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Filed under: Top Tens

TOP TEN: Superhero Movies

Brad lays on the line his geeky side

TOP TEN SUPERHERO MOVIES

With the upcoming release of Iron Man, The Dark Knight, The Incredible Hulk and even Hellboy 2 I felt it was a perfect time to take a look at my top ten favorite superhero movies before four new contenders vie for a spot.

Unbreakable

People have found it easy to poke fun at M. Night Shyamalan, but I dare anyone to say he is not one of the more unique storytellers to come to cinema in quite some time. Known primarily for The Sixth Sense, Shyamalan’s Unbreakable is a film that often gets overlooked by those that don’t give it a second chance. Recently Disney released Unbreakable on Blu-ray and I was able to give it a second chance myself as well as a third. This is a superhero movie of a different sort and I think many would place it in their top ten if they gave it a proper chance. I do think it would come up at the tail end of the majority of those lists as it does here, but it is definitely worthy of a spot for its inventiveness alone.

The Incredibles

Talk about a film that is watchable on just about any occasion. On top of being wildly entertaining The Incredibles is one of the few films not directed by Kevin Smith to actually take advantage of Jason Lee’s talent, something his worthless TV show “My Name is Earl” can’t even do. Then there is the Pixar factor. While I am not one of those people that see the name Pixar and immediately love whatever it is they are releasing (both Toy Story 2 and Monsters, Inc. are dreadful), I must admit this one has that special something you come to expect from their talented bunch.

Batman

After it first came out I would have said Tim Burton’s Batman was the best superhero movie ever. Nicholson was classic as The Joker, Michael Keaton was an interesting, yet perfect choice as Bruce Wayne/Batman and with Prince (my favorite artist of all time) doing the soundtrack it is a match made for my cinematic heaven. Unfortunately, I have watched this film into oblivion, so much so that it doesn’t hold the same weight it once did.

Blade II

Blade II is easily the best film of the franchise as Guillermo del Toro brings to life some of the coolest creatures in the Reapers. The final fight scene may weigh a bit too heavy on the CGI side, but I love it nonetheless.

Superman

I wasn’t quite sure where exactly Superman or Superman II would/should fall on my list. Personally I am not a huge fan of the Man of Steel, but the Christopher Reeves incarnation managed to actually make you believe that a man that could be harmed by virtually nothing outside of kryptonite was more than just a freak of nature. The first two Superman films had heart, emotion and some amazing superhero action…

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Post #1
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Awesome list!
It’s hard to argue with; however, I will have to say that Spider-man is most definitely on my top ten list. The sequels aren’t worthy, and I can see how most don’t rank any of the three, but I belive the effects just can’t be denied.

My list and ranking as follows:

11. Blade II been knocked down a notch
10. Constantine
9. The Crow
8. Unbreakable
7. The Incredibles (Batman has been replaced completely)
6. Superman
5. Spider-man
4. X2: X-men United
3. Iron Man
2. Batman Begins
1. The Dark Knight (Heath’s performance has replaced Nicholson’s)

I love these lists, and as someone that surfs the web for movie news, I love this site. It’s a fine mix of what any person interested in movies should have access to; and I compliment you on doing such a great job! Thank you!

- melsgirl
( April 30th, 2008 | 10:14 am )
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Post #2
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I can pretty much bet that my list would be disputed ’til doomsday but these are the ones I love:
10-Spiderman 2=The effects are incredible, the story is good (unlike 3), and the acting is great, especially Mr. Molina.

9-The Punisher (Tom Jane)=Want dark and moody, here you have it. The gritty realism of the fights and the unrelenting violence made this film connect on a level that I dont think it would have had it been an FX extravaganza. The bottom line with this one though: the actors. Absolutely wonderful performances from Tom Jane, Will Patton, Ben Foster, Rebecca Romijn, and the deliciously evil John Travolta.

8-X-2=This would be a lot higher on the list except for the fact that Halle Berry is just awful. Needed more Colossus, and all the films needed more Cyclops. (James Marsden is a great actor).

7-Superman=Plain and simple; you can not have a top ten superhero movie list without Superman and it’s sequel. Christopher Reeve is just fantastic. Period.

6-Superman II

5-Daredevil=Uh-oh! Oh yea, Daredevil is that good to me. I am not a Ben Affleck hater in any way. I think he is a fine actor (and looks to be a great director), and I thought he played Daredevil flawlessly. I like what they did with Kingpin and how can you not love Colin Farrell as Bullseye? The only thing I did not like about this film was that it spawned Elektra. (Sorry Mrs. Affleck, you are gorgeous but beauty don’t make a movie).

4-Constantine=LOVED this movie. Ok, Keanu Reeves is not exactly Russell Crowe or Tom Hanks but his choices in movies are genius. I have yet to read any of the Hellblazer comics, except for what came with the deluxe DVD set, but as far as the movie goes I loved every second. I agree that the scene with him floating away was dumb, but other than that, AWESOME. Oh yea, uuuuuuuh…Rachel Weisz.

3-Superman Returns=Brandon Routh as perfect. I will give you this though: Kate Bosworth was not and that is, i feel, this film’s only flaw. I actually liked the story and the pace did not bother me in the least. This is one of the few superhero movies that connected with me on an emotional level. (I almost tear up every time I watch those thugs kicking Superman around, until the beautiful scene where he flies into the sunlight to get his power back, GREAT). I love this movie and I watch it over and over.

2-Unbreakable=First of all I love Shyamalan. I don’t love all his films, but I will tell you this: I don’t dislike any of them either (I actually loved the Village, Signs is actually my favorite of his). This is his second best outing (I dont think he will ever top The Sixth Sense). I am a big Bruce Willis fan too and his performance in this was incredible. Just a very intriguing, interesting, original storyline. Another one I can watch over and over. Can’t wait for The Happening.

1-Batman Begins (soon to possibly be replaced by The Dark Knight)=This is one of the most perfectly cast films I have ever seen. I am a Batman freak. The cartoon, the comics, the graphic novels, the toys, everything. If it has Batman on it I have it or want it. This is the one superhero movie that is totally Oscar-Worthy. Christian Bale is the perfect fit. Through all the Batman films it seems they have had a little trouble finding someone who could be both Bruce and the Bat. The Tim Burton films found a decent mix of both, Forever found a better Batman than a Bruce, and the fourth found THE Bruce Wayne but no Batman whatsoever. Bale NAILS both. The music was incredible, Christopher Nolan is a genius, and the whole cast is just magnificent. This is one of my all-time favorite movies. The Dark Knight will be unreal.

Runners Up-Hulk (I dont care, I liked this movie), Batman and Batman Returns, Batman Mask of the Phantasm, The Incredibles. Oh, and Ghost Rider (aaaaaaaaaahahahahahahaha just kidding!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)=))

- DarkKnightFAN12
( April 30th, 2008 | 12:35 pm )
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Post #3
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Wow, that was really long…

- DarkKnightFAN12
( April 30th, 2008 | 12:35 pm )
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Post #4
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While superhero movies are not high on my watching list, The Crow would be my #1 from this list. Very dark and yet the humor that is laced in makes it a really great movie…… V is a great movie not sure if V can be called a superhero…..Maybe add Hellboy, now i am sure there is mixed views on that, but i enjoyed it.

- JonTuesday
( April 30th, 2008 | 3:37 pm )
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Post #5
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I had Hellboy on my "consideration list", but the problem with that one for me is that I just can’t seem to bring myself to watch it again. I don’t know why. Visually it is fantastic, but it has become one of those movies I enjoyed watching, yet I never pick it up again.

- bradbrevet
( April 30th, 2008 | 3:39 pm )
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Post #6
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1.Batman Begins- Definetly gonna be replaced by dark knight
2. Unbreakable-M night is a filmmaking god
3. Spiderman- when the movie came out it really was such an impacting film on my life because it was right after september 11th and it was an excellent way of saying, we will be allright
4.xmen 2- brad has alot of my list covered, this one definetly is up there as well, night crawler was amazing, and his religious side to him brought such an interesting dynamic, plus all of the xmen were in there making it a hell of a good time and it was fantastic.
5. Blade, i really liked blade because vampire movies have always fasanated me and i first watched it with my father and it was also a memorable movie as well, very dark and gritty, the second one was allright,and the third one didn’t do much for me
i will think of more to add to the list but this is all i got….

- whysoserious
( April 30th, 2008 | 8:04 pm )
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Post #7
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Hellboy is amazing and i could not argue with someone who puts it in their top ten. V was a good one too.

- DarkKnightFAN12
( April 30th, 2008 | 11:03 pm )
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Post #8
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Iron Man just flew his way into my number two spot. Sorry Mr. Willis. Iron Man was just awesome.:popcorn:

- DarkKnightFAN12
( May 2nd, 2008 | 2:30 am )
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Post #9
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Ha, I was wondering if I should put Iron Man in my top ten or not. I am going to let it simmer for a year or so and see if it sticks with me. The ending just leaves way too much to be desired.

- bradbrevet
( May 2nd, 2008 | 2:45 am )
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Post #10
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#5: Batman Returns
#4: X-Men: II
#3: Constantine
#2: Batman Begins
#1:Batman (1989)

(If animated movies are included then Mask of Phantasm is #3)

- MrsJ
( May 2nd, 2008 | 5:35 pm )
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Post #11
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I absolutly dig that youy included Constantine, The Incredibles (loved it!) and Unbreakable. Neat choices. As far as Batman Begins, people are going to hate me but, altough the film is very close to perfect, I can (for the life of me) get into Batman fever. To me, he’s just a human who has horned his talents to those of a Navy Seal’s level and who uses his incalculable fortune in gadgets to chanel his anger because he feels guilty for not being able to stop his parents from being murdered. My 15 y/o son and I had a heated argument about this, but I he could not change my mind. Batman Begins (like Schindler’s List and Mystic River) is one of those great films that I would NEVER watch a second time.

- Romin2003
( May 4th, 2008 | 11:58 pm )
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Post #12
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Romin2003 said: To me, he’s just a human who has horned his talents to those of a Navy Seal’s level and who uses his incalculable fortune in gadgets to chanel his anger because he feels guilty for not being able to stop his parents from being murdered.

Actually, those are the exact reasons I think he is such a great superhero. He is only human and outside of a few details (such as the water gadget at the end of the film) a lot of what happens in Batman Begins could actually happen.

I did the reality of it all and the human aspect of the story.

As for including Constantine… it’s just another one of those perfect roles Keanu Reeves has chosen. The guy may not be a great actor, but he chooses perfect roles, and they are roles that work to his strengths and that movie is a gem.

- bradbrevet
( May 5th, 2008 | 12:44 am )
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Romin2003 said: Batman Begins (like Schindler’s List and Mystic River) is one of those great films that I would NEVER watch a second time.

Totally agree.

- rinasings2u
( July 1st, 2008 | 6:23 pm )
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Post #14
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I thought I was alone when it comes to really liking Constatine. After watching The Dark Knight yeaterday a top ten superhero is pretty fitting for me now. And yes. I love Mystery Men.

1. The Dark Knight
2. Batman Begins
3. X2: X-Men United
4. Spider-Man 2
5. Spider-Man
6. X-Men
7. Unbreakable
8. The Incredibles
9. Constantine
10. Mystery Men

- flerk
( July 27th, 2008 | 8:41 pm )
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Post #15
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yea, number 1 has to be the dark knight

- joexx000
( August 19th, 2008 | 9:00 pm )
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Post #16
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1. THE DARK KNIGHT
(Im tempted to just leave it there as no other super hero film has ever come close to the brilliance of this film)
2. SPIDERMAN
3. INCREDIBLE HULK (Norton made this film)
4. IRON MAN (Downey!!!)
5. SUPERMAN RETURNS (I dont care what people are saying these days I loved the idea of following on the Superman story instead of re-inventing it)
6. BLADE 1 & 2 (I think I like Blade 2 better because its so damn entertaining but the first one was awesome as well.)
7. BATMAN BEGINS
8. SPIDERMAN 2
9. X MEN 1 & 2
10. FANTASTIC FOUR ( Ive added this to my most hated as well becasue i didnt mind it on fun and entertainment value but the story and dialogue was so camp)

Just want to add my ten worst Superhero films

1. SPIDERMAN 3
2. FANTASTIC 4: RISE OF THE SILVER SURFER
3. GHOST RIDER
4. THE PUNISHER
5. DAREDEVIL
6. ELECTRA
7. SPAWN
8. X-MEN 3
9. HULK (Ang Lee)
10. FANTASTIC FOUR

- will0949
( October 1st, 2008 | 4:51 am )
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Post #17
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My top 10 favorite superhero movies so far right now are
10.Punsiher, The
9.Incrdible Hulk, The
8.Incredibles, The
7.Superman
6.Spider-Man
5.Spider-Man 2
4.X2
3.Batman Begins
2.Iron Man
1.Dark Knight, The

- neojlk
( October 7th, 2008 | 9:30 pm )
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Post #18
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My Top Ten Superhero Movies Are TOTALLY These!!!!!
10. Punisher- Thomas Jane seems like the perfect guy to play Castle. Perfect!
09. Incredible Hulk- Norton totally put Banners character into the film.
08. Incredibles- Superhero movie in animation. AWESOME!
07. Superman- Even though it was made in 1978, it still rocked!
06. Spider-Man- Maguire takes on the role. AND PULLS IT OFF!!
05. Spider-Man 2- Maguire DOES IT AGAIN!!
04. X2- BEST X-MEN MOVIE EVER
03. Batman Begins- Bale takes on the role and it the BEST BATMAN.
02. Iron Man- DOWNEY, JR. ROCKS !!!!
01. THE DARK KNIGHT- ROCKS!!!!!!!!!! HEATH LEDGER IS PHENOMONAL!!!!!!!!!!!!

- neojlk
( October 7th, 2008 | 9:45 pm )
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