These 5 Strange Superhero Movies You May Not Be Aware of
Superhero films have become mainstream of mainstream cinema, but their stand up to widespread success hasn’t always been smooth. Some of the superhero movies like Tim Burton’s Batman (1989), Superman: The Movie (1978), and The Incredible Hulk live-action series (1977-1982) proved superheroes had screen potential.
Moreover, Live-action adaptations of comic book characters were popular Movie and television producers adapted comic book titles with varied degrees of success during the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s.
While some old-school directors may dislike comic book films for a variety of reasons, there is no denying their business potential at the box office including Captain America is one of the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s most beloved heroes. However, these Marvel movies are released in chronological order which is also a correct order to watch all Marvel movies.
Their Marvel superhero films take up the most screens in most cinemas, but they also draw large attention from the crowds to the theatres, keeping Hollywood on its feet in an era when more people are watching TV at home. However, there have been a number of good superhero movies over the years. From Catwoman to X-Men Origins: Wolverine, here’s a look back at these 5 strange superhero movies you may not be aware of.
The Swamp Thing (1982)
Swamp Thing was directed by Wes Craven, a film horror version from the DC Comics collection of the same name. After army soldiers working for Anton Arcane invade his laboratory, scientist Alec Holland is converted into Swamp Thing. Despite the underlying material and Craven’s direction, the results were just too cheesy to be frightening.
Even in the early 1980s, the advanced action cut-scenes were badly handled in Swamp Thing. The romantic lead is played by B-movie queen Adrienne Barbeau. Special effects aren’t much to look at, and the mutants look like Power Rangers.
The Return of Swamp Thing (1989)
The Return of Swamp Thing is the sequel to The Swamp Thing, which was a terrible film from the 1980s. In it, Swamp Thing must once again face his enemy Anton Arcane, who miraculously survived his transformation into ManBearPig in the first film.
The only thing The Return of Swamp Thing has going for it is that the outfit looks better. However, Heather Locklear presented the most irritating performances of her career. One of the worst kid performers this side of The Phantom Menace.
Fantastic Four (1994)
Roger Corman’s Fantastic Four adaption was a decade before 20th Century Fox released the first film. The film couldn’t be released in theatres or on tape; it was simply filmed to keep the Constantin studio’s rights alive until they come to an end.
Moreover, the budget of the movie was around $1 million, and the special effects were made for-TV movie right out of the 1970s. It’s likely the most watchable Fantastic Four film to date, referring to its modesty.
The Shadow (1994)
The Shadow was a pulp figure who was most known in the 1930s as the lead of a series of successful radio dramas. Orson Welles donated his voice to these broadcasts. Alec Baldwin plays Lamont Cranston, a rich New York playboy, in the 1994 film adaptation.
The film revolves around a descendant of Genghis Khan who is driven to detonate a nuclear weapon. Universal made it with the intention of creating a superhero, but the storyline doesn’t fit that mould. The property that was created before the majority of Americans had televisions does not have a significant built-in viewership.
The Phantom (1996)
The Phantom, a 1996 film is based on the comic strip of the same name. Billy Zane plays Kit Walker, a wealthy playboy who secretly battles crime as the titular hero. The Phantom’s mantle is passed down from father to son, with Kit being the most recent incarnation.
Catherine Zeta-Jones plays a criminal on the lookout for an ancient relic that will grant him extraordinary abilities to unlock supernatural powers. It’s hard to take The Phantom seriously when he’s running around in a goofy purple costume. Look for an early performance from Zeta-Jones as the villain’s female sidekick. However, reviewers says the film’s attempt to recreate the serials of the early 20th century was flawed from start to finish. Indiana Jones films succeeded, but that’s because director Steven Spielberg changed the material for current audiences.
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