By Sam Watermeier
<[email protected]>

Summer of 2008 is clearly the summer of superheroes. With “Iron Man” and “The Incredible Hulk” on the big screen and “The Dark Knight” rapidly approaching, I thought I would honor the growing comic book genre with my list of the best superhero films.

1. “Batman Returns” – Not only was Tim Burton able to create a spectacular and hauntingly macabre fantasy world, but with the help of a stellar cast (Michael Keaton, Danny Devito, and Michelle Pfeifer), he brought real, raw emotion to it. You really get the sense of Bruce Wayne’s agony in being the Dark Knight. He is tired and worn down during the action, he approaches his crime fighting as being very routine. Keaton’s take on the winged avenger is daring in that it is not a grandiose depiction like “Batman Begins.” In that sense, this is the ultimate “anti-comic book” movie. Speaking of being unconventional, this is one of the few, maybe only, superhero movies that is sympathetic to the villains. Batman is able to relate to them because like him, they have a desperate need for revenge as a result of scarred pasts. This film even goes so far as to suggest that the villains and Batman himself are poised on the knife’s edge between right and wrong.

Note: With its unforgettable German expressionistic production design and dark, complex characters, this is not only my favorite superhero film, but one of my favorite films of all time (easily in my Top 20).

2. “Superman” – This film is simply escapism at its best. Its magic paved the way for every superhero film to come. It showed filmmakers that if they believe in the superhero and portray his story as truth, the audience will believe as well. This film is also easily the most fun and uplifting superhero movie ever made.

3. “Iron Man” – Like “Batman Returns,” this film is unique in that the performances overshadow the action. With most superhero movies, I usually am just looking forward to the superhero jumping into action, but with this one, Robert Downey Jr. is so engaging as Tony Stark that I did not care if he didn’t turn into Iron Man for a while. This film also has a lot of humor and positive energy, providing a refreshing change of direction from the more brooding superhero films in recent years.

4. “Hulk” – If you really want to get an idea of how much I love this film, check out my column contrasting it with “The Incredible Hulk.” Ang Lee’s version (“Hulk”) has everything that “The Incredible Hulk” does not: deep, interesting characters, rich and playful action scenes and thought-provoking conflicts. Unfortunately, “Hulk” was disowned for trying to be entertaining and smart at the same time. I urge everyone to check out this film or give it a second shot. Like all monsters, it is severely misunderstood.

5. “X2: X-Men United” – Not only is this film more action-packed than “X-Men,” but it is more provocative as well. In “X2,” the conflicts serve as metaphors for homosexuality and teen angst. It deals with very deep issues, but it also has exciting action scenes that serve as “sugar to make the medicine go down.”

6. “Batman” – This film is responsible for redefining the superhero genre and making it something to be taken seriously.

7. “Spider-Man 2” – Great action film that is also about the pressures that come with entering adulthood.

8. “Spider-Man” – Arguably the most loyal adaptation of a comic book in terms of style and tone.

9. “The Punisher” – This film stands out from every Marvel Comics film in that it is a gritty, B-action movie/neo-Western.

10. “X-Men” – Effective parable about racism that also features many memorable characters.