what is the best comic book movie before 1990

[goldenryan]

and yeah there was a kriminal movie.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BpXL4Ea2K3c

[Brazoo]

Do cartoons count - or are you just looking for live-action adaptations?

The Fleischer Studios Superman cartoons kill just about every comic adaptation there is. These, The Batman Animated Series and The Incredibles really make me long for big budget cartoon versions of comics instead of just live-action adaptations.

Akira & Metropolis - Anime is not really my thing - but most people really like these, and they are pretty influential

[PNGwynne]

http://katls.be/forum/atteli/image2161.jpg

Palitoy, you rock!!! I agree, I'd have to choose Danger: Diabolik & Superman...

Superargo is cool, but I don't know the comics. Shazam! serial is great, too.

Is Diabolik on DVD? I have an old video copy. I remember being ticked when MST3K dissed this movie in their finale...

[filmation batman fan]

Definitely Superman: The Movie and Superman II.

While I loved Batman: The Movie from 1989, it didn't have that definitive magic that these 2 Superman movies had back then. Christopher Reeve was indeed the definitive Superman and always will be from my perspective. These movies are priceless and while they appear dated in some ways, they are timeless in others. The only thing I wish had been different was the characterization of Lex Luthor. I would have preferred him BALD and more menacing. I even wished he could have been corporate Lex back in the late 70's instead of the 80's. The first movie's quote was "You'll believe a man can fly." Megos were in stores and the SuperFriends were on Saturday mornings at that time. In fact, Challenge of the SuperFriends was on the year the first movie came out. All of this was cool together. None of this happened when Batman: The Movie came out.

So the winner is the Christopher Reeve era of Superman without a doubt. While Batman is my favorite hero, and while I enjoyed the 89 movie, I feel the most definitive version of Batman is Christian Bale in Batman Begins and the Dark Knight. These rank up with the first 2 Superman movies than any of the Tim Burton and Joel Schumacher films.

Cheers.

[Earth 2 Chris]

Definitely Superman: The Movie and Superman II.

While I loved Batman: The Movie from 1989, it didn't have that definitive magic that these 2 Superman movies had back then. Christopher Reeve was indeed the definitive Superman and always will be from my perspective. These movies are priceless and while they appear dated in some ways, they are timeless in others. The only thing I wish had been different was the characterization of Lex Luthor. I would have preferred him BALD and more menacing. I even wished he could have been corporate Lex back in the late 70's instead of the 80's. The first movie's quote was "You'll believe a man can fly." Megos were in stores and the SuperFriends were on Saturday mornings at that time. In fact, Challenge of the SuperFriends was on the year the first movie came out. All of this was cool together. None of this happened when Batman: The Movie came out.

So the winner is the Christopher Reeve era of Superman without a doubt. While Batman is my favorite hero, and while I enjoyed the 89 movie, I feel the most definitive version of Batman is Christian Bale in Batman Begins and the Dark Knight. These rank up with the first 2 Superman movies than any of the Tim Burton and Joel Schumacher films.

I completely agree. Great minds think alike!!!

Chris

[saildog]

A lot of folks are saying the Superman movie.... but I kinda digress. Supes was good, but Lex was really REALLY wrong. (So.... he's got sidekicks now? AND hair? AND he's GENE HACKMAN?!?!? Hell, Gene Wilder would be more menacing!)

Don C.

I agree completely. However, what the movie got wrong doesn't overshadow what it got right. Hackman might have been miscast, but he was a HUGE name assigned to what had been, to that point, a lowly genre. There were many other BIG names attached to that movie, as well and I admire the mix with the "unknown names" who made up the main cast.

Yes, Lex was really wrong.....and they got many other things wrong, as well. But, what they got right.............

Superman: The Movie, if not the definitive best, was at the least, the first time Hollywood made an honest stab at making a Superhero Movie that would appeal to the broadest audience that could be reached and it was the first movie that pulled it off.

[saildog]

1940's Shazam Serial blows everything else away

I only recently discovered this.

I don't have time to search out the link, but it is easily enough found, if you have iTunes installed on your computer.

Search it out in the iTunes store. You can watch every chapter for free.

Look for The Comic Web Serial Cliffhanger Theater and subscribe through iTunes.
Serial Cliffhanger Theater.

[Hector]

Superman the Movie and Superman 2...no doubt about it.

Runner up...Flash Gordon.

Tim Burton's Batman is a dilemma for me...I tried to love it...but I can't. Michael Keaton was a decent Bruce Wayne (not physically...but had the "look")...but a terrible Batman...the man was just too bloody puny for Batman.

You think I'm just blowing smoke?



Look at him...he looks like a Smurf next to Jack Nicholson...look at his puny shoulders and upper arms compared to the Joker's..come one...that's awful...lol.

I hate Tim Burton...I just don't dig the guy.


And don't think I'm hating on Batman because I'm a Superman fan...as a matter of fact...I think The Dark Knight is the best comic book hero movie of all times.

[saildog]

And don't think I'm hating on Batman because I'm a Superman fan...as a matter of fact...I think The Dark Knight is the best comic book hero movie of all times.

Couldn't possibly think that of you on this subject, Hector.

I love Batman above all, but I honestly think Batman '89 is called "Batman '89" for the sole reason that it is not as good as the current Batman Movies. Time has shown that the movie dated itself with pop culture references and casting that will elude future audiences. (Hackman was a brilliant choice for Lex Luthor in 1978 and in turn, Keaton was a Home run in 1989.)

I love Superman: The Movie and while it holds up better than Batman '89, it is time for Superman to get an updating and resurgence like Batman has gotten with the Bale incarnation. No need for an origin movie....just jump right in there and make Superman shine like he should.

I feel like Superman should get another crack at a hit movie, all stops removed...(re imagine it, please) if we live in a day where Iron Man can draw Blockbuster numbers.

[Brue]

to break it down pre-90 makes it hard.

each period represented characters n a different way.

40's serials Captain Marvel was the best - with the 2 superman serials coming in honorable mention (If you count Flash Gordon as suoerhero it is WAY better than cap marvel)

50's Superman and the Molemen - this was great but there was also no competition

60's Batman the movie - though I wish someone wouldda been Batman other than Adam - the rest of the cast did camp - he did ridiculous.

70's Superman the Movie - but if we count made for tv - the WW pilot was right up there and holds the test of time better - If conan the barbarian counts as a superhero=film I LOVE IT and it has also stood the test of time better than S1

80's bookended by Superman II and Batman

90s saw a lot of good films - Teen age Mut ninja turtles, Crow, Spawn, Batman returns, darkman, the rocketeer, blade, and mystery men (I even loved Batman Forever and the phantom), BUT tho say one was best is unimportant because NONE were AWESOME

00s = the day of the superhero - too many awesome ones to choose one

x-men 1
x-men 2
spidey 1
spidey 2
unbreakable
V for vendetta
Batman begins
-and finally the 2 best:
batman dark knight
iron man


but to answer the original question:

I can't narrow it done beyond 4 way tie superman 1 and 2, batman, and conan

[Hector]

Couldn't possibly think that of you on this subject, Hector.

I love Batman above all, but I honestly think Batman '89 is called "Batman '89" for the sole reason that it is not as good as the current Batman Movies. Time has shown that the movie dated itself with pop culture references and casting that will elude future audiences. (Hackman was a brilliant choice for Lex Luthor in 1978 and in turn, Keaton was a Home run in 1989.)

I love Superman: The Movie and while it holds up better than Batman '89, it is time for Superman to get an updating and resurgence like Batman has gotten with the Bale incarnation. No need for an origin movie....just jump right in there and make Superman shine like he should.

I feel like Superman should get another crack at a hit movie, all stops removed...(re imagine it, please) if we live in a day where Iron Man can draw Blockbuster numbers.

Exactly...well said.

[kennermike]

Exactly...well said.

need to say it again SSSSSSSSSUUUUUUPPEEEEEEEEERRRRMMAAAAAANNNN!!!!

[toys2cool]

I almost forgot Dick tracy

[kennermike]

I almost forgot Dick tracy

you know one of these days I have to sit down and watch this film again .I have only seen parts

[TrueDave]

Popeye. It had great costumes. Great casting, great sets and locations, great songs.

Then Flash Gordon the one by the Batman guy William Dozier? Might be the wrong name but I watch him on Reelgeezers on Youtube

What can I say I LOVE camp.