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News » Columns » Total Recall » Total Recall: Unconventional Superheroes » Comments

Total Recall: Unconventional Superheroes

by Jeff Giles | Thursday, Feb. 02 2012

Summary

Superhero movies, how do they work? For decades, the only answer seemed to be "license a popular comic book franchise, then add cheesy special effects and loads of camp," but there were occasional exceptions to the rule -- and over the last decade and change, a growing number of filmmakers have gone beyond corny humor and F/X flash to explore other areas of the superhero mythos. With the found-footage/superhero hybrid Chronicle heading to theaters this weekend, we decided now would be the perfect time to draw up a supersized list of other non-traditional entries in the genre. We hope you're ready to take flight, because it's time for Total Recall! Back to Article

Comments

King Simba

Personally I'd add Watchmen to the list. That's about as unconvertional as they get. Batman Returns is another one I'd add (how many superheroes with a gothic feel to them can you name?) There's also V for Vendetta, though I'm not sure whether or not that's classified as a superhero movie.

Feb 2 - 10:31 AM

Infernal Dude

Where's Puma Man!?

Feb 2 - 10:35 AM

Accursed Arachnid

Ang Lee's Hulk was pretty unconventional. Since I saw that, I have never been able to look at moss growing on rocks the same way.

Feb 2 - 11:25 AM

Tiffany Brooks

Black Lightning... cool Russian film with a Flying Volga!

Feb 2 - 02:18 PM

Jon Johannesson

Man, Kick-Ass was such a criminally overlooked film. It is my absolute favorite comic-book film.

Feb 2 - 02:47 PM

Brittney Gallaway

Scott Pilgrim really needs to be on here.

Feb 2 - 02:49 PM

Ryan Rogers

This is an odd list. At first I thought "Well maybe they just decided not to do movies that were based on comics" but Kick-Ass is a comic. And if you're going to put up terrible movies of super-heroes that were comics, then Howard the Duck should be on there (great comic, terrible film). Or V for Vendetta? And Orgazmo isn't a super-hero comic. It's a mormon/porn-star comic, but it's hardly about a superhero.

Feb 2 - 05:42 PM

Tony Stephens

The movie "Super" deserves mention over "Super Ex" and "Condorman".

Feb 2 - 06:39 PM

Ann Smith

If you are ready for a real relationship that leads to marriage, maybe you'll like someone tall.

Feb 2 - 07:27 PM

Tiago Braga de Oliveira

Oh Jeez, I laughed a lot watching Blankman trailer!

Feb 2 - 07:55 PM

Andrew Fuentes

You forgot 2010 SUPER Blankman, Scott Pilgram

Feb 3 - 03:35 AM

Jonathan Viehe

Hancock, Kick Ass, two of my favorite movies.

Feb 3 - 05:31 AM

Nick Campbell

I don't know what anybody else thinks, but Drive was a super hero movie in my eyes.

Feb 3 - 07:54 AM

Bigbrother .

Haven't seen it yet, but what are the Drivers super powers? Not questioning you, just curious or do you mean it just follows the standard superhero story arc?

Feb 3 - 08:07 AM

Big Brother

Just watched it and can't see it as a Superhero movie.

Feb 4 - 02:54 PM