Forgotten Comic Films

GogglesPizanno · May 03, 2007, 06:59:55 PM

With the release of Renegades new Capt America meshes, and the discussion of the old 1970's Captain America Movies in the mesh thread, it got me thinkin.

What other wacky, bad, long forgotten cinematic comic book masterpieces has time forgot?

I have "fond" memories of both the Capt America and spider-man Movies from the 70's.
I remember watching the Roger Corman Capt America Movie on Laserdisc years ago...
And I recently watched the Roger Corman Fantastic Four movie (Oh boy).

Any others that people can think of?

Uncle Yuan · May 03, 2007, 07:04:53 PM

For me it's more the television shows - The Phoenix, for example. or A Man Called Sloane.

thanoson · May 03, 2007, 07:17:42 PM

Dr. Strange. :thumbup:

lugaru · May 03, 2007, 08:07:23 PM

Daredevil and Thor vs The Hulk... if memory serves me correctly.

detourne_me · May 03, 2007, 08:24:45 PM

yeah i bought that DVD double disc!
one was the trial of the incredible hulk, with daredevil and John Rhys Davies as the Kingpin. - daredevil wasn't too bad in this
the other is thor versus the Hulk, i loved that one!!
yeah these are a lot better quality than the cap movie.

other ones, i just watched Nick Fury Agent of Shield starring david hasselhoff! wasn't too bad, pretty corny, but yeah i liked it better than the Generation X movie.
and Man-Thing isn't too bad.

BentonGrey · May 03, 2007, 08:32:33 PM

Am I the only one who actually kind of liked the Captain America movie? I mean, yeah, it had a lot of weak points....a LOT of weak points, but there were also some moments when they REALLY managed to capture Cap on screen, I mean, it felt like I was watching Kirby's art brought to life from time to time. Those brief moments, and the Red Skull's first scene, were worth watching the movie to me.

It was really a lot closer to the comics than that Thor/Hulk movie. :huh:

thanoson · May 03, 2007, 09:29:32 PM

Yes, you are the only one. :lol: C'mon, Cap's best trick was to pretend to get sick and steal the truck; twice. The President was running in front of Cap as Cap was blocking bullets with his shield.

BentonGrey · May 03, 2007, 09:43:12 PM

Yeah, my wife and I noticed that.......pretty lousy for a superhero. Ha, still, I maintain that the moments of celluloid greatness outweigh, even if only slightly, the horrible stank of cheese.

Jakew · May 03, 2007, 09:59:29 PM

Those two Swamp Thing movies. I think Wes Craven worked on the first one.

The original spider-man movie, where he fights ninjas.

The Hitman · May 04, 2007, 06:02:20 AM

I own a VHS of the Captain America movie. The thing that threw me was the styrofoam ears!

The Dolf Lungren Punisher movie is also a clasic!

bearded · May 04, 2007, 08:08:33 AM

how about a comprehensive list of the movies?! that way we could all see which one's we've missed. i think there were several 70's spider-man movies. and there was a wonderwoman movie, starring kathy lee crosby and mr. roarke of fantasy island.

GogglesPizanno · May 04, 2007, 10:59:35 AM

I remember feeling how Benton did about that Captain America Movie.
The first 5 minutes were like...Wow, cheesy but kinda cool.
Then I had to watch the rest of the film...eegads.

It still doesn't hold a candle to the Roger Corman Fantastic Four for badness.
I just read that that FF movie was shot but never intended for release.
It was a contractual thing to allow them to hold onto the movie rights.
So they basically hired a crew and actors and duped everyone into thinking it was a legitimate film, but the whole time it was just to meet a production requirements clause of the character rights.

Its a really wacky story.

I also recently read that they are working on a deluxe directors cut of the Dolph Lundgren Punisher movie. I would so be down with that.

Anyway, I think a comprehensive list would be awesome.
I know you all have brought up several films I haven't seen
(Wonder Woman with Cathy Lee Crosby and Mr. Roarke?? How did I miss that one???)

bearded · May 04, 2007, 12:46:35 PM

and we should do it with links:

1. wonder woman http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0072419/

Panther_Gunn · May 04, 2007, 01:29:32 PM

Are we actually counting made-for-TV stuff as movies? I know Hollywood has made some bad calls in the past (and fairly recent past), but isn't that dropping standards a bit *too* much?

bearded · May 04, 2007, 01:35:15 PM

i want to see the tv movies. if it's superheroes, it's interesting to me.

GogglesPizanno · May 04, 2007, 01:43:23 PM

I had some down time at work :)

And i think we totally need to include the made for TV stuff. That was my whole point was to find all this really obscure stuff that makes you groan when you hear about it...and then somehow make you wanna track it down and watch it.

Fantastic Four - http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0109770/
Capt. America (Feature) - http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0103923/
The Punisher (dolph) - http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0098141/

Amazing spider-man (TV Movies/Series)
- http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0075671/
- http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0078308/
- http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0077328/

Capt. America (TV Movies)
- http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0078937/
- http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0078938/

Power Pack - http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0271124/

The Spirit (Played by Flash Gordon Himself Sam J. Jones!) - http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0094017/

Shazam (TV) - http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0071050/

Justice League of America - http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0118365/

Nick Fury - http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0119781/

John Sable Freelance (TV) - There was a 6 episode series in the 90's but I cant find any links to it aside form some mentions on some message boards -- but I remember watching it.

Shogunn2517 · May 08, 2007, 01:25:38 AM

Quote from: BentonGrey on May 03, 2007, 08:32:33 PM
Am I the only one who actually kind of liked the Captain America movie? I mean, yeah, it had a lot of weak points....a LOT of weak points, but there were also some moments when they REALLY managed to capture Cap on screen, I mean, it felt like I was watching Kirby's art brought to life from time to time. Those brief moments, and the Red Skull's first scene, were worth watching the movie to me.

It was really a lot closer to the comics than that Thor/Hulk movie. :huh:

I hear you Benton. I mean until we get something better. Quite frankly I liked the Red Skull, particularly in the beginning. Just wish he had a Red skull in the end and I would have liked that more too.

thalaw2 · May 08, 2007, 02:17:42 PM

Does Conan count? I liked both movies, cuz I was really young when they came out and I thought Arnold was cool.

I also liked Hercules In New York...

I saw Arnold live a comic-con once. He was promoting Last Action Hero. I didn't get a chance to get his autograph....funny thing is that now that he's the Govern' it's on my college degree.

Pyroclasm · May 08, 2007, 02:42:11 PM

Anyone remember the short Spider-Man appearances on "The Electric Company"?

GogglesPizanno · May 08, 2007, 03:05:49 PM

QuoteDoes Conan count? I liked both movies...

The first one I am a huge fan of. The second one... well... uh... lets say not so much.
I really am still waiting for them to do a decent screen version of the books.
I'm a sucker for the original Robert E. Howard stories...

Frankly I'm waiting for a decent on-screen version of most of the cool old pulp characters (Shadow, Doc Savage, The Spider etc...)

Speaking of which I just did a look up and found that there was an old 70's version of Doc Savage:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0072886/

Anyone see this one?

QuoteAnyone remember the short Spider-Man appearances on "The Electric Company"?

Oh man yes!
That was like my whole reason at the time to watch the show.

Pyroclasm · May 08, 2007, 04:59:54 PM

GogglesPizanno · May 08, 2007, 05:12:20 PM

The Superboy TV Show was just released on DVD and a friend rented it from netflix....
Its one of the most unwatchable things I've ever seen.

Pyroclasm · May 08, 2007, 05:15:24 PM

Quote from: GogglesPizanno on May 08, 2007, 05:12:20 PM
The Superboy TV Show was just released on DVD and a friend rented it from netflix....
Its one of the most unwatchable things I've ever seen.

I wasn't fond of it, but I will always remember it for being filmed near where I live.

FLASH_22798 · May 08, 2007, 05:39:33 PM

What was the "Thor vs. Hulk" movie that you guys keep mentioning? And am I the only one who hasn't seen it?

Also, "Adventures in Babysitting", not truely a superhero movie, but Thor is in it, kind of.

catwhowalksbyhimself · May 08, 2007, 06:45:29 PM

QuoteAnd am I the only one who hasn't seen it?

Apparently so.

I was the first tv movie based on the Hulk series.

thanoson · May 08, 2007, 07:45:24 PM

Yeah, Surfer Thor and Hulk combined couldn't bring down a helicopter. Plus, when surfer Thor threw his hammer, it would flop end over end; then he would have to run and pick it up. :banghead:

Pyroclasm · May 08, 2007, 07:48:01 PM

Quote from: FLASH_22798 on May 08, 2007, 05:39:33 PM
What was the "Thor vs. Hulk" movie that you guys keep mentioning?

It was called "The Incredible Hulk Returns" (1998): http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0095368/

Panther_Gunn · May 08, 2007, 08:47:22 PM

Quote from: Pyroclasm on May 08, 2007, 05:15:24 PM
Quote from: GogglesPizanno on May 08, 2007, 05:12:20 PM
The Superboy TV Show was just released on DVD and a friend rented it from netflix....
Its one of the most unwatchable things I've ever seen.
I wasn't fond of it, but I will always remember it for being filmed near where I live.

Considering what the Salkinds had given us by that point (Superman IV), this was eminently better than anything they'd done in recent memory. Yes, looking at it now, the production values are horrible, the acting (from other than the three principals, and the occasional actual guest actors) was attrocious, and it *screamed* '80's, it could have been a *lot* worse. And, as far as I know, only Season 1 has been put out on DVD, and the show, both quality-wise and story (going from memory, of course) picked up as the seasons went on. And to my eye, even though the costuming was provided by Disney, of all places, it still showed that the standard concept for his costume held up just fine.....(glares at that lycra monstrosity that came out last summer) <_<

Panther_Gunn · May 08, 2007, 08:59:53 PM

Quote from: Pyroclasm on May 08, 2007, 04:59:54 PMThe Shadow Strikes (1937): http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0029542/
International Crime (1938): http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0030273/

These two were *horrible*! The User comments for both are spot on. This bears even less resemblence to the Shadow than Halle Berry's Catwoman did to Selina Kyle! Even Elektra was a *much* more faithful adaptation than this was. The only thing I'm glad for about these two is that I didn't pay more than $5 for the both of them combined!

GogglesPizanno · May 08, 2007, 09:41:18 PM

QuoteConsidering what the Salkinds had given us by that point (Superman IV), this was eminently better than anything they'd done in recent memory.

I probably need to re-watch it, but I dont remember Superman 4 being as bad as everyone says. The luthor storyline was... but the Superman fighting some stupid 4th string wanna be dumb supervillain always seemed campy and fun to me...but then its been almost 20 years since I saw it...

QuoteEven Elektra was a *much* more faithful adaptation than this was.

The fact you even bring up Elektra says enough...and yet I kinda wanna watch em now.

I think the most entertaining Shadow stuff done thus far are the old radio shows.
Though I do have a huge softspot for the Alec Baldwin movie...even though its really not the shadow at all.

I once read that Sam Raimi had wanted to do the Shadow as a movie, but couldn't get the rights to the character. So as a result he wrote Darkman... which is a great unofficial comic book movie in itself (the first one anyway).