Top 10 Best Comic Book Movies

Okay, I admit I've gone for a bit of controversy here, but hey, that's what a Top Ten list is about, I've chosen only one from any given franchise. Some being chosen for their cheesy fun-factor, while others were chosen for their cerebral uplifting ability.
The Top 5 comic book movies shown, were all chosen for the specific reason that not only do I own them(and many more) But that they are the ones I re-watch regularly.

 

10 - Superman - Because frankly, no Top 10 comic book movie list would be complete without it. It's Special effects have definitely aged, and it's pacing feels occasionally slow, but it is still brilliant. (and I tell you now, the next movie better begin with Lois's husband dying horribly at Lex's hand and end with Superman-Getting-The-Girl, or even re-released original with this as an alternate ending after with Lois's husband revealed to be an abusive bastard. Can you tell I'm pissy about how the first ended?)

9 - Batman Returns - Ok, i know a lot of people preferred the first (with Jack Nicholson's Joker), but for me this was the best of the series so far. It's special effects were better than the original, and who could forget Catwoman? And it didn't have the same belief breaking moments that Batman Begins did (Stealth car? couldn't they have used something better? perhaps an open sewer tunnel?)

8 - Flash Gordon - Sure, I was 6 when I first saw it, but nonetheless, it was another life changer. I used my Lego to base endless games on it (sure, Lego hawkmen looked awkward, and couldn't sit, but they were great fun, especially against an invading Dalek army, but I'm digressing here)

7 - Men In Black - Okay, I remeber the ending letting me down a bit, But this was a rocking great movie. But it's the early sequences that make this shine, (with the scenes where Jay is being tested/recruited being some of it's best) It's a buddy movie at it's finest.

6 - Blade Trinity - Ok, Ok, The movie is solid cheese, and wesley Snipes is little more than cardboard set dressing. But Ryan Reynolds and Jessica Biel are HOT! In fact they are the sole reasons you should watch this movie, if the scene doesn't involve them, fast-forward.
Yes, the original Blade is superior in many ways (where Wesley Snipes actually does shine), but this is still a great check-your-brain-at-the-door popcorn fest.
(Though the more I think about it, the more I think I should retract this and vote "Blade for number 5, because it is a lot more re-watchable)

5 - The Crow - I was an impresionable young teenager when this was released, taking my first steps into the world of Goth-dom , so yeah, its fair to say this made a big impression on me. It also remains a very solid movie with an excellent soundtrack. Avoid it's ridiculous sequels though.

4 - X-men - This movie (along with spiderman) showed the true potential of the comic book movies. It sucessfully dispenses with the need to tell an elongated "origin" story, something that has burdened comic-book movies for too long. It gives good wieght and characterisation to ALL of it's characters (even Ray Park's Toad and Tyler Mane's Sabertooth achieve this. Though both have very little screen time, who could forget Sabertooth's "Scream for me"?) and is an absolute blast to watch.

3 - Spiderman - I'll say it now, the sequel is at least on par with the original. But the sequel wouldn't have been possible without this most excellent movie to pave the way. (And Kirsten Dunst still looks pretty fine here too, you know, before she progressed into underfed waif territory.)

2 - V for Vendetta - People should not be afraid of their govenrments, Governments should be afraid of their people. In a post "patriot act"/Guatanamo world this is a very relevant message. But this is about more than advocating Anarchy, It has a solid story, excellent characterisation (especially given that we never see V's face) This is rollicking good fun, without compromising the audience's intellignece, and even manages to rise into the realm of "Art" in several places.

1 - Sin City - Noir at its best, Beautiful women, Hard men, and oh-so-pretty (using screenshots almost direct from the source material, let's face it Frank Miller is a god). Watching this is a continual sensation of falling in death, then not dying, and falling again. Or perhaps just a good solid gut punch. Not only is this the best comic book movie ever made, it's also a contender for best movie ever made.

(Honorable mentions go to "Ghost World", "A history of Violence" and "American Splendor" all of these are great movies, but there this niggling part of me that would call them "Arthouse" movies rather than "Comic book movies". Still, watch them if you get a chance. )