I made a last-minute decision to watch The Avengers at the midnight premiere tonight- I’ll get in line in a few hours.
Talking about The Avengers… Here’s a list of my Top-10 Superhero movies! (Published in Wednesday’s The Daily Titan.)
Fanboys Assemble!
1. The Dark Knight (2008)
What’s so good about this film? Not its $1-billion box office. Not its eight Academy Award nominations. The Dark Knight shines due to Batman (Christian Bale) and the Joker’s (Heath Ledger) chemistry. It is psychological and one of the most powerful pieces of writing seen in Hollywood. Batman, the face of justice, becomes an outlaw for simply helping the city.
2. X-Men: First Class (2011)
The origins of Professor X (James McAvoy) and Magneto (Michael Fassbender) are displayed alongside the world’s quest for power amid the Cold War. In a sense, the mutants mirror humanity’s potential. What propels this above the rest of the X-Men franchise is the psychological depth of the two characters and their tragic decisions.
3. Captain America: The First Avenger (2011)
Chris Evans shows the allure of Captain America. Steve Rogers is an underdog from the beginning. His muscles do not make him arrogant. He is an honest man with a simple duty — to serve his country and help the underprivileged. His drafting into the Avengers in the middle of Times Square is one of the greatest scenes in superhero film history.
4. Iron Man (2008)
Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) is a witty, likable character. He is an inventor who reminds us that technology can be used for good, or evil — something pressing in the technology age.
5. Thor (2011)
Villains make or break an action movie. Chris Hemsworth is a good Thor, but the film’s claim to fame is its villain, Loki (Tom Hiddleston). Loki, the trickster god, has a plan up his sleeve to overtake his father Odin’s throne and be King of Asgard. Superb acting and an impressive visual appearance of Asgard make the film memorable.
6. Batman Begins (2005)
Batman’s origin story is done well. Explained are why he wants to save Gotham (corruption) and why he chooses the name Batman (to overcome his fear of bats). But the film suffers from a slow buildup.
7. Iron Man 2 (2010)
Iron Man’s high-tech gadgets and suit upgrades makes this film good. The tie-in to the Avengers, with Samuel L. Jackson and Scarlett Johansson as Avengers agents, makes it great.
8. The Green Hornet (2011)
Britt Reid (Seth Rogen), the son of a wealthy newspaper owner, joins mechanic martial arts expert Kato (Jay Chao) to become masked vigilantes to rid Los Angeles of crime. Rogen adds his characteristic humor in this surprise hit.
9. The Incredibles (2004)
The film most-suited for all audiences on the list, Pixar’s comedic take on the genre is all fun, exploring friendship and family.
10. Watchmen (2009)
A dark take on America during the Cold War, narrated by Rorschach, who sports an ink blot mask from a Rorschach test. Playing homage to a film noir, he is intent on solving why America’s superheroes are being mysteriously killed off.
And Hollywood is just warming up. The Dark Knight Rises and The Amazing Spider-Man come out in July and Iron Man 3, Thor 2, Captain America 2 and Man of Steel will be out in a few years.
tworden 