In recent years, cinema and the box office have been dominated by the reign of Marvel comic or DC comic book film adaptations, with the likes of Avengers Assemble, The Dark Knight and even Guardians of the Galaxy going on to reap a massive gross at the box office. It wouldn’t be inappropriate to go as far as using the term ‘world domination’; audiences undoubtedly lap up anything flying with the Marvel or DC trademark, but this certainly hasn’t stopped the genre thriving independent of the super-commercial Marvel/DC supremacy, and in the wake of Sin City 2: A Dame To Kill For’s impending cinematic release, Movie Buzzers takes a look at some of the best comic book adaptions over the last decade.
10. Kick-Ass
Breaking free of typical superhero movie conventions, Kick-Ass is a subtle social satire on the perception of superheroes and the general attitude towards them whilst embodying devices of a black comedy mixed with a fast-paced action/adventure flick. Unrelenting in wave after wave of gruesome violence and sickening humour, the film is an entertaining and darkly funny take on a hugely commercial genre. This subversive comic book adaptation is a must-watch for all of its unique tweaks and flair, though is not for the faint of heart.
9. Wanted
Nabbing the two last spots are Mark Millar adaptations, secondly 2008’s Wanted. Many people are going to disagree with this one, the source material itself is a subject of debate owing largely to its confused messages of morality. What readers fail to understand is the graphic novel’s focus primarily on villains and the despicable behaviour of those bound by no societal rules being the pivotal point of the narrative; it is intended to be provocative in nature this way. The film draws large parallels with Fight Club in terms of its anti-heroic stance but once this is looked past, it’s a thrilling and rewarding experience nonetheless. The 2008 adaptation is much the same; perhaps deviating further from the source material than the majority of titles on this list, it’s an exhilarating, heart-racing watch that should not be overlooked.
8. 300
Zach Snyder and Frank Miller make their second appearances in this list with the frame-for-frame adaptation of Miller’s historical graphic novel. Dividing critics and audiences alike, 300 is a relentless and gory action film opting for a primarily CGI-based setting as opposed to physical surroundings. This green screen-centric outset does, at first, seem daunting but once the film gets rolling, it’s certainly difficult to refrain from being immersed in the extensive action sequences. Building off the success of Sin City, the film could have been pulled straight from the pages; each storyboard could have been drawn by Frank Miller himself. Though a questionable film of debatable quality, 300 is without a doubt a fiercely loyal comic book adaptation.
7. Persepolis
With the distinction of being the only animated featured on the list, Persepolis is also the only comic book adaptation on this list nominated for an Academy Award. (Best Animated Feature, 2007). Based on Marjane Satrapi’s autobiographical graphic novels, the film is an account of the author’s experience of the 1979 Iranian revolution from the perspective of a young girl. Sodden with social and religious subtext, the greyscale colour palette serves as a metaphor for the state of the country at the time, with the author herself specifying that black and white was used to “show how easily any country can become like Iran.” Thought-provoking and endlessly intriguing, Persepolis is a must-watch.
6. Sin City
Deemed “the closest experience to actually watching a graphic novel onscreen”, this list would not be complete without Robert Rodriguez’s adaptation of an array of Frank Miller comic books. Undoubtedly one of the most unique and boldly original comic book adaptations of our time, the film oozes elements of classic film noir dashed with sultry, stylised finesse. Rodriguez has proven that graphic novels can be faithfully resurrected in live action, even going as far as using the graphic novels as story boards for the film and in doing so, has created a modern cult classic. With its sequel around the corner, the anticipation of seeing how its follow-up stands alongside it is certainly peaking.
5. Dredd
Deemed a box office flop, what this film lacked in box office revenue it certainly appeases for with fan support. Though impossible to wipe away the stain of 1995’s Judge Dredd, this 2012 adaptation very nearly makes up for it; Karl Urban’s Dredd is as brooding, complex and ominous as the comic book suggests and, true to the literary character, his helmet remains firmly on his head for the entire film. The realisation of MegaCityOne from page to screen is truly phenomenal; the sheer scale of the set is commendable alone and if you can peel your eyes away from the impeccably choreographed and captivating action sequences, you’ll be lavished with a landscape as bleak and fruitless as the comic books. With a campaign for a sequel on the rise, it may not be the last we see of big-screen Dredd either. Add your support here!
4. Oldboy
Proving that comic book adaptations are for grown ups too, Park Chan-Wook’s harrowing adaptation of this Korean Manga classic has garnered critical acclaim across the globe since its debut at the Cannes Film Festival in 2004, where it walked away with the illustrious Grand Prix prize. Revelling in violence with stroke after stroke of torture and gruesomeness, Oldboy is an edge-of-your-seat nail biter, dripping with poignancy and allure, embodying a multi-layered narrative that dips into disturbing Oedipal themes as time goes on making for an exhilarating, disturbing but overall satisfying watch.
3. Watchmen
Without a doubt, Watchmen is the ‘marmite’ of this list. A divider of sorts, the adaptation of Alan Moore’s and Dave Gibbon’s post-apocalyptic thriller has been praised and hounded by critics and comic book fans alike. Though for the second time in this list DC comics rears its head slightly, Watchmen is several leagues away from its studio cousins, embodying a silky essence of neo-Noir and sultry, stylish allure absent from the usual mindless Superhero offerings. But as we’re discovering more and more these days, Zack Snyder’s creative decisions are not universally pleasing despite Watchmen securing firm footing in the realm of realism, or as firm a foot as any superhero comic book adaptation can have in the 21st century. Love it or hate it, it’s a fine thriller that lavishes its viewer with a certainly unique colour palette and various visual delicacies that shouldn’t be dismissed without a cautious watch.
2. V For Vendetta
Although originally published by the darker daughter company of DC Comics, the unparalleled V For Vendetta remains a cult classic of comic books. Penned by Alan Moore across half a decade, the graphic novel is in the same vein as Orwell’s 1984, managing to pack the same spine-tingling punch as the classic social critique. The 2006 adaptation, starring a post-Star Wars Natalie Portman, has become an instant classic and the symbol of the Guy Fawkes’ mask has even been commandeered by the internet ‘hacktivist’ group Anonymous. In terms of page to page adaptation, the film embodies its own dramatic flair but remains loyal to the truth of the source material; the disturbing possibility of a slow descent from democracy into totalitarianism is a plausible possibility and is horrifyingly realised in V For Vendetta, a disturbing and provocative gem of a comic book adaptation.
1. Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World
Flying straight in at number one is Edgar Wright’s truly masterful 2010 adaptation of Bryan Lee O’Malley’s beloved Scott Pilgrim series. Wright goes to incredible lengths onscreen to literally bring the novel to life, and fans of the comic book series will no doubt have clocked on to the shot-for-shot accuracy of the film from the source material; the world on the page is brought resoundingly to life on the screen. Using devices such as onscreen text, split screen and slow motion, Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World is an immersive and fulfilling achievement, maintaining the quirky tongue-in-cheek humour of the comic books. Though directed at quite a niche crowd, it’s not hard to find enjoyment from what can be described as a comic book with a pulse.
What are we missing from this list? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!
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