The top 10 best films of the Comic book movie genre (the list of the people)
A list of the consensus' choice for the absolute pinnacle of the comic movie genre.
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- DirectorChristopher NolanStarsChristian BaleHeath LedgerAaron EckhartWhen the menace known as the Joker wreaks havoc and chaos on the people of Gotham, Batman must accept one of the greatest psychological and physical tests of his ability to fight injustice.The single greatest comic book film ever made. An instant 5 star modern classic that harkens back to the rich storytelling days of the Godfather and Lawrence of Arabia.
The performances are simply out of this world, with the late great Heath Ledger's Joker becoming THE bar to which all movie villains are measured, and Aaron Eckhart and Gary Oldman each contributing lifetime achievement level performances, with everyone else rounding off the cast nicely.
Christian Bale (tied with Daniel Day-Lewis as our greatest modern actor) gives a subtle yet menacing performance reminiscent of Al Pacino in his role as Michael Corleone; Michael Caine and Morgan Freeman provide great character moments as well as subtle, sophisticated humor that is delivered with far greater execution than most films that try to cram as much unnecessary slapstick as possible (i.e. Transformers, Avengers)
An iconic masterpiece of cinema and a phenomenal triumph of storytelling, The Dark Knight is a truly epic film that tops any other contribution to the genre by leaps and bounds, no matter how many jealous fanboys of rival companies bang their heads in frustration over their own failure to reach this level of relevance. - DirectorChristopher NolanStarsChristian BaleMichael CaineKen WatanabeAfter witnessing his parents' death, Bruce learns the art of fighting to confront injustice. When he returns to Gotham as Batman, he must stop a secret society that intends to destroy the city.Christopher Nolan's magnificent contribution to the comic book genre has been easily attested to as one of the most influential films of the 21st century, and with good reason.
Unlike other films of the genre, Batman Begins gives its characters true depth and phenomenal texture, not to mention an astonishing amount of heart in the performances and writing. Bruce's journey is simply the most fascinating, richly layered adventure I've ever seen in cinema, superhero film or otherwise.
The remaining cast is sensational, with Liam Neeson giving a subtle yet menacing portrayal of Ras al Ghul, perfectly balancing roles as a sympathetic father figure, misguided freedom fighter and megalomaniac at once.
The supporting cast is excellent, with Michael Caine Alfred giving a great dynamic as the other father figure attempting to guide Bruce along a straight path while embracing/tolerating Bruce's attempts to bring fear to the criminals of Gotham, but also giving moments of levity with his sophisticated level of humor that Caine brings to so many great films.
Gary Oldman 'is' Jim Gordon, as perfect a casting choice as Christopher Reeve's Superman, portraying the moral cop surrounded by people on the take and feeling that it's an endless cycle until Batman makes his debut.
Cillian Murphy's Crane/Scarecrow is utilized perfectly here, allowing him to give a subtly creepy performance, but never overshadowing the main antagonist. Nolan avoids the tropes of having two super villains 'team up', and instead, has Scarecrow working for the more deadly and complex Ghul.
Rounding out the cast, Morgan Freeman gives a naturally charismatic and charming performance as Lucius Fox and, like Caine, also provides the film with levity and wit during Bruce's evolution.
Nolan also knows how to take limited actors and make them fit into their roles. Katie Holmes' Rachel Dawes could have been portrayed as any typical damsel in distress, but instead of just being the eye candy for Bruce to save, we see someone who embarked on her own path to clean up Gotham that is radically different from Bruce's (and Ghul's for that matter). She also provides the film with one of its greatest, most complex moments near the end.
And, of course, Christian Bale (tied with Daniel Day-Lewis for best modern actor) gives a dynamic performance in Bruce Wayne, and his transition to Batman is nothing short of breathtaking, displaying a wide array of characteristics that make Bruce more than just a man and more than a symbol. I have never encountered a character that made me feel so much for the man behind the mask.
The screenplay and direction are incredible, providing many bombastic and subtle moments that compliment each other.
The impact felt by this film outside the genre is awe-inspiring, branching beyond the superhero genre and into other mediums such as James Bond, Star Trek, Planet of the Apes. Yet what's even more remarkable is just how well Batman Begins stands up to those films over the last eight years, being regarded by many viewers and critics as still being the best product out of a medium it basically helped create/elevate with regards to reboots and detailed origin stories.
Ironically, most films out of the CBM genre itself over last few years that have tried to emulate BB's quality, have ultimately come off as watered down and generic in many aspects by comparison (i.e. Amazing Spiderman, Iron Man) with X:Men First Class being the one film that can be called quality, while the best quality emulators came from outside the genre.
Batman Begins did for film what Nirvana did for music, it changed the formula while keeping some of the better aspects. - DirectorChristopher NolanStarsChristian BaleTom HardyAnne HathawayEight years after the Joker's reign of chaos, Batman is coerced out of exile with the assistance of the mysterious Selina Kyle in order to defend Gotham City from the vicious guerrilla terrorist Bane.With by far the most difficult task ever given in comic book films (being a worthy successor to The Dark Knight, killing the Comic trilogy curse plagued by far inferior fare such as Sam Raimi's atrocious Spider-Man 3 and Brett Ratner's lazy, laughable X3 affair), Nolan manages to accomplish both of these tasks with intelligent character writing, witty style and heart pounding, adrenaline pumping action that rivals any action blockbuster ever made.
The film simply drips with charisma, with every cast member delivering an exceptional performance. Anne Hathaway redefines the Catwoman character, creating the greatest incarnation to ever hit the big screen, splicing the tough exterior of action heroines from the 80's and 90's with the of classic sophistication of big screen icons such as Audrey Hepburn and Gloria Swanson.
Tom Hardy's Bane provides the film with cinemas most intimidating big screen antagonist since Heath Ledger's Joker, a criminal mastermind that is both intelligent, cunning and physically powerful. It is not difficult to see why his character has endured in pop culture significantly more than forgettable villains from other properties (Lena Headey's Ma-Ma and Tom Hiddleston's Loki).
But the true journey lies with our protagonist, Bruce Wayne, played with astonishing soulfulness by Christian Bale, who's journey from broken man to shining beacon once again for the city of Gotham (which feels like a character more than any other Metropolis in film) is filled with tension, despair, hope and a real solid sense of pathos.
With the always excellent Michael Caine, Gary Oldman and Morgan Freeman rounding out the Oscar calibre cast, The Dark Knight Rises provides many heart felt moments and surprises guaranteed to keep you on the edge of your seat trying to what comes next. - DirectorRichard DonnerRichard LesterStarsGene HackmanChristopher ReeveMarlon BrandoSuperman agrees to sacrifice his powers to start a relationship with Lois Lane, unaware that three Kryptonian criminals he inadvertently released are conquering Earth.The sequel to Superman that we SHOULD have gotten.
Richard Donner’s followup to his first Superman film was a tight, well structured piece of craftsmanship that eliminated many of the issues with the first film, focusing on much stronger and memorable villains that are far more timeless and not the product of their generation as Lex. Along with many well written moments that show the intelligence of our main characters, the production not only makes for a worthy addition to the comic book films, but sets a standard for it, as one of the top 5 films of the genre and an art form to be taken seriously among the industry.
Unlike its drastically flawed theatrical counterpart. - DirectorFrank MillerQuentin TarantinoRobert RodriguezStarsMickey RourkeClive OwenBruce WillisAn exploration of the dark and miserable Basin City and three of its residents, all of whom are caught up in violent corruption.The most stylish CBM adaptation to date, with flawed but ultimately interesting characters.
- DirectorBryan SingerStarsPatrick StewartHugh JackmanHalle BerryWhen anti-mutant Colonel William Stryker kidnaps Professor X and attacks his school, the X-Men must ally with their archenemy Magneto to stop him.The best film based on a Marvel property to date. Bryan Singer's best contribution to the genre.
- DirectorGuillermo del ToroStarsRon PerlmanSelma BlairDoug JonesA prince of the mythical world starts a rebellion against humanity in order to rule the Earth. Hellboy and his team must fight to stop him from locating the all-powerful Golden Army.The best Independent Superhero film.
- DirectorMatthew VaughnStarsJames McAvoyMichael FassbenderJennifer LawrenceIn the 1960s, superpowered humans Charles Xavier and Erik Lensherr work together to find others like them, but Erik's vengeful pursuit of an ambitious mutant who ruined his life causes a schism to divide them.A far superior contribution to the X-Men franchise than the last two disastrous abominations.
- DirectorJames McTeigueStarsHugo WeavingNatalie PortmanRupert GravesIn a future British dystopian society, a shadowy freedom fighter, known only by the alias of "V", plots to overthrow the tyrannical government - with the help of a young woman.The best Alan Moore Adaptation and one of the most influential films of this century.
- DirectorBryan SingerStarsPatrick StewartHugh JackmanIan McKellenIn a world where mutants (evolved super-powered humans) exist and are discriminated against, two groups form for an inevitable clash: the supremacist Brotherhood, and the pacifist X-Men.A solid start to Marvel's best theatrical franchise.