On Comic Flicks - A Treaty
After having seen Iron Man I was left wondering if it was better than Spider-Man, which I see as the real movie that it has to compete with. X-Men is an ensemble superhero movie, and Batman Begins was already building on an audience that has seen four other Batman flicks.
Which is the better origin movie, Iron Man or Spider-Man?
I’m still not sure…they both have great points to go on their side. Great directors, the base of any flick. Raimi and Favreau aren’t what I would call household names, but they were both bloody good at their craft. Both have actors that completely nail the title roll. I think that Tobey Maguire did a very good Peter Parker, not to mention the eponymous hero. I think Robert Downey Jr perhaps does a slightly better job, but his character is inherently cooler and Downey Jr has more experience. The films both have well rounded out casts; Kirsten Dunst, Willem Dafoe, James Franco V Gwyneth Paltrow, Jeff Bridges and Terrence Howard. Both have Stan Lee cameos. Both include the ‘little’ characters; J. Jonah Jameson, Betty Brant, Robbie Robertson V Happy Hogan, Jarvis and Nick Fury (in case you didn’t stay till the end of the credits)! Both have a very decent villain, but one who doesn’t get in the way of the origin, more acts as a cipher for it. Both have sequences of hilarity as the heroes come to terms with their powers.
In the end I don’t think I could make a choice as to which is better. I like both movies, and I enjoy both movies. Perhaps there is no need to grade one higher, I can just be happy that both rock it out.
This then got me to thinking, what are the best comic book flicks? First there needs to be a distinction between superhero films and films based on comic books. Superhero books are based on superhero commodities. You know the type; powers, villains, lots of money at the BO.
Flicks based on comic books are another breed entirely. They are oftentimes hidden as a normal picture and might not rake in all that fat cash. They might not deal with superpowers and they might not seem like a comic book in visual form. It shocks people to see that some comics are just another form of telling a story, it’s not all spandex, big pecs, big tits and big guns.
I don’t feel it fair to rate superhero flicks against those just based on the graphic form, so I will make a short list, but separate the two.
The Best Superhero Flicks
– these are the ones that really deliver what the comics were all about.
Batman Begins – it really does stand up as being a bloody good adaptation of the true spirit of the dark knight. Even more impressive when you figure that it is battling against years of poor visual adaptations of Master Wayne’s alter ego. I do appreciate what Burton did with it in the 80’s, but this is the definitive Batman.
Iron Man – I just can’t seem to rave higher about this one. It’s golddust! I am putting it in the list immediately!
Spider-Man – I prefer the original over the other two, some will say the second is the best, maybe I’m just not the hugest fan of that Roy Orbison clone with extra arms, but for my money the first one really nailed it all, not to say that the next two weren’t head and shoulders above a lot of the other dreck put out.
X-Men 1-2 – I’m not one to bag out Brett Ratner, and I do not think it is his fault that X-Men 3 is so widely derided, there was a script involved that he didn’t write, and the films not all that bad. It just did not need Vinnie Jones. I also blame Bryan Singer for walking away from his trilogy to go make a real stinker with Superman Returns. I think that the first X-flick was absolutely brilliant, and the second did a very good job following it up and taking it further in places.
Hellboy – I guess this one fits here…This is just so well made and executed. The vision and scope of it was awesome, and Ron Perlman is just one damn fine actor. I think this has huge potential to get better in the sequel with more ideas from Guillermo del Toro.
The Best Comic Book Films
– these are just kick ass movies, and make me proud to call them comic books first.
Sin City – I am not the biggest fan of Frank Miller, the man has his faults, but this is not one of them. I think that a lot is owed to the genius of Robert Rodriguez, a man who will go down in history, and his method of adaptation to the screen. He really made more of the books, in my opinion.
300 – Zack Snyder also did a great job bringing more Miller bravado to the screen. I just love sitting down and being in front of this movie, you cannot argue that it looks absolutely fucking awesome! Not to mention the acting by Gerard Butler, who really gives a strong go as Leonidas, but gets the humour across as well.
A History of Violence – Cronenberg and Viggo, I shouldn’t have to say more. But it is interesting to see that this was a graphic novel first. I think that Cronenberg really made this movie more than anyone else would have made of it.
Road To Perdition – Another quality think piece that came from little pics first. Quality acting all around and very well made.
I hope I haven’t forgotten anything…I think that there is much good to come still; Hellboy 2: The Golden Army, The Dark Knight looks fantastic, I wouldn’t even be surprised at awards for Heath Ledger. The Incredible Hulk is open to impress me, especially with Ed Norton writing the script too. Watchmen couldshould be good, especially under Zack Snyder, but I am worried after not having heard much news lately, perhaps they are waiting till closer to release to pull us back in.
There is plenty of other good stuff just waiting to be taken advantage of. I think there are three HBO series’ begging to be made; Brubaker’s Sleeper, Kirkman’s Walking Dead and Ennis’ Preacher. All three would be relatively cost effective to green light, would probably get a cast and crew that is enthusiastic for the source material and all would make unbelievable shows with great depth and story.
I am surprised that DC hasn’t gone ahead with making a Green Arrow movie yet, if Iron Man can rake in hundreds of millions I’m sure Ollie Queen could recoup a simple $30 million production, which is all it would need.
They are slowly getting Y: The Last Man off the ground, and I think a trilogy could work, and either Shia LeBeouf or Justin Long would work as Yorick. I hear that Seth Rogan and Evan Goldberg are working on an adaptation of The Boys, which would be killer, and I truly believe that David Cronenberg has to direct it to make it all that it is, and more. Edgar Wright is working on Ant-Man which I would pay to see, but I would also love to see Kirkman’s Irredeemable Ant-Man adapted for the screen, he’s just too sleazy to ignore.
I won’t even begin to discuss why the Daredevil cinematic adaptation hurts me on the inside like a boot to the Jatz Crackers, all I can say is when I get my chance to write the script for Marvel studios ole DD will be making the big cash with the rest of the big boys.
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