Marvel and D.C. Movies

[arglebargle]

Best word I heard from the manager of a local comics store, is that the new guy in charge of the DC Cinematic Universe is really pretty good. Which would be helpful for them, as I have felt their recent films were not well done. Been ages since I can recall a worthy hit from them.

 

[DallasEast]

Deadpool

The comic book world is filled with unique characters but Deadpool has always stood out among the multitude. Unfiltered. Offensive. And an unrepentant jokester. The Merc With A Mouth got his face time on the big screen and delivers in spades.

Casting: Ryan Reynolds was always perfect, literally born, for the roles of two superhero character—Green Lantern and Deadpool. Reynolds looked like he stepped out of Hal’s reflection but that was always his best connection to Jordan. However, Reynolds' looks and comedic style were the combination that made him the consummate Deadpool. Audiences got a sneak preview of things to come when Reynolds played a weaker conceived version of Wade Wilson in a supporting role during X-Men Origins: Wolverine.

__________

Doctor Strange

Imagination is essential for science fiction. Imagining what ‘realistic’ sorcery and weird dimensions would look like takes true vision. Luckily, director Scott Derrickson had decades worth of illustrations from the comic title. In my opinion, Derrickson does a great job constructing a fantasy universe that sits side-by-side with the normal one.

Casting: The Sorcerer Supreme must command sometimes very volatile magic in its countless forms with firm, serious discipline. Lack of control for even a moment can quickly lead to disastrous results. Benedict projects a natural regalness that fits the role to a T.

__________

Elektra

A la Catwoman, a poorly conceived and executed storyline dooms Elektra from the start. The movie’s single bright spot is Jennifer Garner. She projects a strong screen presence but she doesn’t have a strong platform to build on and her supporting cast is weak also.

Casting: Garner’s good but isn’t given an honest chance to cultivate the character properly. An actress like Jessica Biel at that time may have been a good and possibly better alternate for Garner but would’ve faced the same obstacles.

Upcoming: Fantastic Four, Ghost Rider and Green Lantern.

 

[DallasDomination]

I'm all for Marvel and DC movies but not if it's catered towards little kids.. I'm sorry I just can't watch another Avengers movie where nobody dies, little to no blood..no real threat.

I like movies like Logan, Deadpool the first and only the first iron man, the dark knight was solid... Outside of that everything else is terrible.

 

[PJTHEDOORS]

I'm all for Marvel and DC movies but not if it's catered towards little kids.. I'm sorry I just can't watch another Avengers movie where nobody dies, little to no blood..no real threat.

I like movies like Logan, Deadpool the first and only the first iron man, the dark knight was solid... Outside of that everything else is terrible.

The last 2 Captain America movies were really good. I also liked Ant-Man, Doctor Strange. Those aren't close to terrible.

 

[DallasDomination]

The last 2 Captain America movies were really good. I also liked Ant-Man, Doctor Strange. Those aren't close to terrible.

X-men days of future past was also good..I especially like who they casted for Magneto.

Dr. Strange I like the actor and the beginning...but it kind of fell off. Could of been much better.

 

[LocimusPrime]

The only thing that annoyed me in winter soldier is that Cap could actually battle iron man. Iron man should destroy cap.

 

[PJTHEDOORS]

The only thing that annoyed me in winter soldier is that Cap could actually battle iron man. Iron man should destroy cap.

Sure, if Cap didn't have his shield.

 

[DallasEast]

Fantastic Four

Stan Lee’s World’s Greatest Fighting Team has never translated as well to film as it should have been but the first two big screen incarnations of the 2000’s was much MUCH better than the last rendition of this decade. Speaking of decades, Marvel had promoted Reed Richards as Earth’s (and sometimes the Milky Way Galaxy’s) greatest intellect for as long but the company did not have cinematic rights to the character. Thus, Tony Stark assumed that role. Susan Richards’ character never fully demonstrated her truly formidable force field power. Ben Grimm went from poorly designed body suit to badly drawn CGI. The only team member who translated best in the movies was the Human Torch.

Casting: No actor looked better in an FF uniform than Jessica Alba, despite the totally unnecessarily piercing blue contacts she wore. Chris Evans takes no back seat in regards to crafting and generating hero and alter ego virtually seamlessly. In my opinion, Kata Mara and Michael B Jordan were solid choices for the same two roles but both were unable to do much within the confines of their ill-conceived film.

Best Movie In Series: Fantastic Four: Rise Of The Silver Surfer (despite the space rock cloud Galactus)

__________

Ghost Rider

<My prayer. Please keep Nicholas Cage away, far away, from these movies. Amen.>

On the other hand, the Vengeance demon’s special effects in the first movie were pretty darn good.

Casting: Sam Elliott had a supporting role as Cage’s mentor but gave the best performance in the original movie.

Best Movie In Series: The original Ghost Rider. The sequel was pure crap.

__________

Green Lantern

Look like Tarzan. Act like Jane. I shouldn’t insult Jane but…

The ancient Green Lantern Corps, formed by the unimaginably older Guardians of the Universe, are composed of thousands upon thousands of members—all armed with one of the most powerful weapons known: the Emerald Power Ring. The Ring can create whatever the mind can conceive. The impurity of the color yellow and the user’s self-restriction of will are the Ring’s only limitations.

One Green Lantern stands out among them all, Hal Jordan. Open and look in any of the character’s book titles with Jordan in it and Ryan Reynolds is literally staring right back you. However, the character’s immersed within an aura of true inspirational leadership. Long story short, Reynolds and the movie does an average job of presenting Jordan to the audience. It doesn’t help that the other two main characters, played by Blake Lively and Peter Sargaard, were shadows of themselves also.

The movie’s strengths are the not spectacular but well-crafted CGI and the acting and/or voice work of Mark Strong, the late Michael Clarke Duncan, Temuera Morrison and Geoffrey Rush. The movie slips with the unnecessary inclusion of Tim Robbins as one of the villains’ father and totally misses the golden opportunity of matching a great character, Amanda Waller, with a super actress, Angela Bassett. Too humorous (or lack of appropriate humor at times) for the movie’s own good.

Casting: Best? Hands down, Mark Strong does a fantastic Sinestro with limited on-screen time. The movie’s ending sets the tone for a sequel centered on Sinestro. It’s too bad Strong wasn’t given a chance to do more with his character, who is the one of the better villains in the DC comic universe.

Upcoming: Guardians of the Galaxy, Hulk and Iron Man

 

[Runwildboys]

Notice I didn't put ... Marvel vs, D.C. Movies

I want input... can be pro or con about how they were done or who was cast that was great or not great etc.


For me:

SUPERMAN

Superman with Reeve in movies 1 and 2 are my fav to Superman thus far.
The 3rd movie bombed but you could argue that his acting was great ... playing two roles.

Casting: Perfect
Best movie: Superman 2 with 3 villains.



#####



BATMAN

Batman with Keaton. I'm a big fan of his but he is not the best batman to me.
I actually don't have a fav batman thus far. I do really like Affleck as older Wayne/Batman though.

Bale was ok. He didn't feel like batman.

Affleck seems to have a grip on him at this point.


Casting: All around adequate thus far.
Best movie: TDKR. I pick that one even though it wasn't perfect for me. The idea was best.




#####




Iron Man

As close to perfect as you can get for casting Tony Stark. Recasting should be interesting,
They might nail it even more.... if they want.

Casting: All around adequate thus far.
Best movie: Don't have one. Iron Man 3 - the previews pulled me in, "you won't see me coming"... then the toilet scene. Geez!




#####


Spider-Man

I guess so far I like Toby. No great shakes..

Casting: Toby. This new kid. It's wacky. It's off ... they messed with ages here. Aunt may.
Best movie: Spider-man 2 with Doc Oc.

Best scene ever in comics, to me, is the train stopping scene in Spider-Man 2. I think they agree because this 3rd spider man is doing something similar with a boat. Heh heh

Can't stand Toby as Spiderman. Peter Parker, while a somewhat nerdy guy, was much less wimpy than Maguire, and a much better smart***. The one who played Spidey in the The Amazing Spiderman was far better, IMO.
The one in the Captain America movie is a bit small, but he definitely has the sense of humor down.

 

[JoeyBoy718]

Can't stand these movies. They're to movies what Justin Beiber is to music. Just my opinion.

 

[Trouty]

Can't stand these movies. They're to movies what Justin Beiber is to music. Just my opinion.

I used to be the same, Joey, but now I really enjoy them. I also enjoy how passionate people are about them

 

[PJTHEDOORS]

Can't stand these movies. They're to movies what Justin Beiber is to music. Just my opinion.

What do you expect with superhero movies? No action, nothing?

 

[LittleBoyBlue]

Can't stand Toby as Spiderman. Peter Parker, while a somewhat nerdy guy, was much less wimpy than Maguire, and a much better smart***. The one who played Spidey in the The Amazing Spiderman was far better, IMO.
The one in the Captain America movie is a bit small, but he definitely has the sense of humor down.

I hear ya on the first guy..."you talk to the guy"
Not with you on second guy ...

I think you are right on last guy.....

 

[DallasEast]

Guardians of the Galaxy

If a moviegoer needs a template for how a comic book can be made as a movie the right way, he or she can get two templates for one watching Guardians Of The Galaxy and Guardians Of The Galaxy: Vol 2. Smart stories. Great acting. Superb chemistry. Wonderful dialogue. Top notch special effects. Essentially, GOTG is a band of misfits, unique in any imaginary way, bound together by chance, devoted towards defending the galaxy from all kinds of threats. Or hoping to get rich and famous. Or a little bit of both. GOTG is the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s link between ‘normal’ and cosmic. In my opinion, Marvel and Disney are geniuses using this particular comic book title as the bridge for its other characters into its Infinity War storyline.

Casting: Every actor who has a team character is perfect. Chris Pratt brings late 20th century attitude to the cosmos. Zoe Saldana is a mixture of smarts, warrior, and sexy. Dave Bautista is a tragic brute camouflaged as the ultimate straight man. Bradley Cooper’s the clever mutated being filled with sarcasm. Even though Vin Diesel’s voice work is limited to less than five words, his varied inflections of the same phrase told way too many times throughout the movies are homeruns in each and every scene. The cast of GOTG may be better than that of The Avengers in some ways.

Best Movie In Series: The original Guardians Of The Galaxy
__________

Hulk

Eric Bana gets mad with a straight face. Jennifer Connelly is broody. Drunk Nick Nolte is a wild man! Thank goodness for Sam Elliott. Oh and Hulk grows into… ho ho ho! GREEN GIANT!

Fast forward from Ang Lee’s stupidity.

The sequel does a good job rebooting the character properly. Special effects reflect how impressive Hulk is per his comic book titles. Ed Norton does a good Fugitive impression while accurately highlighting the daily trials of keeping his monster in check and demonstrates some aspects of his vast intellect onscreen. Liv Tyler’s Betty Ross is really a good Liv Tyler but I think she pulls it off well. And William Hurt delivers a good performance as a driven obsessive General Ross.

Casting: Norton should have had the opportunity of making Bruce Banner and the hero a steady gig in my opinion but Mark Ruffalo’s work in The Avengers movies clearly makes him the best Hulk and alter ego.

Best Movie In Series: The Incredible Hulk reboot.
__________

Iron Man

The thing I liked most about the original Iron Man film was how they meshed a version of the character’s origin from the 1960’s along with a quick evolution into the Golden Avenger. The upgrade switcheroo from Terrence Howard to Don Cheadle was a bit distracting in the sequel but not nearly as diverting as Sam Rockwell’s Justin Hammer. Finally, I respect The Mandarin isn’t really The Mandarin, who is actually just some guy named Trevor, who works FOR The Mandarin, who isn’t anything like The Mandarin from the Iron Man titles as a storyline but I was a bit disappointed. Great action throughout though.

Casting: Robert Downey Jr. grabbed this role and ran away with it. At one time way back when, Marvel had Tony Stark portray an alcoholic for a couple of years. It would have been hard (and extremely awkward) but I kinda wish that particular phase of the character’s past development could have been incorporated into these movies.

Best Movie In Series: The original Iron Man

Upcoming: Spider-Man, Suicide Squad and… Supergirl?

 

[DallasEast]

Can't stand Toby as Spiderman. Peter Parker, while a somewhat nerdy guy, was much less wimpy than Maguire, and a much better smart***. The one who played Spidey in the The Amazing Spiderman was far better, IMO.
The one in the Captain America movie is a bit small, but he definitely has the sense of humor down.

Bold: totally agree. A person can take Tobey Maguire out of some scenes from The Cider House Rules, add a smidgen of corny, insert him in the first three Spider-Man movies and not be able to tell a lick of difference. Andrew Garfield seems like he researched the teenaged Peter Parker/Spider-Man at the very least.

 

[DallasEast]

Spider-Man

Given arachnoid abilities after a radioactive spider bite, Peter Parker transforms from a puny nerdy teenager into an individual with extraordinary abilities—talents he used for selfish reasons until personal indifference killed his beloved Uncle Ben. Thus, ‘with great power comes great responsibility’ birthed Spider-Man, who is arguably Stan Lee’s greatest fictional character.

Sony did some things right and wrong by the character. Every Sony film did an amazing job displaying Spider-Man’s astonishing agility. The first two movies conceptualized Parker’s Spider Sense really well. Like several high profile (usually male) Marvel characters, Peter has an exceptional mind. The character is not on the level of a Reed Richards or Tony Stark but does eventually earn a Ph.D. in biochemistry. So he is super smart, which Sony correctly touches on more in the final two movies than during his first three (i.e. ingenious web shooters versus web fluid created in his body). Here’s hoping Marvel reboots the character correctly from jump this July 7.

Casting: Tobey Maguire plays Tobey Maguire playing Spider-Man. Andrew Garfield plays a smart, high school teenager running through all the emotional trials mandated from the responsibility of acquiring super powers. Edge: Garfield. Shout out to Sally Field as Aunt May! Which actor may have played the best rendition of a character in any of the movies? J.K. Simmons as J. Jonah Jameson. Yeah. It is a bit dated and over the top but his character is straight out of the books.

Best Movie In Series: Spider-Man II
_________

Suicide Squad

Villains? Supervillains as superheroes? Well, they are not superheroes but they are bad guys coerced into committing good for the betterment of the world—although they never get the credit. The concept is not new. The Dirty Dozen is a classic film set in World War II that pits convicts sent on a secret mission into **** Germany. Even though Suicide Squad was created almost a decade earlier than that 1960’s classic, it has not fared as well in print over the past half century.

The debut (or origin) movie, while not great, is better than detractors say it is. The underlying theme is founded in magic, which may be hard to assimilate from a dramatic perspective. Magic is a fantasy concept that I believe DC/Warner Bros will use to ease its audience into the more cosmic concept of the upcoming Justice League storyline(s) but I am just guessing.

The main characters are introduced with solid background stories. Jared Leto is no Heath Ledger but he neither tries nor even needs to recreate the latter’s brilliant performance in The Dark Knight. This is notable because Leto is a hang up for some of the audience. The rest of the main cast is solid. They were wrong doing what they did to Slipknot/Adam Beach (poor guy).

Casting: Apologies Will Smith. Margot Robbie and Viola Davis’ performances as Harley Quinn and Amanda Waller put your Deadshot solidly in their rearview mirrors. Robbie’s psychotic comedic and melodramatic timing is excellent. Davis created what Angela Bassett was never given any legitimate opportunity of creating in Green Lantern—an utterly ruthless, calculating, patriotic mastermind behind the Squad. Same movie? No. Same character? Yes.
__________

Supergirl

Oy. This movie is just one of a list of reasons why the Salkind produced films should have ended on a high note with Superman II but regrettably didn’t. Even Hollywood legends like Faye Dunaway and Peter O’Toole couldn’t savage Supergirl. Witches and goofy-sounding Kryptonian technology. Supergirl’s origin is twisted so badly. Supergirl was conceptualized and executed poorly. It’s an injustice to the character AND actors who played in it.

Casting: I don’t know. I really don’t know. Helen Shaver was in the same boat as her more famous co-stars. She didn’t have a chance to shine in the movie. Her performance may have had a detrimental effect on her career afterwards (and probably played a part in keeping films like Wonder Woman on the drawing board for decades). It’s difficult seeing anyone else playing the role at that time with the same wholesome, girl-next-door persona that the Salkinds were looking for and found with Shaver. Kelly Preston would have been about the right age around that time…

Upcoming: Superman, The Avengers and The Punisher

 

[LittleBoyBlue]

Guardians of the Galaxy

If a moviegoer needs a template for how a comic book can be made as a movie the right way, he or she can get two templates for one watching Guardians Of The Galaxy and Guardians Of The Galaxy: Vol 2. Smart stories. Great acting. Superb chemistry. Wonderful dialogue. Top notch special effects. Essentially, GOTG is a band of misfits, unique in any imaginary way, bound together by chance, devoted towards defending the galaxy from all kinds of threats. Or hoping to get rich and famous. Or a little bit of both. GOTG is the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s link between ‘normal’ and cosmic. In my opinion, Marvel and Disney are geniuses using this particular comic book title as the bridge for its other characters into its Infinity War storyline.

Casting: Every actor who has a team character is perfect. Chris Pratt brings late 20th century attitude to the cosmos. Zoe Saldana is a mixture of smarts, warrior, and sexy. Dave Bautista is a tragic brute camouflaged as the ultimate straight man. Bradley Cooper’s the clever mutated being filled with sarcasm. Even though Vin Diesel’s voice work is limited to less than five words, his varied inflections of the same phrase told way too many times throughout the movies are homeruns in each and every scene. The cast of GOTG may be better than that of The Avengers in some ways.

Best Movie In Series: The original Guardians Of The Galaxy
__________

Hulk

Eric Bana gets mad with a straight face. Jennifer Connelly is broody. Drunk Nick Nolte is a wild man! Thank goodness for Sam Elliott. Oh and Hulk grows into… ho ho ho! GREEN GIANT!

Fast forward from Ang Lee’s stupidity.

The sequel does a good job rebooting the character properly. Special effects reflect how impressive Hulk is per his comic book titles. Ed Norton does a good Fugitive impression while accurately highlighting the daily trials of keeping his monster in check and demonstrates some aspects of his vast intellect onscreen. Liv Tyler’s Betty Ross is really a good Liv Tyler but I think she pulls it off well. And William Hurt delivers a good performance as a driven obsessive General Ross.

Casting: Norton should have had the opportunity of making Bruce Banner and the hero a steady gig in my opinion but Mark Ruffalo’s work in The Avengers movies clearly makes him the best Hulk and alter ego.

Best Movie In Series: The Incredible Hulk reboot.
__________

Iron Man

The thing I liked most about the original Iron Man film was how they meshed a version of the character’s origin from the 1960’s along with a quick evolution into the Golden Avenger. The upgrade switcheroo from Terrence Howard to Don Cheadle was a bit distracting in the sequel but not nearly as diverting as Sam Rockwell’s Justin Hammer. Finally, I respect The Mandarin isn’t really The Mandarin, who is actually just some guy named Trevor, who works FOR The Mandarin, who isn’t anything like The Mandarin from the Iron Man titles as a storyline but I was a bit disappointed. Great action throughout though.

Casting: Robert Downey Jr. grabbed this role and ran away with it. At one time way back when, Marvel had Tony Stark portray an alcoholic for a couple of years. It would have been hard (and extremely awkward) but I kinda wish that particular phase of the character’s past development could have been incorporated into these movies.

Best Movie In Series: The original Iron Man

Upcoming: Spider-Man, Suicide Squad and… Supergirl?

Up until ruffalo which is after the origins fact... I liked the tv shows origins (while different) ... I liked it better.

Showed genuine cause and effect of how he came go be. Love/loss, research, science, forward thinking etc

 

[LittleBoyBlue]

Spider-Man

Given arachnoid abilities after a radioactive spider bite, Peter Parker transforms from a puny nerdy teenager into an individual with extraordinary abilities—talents he used for selfish reasons until personal indifference killed his beloved Uncle Ben. Thus, ‘with great power comes great responsibility’ birthed Spider-Man, who is arguably Stan Lee’s greatest fictional character.

Sony did some things right and wrong by the character. Every Sony film did an amazing job displaying Spider-Man’s astonishing agility. The first two movies conceptualized Parker’s Spider Sense really well. Like several high profile (usually male) Marvel characters, Peter has an exceptional mind. The character is not on the level of a Reed Richards or Tony Stark but does eventually earn a Ph.D. in biochemistry. So he is super smart, which Sony correctly touches on more in the final two movies than during his first three (i.e. ingenious web shooters versus web fluid created in his body). Here’s hoping Marvel reboots the character correctly from jump this July 7.

Casting: Tobey Maguire plays Tobey Maguire playing Spider-Man. Andrew Garfield plays a smart, high school teenager running through all the emotional trials mandated from the responsibility of acquiring super powers. Edge: Garfield. Shout out to Sally Field as Aunt May! Which actor may have played the best rendition of a character in any of the movies? J.K. Simmons as J. Jonah Jameson. Yeah. It is a bit dated and over the top but his character is straight out of the books.

Best Movie In Series: Spider-Man II
_________

Suicide Squad

Villains? Supervillains as superheroes? Well, they are not superheroes but they are bad guys coerced into committing good for the betterment of the world—although they never get the credit. The concept is not new. The Dirty Dozen is a classic film set in World War II that pits convicts sent on a secret mission into **** Germany. Even though Suicide Squad was created almost a decade earlier than that 1960’s classic, it has not fared as well in print over the past half century.

The debut (or origin) movie, while not great, is better than detractors say it is. The underlying theme is founded in magic, which may be hard to assimilate from a dramatic perspective. Magic is a fantasy concept that I believe DC/Warner Bros will use to ease its audience into the more cosmic concept of the upcoming Justice League storyline(s) but I am just guessing.

The main characters are introduced with solid background stories. Jared Leto is no Heath Ledger but he neither tries nor even needs to recreate the latter’s brilliant performance in The Dark Knight. This is notable because Leto is a hang up for some of the audience. The rest of the main cast is solid. They were wrong doing what they did to Slipknot/Adam Beach (poor guy).

Casting: Apologies Will Smith. Margot Robbie and Viola Davis’ performances as Harley Quinn and Amanda Waller put your Deadshot solidly in their rearview mirrors. Robbie’s psychotic comedic and melodramatic timing is excellent. Davis created what Angela Bassett was never given any legitimate opportunity of creating in Green Lantern—an utterly ruthless, calculating, patriotic mastermind behind the Squad. Same movie? No. Same character? Yes.
__________

Supergirl

Oy. This movie is just one of a list of reasons why the Salkind produced films should have ended on a high note with Superman II but regrettably didn’t. Even Hollywood legends like Faye Dunaway and Peter O’Toole couldn’t savage Supergirl. Witches and goofy-sounding Kryptonian technology. Supergirl’s origin is twisted so badly. Supergirl was conceptualized and executed poorly. It’s an injustice to the character AND actors who played in it.

Casting: I don’t know. I really don’t know. Helen Shaver was in the same boat as her more famous co-stars. She didn’t have a chance to shine in the movie. Her performance may have had a detrimental effect on her career afterwards (and probably played a part in keeping films like Wonder Woman on the drawing board for decades). It’s difficult seeing anyone else playing the role at that time with the same wholesome, girl-next-door persona that the Salkinds were looking for and found with Shaver. Kelly Preston would have been about the right age around that time…

Upcoming: Superman, The Avengers and The Punisher

Super girl was also a product of bad timing. Reeve and his Superman came out when things like rocky and Star Wars were big(1978). They are part of the blockbuster starting era.

Super girl was years later (1984)and was not only done wrong... just wrong time.

It's like releasing dirty dancing with different actors in different era. 2017 bad. 1987 original.

 

[DallasEast]

Super girl was also a product of bad timing. Reeve and his Superman came out when things like rocky and Star Wars were big(1978). They are part of the blockbuster starting era.

Super girl was years later (1984)and was not only done wrong... just wrong time.

It's like releasing dirty dancing with different actors in different era. 2017 bad. 1987 original.

Saying wrong time is kinda confusing. The 80's was loaded with $100, $150, $200+ million dollar blockbuster movies.

 

[DallasEast]

Up until ruffalo which is after the origins fact... I liked the tv shows origins (while different) ... I liked it better.

Showed genuine cause and effect of how he came go be. Love/loss, research, science, forward thinking etc

The television show diverted (really diverted) from the comics but I also liked them.