Five Favorite Films with Stan Lee
RT chats with the comics legend about his favorite films and his new project, Time Jumper.
Stan Lee has spent a lifetime in the comics world, helping to create some of the medium's most popular, most recognizable, and most profitable characters, including Spider-Man, The X-Men, Iron Man, and many others that have made the transition to cinema. From his humble beginnings as a teenager writing filler for his uncle's publishing company to president of industry giant Marvel Comics, Lee has maintained a reputation for innovation and a knack for expanding the form. Tomorrow (July 23rd), Lee will continue that trend, as his new motion comic Time Jumper -- an ambitious, multimedia joint venture with Disney -- becomes available on iTunes.
We were fortunate enough to catch up with him on the floor at San Diego's Comic-Con International 2009 and sit down for a friendly chat. Enthusiastic but with a dry sense of humor, Lee offered us some of his favorite films, though in his own words, "My problem is, I don't have favorites." He also continued on to tell us a little bit about Time Jumper, his busy life, and what it's like to see the characters he helped create in the hands of up-and-coming writers and artists.
My Fair Lady (1964, 95% Tomatometer)
See, my problem is, I don't have favorites. I'll tell you movies I like, and after I've told you and I read the list, I'll say to myself, "Gee, you should've mentioned these five, or these five." There are so many that I like, but I'll mention some.
This is the last thing you expect me to say. This is gonna knock you out of your shoes. My Fair Lady. That's probably my favorite movie of all time. I think it is a perfect story, perfectly produced, perfectly acted, perfectly filmed. The dialogue is impeccable, the acting is sensational, the music -- you can't forget it. The settings, the scenes... It was comedic, it told a great story. I mean, I could watch that thing over and over and over again.
Captain Blood (1935, 100% Tomatometer)
When I was young, anything Errol Flynn was in. Captain Blood. We can start with Captain Blood. And [The Adventures of] Robin Hood.
Now, would you say that Errol Flynn's movies may have influenced some of your work?
Absolutely. Errol Flynn was my god. I wanted to be Errol Flynn. I mean, most people want to be George W. Bush. [laughs] I wanted to be Errol Flynn, and I used to -- I mention this to people -- I used to... I was about ten years old, I don't know. I'd walk out of the theater after an Errol Flynn movie; I'd have a crooked little smile on my face, the way I thought he smiled, and an imaginary sword at my side, and I'd be hoping that I could find some bully picking on a little girl so I could come to her rescue, you know?
King Kong (1933, 100% Tomatometer)
And then, I like King Kong. I like Frankenstein. I liked all the adventure movies; I can't even remember their names now.
The Producers (1968, 93% Tomatometer)
I love comedy, too. Anything Mel Brooks did -- The Producers, Young Frankenstein. I've got so many favorites. It's eclectic; it's not any one type of movie.
E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial (1982, 98% Tomatometer)
I loved E.T. Believe it or not, I don't go to the movies. I don't have the time, so I wait the six months or so until the DVD comes out. [chuckles]
Next, Lee tells us about his film cameos, what it's like to see his creations in the hands of others, and what it's like to work on something like Time Jumper with Disney.
August M. on 07-23-2009 07:46 PM
All great! I like that he keep it simple and short.