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Comic book movies: cool or crap?
Posted: Feb 19, 2008 in Movies
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Okay, they're all around, they're taking up a big part of the yearly film slate, and they often account for a huge part of the year's highest-grossing films.
Here are a few slated for this year:
Iron Man
The Dark Knight (sequel to "Batman Begins")
The Incredible Hulk
The Punisher: War Zone
Hellboy II
So my question is: are you still loving comic book movies, are you sick to death of them, or do you wish they never came around in the first place?
For me, the first Spider-Man was a wonderful event film, something I'd been looking forward to since I was 10 years old. With each new movie announcement there is excitement, but more often than not I find myself disappointed by the lack of respect or the ham-handed way the films are made.
Having said that, I'm still a fan of them and think they're going to get both better and worse. Lower-tier characters are starting to be mined and hastily produced in an effort to cash in, which will no doubt produce terrible films.
On the other hand, films like the new Batman series can breathe new life into even tired comic book characters, and innovations, like the rumored Hulk/Iron Man crossovers this summer in advance of an Avengers movie can really bring the franchises, and the Marvel and DC universes especially to life.
What do you guys think?
I think these have been hit and miss. There really doesn't seem to be any middle ground. They are either amazing a la X-men, Hellboy, or Batman Begins or an insult see: Daredevil, Elektra, Ang Lees Hulk, Ghostrider or any of the previous Batman movies.
When they stray too far from the actual thought that went into the comics actual storylines, and try to Hollywoodize the living shat out of it, it completely ruins it.
I am really, really, stoked sbout the upcoming "Wolverine", but I'm a little aprehensive about "Ironman"...Guess we'll see....
s.h.
I think these have been hit and miss. There really doesn't seem to be any ...
I agree that it's usually hit or miss. The comic movie trend started out great with X-Men and Spiderman but has gone downhill for the most part.
The Iron Man movie looks pretty bad. Hopefully not as bad as Ghost Rider though. I'm surprised I made it through that entire movie.
Rumor is that Gambit will finally be added to an X-Men movie with Wolverine. Taylor Kitsch though? I have my doubts about him pulling it off. Here's a link about it
Wow. I'm really excited about Iron Man personally. It looks like they're doing it right more or less.
I've heard those same things about Gambit in Wolverine. I also heard Ryan Reynolds is making an appearance as Deadpool as well.
Still bummed that Josh Holloway from "Lost" won't be able to be Gambit. He would have been great in that role.
Love comic book movies. Can't stand when it's corny like Fantastic 4 or Daredevil. Casting has to be just right to bring the character to life. I think that some of the movies will help renew interest in the actual comic books, which seem like a dying medium along with a lot of print. The hollywoodization of the comic book was a logical step. It's nothing new though. Look at super old school Batman, Superman shows and movies. Now with the advances in cgi, our favorite characters can actually do a lot of the things they do in the comics which is cool. I'm all about the comic book movies if they stick close to the original vision of the writers and artists.
Deadpool ... hell yeah ... one of my favorite Marvel characters.
And if I can't get a Scud movie, Deadpool would be a close second.
Eh. Regarding the enjoyability of the films themselves, they're alright. Like most have said, there are good ones and bad ones. Casting is key, and special effects rock. I've enjoyed most of these films, even enjoyed multiple viewings of a few.
Regarding the market saturation of film plots based on comic books, I'm ready for the decline to start any day. I'm aware that the vast majority of films are based on literature, and that graphic novels create much more action-packed wide-appeal films than the average fictional tales or (gulp) historical nonfiction.... however, one woman can only take so many summer blockbuster incarnations of comic book heroes, summer after summer after summer....
I didn't expect to like the Spiderman series or Superman or Batman, but I really enjoyed them. Haven't seen Hellboy or The Punisher, but I'm looking forward to the Justice League movie that's in the works (big Wonder Woman fan). :)
"Ghost World" is one of the best movies ever -- EVER! -- and that was a comic book. But the big action ones...sometimes they really seem to fall flat.
("Hellboy" was OK, Kimiko.)
I'm looking forward to seeing Iron Man. Robert Downey Jr. may become so successful from this film, he'll be back in rehab by September.
"Ghost World" is one of the best movies ever -- EVER! -- and that was ...
Ghost World did rock.
Yummy little Scarlett...
s.h.
Ghost World did rock. Yummy little Scarlett... s.h.
Good call on Ghost World. I really, really loved that movie. Steve Buscemi and Thora Birch both had ace performances too.
V for Vendetta is pretty awesome and based on an Alan Moore comic.
Neil Gaiman's Stardust wasn't too bad.
300 is worth bringing up too.
Good call on Ghost World. I really, really loved that movie. Steve Buscemi and Thora ...
Let's not forget "Sin City" either.
Let's not forget The Crow. And I still love Flash Gordon. And while we're on camp, there was something strangely good about Dick Tracy. It's a little something i like to call "craptastic."
Dick Tracy gets a bad rap. For what it was supposed to be it wasn't a bad movie at all. It was a little silly, but it was supposed to be. Had a great cast too.