The Trouble with Comic Book Movies

I recently found myself wondering what the average score is for movies based on comic book properties. In the interest of sharing, I compiled a list of 66 movies. I believe the list covers every movie based on a comic book property, discounting animated movies, and anything that went straight to DVD. This list includes movies with wide theatrical releases only.

I turns out that the average score (based on Rotten Tomatoes scores) for comic book movies is 51%, or 6.6 out of 10. That’s a pretty low score. Just to give you an idea of other movies that rate in the same area, “The Beastmaster“, the classic fantasy cheesefest scored only a single point lower at 50%. “Alien: Resurrection” scored higher than the average comic book movie at 55%. “Above the Law”, the classic Steven Seagal movie, scored even higher with a rating of 57%.

What does that say about comic book movies? It’s certainly not a good indication of the movies that we comic book readers drool all over every day online. The flood of movie news regarding films based on comic book properties has showed no sign of fading for years now. Every ridiculous piece of information is reprinted across the web and analyzed down the the smallest detail. Every day I see reports of casting calls, directors and producers name dropping classic icons, speculation and so on. Even something as absurd as Sam Raimi stating he doesn’t know a damn thing about the upcoming “Venom” movie is discussed endlessly. We’re all guilty of it, so please don’t think I’m pointing fingers.

Our own slavering devotion to these characters and stories is almost a curse. We want these movies to be great. Despite all evidence to the contrary we line up the weekend they open and spend our hard earned money on  a ticket. Hollywood couldn’t care less whether you think the movie is good or bad, all these people care about is collecting your money. The opening weekend box office figures rule. That’s how films like “Ghost Rider” get lined up for a sequel, despite it’s average rating of 26%. That is truly pathetic, and it’s nobodies fault but our own.

I'd like to slap that look off his face.

Don’t get me wrong. I don’t think anyone sets out to make bad movies (except Roger Corman). But it’s really obvious that not much attention is given to many of the properties that we know and love. Let’s take a look at why these movies tend to be so bad.

1. Rushed Production – I think the biggest problem plaguing comic book movies is as simple as rushed production. A film studio acquires the rights to a property and want’s to see the payoff for that property as soon as possible. A script is shat out as quickly as possible, almost inevitably some big name star latches on whether their right for the role or not, and seemingly before the check has even hit the bank locations are being scouted, FX production is started and the movie is underway. It’s a farce.

As an example of a property currently in development, do you really think the “Green Lantern” movie is being given the care and attention it deserves? It seems like just yesterday the movie was announced and we already have Ryan Reynolds attached to star. Despite the fact that people seem to be raving about how great the script is, I find it hard to believe it can be very good considering how quickly it was thrown together. Why are the hordes of online fans so ravenous for this film to hit theaters already?

2. Bad Acting – I don’t think anyone can honestly claim that Nic Cage did a good job in “Ghost Rider”. Now, I don’t think the source material was any good to start with, but I’m sure there are those that would disagree (and would, of course, be wrong). Regardless, the acting in that movie is just balls out terrible. And don’t get me wrong, Cage has been in some good movies. We know the guy can act. But his faux Elvis impersonation was just atrocious.

Or take, for instance, Ben Affleck in “Daredevil”. That movie was god awful. But what made it truly unbearable was watching Affleck stumble around giving his best Batman impression. You can blame it on the script if you want, and poorly written dialogue, but it doesn’t take a genius to recognize when an actor is just screwing up every line he reads. “Daredevil was a f*cking train wreck.

3. Insane Execs – This, I think, is one of the biggest problems, but one we only hear about occasionally. The best example I can think of is Kevin Smith’s take on the Superman movie that he wrote a script for. If you haven’t seen it take a look (yes, the Spanish subtitles suck).

There really isn’t much more I can say beyond that. Smith says everything you need to know about Hollywood execs and their amazing ability to “fail upward”, as he puts it.

So that’s a lot of words to make a simple point. Comic book movies tend to suck. Studios are cashing in as fast as possible. Comic book movies are a trend, and a passing trend at that. We, as fans, aren’t helping the situation. Next time you go see a film that’s based on a comic book property and it’s f*cking terrible, remember how much time you spent online reading and writing about it.

It’s YOUR FAULT.

Check out the full list below.