There have been two previous attempts at adapting Marvel Comics' vigilante-hero The Punisher for the big screen. Both were fairly awful. With Punisher: War Zone hitting theaters this weekend, could the third time be the charm for Frank Castle and his one-man war on crime? Or will this movie join the ranks of the worst comic book movie adaptations of all time?
Photo by Warner Bros., Everett CollectionCATWOMAN
Never mind the ridiculous story, dialogue and acting, or that this Catwoman bears zero resemblance to any previous versions of the character. This movie's biggest sin is Halle Berry's dreadful costume, making her look like a feline-themed reject from an S&M lingerie show. Hang on tight to that Oscar, Halle.
Photo by Warner Bros., Everett CollectionBATMAN & ROBIN
Contrary to popular belief, nipples on the Batsuit did not singlehandedly kill the 1990s Batman franchise. But there are so many things plaguing this film, there might as well be a scapegoat. Blame it on the Bat-nipples.
Everett CollectionTHE PUNISHER
In the movie's opening sequence, on a cinema marquee, you can see a poster for a film called "Make Them Die Slowly." Coincidentally, this is how one feels while watching Dolph Lundgren as The Punisher.
Photo by Cannon/Kobal Collection, WireImageSUPERMAN IV: THE QUEST FOR PEACE
The fourth Superman film is nothing short of a catastrophe, in which the Man of Steel battles an evil solar-powered clone, the entire world's nuclear arsenal, and laughably bad special effects. Christopher Reeve deserved better for his last outing in the role that made him famous.
Photo by TriStar Pictures/Kobal Collection, WireImageSUPERGIRL
Superman's cousin also wasn't impervious to a bad movie adaptation. While everyone generally agrees that the first two Superman films were good, and the third and fourth were bad, Supergirl is like the embarrassing black sheep no one in the family prefers to discuss.
Photo by Cinergi Pictures/Kobal collection, WireImageJUDGE DREDD
Sylvester Stallone stars as a futuristic one-man judge/jury/executioner riding around on a flying motorcycle. A halfway decent premise ruined by four fateful words: "I am the Law!"
Photo by United Artists/Kobal Collection, WireImageTANK GIRL
This movie took a crazy British cult comic strip and turned it into an even crazier, seizure-inducing mess. Some things just don't translate well onto the big screen. Gangster rapper Ice-T as a mutant kangaroo is one of them.
Photo by 20th Century Fox, Everett CollectionCAPTAIN AMERICA
In these dark times, our country needs a hero like Captain America. But not this Captain America. This Captain America, filmed in the great nation of Yugoslavia, was deemed so awful it never got a theatrical release in the United States. (It was, however, released in Turkey.)
Photo by 20th Century Fox/Kobal Collection, WireImageTHE LEAGUE OF EXTRAORDINARY GENTLEMEN
Alan Moore's smartly written, critically acclaimed graphic novel about a team of Victorian-era literary heroes was unmercifully dumbed down into loud and silly action spectacle starring an aging Sean Connery as Allan Quatermain.
Photo by Universal Pictures, Everett CollectionHOWARD THE DUCK
While this movie, based on Marvel's three-foot-tall anthropomorphic duck, has amassed a considerable cult following over the years, let's be honest -- "Howard the Duck" is a bad movie. It's okay to love a bad movie. But someone has to say it.
Photo by Warner Bros., Everett CollectionSTEEL
Like a low-budget Iron Man, Shaquille O'Neal forges an armored suit from junkyard parts to fight crime. It's difficult to debate what's more ridiculous: Shaq playing a high-tech weapons designer, or the sight of his super-armor, which appears as though it was made from cardboard and tinfoil.
Photo by Gramercy Pictures, Everett CollectionBARB WIRE
Based on the Dark Horse comic book, Pamela Anderson stars in what is essentially a futuristic remake of "Casablanca." Except Humphrey Bogart never wore a black leather corset, or performed a wet striptease in the opening scene.
Everett CollectionTHE CROW: CITY OF ANGELS
In the second film based on James O'Barr's cult comic, a supernatural crow once again resurrects a man from the dead to exact revenge on his murderers. The whole movie basically plays like a long music video, except the soundtrack is nowhere near as good as the original film's.
Photo by New Line Cinema, Everett CollectionSPAWN
Todd McFarlane's tale of a mercenary-turned-soldier of the devil suffers from some seriously painful Power Ranger-esque special effects. When the most interesting thing about your movie is John Leguizamo dressed as a demonic clown, you know you've got problems.
Everett CollectionTEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES II: THE SECRET OF THE OOZE
Any movie that includes rapper Vanilla Ice leading a rousing rendition of "Ninja Rap" ("Go ninja go ninja go!") deserves a place on this list.
Photo by New Line/Kobal Collection, WireImageBLADE: TRINITY
While the first two Blade films could hardly be called masterpieces, they at least prominently feature the titular character performing some serious vampire slaying. Here, the Daywalker is all but sidelined as the movie is hijacked by Ryan Reynolds and Jessica Biel. Good looking kids, but we paid to see Blade.
Photo by 20th Century FoxELEKTRA
Jennifer Garner reprises her role as a sai-wielding assassin -- back from the grave, no less. "Daredevil" was bad enough. By the end of "Elektra," you sort of wish she had stayed dead.
Photo by Columbia PicturesGHOST RIDER
Let's face it: Ghost Rider -- a guy with flaming skull riding a motorcycle -- has always been one of Marvel's sillier comic book heroes. But you could get away with that on the four-color page. On the big screen, starring Nicolas Cage in a hairpiece, not so much.
Photo by MGM, Everett CollectionRED SONJA
Arnold Schwarzenegger has reportedly called this spectacularly silly sword-and-sorcery movie the worst film he's ever made. Harsh criticism from the man who starred in "Jingle All the Way."
Photo by New Line Cinema, Everett CollectionSON OF THE MASK
The sequel no one asked for... and no one saw. This movie features a mostly-CGI baby, a freaky dog and Jamie Kennedy -- and none of these hold a candle to the grinning, green-faced wackiness of Jim Carrey.
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