Superhero films I've seen
The Superhero movies I've seen from favorite to least favorite to Catwoman.
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- 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.Favorite - This is a Pulp Masterpiece. With Batman Begins and The Dark Knight, Nolan set out to get Batman back to his gritty roots, there was definitely a pulp element but (especially with TDK) darkness and grounding to our reality. With "Rises" Nolan goes for a more mythic feel than "Begins" or "TDK", and settles in a more fantastical realm. "Rises" is a pulpier film than its predecessors; a mid-air high-jacking, a villain that wears a mask 99% of the film, Batman and Catwoman fighting side by side only to be stopped by gunfire from henchmen so incompetent they can only hit their own comrades rather than hitting their intended targets, police officers that have been trapped underground for several months lining up and rushing Bane's army, and of course a nuclear bomb countdown. These are just a few of many reasons people dislike this movie. And this is where audiences feel that Nolan was just getting lazy. I think this is where he was having the most fun. Nolan clearly has a love for Bond films (as he also showed with Inception). As a fellow Bond aficionado, I really appreciate this, and it only adds to my overall enjoyment of the film.
Superhero movies follow a particular formula. I could predict the plot beats of most of the recent Marvel films (this is not a complaint of Marvel's Cinematic Universe, just an observation). The point is that this film (as its predecessor did) threw me more surprises than most films of this genre typically do. And my expectations were blown away. TDKR has a very intricate structure, and for being 165 minutes long, the movie flies by at a nice pace. I like that this film focuses more on the mental and physical anguish of being both Man and Superhero. Nolan's film has the feeling of a Coppola-sized epic from the 1970s, with its plot complexity, large cast of characters, intricate dialogue scenes and Shakespearean themes. Many scenes in the film are shot in an orange/sepia tone that reminds me of The Godfather Part II. Tom Hardy's Bane is a mythical, Kurtz-like antagonist. Bruce Wayne's journey is riveting. Dark, poetic, bleak and somehow uplifting, an excellent film. - DirectorJon FavreauStarsRobert Downey Jr.Gwyneth PaltrowTerrence HowardAfter being held captive in an Afghan cave, billionaire engineer Tony Stark creates a unique weaponized suit of armor to fight evil.Favorite - Another Superhero film that puts its main focus on the man behind the mask. 2008 was the year that the Superhero movie would come of age, and it certainly started here. Robert Downey Jr. is this movie.
That is all. - 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.Favorite - Nolan's 'The Dark Knight' was unprecedented. If 'The Avengers' is the equivalent of the throwback rousing adventures of 'Star Wars' and 'Raiders of the Lost Ark', then 'The Dark Knight' is more akin to 'Jaws' with its gut-punching thrills and sharp political commentary. While it has its preachier moments, 'TDK' delivers on all fronts. This film doesn't delve into the life of Bruce Wayne as much as Begins or Rises. The film spends more time with Wayne in the suit, a high-tech modern day Batman and a Gotham City that looks like it was shot by Michael Mann. And Heath Ledger's unforgettable Joker is the dark heart of Nolan's dark tale.
- DirectorTim BurtonStarsMichael KeatonDanny DeVitoMichelle PfeifferWhile Batman deals with a deformed man calling himself the Penguin wreaking havoc across Gotham with the help of a cruel businessman, a female employee of the latter becomes the Catwoman with her own vendetta.Favorite - This is a weird movie that fascinated, entertained, and even scared the hell outta me as a kid (the VHS cover alone gave me the willies). After re-watching it, I can say exactly the same thing. Keaton's performance really makes me feel bad that he never had another shot as Wayne/Batman in a sequel, he may not have much more screentime than he did in "Batman", but his portrayal here is far more fascinating as he is given a tragic arc as a destined loner. He's helped by Pfeiffer's Catwoman, equal parts creepy and sexy, her scenes with Keaton really do the Catwoman/Batman dynamic justice. Devito's Penguin is an interesting villain but he is completely overshadowed by another villain. Christopher Walken as Max Shreck. Walken truly elevates this sequel, he's awesome and so is this dark, bizarre, and touching comic-book masterpiece.
- DirectorRichard DonnerStarsChristopher ReeveMargot KidderGene HackmanAn alien orphan is sent from his dying planet to Earth, where he grows up to become his adoptive home's first and greatest superhero.Favorite - I hadn't seen this in years, so I was taken by surprise at how good it holds up. The film has such a beautiful look to it. The visual pow still holds up. Reeves brings a playfulness and charm to Clark/Superman that is fun to watch. If there's a complaint I have it's with Hackman's Lex Luthor. It isn't a horrible performance by any strech but it's a bit less menacing than it should have been. Other than that, watch it and be swept away by the epic sweep of the first Modern Superhero movie.
- DirectorJoss WhedonStarsRobert Downey Jr.Chris EvansScarlett JohanssonEarth's mightiest heroes must come together and learn to fight as a team if they are going to stop the mischievous Loki and his alien army from enslaving humanity.Favorite - The most amazing superhero team-up ever! Period.
- DirectorTim BurtonStarsMichael KeatonJack NicholsonKim BasingerThe Dark Knight of Gotham City begins his war on crime with his first major enemy being Jack Napier, a criminal who becomes the clownishly homicidal Joker.Favorite - I watched the hell out of this on vhs when I was a kid, so yeah I like it a lot. Keaton is very understated as Wayne and he adds a lot of menace to Batman. But ultimately it's Burton's visuals and Nicholson's Joker that steal the show. My only complaint, Kim Basinger is the weak link of the movie, adding absolutely nothing to the movie whatsoever.
- 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.Favorite - I actually missed out on 'Begins' in its' 2005 theatrical release. I was young and turning into more of a 'Marvel' kid at the time and the 'DC' character I was getting into was Superman. So I wasn't really interested in a more reality-based Batman. I'm actually embarrassed to say that I felt the Schumacher films were superior to the Burton films at the time (like I said I was much younger). I am much older now, and with that I can say that 'Begins' is an excellent opener to Nolan's take on Batman. But the weak link is Katie Holmes, she's just... not good.
- DirectorZack SnyderStarsHenry CavillAmy AdamsMichael ShannonAn alien child is evacuated from his dying world and sent to Earth to live among humans. His peace is threatened when other survivors of his home planet invade Earth.Favorite - This movie isn't perfect (it does have to cover some familiar, established grounds, the pacing is a bit uneven and the lens flares and shaky-cam did distract me a few times), but Snyder, Goyer, and Nolan pull all their cinematic punches. The level of pure-spectacle is unprecedented. It may be bombastic to some, but the exhaustive amount of spectacle blew me away.
Henry Cavill makes an excellent Superman, his portrayal is given a good amount of mystery, he's got a hairy chest too, signifying that this Superman is in fact a MAN. Other standouts include Kevin Costner and Diane Lane as the Kents, they both lend humanity and gravitas to these roles. Although he isn't Terence Stamp, Michael Shannon fills the role of General Zod admirably, the guy can play bad pretty well. Man of Steel took me in from the first frame to the last, there's some things that may not sit well with me, but the best movies are the ones you can argue with. I look forward to this Superman's future. - DirectorJon FavreauStarsRobert Downey Jr.Mickey RourkeGwyneth PaltrowWith the world now aware of his identity as Iron Man, Tony Stark must contend with both his declining health and a vengeful mad man with ties to his father's legacy.Favorite - It certainly has its problems and it simply isn't as tightly focused as its predecessor, but the film is essentially just more RDJ as Tony Stark with some fun but none-to-subtle Avengers references. It's just a slapstick comedy with a superhero that is a helluva lot of fun. What's not to like?
- DirectorZack SnyderStarsJackie Earle HaleyPatrick WilsonCarla GuginoIn a version of 1985 where superheroes exist, the murder of a colleague sends active vigilante Rorschach on the trail of a conspiracy that will change the course of history.Favorite - In Zack Snyder's faux-80s/Superhero-epic, the heroes are even grayer than "The Dark Knight". The Cold War setting creates a bleak and surreal atmosphere.
- DirectorBryan SingerStarsBrandon RouthKevin SpaceyKate BosworthSuperman returns to Earth after spending five years in space examining his homeworld Krypton. But he finds things have changed while he was gone, and he must once again prove himself important to the world.Favorite - Bryan Singer's love letter to Donner's Superman films is better than its reputation. I remember loving this movie when I saw this on opening day in June 2006. My mom took me and she... hated it. She didn't just hate it, she berated it for a whole summer. Every time a movie was mentioned that wasn't "Superman Returns" she had to comment on "how (insert random movie) was much better than 'Superman Returns'. I couldn't see why, the movie was so lovable. After all those years I still don't understand why she loathed it so much and I still don't understand why she made me feel so bad for liking it. Although I don't quite have the same feelings for it that I used to, it still manages to move and entertain me.
It isn't action-packed, but the sequences inherent are excellent (The plane sequence being the highlight) and Singer packs on an amazing visual punch. There are individual scenes that are so brilliantly executed that I can't help but say "Wow"; Superman floating above earth, Lex's thugs (Kumar!) beating up Superman is an especially powerful moment. Routh is very good as Supes. He does what he can with the role, but I feel that he isn't given enough to do, I feel like I'm learning more about how Lois is dealing with the return of Superman. That would be fine, but Kate Bosworth is not a capable Lois Lane. She's pretty dull and is as bad as Katie Holmes was in "Batman Begins". Luckily, the scene-stealer is Kevin Spacey as Lex Luthor, in my opinion he blows Hackman out of the water. The main problem is that Singer tries to juggle so much into this movie and therefore the final act suffers from some uneven pacing. Overall "Superman Returns" is an ambitious and underrated effort that holds up extremely well seven years later. - DirectorJoe JohnstonStarsChris EvansHugo WeavingSamuel L. JacksonSteve Rogers, a rejected military soldier, transforms into Captain America after taking a dose of a "Super-Soldier serum". But being Captain America comes at a price as he attempts to take down a warmonger and a terrorist organization.Favorite - A charming throwback to old-time adventure cinema. A total blast.
- DirectorShane BlackStarsRobert Downey Jr.Guy PearceGwyneth PaltrowWhen Tony Stark's world is torn apart by a formidable terrorist called the Mandarin, he starts an odyssey of rebuilding and retribution.Favorite - Just saw it, and although I have a few minor gripes (Rebecca Hall's Maya, is a completely superfluous character and the Kid was way overdone), the good outweighs the bad considerably. Story-wise the film definitely goes into Dark Knight Rises territory, albeit in a much lighter tone (Bruce Wayne is emotionally shattered after the events of 'The Dark Knight' and living like a hermit in Wayne Manor for over eight years before being broken by Bane and thrown in the prison/Tony Stark is suffering from PTSD from the final battle in 'The Avengers' and obsessively creating more and more Suits to feel some sense of security and spends much of the middle part of the film working without his armor, there's even a shot of the heroes' broken mask).
While Nolan's film was more akin to film Epics of the 1970s, director Shane Black channels Action films of the 1980s. There are a lot of 80s action movie tropes to be found in IM3. The attack on Tony's house and the climax are reminiscent to sequences straight out of Lethal Weapon (also written by Black). Downey gives his best performance yet in the role and he is finally given a complete character arc. I was a bit skeptical about Ben Kingsley as The Mandarin. The marketing really played him up as a Bane type figure that I was really doubtful he could pull off. All I will say is, that he surprised me in a very good way and is easily the most memorable of the villains in the Iron Man series. This is undeniably one of Marvel's best. I have a feeling this will get better with age. - 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.Favorite - A satisfying balance of character and kinetic, crowd-pleasing action in a way that would only be surpassed a near decade later in "The Avengers".
- DirectorTim StoryStarsIoan GruffuddJessica AlbaChris EvansThe Fantastic Four learn that they aren't the only super-powered beings in the universe when they square off against the powerful Silver Surfer and the planet-eating Galactus.Guilty Pleasure - A superior sequel. It's not a huge step-up in quality, but it embraces its' comic-book roots better than it gets credit for. Its a fun, fast, unpretentious and the Silver Surfer is bitchin'.
- DirectorRichard LesterStarsGene HackmanChristopher ReeveMargot KidderSuperman agrees to sacrifice his powers to start a relationship with Lois Lane, unaware that three Kryptonian criminals he inadvertently released are conquering Earth.Favorite -
- DirectorBrett RatnerStarsPatrick StewartHugh JackmanHalle BerryThe human government develops a cure for mutations, and Jean Grey becomes a darker uncontrollable persona called the Phoenix who allies with Magneto, causing escalation into an all-out battle for the X-Men.Favorite - Its disappointing in many ways, but hell it's still extremely fun and efficient. It isn't "X2" but its, more entertaining and faster paced than the first film.
- DirectorJoel SchumacherStarsVal KilmerTommy Lee JonesJim CarreyBatman must battle former district attorney Harvey Dent, who is now Two-Face and Edward Nygma, The Riddler with help from an amorous psychologist and a young circus acrobat who becomes his sidekick, Robin.Guilty Pleasure - It's a fun cartoon and it isn't "Batman and Robin".
- DirectorMatthew VaughnStarsAaron Taylor-JohnsonNicolas CageChloë Grace MoretzDave Lizewski is an unnoticed high school student and comic book fan who one day decides to become a superhero, even though he has no powers, training or meaningful reason to do so.Favorite - It lives up to its name.
- DirectorSam RaimiStarsTobey MaguireKirsten DunstWillem DafoeAfter being bitten by a genetically-modified spider, a shy teenager gains spider-like abilities that he uses to fight injustice as a masked superhero and face a vengeful enemy.Very Good -
- DirectorBrad BirdStarsCraig T. NelsonSamuel L. JacksonHolly HunterWhile trying to lead a quiet suburban life, a family of undercover superheroes are forced into action to save the world.Favorite - The only pixar film with superheroes kicks major ass. It even has Samuel L. Jackson in it too!
That is all. - DirectorSam RaimiStarsTobey MaguireKirsten DunstAlfred MolinaPeter Parker is beset with troubles in his failing personal life as he battles a former brilliant scientist named Otto Octavius.Very Good -
- DirectorLouis LeterrierStarsEdward NortonLiv TylerTim RothBruce Banner, a scientist on the run from the U.S. Government, must find a cure for the monster he turns into whenever he loses his temper.Favorite - A slick, fast-paced, Bourne-esque chase flick from Marvel is a much more consistently entertaining superhero flick than Ang Lee's 2003 take on the character, but it still leaves a lot to be desired about this particular character.
- 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.Pretty Good -