Adam's Blog

So, after I did my ranking of the Alien movies when Romulus came out last year, I’ve seen a lot of people rank those movies combined with the Predator franchise. After all, with two distinct franchises that crossed over for two films, I guess it’s only natural for people to compare and contrast the two sides with distinct rankings. Because of that, why not join in and rank the Alien movies alongside the Predator movies.

I’m still gonna keep the same points I had with all the Alien movies in that rankings but I will take out Alien: Isolation because I just wanting to be ranking the movies themselves side-by-side for this list. Now that Predator: Badlands is out in theaters, let’s continue on with this ranking! Here we go!

16.) Alien vs Predator: Requiem

The second Alien vs Predator showdown is not only the worst thing that ever been related to the now Disney-owned IPs, it’s one of the worst franchise entries in the 21st century thus far. What should be a fun and simple premise of taking two well known monsters and just have them punch one another for an hour and a half is bogged by some of the worst lighting and editing choices ever put in a theatrical released film. It also doesn’t help that it has writing, acting, and directing that wouldn’t even be passable for a Patron funded fan film. Alien vs Predator: Requiem is not only just as bad as franchise movies can get, it’s just as lazy as they come. It literally brings a new definition of unwatchable because well…….you literally can’t watch it because you can’t even see what’s happening on screen. It’s not strictly a film that is infamous for certain story choices it makes or contradicting previously established lore in any way but because of how objectively poor the filmmaking is on display. That in of itself makes this more than worthy of being the worst film that has anything to do with Aliens or Predators! (Planet 51, eat your heart out!)

15.) The Predator

I can’t recall a big franchise film that left me more disappointed in recent memory than 2018’s The Predator. Bringing in Shane Black, the godfather of action comedies and buddy cop flicks (while starting in the original Predator himself), to helm a Predator film seems like a perfect recipe to return the franchise back to it’s traditional roots. Unfortunately, about all of that potential is squandering throughout the entire runtime of The Predator. The plot is a disjointed mess, so many characters and subplots are introduced that go absolutely nowhere, the pacing is too breakneck and non-existent that it can’t make up it’s mind how fast or slow it wants to go, the editing is some of the worst put to any major studio released film in the past decade, and the dialogue and banter, which Mr. Black has constantly nailed in the past, fall flat in every sense of the word here. I don’t know if it’s Shane Black having to deal with studio meddling or him just not being a right fit for the franchise but The Predator is a perfect example of how everything can go wrong for a major blockbuster that’s part of a major franchise. And don’t get me started on the unconvincing gore and the god AWFUL action scenes where you can’t see jacks*it! What an absolute dumpster fire!

14.) Alien: Covenant

After the divisive response that 2012’s Prometheus had on critics and audiences, Ridley Scott decided to take things back to basic for the Alien franchise with Alien: Covenant. Unfortunately, in so doing so, he manages to undermine the ambiguity and intrigue of the beloved Xenomorph while doubling down on all of the main problems that plagued it’s predecessor. The alien action and set pieces are uninspired, most of the characters aren’t interesting and are about as dumb as movie characters can get, the effects for all the monsters look shockingly poor, and finding out that David was the one responsible for the creation of the Xenomorph is about the most out of no where and unneeded explanation for a franchise’s lore since Mini-chlorins. Not even Michael Fassbender’s captivating screen presence and a couple of fun moments sprinkling in can save this mess. Alien: Covenant may not quite be the worst film in the franchise but it was definitely the sign that the franchise had lost his staying power and how the guy who made the marvelous original Alien had lost his touch. When looking at is as a proper Alien movie and a sequel to Prometheus, Covenant just doesn’t work on any level.

13.) Alien vs Predator

On paper, an Alien vs Predator movie should amount for the perfect amount of shlock blockbuster popcorn entertainment anyone would expect. And the moments that it does just that, it makes for a pretty good time that gives you exactly what you want and expect out of this fun premise. Just a shame that way too much time is spent focusing on human characters that become a footnote the moment the two titled monsters jump on the screen and it tries to set up lore and world building that it has little to no interest in actually exploring. Still, the effects and production design is top notch and when the alien and predator actually show up and start fighting, it’s entertaining enough. Back in the day, you would have to slug through Alien vs Predator to get to the good stuff, similar to how folks had to slug through The Phantom Menace to get to anything involving a lightsaber, but because we have the internet now, you can just look up the fight scenes for this movie on YouTube and be satisfied all the same.

12.) Predator 2

Predator 2 has seen it’s fair share of reappraisal over the years and it’s easy to see why. Danny Glover makes for a fine action star that helps carry the picture along with the rest of the cast, it’s got a campy and weirdness vibe to it that’s easy to get into, and it’s able to end on a strong note that makes the bumpy ride worth trip. However, problems lie in the tone being completely all over the map, the new setting not carrying that same weight as the jungle, and the backdrop of the LA heat wave/drug wars being completely unexplained. This is a sequel that seems to want to have it’s cake and eat it too with hitting the same beats as the original while also trying to do it’s own thing at the same time. I can commend the effort but the end results could certainly be much stronger.

11.) Prometheus

Easily the most polarizing entry in the entire franchise, Prometheus sees Ridley Scott returning to the franchise decades later with a distinct prequel, back before any of the aliens were actually a thing. This easily contains some of the strongest visuals and ideas in the entire series, questioning how human being can co-exist against technology and artificial intelligence. You also have a cast, such as Michael Fassbender, Charlize Theron, and Idris Elba, that absolutely give it their all and is able to add the right amount of weight to the material they are giving. Just too bad it gets bogged down by having characters making completely illogical decisions the whole way through, those interesting ideas being barley explored upon, and so many questions that gets handwaved in the hopes that a potential sequel would be able to follow through with it (SPOILER ALERT: IT DOESN’T!). It’s hard to know how Prometheus would be judged in hindsight if Ridley Scott got to continue along with this distinct direction but without it, this is easily among the most frustrating and downright disappointing installments out of any of these films. It’s certainly not lacking in ambition but it does certainly lack in reaching it’s true potential.

10.) Alien: Resurrection

Alien: Resurrection acts as perhaps the oddball of the series. It’s not so much a continuation of it’s controversial predecessor but more acts like a “Elseworlds” addition to the Alien franchise. This is basically when the series began abandoning its thought-provoking themes and immersive storytelling in favor of acting as traditional schlocky B movies. Sigourney Weaver is back once again but she’s not actually the Ellen Ripley from the first three movies and is actually a clone of Ellen Ripley this time around. That in of itself makes the emotional investment non-existent and hard to care about. Still, the shlock-ness that is presented in of itself is just so hard for me to not dig, even if it’s as goofy and over-the-top as it comes. The action is fun, Sigourney Weaver is clearly having fun in playing a clone version of her iconic character, and the effects and ideas of the Xenomorphs is so bizarre that it’s actually amusing to see before your very eyes. When viewing it on the merits of being a silly, wacky sci-fi click, Resurrection works well enough. When viewing it on the merits of the previous Alien films that felt more ambitious and impactful, Resurrection falls quite flat. Even so, it’s still bittersweet watching this now knowing it was Sigourney’s final time playing Ripley on the big screen.

9.) Predators

Predators is a sequel that is clearly trying to recapture the same spark as the original. You have a jungle setting, the mystery of the predators, and the characters who have no motivation other than desperate need for survival. What makes things stand out different here is that the main characters themselves are treated just as antagonistic as the predators they are fighting and have become prey for these hunters. It may not deliver on the bizarre premise of playing the hunting game but on an alien planet but it does have a right sense of tension and dread throughout with it’s own stand out action sequences and intense atmosphere. For as thin as the script and characters can get, the actors are clearly having a good time here and make them standout through their performances, even if the writing can’t match up to the level of their acting. Still no where near up to par with the original but 2010’s Predators does have enough entertainment value to warrant a watch if you are a fan of the franchise.

8.) Alien 3

The most despised standalone Alien movie in the series isn’t nearly as bad as it’s detractors would be. This is the directorial debut for the well-known David Fincher, at least not the parts which Fox didn’t meddled with the third installment. Alien 3 is most infamous in it’s bold narrative choices, such as killing off the supporting cast of the last movie onscreen, along with not being on par with the previous two masterpieces. However, when looking at it’s own term, there’s plenty of interesting ideas and set pieces throughout Alien 3 that work well here, along with having such a bleak and distinct feel to it that you very rarely get in movies nowadays. Not to mention, in a franchise which sees so many people get kill and slaughter by alien monsters left and right, it’s not really a series which I see the main characters have happy and uplifting endings. It’s definitely not as good as Alien or Aliens and it might have reached it’s truest potential if David Fincher was given full control but Alien 3 is definitely better than it’s overall reputation would suggest. If you watch the assembly cut, which adds an extra half an hour where it fleshes out all the new characters, you just get a good notion as to what Fincher was going for and a hint to where his style would go many years down the road. This may have not been the ending that Ripley deserved but it’s perhaps the one she and all of us needed.

7.) Predator: Killer of Killers

After successfully reviving the Predator IP in 2022 with Prey, director Dan Trachtenberg is able to make lighting strike twice in the form of animation with Predator: Killer of Killers! We see three new characters with their unique stories of their own, forced to come together and take on the monstrous predator as swiftly as they can! Each of the three stories carries wonder of their own, the animation is creative and stunning, the action is fast paced and fun, and who knew after so many installments, we are still able to find new and exciting ways to see human characters kill a bunch of predators! Perhaps if the resolution had not been a tad rushed with obvious sequel set up bait and the narrative didn’t at times come off as three episodes of a mini series, this might’ve been even higher! Killer of Killers proves that not only Predator still works in live-action but it can even work in animation too!

6.) Alien: Romulus

After going down a very inconsistent road, Romulus sees Fede Álvarez returning this franchise back to basic. This is able to hit all the beats that you would expect from an Alien film while also providing it’s own unique voice and plenty of memorable scares and thrills of it’s own. It’s able to use fan service in a very organic way (save for one or two corny ass callback lines), feeling like it belongs properly in the world of Alien. The new cast of characters are likable and compelling in their own right, the action, gore, and set pieces are among the very best in the franchise, this is easily the scariest film in the series since the original Alien, and the third act is so bonkers and so out of left field that I can’t help but love it. It’s even able to take plot elements from polarizing installments like Prometheus and have it work rather well here. It does suffer from some imperfections such as a rather slow start, a callback or two that doesn’t really work (You’ll especially know one when you see it), and a reemergence of a certain character that didn’t feel necessary. Even so, this is easily the most consistently good Alien film since Aliens and perhaps the most pure fun installment in the Alien franchise thus far. While it’s far from the most thought provoking and groundbreaking film in the franchise, Alien: Romulus is able to deliver where it counts the most with this franchise in providing it’s own scares, thrills, and tension throughout.

5.) Predator: Badlands

I don’t know how the man keeps doing it but Dan Trachtenberg is now 3 or 3 when it comes to making Predator movies! On paper, Predator: Badlands sounds like the dumbest thing ever and exactly what you would expect with a Predator movie giving the Mickey Mouse treatment! An installment which puts the focus on the Predator as the main character but goes on an adventure where he teams up with a quirky cyborg sidekick and cutesy animals, has to resolve daddy issues, and learn the power of friendship along the way! And yet somehow, someway…..none of that is a negative for the film! In fact, it’s an absolute positive! With a perfectly balanced tone, well crafted action, clever expansion of the Predator lore, and a shockingly well done emotional core throughout, Dan Trachtenberg is able to take the ideas that have bogged down previous Predator installments but manages to makes it work here! I could’ve done with less quips and a few more surprises to the story but there’s nothing big that breaks this movie down! Please go see this one in theaters if you are a fan of the series so we can see a continuation of this story!

4.) Prey

After a handful of inconsistent installments, the Predator franchise was at long last able to find a return true to form with Prey, the first Predator film released under the Disney/Fox umbrella. This is a sequel that understands the appeal of Predator and what made the original stand out for as long as it has. It’s not the contrived lore to the predators themselves nor the need to makes us all feel sympathetic for these monsters (even if Dan Trachtenberg was able to make that all *surprisingly* work three years later). It’s the action, it’s the tension, it’s the suspense, it’s the subversive genre, it’s the haunting atmosphere, and it’s just the plain badassery from the main characters that are likable, fun to watch, and easy to care about. Amber Midthunder is a revelation as Naru and the whole “back-to-basics” approach is exactly what the franchise needed after a handful of sequels that couldn’t quite reach the mark as well as this did. Prey is exactly what you wan out of a Predator movie and was able breath new life into the franchise. My only regret is that this could not get a wide release in theaters.

3.) Predator

For as awesome and badass as Amber Midthunder was in Prey, nothing can top the pure awesome and badassery as Arnold Schwarzenegger in the original Predator itself. This is yet another classic that was able to get it right on it’s first try and able to use it’s simplistic yet effective premise to it’s fullest effect. This is a film about survival, performing break-neck maneuvers at the most crucial time, and the difference between those who thrive on the battleground and those who die. Most important of all, it’s about one of the most famous monsters in cinema history and our main characters during everything in there power to stop it. There might be elements that don’t hold up to modern day standards, but no doubt, for it’s time and even now, no other Predator was able to capture that special lightning in a bottle the way the original with Arnold did. It may not be the best film on this list but it’s no doubt the best Predator film ever made and likely will be for the immediate future.

2.) Alien

The one that started it all remains one of the greatest achievements in both the sci-fi genre and cinematic history in general. Ridley Scott got it perfectly right on his very first try back in 1978. Operating flawlessly as a slow-burn, smaller scaled sci-fi horror flick, Alien is the proper film to be taught in film school on how to build tension and suspense properly. The Xenomorph, chest burster, and face huggers remains some of the most unique and terrifying monsters every put to film, the atmosphere could not be any more somber and claustrophobic if it tried, the production and sound design is some of the very best every put to film, every single important plot element is remembered and gets a satisfying payoff, and nearly every single cast member gets their own moment to shine. Also, best movie cat ever! While I’m sure the film might be way too slow for the likes of Gen Z and Alpha to watch nowadays, Alien is a film that more than awards your patience by finding the proper payoff to every single thing that it builds off of. Even if it’s not quite #1 for me, I don’t think there has been a more important sci-fi film, give or take Star Wars, in cinematic history than Alien. It’s impact is still felt to this very day and it is more than easy to see why.

1.) Aliens

While the original Alien acts as one of the greatest sci-fi movies ever made, Aliens is one of the best sequels ever made. Much like Terminator 2: Judgement Day, it not only takes every time that worked about it’s near perfect original and made them better but it’s able to stand on it’s own two feet by changing the pace into a relatively smart action flick. From the superb lighting to the stellar production design to the convincing make-up effects to the properly raised stakes to the fantastic action to the perfection that is Sigourney Weaver as Ellen Ripley, Aliens is about as perfect as a film of any kind can get. There’s not a single line of dialogue that isn’t memorable, not a single character that feels wasted, and not a single action or dramatic beat that doesn’t work here. This is one of the rare times that a film series was able to properly translate from a smaller scaled indie flick to an action blockbuster that does not diminish or water down the franchise in any way. Also, this film confirms that Ellen Ripley is hands down the most badass action heroine in the history of cinema. That is not opinion, that is FACT. There’s no person the planet that could deliver the line, “GET AWAY FROM HER, YOU BITCH!” better than Sigourney Weaver could. Aliens remains the pitch perfect example on how to do a sequel, sci-fi flick, and a big blockbuster film of any kind. This remains one of the very best films that has ever been made.

Secondly, these are just my opinions. I get everyone has their own different version of Batman that they prefer. The ones that are the most hated have their diehard fans while even the ones that are the most loved have their diehard haters. At this point, you should know which Batman is your Batman and which one is not. I’m just going with the rankings of how I see the quality of the Batman films.

I also will say when it comes to my overall feelings of all sixteen movies, just note that I think #1-4 are near perfect, #5-8 are really great, #9-10 are solid, #11-12 are mixed bags, and #13-16 are real legit stinkers. For the most part, I like more Batman movies than I dislike.

So please, if you disagree, don’t get upset and even feel free to let me know your rankings in the comments below or even on Twitter or Letterboxd. Without further of do, here we go!

16.) Batman: The Killing Joke

Yes, the worst Batman movie ever released in cinema is in fact not Batman & Robin. While Killing Joke might not as cause anywhere near as much impact on pop culture as B&R did, this is probably the one theatrical Batman feature released that feels like the most waste of time. Even the worst of the Schumacher and Snyder flicks had at least one element or two that worked in their own rights. This is what happens when you try to adapt source material in a faithful matter but don’t actually know or believe in the story that your material was originally telling.

The first half an hour of the picture is terrible beyond words with the way it treats Batgirl and not being important to everything else whatsoever. And there’s the rest of the movie that does nothing more but go into great lengths to just how dated the original storyline is and makes it’s mere existence feel like a mistake. The animation is slow and lifeless, the voice acting is phoned in and poor, and the dialogue that might have fit well for a comic book novel DOES NOT translate well into a motion picture whatsoever. When not even Kevin Conroy and Mark Hamill’s iconic voices as the Caped Crusader and Clown Prince of Crime can save your movie, something has gone seriously wrong!

This is a perfect example how sometimes being too faithful to the source material can be just as bad as being unfaithful towards it. An adaption is an adaption for a reason and that’s something that Killing Joke doesn’t get whatsoever! It’s absolutely depressing that Conroy and Hamill’s final time together had to end on an absolute whimper!

15.) Justice League (2017)

It’s unbelievable how not only the first ever live-action Justice League movie doesn’t work, but it has to be one of the most lifeless, dull, and forgettable superhero movies ever made. The course correction from Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice is so painfully obvious on screen with out-of-place reshoots and edits that are downright embarrassing. It’s like the equivalent of a superb Japanese anime getting butchered in the English version by 4kids, filled with unnecessary editing, censoring, and scripting to make it more “kid” friendly, even if it doesn’t make much sense in context and hurts the overall quality of it.

This came across as more of a straight-to-dvd Avengers knock-off that you would find in a bargain bin at the Dollar Store than an actual Justice League movie. A handful of moments are cool in their own right and is is nice to see Henry Cavill represent a bit of Christopher Reeves here (despite it making no sense in the context of the universe) but it’s incredibly unforgiveable just how cheap, hollow, and unmemorable this whole experience is.

When even a remix of Danny Elfman’s iconic Batman theme can’t win me over, you know your movie has failed!

14.) Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice

I’m still in awe how you take a crossover like Batman and Superman and make it so long, dull, and joyless. The plot is a convoluted mess no matter which version you watch, with the conflict between Batman and Superman being so incredibly ridiculous that it could have been avoided if the two just simply talk to each other. It’s a film that wants to comes across as the most grand and ambitious movie every made, but when you look deep into it, this movie actually doesn’t have much to say on anything it’s talking about. Other than trying to cram two to three movies worth of material into one film, there’s nothing really risky or daring about Dawn of Justice, with it’s so-called themes that have been done much better in plenty of other superhero films.

Ben Affleck is fine as Batman and there’s a few standout moments here but that’s nowhere near enough to save this turd. Even the ultimate edition which some claim “saves” the movie is really just has more of the same problems, save for being slightly better editing and pacing. If there is a clear difference between ambition and aimlessness, then Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice certainly strikes the finest line yet between those two definitions with results that fit more of the latter than the former.

It gets a slight edge over Justice League (2017) because it does at least feel like a fully realized vision of a filmmaker but that is no where near enough for me to claim it’s good or even should be praised because of that. It’s a movie so bad that it arguably killed the DCEU before it even got a chance to get going! Sorry but I’m not a fan whatsoever!

13.) Batman and Robin

Despite writing up a blog piece somewhat defending this movie as NOT the worst thing ever made along with tons of retweets/likes of my tweet about how it’s pointless to still be upset over this movie existing, that still doesn’t change the fact that Batman and Robin is still a very bad and just plain awful movie. I do at least put it above the first few on the list because this is a movie you can at least watch and laugh at how terrible it truly is, unlike those where watching it is just a miserable experience.

From it’s over-the-top characters, cheesy one-liners, campy action, and it’s outlandish overacting, B&R is no doubt one of the best disaster pieces that has ever been released in theaters. It’s not just “so bad it’s good”, this movie help refined “so bad it’s good”. Everyone and their mother has picked this movie apart and for good reason. While I still make the case that this is a watchable bad movie as oppose to an unwatchable bad movie, it’s still a bad movie regardless.

Even a couple of moments that do work with the way they were intended (Bruce and Alfred’s conversation makes me tear up every time) can’t save it for the sheer amount of brilliant terribleness that is the big picture. At the very least, this movie’s failure and own existence eventually led to many other good Batman and superhero movies to be made. I guess that’s something.

12.) Batman Forever

Most of the problems with the Joel Schumacher movie I just mention are also present here, albeit not quite as bad. Cheeseball dialogue, cartoonish characters, arcs that feel unearned and don’t really make any sense, and villain performances that is so hammered up that you wonder if Jim Carrey and Tommy Lee Jones were just being as awful as possible just because they could. That being said, this movie does at least nail the look, feel, and atmosphere of Gotham City in a way that no other Batman has had to this point.

For a famous setting that has been often portrayed as mean, gray, and bleak, it’s refreshing to see someone step it up and breath some actual life into it, even if it doesn’t quite match with how the character of Batman is usually interpreted as. It’s bright, light, and colorful blends perfectly with the bright and colorful criminals that scatters throughout the film that makes this look like paradise for the bad guys in Gotham. Every once in a while in a movie, it’s perfectly okay to make a bad place look good.

It’s still mildly entertaining in it’s own right and it’s certainly the exact kind of movie that WB wanted over the backlash of Batman Returns being “too dark”, but everything is treated too much like a joke here that it’s so hard to take anything happening to the characters seriously.

11.) Batman: Return of the Caped Crusaders

Easily the most inconsequential Batman movie to ever be released in expanded theaters (heck, 99% of the world probably forgot that this actually came out in theaters), but it’s still got some charm that the original 60′ series and the 66′ movie had.

The voice work from the cast can sound very rusty (You can just tell how poor Adam West had trouble with most of his line deliveries), should have had some tightening towards the climax, and I can’t help but wonder with the idea of multiple Batmans in one movie could have unlock the potential of endless memorable memes or at least prior Batman VAs coming together could have made this DC’s version of Spider-Man: No Way Home. (Yes, I get this is suppose to be low budgeted and was originally straight-to-dvd, but I still can’t get that out of my head.)

That being said, it’s still exactly the kind of campy, over-the-top Adam West adventure as you could imagine can exist in 2016. It’s doesn’t try to be anything more or anything less than that but sometimes that’s okay. Especially with the recent Batman and DC flicks that came around that same time that was pretending to be anything BUT simple, I think being simple in the case of Return of the Caped Crusaders was more than good enough.

10.) Batman (1966)

Batman contains something that I really miss nowadays with big franchise movies, it being the exact movie that itself wants to be and not the audience. You couldn’t make a Batman movie like this in 2022. Not just because it doesn’t meet the standards of filmmaking today (whatever that consists of) but it wouldn’t meet the standards of what the fans and audience expect out of Batman.

If this movie came out today, it would get torn to shreds by everybody and many of the cast and crew would be chase off of social media. However, this movie came out in 1966, not 2022. There was no social media to speak off or high standards to reach with this character or series. It was an actual thing and because of that, it could be anything it desired to be.

I can’t say it has hold up very well whatsoever but the fact there was an actually movie called Batman in 1966 makes it as big of an accomplishment as what Tim Burton and Christopher Nolan did for their own respected versions in at the times those films was released. Long live Adam West!

9.) Zack Snyder’s Justice League

Because we live in some dark and twisted form of an alternate universe, Zack Snyder’s Justice League is a real thing now. Truth be told, even if you remove yourself from the toxicity that is the Zack Snyder fanbase (I won’t blame you if you can’t!), it’s actually not that bad and there’s plenty of positive this time around, along with some negatives.

The first half is way too stretched out for it’s own good, feeling like Snyder is trying to get every single little frame of work that he desired in there regardless if it actually serves a purpose. There’s also the final fifteen minutes that feels more like a collection of post credit scenes rather than an actual epilogue. But everything in between that is pretty solid. There’s good action set pieces, a nice score, memorable visuals, and some good character interactions between all of the Justice League members, with Wonder Woman and Cyborg being the standouts. It’s also refreshing to see a Zack Snyder superhero movie to where the superheroes actually feel like superheroes, feeling as if he just ditched the ego-filled mindset and just set out to make a damn good Justice League movie that most people could enjoy.

There’s still some faults from the theatrical cut that are carried over here such as Steppenwolf being so terribly BORING! However, this is certainly an improvement over the theatrical cut and should most certainly be considered the actual definite version of Justice League. I might not call myself a fan of Snyder’s input on DC but I’m at least glad he got to finish what he started after having to originally step down due to the tragic death of his daughter. Can we please move on with our lives now?!

8.) The LEGO Batman Movie

You could make the argument that The LEGO Batman Movie is the Batman movie that feels like the culmination of all the other Batman movies that have come before it along with the hit tv shows.

The key trick that LEGO Batman pulls off is making all it’s spoof nature and commentary that doesn’t come across as lazy, spiteful, or talking down to its audience. It’s able to be a self parody while always having something new and meaningful to say. It’s able to deconstruct it’s main title character but also show a full side of him that has been hinted at in the past but makes it come into full fruition now. It’s able to make fun with it’s material without actually making fun of it. It’s able to make everything Batman while also making Batman everything. I guess what I’m trying to say is, EVERYTHING IS BATMAN!

Not necessarily Batman’s most memorable picture and honestly could have done without the Lego gimmick this time around but this is still a very fun ride regardless.

7.) The Batman

The big overall question that everyone wants to know is if The Batman is the best Batman movie ever made? Well, it really depends on the kind of Batman that you want and hope to get out of this new movie. We have gotten so many different incarnations of the caped crusader in the past and nearly every single one of them has their fans of some sort. In my opinion, it’s not quite the best Batman movie or even my personal favorite one but still a damn solid one nonetheless.

There are some flaws that hold it back a bit. The inspirations that Matt Reeves clearly has taken from other Batman stories and David Fincher movies are quite noticeable, a third act sequence that should feel more impactable than it actually is, and a sequel tease near the tail end of the film that will likely have your eyes rolling. The strengths of the movie, however, should not be cast aside. The acting is all stellar here (Robert Pattinson, Zoe Kravitz, Jeffrey Wright, Paul Rino, and Colin Farrell are all perfect in their roles), there has never been a more effective and accurate Gotham City-like atmosphere displaced on the big screen, and a Batman film that put more focus on the detective aspect, even if Batman is still FAR from being the World’s Greatest Detective in this. Plus, anyone that claims that Michael Giacchino’s instantly iconic theme is not in their head immediately after the movie is lying through their teeth.

Perhaps it’s because I’ve grown more accustom to filmmakers doing their own unique thing with the characters that one movie that feels more in line with the actual source material than one the director put Batman in their own unique sandbox is what makes The Batman come across as more conventional compared to some of the others one. However, conventional doesn’t mean the same as bad. The Batman is a really good movie that while doesn’t break any new ground, it does tick off most of the right boxes of what I (and imagine others) would view as a proper Batflick.

6.) Batman Begins

Batman Begins was an absolute revolutionary when it came out back in 2005. Not only did it revived the Batman franchise that seemed long dead for eight years, but it help set the foundation that properties surrounding superheroes and comic books can in fact be taken more seriously and still be really good.

Even if the second half isn’t quite as good as the first half and the action leaves a lot to be desire but those problems can easily be forgiven with the way this movie is able to accomplish everything else. It gives us an incredibly engaging Bruce Wayne in Christian Bale’s iconic turn as this iconic character along with providing a satisfying origin story that stands as one of the best ever put to screen in superhero movie form.

While it’s impact didn’t feel all the way felt until around the arrival of it’s sequel The Dark Knight three years later, this film’s importance to the Caped Crusader along with the sub-genre should not go unnoticed. Even before Marvel got their universe with Iron Man, it was this terrific first entry from Christopher Nolan that got the ball rolling with just how good a modern superhero movie can be.

5.) Batman (1989)

The original Tim Burton, Batman was quite an accomplishment in 1989. Introducing the character of Batman on the big screen that would define a new generation of moviegoers and Batman fans. As it’s own film, it still holds up incredibly well but it isn’t perfect by any means.

Side characters such as Commissioner Gordon and Harvey Dent aren’t given much development time, it’s quite inconsistent as to whether or not Batman should kills his enemies or not, and there are times where so much focus is put on the Joker that you can argue that it takes away from the actual titled character of the film. But I do think when it comes down to the core conflict and the way both the hero and villain are portrayed here, it makes for a rather unique, interesting, and personal conflict between the two pairs. Just because anyone can be a hero doesn’t mean that anyone can not also be a villain as well.

Tim Burton might not have captured the Batman and Joker from their original roots but he did help create original roots of his own that made the film for the better and leave the impact that it has today. If it wasn’t for the success of this film, who knows if Batman would be anywhere near as popular as he is now.

4.) The Dark Knight Rises

You ever have that one movie that you would define as a flawed masterpiece. A film that you know deep down has problems but it’s still perfect for you anyway! That would be The Dark Knight Rises for me! The kind of film that even with it’s notable flaws, I still can’t help but feel like this is the best possible version of itself it could possibly be. The overall premise of this movie is one that actually dares to question the entire idea around the character of Batman: that perhaps Bruce Wayne being the Batman was a mistake.

And every time I watch this movie, I always go back to that one scene with Bruce getting out of the pit. When watching it, I just can’t imagine these movies being the way they are without that one particular scene. It just makes everything whole and even the things that are wrong with the movie (and even the whole trilogy) feel kinda right. Just like how that moment brings Bruce within himself to become the Batman one last time, I believe that was also the exact moment where Christopher Nolan found it within himself to direct this movie. The one moment that the Dark Knight behind the camera was able to rise once again to finish what he started.

To this day, I can’t think of many series finales that have been as satisfying as The Dark Knight Rises. From it’s scope to it’s action to it’s themes to it’s ending, I will always have a big fondness for Nolan’s final triumph with Batman and superheroes. Some might bark for this being too high on the list but, I’m still a believer in The Dark Knight Rises even if you’re not.

3.) Batman: Mask of the Phantasm

Mask of the Phantasm perfectly illustrates how Batman is not just a symbol for Gotham City but also represents a tragedy for Bruce Wayne. With losing his parents, seeing good people become evil, watching as criminals strike fear into the heart and soul of Gotham, that showcases how being Batman is difficult just like that. But it’s his tragic relationship with Andrea that shows that no matter how hard he tries, Bruce Wayne can just never escape being Batman. It’s something that will haunt him for as long as he lives. Whether it’s a personal connection or not, there will always be something that traces back to Bruce as Batman. He can never move past it, because Batman is and always will be Bruce Wayne’s destiny. He can dread it, run from it, but destiny will arrive all the same!

There are plenty of Batman movies that are more centered around the stories they tell themselves that just so happens to have Batman in it. Many have succeed, some even more so than this movie, while others have failed. But, there really hasn’t been a motion picture that show the inner turmoil of Bruce Wayne as a character and the tragic figure that Batman himself represents than with Mask of the Phantasm.

This may not be quite my favorite movie WITH Batman but, even after the release of The Batman, I strongly that this is the best movie ever made ABOUT Batman.

2.) Batman Returns

Whenever I think of the Batman movies that would make for the perfect double feature for one another and just two films that perfectly compliment the other, I think of Tim Burton’s Batman Returns and Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight. Both films contain some of the biggest, boldest, and just plain best work of both directors filmography.

Both movies are just as much about the antagonist in terms of story, character, and themes as the protagonist, perhaps even more so. They tell incredibly groundbreaking tails of the pros and cons of the Batman legacy along with showing a Batman that is truly unrestrained and beyond his limits that serves both a story and thematic purpose. In the sense, both Batman Returns and The Dark Knight make for a great parallel with one another and terrific back-to-back featurettes. Even when looking at Returns at it’s own thing, it’s still brilliant!

Everything done with the Batman, Catwoman, and the Penguin is absolutely great, it’s shot phenomenally, Danny Elfman’s score is still iconic, and it’s arguably the only Batman picture that is able to find room for the dark, campy, realistic, and fantastical elements all at once along with stating that each one of those featurette have a place within Batman lore. As much Michael Keaton fun as it was to see Batman again in The Flash, I can’t imagine there being a more beautiful and interesting take on his version of Batman then with this movie.

1.) The Dark Knight

But yeah, no surprise to anyone, this is still the best movie with Batman ever made. I know it’s become cliché to claim that The Dark Knight is one of the best superhero movies ever, but many people said that for a reason, it is just that damn good.

What makes The Dark Knight work perfectly is how it’s an unique, distinct story about Batman being challenged mentally, emotionally, physically, thematically, and symbolically. The two other main characters throughout the picture in Joker and Harvey Dent represents both the hero that Batman so desperately wants to be along with the villain that he fears that he will one day come. It’s a Batman movie that perfectly mirrors itself with out it tells this identical tale of crime, corruption, and vengeance in the most complex and fascinating way imaginable.

Even the films’ overall minor flaws like a couple of plot holes throughout and taking place in the most generic looking Gotham City imaginable can’t take away from the amount of absolute superb filmmaking throughout the entire 152-minute long runtime. There are definitely Batman movies out there that people have liked/disliked more than others but I don’t think anyone can argue that there hasn’t been a Batman movie that has a much of an impact as The Dark Knight. From the twists and turns to it’s resonate themes to Heath Ledger’s amazing turn as Heath Ledger, The Dark Knight, even 14 years later, still stands on top.