Joshua P. Simon - The Accidental Author

Today’s list is subject to change and will likely change as new superhero movies come out. In fact, some of the movies on this list my shuffle in sequence if I made the same list tomorrow. Regardless, here are my top ten superhero movies today.

10. Iron Man

Great take on a character who wasn’t as well known as others in the Marvel universe. One of the better origin stories as well. Awesome script. Downey’s performance is what makes this movie memorable.

Nice use of both Black Sabbath and AC/DC.

9. Batman

I think sometimes people forget just how good the Burton Batman movies are. Who would have thought that Jack Nicholson as the Joker and Michael Keaton as Batman would work so well? Yet they did. Jack’s Joker is perfect for what Burton was going for. People like to think he was a little too silly when you compare him to Ledger’s performance. However, he had some pretty stand out sadistic moments (like the joybuzzer scene).

Keaton in my mind is the best Batman with the cowl. Bale is the best Bruce Wayne and looks the most physically like Batman. However, once the mask is on Keaton had the voice and attitude down in a way I don’t think Bale ever fully got. Bale had a tendency to get lost in the costume while Keaton embraced it.

I also want to give a nod to Kim Basinger as Vickie Vale who was probably the best of all the love interests in the films. And although Harvey Dent played a minor role in the film, how cool was it that Burton cast Billy Dee Williams in the role?

Really enjoyed the noir feel to this movie.

Lots of memorable quotes as well “Gentlemen, let’s broaden our minds.” “You ever dance with the devil in the pale moonlight?”

Awesome soundtrack. I actually listen to it quite a bit on Pandora. And let’s not forget the album Prince did inspired by the movie. I wore that cassette out as a kid.

8. Captain America

In my mind this movie does not get anywhere near the credit it deserves. Chris Evans was made for this role. The first part of the film which most people think is slow was actually my favorite stuff (lots of nice character moments). Tommy Lee Jones did a good job of providing the levity and laughs the film needed. Strong female lead (Hayley Atwell) and some memorable minor characters also add to the flavor. And let’s not forget that Hugo Weaving was perfect as the Red Skull.

With a lesser script or director, this movie could have been awful and seemed dated.

7. Superman the Movie/Superman II

Great tag line. The BEST superhero movie soundtrack ever. And no other actor was made to play the superhero they were cast for like Christopher Reeves was for Clark Kent/Superman.

Yes, both movies suffer a bit from minor script issues (like inventing yet more powers for Superman to have), but I can overlook that. I would have loved to see these movies made with today’s technology because the special effects are the ONLY thing that doesn’t hold up.

6. The Avengers

I’m sure I’ll get a lot of flak for this one since most people automatically place this movie as a top 3. Honestly, I debate on where to put it on the list myself. In some ways, I wonder it should be at No. 8 behind Captain America and Superman.

Anyway, this movie has a lot of upsides….good action scenes, a great rendition of the Hulk, making Black Widow cool, etc. However, there are a lot more negatives than people are willing to attribute to the movie,in my opinion. I’m not going to rehash those reasons here. If you want to read my full review, just go here.

5. Hellboy

This one might come as a surprise for some…unless you’ve actually seen the movie. Hellboy as a character might be the most “human” out of any of the others on this list which is ironic since he is essentially a demon. He’s flawed, funny, sensitive, and just someone you don’t mess with. Ron Perlman is the man.

4. The Incredibles

Where is the sequel to this movie? They’ve been talking about it for years and yet, I’m still waiting. This was such a cool and original idea. It could have been cheesy or uninteresting, yet it worked on every level. This was one of those VERY rare movies where everyone could see themselves in one of the main characters. In many cases, more than one.

3. The Dark Knight

Gasp! Number 3? Yes, number 3. I loved this movie, but ultimately this was more about Harvey Dent and even the Joker than it was about Bruce Wayne and Batman. That’s not necessarily a bad thing since both were awesome and helped redefine what people think about when they imagine about those characters. However, with Batman taking a backseat (until the closing scene), I bumped it down a couple of notches.

2. Batman Begins

The best and worst thing about the Nolan movies is that he borrowed from all over the comics rather than doing a true interpretation of any one story. With that in mind, I really thought his version of a Batman origin was ideal for what he was trying to create.

Bale may have his faults as Batman (mostly with the voice), but he is a perfect Bruce Wayne.

And of course Caine was made for Alfred.

1. The Dark Knight Rises

Yes, I know this movie has a lot of flaws. However, this movie is so focused on characterization (Bruce Wayne) in particular that as it stands now, it is my favorite superhero movie of all time. I won’t rehash all my reasons for liking or disliking it. I already gave my thoughts here.

Honorable Mentions: The Amazing Spiderman, X-Men First Class, Batman Returns

So, there’s my top ten weighted with four Batman movies, unsurprising since he is my favorite superhero. I’d like to think that Man of Steel will bump something off this list later this year, but you never know.

So, what movies are in your top ten?