What a super list!

All that talk about comic books and superheroes got me thinking about super hero movies. Thus, I have compiled a list of my top ten comic book/superhero movies. Keep in mind that I have not seen every superhero/comic book movie, so if you are sad that:

Either Fantastic 4 movie

The Punisher

The old Superman flicks

The old Captain America flicks

Either Hulk

Sin City

Supergirl

Men in Black II

A History of Violence

V for Vendetta

The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen

Daredevil

Elektra

are not on this list, it's because I've never seen them, although I have heard that most (but not all) of these are pretty bad movies.

My criteria for this list was that the movie had to be either based on a comic book or done in a comic book style, and it should contain adventure action (so, no Garfield. Sorry folks).

A good comic book story has lots of neat action, but it also has a good story and themes to think about. However, as you'll see from my list, some of the best comic book movies that have been adapted don't accomplish this all of the time. Comic books have been an often-mined-yet-not-done-incredibly-well genre up until the last few years. I think there have been strides made as of late, but the industry has a way to go. Here's my list.

10 - Batman & Robin

Ok, so I'll admit it, my first entry on this list completely negates my good plot, good action bit in the above paragraph, but that's ok with me. Here's why I like this movie when everyone else hates it: it's a spoof. There is no way a movie that is this absurd can't be a spoof. While there is a light mocking of Batman through the ages that pops up all over the film, it's primarily concerned with mocking the Batman TV show. The campy lines, the wonderfully impractical gadgets, the implausible and over-the-top villains. All of that is ripped right off of the TV show and put to a more modern skewering. The funny thing is that the TV show (and the TV show movie, which is good in its own way) was skewering the original comics. People complain that some people view Batman as a joke because of the show, but the oldest strips weren't fearsome. They were amusingly silly stories and horribly expositionary dialogue. The show just riffed on it, and Batman & Robin riffs on the show. Plus, how can you not like Mr. Freeze? "Let's kick some ice!"

9. X-Men

The X-Men series is incredibly uneven, but the first one I liked well enough to want to continue watching. Mostly because of Magneto. Magneto is one of the best villains in any superhero movie. He's cold, vengeful and motivated, but he can show his human side when he wants to. Thus, while I wasn't big on some of the other X-Men in this film (read: Sabretooth and Toad), there were enough cool things and a good enough plot to keep it interesting. Favorite part: Magneto blatantly ignoring the laws of magnetism by controlling bullets.

8. Men In Black

I know, I know. This isn't a superhero movie. However, it is based on a comic book, and there are cool gadgets and stuff, and they do heroic things. So, it's kind of like a wise-cracking Batman. Oh wait, that's Iron Man. But still.

The story is thin in some places, but this movie is about experiencing the aliens and the great, great comedic pairing of Tommy Lee Jones and Will Smith. Jones does an excellent straight man to Smith's wide-eyed recruit. That's the best part of the movie to me.

7. Spiderman

His origin has a lot of charm, and I like the Green Goblin a lot. This one loses points for not having enough action and for having many too many Mary Jane/Peter Parker alone moments.

6. Superman Returns

Forget Brandon Routh. Kevin Spacey makes this movie. He plays Lex Luthor with such energy that it steals the show. The other characters put in solid performances as well, but the only non-Luthor scene that can equal the fun of Spacey's work is Superman's saving of a falling airliner. Favorite Part: "Have you heard of Prometheus? No, of course you haven't."

5. Spiderman 2

This movie is my favorite of all of the Spiderman movies. I liked Spidey 3 fine, but it's so much better when viewed on a big screen, and the acting by Maguire and (if you can imagine) Dunst is subpar to the other entries in the series. Spidey 2 has a sweet villain, fewer Peter/MJ moments, the best story and best overall cool factor out of the three films.

4. Iron Man

Ok, so, regardless of my jab at Iron Man earlier, it really is a good movie. Unparalleled in cool effects or clever wisecracking, this movie also has a good story and themes. Great performance by Robert Downey Jr.

3. The Incredibles

Not a comic book, but an homage to several and done in the style of a good one. Besides, I hear that the movie is more faithful in some aspects to The Fantastic 4 than the actual movie was. Great dialogue, great story, great villain.

2. X2: X-Men United

This is by far the best out of the three X-Men movies. The story is complex and engaging, the villains are, well, Magneto, the action is good and the acting is the best of the series. Good stuff. Favorite part: "Too much iron in your blood" and the aftermath.

1. Batman Begins

Excellent themes, engaging and twisting plot, true to the comic books, believable (for a comic book movie), action-packed and gripping. Batman is great hero, and this movie finally does him justice.