The Greatest Comic Book/Graphic Novel Movies of All Time

In honor of The Dark Knight Rises, this week's blog is about the Best Comic Book/Graphic Novel Films ever made. Of course if you look at IMDb, there's no need for this list since EVERY Christopher Nolan movie is in the top 250 of all time, but I hope you won't mind a healthy debate. Read on and argue with me at the end. Quick ground rules: one movie per series.

Blade kicked off Marvel's movie
superiority.

10) Blade (1998) – Marvel didn't have a good film track record until this late 90's Wesley Snipes movie surged through theaters. This film did well even when vampires weren't in every movie. The story of the half-human/half-vampire slayer was done justice by Snipes and Kris Kristopherson. It would spawn two more sequels that never reached their potential, but it was better than Twilight- then again... so are infomercials.

Watch out who you cross
in Sin City?

9) Sin City (2005) – Frank Miller's graphic novels were brought to life in Robert Rodriguez's film by following the framing used in the comic. The story's were done with a serious and slightly campy style that perfectly fit the film noir feel of Sin City. It had good performances by the all-star cast led by Bruce Willis, Jessica Alba, Rosario Dawson, Clive Owen and Alexis Bledel, but it was the opening story with Mickey Rouke and Elijah Wood that kept your blood pumping throughout the film.

Hanks, Law and Newman
delivered great work.

8) Road to Perdition (2002) – Sam Mendes' encore after American Beauty was a well-crafted, well-written and well acted piece that many didn't know was originally a graphic novel. Tom Hanks plays a hitman whose son witnessed a hit by Daniel Craig and as a result Craig has his family killed. Hanks escapes with his son and is on the run from the mob, including his boss Paul Newman in his final Oscar nominated performance. Jude Law turns in some of his best work as a hitman with a hobby of photographing the dead.

To ignore 1989's Batman is to be
completely ignorant. It was great.

7) Batman (1989)– Tim Burton's blockbuster hit with a surprise choice to play Batman (Michael Keaton) was considered the movie of the decade by critic Rex Reed. It took a very reserved Batman without a stupid voice (hint, hint Christian Bale) and homicidal maniac Joker (Jack Nicholson) to bring it to life. Like Blade, this was not an origin story for it's first segment and has a good debate with Dark Knight on the better Joker movie.

He was the first comic TV show and
the first comic movie.

6) Superman (1978)– Richard Donner's original comic book film from 1978 that didn't see an equal for some time. Christopher Reeve was the best choice for the Man of Steel as well as Gene Hackman's Lex Luthor. It gave us a full history of Superman from Krypton to Smallville and let audience's know, just because you have a ton of ability, doesn't make you a god.

The Best Origin story
ever and a sign of our times.

5) Iron Man (2008)– The Dark Knight Rises was said to mimic our current times, but Iron Man did it better. Weapons manufacturer Tony Stark sees soldiers getting killed by his own creations and decides to turn over a new leaf. Robert Downey Jr. has been sensational in every installment of this series, but this one showed the public at large just how talented he was. Jon Favereau did a great job making the Marvel hero come to life and there's more only to come.

How was it possible to blend so
many heros together? Joss Whedon
found a way.

4) The Avengers (2012)– What makes The Avengers an achievement is blending so many heroes to make one great film without favoring one too much. Joss Whedon took all six heroes and used them like a Long Island Iced Tea- great going down and packs a punch. The action was great and seemless for Hawkeye to Black Widow to Iron Man to Captain America. Go ahead, see this again and not want to clap when Bruce Banner tells Black Widow about his secret technique.

A sequel worthy of greatness.

3) X2 (2011)- Bryan Singer's follow-up to 2000's X-Men was bigger, better and more gripping than the first. The human villain Brian Cox exposed humans as a bigger threat than Magneto (but Ian McKellen quickly reminds audiences that he's the top of the food chain). Every X-Men actor was on point, even the scenes that had to be added for recent Oscar winner Halle Barry. If you don't have a chill down you spine when Wolverine (Hugh Jackman) walks into the lab that put the metal on his bones, you're made of stone.
Honorable mention: X-Men First Class (2011)

How many times did
you see The Dark Knight?

2) The Dark Knight (2008)– Lost in the hype over Heath Ledger's Joker was the fine performance by Aaron Eckhart as Gotham's fallen District Attorney Harvey Dent. Christopher Nolan added the best chapter of Batman in the first film that didn't feature Batman's name in the title. Ledger was terrifying as the sadistic Joker. Bale was strong as the conflicted billionaire that is trying to clean up the streets of his beloved city while people are being killed to force him to quit. It reveals the price of being the hero, but it isn't the best example on this list.

The winner and still champion had it
all. Action, Story, Great Performances and
a hero without a stupid voice.

1) Spider-Man 2 (2004)– No secret, this is the Greatest Of All Time! It isn't as dark as the Nolan Batman's, but it's message of “the price to be the hero” is presented better than any other comic book film. Peter Parker's life is hell as he tries to keep the promise to Uncle Ben by remembering “With Great Power Comes Great Responsibility”. His efforts to be friends with Mary Jane are threatened. His best friend hates him and blames him for his father's death. His aunt thinks he's dangerous. His grades slip. He can't make rent and is barely scraping by at the Daily Bugle, but he tries to soldier on as his powers begin to fade with his own personal resentment of his alter-ego. Eventually, Peter forgoes the life of Spider-Man in an effort to be Peter Parker, but the world needs Spider-Man one way or another and he must don the Spider-Man costume again despite the cost to his own life. When his identity is revealed, Peter thwarts Doctor Octopus, saves Mary Jane, but creates a new enemy from his best friend Harry Osbourne. Peter gives up Mary Jane again, but MJ choses to encounter the pitfalls of being Spider-Man's girlfriend with him as the sequel ends on a high note... then they made #3...

There you have the list. Feel free to debate. I know there's going to be a clamoring for 300, but figured Sin City was enough.