@Matt - I'm referring to the theatrical cut of DD, I've not yet been able to see the director's cut.
If you didn't like the look or acting of Daredevil standard cut, then the Director's Cut won't make a difference. If the movie's storyline is what you have issues with, then do yourself a favor and watch the Director's Cut. There's a whole subplot that really helps the main story of the movie.
I forgot about Batman Returns... the ONLY movie I have ever walked out of. It was the beginning of my hate affair with Tim Burton. Batman sets clowns on fire, Penguin bites the heads off of rotten fish and looks like a reject from the Cabinet of Dr. Caligari. Catwoman is the by-product of a head injury. I think the Penguin re-design was the most offensive. Does every Tim Burton character have to be a weirdo raised by weirdos/animals? And the first movie is just barely more watchable. Barely.
I completely misunderstood the question... Superman Returns and Batman & Robin are both movies I will never watch again, where Spider-Man 3 and Batman Forever are movies that I could watch again, flaws and all.
Actually watch Batman Forever again, and you may change your tune.
I'm with Tonebone on the Burton Batman movies - they have not aged well.
Didn't see any mention of one of my favorites - Supergirl! Bland acting, lackluster plot, but you have Peter O'Toole, Faye Dunaway and Helen Slater (who fit the role quite nicely). Granted I'm biased - I love all things Kara - but at no time will I admit that movies a major hit....I do proudly own the DVD, though! :)
I forgot about Batman Returns... the ONLY movie I have ever walked out of. It was the beginning of my hate affair with Tim Burton. Batman sets clowns on fire, Penguin bites the heads off of rotten fish and looks like a reject from the Cabinet of Dr. Caligari. Catwoman is the by-product of a head injury. I think the Penguin re-design was the most offensive. Does every Tim Burton character have to be a weirdo raised by weirdos/animals? And the first movie is just barely more watchable. Barely.
But the last ghost rider was veyr bad. I think he wants movies we'd watch again with some effort to ignore part of the movie.
That's correct. Ghost Rider 2, Catwoman, Man-Thing are movies that are unwatchable. Although there are parts of Wolverine I really enjoy, I don't feel as though I have to pause the DVD if I'm hungry or have to take a piss.
The casting is great. Some scenes and some costumes are great. Those positives unfortunately amplify the differences from Bob Burden's original concept.
Lots of people find the movie Popeye unwatchable, but I love it dearly. It easily makes my top 5 of all time. When I saw Superman as a kid, I believed a man could fly, and in the same way, Popeye brought those characters to life so vividly for me. My only exposure to him was the cartoons, but after the movie, I soaked up everything I could about him. And still do.
Here's another vote for Popeye. I loved that film and have always been puzzled by the aversion some folks have shown towards it. I remember one critic complaining how 'bizarre and terrifying' the sets were -- C'mon! It's cartoon architecture, ala Toonerville Trolley and George Herrimann!
Here's an Easter egg: Dennis Franz of Hill Street Blues and NYPD Blues had an early role as one of the town thugs in the movie. Watch for him!
Good question, something to put real thought into.
It is easy to come up with films I don't care to ever see again, and it is easy to come up with good to amazing films that I love to watch. That area with the proper amount of enjoyment that manages to *just* overcome the cringing moments... that's a thin line.
I would agree with Batman Forever. When I first saw it, I thought it was much better than it really was, but that was blowback from my detest of Batman Returns, which is a movie that I can't sit through. From the opening scene with the security guard (oh no, boiling acid!), to the insanity of Tommy Lee Jones' Two Face, this is a movie I cringe at quite often... but I also enjoy it enough that I can put up with the campiness. Don't get me wrong - it is right on the cusp of unwatchable, but somehow it doesn't go over the edge for me.
Iron Man 2 is hard to watch at times, but, again, the good makes it possible. I can put up with the seemingly solid hour and a half of Mickey Rourke soldering and Sam Rockwell chewing up the scenery like it was made of candy because of cool things like the suitcase armor scene and the cool battle scenes. Plus, Scarlett Johansson makes films easier to watch.
The original Keaton Batman also lands here for me. I enjoy a lot about the movie - the look and feel, Keaton was amazing... but there is... just... so much that is just... bad about the movie... set to a Prince soundtrack...
Sorry, where was I? Oh, yeah. And, I also liked Popeye. "And I yam what I yam what I yam and I yam what I yam and that's all that I yam 'cause I yam what I yam" and "He needs me he needs me He needs me he needs me He needs me he needs me" may be terrible lyrics, but they were catchy enough that I still remember them.
For all the heat that Daredevil gets I find a lot to like in the film. I have no problem with the costume or with Ben Affleck as Matt Murdock. I think he did a fine, serviceable job. the issues with the movie lie largely with the direction and editing I think. I agree with Matt that the director's cut helps a great deal. This is a movie I will watch again and again and enjoy it in spite of the flaws. Batman and Robin on the other hand I actively avoid.
I also thought more highly of batman forever when it first came out. It's a live action cartoon/comic book but not entirely in a good way. But I can watch and enjoy it still. I'll also add batman returns to the list. Most it's issues aren't that its a bad movie as much as its a bad batman movie. As a bat-fan that makes it harder to enjoy. Everything else about it is personal taste. If you like Tim burton for example, you can enjoy the movie whether or not you like batman. Personally I don't but can extract enough to watch BR. B+R however can't be saved. I actually think batman89 still holds up well enough and despite its flaws (then as now) it's still alright. I think Spiderman and xmen are already much more dated than batman89. Superman3 is also hard to watch because its so bad and yet somehow it's also enjoyable. Ghost rider and punisher (lundgren) make my list and punisher war zone just barely makes it. Punisher (Jane) is like batman returns... Ok movie but bad punisher movie. Ghost rider 2 is worse than batman and robin in its own way. Maybe my worst comic book movie ever.
I agree with @Torchsong's appreciation for Supergirl. It's not very good, but Helen Slater well-cast as Supergirl (she's a little bland in her performance, but she does alright and certainly looks the part), and Faye Dunaway, Brenda Vaccaro, and Peter Cook make a fun triple bill as the villains (the only time Dunaway has ever been vampier was Mommie Dearest... not one bit of scenery lacks her bite marks!). Plus, more of Marc McClure's Jimmy Olsen.
Another bad but somehow entertaining comics (or at least pulp) adaptation was Doc Savage, Man of Bronze. Terrible soundtrack (Sousa marches! With lyrics!) and hundreds of attempts at campy humor that fall flat - one of the bad guys sleeps in a giant crib, Doc's eyes have an animated twinkle when he gives a speech, the multiple combat-styled fight (each labeled on-screen) with the villain at the end - but it's still oddly watchable. A lot of it is due to the casting of Doc (Ron Ely) and his 5 aides (Long Tom is the principal from The Breakfast Club!), and the George Pal special effects look awesome (if dated now, of course). Admittedly a sentimental favorite from when it would turn up on TV as a kid, but still worth a watch now and then, and to date the only Warner Archives release I have purchased.
Has ANY superhero movie ever come close to the enjoyment you get from the comic? With the exception of MAYBE the first Iron Man, everything is always a let down. No matter how good they are, deep down inside you know the comic is ALWAYS better. Sure they might be fun, but knowing the source material is a deal breaker, it just never translates well to a live action film. A comic book allows for your imagination to take control. Your imagination is killer and no movie is ever going to match it.
Actually, I saw Spider-man 10 times in the theatre because I was enamored with seeing my childhood hero on the big scene. The majority of the time, I bought a man could swing on a web through NYC.
Also, Nolan's Dark Knight trilogy; mostly TDK. I stopped reading Batman comics when TDK came out because I didn't care for Morrison's direction. TDK gave me a Batman story far superior to a lot of Batman stories I read over the years. The whole trilogy grounding the character in a realistic manner reminded me why I enjoy the character so much.
slightly off topic but i finally saw johna hex on tv. didnt think it was all that bad. nothing spectacular and maybe a little dull (but it was edited for tv), but i was entertained and didnt hate it. i also know virtually nothing about the character so perhaps that makes a difference? ultimately ive seen much worse movies comicbook related and otherwise.
i also know virtually nothing about the character so perhaps that makes a difference?
BINGO! There it is in a nutshell. Comic book movies are not made for people who absolutely love the comic book character. They are best for people who only have a passing knowledge of the characters.
Actually, I saw Spider-man 10 times in the theatre because I was enamored with seeing my childhood hero on the big scene. The majority of the time, I bought a man could swing on a web through NYC.
I agree, seeing Spidey do his thing, larger than life was almost mesmerizing. But I couldn't forgive how they messed with the Green Goblin. It ruined it for me. However, for the average joe who only had a vague knowledge of Greeny, it was no big deal (and I'm not saying Matt doesn't know the Green Goblin). Almost every superhero movie that I have seen has a few glimmering moments that make it worthwhile sitting through the rest of the film. The sequence in Superman Returns when the airplane crumbles around him as Supes tries to rescue it is near perfection (IMO). It almost makes up for the rest of the other 149 minutes.
Sure, I've learned to except that is how it is going to be with a movie adaptation of the issues. Things need to change to fit the hollywood movie format... and I can enjoy the films for what they are. But deep down inside I'm always let down because it never matches the movie in my mind that plays out as I read the comics.
One that surprised me was Captain America. I wouldn't say I passionately loved all things Cap but I wasn't unfamiliar with his history, either in the Avengers or in his own title. My expectations were low going in, though. How could he possibly match up against Iron Man or Thor? And...he didn't. He surpassed them. Of the three that came out that year, Cap's flick was the clear runaway favorite for me.
I'll tell you a comic book movie that's hard to watch - Solomon Kane which is now a Dark Horse property. I still haven't been able to watch this Robert E Howard inspired comic book flick yet, but I just found out it will be added to Netflix, Redbox and Amazon on July 16. It got pretty good reviews on Rotten Tomatoes.
phantom and shadow are two more imo. goofy as it is i just enjoy the phantom. the shadow though is a bit tougher. I think 1st half of it is good but it comes real close to being straight bad imo.
I'm with Tonebone on the Burton Batman movies - they have not aged well.
Didn't see any mention of one of my favorites - Supergirl! Bland acting, lackluster plot, but you have Peter O'Toole, Faye Dunaway and Helen Slater (who fit the role quite nicely). Granted I'm biased - I love all things Kara - but at no time will I admit that movies a major hit....I do proudly own the DVD, though! :)
Totally agree. Never thought I'd say it, but the tim burton Batman movies have really not aged well.
Lurve the Supergirl movie. Own it on DVD. Showed it to my girlfriend (now wife) once and she was borderline horrified at it. But whatevs. Slater fit Supergirl nicely and it was appropriately weird. Coulda been a better movie if the Salkinds weren't so notoriously cheap with money.
Has ANY superhero movie ever come close to the enjoyment you get from the comic? With the exception of MAYBE the first Iron Man, everything is always a let down. No matter how good they are, deep down inside you know the comic is ALWAYS better. Sure they might be fun, but knowing the source material is a deal breaker, it just never translates well to a live action film. A comic book allows for your imagination to take control. Your imagination is killer and no movie is ever going to match it.
Avengers. I turned to my wife, about 2/3 through the movie and said "This! This is what I've been seeing in my head for the last 40 years as I read those stupid comic books!.. finally, you can see it, too!"
Has ANY superhero movie ever come close to the enjoyment you get from the comic? With the exception of MAYBE the first Iron Man, everything is always a let down. No matter how good they are, deep down inside you know the comic is ALWAYS better. Sure they might be fun, but knowing the source material is a deal breaker, it just never translates well to a live action film. A comic book allows for your imagination to take control. Your imagination is killer and no movie is ever going to match it.
Yea sure, many of them. When the movies are bad, I jettison from memory as quickly as possible. Its a different medium though. If you said, "what do you like better, the Game of Thrones TV show or the books?" I don't think I'd be able to answer. Similarly, if you said, "What do you like better, Batman Begins or Batman Year One" I definitely would not be able to answer. I've definitely seen Begins many more times than I've read Year One or whatever other comic influences you want to point to, but thats not because Begins is "better", just easier to stick a movie in the blu ray player and watch/do chores.
I'll tell you a comic book movie that's hard to watch - Solomon Kane which is now a Dark Horse property. I still haven't been able to watch this Robert E Howard inspired comic book flick yet, but I just found out it will be added to Netflix, Redbox and Amazon on July 16. It got pretty good reviews on Rotten Tomatoes.
Great news!! Although any Robert E Howard fans likely already knew this, but Netflix has been streaming Solomon Kane since mid-August and it rocks. Why it got now real wide release in the states is beyond me. That is all.
Love Popeye. Ive never understood why it got put down then or now.
I think people were expecting it to be more like the Popeye cartoons, and it was pretty much a direct translation of the comic strip (minus the Jeep and a Goon or 12). I don't think folks were really looking for Thimble Theatre: The Movie, but with Robert Altman, what else could you expect? Double speak, mumbling, people talking all over one another... it was the movie he was born to make!
It probably didn't help that this was one of Robin Williams's first big film roles and folks were still probably thinking he was going to be more like he was in his stand-up or as Mork.
I enjoyed the hell out of Doc Savage. ...aaaand yes, it is terrible.
I loved this as a kid, hokey as I knew it was even then, and when I got the Warner Archive DVD I still enjoyed that aspect of it, but was surprised how much slower it was than I remembered. There's a whole lot of just driving through the South American countryside in that!
No one in this thread mentioned the two Fantastic Four movies. The movies are not exactly unwatchable (especially if you want to show a tame movie to small kids), but they sure are disappointing. At a time when special effects are stunning, even in otherwise bad movies like Transformers, the FF films basically had The Thing in a padded rubber suit and a lot of arguing and walking around.
Comments
Didn't see any mention of one of my favorites - Supergirl! Bland acting, lackluster plot, but you have Peter O'Toole, Faye Dunaway and Helen Slater (who fit the role quite nicely). Granted I'm biased - I love all things Kara - but at no time will I admit that movies a major hit....I do proudly own the DVD, though! :)
M
The casting is great. Some scenes and some costumes are great. Those positives unfortunately amplify the differences from Bob Burden's original concept.
Here's an Easter egg: Dennis Franz of Hill Street Blues and NYPD Blues had an early role as one of the town thugs in the movie. Watch for him!
It is easy to come up with films I don't care to ever see again, and it is easy to come up with good to amazing films that I love to watch. That area with the proper amount of enjoyment that manages to *just* overcome the cringing moments... that's a thin line.
I would agree with Batman Forever. When I first saw it, I thought it was much better than it really was, but that was blowback from my detest of Batman Returns, which is a movie that I can't sit through. From the opening scene with the security guard (oh no, boiling acid!), to the insanity of Tommy Lee Jones' Two Face, this is a movie I cringe at quite often... but I also enjoy it enough that I can put up with the campiness. Don't get me wrong - it is right on the cusp of unwatchable, but somehow it doesn't go over the edge for me.
Iron Man 2 is hard to watch at times, but, again, the good makes it possible. I can put up with the seemingly solid hour and a half of Mickey Rourke soldering and Sam Rockwell chewing up the scenery like it was made of candy because of cool things like the suitcase armor scene and the cool battle scenes. Plus, Scarlett Johansson makes films easier to watch.
The original Keaton Batman also lands here for me. I enjoy a lot about the movie - the look and feel, Keaton was amazing... but there is... just... so much that is just... bad about the movie... set to a Prince soundtrack...
Sorry, where was I? Oh, yeah. And, I also liked Popeye. "And I yam what I yam what I yam and I yam what I yam and that's all that I yam 'cause I yam what I yam" and "He needs me he needs me He needs me he needs me He needs me he needs me" may be terrible lyrics, but they were catchy enough that I still remember them.
I actually think batman89 still holds up well enough and despite its flaws (then as now) it's still alright. I think Spiderman and xmen are already much more dated than batman89.
Superman3 is also hard to watch because its so bad and yet somehow it's also enjoyable.
Ghost rider and punisher (lundgren) make my list and punisher war zone just barely makes it. Punisher (Jane) is like batman returns... Ok movie but bad punisher movie. Ghost rider 2 is worse than batman and robin in its own way. Maybe my worst comic book movie ever.
Another bad but somehow entertaining comics (or at least pulp) adaptation was Doc Savage, Man of Bronze. Terrible soundtrack (Sousa marches! With lyrics!) and hundreds of attempts at campy humor that fall flat - one of the bad guys sleeps in a giant crib, Doc's eyes have an animated twinkle when he gives a speech, the multiple combat-styled fight (each labeled on-screen) with the villain at the end - but it's still oddly watchable. A lot of it is due to the casting of Doc (Ron Ely) and his 5 aides (Long Tom is the principal from The Breakfast Club!), and the George Pal special effects look awesome (if dated now, of course). Admittedly a sentimental favorite from when it would turn up on TV as a kid, but still worth a watch now and then, and to date the only Warner Archives release I have purchased.
Also, Nolan's Dark Knight trilogy; mostly TDK. I stopped reading Batman comics when TDK came out because I didn't care for Morrison's direction. TDK gave me a Batman story far superior to a lot of Batman stories I read over the years. The whole trilogy grounding the character in a realistic manner reminded me why I enjoy the character so much.
M
There it is in a nutshell. Comic book movies are not made for people who absolutely love the comic book character. They are best for people who only have a passing knowledge of the characters. I agree, seeing Spidey do his thing, larger than life was almost mesmerizing. But I couldn't forgive how they messed with the Green Goblin. It ruined it for me. However, for the average joe who only had a vague knowledge of Greeny, it was no big deal (and I'm not saying Matt doesn't know the Green Goblin). Almost every superhero movie that I have seen has a few glimmering moments that make it worthwhile sitting through the rest of the film. The sequence in Superman Returns when the airplane crumbles around him as Supes tries to rescue it is near perfection (IMO). It almost makes up for the rest of the other 149 minutes.
Sure, I've learned to except that is how it is going to be with a movie adaptation of the issues. Things need to change to fit the hollywood movie format... and I can enjoy the films for what they are. But deep down inside I'm always let down because it never matches the movie in my mind that plays out as I read the comics.
Solomon Kane (Red Band Trailer)
Lurve the Supergirl movie. Own it on DVD. Showed it to my girlfriend (now wife) once and she was borderline horrified at it. But whatevs. Slater fit Supergirl nicely and it was appropriately weird. Coulda been a better movie if the Salkinds weren't so notoriously cheap with money.
http://whats-on-netflix.com/whats-new/solomon-kane-now-on-netflix-usa/
It probably didn't help that this was one of Robin Williams's first big film roles and folks were still probably thinking he was going to be more like he was in his stand-up or as Mork.
But yeah, I like this one, too. I loved this as a kid, hokey as I knew it was even then, and when I got the Warner Archive DVD I still enjoyed that aspect of it, but was surprised how much slower it was than I remembered. There's a whole lot of just driving through the South American countryside in that!