5 Worst Movies Adapted from Comic Books
So you now know which comic adapted movies I believe to be the best. Now let’s go to the list of movies that I consider the worst and which occupied the time between Superman and Spiderman.
Batman Returns/Batman Forever. (1992, 1995). These two Batman movies had two different actors to portray Bruce Wayne – Michael Keaton for the former and Val Kilmer for the latter. Both actors are good but the manner in which these two movies were made was extremely bad. There can be no doubt that Tim Burton (1992) and Joel Schumacher (1995) used the best special effects for the films – the effects were impeccable. But the storyline pretty much just jammed all these celebrities portraying all these famous villains into one movie. The acting of all characters villain or hero was detestable as well. Definitely, these two movies did not give justice to the well-loved story of Batman no matter how star-studded it may be.
Supergirl. (1984) Supergirl was portrayed by Helen Slater during the time that Superman was dominating
the screen. It was made to ride the Superman wave but it failed miserably. The movie was star-studded with Faye Dunaway, Mia Farrow and Peter O’Toole being part of the cast. But despite the accumulation of talent, the storyline was flat and simple. Helen Slater’s performance matched the storyline with her dull expressions and blah portrayal of Supergirl. She was pretty however and did look nice in that outfit.
Catwoman (2004). This movie was nothing more than to exhibit Halle Berry’s beautiful body. The story was very predictable and the acting, by both Berry and Sharon Stone, lacked enough depth that the comic book looked more 3 dimensional. The CGI effects of Catwoman’s movements were too much that it made Halle Berry looks oddly gross.
The Hulk (2003). Ang Lee is a very good director but he killed the Hulk. The Hulk
is one of the more interesting 3 dimensional characters in the Marvel World as the Hulk represented the beastly irrational side of a very scientific and logical Bruce Banner. Eric Bana was not able to portray Banner as well as he should. All he did was serve as eye candy for the female audience of the movie. But Bruce Banner is one of those heroes that do not own a good-looking secret persona. Bruce Banner is a scientist not a body-building Hector looking guy. Moreover, so much time was invested on the origin of the Hulk that the story just dragged on. For an action flick there was more talking than there was any action.
X-Men III: The Last Stand (2006). What were they thinking? X-men and X2 are two movies that would be part of my top ten list (although I only made a top 5 list) but The Final Stand was horrendous. It was so 
obvious that there was some politics going on behind the screens. First, Storm, Halle Berry’s character all of a sudden, with no prior build up comes to the fore of the story. Granted Storm is the leader of the X-men team and is a very significant character in the comic books, but the first two movies didn’t develop that. Moreover, they kill off Cyclops and Professor X. It turned out to be a let’s just feature Hugh Jackman and Halle Berry movie. Forget the story. Forget all the other characters. Let’s just kill them off. Despite its successful beginnings, X-men the Final Stand is one of the worst comic-adapted movie. Rumor has it they will recast X-men although spin-offs starring the original cast are being made.
May 8, 2008 at 1:26 pm
Elektra? Daredevil?
May 8, 2008 at 1:27 pm
Clearly X-Men 3 was dominated by Hugh Jackman (Wolverine) and Halle Berry (Storm). But for most fans, these were their favorite characters. Famke Jannsen (Jean Grey) also had a pretty significant role in the film. I thought it was a decent movie.
Batman Forever was garish and nauseating. The Hulk was plodding and dull.
May 8, 2008 at 1:31 pm
[...] Relacionado: 5 worst movies adapted from comic books [...]
May 8, 2008 at 1:33 pm
The Wonder Woman movie that’s been in development over the past couple of years could be another dog to add to your list, depending on the talent the producers get for the lead role and the way the writers and director update the story for today’s audience. I hope it’s not a disaster. Wonder Woman has long been my favorite super hero!
May 8, 2008 at 1:51 pm
How could you put this list up without mentioning the 1966 Batman? Or the 1990 Captain America movie??
May 8, 2008 at 1:54 pm
I’ve not seen all those films, but I agree that The Hulk was a let down and Xmen 3 was no where near as epic as it should have been.
May 8, 2008 at 1:56 pm
I gotta disagree about Batman Returns and Hulk. Batman Returns I thought had great depth to the characters. Even though I sorta dislike all the black goop that the Penguin spewed, I think the heart of the movie was the parallel of Batman and Catwoman dueling with their dual personas.
As for the Hulk, well, I have a fairly in-depth analysis of the movie at my own blog that perhaps could explain my view better than a sound byte could.
May 8, 2008 at 1:57 pm
Me too… That why I’m not interested in watching these movies… after rading the storiline
May 8, 2008 at 2:05 pm
There are actually very FEW comic book movies I enjoy. Pretty much they’re Sin City and Spider Man.
May 8, 2008 at 2:12 pm
My list would be
5. Batman and Robin
4. Batman Forever
3. Catwoman
2. Spawn
1 Supergirl
May 8, 2008 at 2:17 pm
I think it’s unfair to add Batman Returns to the list. Yes it was a weaker film than Batman, but it was a direct sequel retaining the cast and director of the first film. “These two Batman movies had two different actors to portray Bruce Wayne” should apply to Batman Forever and Batman & Robin, those two films had different actors in one off roles which the same cannot be said for Michael Keaton. Want to talk about celebrities jammed into roles, over stuffing a movie? Batman & Robin is your film, not Batman Returns.
May 8, 2008 at 2:32 pm
Uhh, where is Batman & Robin? That was far and away the worst of the first four Batman movies.
May 8, 2008 at 2:36 pm
I would have to add Daredevil into the mix also.
May 8, 2008 at 2:38 pm
I’ll give you all of them except one. I hope the next Hulk is good, and then I can write off this one like it never existed. Batman Forever had its good points, but overall you’re right.
I would, however, replace X-Men III with Elektra. Not because I differ with you on X-Men III, but Elektra was SO much worse!
I actually like Daredevil despite its flaws (and am almost the only person I know who really does) and I was excited for Elektra. Boy, was I disappointed.
Not only was the plot pretty sad, the acting was wooden and the extemporaneous things were ridiculous (Let’s throw in Ben Affleck! And a girl-on-girl kiss! And a near-strangulation, because it’s hot . . .)
My pet peeve: except for maybe 1 sequence the editing was terrible too! Jennifer Garner really did those fights, and she used the martial arts weapons well (I saw an uncut, single camera take of a fight scene online) but they cut it up so much it looked fake! Now if you can take so-so footage and cut a good scene, why can’t you take amazing footage and do the same? Not to mention they relied too much on wires (also a DD shortcoming) and tho I know it’s a comic book movie so we can excuse some measure of unrealistic action, that was just ridiculous.
So altogether it was trash, which makes me sad.
May 8, 2008 at 2:43 pm
Dude, being a comic book fan myself I disagree with three of your selections.
First off Batman Returns: It was awesome! The characters were great and Michelle as Catwoman gave every fanboy what they wanted: Sex in the movie. Selena Kyle is one heck of a woman, and Michelle Pfeiffer was perfect for the role. And Batman Forever was supposed to be completely different from the previous two. Lighter, but still dark.
And X-Men: The Last Stand- How can you knock it? Weak dialogue, yes, but it was far darker than the previous two. The shot of Beast tearing apart mutants was awesome. Wolverine finally used his claws to thrust, hack and slash, and people bit the big one. Cyclops disappears in true comic book fashion; randomly and without explanation. And in regards to Professor X being killed off… I guess you didn’t watch the entire movie. Seriously, wait until after the credits- Professor X isn’t dead. And you can’t slam the film for killing these two characters off, thats how it is in the comics and the movie stayed true to that. The only beef I have with the film is the character of Iceman. He ‘iced up’ only to headbutt Pyro?
Lame.
-Andy
http://yourfriendandy.wordpress.com/
May 8, 2008 at 2:43 pm
‘Batman Returns’ and ‘Batman Forever’ on the list but not ‘Batman and Robin’? If a Bat-film should represent the franchise on such a list, ‘Batman and Robin’ is it. (Unless you repressed any memory of the film, then I’m sorry to bring it back.)
I’m sure that despite their low quality, ‘X3′ and ‘Hulk’ are the “lesser” evil in comparison to ‘Elektra’, ‘Ghost Rider’, ‘Howard The Duck’, ‘The Punisher’ (1989), ‘Captain America’ (1990) and ‘Superman IV’. Some of these are a big part of my childhood memories, but I can’t deny their suckiness.
May 8, 2008 at 2:44 pm
Here’s a suggestion for another Flop 5 list: Worst movies adapted from computer games. What comes to mind is Tombraider, Doom, ah, and the all-time masterpiece in ruining a great game: Alone in the Dark.
Please, please don’t ruin this great game Warcraft with the upcoming movie in 2009. It better be good!
Jay
http//www.jedentagberlin.tk
May 8, 2008 at 2:46 pm
wow why stop at 5… you should have left room for Daredevil at least!
May 8, 2008 at 2:57 pm
May 8, 2008 at 3:06 pm
In my opinion any Hulk movie should have a villain that the Hulk can actually punch. X-men 3 on the other hand just had too many mutants and too little time.
May 8, 2008 at 3:07 pm
X-men 3 was my favorite. I thought it had the best storyline.
May 8, 2008 at 3:09 pm
With this list of Comic Title Movie,
I can’t help but talk about The Iron Man…
sleek and action packed.
totally awesome!
May 8, 2008 at 3:12 pm
dude, what about the Captain America movie? A gem of an awful movie.
And then there was the unwatchable Fantastic Four series….yikes.
May 8, 2008 at 3:13 pm
Come on, Ellen Page was a great Kitty Pryde.
Let’s hope this summer’s Hulk isn’t another borefest.
May 8, 2008 at 3:18 pm
Seriously Hulk and Batman Returns on a list that is missing Superman3 and 4
May 8, 2008 at 3:25 pm
I thought Ang Lee’s direction in the Hulk movie was good, but I do agree, Bana was lacking and the movie most certainly did drag. You are right on with this top five (or bottom five).
Very well done, sir.
May 8, 2008 at 3:26 pm
I totally agree on most of these, although I have a soft spot for Batman Returns - I sometimes wonder if the missile-strapped penguins inspired the “frickin’ sharks with frickin’ laser beams on their heads” from Austin Powers. The worst part of X3 for me, other than the directing, acting, and storyline, was the total cock-tease of a Sentinel scene. Marvel Films knows everybody wants to see the Sentinels on the big screen, but instead they give us a smoke-obscured Danger Room scene. Totally lame.
May 8, 2008 at 3:45 pm
A good idea for a post. I agree with your list too.
May 8, 2008 at 4:12 pm
Totally supported! I absolutely hated Catwoman, just an exhibit of Halle Berry’s body indeed!
May 8, 2008 at 5:09 pm
Definitely agree that X-men 3 was horrendous. Stupid Brett Ratner had to go ruining things (and stupid Bryan Singer had to go abandoning his own trilogy to work on Superman, the traitor).
May 8, 2008 at 6:29 pm
GHOST RIDER is pretty bad.
May 8, 2008 at 8:15 pm
It’s Last Sand not Final Stand.
Other then that good list.
May 8, 2008 at 8:23 pm
Batman Returns…. but not Batman & Robin???? And X3? Really? With candidates like Steel, Elektra, the Corman Fantastic Four, Spawn, LXG, I could go on and on… I’m kind of surprised by your choices. (X3 and Batman Returns are both deeply flawed, but they at least have scenes and elements that work — unlike beginning-to-end LOL travesties like Catwoman, Batman & Robin, and pretty much every movie I mentioned!)
May 10, 2008 at 3:25 am
I wasn’t a fan of the X-Men films from the beginning. They’re okay but the material was watered down to the point where only Wolverine became not only the central character, but was the only one whose backstory continues through three movies. Such a waste. There are so many interesting characters in X-Men and now Wolverine is the only character given a full-length feature. What they should have done was gone old school and brought it to t.v. as a mini-series in order to capture the heart of the comics.
May 19, 2008 at 4:50 am
catwoman *breathe* X-men. Can’t even mention in the same breath.
At least X-men 3 had a premise, a purpose, some semblance of promise, and it looked convincing. That’s why I can’t put it in my bottom 5. Unlike the atrocity that was the Hulk of a few years ago.
I had almost written off the new one, but I saw the trailer when I went to watch Iron Man, and it actually looks . . . . dare I say at least decent, maybe even pretty good?
May 23, 2008 at 12:02 am
How about Howard the Duck? What about Daredevil? What about both Fantastic Four movies?
June 8, 2008 at 11:35 pm
I remember Supergirl. It was cheesy and silly. As for Hulk, I agree it wasn’t the best movie, but I think Bana did okay for what he was working with. From what I read, Lee was tough to work for on this project.
Gina
http://celebritytoday.today.com