By Ross Bonaime, Staff Writer
Next week, the movie adaptation of Mark Millar’s comic book Kick-Ass, about a high school student who becomes a superhero after being influenced by his favorite books, will be released.
Over the last decade, comic book films have become immensely popular, giving us some fantastic films. With that, here are the top ten films based on comic books.
10. Road to Perdition
Sam Mendes’ follow-up to American Beauty told the story of an even more dangerous family — a mafia family. Tom Hanks is chilling in one of his few darker roles and the noir tone makes you feel like you’re reading the graphic novel.
9. American Splendor
This story of eccentric comic writer Harvey Pekar deconstructed the typical autobiography, while showcasing the soon-to-be-star Paul Giamatti in one of his first great roles.
8. Sin City
If you want to keep the essence of the source material, why not hire the writer to direct? That’s what Robert Rodriguez did with his co-director Frank Miller in the adaptation of Miller’s work, starring a cavalcade of stars and featuring a visually striking style.
7. Iron Man
Robert Downey Jr. was the perfect choice to play the rich and cocky Tony Stark. With the second film coming out this summer and an even greater cast, expect Iron Man to only get better.
6. Oldboy
Based on the Japanese manga of the same name, the story of a man imprisoned for 15 years and then released to seek revenge is not only a great adaptation, but a phenomenal Japanese film that is immensely surprising.
5. Men in Black
Tommy Lee Jones and Will Smith took viewers into a world where aliens do exist in this action-comedy. Even with its horrible sequel, Men in Black remains one of the best comedies of the ’90s.
4. A History of Violence
One way to enrage fans of a great comic is to completely disregard large parts of the the original story in your adaptation.
Yet, in A History of Violence, David Cronenberg directs a suspenseful and fascinating deconstruction of how much we really know about the people in our lives.
3. X2: X-Men United
Sandwiched in between the two other mediocre X-Men films, X2 was unlike any comic book film of its kind when it was released.
Giving each character an importance in this large cast while introducing new ones and an interesting story, X2 showed just how to make an action film with a huge ensemble cast, and how to do it well.
2. Spider-Man 2
What makes Spider-Man 2 so incredible is that it makes the audience care just as much about the web-slinger as it does his true persona, Peter Parker. Sure, you’re interested to see if he can take out Doc Ock, but it’s his emotional and relationship conflicts that remain just as compelling.
1. The Dark Knight
Christopher Nolan revolutionized the comic book film with Batman Begins, but he took it a step further with The Dark Knight.
Heath Ledger plays the Joker, one of the greatest villains of all time. Some of the greatest action sequences in recent memory and a dark, realistic and gritty take on Gotham City helped Nolan not only become film’s newest auteur, but also created what many believe to be the greatest comic book adaptation of all time.
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