The 5 Most Underrated Comic Book Movies
Comic book movies have become a major part of Hollywood these days, and dozens have been released in the past decade. Some are box office hits, some are bombs, and some are just plain overlooked. This is a list of the five comic book movies that nobody ever talks about, and that I think need more attention. There are a lot, so I might make a bigger list in the future, but for now, this is my 5 most underrated comic book movies!
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- DirectorPete TravisStarsKarl UrbanOlivia ThirlbyLena HeadeyIn a violent, futuristic city where the police have the authority to act as judge, jury and executioner, a cop teams with a trainee to take down a gang that deals the reality-altering drug, SLO-MO.When I was in high school, I was really into Sylvester Stallone, and I was a big fan of his movies (even if most of them were pretty bad). One of his more terrible movies was Judge Dredd (1995), and even though it was a bad movie, it got me interested in the character. Then in 2012, we get the gritty action movie simply known as Dredd. Now this is an action movie. Awesome heroes, awesome villains, awesome world, and awesome action scenes. If the 1995 Dredd got me interested, then the 2012 version make me a dedicated fan. I think this movie captures the tone of the original comics perfectly, and it shows just how fun an action movie can be in this day and age. This movie didn't do too well at the box office, but I really hope there's a sequel, because I really want to see more of this world and these characters.
- DirectorEdgar WrightStarsMichael CeraMary Elizabeth WinsteadKieran CulkinIn a magically realistic version of Toronto, a young man must defeat his new girlfriend's seven evil exes one by one in order to win her heart.Okay, how did this movie not do well? In an era where comedy movie are so bland and unoriginal, a funny and creative one like this comes around...and nobody sees it. Everyone went to go see Kick-Ass, so why did this one get overlooked? It's much funnier and likable than that movie, and this world of a live action video game it has created is the change of pace the comic book movie world needed. Yes, it does change some things from the original graphic novels, but the changes they made came out great, and don't bother me at all. I would like to discuss the humor and tone, but I don't want to ruin it for those who haven't seen it yet. It's a fun movie that should please anyone who's into pop culture, and anyone who's tired of the more gritty and serious comic book movies.
- DirectorGeorge A. RomeroStarsHal HolbrookLeslie NielsenAdrienne Barbeau"Creepshow" is a 1982 movie that tells five grisly tales from a children's comic book: a murdered father rising from his grave, a bizarre meteor, a vengeful husband, a mysterious crate's occupant, and a plague of cockroaches.Not only is Creepshow one of my all time favorite comic book movies of all time, it's one of my all time favorite horror movies of all time too. I'm a big fan of anthology shows like Twilight Zone, Outer Limits, and Tales from the Crypt, and this movie takes the anthology style of its source material (mostly EC horror comics) and has fun with it. The movie is five stories in one, with plenty of zombies, killer plants, big hairy monsters, and cockroaches. The movie is also very over the top (letting the audience know that this is all fun), making it the perfect predecessor to the Tales from the Crypt TV series. The movie has great special effects (done by Tom Savini), but also uses animation in between each story, giving the movie the authentic comic book feel. In an age where all comic book movies are very reliant on CGI, it's great to see those classic 80s horror practical effects. This is a must see for any horror/comic book fan.
- DirectorWarren BeattyStarsWarren BeattyMadonnaAl PacinoThe comic strip detective finds his life vastly complicated when Breathless Mahoney makes advances towards him while he is trying to battle Big Boy Caprice's united mob.Okay, this movie was a big hit when it first came out in 1990, but it seems nobody ever talks about it anymore. Also, I know this is based on a comic strip, not a comic book, but I'm still counting it. Why? Because this is the first comic movie that I feel completely immerses the audience in the comic book world. Painted backgrounds, colorful costumes, over the top makeup, everything about this movie makes you feel like you're in the comic. We'd later get the same feeling 15 years later in Sin City, but I prefer this style by far. Also, the cast is amazing. Warren Beatty, William Forsythe, Al Pacino, Dustin Hoffman, James Caan, Madonna, and many many others. It's just crazy; a movie that made tons of money, won various awards, had an all star cast, and nobody remembers it. Come on people, I think it's about time Dick Tracy made a comeback after almost two and a half decades.
- DirectorKevin AltieriBoyd KirklandFrank PaurStarsKevin ConroyDana DelanyHart BochnerBatman is wrongly implicated in a series of murders of mob bosses actually committed by a new vigilante assassin.Batman is a superhero who has a huge fan base, and everyone loves his movies. Some fans may not like the the campiness of the 60s TV show, or the "retro-ness" of the 80s and 90s films, or the all serious tone of the Nolan films, but no matter who you are, if you're a Batman fan, you've gotta love the animated stuff. To many fans, Batman the Animated Series is the perfect Batman, and in 1993, a film based on the innovative animated series was released. Batman: Mask of the Phantasm is just a perfect movie. It's only flaw is that it's too short, but I think that shows how great a movie it really is. If this movie was 4 hours long, I wouldn't mind. It's that good. It's a movie that's made for kids, but at the same time, too smart for them. It's a very mature film, and it does more justice to its source material than other Batman movies such as Batman Returns (1992) and Batman Forever (1995). A few years ago, I got a chance to see this movie on the big screen at an animation festival, and it was just amazing. It's an experience every Batman fan should be able to enjoy. I think it's about time this movie comes out of the darkness, and is praised along with the greats.