5 UNDERRATED SUPERHERO MOVIES
Article By Abbey Archer
If it seems like all people talk about nowadays is the upcoming superhero movie, you’d be right. Since there’s going to be a handful of these little bass tards coming out every year until we colonize on Mars, it’s time to just pipe down and accept this truth: it’s a Superhero world; we’re all just living in it. And while every Marvel and DC movie released thus far has gotten quite a lot of attention and publicity, there are some that slip in, quietly appealing to a smaller audience, and are left on their shelves to gather dust. So, coinciding with the new SPIDER-MAN movie coming out this week, I’ll be taking these gems and polishing them off for your memory.
Batman: Mask of the Phantasm (1993)
It’s hard to imagine a Batman movie not being very well-known, but this is probably the most criminal underrated movie in the Dark Knight’s catalog. Without giving much away, a new vigilante appears to challenge Batman’s strict code of taking down enemies, all while a past lover comes back into his life. In the same vein as the acclaimed tv show, Mask of the Phantasm has great animation and depth, delving a little deeper into Bruce Wayne’s psyche and guilt. And anytime we have Kevin Conroy and Mark Hamill voicing Batman and the Joker, respectively, it’s a huge plus.
Dredd (2012)
From one hero who is vengeance to another who is straight up The Law, Dredd is a crazy ride to be taken. Hyper-stylized, and hyper-violent, it takes all the bad taste from the 90s Stallone failure out of your mouth. Karl Urban, this generation’s Bones McCoy, is everything you could ever ask for as our judge, jury, and executioner. The action is aces across the board, managing to balance manic panic and artistic slo-mo with expert-like precision. It’s a deftly executed thriller that’s not to be missed. (NOTE: Unlike the previous entry’s appeal to kids and adults alike, please, for the love of cheese, don’t watch this with the little ones around. Even the version I saw on tv showed enough, so save this mature material for a rainy day.)
The Incredibles (2004)
Now, look. I know The Incredibles is the most popular of the movies I mentioned in this piece, and I know it has commercial and critical success under its belt. Heck, it even won an Oscar. But a lot of people forget that this is not just a Pixar movie; it’s a superhero movie, first and foremost! In fact, it may be the best Fantastic Four movie ever. It’s full of big humor and heart, and you’ll want to dress up as your own hero after it’s over. Just remember: NO CAPES!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eZbzbC9285I
The Rocketeer (1991)
I just watched this for the first time a couple of weeks ago … and I can’t believe it took me all 27.5 years of my life to see this. The Rocketeer is so much dumb fun: it’s charming and funny, and the special effects actually hold up pretty well. It’s tragic that this tanked at the box office, but it’s accumulated a cult following for modern audiences. And if I haven’t convinced you enough to give it a watch … It’s got Timothy Dalton playing a smarmy creep. SO. AWESOME.
Unbreakable (2000)
While all the other entries on this list scream SUPERHERO through and through, this one whispers it. Coming on the heels of M. Night Shyamalan‘s tour de force, The Sixth Sense, Unbreakable also stars Bruce Willis — this time as a security guard who comes to the slow realization that he might have superpowers, thanks to the plausible theories of a comic book collector, played by Samuel L. Jackson (his 2nd superhero appearance on this list.) This is a fantastic slow-burn of a story that feels entirely realistic, with actual consequences to actions, good or bad.
Chronicle is another smaller scale superhero film that many people really enjoy … unfortunately, I am not one of those people. (I actually despise it. Oops.) There’s also Darkman, which I’ve yet to see; and V for Vendetta is an excellent option as well, although V is more of an anti-hero. So give all of these a view, and unleash your inner superhero. Or super villain. Whichever floats your boat.*
*The author of this article does not endorse, or condone, felonious acts of supervillainy in day to day life.
**Spider-Man: Homecoming opens on Friday, July 7th.
