1. Superman

2. Superman 2

3. The Avengers

4. Superman Returns

5. Batman v Superman

I'm not a huge fan of this genre, but I can come up with 5 I like a lot.

1. Batman Begins

2. Batman (1989)

3. Iron Man

4. Guardians of the Galaxy

5. Spider-man

iron man

the avengers 'age of orion'

the fantastic four 'silver surffer'

the matrix

thor

I can only come up with four, in no particular order...

X2 (2003) - Imperfect, but a fun rollout of the expansive Marvel mutant universe (particularly in light of the stiflingly limited feel of the earlier X-Men film); very satisfying fight scene between Wolverine and Deathstrike; and that opening sequence in the White House!?!? Poetry in motion.

Superman (1978) and Superman II (1982) - Beautiful contemporary takes on the monomyth, with the second film masterfully upping the ante, introducing some boss @!#$ badguys (including an wonderful femme fatale), and setting the bar high for epic '80s-style third acts to come. These also smartly forgo the clumsy Christ analogies of the later franchise.

The New, Original Wonder Woman (1975) - This 90-minute TV pilot introduced Linda Carter's iconic depiction of the title character. Really cool, though slightly cheesy, WWII-era period sets and costumes. And though the film did pander to a largely male audience, it made some admirable attempts to honour the source material's feminist tilt. (I concede the climactic girlfight may have been somewhat antithetical to this intent... but darned if it doesn't remain crazy fun to this day.)

[Edited 4/10/16 7:54am]

American Splendor

Captain America - Winter Soldier

Dredd

Avengers

Ant-Man

Lammastide said:

1. The Dark Knight

2. Marvel's The Avengers
3. Captain America: The Winter Soldier

4. Iron Man 2

5. Superman II [The Original & The Richard Donner Cuts]

1) The Dark Knight (this is the ESSENTIAL Batman movie. Ledger's portrayal of the Joker is straight from 'The Killing Joke' - with all due respect to Jack, he was just playing himself).

2) Marvel's The Avengers

3) The Incredible Hulk (Norton's Banner/Hulk shits on Ruffalo's).

4) Spider-Man 2 (Alfred Molina steals the movie as Doc-Ock).

5) Man of Steel (best Supes movie ever - none of that corny shit from the Reeve films).

[Edited 4/10/16 21:08pm]

1. Superman -- The Movie (1978): to some, it feels corny and dated. But it is the definitive superhero movie. It laid out the formula for that is still followed today -- prestigious cast, state-of-the-art visual effects, and a coherent storyline that balances the drama and comedy. It added a modern sensibility to the characters. Reeve was as perfect a fit for that role as you could find.

2. The Dark Knight (2008): Heath Ledger's Joker is the reason. It is the greatest performance in any superhero movie and one of the most memorable performances in modern film history.

3. Guardians of The Galaxy (2014): The most fun of the "superhero" films, and the one with the most heart.

4. Spider-Man 2 (2004): Good story and great performances all around.

5. Superman II (1981): Gene Hackman and Terrence Stamp steal it, the combat scenes were great for their time, and the storyline -- especially in Donner's cut -- flowed well from the first one. This film proved that a franchise could work . . . until the producers darn near killed them with two abysmal, made-on-the-cheap sequels.

Honorable mentions: The Avengers (2012), Batman (1989), Iron Man (2008), X2 (2003), Batman Returns (2005), Thor (2011), Man of Steel (2013).

PurpleSkipper58 said:

1) The Dark Knight (this movie just the best thing ever. Has the best Joker ever in Heath Ledger's performance. At least, the best Joker on the big-screen). RIP Heath Ledger.) 2) Spider-Man 2 (one of my favorite movies growing up. Also had one of my favorite movie-based video games ever!) 3) The Avengers 4) Batman Begins 5) Captain America: The Winter Soldier What are your top favorite superero movies and why?

I watched "The Dark Knight" and "The Dark Knight rises" over the weekend and I still like them very much, especially TDK but unfortunately it gets quite weak at the end. Unfortunately, all Nolan Batman movies do, IMO. Most of all TDKR. My favorite is Batman Begins.

Phishanga said:

1. Sin City: Ok, so it's not a superhero movie, but it makes my short list of favorite comic book-related movies. They nailed making a movie that felt like a graphic novel, and its just fun, violent, and sexy.

2. The Avengers: I noticed right away there was a theme to all the remaining movies - I ranked related to how high expectations were. The first big 'team' superhero movie could have been a hot mess, but Whedon created a new standard with the Avengers. It started with Iron Man, but Avengers created a criteria that these movies be more about fun than attempt to be taken seriously.

3. Spider Man 2: I was so disappointed with the goblin, I was concerned how they would handle Doc Ock. Molina did an incredible job, and as already mentioned, the story carried this movie.

4. The Dark Knight: I thought this would always be #1, but with repeated watchings the disjointed ending irks me.

5. Guardians of the Galaxy: Continuing with the fun factor, this movie had a huge advantage in that coming out of left field, it didn't have the requirements that other movies have. No one cared about back stories or continuity.

1. Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016)

2. Man of Steel (2013)

3. Captain America: Winter Soldier (2014)

4. Dark Knight Trilogy (2005, 2008, 2012)

5. The Avengers (2012)

[Edited 4/11/16 13:09pm]

uPtoWnNY said:

1) The Dark Knight (this is the ESSENTIAL Batman movie. Ledger's portrayal of the Joker is straight from 'The Killing Joke' - with all due respect to Jack, he was just playing himself).

2) Marvel's The Avengers

3) The Incredible Hulk (Norton's Banner/Hulk shits on Ruffalo's).

4) Spider-Man 2 (Alfred Molina steals the movie as Doc-Ock).

5) Man of Steel (best Supes movie ever - none of that corny shit from the Reeve films).

[Edited 4/10/16 21:08pm]

Christopher Reeves' Superman/Clark Kent was NOT corny! You take that back!!!

Now seriously, every long time comic book geek knows that Superman/Clark Kent always had a sense of humor, hence why Christopher Reeves (RIP) & Dean Cain will always be rank a step higher than Henry Cavill.

TonyVanDam said:

hence why Christopher Reeves (RIP) & Dean Cain will always be rank a step higher than Henry Cavill.

Say what???

I have nothing but respect for every actor to don the cape before him, but Henry Cavill is the best actor, when it comes to potraying Superman. No other actor before him, has attained the physical and muscular power, that makes him the truest, physical incarnation of Superman!!!

1. Superman (1978)

2. The Dark Knight

3. Spiderman 2

4. Batman Begins

5. Iron Man

1. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1990) - artifact of early 90s cinema, with some brilliant Jim Henson puppetry and really great film editing

2. Unbreakable - M. Night's last truly great film, really captured a grounded sense of superpowers

3. Batman Begins - Brilliant origin story, I liked that Bruce Wayne/Batman was the main character. I think this was the only film in the series where Nolan got both Batman and Gotham City right, really set up a lot of promise.

4. The Crow - Just excellent really, mid-90s post-punk gothic angst and brilliantly executed in terms of its world-building

5. Captain America: The First Avenger - The only Marvel film that I really enjoyed from beginning to end, great old school pulp formula, no surprise it was directed by Joe Johnson

Hon Mention 1: The Rocketeer - as per above, Joe Johnson is really good at capturing that old pulp style feeling

Hon Mention 2: Darkman - Sam Raimi's best work, kinetic pacing, innovative camera-work and dazzling editing, had big expectations for Spider-Man but his style was reigned in somewhat, Darkman is where it's at

TheBatman said:

TonyVanDam said:

hence why Christopher Reeves (RIP) & Dean Cain will always be rank a step higher than Henry Cavill.

Say what???

I have nothing but respect for every actor to don the cape before him, but Henry Cavill is the best actor, when it comes to potraying Superman. No other actor before him, has attained the physical and muscular power, that makes him the truest, physical incarnation of Superman!!!

TheBatman said:

TonyVanDam said:

hence why Christopher Reeves (RIP) & Dean Cain will always be rank a step higher than Henry Cavill.

Say what???

I have nothing but respect for every actor to don the cape before him, but Henry Cavill is the best actor, when it comes to potraying Superman. No other actor before him, has attained the physical and muscular power, that makes him the truest, physical incarnation of Superman!!!

Henry Cavill's Superman is dark. Unlike Batman, Superman was NEVER a dark edgy character. He was the exact opposite! Superman was always a light and good ole boy scout character.

Excuse me for talking like a comic book geek. I'm only making a valid point.

TonyVanDam said:

Henry Cavill's Superman is dark. Unlike Batman, Superman was NEVER a dark edgy character. He was the exact opposite! Superman was always a light and good ole boy scout character.

Yes, back in the day, I would completely agree with this perspective.

It's just my humble opinion, but I believe the reason Superman appears "dark" in these movies is because they are putting cartoon characters, in real life/real world situations. Henry's Superman is trying to find his way and his purpose in a real world (who has taken the actual "this person is an alien, what do we do?" approach), that is introducing the rest of the DCEU.

I love the Christoher Reeve films! I know all four of them, frontwards and backwards. But their approach to the character, hurt any realism that Superman could have on film. Their viewpoint was, here is our hero with all these powers that will even take time to save your kitties out of trees. No one stopped to question or even show how the real world would actually react to an alien, that just so happens to looks like a man. He has the ability to fly with his super strength, what do we do??? Everyone had that laid back attitude of, hey Superman is our INSTANT hero. That view point was fine back in the day, but we live in a different world now.

In the overall stary arc, when all these movies are complete, I believe we will witness an evolution of Henry's Superman throughout these films. As he continues to discover more of his powers and responsibilities, and he searches for his path and public acceptance of his heroics in today's modern world. I for one appreciate seeing these cartoon characters come to life in our real world, and how the citizens of earth, would view them.

Go on with yo' bad self Zack Snyder!!! Keep knocking these movies out of the park!

TheBatman said:

TonyVanDam said:

hence why Christopher Reeves (RIP) & Dean Cain will always be rank a step higher than Henry Cavill.

Say what???

I have nothing but respect for every actor to don the cape before him, but Henry Cavill is the best actor, when it comes to potraying Superman. No other actor before him, has attained the physical and muscular power, that makes him the truest, physical incarnation of Superman!!!

Cavill plays Superman as a marginally more emotionally aware version of the Terminator, or at about the level of Daniel Craig's Bond. The fact he's more yoked than Reeve or Routh doesn't make him a better Kal-El.

I actually give it to Cavill for shading the character quite a bit, because as I said in the BvS thread, he's showing the toll of being branded an enemy and god simultaneously by humankind. But at the end of the day, Reeve gave Supes a much broader range than Cavill has to date.

TheBatman said:

TonyVanDam said:

Henry Cavill's Superman is dark. Unlike Batman, Superman was NEVER a dark edgy character. He was the exact opposite! Superman was always a light and good ole boy scout character.

Yes, back in the day, I would completely agree with this perspective.

It's just my humble opinion, but I believe the reason Superman appears "dark" in these movies is because they are putting cartoon characters, in real life/real world situations. Henry's Superman is trying to find his way and his purpose in a real world (who has taken the actual "this person is an alien, what do we do?" approach), that is introducing the rest of the DCEU.

I love the Christoher Reeve films! I know all four of them, frontwards and backwards. But their approach to the character, hurt any realism that Superman could have on film. Their viewpoint was, here is our hero with all these powers that will even take time to save your kitties out of trees. No one stopped to question or even show how the real world would actually react to an alien, that just so happens to looks like a man. He has the ability to fly with his super strength, what do we do??? Everyone had that laid back attitude of, hey Superman is our INSTANT hero. That view point was fine back in the day, but we live in a different world now.

In the overall stary arc, when all these movies are complete, I believe we will witness an evolution of Henry's Superman throughout these films. As he continues to discover more of his powers and responsibilities, and he searches for his path and public acceptance of his heroics in today's modern world. I for one appreciate seeing these cartoon characters come to life in our real world, and how the citizens of earth, would view them.

Go on with yo' bad self Zack Snyder!!! Keep knocking these movies out of the park!

co-sign

The Dark Knight Rises
The Dark Knight
Batman Begins

I enjoyed TDKR more than TDK because I liked seeing Batman get his ass kicked physically
and having to rise again. Yeah, the phoenix trope is exactly that, but it was just that one
beautiful fight sequence between Bats and Bane (with no music, by the way) that is gorgeous
in its brutality, and seeing Batman get beat up. So fucking great!

The yin/yang tension in TDK between the immovable object/unstoppable force is boring.

EmmaMcG said:

A lot of comments on here mentioned the Dark Knight trilogy, which has got me in the mood to revisit them and seeing as I had a free day, I did just that. Batman Begins is just as good as I remember it. Bale is not my favourite Batman my any means, but he was good in that movie and the plot was like something straight out of the animated series. The villain using fear toxin to turn the city against itself is ridiculous but fantastic. I still think that the Dark Knight is seriously overrated. The Harvey Dent transformation feels really rushed and I think the series would have benefited had they saved Two Face for part 3. Heath Ledger's Joker is ok but again, very overrated and I wonder had he not died, would his performance be held in such high regard. I'm not saying he's bad, but to me, Mark Hamill is still the definitive Joker and Heath Ledger is some way off that. The Dark Knight Rises is too full of plot holes and predictable "twists" and like I said earlier, I think it would have been better had they saved Two Face for it and not rushed his story in part 2. As an end to a supposedly epic trilogy, it really disappoints. So, my thoughts on the Nolan movies are: Batman Begins - very good Dark Knight - Ok Dark Knight Rises - pretty bad

An interesting post.

What don't you like about Bale's Batman? I thought he brought gravitas to it. Keaton was pretty
good but Bale was Shakespearean, in my opinion. I agree: the Dark Knight may be a bit over-
rated. But it plays just like a serious cop-drama, except that the protagonist and antagonist wear
costumes. Ledger's Joke could be considered just too much - remember that scene when he
enters into Harvey Dent's medical room and he does all that lip smacking? And then that weird
gait as he exits the hospital before detonating it? Just too much acting. I agree with the notion
that the Two-Face character reveal was rushed.

But oh my god! The Dark Knight Rises, yeah, it has plot holes, but I don't get that as a criticism:
it's a movie! It's not real life! If viewers want something real, go watch a documentary! Pointing
out that TDKR has plot holes means you should point out that a billionaire posing as a borderline
sociopath wearing a bat suit is ludicrous. Sometimes, there are events and circumstances in life
that have no clear explanation, so I don't get too wrapped up in plot holes.

My favorite Nolan movie is The Prestige. I refuse to watch Inception or Interstellar. I don't want
to watch the former because I have great disdain for psychological movies. And I don't want to
watch Interstellar because I don't want to cry like a wimp.

duccichucka said: