« Top Ten Superhero Movies - Honorable Mention #1 - Unbreakable (2000) | Main | Top Ten Superhero Movies - Honorable Mention #3 - Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker (2000) »
July 05, 2005
Top Ten Superhero Movies - Honorable Mention #2 - The Incredibles (2004)
Note regarding use of the term Honorable Mention in this series:
The "Honorable Mentions" aren't really honorable mentions in the traditional sense. They are great superhero movies that weren't counted with the others simply because they aren't based on a established property or did not have a theatrical release; all the ones on the list are adaptations from comic books, not original works.
The Incredibles is better than a lot of the films on the list.
Honorable Mention #2 - The Incredibles
Directed by Brad Bird
Written by Brad Bird
Starring Craig T. Nelson, Holly Hunter, Samuel L. Jackson, Jason Lee
"No Capes!"
The Incredibles appeals to the classical superhero idea that we all love. This isn't a dark film like so many of the best entries in the genre, but it is mature. It is that blend of seriousness and humor and general appeal that creates such a terrifc superhero tale. Brad Bird's animated film, brought to us by Pixar, digs deep into our subconscious wonder of superheroes and uses it in a way that no established character could. However the core of the story is not in the superpowers or the evil villians or the breathtaking animation, but rather in the story of one family and how they come together and deal with the special challenges that face them and their "kind" alone.
While few things in The Incredibles can claim to be original, each and every idea and story point is presented with such inguinity that we adore every homage and live the story as if we were seeing it for the first time. The film is both familiar and new at the same time. Particularly interesting are the notions of superheroes being driven into exile because of legal action and the explanation as to why no real superhero would ever use a cape.
Craig T. Nelson is the standout, bringing humanity and depth to the father character. Holly Hunter is also impressive as the stretchy mother. Their interactions as they try to maintain a peaceful marriage and raise their super kids is as fascinating to watch as the action scenes later in the film. Like all good superhero movies, the quiet character scenes are at least as good, if not far better, that the action set pieces. Samuel L. Jackson provides strong support as Frozone, easily the coolest hero in the film.
The Incredibles is another film that's better than many, if not most, of this list. This is the film that Fantastic Four should be. The story of a team of superheroes whose greatest superpower is their family, with a bond so strong that no villain, no matter how super, can break.
Posted by astor at July 5, 2005 11:25 PM
Comments
Uh... no.
Should be #1.
Posted by: Wats at July 6, 2005 08:13 AM
talk to Primo.
Posted by: astor at July 6, 2005 12:02 PM
The "Honorable Mentions" are not on the list simply because they are either orignal works, not adpatations, or they did not have a theatrical release. For instance The Incredibles is better than many, if not most on the actual list, but it's not an adaptation so I didn't count it. But it's still so good I had to give it some mention.
Posted by: Anonymous at July 6, 2005 05:20 PM
I imagine that was Primo who said that. So.. what he said. ^
Posted by: astor at July 6, 2005 11:18 PM