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When it come to superhero adventures , Marvel and DC – the “ Big Two ” comic book publishers – tend to master the discourse . This is n’t limited to comic strip , either ; the characters owned by Marvel and DC are easily the most visible ( and as a consequence , most talked about ) costumed law-breaking - fighters in the film , television and video secret plan industries , too .
But that does n’t mean that every superhero moving picture released over the years has been a Big Two inspiration . On the reverse , flicks based on indie comic Bible Italian sandwich published by the likes of Image and Dark Horse have found their way into film , as well . What ’s more , there have also been films headlined by spandex - clothe do - gooders who were created entirely for the screen , without having ever appeared in pen - and - ink form before .
founder the lower profile typically sequester to non - Marvel and DC superhero movies , we think we ’d highlight the best examples out there . At the same clip , we ’ve also resolve to slacken off some of the very worst , so that you may void seat your prison term in a dud “ pileus and tights ” junket .
Before we jump into the listing , we should quickly point out that we descend up with a few selection criterion to keep things accomplishable . For starter motor , we ’ve govern out any straight - to - DVD efforts – otherwise this inclination would have return into an dateless flow ofterriblesequels . We ’ve also tried to be very strict in our definition of what a “ superhero ” really is , which eliminatesThe Matrixand other movies partly ( but not solely ) tempt by the genre .
All that said , we presentThe 10 bad And 10 Best Superhero Movies ( That Are n’t Marvel Or DC)for your retainer !
Worst: Spawn
Created by maverick wizard creative person Todd Macfarlane as one of the launching character for Image Comics , supernatural superhero Spawn maintains a devoted keep up almost 30 year subsequently . That said , even the most fervid fan would admit that 1997’sSpawnwas an abysmal film . Much of the movie ’s appeal when it was released were its then - unbelievable optic issue , which have since aged terribly .
Without its CGI crutch to tilt on , Spawn ’s many geological fault become even more marked – most notably , a feeble plot of ground and middling performance from its cast . lawful , John Leguizamo is suitably bother as demented clown The Violator , but Michael J. White is flat as Spawn , while veteran worker Martin Sheen is a poor tantrum for villain Jason Wynn . Here ’s hoping the upcoming reboot finally deliver the cinema fans are craving .
Best: Hellboy
shun the excessive CGI that often plagues superhero movies , Oscar - winning auteur Guillermo del Toro opted to have prosthetics and animatronics take center degree inHellboy . The result is a visually stunning adjustment of Mike Mignola ’s Dark Horse comics series star good - hearted devil Hellboy and his fellow paranormal investor .
Admittedly , del Toro occasionally crunches tonal gears assay to careen between run around supernatural shenanigans and kinky humor . Nevertheless , Ron Perlman is consummate in the title role , andHellboysuch an enjoyable romp , it ’s easy to overlook any defect .
imposingly , del Toro rack up it out of the commons again with surveil - upHellboy II : The Golden Army – which is as estimable ( or even better than ) the original – although loge spot returns weren’tquitegood enough to bankroll another sequel , and a reboot is on the way this twelvemonth .
Worst: Flash Gordon
Ok , we get it : there is alotto love aboutFlash Gordon , a plastic film that attend as the very definition of “ furore classic ” . For one thing , it boasts a soundtrack – including a truly iconic main theme – by none other than rock and roll caption Queen . Then there are the exorbitant costume designs , vivid visual effects , and scene - chewing performances by dissemble great like Max von Sydow and Brian Blessed to consider .
However , there ’s also plentynotto love aboutFlash Gordon . Sam J. Jones is wooden as the eponymous football ace turned intergalactic sensation , and the special effects are n’t exactly best in social class . And even if you could look out on these two rather significant shortcoming , your enjoyment ofFlash Gordonwill still depend on how much appetence you have for camp superhero adaptations .
Best: Megamind
Megamindis far from the most original movie on this inclination – to be honest , it ’s basically a mash - up ofThe IncrediblesandDespicable Me . But while it might not break any new ground , what music director Tom McGrath ’s inspire family feature about a super - villain who discovers his inside herodoesdo , it doeswell .
The part design are colorful , the animation slick and the trick funny . But what really earnsMegamindthe thumbs up is its roll of stellar vocal endowment direct by Will Farrell , who deserve much of the citation for ensuring most of the gags land . So whileMegamindmight not reinvent the superhero movie convention , it ’s never anything less than entertaining .
Worst: Bulletproof Monk
devotee ofBulletproof Monkby Brett Lewis and Michael Avon Oeming will be quick to point out just how small it has in usual with its poorly find big screenland similitude . There ’s a reason for their haste to set the record straight : Paul Hunter ’s moving picture is n’t very beneficial … like , atall .
Yes , the all-encompassing strokes of the originalBulletproof Monkstory made it onto the big concealment ( albeit very poorly mangle ) – and warlike arts star Chow - Yun Fat fits the Nameless Monk role like a baseball glove . However , Seann William Scott is far less satisfying as plucky sidekick Kar , and the whole endeavor is weaken by a watery book , bland visual event and , most of all , curiously pedestrian action setting .
Best: The Rocketeer
A fun throwback to the Saturday matinee serials of the 1930s and ' 40s , The Rocketeeris brimming with retro appealingness and thrilling derring - do . Director Joe Johnston ’s take on Dave Stevens comic serial ticks all the veracious boxes : the good hombre are square - jawed , the scoundrel dastardly and the dialogue sprinkled with just the right amount of cheese .
It ’s on-key that the more adult elements of the original peculiar - Scripture were tone down at the behest of Walt Disney Pictures . Yet Johnson dependably captures the look of Stevens ’ body of work , and has translate as much of the comics ’ world into live - natural action , right down to the iconic helmet fatigue by jumper cable Billy Campbell . lamentably , The Rocketeerwas one of several ' 90s menstruation spell superhero reefer to tank at the box part , but owing to its strong fad following , a soft reboot is presently in yield .
Worst: The Meteor Man
Decades beforeBlack Panthertook the world by storm , another superhero movie arrived in dramatics that feature a preponderantly black cast and crowd : TheMeteor Man . But that ’s where the similarities end between Marvel ’s blockbuster bang - hit and Robert Townsend ’s activity / clowning superhero adventure .
It ’s not thatMeteor Manisn’t well - intentioned , or that it ’s lacking in center . you could in spades tell that everyone involved was trying to make something truly peculiar . But Jackson – who not only plays the titular role , but also indite the script and sit in the director ’s electric chair – has saddled himself with a situation comedy - esque screenplay that hover wildly from unspecific joke to clumsy melodrama . now and again , itdoeselicit a chuckle or a pant – but these second are few and far between .
Best: Darkman
Sam Raimi propelled himself onto the Hollywood A - tilt with the originalSpider - Mantrilogy in the 2000s , but he first revel more modest success in 1990 with another superhero picture , Darkman . Intriguingly , Raimi initially rig out to helm eitherBatman ForeverorThe Shadow , but he was ultimately forced to create his own character , instead .
luckily , Darkman turned out to be an inspired invention , with his tragic origin , distinctive aesthetic and stripped - back powers . It does n’t hurt that Raimi was capable to enter an actor of Liam Neeson ’s caliber to play the part , and he – along with the bearing of two - meter Oscar winner Frances McDormand as beloved interest Julie – really elevates proceedings . Their acting prowess , couple on with the infectious gloating with which Raimi approaches the pulpy subject affair , makesDarkmanwell worth checking out .
Worst: The Phantom
The Phantomis another of those ' 90 superhero motion-picture show with a period setting that earned the in question recording label “ box office bomb ” . In many ways , Simon Wincer and his cast and crew were unlucky – this cinematic version of Lee Falk ’s long - running risible strip is n’t awful by any means . Indeed , Billy Zane serves up a likeable performance as mythical hobo camp explorer The Phantom , and there ’s an appealing , Indiana Jonesvibe to Jeffrey Boam ’s blowy screenplay – meet , since he wroteThe Last Crusade !
But Wincer and co. made more than a few critical missteps when bringingThe Phantomto cinemas . For one affair , Treat Williams is unbearably grate as the objectionable ( and nasal ) antagonist , pitiless industrialist Xander Drax . Then there are the Skulls of Toganda , the mysterious McGuffin driving the narrative , which do n’t really fit with the established mythos of Falk ’s canon .
Best: The Mask
Based on an obscure Dark Horse Comics serial , The Maskmarries a public presentation by Jim Carrey at the peak of his OTT comedic superpower with groundbreaking CGI courtesy of ILM . The event of this union only superficially resemble the funnies run by John Arcudi , Chris Warner and Doug Mahnke on which it ’s based , which is n’t exactly a good thing . Indeed , The Maskhas more in uncouth with the classicLooney Tunesshorts superintend by Tex Avery – and that ’s not of necessity a bad matter , either .
surely , the speedy - fire pace of the clownlike humor means that you ’re never bored and often amuse – and the visual consequence utilise to realize the Mask ’s springy - action sketch shtick mostly hold - up today . But Carrey ’s hyperactive , kinetic stylings stay the beneficial result of all , while Cameron Diaz is good as female jumper lead Tina ( her breakout role ) .
