TOP TEN: GREATEST SUPERHERO MOVIES

Here's the top ten superhero movies of all time (according to me, that is).

10. The Incredibles
A pitch perfect action-adventure, The Incredibles has something for all ages to enjoy. Written and directed by Brad Bird (The Iron Giant), Incredibles combines elements from spy, superhero, family drama and action flicks, deftly displaying suspense, action, family drama and a mid-life crisis. There's plenty of humor and references for a sci-fi or comic book fan to geek out about, while younger kids get a kick out of super-kids Dash and Violet taking on the bad guys.

9. X-Men
When Bryan Singer's X-Men hit theaters, it had the gargantuan task of living up to the expectations of many rabid fans. Luckily, the casting was superb, especially Hugh Jackman as Wolverine, and the film stayed true to spirit of the comic enough to appease even the harshest fans. With good effects, a succinct and tight story, and great performances by Patrick Stewart (as Professor X) and Ian McKellan (as Magneto), it helped to launch a franchise and help secure one of Marvel's most successful adaptations to date.

8. Superman II
While there's no substitute for the heroics of the original Superman movie, its sequel, which came two years later, eventually became the template by which not only all superhero movies but all follow-up films would be constructed. Unlike its predecessor's origin story, Superman II found the hero contemplating deeper issues – namely what sacrifices he should make in the name of human love – against a backdrop of some truly amazing stunts: his rescue of a kid who falls over Niagra Falls seems quaint by today's standards, but in 1980 there was no more thrilling moment at the movies, while Superman's battle with General Zod (a predictably brilliant Terence Stamp) and his cronies makes for a spectacular set piece.

7. Batman
Tim Burton's imaginative big-screen interpretation of the Caped Crusader comic was an instant pop culture phenomenon. Fans had been anticipating the movie for months and the film's branding was plastered everywhere... not to mention that Prince song that got entirely too much airplay. It's interesting to watch the film now, over fifteen years later... The film definitely still holds up, even if Burton's Gotham City feels a little bit dated. Fans weren't initially sure about Michael Keaton as Bruce Wayne/Batman, but the actor quickly won them over with one of the best performances of his career. He was only out-acted by Jack Nicholson who delivers an absolutely sensational portrayal of Gotham's Clown Prince of Crime... the Joker.

6. Superman Returns
(This is actually my own review). Superman Returns is outstanding. It picks up from where Superman II left off, and it doesn't miss a beat. Brandon Routh does an adequate job of filling in the shoes of Christopher Reeve, but the most delightful part of the movie is Kevin Spacey's performance as Lex Luthor. He's just as good or better than Gene Hackman, and he's almost as good a super villain as Jack Nicholson in Batman (almost, but not quite). This movie is 2 1/2 hours of quality Superman action. It's classic good vs. bad superhero stuff. Plus, it's great to see Superman doing his thing outside of the cheesy Smallville series.

5. Spider-Man
Spider-Man isn't just a great movie, but the greatest comic book adaptation of all time: no other movie has better captured both the flights of fantasy and real-world context of comic superheroes as Sam Raimi's franchise-starter. Tobey Maguire, perfectly cast as the least likely guy to be made a superhero, truly embodies Peter Parker's irresistibly human combination of personal guilt and selfless nobility, while James Franco, Willem Dafoe, Rosemary Harris and an equally irresistible Kirsten Dunst expand Stan Lee's comic creations into three-dimensional characters. Oh, yeah, and there's tons of terrific action as well; but whether you're looking for a searing character study or a blockbuster-style action extravaganza, Spider-Man should be your web-slinger of choice.

4. X2: X-Men United
2003's superior sequel to X-Men starts out with a BAMF! as teleporting mutant Nightcrawler (Alan Cumming) goes on a one-man rampage in the White House. The action doesn't let up from there, as the X-Men must take on military leader William Stryker (Brian Cox), who plans to use Professor Xavier's (Patrick Stewart) telepathic powers against all mutants. X2 does a great job of presenting the intolerance of non-mutants towards the X-Men and their fellow mutants, remaining realistic and entertaining.

3. Superman: The Movie
Richard Donner's take on Superman set the standard by which all superhero movies will be judged. The film featured perfect casting, from Marlon Brando as Jor-El to Margot Kidder as Lois Lane. But the standout will always be Christopher Reeve, who will forever be inextricably tied to the character of Superman. In short, Reeve is Superman to many people on the planet, and his ability to completely own a decades-old character makes the film work.Couple Reeve's spot-on performance with a balanced, delicately-paced script, an outstanding performance by Gene Hackman as Lex Luthor, and one of the most memorable endings in cinema, and you have one of the best superhero films ever made.

2. Spider-Man 2
This 2004 sequel brought back all the main players – director Sam Raimi and stars Tobey Maguire, Kirsten Dunst, James Franco, Rosemary Harris, J.K. Simmons, and even a short cameo from Willem Dafoe – and did an excellent job of presenting a new Spider-Man villain, Dr. Octopus, a.k.a. Dr. Otto Octavius (superbly played by Alfred Molina). Surpassing 2002's original Spider-Man with a better flowing storyline, more emotional depth, and a less ridiculous looking supervillain, Spider-Man 2 elevated the series to just about everything that comic fans love about the character.

1. Batman Begins
Widely considered one of the greatest comic films of all time almost immediately upon release last year, Batman Begins does everything right and gives Batman fans the film they have always demanded. Nolan is the perfect director and Bale is the perfect Batman. The film presents an exceptionally competent storyline that succeeds in explaining and justifying everything the superhero is able to achieve, something rarely seen even in the comics. It has a crossover appeal that works for the geeks, the laymen and even for the ladies. It's a truly terrific achievement and a promising start for the series to follow.

Note: most of this material came from ign.com. I think I'm satisfied with my Superhero stuff for a while. I promise I'll stop for a little while.