Tornado's Top/Bottom 10 Superhero Films

[JBond]

Pretty nice list. Most of my favorite are on there. Though I wouldn't consider myself too passionate for Superhero movies.

[Nick1988]

Originally Posted by Neverending

I'm not rushing to put Avengers in my top 10. I wanna re-watch it a few times just to see how it holds up.

Agreed, after first seeing it, i was blown away, but to me a movie is truly "Great" if it can still have the same appeal after repeat viewings, much like The Dark Knight and others are for me.

[PG Cooper]

Torn, you and I have the same top three.

[saveus1011]

Saw SUPERMAN on the big screen Friday. It really is the perfect superhero film.

It was packed in a double with the Donner Cut of II, which quite honestly I think I prefer.

[Nick1988]

I still have yet to see Donner's cut of Superman II..

[IanTheCool]

Tornado, out top 5 would be almost identical, but at this point I might put Avengers as 2.

[saveus1011]

Originally Posted by Nick1988

I still have yet to see Donner's cut of Superman II..

More serious, less slapstick from Lester's version. Like how Lois finds out he's Superman better, in addition to Marlon Brando.

I do miss some things (i.e. "General, would you care to step outside?" and the flying with the flag,) but those are small sacrifices for what is ultimately a stronger film.

[Dhamon22]

1. The Dark Knight
2. The Avengers
3. X-2
4. Batman Begins
5. Spider-Man 2
6. Kick-Ass
7. Watchmen
8. Iron-Man
9. Batman Returns
10. Captain America

[MovieBuff801]

I don't know what it is, but while I REALLY like The Avengers, I still don't know if I'd want to put it in my Top 5 Superhero Films. I need to give it more thought.

[Doomsday]

I still haven't seen Watchmen. I wanted to read the graphic novel first but at this point I think I'll snake it from my buddy next time I see him.

[Doomsday]

Originally Posted by saveus1011

More serious, less slapstick from Lester's version. Like how Lois finds out he's Superman better, in addition to Marlon Brando.

I do miss some things (i.e. "General, would you care to step outside?" and the flying with the flag,) but those are small sacrifices for what is ultimately a stronger film.

Did they take out Lex Luthor's line 'hey, ever hear of a parachute?' Not only was Gene Hackman very obviously dubbed by someone else, it's just a horrible line in general.

[Justin]

Originally Posted by Doomsday

I still haven't seen Watchmen. I wanted to read the graphic novel first but at this point I think I'll snake it from my buddy next time I see him.

Read the GN, skip the movie. You're much better off.

And yeah, good list and good work, Tornado. I've never been crazy about Superman as a character, really making my enjoyment of his movies pretty limited. Nevertheless, good job!

[MasterChief117]

Re-watched Thor today. This was my second viewing and I extremely enjoyed it. The only noticeable thing that bothered me in Thor, was not as much about Thor as it was with The Avengers. The Avengers lacks A LOT of emotional pull, the emotional, family turmoil that Thor brought. That would've been great to see.

[Neverending]

Originally Posted by saveus1011

More serious, less slapstick

The best version of Superman II is the infamous 1980 European Cut. It splits the Donner and Lester footage 50/50 and gives them a co-directors credit. For legal reasons, that version only exists in bootleg now.

The problem with the so-called "Richard Donner Cut" is that Donner never finished filming Superman II. He only completed like 70% of the movie. As a result, he needed to use 30% of Lester footage but refused to use them. So, instead, to fill the gaps, he used screen tests, deleted scenes, and recycled material from the first Superman. It makes the final product look very sloppy.

Another good version is the ABC Extended Edition. Back in the day, ABC aired movies as two-night events. So, if a movie was too short, they'd add extra scenes. In this case being additional Donner footage.

Originally Posted by Doomsday

Did they take out Lex Luthor's line 'hey, ever hear of a parachute?' Not only was Gene Hackman very obviously dubbed by someone else, it's just a horrible line in general.

Gene Hackman never filmed with Lester. All changes made to Lex Luthor under his direction had to be made using body doubles and voice dubs. So yes, all that nonsense is gone.

[PG Cooper]

Originally Posted by Doomsday

I still haven't seen Watchmen. I wanted to read the graphic novel first but at this point I think I'll snake it from my buddy next time I see him.

Originally Posted by Justin

Read the GN, skip the movie. You're much better off.

I don't know if I'd say skip the movie since it isn't horrible, but read the graphic novel first. Everyone's first experience with Watchmen should be the graphic novel.

[Doomsday]

After watching Avengers again I can't really see putting it on par with Dark Knight. Dark Knight attempts to be more than just a superhero film. It deals with themes of moral ambiguity and values that transcend the immediate good. Avengers is an action movie, albeit a really fun and entertaining action movie. It's definitely better than a lions share of superhero films but to say it's as good of a film as Dark Knight....ehhh I don't think so.

[MovieBuff801]

Originally Posted by Doomsday

After watching Avengers again I can't really see putting it on par with Dark Knight. Dark Knight attempts to be more than just a superhero film. It deals with themes of moral ambiguity and values that transcend the immediate good. Avengers is an action movie, albeit a really fun and entertaining action movie. It's definitely better than a lions share of superhero films but to say it's as good of a film as Dark Knight....ehhh I don't think so.

You and I are pretty much on the same page about The Avengers, Dooms.

[Neverending]

I never said "Avengers" is as good as "Dark Knight" or even better, but "Avengers" being mindless entertainment is the appeal of it. The superhero genre has gotten too serious in recent years and fanboys take it WAY too seriously as well. So, it's nice to see a superhero flick that just wants to be fun, light-hearted, summer entertainment.

[MasterChief117]

Putting The Avengers on the same level of The Dark Knight, even to a bias fan, makes no sense to me. The Dark Knight deals with way more ideas, and is far more ambitious in its meanings. You could say, "Well, The Avengers is there to entertain." Well, here is my care level. The Dark Knight is a better film, simple as that.

[Neverending]

Don't worry, MC117. We all agree "Dark Knight" is better.

[saveus1011]

Superman > The Avengers and The Dark Knight

[Tornado]

Originally Posted by Justin

And yeah, good list and good work, Tornado. I've never been crazy about Superman as a character, really making my enjoyment of his movies pretty limited. Nevertheless, good job!

Thank you sir!

[PG Cooper]

Originally Posted by Doomsday

After watching Avengers again I can't really see putting it on par with Dark Knight. Dark Knight attempts to be more than just a superhero film. It deals with themes of moral ambiguity and values that transcend the immediate good. Avengers is an action movie, albeit a really fun and entertaining action movie. It's definitely better than a lions share of superhero films but to say it's as good of a film as Dark Knight....ehhh I don't think so.

Originally Posted by MasterChief117

Putting The Avengers on the same level of The Dark Knight, even to a bias fan, makes no sense to me. The Dark Knight deals with way more ideas, and is far more ambitious in its meanings. You could say, "Well, The Avengers is there to entertain." Well, here is my care level. The Dark Knight is a better film, simple as that.

I agree that The Dark Knight is better than The Avengers, but I don't really agree with the argument that just because something is more ambitious or thematically deep means it's better. Mulholland Drive is certainly deeper than Raiders of the Lost Ark, but is it better? **** no!

[MasterChief117]

Mulholland Drive and Raiders of the Lost Ark are also two different movies. Psychological thriller and action adventure. The Dark Knight and The Avengers are both in the same genre, superhero movies. At the end of the day, the better comic books for superheroes are the ones that dealt with more moral issues(Hence why Watchmen is on Time's 100 greatest novels of the century).

[PG Cooper]

Originally Posted by MasterChief117

Mulholland Drive and Raiders of the Lost Ark are also two different movies. Psychological thriller and action adventure. The Dark Knight and The Avengers are both in the same genre, superhero movies. At the end of the day, the better comic books for superheroes are the ones that dealt with more moral issues(Hence why Watchmen is on Time's 100 greatest novels of the century).

Fine, Watchmen (the film) is deeper than The Avengers, but is it a better film? Of course not.

How about Mulholland Drive versus Silence of the Lambs? Silence may not be nearly as ambitious, but I'll take it over Mulholland Drive any day. The Thin Red Line is more ambitious and thematically deep than Saving Private Ryan, but I know you prefer the latter by a mile. I'm not saying ambition and theme aren't things worth pursuing, they certainly are. But to say a film is better just because it's more ambitious/thematic is, in my opinion, ridiculous.