Comic Book Films

It wasn’t until the last decade that Hollywood decided to treat comic book films as A list films. Some exceptions did exist, but for the most part they were few and far between.

DC Comics

• Superman & Superman IIboth were well done and maintained some semblance of a tie to the comic book. Superman 3 & 4 were made to cash in and suffer for it.
• Batman (1989) Tim Burton ignored the comic book for the most part, but was able to capture the overall feel of the character. The other films in this series suffer from a lack of quality control.
• Swamp Thing was a decent low budget monster film. A hideous direct to video sequel Return of Swamp Thingfailed on every level and the horrid TV series didn’t help.
• Steel was a vanity piece for a basketball player.

Marvel Comics

• Howard the Duck proved that having George Lucas involved in a production wasn’t always a good idea. Didn’t help matters that by the time the film came out the character was almost unknown.
• The Punisher the direct to video film from 1989 was a joke. Has nothing whatsoever to do with the character and suffers for it.
• Fantastic Four unreleased.Roger Corman had the rights and made this film to keep them. Low budget drek in every way.
• Captain America badly done film that failed due to an almost total failure to give the character the respect he deserves. Stand out for the rudder ears on the costume.

     In the late 90s comic book based films began to get the treatment they deserved. The main reason for this was the increase in special effects technology. At present these films are in demand and very popular.

Marvel

• Blade, Blade II & Blade Trinity. Like Howard the Duck, Blade was an almost unknown character, but the makers of these films used that to their advantage. The character was changed and made into an R rated Horror/Action hero.
• X-Men, X-2 & X-3Wolverine has been one of Marvel’s most popular characters and these films make effective use of this fact. Well made and very entertaining.
• Spider-Man, Spider-Man 2 & Spider-Man 3 all made large amounts of money and are the real reason for the numerous comic based films.
• Hulk failed on many levels.
• Incredible Hulk proved that the character, if done right, could work.
• Iron Man perfectly captures the look and feel of the character.
• Fantastic Four & Fantastic Four Rise of the Silver Surfer capture the innocence of the comic.

DC

• Superman Returns was a stumble. The film was a sequel to Superman II and failed for numerous reasons.
• Batman Begins & The Dark Knightwere amazing movies that showed that DC characters can draw an audience.
• Watchmen is an epic. Remains close to the source material and delivers.
• V For Vendetta made numerous changes from the series, but did a decent job of capturing the feel of the series.
• A History of Violence made some changes from the graphic novel, but works.
• Road to Perdition is a very depressing film.

Independents

• Spawn was hindered by it’s rating, but at the time an R rated comic book based film was unheard of. The unrated cut of the film is entertaining.
• From Hell diverted from the source material quite a bit, but works as a film.
• 30 Days of Night perfectly captures the look and feel of the series and remains an effective horror movie.
• The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen became too confused for it’s own good. A watered down version of the series that is sub-standard in every way.
• Wanted changed almost everything. Entertaining movie, but if you’ve read the series you will be let down.
• 300 must be seen to be believed. Amazing film.
• Sin City looks like the comic has come to life.
• The Spirit fails mostly due to the fact that the charcater is too obscure.