>>Superhero Movies
Villains beware. Batman and the Fantastic Four promise to set cinema screens alight this summer with a veritable inferno of superhero action. Beccy Matthews selects the best movies to punch, swing or kick their way into the hero hall of fame.
Superman
The quintessential superhero movie, this 1978 adaptation of the comic book hero's adventures is still regarded as one of the greats, largely due to Christopher Reeve's portrayal of both the man of steel and his alter ego, Clark Kent. Sent to earth from the planet Krypton (by Marlon Brando in a particularly pricey cameo), Clark grows up amongst the wheat fields of Kansas and later finds himself as a reporter for the Metropolis' Daily Planet. There he sheds his mild-mannered persona to fight for truth and justice as Superman, making Lois Lane's heart flutter along the way. So the effects might look a tad dated, but it's got suspense, the timeless struggle between good and evil, and not once does Christopher Reeve appear to feel silly wearing his pants over his tights. Super.
The Incredibles
Incredible indeed. This 2004 animated feast is a fresh and captivating take on the superhero genre. After a series of crippling lawsuits, the superhero programme was shut down and Bob Paar and his wife were forced to assume their civilian identities indefinitely. Fifteen years later, the couple have a normal suburban lifestyle with their kids. Except they're not normal. No matter how hard he tries to adjust to civilian life, Bob misses being Mr Incredible: he wants the adrenaline, adventure and lycra back. So when he's offered the opportunity to play a hero again, he jumps at it. But his hopes for action are set to draw his whole family into a clash with a dastardly plan. A refreshing combination of heroism and humour that will keep everyone from kids to grannies entertained.
Batman
Tim Burton's streak of childhood darkness surfaced once again in 1989's Batman and 1992's Batman Returns. Abandoning the rather camp appeal of comic book movies for the dark and twisted, his Batman movies took the hero genre to a whole new level. Capturing the moody feel of the graphic novels, the set is atmospheric, Michael Keaton's brooding Batman is arguably the best to date and Jack Nicholson's portrayal as The Joker, which scored him the highest paycheque in the history of cinema up to the time, is outstanding. Looking back at the origins of Batman and The Joker, we join Batman in his crusade to halt the grinning villain's plan to poison the people of Gotham City. Haunting and horrible yet indisputably gripping, Tim Burton has given Batman Begins quite a standard to live up to.
Spider-man
Spider-man is a superhero with issues. Feeling he has to save everyone from peril really gets in the way of life, preventing him from pursuing a relationship and even holding down a pizza delivery job. 2004's Spider-man 2 is better than the 2002 original in exploring the tortured psyche of the hero and his science geek alter-ego, Peter Parker, drawing you into the love story and making you care about the outcome (even if the heroine, Mary Jane, is played by Kirsten Dunst). Tobey Maguire is well cast as the average boy next door, suffering the intolerable loneliness of his secret. Furthermore, the action sequences, particularly those featuring the eight-limbed Dr Octavius, are stunning, making Spider-man 2 an adrenaline feast with soul.
X-Men
Another movie that was arguably bettered by its sequel, the prognosis for X-Men 3 is good. Persecuted by humanity, a band of mutants with unique powers strive for a world where they can peacefully co-exist with humans, led by Professor Charles Xavier. While the 2000 adaptation of the Marvel Comics' mutant universe set up the storylines and characters, the 2003 sequel brings greater depth and wit to their personas, the rich special effects allowing the mesmerising action to shine through. A superb cast, headed by Ian McKellen, Patrick Stewart and Hugh Jackman, makes X-Men (glad to see something's standing up to political correctness) stirring and sinister entertainment.
Beccy Matthews