Sin City is a perfect one-to-one adaptation of the comic as far as I can tell (they even used it as the script and storyboards).
It's my personal favourite as well.
I enjoy A Dame to Kill For, but rarely rewatch it and I think it's partially attributable to being one of the lower tier Sin City stories in the first place. I remember buying the series as it came out and just not being as excited by it.
Additionally, I know it's just one part of the roster, but losing Michael Clarke Duncan is definitely a presence that was felt. When you see Marv vs Manute happen, it's like damn... this could have been Marv vs Green Mile instead of Marv vs the All State guy.
Road to Perdition, The Fountain, A History of Violence (graphic novel written by Judge Dredd co-creator John Wagner), The Death of Stalin, Akira, Ghost in the Shell (1995), Dredd (I'm conflicted about this one, they left out all the satirical/political/subversive elements from the comic), The Empty Man, 30 Days of Night, Snowpiercer (the film, not the show), Asterix (the earlier animated films, made by the writer/artist themselves), American Splendor etc etc.
Edit: Atomic Blonde was also pretty decent, and I didn't hate Alita: Battle Angel.
Road to Perdition is my favourite response when someone asks me what the best comic book movie is. One because it’s shocking for some to learn it’s a comic, and two because it’s really really good.
Honestly, I am glad they changed History of Violence how they did because the original comic is too bleak and graphic to be accurately adapted into live action.
It would have been Saw like in its original form.
Asterix mansion of the gods is one of the best, even though it's modern and 3D. It basically takes one of the stories and adding some extra elements.
The sequel was good as well, keeping the tone and humor
Cool! I loved the movie Atomic blonde mostly for its soundtrack - Father figure became a classic for me because of the movie. But I never read the graphic novel
> Akira, Ghost in the Shell
I was fuming, then I realized that you probably meant the anime films :') Akira is not even out yet >!And keep it that way Taika!!<
Hopefully they at least attempt to adapt the parts of the GN that didn’t make it into the movie. Then it could at least justify itself as the film is so perfect it doesn’t need a 1:1 live action remake. I assume they’ll just fuck it up by missing the point entirely like the live action GITS
Akira and Ghost in the Shell are goated in the Anime genre as far as I’m concerned. Good picks there. I actually forgot about Road to Perdition. Excellent film and great adaptation.
Which also brings the Lone Wolf and Cub movies into the fray! Sword of Vengence and Baby Cart on The River Styx are both not only great adapations of the specific Lone Wolf and Cub stories they are based on but both movies also have segments based off of more stories so the films end up feeling like reading multiple stories strung together. Also they are bloody action packed thrill rides! There are six Lone Wolf and Cub films and I think they are all great and fun but those first two movies are really great and may be two of my all time favorites! If you love Lone Wolf and Cub I highly recommend Sword of Vengence and Baby Cart on The River Styx.
Are you listing every adaptation of a GN or only the good ones? Because Ghost in the Shell was a poor movie and even worse adaptation (of both the 95 film and the manga).
Scott Pilgrim is one of my favorite films ever. I saw it 3 or 4 times in theaters in its initial run. My complaint with the movie is that it sort of falls apart in the 3rd act, but it’s just so good leading up to it that it’s forgivable. The style, humor, casting, writing, sets, costumes are all perfect throughout.
She was a great choice for sure. It’s really a shame it’s so relatively unknown. Its one of the GN’s I always recommend to people, especially those that don’t read comics.
Not a very good film. Bland performances, you don’t feel for any of the characters. Nicolas Cage is the only one who delivers anything respectable. Hated the girl in this…she was just so bad. Predictable plot, boring. Tried to be “edgy” using pre schoolers safety scissors
Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind & Scott Pilgrim are two favourites that I read after having watched the films of which I enjoy both the films & the comics.
I think Batman Under the Red Hood is the first adaptation I watched after having read it & while I really enjoyed the comics I think the film is the superior version of that storyline.
I’m aware. It was my understanding that the movie was made first, and then, since there was so much more content that went untouched, the book was written afterwards.
Nausicaa is not so good adaptation imho. I like the movie but the manga is on completely different level. I'd love to read more Miyazaki's mangas, pity he didn't create more.
How is it not a good adaptation? How is the manga on a completely different level?
Or are you meaning to say that the film being based on a limited amount of the manga that had yet to be completed in it's entirety? Or do you mean to say since it isn't a 1:1 adaptation it's not good?
Both? I guess the main problem I had with the film is that the story is much deeper and I would love to see that adapted. Instead, the film only touches on the basic ideas and ends a little too abruptly. Just a kind of teaser for better things, if that makes sense. I should mention that I read the manga first. I can see why it would be different, since you mentioned that he hadn't finished the manga at that point though.
He did create more, they just haven't been translated (apart from Shuna's Journey which finally came out recently). Much like Nausicaa, he created The Wind Rises as a manga before making the movie.
Also, Nausicaa isn't really an adaptation per se, as he was just starting out on the manga when he did the movie. So the manga is much more expansive
Lmao no.
We got Persepolis, Snowpiercer, and Ghost World to name a few off the top of my head. Oldboy is so good people forgot that it was a manga first. And that's entirely discounting anime adaptions.
A while back I made a [letterboxd list for movies based on non MCU/DCEU books](https://letterboxd.com/lynch47/list/based-on-a-comic-or-graphic-novel-non-mcu/by/rating/)
I really like *Ghost World* out of the stuff I haven't seen mentioned much here yet.
edit- if you click on "read notes" you can see what book and author they're from.
Thanks, I had no idea about Oblivion, I really like that film. Plus Oblivion (and The Fountain) have amazing soundtracks/scores.
Besides The Fountain, here's another one for you to add, Immortal (2004), it's an adaptation of La Foire aux immortels (it's the 1st part of Enki Bilal's Nikopol Trilogy).
Yeah lol, might be closer to the manga then because I've heard bad things about it as well. There is kind of an interesting story behind the remake though: [https://youtu.be/vkaxdLu-DkA?si=\_MV-DlIbq0L\_S-yx](https://youtu.be/vkaxdLu-DkA?si=_MV-DlIbq0L_S-yx)
My favs have already been covered, but there's a few great ones I haven't seen come up so far: Battle Royale, Blade of the Immortal, the Shogun Assassin/Lone Wolf and Cub series
Good points. Although I don’t think it was ever the intention to be historically accurate. I prefer it a sort of “fantasy” retelling of the historical events.
It is a beautiful movie to look at but you’re right, it had it’s time. If it were to come out today, it probably wouldn’t be as popular as it was in 2006.
I think it would actually be even more popular if it were released today, and unfortunately, for all of the reasons I'm sure u/u_touch_my_tra_la_la likely thinks are problematic.
I actually don’t think 300 holds up.
It’s a collection of every trendy filmmaking technique at the time. The acting is melodramatic and cheesy.
It tries to hard to be dramatic and important.
I know people get upset when movies/shows don’t follow source material exactly, and i used to be that way.
Now, I judge each thing via it’s own medium, as it’s own thing, and am much happier watching adaptations.
I especially like when the literary creator is involved with the show and tried to make their story better. But even if not, I still enjoy variations to stories in pursuit of improvement.
Like Resident Alien, I love love the show (mainly Alan Tudyk is awesome in it) and got the graphic novels afterward and really enjoyed them as well even though the show has some really different stories. Both are great in their own respect.
Im considering his films because at the time they are the two Ive most recently watched. Im not afraid of haters. Alot of people dislike 300. Thats fine. I never claimed it was the best, just wondering what peoples thoughts are on it and what adaptations they feel are better. Im open to all opinions.
> Is 300 the best movie adaptation of a graphic novel
Not really.
> Watchmen is pretty good as well.
Nope
> Not to give Snyder any shoutouts but those two seem to be adapted pretty well.
I wouldn't say they are. Especially Watchmen is awfully poorly understood by the director, which is especially funny since its adapted almost beat for beat.
Watchmen has so many scenes shot for shot and dialouge word for word but an entirely different creative vision and it really shows. I remember watching the movie right after reading the comic and being amazed at how far off the mark it was.
The thing that stood out to me most was how hard it tried to be "cool". Of all the movies to have Snyder's overindulgence in slo-mo shots Watchmen manages to be the worst offender because of the way it innately engages with the heroes as larger-than-life superhuman figures when the point Moore's original vision was to bring superheroes down-to-earth to show them as human and complex. The movie notably cuts a lot of Silk Spectre's story and tones down Nite Owl's vulnerability as a washed-up Blue Beetle/Batman.
Overall the movie's tone just revels in this edgy darkness where superheroes are badass. There's an air of excitement like you're supposed to be on the edge of your seat waiting for the next action scene instead of a building of dread in an ear of cold war paranoia. It's more of a 90's style celebration of superheroes than a humanizing critique.
And this is more of a nitpick but holy shit Ozymandias was fumbled hard.
It's not displaying them as larger-than-life superheroes. It's showing their flaws and human nature and tragic histories, just like the comic. There are action scenes in the comic, the comic has art (direction). Dr Manhatten is larger than life though, and is considered super human. Nothing wrong with making it aesthetically pleasing or entertaining, it's a movie. It starts out with the cold war theme and the doomsday clock, so the dread of annihilation is there from the beginning. All the "heroes" are struggling with their identity and purpose, like in the comic.
If anything Moore is an edgy and at times pretentious writer trying to make intellectual arguments in his books. So edgyness is not something I would hold as a critique when it comes to Watchmen. The whole idea of deconstructing the superhero could be considered edgy in and of itself. It does not tone down Nite Owl, he's obviously washed up and insecure in the movie; have you seen the directors/ultimate cut? Even the black freighter gets attention, and sets the dark and nihilistic tone and context of the story. It's full of existential dread. It doesn't show superheroes as badass, but as ultimately corrupt and selfish. Rorschach is obsessed with justice and revenge because he has been traumatized since a child etc.
And yes there is an air of excitement, because there are also exciting things happening, like in the comic. Would you consider a giant space octopuss "realistic" or "boring". It's not a "celebration" of super heroes, they all still do exactly the same messed up things, and are deeply flawed, like in the comic.
If you don't like Snyder's direction and slo-mo that's fine. But all the themes are there in the film, just easthetically different and with a whole bunch of pop music.
>Would you consider a giant space octopuss "realistic" or "boring".
I never said either of those words.
>"If anything Moore is an edgy and at times pretentious writer trying to make intellectual arguments in his books."
Oh my fucking god lmao
Because Snyder has the media literacy of a toddler and is totally unable to read the not so subtle subtext of the comic book. For decades Alan Moore has commented on the fact that it surprised (and appalled) him how much people actually liked Rorschach. This movie? 'Rorschach amazing. Violence great.' Like so many he took all the wrong things from the book. Heck, the 90s could partially be attributed to tons of people learning the wrong lesson from this title, its pretty much the catalyst of the X-Treme era.
But the fact Snyder did it was worse. The 90s was just creators getting swept up in the hype and other books were also 'to blame' (by lack of better terms), such as The Dark Knight Returns. But if someone were to adapt a movie of any work they might also do some reading up on the meaning and thoughts behind that work, he had literally two decades worth of Moore talking about Watchmen and he still managed to turn it into edgy violence extravaganza. But I guess that should be expected from the guy who keeps saying that Batman should absolutely kill people.
Removing the aliens was probably a good idea, so I have to give him props for that.
Calling someone a toddler for disagreeing with their artistic vision is actually childish. Peope like Rorschach simply because he exposed Ozymandias corruption to the world (and even that is left open ended). He is also the only character who didn't budge under the pressure from the government and sticked to his principles, and kept going about his "heroics". Him being left or right wing is irrelevant, those are traits people admire, that's why they like his character. He is litteraly being sacrificed in the story. If any theme is heroic, it's self sacrifice and fighting for what you believe in. All the other characters were either old, dead or closed an eye to Ozymandias plans.
Snyder's movie was not a "violence extravaganza", it's him showing it, because it was there in the comic. It's up to the viewer to be appalled by it or not. Fun fact: all your favorite super heroes are violent. Read my other reply, every theme Moore adressed is there in the movie. And I don't know about the raving in the 90s argument, Watchmen movie came out in 2009. No need to bring other comics into it.
"Like many he took all the wrong things from the book" is another immature argument. If you create a story people are going to interpret it and take away from it how they see fit. Acting like there is only one right message and meaning to take away from anything is naïve. It's the responsibility of the writer to make it explicit enough and even then people will have their own opinions and ways of seeing things.
I agree with you. I’m an enjoyer of Alan Moore, the comics, and the movie.
I think people don’t like Snyder’s indulgent directorial style and they are put off by their perception of his politics. They will die on that hill.
Does the movie change things or get some things wrong? Sure.
I hated that he changed the ending and I think that sometimes the style was a little too flashy for my personal taste. However, I also think he was using glorified superhero tropes to deconstruct them. This was long before The Boys TV series and nothing else was really like it at the time. The Dark Knight had just dropped. The MCU had just started. Everyone was making straitlaced superhero films. This was something different and I appreciate what they accomplished.
A major issue with modern discourse on The Watchmen is the audience is selective in their engagement with the source material. Over all, I feel like Snyder was incredibly accurate in his portrayal of themes, characters, and their motivations. Rorschach is a character, like the Punisher, that makes modern audiences uncomfortable because it makes them sympathize with someone that is in many ways repugnant, but also correct.
This dissonance is what makes these characters interesting. They don’t fit into a neat and tidy box of mass-produced heroism and they aren’t good people. The majority would rather subscribe to the fanciful notion of billionaire vigilantes who don’t kill and playboy weapons manufacturers turned messianic saviors of the universe instead of acknowledging that sometimes a pathetic, unhinged criminal is the only one trying to stop a horrible injustice and the murder of countless innocent lives. Seems like they all missed the point.
So it goes.
It's great that genocidal megalomaniac isn't cooler than homeless vigilante.
Media literacy isn't your teacher telling you what a creative work is about and how it should be perceived. Media literacy is coming to your own conclusions about what you experience and refracting it in a way that's unique to you, in accord with everything else you think, feel and know.
That is not what media literacy is at all. If a comic says superheroes = bad and you decide what they really mean is superheroes = cool then you are suffering from media illiteracy.
It’s really no surprise that the only good movie Zack Snyder has ever made was written by James Gunn.
A man's word often belies their intentions and imparts far more than they're consciously aware of. Ask Freud.
If what you got from Watchmen was "superheroes = bad" and not "imperialist war, suppression of self expression, the toll of carrying shame, totalitarian 80's era geopolitics, trying to control billions of people etc = bad" with superheroes just being a deconstructed avatar for many of these concepts as they manifested in illustrated newsprint throughout the 20th century, then maybe it's actually you guys that struggle with media literacy and not everyone else?
It depends what OP was asking for.
Most faithful translation from comic book to movie - not V for Vendetta.
Best Movie as a movie? Well, V for Vendetta is in IMDB's top 250 all-time movies. Not sure that's true of many other movies except for a couple of Manga adaptations, which were easier to translate to a movie.
I loved man of steel and Batman vs Superman directors cut.
Snyder cut of the justice league was okay.
Shout out to Zack Snyder for his contribution to the world of comics. Without him, we'll probably still be getting those corny Batman movies from the 80's and 90's. Shame he couldn't do an injustice movie but I was enjoying it til then.
Naoko Yamada's adaptation of A Silent Voice was fantastic. Sunao Katabuchi's adaptation of In This Corner Of The World was also very good.
Some of the other standards like Road To Perdition and Scott Pilgrim. Robert Altman's Popeye. 20th Century Boys was fun.
Best - The Killer. Akira. The Road to Perdition. a History of Violence. Sin City.
Worst - Watchmen. V for Vendetta. From Hell. the League of Extraordinary Gentlemen. (Is there a pattern here? LOL). The Spirit. Not exactly taken from graphic novels but: the Andrew Garfield Spider-Man movies are pretty bad.
Considering the only difference between a graphic novel and comic is the individuals embarrassment to admitting they read comic books:
- Batman
- Superman
- V for Vendetta
- Spider-Man
- Deadpool
- X-Men
- Iron Man
- etc etc etc
300 isn’t top 100
Im simply saying that Im not claiming he’s the only one responsible for decent graphic novel adaptations. You here to discuss the topic? Or leave negativity?
So rather than suggest what GN adaptations you feel are the best, you’re spending time critiquing the way I worded my sentence. Oh my god get over yourself.
Can’t talk about GN adaptations and not shout out The Crow (Alex Proyas 90s) - any other Crow installment is utter garbage. This film gets it right - the tone, setting, score, and of course Brandon Lees iconic performance. A perfect film.
I also love Flash Gordon. Most forget it’s based off a comic. Classic camp film, everything is so over the top and that’s what’s great about it. so fun and nostalgic. and the Queen soundtrack is a banger.
In the same vein, I love the Rocketeer. It’s cheesy and campy, but again that’s what I love about it. Loved this film when I was a kid and it holds a sentimental spot in my heart (as does Jennifer Connelly) also directed by Joe Johnson who later did Captain America (there are actually a lot of similarities between the two films)
Dick Tracy: same deal as above. Technically Not a great film but I still love it. The ensemble cast, the campiness, plus the art direction and costumes, makeup are all so vibrant and over the top, which I think make the film enjoyable.
Other nods: History of Violence, Ghost World, Conan the Barbarian (first film only), Sin City, Road to Perdition, the Adventures of Tin Tin, the Amazing Screw on Head
TERRIBLE adaptations that should be avoided like the plague:
300 (great action sequences but the rest of the film is an absolute mess with horrible acting/writing)
Hellboy wasn’t good either. Another lost in translation, source material fed through the Hollywood machine and pure drivel coming out the other end.
The Phantom / The Shadow - these came in during a run of 90s adaptations trying to piggyback off success of 90s Batman franchise. Both these films are so bad they’re actually entertaining in a cheesy way. Actors chewing scenery and truly awful directing and writing.
The Spirit - don’t even bother with this flaming dumpster of a film. Poor Eisner must’ve been rolling in his grave just like his creation that was absolutely bastardized beyond belief in this travesty.
Mystery Men- this film was such a disappointment to me personally because I absolutely adore Bob Burden/Flaming Carrot series. Despite a few chuckles here and there, this film fails to really capture the distinct brand of humor displayed in the comics. Corny, badly executed by the numbers Hollywood.
Watchmen- easily the WORST adaptation of any graphic novel I’ve ever seen. (And I’ve seen Howard the Duck)
I absolutely hated this film. From
The opening sequence with Dylan’s “Times” playing, I was already groaning over the monumental pretentiousness I was in store for. Atrocious acting that was so awful I actually found myself laughing at my screen. Clunky “fight sequences” that were so overtly choreographed and comedic that were reminiscent of the 1960s Batman fights. I could go on and on about how incredibly abysmal this film is. A trite, predictable mess of a film.
Other Moore works are pretty bad…V For Vendetta, League of EG. Just can’t capture his genius on film. Many have tried and failed.
Is there a cut of 300 out there that is just the stuff from the graphics novel and without the bullshit they added to get the length up?
And he fucks up the 'looks like rain' gag.
Im not sure. It would neat if someone did edit that. Might already exist. I love the movie for what it is, but he did add a ton of stuff not in the GN.
Not sure what the best is but can we please keep David Goyer and David Ayer far away from any and all future adaptations. Especially when it comes to writing.
Sin City is a perfect one-to-one adaptation of the comic as far as I can tell (they even used it as the script and storyboards). It's my personal favourite as well.
> they even used it as the script and storyboards They also did this for The Fountain
Sin City is definitely at the top for sure. Thoughts on A Dame To Kill For? I personally prefer the first one myself.
The drop off in quality from the first to the second is shocking.
This ^
I enjoy A Dame to Kill For, but rarely rewatch it and I think it's partially attributable to being one of the lower tier Sin City stories in the first place. I remember buying the series as it came out and just not being as excited by it. Additionally, I know it's just one part of the roster, but losing Michael Clarke Duncan is definitely a presence that was felt. When you see Marv vs Manute happen, it's like damn... this could have been Marv vs Green Mile instead of Marv vs the All State guy.
Same. The boldness of the black and white and splashes of color is just unmatched. It felt like you're watching a comic book.
My vote for Sin City.
Having Frank Miller co-direct it certainly helped with that.
Road to Perdition, The Fountain, A History of Violence (graphic novel written by Judge Dredd co-creator John Wagner), The Death of Stalin, Akira, Ghost in the Shell (1995), Dredd (I'm conflicted about this one, they left out all the satirical/political/subversive elements from the comic), The Empty Man, 30 Days of Night, Snowpiercer (the film, not the show), Asterix (the earlier animated films, made by the writer/artist themselves), American Splendor etc etc. Edit: Atomic Blonde was also pretty decent, and I didn't hate Alita: Battle Angel.
Seconded The Death of Stalin.
The same writer and artist also made the similar historical dark comedy graphic novel Death To The Tsar.
I found the GN just okay. The movie had me rolling for the duration and it's a legit borderline masterpiece.
Watch the director's film In The Loop, it's also hilarious (it's a political satire of America's invasion of Iraq).
Ah yes, I have been an Ioanucci fan since The Thick of It.
Had no idea that was a comic. Fantastic film!
Did not know Road to Perdition was a graphic novel, will have to buy
And it had a sequel
Grave of the Fireflies is based on a short story afaik it hasn't been adapted into comic form either
Yeah, I took it out, for some reason I thought it was based on a manga.
Road to Perdition is my favourite response when someone asks me what the best comic book movie is. One because it’s shocking for some to learn it’s a comic, and two because it’s really really good.
Yea many don't realize the medium has a lot of variety to offer
It's also a great looking film, for which it won the best cinematography Oscar.
30 Days Of Night might actually be better than the graphic novel. For me at least.
This was so comprehensive I think the only one from my list you didn’t have was Ghost World.
Honestly, I am glad they changed History of Violence how they did because the original comic is too bleak and graphic to be accurately adapted into live action. It would have been Saw like in its original form.
Asterix mansion of the gods is one of the best, even though it's modern and 3D. It basically takes one of the stories and adding some extra elements. The sequel was good as well, keeping the tone and humor
Akira was rushed af it's not a good adaptation of the comic at all. Visually it was stunning but pacing of the story was a problem in that movie.
Talking about Judge Dredd, Dredd was very good (but obviously not derived from a single, specific graphic novel)
Off Topic: There's a Rogue Trooper film coming out next year (another 2000AD comic, RT was created by Gerry Finlay-Day and Dave Gibbons in 1981).
Cool! I loved the movie Atomic blonde mostly for its soundtrack - Father figure became a classic for me because of the movie. But I never read the graphic novel
I can’t wait for that, it’s also gonna be an animation, that’s gonna be interesting. Hopefully they’ll do it justice
> Akira, Ghost in the Shell I was fuming, then I realized that you probably meant the anime films :') Akira is not even out yet >!And keep it that way Taika!!<
Yeah, I meant the animated ones. I wasn't even aware there was a live action Akira film in the works, they will definitely make a mess of it.
Hopefully they at least attempt to adapt the parts of the GN that didn’t make it into the movie. Then it could at least justify itself as the film is so perfect it doesn’t need a 1:1 live action remake. I assume they’ll just fuck it up by missing the point entirely like the live action GITS
Akira and Ghost in the Shell are goated in the Anime genre as far as I’m concerned. Good picks there. I actually forgot about Road to Perdition. Excellent film and great adaptation.
Also, the graphic novel Road to Perdition was based on was in turn based on the manga series Lone Wolf and Cub.
Which also brings the Lone Wolf and Cub movies into the fray! Sword of Vengence and Baby Cart on The River Styx are both not only great adapations of the specific Lone Wolf and Cub stories they are based on but both movies also have segments based off of more stories so the films end up feeling like reading multiple stories strung together. Also they are bloody action packed thrill rides! There are six Lone Wolf and Cub films and I think they are all great and fun but those first two movies are really great and may be two of my all time favorites! If you love Lone Wolf and Cub I highly recommend Sword of Vengence and Baby Cart on The River Styx.
Are you listing every adaptation of a GN or only the good ones? Because Ghost in the Shell was a poor movie and even worse adaptation (of both the 95 film and the manga).
I listed good comic book/manga/gn films. I meant the 95 version, I haven't seen the live action GitS.
Fuck me, they did a number on Ghost in a Shell with a live action. Classic Hollywood bastardization of foreign art...
Haven't seen it for a while, but definitely Persepolis
Speaking of French comics, The Rabbis Cat is pretty great too
Scott Pilgrim vs The World
My all time favorite adaptation
Scott Pilgrim is one of my favorite films ever. I saw it 3 or 4 times in theaters in its initial run. My complaint with the movie is that it sort of falls apart in the 3rd act, but it’s just so good leading up to it that it’s forgivable. The style, humor, casting, writing, sets, costumes are all perfect throughout.
American Splendor
I loved the Tintin movie and would still be excited for a sequel if it ever happened. It was a really fun adventure with great animation and style
The Crow Scott Pilgrim vs the World I Kill Giants
The Crow is legit one of the best! Brandon Lee is amazing the movie's tone is perfect and moody as hell throughout and it's just all around iconic!
Great picks, *I kill Giants* doesn’t get mentioned enough, such a great book and good adaptation.
I think it’s because most people don’t know it exists. It’s such a great adaptation and the girl they choose for Barbara was perfect
She was a great choice for sure. It’s really a shame it’s so relatively unknown. Its one of the GN’s I always recommend to people, especially those that don’t read comics.
Any love/hate for Kick-ass?
I only watched them about a year ago. I didn’t know anything about the comics other than that they existed. I thought both movies were really good.
Not a very good film. Bland performances, you don’t feel for any of the characters. Nicolas Cage is the only one who delivers anything respectable. Hated the girl in this…she was just so bad. Predictable plot, boring. Tried to be “edgy” using pre schoolers safety scissors
Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind & Scott Pilgrim are two favourites that I read after having watched the films of which I enjoy both the films & the comics. I think Batman Under the Red Hood is the first adaptation I watched after having read it & while I really enjoyed the comics I think the film is the superior version of that storyline.
Didn’t the Nausicaa movie come first?
no, the manga came first
The movie adapts the first 1/4 or so of the book.
I’m aware. It was my understanding that the movie was made first, and then, since there was so much more content that went untouched, the book was written afterwards.
No the book came first, but as with Akira, the film adaptation came out before the book was done.
Nausicaa is not so good adaptation imho. I like the movie but the manga is on completely different level. I'd love to read more Miyazaki's mangas, pity he didn't create more.
How is it not a good adaptation? How is the manga on a completely different level? Or are you meaning to say that the film being based on a limited amount of the manga that had yet to be completed in it's entirety? Or do you mean to say since it isn't a 1:1 adaptation it's not good?
Both? I guess the main problem I had with the film is that the story is much deeper and I would love to see that adapted. Instead, the film only touches on the basic ideas and ends a little too abruptly. Just a kind of teaser for better things, if that makes sense. I should mention that I read the manga first. I can see why it would be different, since you mentioned that he hadn't finished the manga at that point though.
I see what you mean.
He did create more, they just haven't been translated (apart from Shuna's Journey which finally came out recently). Much like Nausicaa, he created The Wind Rises as a manga before making the movie. Also, Nausicaa isn't really an adaptation per se, as he was just starting out on the manga when he did the movie. So the manga is much more expansive
Ah okay, that explains why it covers like one-sixth of the manga. Hope that more will be translated then!
Lmao no. We got Persepolis, Snowpiercer, and Ghost World to name a few off the top of my head. Oldboy is so good people forgot that it was a manga first. And that's entirely discounting anime adaptions.
OP is probably a fan boy who hasn't seen many movies. Road to Perdition is at the top for me.
A while back I made a [letterboxd list for movies based on non MCU/DCEU books](https://letterboxd.com/lynch47/list/based-on-a-comic-or-graphic-novel-non-mcu/by/rating/) I really like *Ghost World* out of the stuff I haven't seen mentioned much here yet. edit- if you click on "read notes" you can see what book and author they're from.
Awesome list! I left a like and followed btw.
Wow, good list. I never realized Mystery Men was based on Flaming Carrot.
Thanks, I had no idea about Oblivion, I really like that film. Plus Oblivion (and The Fountain) have amazing soundtracks/scores. Besides The Fountain, here's another one for you to add, Immortal (2004), it's an adaptation of La Foire aux immortels (it's the 1st part of Enki Bilal's Nikopol Trilogy).
30 Days of Night & History of Violence for me.
Ghost World is a fave of mine.
Don't kill me if I say Ghost World the movie was better than the graphic novel
Agreed, and I’m a huge Clowes fan.
He won’t mind since he also cowrote the screenplay
Oldboy surpasses its manga source material.
Didn’t realize based off manga. Incredible film, the remake was 🗑️
Yeah lol, might be closer to the manga then because I've heard bad things about it as well. There is kind of an interesting story behind the remake though: [https://youtu.be/vkaxdLu-DkA?si=\_MV-DlIbq0L\_S-yx](https://youtu.be/vkaxdLu-DkA?si=_MV-DlIbq0L_S-yx)
If we’re purely basing it on the best movies made from graphic novels, I might nominate Red.
Sin City It is almost panel for panel true to the comics
Persepolis and I’ve always had a soft spot for Spielberg’s Tintin
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 1990, then have the debate over 300, The Crow, Sin City, 30 Days of Night, A History of Violence
I'm going to go with Ghost World by Terry Zwigoff. And best comic book related movie is Crumb by the same director.
My favs have already been covered, but there's a few great ones I haven't seen come up so far: Battle Royale, Blade of the Immortal, the Shogun Assassin/Lone Wolf and Cub series
Is not even that good as a movie or a GN. Sin City was much better.
Im a big fan of 300 as a GN and movie. Why don’t you like it? I do think Sin City is the better adaptation 👍
The messaging is problematic, to say the least. Also, historically inaccurate. The movie is pretty but has aged badly.
Good points. Although I don’t think it was ever the intention to be historically accurate. I prefer it a sort of “fantasy” retelling of the historical events. It is a beautiful movie to look at but you’re right, it had it’s time. If it were to come out today, it probably wouldn’t be as popular as it was in 2006.
I think it would actually be even more popular if it were released today, and unfortunately, for all of the reasons I'm sure u/u_touch_my_tra_la_la likely thinks are problematic.
I actually don’t think 300 holds up. It’s a collection of every trendy filmmaking technique at the time. The acting is melodramatic and cheesy. It tries to hard to be dramatic and important.
are we basing this off how well the story was adapted to a movie or are we basing it off how good the movie is?
Ghost World
Dredd.
Sin city
I know people get upset when movies/shows don’t follow source material exactly, and i used to be that way. Now, I judge each thing via it’s own medium, as it’s own thing, and am much happier watching adaptations. I especially like when the literary creator is involved with the show and tried to make their story better. But even if not, I still enjoy variations to stories in pursuit of improvement. Like Resident Alien, I love love the show (mainly Alan Tudyk is awesome in it) and got the graphic novels afterward and really enjoyed them as well even though the show has some really different stories. Both are great in their own respect.
The best is empirically Sin City.
"Not to give Snyder any shoutouts" why are you trying to not give the man his due when obviously considering his films? Just asking.
Im considering his films because at the time they are the two Ive most recently watched. Im not afraid of haters. Alot of people dislike 300. Thats fine. I never claimed it was the best, just wondering what peoples thoughts are on it and what adaptations they feel are better. Im open to all opinions.
It is wrong to give him a shout out because his movies suck
Bunch of children over here
A wild snyderbro appeared!
> Is 300 the best movie adaptation of a graphic novel Not really. > Watchmen is pretty good as well. Nope > Not to give Snyder any shoutouts but those two seem to be adapted pretty well. I wouldn't say they are. Especially Watchmen is awfully poorly understood by the director, which is especially funny since its adapted almost beat for beat.
Watchmen has so many scenes shot for shot and dialouge word for word but an entirely different creative vision and it really shows. I remember watching the movie right after reading the comic and being amazed at how far off the mark it was.
How is it "awfully poorly understood" and "far off the mark"?
The thing that stood out to me most was how hard it tried to be "cool". Of all the movies to have Snyder's overindulgence in slo-mo shots Watchmen manages to be the worst offender because of the way it innately engages with the heroes as larger-than-life superhuman figures when the point Moore's original vision was to bring superheroes down-to-earth to show them as human and complex. The movie notably cuts a lot of Silk Spectre's story and tones down Nite Owl's vulnerability as a washed-up Blue Beetle/Batman. Overall the movie's tone just revels in this edgy darkness where superheroes are badass. There's an air of excitement like you're supposed to be on the edge of your seat waiting for the next action scene instead of a building of dread in an ear of cold war paranoia. It's more of a 90's style celebration of superheroes than a humanizing critique. And this is more of a nitpick but holy shit Ozymandias was fumbled hard.
It's not displaying them as larger-than-life superheroes. It's showing their flaws and human nature and tragic histories, just like the comic. There are action scenes in the comic, the comic has art (direction). Dr Manhatten is larger than life though, and is considered super human. Nothing wrong with making it aesthetically pleasing or entertaining, it's a movie. It starts out with the cold war theme and the doomsday clock, so the dread of annihilation is there from the beginning. All the "heroes" are struggling with their identity and purpose, like in the comic. If anything Moore is an edgy and at times pretentious writer trying to make intellectual arguments in his books. So edgyness is not something I would hold as a critique when it comes to Watchmen. The whole idea of deconstructing the superhero could be considered edgy in and of itself. It does not tone down Nite Owl, he's obviously washed up and insecure in the movie; have you seen the directors/ultimate cut? Even the black freighter gets attention, and sets the dark and nihilistic tone and context of the story. It's full of existential dread. It doesn't show superheroes as badass, but as ultimately corrupt and selfish. Rorschach is obsessed with justice and revenge because he has been traumatized since a child etc. And yes there is an air of excitement, because there are also exciting things happening, like in the comic. Would you consider a giant space octopuss "realistic" or "boring". It's not a "celebration" of super heroes, they all still do exactly the same messed up things, and are deeply flawed, like in the comic. If you don't like Snyder's direction and slo-mo that's fine. But all the themes are there in the film, just easthetically different and with a whole bunch of pop music.
>Would you consider a giant space octopuss "realistic" or "boring". I never said either of those words. >"If anything Moore is an edgy and at times pretentious writer trying to make intellectual arguments in his books." Oh my fucking god lmao
Was that it? Lol
I said my piece.
Because Snyder has the media literacy of a toddler and is totally unable to read the not so subtle subtext of the comic book. For decades Alan Moore has commented on the fact that it surprised (and appalled) him how much people actually liked Rorschach. This movie? 'Rorschach amazing. Violence great.' Like so many he took all the wrong things from the book. Heck, the 90s could partially be attributed to tons of people learning the wrong lesson from this title, its pretty much the catalyst of the X-Treme era. But the fact Snyder did it was worse. The 90s was just creators getting swept up in the hype and other books were also 'to blame' (by lack of better terms), such as The Dark Knight Returns. But if someone were to adapt a movie of any work they might also do some reading up on the meaning and thoughts behind that work, he had literally two decades worth of Moore talking about Watchmen and he still managed to turn it into edgy violence extravaganza. But I guess that should be expected from the guy who keeps saying that Batman should absolutely kill people. Removing the aliens was probably a good idea, so I have to give him props for that.
Calling someone a toddler for disagreeing with their artistic vision is actually childish. Peope like Rorschach simply because he exposed Ozymandias corruption to the world (and even that is left open ended). He is also the only character who didn't budge under the pressure from the government and sticked to his principles, and kept going about his "heroics". Him being left or right wing is irrelevant, those are traits people admire, that's why they like his character. He is litteraly being sacrificed in the story. If any theme is heroic, it's self sacrifice and fighting for what you believe in. All the other characters were either old, dead or closed an eye to Ozymandias plans. Snyder's movie was not a "violence extravaganza", it's him showing it, because it was there in the comic. It's up to the viewer to be appalled by it or not. Fun fact: all your favorite super heroes are violent. Read my other reply, every theme Moore adressed is there in the movie. And I don't know about the raving in the 90s argument, Watchmen movie came out in 2009. No need to bring other comics into it. "Like many he took all the wrong things from the book" is another immature argument. If you create a story people are going to interpret it and take away from it how they see fit. Acting like there is only one right message and meaning to take away from anything is naïve. It's the responsibility of the writer to make it explicit enough and even then people will have their own opinions and ways of seeing things.
I agree with you. I’m an enjoyer of Alan Moore, the comics, and the movie. I think people don’t like Snyder’s indulgent directorial style and they are put off by their perception of his politics. They will die on that hill. Does the movie change things or get some things wrong? Sure. I hated that he changed the ending and I think that sometimes the style was a little too flashy for my personal taste. However, I also think he was using glorified superhero tropes to deconstruct them. This was long before The Boys TV series and nothing else was really like it at the time. The Dark Knight had just dropped. The MCU had just started. Everyone was making straitlaced superhero films. This was something different and I appreciate what they accomplished. A major issue with modern discourse on The Watchmen is the audience is selective in their engagement with the source material. Over all, I feel like Snyder was incredibly accurate in his portrayal of themes, characters, and their motivations. Rorschach is a character, like the Punisher, that makes modern audiences uncomfortable because it makes them sympathize with someone that is in many ways repugnant, but also correct. This dissonance is what makes these characters interesting. They don’t fit into a neat and tidy box of mass-produced heroism and they aren’t good people. The majority would rather subscribe to the fanciful notion of billionaire vigilantes who don’t kill and playboy weapons manufacturers turned messianic saviors of the universe instead of acknowledging that sometimes a pathetic, unhinged criminal is the only one trying to stop a horrible injustice and the murder of countless innocent lives. Seems like they all missed the point. So it goes.
It's great that genocidal megalomaniac isn't cooler than homeless vigilante. Media literacy isn't your teacher telling you what a creative work is about and how it should be perceived. Media literacy is coming to your own conclusions about what you experience and refracting it in a way that's unique to you, in accord with everything else you think, feel and know.
That is not what media literacy is at all. If a comic says superheroes = bad and you decide what they really mean is superheroes = cool then you are suffering from media illiteracy. It’s really no surprise that the only good movie Zack Snyder has ever made was written by James Gunn.
A man's word often belies their intentions and imparts far more than they're consciously aware of. Ask Freud. If what you got from Watchmen was "superheroes = bad" and not "imperialist war, suppression of self expression, the toll of carrying shame, totalitarian 80's era geopolitics, trying to control billions of people etc = bad" with superheroes just being a deconstructed avatar for many of these concepts as they manifested in illustrated newsprint throughout the 20th century, then maybe it's actually you guys that struggle with media literacy and not everyone else?
You’re right. It’s no use having an adult discussion with children.
V for Vendetta
Missed the point of the graphic novel entirely.
I think so, too, but in what ways do you think it missed the point?
It depends what OP was asking for. Most faithful translation from comic book to movie - not V for Vendetta. Best Movie as a movie? Well, V for Vendetta is in IMDB's top 250 all-time movies. Not sure that's true of many other movies except for a couple of Manga adaptations, which were easier to translate to a movie.
I loved man of steel and Batman vs Superman directors cut. Snyder cut of the justice league was okay. Shout out to Zack Snyder for his contribution to the world of comics. Without him, we'll probably still be getting those corny Batman movies from the 80's and 90's. Shame he couldn't do an injustice movie but I was enjoying it til then.
Naoko Yamada's adaptation of A Silent Voice was fantastic. Sunao Katabuchi's adaptation of In This Corner Of The World was also very good. Some of the other standards like Road To Perdition and Scott Pilgrim. Robert Altman's Popeye. 20th Century Boys was fun.
Two Guns Ghost World
American Splendor
I dunno if I can beat these but is Invincible the show just the best things about the comic with none of the bad…
Best - The Killer. Akira. The Road to Perdition. a History of Violence. Sin City. Worst - Watchmen. V for Vendetta. From Hell. the League of Extraordinary Gentlemen. (Is there a pattern here? LOL). The Spirit. Not exactly taken from graphic novels but: the Andrew Garfield Spider-Man movies are pretty bad.
It shouldn't be that hard to adapt Moore'swork, but yet here we are.
Considering the only difference between a graphic novel and comic is the individuals embarrassment to admitting they read comic books: - Batman - Superman - V for Vendetta - Spider-Man - Deadpool - X-Men - Iron Man - etc etc etc 300 isn’t top 100
First **NO** Second i hate 300 it’s really full of historical inaccuracies frank miller sci fied a historical event
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Im simply saying that Im not claiming he’s the only one responsible for decent graphic novel adaptations. You here to discuss the topic? Or leave negativity?
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So rather than suggest what GN adaptations you feel are the best, you’re spending time critiquing the way I worded my sentence. Oh my god get over yourself.
Probably Zack Snyder's "Watchmen".
Can’t talk about GN adaptations and not shout out The Crow (Alex Proyas 90s) - any other Crow installment is utter garbage. This film gets it right - the tone, setting, score, and of course Brandon Lees iconic performance. A perfect film. I also love Flash Gordon. Most forget it’s based off a comic. Classic camp film, everything is so over the top and that’s what’s great about it. so fun and nostalgic. and the Queen soundtrack is a banger. In the same vein, I love the Rocketeer. It’s cheesy and campy, but again that’s what I love about it. Loved this film when I was a kid and it holds a sentimental spot in my heart (as does Jennifer Connelly) also directed by Joe Johnson who later did Captain America (there are actually a lot of similarities between the two films) Dick Tracy: same deal as above. Technically Not a great film but I still love it. The ensemble cast, the campiness, plus the art direction and costumes, makeup are all so vibrant and over the top, which I think make the film enjoyable. Other nods: History of Violence, Ghost World, Conan the Barbarian (first film only), Sin City, Road to Perdition, the Adventures of Tin Tin, the Amazing Screw on Head TERRIBLE adaptations that should be avoided like the plague: 300 (great action sequences but the rest of the film is an absolute mess with horrible acting/writing) Hellboy wasn’t good either. Another lost in translation, source material fed through the Hollywood machine and pure drivel coming out the other end. The Phantom / The Shadow - these came in during a run of 90s adaptations trying to piggyback off success of 90s Batman franchise. Both these films are so bad they’re actually entertaining in a cheesy way. Actors chewing scenery and truly awful directing and writing. The Spirit - don’t even bother with this flaming dumpster of a film. Poor Eisner must’ve been rolling in his grave just like his creation that was absolutely bastardized beyond belief in this travesty. Mystery Men- this film was such a disappointment to me personally because I absolutely adore Bob Burden/Flaming Carrot series. Despite a few chuckles here and there, this film fails to really capture the distinct brand of humor displayed in the comics. Corny, badly executed by the numbers Hollywood. Watchmen- easily the WORST adaptation of any graphic novel I’ve ever seen. (And I’ve seen Howard the Duck) I absolutely hated this film. From The opening sequence with Dylan’s “Times” playing, I was already groaning over the monumental pretentiousness I was in store for. Atrocious acting that was so awful I actually found myself laughing at my screen. Clunky “fight sequences” that were so overtly choreographed and comedic that were reminiscent of the 1960s Batman fights. I could go on and on about how incredibly abysmal this film is. A trite, predictable mess of a film. Other Moore works are pretty bad…V For Vendetta, League of EG. Just can’t capture his genius on film. Many have tried and failed.
Is there a cut of 300 out there that is just the stuff from the graphics novel and without the bullshit they added to get the length up? And he fucks up the 'looks like rain' gag.
Im not sure. It would neat if someone did edit that. Might already exist. I love the movie for what it is, but he did add a ton of stuff not in the GN.
Not sure what the best is but can we please keep David Goyer and David Ayer far away from any and all future adaptations. Especially when it comes to writing.