General Discussion

mathematic

(1,601 posts)

90. There have been plenty of great comic book movies

Mon May 7, 2012, 07:50 AM

May 2012

Watchmen being the best. If you don't think the Watchmen comic is serious art I don't know how to convince you.

Other goods ones: Superman II, Batman ('89), Blade, A History of Violence. The opening action sequence of X-Men 2 with Nightcrawler infiltrating the oval office was one of the most exciting things I've seen in the movies.

One of the reasons why comics have become so popular as sources for films is that they are essentially storyboards. Storyboards are a tool filmmakers have been using for decades. It's a natural move to start using comics even for non-superhero stories like Scott Pilgrim vs. the World, Whiteout, Red, etc.

This isn't even exclusively an american (or english-language) phenomenon. Japanese manga (comics) are turned into movies by the truckload.

Edit history

Please sign in to view edit histories.

Recommendations

0 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

189 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

A sad statement on American culture [View all] MadHound May 2012 OP

I've only seen a few of these 'comic book' movies - one of the batman, and one or 2 of the Liberal_in_LA May 2012 #1

Breaking a record for sales makes it popular, not high brow or a commentary on culture... nessa May 2012 #2

Let's take a look at the French MadHound May 2012 #6

It did well in France JonLP24 May 2012 #12

I disagree MrScorpio May 2012 #29

What's low brow, "lowest common denominator" about comics? JHB May 2012 #33

Except for Thor, Iron Man, Bat Man, Transformers, etc etc. hack89 May 2012 #87

The Adventures of Tintin is a comic book adaptation mathematic May 2012 #91

Comic books are taken quite seriously in France. Codeine May 2012 #120

I would also note that the two most expensive French films ever made Codeine May 2012 #121

Don't the French love Jerry Lewis? ProudToBeBlueInRhody May 2012 #126

Are comic books necessarily low-brow? 4th law of robotics May 2012 #155

Most of their top selling films are made in the US Major Nikon May 2012 #181

Actually, there is a fairly large comics market, and a well-respected one. Codeine May 2012 #185

a French comics market not an American comics market Major Nikon May 2012 #188

Oops. I misunderstood. nt Codeine May 2012 #189

I never seen the film JonLP24 May 2012 #3

Number of eyeballs watching is the only metric of a movie's success FarCenter May 2012 #4

No, a movie can be critically acclaimed AND popular.... Darth_Kitten May 2012 #86

K&R. DevonRex May 2012 #5

Cumberbatch is great. But so is Downey. randome May 2012 #8

Oh, I don't mind the occasional special effects extravaganza, MadHound May 2012 #10

You might like MI-5 (aka Spooks in the UK) FarCenter May 2012 #13

I've just started DevonRex May 2012 #15

I've watched a few episodes of George Gently. FarCenter May 2012 #18

Thanks. I'll put that in my queue. DevonRex May 2012 #20

40 minutes to Sherlock season 2!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! uppityperson May 2012 #44

Ah, is that what it is? DevonRex May 2012 #57

4 minutes. Popcorn made, treat for dog there, quite trip to the loo and.....bye uppityperson May 2012 #58

Well, that was fun. uppityperson May 2012 #75

He is, isn't he? DevonRex May 2012 #77

I am hardly a low brow guy. MrSlayer May 2012 #7

Post removed Post removed May 2012 #9

Wow, speaking of sad, MadHound May 2012 #14

Good response. uppityperson May 2012 #45

Since when have popular movies been highbrow? JHB May 2012 #11

Top grossing movies of 1969 vs. the top grossing movies of 2009 Lydia Leftcoast May 2012 #61

The industry has been making mediocre movies for a while Hippo_Tron May 2012 #73

Yes, there was an article in the NY Times a few months back about the studios wondering Lydia Leftcoast May 2012 #79

Personally, I think 1967 was a better year for movies Art_from_Ark May 2012 #174

"It was a very good year," as Frank Sinatra would sing Lydia Leftcoast May 2012 #175

So do you have any specific plans for your visit yet? Art_from_Ark May 2012 #179

Oh for fucks sake! The elitism oozes... Odin2005 May 2012 #16

Oh, for fuck's sake, maybe he's right? Darth_Kitten May 2012 #85

Oh for fucks sake, maybe he isn't? ProudToBeBlueInRhody May 2012 #118

I like movies. All movies except the slasher ones which are just gratuitously violent lunatica May 2012 #17

While you're busy bashing "American culture", consider how the movie was recieved in other places... cherokeeprogressive May 2012 #19

That's a valid point. DevonRex May 2012 #21

america is hardly highbrow spanone May 2012 #22

Most popular culture isn't highbrow, in any country. nt sufrommich May 2012 #26

The world isn't highbrow. Codeine May 2012 #112

It's a movie. It's not meant to be high brow. raouldukelives May 2012 #23

I think you're missing out when it comes to TV Shows JonLP24 May 2012 #24

You forgot House MD! Odin2005 May 2012 #88

It's a superhero movie. You expected it to be "high brow"? cynatnite May 2012 #25

There are many movies. MineralMan May 2012 #27

This has been going on for decades jp11 May 2012 #28

I bet you're a hoot at parties Son of Gob May 2012 #30

*rubs temples* TedBronson May 2012 #82

Sometimes a movie is just a movie. aikoaiko May 2012 #31

Two things. One, the film industry has not yet come to grips with technology and is Egalitarian Thug May 2012 #32

People spend hard earned money on movies EC May 2012 #34

I'll try to break this to you gently cali May 2012 #35

No, but time was that some very fine movies Ron Green May 2012 #38

Not really XemaSab May 2012 #42

Saw Avengers 3D yesterday and it rocked!!!! CAG May 2012 #36

I'm not a fan of comic book movies but come on quinnox May 2012 #37

An AMAZING, powerful movie FrodosPet May 2012 #47

It is a great one. raouldukelives May 2012 #59

one of my favorites! rppper May 2012 #78

Shakespeare at the Globe Theater was considered "low brow" CactusJak May 2012 #39

Whatever ProudToBeBlueInRhody May 2012 #40

It was surprisingly good AnnieBW May 2012 #41

I loved both those scenes. white_wolf May 2012 #63

Yeah, The Hulk smashing Loki into the floor like terrier shaking a rat Codeine May 2012 #114

Which is a better film: V for Vendetta or Titanic? XemaSab May 2012 #43

I can only assume that's a trick question... Johnny Rico May 2012 #49

It's not that tough XemaSab May 2012 #52

Of the two, I would pick V for Vendetta. Titanic is incredibly overrated (IMHO, of course). Johnny Rico May 2012 #54

Who died and left you as Entertainment Judge? 99Forever May 2012 #46

Someone with a right to their opinion? Darth_Kitten May 2012 #84

Do I need to remind you of what traits ... 99Forever May 2012 #92

That Is Your Opinion HangOnKids May 2012 #108

OH my! 99Forever May 2012 #136

Do You Often Reply To Your Own Posts? n/t HangOnKids May 2012 #170

Oh please have mercy. 99Forever May 2012 #183

Actually, I thought the movie "Jackass" was a sad statement on American Culture. Am I wrong? n/t cynatnite May 2012 #48

Not in the slightest. Johnny Rico May 2012 #51

No art is high brow art. ZombieHorde May 2012 #50

Unrec zappaman May 2012 #53

it was worse hfojvt May 2012 #55

"Tell 'Em Steve Dave!!!" ProudToBeBlueInRhody May 2012 #56

Mother mother fuck, mother mother fuck fuck, Codeine May 2012 #152

The Dark Knight was the most violent and pointless POS I have ever seen. Manifestor_of_Light May 2012 #60

I'm sorry, but I really think you missed the point of the movie. white_wolf May 2012 #66

So the Joker is psychologically tormenting Batman and Harvey Dent to break them down. Manifestor_of_Light May 2012 #165

Morgan Freeman was not the butler. He was the CEO of Wayne Enterprises. n/t cynatnite May 2012 #67

Have you seen the movie? white_wolf May 2012 #62

You talking to me? Manifestor_of_Light May 2012 #65

I was actually replying to the OP in this post, sorry. white_wolf May 2012 #68

I had some issues with the Dark Knight Hippo_Tron May 2012 #70

The Top 50 sylvi May 2012 #64

Agree with you, completely! Ikonoklast May 2012 #69

It's made for teenaged boys. They're a large movie audience. SharonAnn May 2012 #71

Most of the audience I saw it with was made up of adults. white_wolf May 2012 #72

Films out of Hollywood do cater to youth. Darth_Kitten May 2012 #83

Yes, I am a middle aged teenage boy FrodosPet May 2012 #74

My girlfriend loved it. Her daughter loved it. Her toddler loved it. Codeine May 2012 #115

I bet you won't go out and see this masterpiece Tabasco_Dave May 2012 #76

Pity that all American movies aren't filmed on or around the Golden Pond. Zalatix May 2012 #80

$200M domestic opening weekend, $441M foreign = $641M in three days. Bolo Boffin May 2012 #81

Think of it as entertainment varelse May 2012 #89

There have been plenty of great comic book movies mathematic May 2012 #90

Comic books have never been high brow art. apnu May 2012 #93

Reminds me of another piece of pulp literature ProudToBeBlueInRhody May 2012 #106

So did Jaws do pretty bad ass in 1975, back in your day? snooper2 May 2012 #94

Watched the Avengers last night. MichaelMcGuire May 2012 #95

What is the difference between America and a yoghurt? Sea-Dog May 2012 #96

A yogurt Zorra May 2012 #102

Plain, flavored, or fruit-at-the-bottom? slackmaster May 2012 #105

America is spelled right Son of Gob May 2012 #124

I'm more pissed that they haven't come up with a good JLA movie yet Blue_Tires May 2012 #97

Hell, they can't even make a decent Green Lantern movie. white_wolf May 2012 #99

To do so, they need to follow the Marvel blueprint ProudToBeBlueInRhody May 2012 #110

Seriously. Codeine May 2012 #116

I don't get it either. white_wolf May 2012 #135

So you'll watch it-- but at home. You then are part and parcel of the lowest common denominator? LanternWaste May 2012 #98

I have to say the elitism on display here is kind of sickening. white_wolf May 2012 #100

What evs. The movie rocked. ceile May 2012 #101

I can answer your last question. Occulus May 2012 #103

Agreed. ceile May 2012 #133

You sound more like a New Puritan to me than an old, crotchety man slackmaster May 2012 #104

..and get off my lawn... dionysus May 2012 #107

"Team America, World Police" bemildred May 2012 #109

As much as I want to see The Avengers, screw it - T-minus two months until The Dark Knight Rises! Initech May 2012 #111

I finally saw Green Lantern this weekend Capt. Obvious May 2012 #113

In short, you start by casting Van Wilder and you go downhill from there. Codeine May 2012 #117

You don't sound like a crotchety old man. You sound like a snob. Trying to get others ScreamingMeemie May 2012 #119

Joss Whedon made a damned good film. Codeine May 2012 #122

The times they are a changin'. Zorra May 2012 #123

The Hero with a Thousand Faces Reader Rabbit May 2012 #125

Don't watch the Grammys, they're even worse just1voice May 2012 #127

"America is the first country to have gone from barbarism to decadence without the usual intervening Tierra_y_Libertad May 2012 #128

Amen! HangOnKids May 2012 #129

Nothing elitist about him either NoPasaran May 2012 #163

You are falsely equating 'high brow art' with high ticket sales. Rex May 2012 #130

LOL...Populist entertainment has never been highbrow nachosgrande May 2012 #131

This message was self-deleted by its author AtomicKitten May 2012 #132

YES. I bet hardly any of these people saw "The English Patient". (nt) Nye Bevan May 2012 #134

Bad bet. I love art films. And The Artist was my favorite last year! The movie was fun! Logical May 2012 #168

I saw part of it... cherokeeprogressive May 2012 #176

Someone doesn't like comic books. As a child of the 80's, I loved Iron Man, Thor and The Avengers. Jennicut May 2012 #137

I guess I am shallow nadinbrzezinski May 2012 #138

They actually had congressonal hearings over comic books? white_wolf May 2012 #139

yes....in 1954. n/t zappaman May 2012 #140

1950s. Comics were seen as a great threat to nadinbrzezinski May 2012 #141

Yep. The publishers adopted the Comics Code to self-censor their content. Codeine May 2012 #147

There was an excellent book on the subject a couple of years ago. Marr May 2012 #169

Stan Lee is also by no means a conservative. Jennicut May 2012 #142

I know, and the themes in comics are not shallow by far. nadinbrzezinski May 2012 #143

Seriously, read Killing Joke and tell me it's shallow. white_wolf May 2012 #145

I'm not even sure they are for children anymore. white_wolf May 2012 #144

One of the industry's big problems Codeine May 2012 #146

Of course, that means they aren't bringing in new readers... white_wolf May 2012 #148

I'm doing my part. Codeine May 2012 #150

Good point. white_wolf May 2012 #153

Yeah, I guess I fit that profile. Jennicut May 2012 #172

I, personally, love the current run of Batman... white_wolf May 2012 #182

When times are hard , Vanje May 2012 #149

A movie about a comic book is what depresses you? 4th law of robotics May 2012 #151

I'm half convinved those are scripted. white_wolf May 2012 #154

I'm on the fence on that one 4th law of robotics May 2012 #156

Ahhhh....they are all scripted zappaman May 2012 #158

Gilgamesh was a superhero. Codeine May 2012 #157

"What the hell is wrong with superheroes?" 4th law of robotics May 2012 #160

What's wrong with American ones? white_wolf May 2012 #161

They're low brow 4th law of robotics May 2012 #164

French Superheroes would just smoke aggressively at the villain Codeine May 2012 #186

Ennui-man! 4th law of robotics May 2012 #187

So, OP, what about Star Wars? white_wolf May 2012 #159

That screams SNOB to me. GaYellowDawg May 2012 #162

Nope, will not go and see it. Great Caesars Ghost May 2012 #166

Yes, you sounds like an old crotchety man! How is a pro baseball game any better? Or a reality show? Logical May 2012 #167

Pro baseball. randome May 2012 #173

50 MILLION kids (boy and girl) playing Little League at any given time... cherokeeprogressive May 2012 #178

I was in Mexico a couple years back... a la izquierda May 2012 #171

I don't know Canuckistanian May 2012 #177

I don't see what the sad statement on American culture is fishwax May 2012 #180

curmudgeon alert! guardian May 2012 #184