Most Disappointing Comic Book Adaptation to Screen?
#26
DVD Talk Gold Edition
Re: Most Disappointing Comic Book Adaptation to Screen?
i'm not big into comics, but I was anticipating the reboot if The Incredible Hulk. I admired aspects of Ang Lee's Hulk, but it wasn't a very enjoyable film, nor was The Incredible Hulk. Now I can't decided which one I dislike more. I had become weary when they announced the director would be the guy who did Transporter 2.
In this new age of comic book movies, the only ones i've enjoyed were X2, Spider-Man 2, Iron Man, and the Batman movies. Hard for me to call films like Elektra and Daredevil disappointing when they dont interest me to begin with. Didn't the same guy direct Ghost Rider, Elektra, and Daredevil? I was anticipating Watchmen though. I didn't like 300 all that much, but I loved the Dawn of the Dead remake, so I had faith and was extremely disappointed with that (if were are counting graphic novels).
Superman Returns is an enjoyable movie for me as well, though I don't plan to revisit it very often. I am really hoping for a sequel on this one though, almost as much as Batman.
In this new age of comic book movies, the only ones i've enjoyed were X2, Spider-Man 2, Iron Man, and the Batman movies. Hard for me to call films like Elektra and Daredevil disappointing when they dont interest me to begin with. Didn't the same guy direct Ghost Rider, Elektra, and Daredevil? I was anticipating Watchmen though. I didn't like 300 all that much, but I loved the Dawn of the Dead remake, so I had faith and was extremely disappointed with that (if were are counting graphic novels).
Superman Returns is an enjoyable movie for me as well, though I don't plan to revisit it very often. I am really hoping for a sequel on this one though, almost as much as Batman.
#27
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Re: Most Disappointing Comic Book Adaptation to Screen?
SUPER GIRL (1984). I'm stunned nobody has nominated this turkey yet.
This was actually so bad that I use the term "endured" rather than "watched" to describe the two hours or so I wasted on this film. One of the 10 worst films I have ever endured, period.
Everything about this film is bad to downright awful: the story, the dialog, the acting, the cinematography, the special effects. Hard to believe that Peter O'Toole was in this!
Really, this one is so bad that it makes Daredevil and Batman & Robin look good by comparison (and those were very, very poor films in their own right).
I confess to enjoying the Fantastic Four flicks, though. Could they have been better? Absolutely. But are they entertaining enough for me to watch repeatedly? Yes. They have a certain charm to them, and while they lack tension and excitement, the actors are clearly having fun with the roles and the fun carries over to me and I find myself enjoying these films.
This was actually so bad that I use the term "endured" rather than "watched" to describe the two hours or so I wasted on this film. One of the 10 worst films I have ever endured, period.
Everything about this film is bad to downright awful: the story, the dialog, the acting, the cinematography, the special effects. Hard to believe that Peter O'Toole was in this!
Really, this one is so bad that it makes Daredevil and Batman & Robin look good by comparison (and those were very, very poor films in their own right).
I confess to enjoying the Fantastic Four flicks, though. Could they have been better? Absolutely. But are they entertaining enough for me to watch repeatedly? Yes. They have a certain charm to them, and while they lack tension and excitement, the actors are clearly having fun with the roles and the fun carries over to me and I find myself enjoying these films.
#28
DVD Talk Legend
Re: Most Disappointing Comic Book Adaptation to Screen?
SUPER GIRL (1984). I'm stunned nobody has nominated this turkey yet.
This was actually so bad that I use the term "endured" rather than "watched" to describe the two hours or so I wasted on this film. One of the 10 worst films I have ever endured, period.
Everything about this film is bad to downright awful: the story, the dialog, the acting, the cinematography, the special effects. Hard to believe that Peter O'Toole was in this!
Really, this one is so bad that it makes Daredevil and Batman & Robin look good by comparison (and those were very, very poor films in their own right).
I confess to enjoying the Fantastic Four flicks, though. Could they have been better? Absolutely. But are they entertaining enough for me to watch repeatedly? Yes. They have a certain charm to them, and while they lack tension and excitement, the actors are clearly having fun with the roles and the fun carries over to me and I find myself enjoying these films.
This was actually so bad that I use the term "endured" rather than "watched" to describe the two hours or so I wasted on this film. One of the 10 worst films I have ever endured, period.
Everything about this film is bad to downright awful: the story, the dialog, the acting, the cinematography, the special effects. Hard to believe that Peter O'Toole was in this!
Really, this one is so bad that it makes Daredevil and Batman & Robin look good by comparison (and those were very, very poor films in their own right).
I confess to enjoying the Fantastic Four flicks, though. Could they have been better? Absolutely. But are they entertaining enough for me to watch repeatedly? Yes. They have a certain charm to them, and while they lack tension and excitement, the actors are clearly having fun with the roles and the fun carries over to me and I find myself enjoying these films.
#29
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Re: Most Disappointing Comic Book Adaptation to Screen?
For most disappointing then, I would nominate SUPERMAN RETURNS. This was a chance to get the franchise back on the right track, and instead it was a useless snoozefest.
#30
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Re: Most Disappointing Comic Book Adaptation to Screen?
I didn't see Elektra being assassin for Kingpin. I didn't see Matt (Daredevil) met Elektra in college and her father was gunned down by group of police that they thought he was one of bad guy. And I didn't see Bulleye escape from prison and challenge Elektra for Kingpin's assassin position. Stayed true to comic book? Ha.
#31
Re: Most Disappointing Comic Book Adaptation to Screen?
My two cents from a lifelong F.F. fan. The comic is so epic and sci-fi rooted that the only way I can see pulling off a movie is to make it on scale with a Star Wars budget and effects. And tone. The F.F. is just to "fantastic" to look anything but hokey and silly otherwise.
#32
DVD Talk Special Edition
Re: Most Disappointing Comic Book Adaptation to Screen?
Well, it's SUPERGIRL. Not SUPER [space] GIRL.
With that correction in mind, you should re-watch it. It will definitely change your opinion.
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Re: Most Disappointing Comic Book Adaptation to Screen?
i'm not big into comics, but I was anticipating the reboot if The Incredible Hulk. I admired aspects of Ang Lee's Hulk, but it wasn't a very enjoyable film, nor was The Incredible Hulk. Now I can't decided which one I dislike more. I had become weary when they announced the director would be the guy who did Transporter 2.
#34
Re: Most Disappointing Comic Book Adaptation to Screen?
SWAMP THING. They had Alan Moore's work to draw inspiration from...so what happened.
Not that was bad enough, but then there was MAN-THING. Granted, it premired directly to Sci-Fi but when it was first announced, I had seriously high hopes for it. Look what Marvel managed to do with Blade....they could make Man Thing work if they devoted time and effort to it. Uh, not so much.
I will echo sentiments already expressed about Supergirl and Howard the Duck. Howard the Duck should have been animated, and it should have been at least PG-13, if not R. But the studio would never allow that, would they? And while Supergirl was a turkey, I really don't know how they could have done better with it, because of the time it was made and all. Good action movies starring women were very rare back then.
Which brings me to RED SONJA. The 80's was really a terrible time for comic book movies and even a worse time for comic books starring women. Not that things got better...10 years later we got TANK GIRL.
I probably could think of more if I allowed my memory to go to the dark corners of my mind, but I just want to say compared to those movies, recent offerings like Fantastic Four and Daredevil are masterpieces.
The worst more modern day offerings are SPIDER MAN 3 and ELEKTRA.
EDIT: I am hard pressed to think of ANY comic book movie starring a woman that was good. Action comic, that is...because Ghost World would be the best comic book to movie adaptation starring women.
Not that was bad enough, but then there was MAN-THING. Granted, it premired directly to Sci-Fi but when it was first announced, I had seriously high hopes for it. Look what Marvel managed to do with Blade....they could make Man Thing work if they devoted time and effort to it. Uh, not so much.
I will echo sentiments already expressed about Supergirl and Howard the Duck. Howard the Duck should have been animated, and it should have been at least PG-13, if not R. But the studio would never allow that, would they? And while Supergirl was a turkey, I really don't know how they could have done better with it, because of the time it was made and all. Good action movies starring women were very rare back then.
Which brings me to RED SONJA. The 80's was really a terrible time for comic book movies and even a worse time for comic books starring women. Not that things got better...10 years later we got TANK GIRL.
I probably could think of more if I allowed my memory to go to the dark corners of my mind, but I just want to say compared to those movies, recent offerings like Fantastic Four and Daredevil are masterpieces.
The worst more modern day offerings are SPIDER MAN 3 and ELEKTRA.
EDIT: I am hard pressed to think of ANY comic book movie starring a woman that was good. Action comic, that is...because Ghost World would be the best comic book to movie adaptation starring women.
Last edited by calhoun07; 06-18-09 at 07:26 PM.
#36
DVD Talk Legend
Re: Most Disappointing Comic Book Adaptation to Screen?
Fantastic Four
#37
DVD Talk Legend
Re: Most Disappointing Comic Book Adaptation to Screen?
Ang Lee's Hulk. I started watching it and got so bored with it that I turned it off about an hour in. I've never touched the dvd again.
#38
DVD Talk Platinum Edition
Re: Most Disappointing Comic Book Adaptation to Screen?
I thought Ang Lee's Hulk was quite good and one of the best made of the recent comic book films.
I thought Fantastic Four was terrible, and should have went a COMPLETELY different way. Darker, less goofiness. I also agree ,to have THAT director on board was stupid from the word go.
I thought Fantastic Four was terrible, and should have went a COMPLETELY different way. Darker, less goofiness. I also agree ,to have THAT director on board was stupid from the word go.
#39
Re: Most Disappointing Comic Book Adaptation to Screen?
SUPER GIRL (1984). I'm stunned nobody has nominated this turkey yet.
This was actually so bad that I use the term "endured" rather than "watched" to describe the two hours or so I wasted on this film. One of the 10 worst films I have ever endured, period.
Everything about this film is bad to downright awful: the story, the dialog, the acting, the cinematography, the special effects. Hard to believe that Peter O'Toole was in this!
Really, this one is so bad that it makes Daredevil and Batman & Robin look good by comparison (and those were very, very poor films in their own right).
I confess to enjoying the Fantastic Four flicks, though. Could they have been better? Absolutely. But are they entertaining enough for me to watch repeatedly? Yes. They have a certain charm to them, and while they lack tension and excitement, the actors are clearly having fun with the roles and the fun carries over to me and I find myself enjoying these films.
This was actually so bad that I use the term "endured" rather than "watched" to describe the two hours or so I wasted on this film. One of the 10 worst films I have ever endured, period.
Everything about this film is bad to downright awful: the story, the dialog, the acting, the cinematography, the special effects. Hard to believe that Peter O'Toole was in this!
Really, this one is so bad that it makes Daredevil and Batman & Robin look good by comparison (and those were very, very poor films in their own right).
I confess to enjoying the Fantastic Four flicks, though. Could they have been better? Absolutely. But are they entertaining enough for me to watch repeatedly? Yes. They have a certain charm to them, and while they lack tension and excitement, the actors are clearly having fun with the roles and the fun carries over to me and I find myself enjoying these films.

I thought League of Extraordinary Gentlemen and Ghost Rider was awful.
#40
DVD Talk Special Edition
Re: Most Disappointing Comic Book Adaptation to Screen?
And yes, Helen Slater looked great and was great as SUPERGIRL.
#41
Re: Most Disappointing Comic Book Adaptation to Screen?
I can enjoy the movie now for what it is, but it creates none of the emotion the comic does.
NOTE: I was also sorry they did not include the hilarious scene of the weirdo looking out the window and telling everyone on the street what celebrity they resemble, "You look like Homer Simpson... You look like Bosely off Charlie's Angels..."
#44
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Re: Most Disappointing Comic Book Adaptation to Screen?
It did not stay true to the comic.
I didn't see Elektra being assassin for Kingpin. I didn't see Matt (Daredevil) met Elektra in college and her father was gunned down by group of police that they thought he was one of bad guy. And I didn't see Bulleye escape from prison and challenge Elektra for Kingpin's assassin position.
Stayed true to comic book? Ha.
I didn't see Elektra being assassin for Kingpin. I didn't see Matt (Daredevil) met Elektra in college and her father was gunned down by group of police that they thought he was one of bad guy. And I didn't see Bulleye escape from prison and challenge Elektra for Kingpin's assassin position. Stayed true to comic book? Ha.
Obviously, they have to take some license. Bullseye would have looked ridiculous in his original costume.
#45
DVD Talk Hall of Fame
Re: Most Disappointing Comic Book Adaptation to Screen?
I enjoyed Daredevil and felt it retained the spirit of Frank Miller's run, even if it re-wrote the actual events. Which brings me to a point about comic adaptations. It's hard to really discuss these in today's movie-making climate because they have been increasingly faithful to the source material, whereas previously many scripts simply took the characters and wrote an entirely new story around them. So, with that in mind, I would nominate:
Most Disappointing All-New Story Based on Existing Comics Characters: Batman & Robin, for squandering what could have been a great movie featuring the tragic Mr. Freeze and the socially-conscious Poison Ivy, to say nothing of turning mastermind Bane into a glorified goon.
Most Disappointing Faithful Adaptation: Watchmen. Zack Snyder was so concerned about getting every panel translated to film that he somehow managed to miss the feeling of the original comics.
Most Disappointing All-New Story Based on Existing Comics Characters: Batman & Robin, for squandering what could have been a great movie featuring the tragic Mr. Freeze and the socially-conscious Poison Ivy, to say nothing of turning mastermind Bane into a glorified goon.
Most Disappointing Faithful Adaptation: Watchmen. Zack Snyder was so concerned about getting every panel translated to film that he somehow managed to miss the feeling of the original comics.
#46
DVD Talk Special Edition
Re: Most Disappointing Comic Book Adaptation to Screen?
No, seriously. Watch the monster tractor scene. It's pretty exciting the way it goes around smashing churches and gas stations before Super Girl has to stop it.
Also, watch the scene where she gets trapped in the Phantom Zone, especially with all the blatant visual continuity errors. It puts Richard Donner's work to shame.
Also, watch the scene where she gets trapped in the Phantom Zone, especially with all the blatant visual continuity errors. It puts Richard Donner's work to shame.
#47
Re: Most Disappointing Comic Book Adaptation to Screen?
The worst ever superhero movie has to be the Wonder Woman movie from 1974. I saw this when it first came out and all I could think was WTF?!!!
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0072419/

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0072419/

Last edited by mrhan; 06-19-09 at 02:35 PM.
#48
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Re: Most Disappointing Comic Book Adaptation to Screen?
No, seriously. Watch the monster tractor scene. It's pretty exciting the way it goes around smashing churches and gas stations before Super Girl has to stop it.
Also, watch the scene where she gets trapped in the Phantom Zone, especially with all the blatant visual continuity errors. It puts Richard Donner's work to shame.
Also, watch the scene where she gets trapped in the Phantom Zone, especially with all the blatant visual continuity errors. It puts Richard Donner's work to shame.
The monster tractor scene is downright pathetic and is a prime example of the B-movieness of this film. In fact, calling it a B-movie is actually an insult to B-movies.
I agree that Helen Slater was easy on the eyes, but that still frame shot posted up above is infinitely more appealing to view than the movie itself.
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Re: Most Disappointing Comic Book Adaptation to Screen?
The worst ever superhero movie has to be the Wonder Woman movie from 1974. I saw this when it first came out and all I could think was WTF?!!!
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0072419/


http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0072419/


#50
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