they are fun, heartfelt and intense in all the right ways. Ron Perlman does an excellent job at portraying the giant red demon with sawed off horns.
#2. The Dark Knight Rises
Some people genuinely did not like TDKR. I, however, saw it as an amazing end to Nolan's trilogy. He introduced a villain just as quoteable and memorable as The Joker. He adapted a classic storyline of the Batman mythos, and he tied it all up with a fanboy wishlist of Robin and Catwoman. Anne Hathaway has to be my favorite Catwoman (just throwing that out there) and this film is severly underrated to me. I hope it gets the love it deserves in the coming years.
#1. Man of Steel
A movie that had mixed reviews upon release. That being said, I stayed away from the movie while it was in theatres and checked it out from the library later on. Upon viewing it I saw very few problems with the movie and didn't know why everyone hated it. I thought it was very entertaining and that Cavill was an amazing Superman. The story had some structure problems and I didn't care for Amy Adams as Lois Lane but other than that I had zero issues with the movie. People didn't like Supes killing Zod but it's been established that Supes has killed in the comics so I never got that. Other than that the main complaint I hear was the writing and some of the casting which I can get but MOS makes me excited for the DCCU.
So what CBM's are your favorite, but not neccesarily the best? Leave your thoughts in the comments section. Enjoy this random GIF now!