The emergence of the comic book film over the last decade has resulted in a number of top quality films and an even greater number of mediocre and horrible ones. With the release of the solid "Captain America: The Winter Soldier" this weekend, Reel Salazars is looking to honor the best of the pack. Here are my top five favorite comic book films.
** Major disclaimer: The early Superman films are great and all, but they never really resonated with me. Do not expect any on this list. You have been warned.
5. Batman Begins
Christopher Nolan's first bat flick is rather conservative compared to what he would do next. However, with this film he single-handedly resurrected Batman from the purgatory in which he had resided since Joel Schumacher destroyed his credibility and cinematic name. "Batman Begins" was immediately the best Batman movie up to that point and would help shift the entire concept of how a superhero movie should be. It dealt with more mature themes with a darker edge and was led by a terrific performance from Christian Bale.
4. Iron Man
Few had probably known Tony Stark's alter-ego prior to this film, but thanks to a masterful turn from Robert Downey Jr. and solid direction from Jon Favreau, this film became an instant classic and rejuvenated Marvel's brand. The film has terrific action, performances and moves at a relenting pace, but its X-Factor is its ability to have irreverent fun. This is still the best film that the Marvel factory has produced since 2008 and it has yet to be topped.
3. V for Vendetta
The Wachowskis have made a ton of mistakes over the last few years, but this one was not one of them. In fact, "V for Vendetta" (which was not directed by Lana or Andy) is right up there with the matrix. It is nowhere near as revolutionary or philosophical, but "V" manages to imbue the genre with a seriousness and humanity that is often missing in many of Marvel's products. Hugo Weaving wears a mask the entire film, but his vulnerability and panache comes throughout nonetheless; Natalie Portman is also rather excellent even if her British accent can be a bit inconsistent and distracting at times.
2. Spider-man 2
The first "Spider-Man" film was excellent, but the sequel was that much better. While the first was a well-made origin stories (albeit one told a million different times), this one moved brought the superhero genre from its childhood into its adolescence with a focus on identity crisis and the complexity of obtaining responsibilities. The balance between wit and seriousness is achieved so well that even the film at the top of this list is unable to find it. The performances, especially Tobey Macguire's are all memorable indeed.
1. The Dark Knight
If "Spider-Man 2" brought the genre from childhood to adolescence, then "The Dark Knight" brought the comic book movie into its full maturity. The film not only bends the rules of the genre by also blending it with the film noir, but also dares to dive into philosophical issues on heroism while being fearless with the violence. Heath Ledger is of course the foundation on which this film was built and his turn as the Joker is one of the most unforgettable performances in cinema history.
Did I leave out any of your favorites? Tell us what your top comic book movies are!