A solid case can be made for the proposition that 2000's X-Men kicked off the modern era of blockbuster comic-book adaptations. Its quality script, talented cast and believable effects demonstrated that filmmaking had finally advanced enough to take fans on a live-action thrill ride that could closely approximate the heightened reality of comic books. And when Sam Raimi's Spider-Man followed two years later, it became clear that the big-budget comic-book movie wasn't going anywhere.
Of course, there were plenty of very successful (and many more not-so-successful) live-action films and TV movies based on comics before X-Men and Spidey. Some, like The Shadow and Hop Harrigan, came 50 or even 60 years before. (Apologies for the obvious Hop Harrigan click bait. Nothing generates page views like WWII-era adventure serials.)
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Of course, there were plenty of very successful (and many more not-so-successful) live-action films and TV movies based on comics before X-Men and Spidey. Some, like The Shadow and Hop Harrigan, came 50 or even 60 years before. (Apologies for the obvious Hop Harrigan click bait. Nothing generates page views like WWII-era adventure serials.)
Continue reading…
Continue reading...