Masked men and women fighting to uphold truth, justice, etc. used to be the sole property of the funny pages, comic books and Saturday morning cartoons. With "X-Men: The Last Stand" in theaters and Bryan Singer’s "Superman Returns" hot on its heels, the time is ripe to take a look back at 10 good films devoted to larger-than-life champions.
1. "X-Men" (2000)
It’s tough to choose between this first cinematic installment of the cult comic series and its sequel, "X2" (2003) -- they’re both amazing works into the world of mutant-hood, which builds upon the metaphorical resonance of homo superiors. the "X-Men" movie was the one to introduce the notion of depth into a genre better known for nothing but sound and fury and quips. Faithful enough to the source material for the fanboys and accessible enough to non-comic readers, it’s the touchstone for the modern superhero movie.
2. "Batman Returns" (1992)
Tim Burton’s first "Batman" (1989) mercifully rescued the character from the land of camp, and Christopher Nolan’s "Batman Begins" (2005) does a great job of giving the series a shot in the arm. It’s a freak show, but one, surprisingly, with a heart, and the movie takes the superhero film into some unusually personal places.
- "Spider-Man" (2002)
Fans had been waiting a loooong time for their friendly neighborhood web-slinger to make it to the multiplex. Peter Parker gets bitten by a radioactive arachnid and finds that with great power comes great responsibility . now, it’s hard to think the popular hero can catch thieves just like flies. The film isn’t without a few minor faults but Raimi captures the vulnerability, confusion and sense of humanity that’s made the comic one of the best-selling titles of all time.
- "The Incredibles" (2004)
Brad Bird’s animated feature about a family of superheroes living in Suburbia, USA, the film feature a toy cowboy the whole concept of do-gooders running around and still deliver the goods. Then a vengeful figure from his past shows up, and the whole family -- along with Frozone, springs into action. The sequence in which the kids battle UFO-like robots on an island hideaway should be studied by anyone choreographing a knock-down, drag-out showdown.
- "Superman II" (1980)
While Richard Donner’s first "Superman" film is "a solid piece of Americana, " With the Man of Steel’s origin story out of the way, Lester could concentrate on both personal conflicts and spectacular fight scenes, Action, thrills, romance and Metropolis’ It’s one of the rare sequels that easily leaps over the original in a single bound.
- "Darkman" (1990)
Scientist Liam Neeson is developing a sun-sensitive synthetic skin for surgery patients, until some bad guys blow up his lab. He becomes the nocturnal avenger Darkman and sets out to right the wrongs of his fair city. But the sheer imagination and verve here renders the inevitable comparisons moot, and pre-"Spider-Man" turn the pulpy story into something stylish and undeniably fun.
7. "Inframan" (1976)
The mighty Inframan, a superhero with an insect-like helmet, a love of back-flipping and the ability to grow 20 times his normal size. This infectiously fun features the goofiest battles between a gymnast and guy-in-a-rubber-suit monsters ever made. But don’t be surprised if you find yourself trying to imitate Inframan’s devastating "thunderball fist" maneuver.
- "Hellboy" (2004)
Odds were against Mike Mignola’s Dark Horse Comics series -- about a cigar-chomping demon working for the American government’s supernatural defense bureau surviving the translation to the screen. But most fans agree that Ron Perlman’s performance as the crimson rapscallion with a penchant for one-liners and a torch for his comely co-worker Liz Sherman is spot-on. It’s damned near heavenly.
- "Spy Kids" (2001)
Robert Rodriguez’s pint-sized secret agents may share the same employment as 007 but the movie itself resembles a typical superhero story way more than a spy thriller. And once our preteen heroes arrive at the lair of evil mastermind Fegan Floop, you can really spot the genre’s DNA in the android henchmen made entirely of oversized thumbs.
- "The Rocketeer" (1991)
Itself an update of the superhero tales from comic books’ Golden Age. When dashing Cliff Secord straps on a kooky inventor’s jetpack and dons a Commander Cody-esque helmet, the test pilot is transformed into an Art deco defender of good.
Worst Superhero Films:
1] "Batman & Robin" (1997)
Four words: The Batsuit has nipples.
2] "Daredevil" (2003)
Johnson ruin this cult superhero, you might envy the title character’s blindness.
3] "Catwoman" (2004)
Technically, she’s a supervillian, but since the film is the one perpetrating the real crime against humanity, we’re willing to let that detail slide.
4] "Fantastic Four" (2005)
All these legends get is an X-Games commercial masquerading as a blockbuster. Clobberin’ time indeed.
5] "Hulk" (2003)
Hulk no like Freudian analysis of Hulk’s rage. Make Hulk want to smash!