In 2014, Kingsman: The Secret Service shocked audiences with its hilarious take on the spy genre. Its R rating allowed for lots of over the top action, and raunchy comedy that connected very well with viewers. While they haven't always been successful, that past few years have been ripe with well done comic book films unafraid to cross some boundaries. So with Kingsman: The Golden Circle hitting theaters this weekend, I think now is the time to count down my nine favourite, R-rated comic book films.
I always try to see as much as I can when making these lists but with school starting up there were a few films that I didn't get a chance to watch. Road to Perdition, Wanted, and The Punisher are all movies I wanted to see but I just didn't have time.
For this list I have two honourable mentions that are very similar. Zach Snyder directed both 300 and Watchmen, and while I appreciate the visual styles of them, I don't find that they measure up with the other films I've chosen.
#9- Dredd (2012)
The new adaptation of Dredd puts its audience in a dark dystopian future that is brought to life beautifully by the production crew. Karl Urban turns in an incredible performance as the title character, and keeps his helmet on throughout the entire film which a lot of stars aren't willing to do. The audience is also treated to some gruesome action with just as much blood flying as bullets. While the performances and world we are put into are great, the story is very basic and lacks character development. That being said, it's a lot of fun and makes the list.
#8- Blade (1998)
Speaking of movies with a lot of blood, Blade might just take the cake. This bad ass vampire movie is a ton of fun, full of constant action and incredible one liners. Wesley Snipes is tough and brooding in his leading role and blends perfectly. The rest of the cast however is decent at best. No other actors make close to as much of an impact as Snipes. Luckily the action makes up for that, and Blade takes the eighth spot on my list.
#7- V for Vendetta (2005)
This movie would probably land higher on most people's lists but I unfortunately wasn't very invested during the first act of the film. Once I was more invested though it ended up being very good. The political thriller aspect of the film is very interesting and the character V is exciting to watch. This movie is very well shot and acted, each character and setting bringing the story to life vividly. While I didn't love V for Vendetta as much as most people I can't deny that it is a very good movie.
#6- The Crow (1994)
The Crow is a movie I didn't expect to enjoy much at all. The tone and punk rock aspect made me question whether it was the right movie for me or not, but I ended up really liking it. When you boil it down this is just an average revenge story, except the person looking for revenge is an unkillable resurrected guitarist. Brandon Lee is absolutely amazing as Eric in the leading role and it truly is a shame that he passed so tragically. He has a great connection with the other characters around him and brings great grit and choreography to all of his action scenes. Rochelle Davis also gives a great performance as Sarah, a young girl that spends a lot of time with Eric and his wife before their deaths. It's constantly clear that they are very important to her which leads to some very emotional moments. While I'm not a fan of director Alex Proyas, and I find him to be pretty annoying and whiny, he does do a good job directing this film.
#5- Kick-Ass (2010)
Matthew Vaughn is one of my favourite directors working today and I think this is where we first got to really see his style of action. Every action sequence is brilliantly over the top and hilarious and they just get better as the film goes on. Aaron Taylor Johnson is amazing as the title character, an awkward teen trying to be a superhero. He looks goofy as hell, acts nerdy as hell, and can't fight for shit, but still tries his hardest. Chloe Grace Moretz had her breakout performance as Hit-Girl and kicks more ass than any other person her age, ever. She slices and dices bad guys as quick and efficiently as trained ninjas and it is hilarious to watch. This movie also has one of the last good Nicholas Cage performances which is something you need to give it credit for.
#4- Sin City (2005)
Much like The Crow, this is a movie I didn't expect to enjoy much at all. It looked like a boring style over substance snooze fest that I wasn't interested in. But once again I was wrong and absolutely loved it. The film follows three separate stories intertwined in an almost Pulp Fiction-esque way. Each story feels like a really well done TV episode which keeps the movie feeling fresh throughout. The overall story isn't told linearly but the writers do a good job of making sure there isn't too much confusion in terms of the plot. All the actors in the film are great, especially the three leads, Bruce Willis, Mickey Rourke, and Clive Owen. We also get a rare solid performance from Jessica Alba. Now I can't talk about Sin City without mentioning the brilliant visuals. It is mostly black and white except for some colours which stand out beautifully against the grey backdrops. There are also some shots that seem somewhat campy but they just add to the graphic novel feel of the film. So overall I think this is a great film that needs a high spot on this list.
#3- Deadpool (2016)
Deadpool has given us the new chance to see mainstream comic book films that don't pull punches. This movie is one of the most fun theater experiences I've had in a long time due to the hilarious jokes and action that carry the movie throughout. Ryan Reynolds as Deadpool is arguably one of the best casting decisions in comic-adaptation history, as the two completely blend together. The self referential humour builds the character as well as the laughs and makes for an amazing time for the audience. On my first viewing this would likely be in first or seconds place, but I personally don't find Deadpool to be as rewatchable as one might expect. The plot is nothing special and the jokes don't hit as well on repeat viewings. That being said, it is both a great, and important movie for the comic book genre.
#2- Kingsman: The Secret Service (2015)
I love this movie. I really love this movie. As I said earlier I am a big Matthew Vaughn fan and I think his style is used beautifully in this film. The movie is constantly poking fun at the spy genre with its cooky villains and over the top gadgets, and it is so much fun to watch. This movie introduced us to Taron Egerton, who is now becoming a big name, and he has earned that because he is fantastic in the leading role. We are also treated to A+ performances from veteran stars like Colin Firth, Samuel L. Jackson, Mark Strong, and Michael Caine. Kingsman is over the top fun, with awesome gadgets, fun and quirky villains, and a whole lot of classiness.
#1- Logan (2017)
No movie on this list came close to affecting me emotionally as much as Logan did. Deadpool paved the way for Hugh Jackman's final run as Wolverine to have a hard R rating, finally doing full justice to his character. This film comes across more as a gritty western than a comic book movie and I think that works well for the emotional ride it follows. Jackman as Wolverine is one of the greatest comic book performances of all time and he brings a ton of emotion to his final run in this role. The R rating is used very well for some brutal action scenes throughout the film, as well as allowing Logan to speak his mind. We also get to hear Professor X tell Logan to fuck off so it is definitely a worthwhile watch. I find that there is an overuse of Logan swearing in the first few minutes and I think there are some areas that aren't dealt with the emotional intensity that they need, but Jackman's final run as Logan/Wolverine is brilliant and emotional and easily takes the top spot on my list.
Are there any movies you love that I missed? If so, let me know in the comments, and have a great Tuesday.
Written by Matt McKenzie
Love that you included Colin in the Kingsman pic!
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