DISQUS

Adam Sweeney · 1 year ago

Nice work, Kevin. I agree with all 10. The efficient explanation in the opening credits of The Hulk's origin in this year's version was a perfect example. (Ang Lee, taking notes?)
And I can't scream it enough: STOP HAVING MULTIPLE VILLAINS IN A MOVIE! Less is more.

Bill Brasky · 1 year ago

To #7 ...

because he would of killed her with his indestructible, bullet speed load

Josh Radde · 1 year ago

In regards to #4: They took an origin in Batman Begins that most people weren't familiar with. It had to be developed with care and took its time, so why wasn't it necessary? And then you contradict it with "penis envy" by calling it a well-crafted character study. How can an elaborate origin story be both well-crafted and unnecessary. I'm not trying to David Denby you here, Kevin, but can you explain what you mean?

Terrence · 1 year ago

one thing you missed out on (esp regarding the Xmen) was the attention and lack of power given to the female characters. All the females in superhero movies are generally there for T & A or to bring sensitivity to the males, don't even get me started on the horrendous treatment of Rogue in the X men films.

Storm is one of the most beloved characters in Marvel and she was relegated to secondary status.

Also explain this...... The Punisher, Iron Man, The Hulk, Hellboy, Ghost Rider all were given movies. One of the most iconic heroes of all time WONDER WOMAN still has yet to receive the film treatment?????

SEXISM SEXISM SEXISM

and this is from a dude.................................

Kanon · 1 year ago

Ok, let me see if I understand, or I have to take englsih lessons... #6 is complaining about big name actors in movies?Am I crazy or some of the most acclaimed comic movies have big stars in every role? (like Batman Begins, the Dark Knight, Iron Man).
WTF is wrong with that? How come the big names hurt the movie?

Shane · 1 year ago

if you wanna talk about not so secret identities, don't forget two of the worst offenders. Daredevil, where he loses his secret to the big vilalin , in the first movie no less, and Spider man 2 where a whole bunch of (unimportant) people see him without his mask on, not to mention Mary Jane. They didn't even really play around much with the problems associated with his dating her and being spider man at the same time.

TomB · 1 year ago

#6 is complaining about *misplaced* star power. Specifically, giving Richard Prior (a brilliant comedian) a Superman film as a film vehicle. That would be like making Jerry Lewis (in his prime, of course) the Joker in a Batman film, turning the end result into a modern-day Martin/Lewis gag fest (emphasis on "gag").

Just because a comic book has the word "comic" in it doesn't mean it's supposed to be *funny*! A lot of people in the movie business don't understand that, and the result is trash like the 60's Batman movie and TV show, Superman 3, and undoubtedly half the titles on Hollywood's current "to do" list.

Oh, I'd like to add #11 to the list: Hiring the wrong writers (Mario Puzo and Superman-1 comes to mind, as does the yahoo who penned the Xmen-3 travesty).

Kevin Carr · 1 year ago

@ Josh

I did like Batman Begins, but I am just tired of origin stories. What they do with TDK is so much cooler, but there was too much studio meddling I think to give it a big explosion ending. Sure, it was a good story, but why do franchises always have to start at the beginning?...

As for Penis envy... I thought BB had a relatively well crafted story, but it seemed that Nolan was told to have it end with a giant explosion and Jim Gordon driving the Batmobile... where it seemed it would have been better to have a more intimate, intense confrontation.

@ Shane

ditto on Spider-Man 2 and Daredevil

Spencer · 1 year ago

Kanon, big names are great if the actor is there for his acting, not for his name.

jacck · 1 year ago

"Tim Burton may have been to trendy to really make a perfect film."

It's 'too' not 'to', but nice try slick.

Erik · 1 year ago

Good point Terrence, Hollywood doesn't know how to deal with lead female characters. The XKCD blag had a nice write up on it:
http://blag.xkcd.com/2008/04/10/two-female-leads/

And I'm still mad they kicked Joss Whedon, the guy who proves time and time again he can write good strong female leads, off of Wonder Woman.

Morghus · 1 year ago

Spend less time catering the movies for some strange segment of the market that seems to combine 4 year olds (weird suits) and 12 year olds (effects) while trying to woo the jaded 20+ year olds? (crappy storyline and cheesy moments (Spiderman landing in front of the US flag was cheesy...))

Robert Fure · 1 year ago

Batman & Robin managed to do 40% of these possibly making it the worst movie of all time.

Cindy Wan · 1 year ago

"... and you are..."
"I'm Batgirl."
Thanks, Joel Schumacher. He ruined Batman for us fans way back when.
All the points above are very good points.
I'm still wondering why is it that Pixar's "The Incredibles" remains one of the best, fun-filled superhero movies ever... (just like "Raiders of the Lost Ark" remains one of the best adventure movies ever).
Have yet to see "The Dark Knight" and have high expectations. "Batman Begins" was better than average, until the scene with the train and the water gizmo. Let's not forget Batman is a vigilante, so there's no need for James Bond world domination gizmos.

Josh Radde · 1 year ago

"I'm Batgirl"
"That's not very PC. How about BatPerson?"

Can someone put together a list of the 10 worst bits of dialogue from Batman and Robin?

webb · 1 year ago

McG to direct Terminator Salvation.

kayuza · 1 year ago

I agree with #'s 9,5, & 2. Your #1 spot bothers me however. Multi-character villain use is appropriate if done correctly, which shows better character development and an overall more intricate story. Backing up your idea based on an aging Batman film is okay, but I think you're jumping the shark.. Joel knows how bad the film was already.

Russell · 1 year ago

@Josh Raddle

I can't. Because that would require me watching them again. And, frankly I want to have
Batman Begins and Dark Knight and pretend the others don't exist. I have always loved
Batman's complexity and the fact that no one could figure that out until a few years ago
astounds me.

Oh! And the original animated series and new animation shorts "Batman: Gotham Knight"
Those are also good portrayals of the detective.

Cameron A. · 1 year ago

I disagree with the Marlon Brando choice in #6. Brando was a big name back then, especially in comparison to Christopher Reeve, Margot Kidder and even Gene Hackman. I wouldn't say the star power was misplaced, but the Salkinds paid too high a price for the ten minutes they got out of Brando.

#2 should also have Tank Girl listed. Granted, Tank Girl isn't a superhero, but the film Tank Girl is almost a pragmatic adaptation of the gun-and-Smiths-loving original. Tank Girl also fits with #4 - in the comic it really isn't necessary to explain how Tank Girl came to be, since comic Tank Girl wasn't huge on things like plot and conventional narrative.

Tina · 1 year ago

The Next Batman villian is Megan Fox http://www.ekhichdi.com/gallery/some-unseen-pic...

Tina

Taiya · 1 year ago

Yup nipple suites can ruin a costume design, and so do over buldging fake muscles. I like some of the backgrounds though. So i dont agree with you there, whats a story without a set, and a proper set at that? and uh....Penis envy????? not sure how you got that conclusion but meh. but alas, BURY THE HULK AND CATWOMAN franchise now while we have a chance. Spiderman let me down so i dumped that series like a bad french fry. I think only Nolan can get the duo villain thing straight. It seems too comical from Burton. nice summery btw

Andy_Exile · 1 year ago

you're right on all of these.

i really love Spider-man, but after Spider-man 3 i would rather pretend like it didnt happen.
i wish that Venom would have been more like he was in the comic book ... at least.

Luis · 10 months ago

Val Kilmer's rubber butt looked very hot in batman forever as he was going to save his girl, but rubber nipples are such a big turn off...

ohgoshdirector · 10 months ago

the problem with sexism is a catch 22 situation. surveys and polls show that the cinema going masses prefer a male lead. so that's what they write for us. if people stopped going to male dominated movies then they wouldn't make so many.