Director You Blame Most for Ruining a Comic Book Franchise

[TMC1982]

*Joel Schumacher (Batman)
*Brett Ratner (X-Men)
*Richard Lester (Superman)
*Ang Lee (Hulk)
*David S. Goyer (Blade)
*Tim Story (Fantastic Four)
*Bryan Singer (Superman)
*Mark Steven Johnson and/or Rob Bowen (Daredevil and Elektra)
*Tim Burton (Batman)
*Willard Huyck (Howard the Duck)
*Sidney J. Furie (Superman)
*Other

[Sharktopus]

Brett Ratner gets my vote for squandering a golden opportunity.

*Mark Steven Johnson and/or Rob Bowen (Daredevil and Elektra)

Don't forget, Mark Steven Johnson also directed Ghost Rider. That's strike 2.

And It's Rob Bowman, by the way.

[ScottotD]

I defend Ang Lee and Singer.

[Sharktopus]

I defend Ang Lee and Singer.

Like your superhero flicks interminably dull, eh? 

[PsypherPunk]

While I don't think any of these have actually 'ruined' a franchise (though some have sullied the name of film-making), what about Wes Craven or Jim Wynorski (Swamp Thing and Return of the Swamp Thing respectively)?

[Junkyard]

Well, as I've always hated Daredevil, and a good Ghost Rider film was rediculously unlikely, I have to go with Brett Ratner. Dammit, Singer, why did you leave before X-3? Like no one else could have helped make those awkward Jesus metaphors for Superman.

[gbeenie]

I'm with ScottH. Ang Lee's Hulk is criminally misunderstood, and Superman Returns did exactly what Singer intended it to; it just wasn't what the fanboys wanted.

[gbeenie]

Brett Ratner gets my vote for squandering a golden opportunity.

Agreed, although I'll add the caveat that, with Ratner at the helm, it could have been much, much worse.

*Mark Steven Johnson and/or Rob Bowen (Daredevil and Elektra)

Don't forget, Mark Steven Johnson also directed Ghost Rider. That's strike 2.

See; to me, Ghost Rider is a wash. While I can think of a hundred ways Daredevil could have been done better off the top of my head, I'm at a loss as to how Ghost Rider really could have been significantly different in a way that would have improved it.

[Tripe]

I'm with ScottH. Ang Lee's Hulk is criminally misunderstood, and Superman Returns did exactly what Singer intended it to; it just wasn't what the fanboys wanted.

I just wish there was an option of the dvd where you could replace the Hulk CGI with Lee in the motion capture suit. Now that would be entertaining.

[gbeenie]

I'm with ScottH. Ang Lee's Hulk is criminally misunderstood, and Superman Returns did exactly what Singer intended it to; it just wasn't what the fanboys wanted.

I just wish there was an option of the dvd where you could replace the Hulk CGI with Lee in the motion capture suit. Now that would be entertaining.

Indeed; the footage of Lee during the mo-cap sessions was adorable.

[Chaos]

I'd say it's a tie between Ang Lee for Hulk, and whoever the hell it was who directed The Punisher. Both of those movies sucked so hard they blew.

[mrbasehart]

I'm with ScottH and gbeenie on this one.  Sure, I thought Superman Returns and Hulk both had their share of problems, but I still really enjoyed them.  At least they showed a little cinematic ambition, rather than just shoving the comic onto screen.  I particularly thought Hulk was a beautiful film.

[the long undertow]

I'm not so sure all these comic books need or deserve to be movie franchises.  And I don't know if I would blame the director solely, or spread the blame around more.  Aren't a lot of the problems with the movies due to plot?

I'll just say that whoever decided to start Daredevil with the promise of "They say your life flashes before your eyes before you die" and then have Daredevil not die, should be caned severely.  I'm no Daredevil fan, but that could have been the best of the bunch if they had chosen to go the whole tragic hero route, but instead they just did more of the standard fare (probably in hopes of creating a franchise) and ended up with a standard and forgetable movie (that in no way deserves a franchise).

[Junkyard]

I like how Daredevil
got stabbed through the chest and was able to go on swinging and fighting for another hour afterwards
and
has a power that basically makes him a blind man who can see.

[Hebs]

Joel Schumacher definitely.  I know it's beating a dead horse since it's been said so many times, but I really thought the film was completely miscast, the dialogue was terrible, and the whole topical 90s soundtrack really made it hard to get into.  (Let's not even get into nipple costumes) 

Why - won't someone pleeease tell me - why is Robin 30+?  Doesn't it seem completely redundant to offer your home to a jerk that really should get his own place?  Barbara is blonde, everyone is glittery...  It really detracted from the Batman ideal as a whole.  In the older serial, Lowery actually gets annoyed with Robin because he is acting like a kid - and if you really were kickin' around with a 14 year old side kick, you'd have the same kind of exasperation.  There was too much nipple - not enough heart.