The Ten Best Performances by Actors in Superhero Flicks

Superhero movies are getting churned out at a faster rate than ever, for better or for worse. Some are great films, others are unwatchable garbage. Of course, the casting and acting has a lot ot do with how good a superhero movie can be. A great performance may not save a movie, but it can at least capture the interest of fanboys who have dreamed of seeing their favorite characters come to life on the big screen. Here's a look at ten great performances by actors in superhero movies. As an aside, I omitted Hugo Weaving in V for Vendetta for two reasons: 1) V for Vendetta isn't a superhero movie, at least not in the traditional sense and 2) he wore a fucking mask the entire movie. So shut up.

Heath Ledger - The Joker - The Dark Knight

Really, almost the entire cast of The Dark Knight could make this list, with solid performances by Bale, Oldman, Eckhart, Caine, and Freeman. But Ledger stands out the most. I won't bother getting too much into why he's great, as anything I could say has already been said. In fact, I'm yet to read a single review that hasn't been a verbal blowjob. I do know that Ledger's Joker, while a different interpretation of the character, kills Nicholson's Joker. Nicholson was essentially playing Nicholson dressed as the Joker and didn't add much to the vast amount of source material on which he (could have) based his character. If he played it as Jack Torrence, it would have made for a better villain.

Gene Hackman - Lex Luthor - Superman

It's tough to pin Lex Luthor to any real defining characteristics, as he's been portrayed as both humorous and sinister in the comics, but Hackman combines the best of those characteristics and really shines in Superman. He comes acorss as smarter than everyone else, terribly unscrupulous, but somehow terribly charsmatic - everything Kevin Spacey's Lex Luthor wasn't. I truly believe that Gene Hackman is one of the most underrated actors of his time, and his performace as the Man of Steel's archnemesis only solidifies that opinion. (Mr. Hackman - if you are reading this, send my check to bamkapow, and please, for the love of god, please stop offering hand action as payment.)

Christopher Reeve - Superman - Superman

Reeve's performance as Ka-El is so impressive because he also plays Clark Kent so well. Routh's performance wasn't awful, but it felt awfully vapid. As Kent, Reeve is a believable cowardly geek with no confidence, but the moment Reeve removes his glasses, he's believable as a powerful, virtuous god among men. OK, this reminds me of a joke. Stop me if you've heard it. What's the opposite of Christopher Reeve? Give up? Christopher Walken! I know, I know - there's an upper management position in Hell waiting for me.

Alfred Molina - Dr. Octopus - Spider- Man 2

You should know Molina from his memorable roles in Raiders of the Lost Ark ("Throw me the idol, I throw you the whip" - that guy) and Boogie Knights (you better know who he is in this), but his best role was that of Dr. Octopus. He added depth to the character, and showed the doctor's humanity and struggle with the tentacles fused to his spine in a manner that was more than just physical. Molina was convincing as both an enemy and a role model for Peter Parker, and grounded the idea of parading around New York on his bionic arms. Unfortunately, most of the casting has sucked for the Spider-Man movies. Tobey Maguire is too glum to play wiseass Peter Parker. Topher Grace - who would, ironically, make a great Parker - isn't mean or big enough for Venom. And Kirsten Dunst as hot ass Mary Jane? Please. They might as well have cast Rocky Dennis.

Jessica Alba - Invisible Woman - The Fantastic Four

Of course I'm kidding. I just wanted an excuse to post a picture of her. I would eat a log of Shaquille O'Neal's shit every day for the rest of my life if I could spend one night with her.

Sir Ian McKellan - Magneto - X-Men movies

Nobody is going to argue that McKellan is a bad actor, and he's come through in iconic roles despite enormous pressure from X-Men and LOTR fanboys. McKellan's Magneto, unlike in the comics, is slim and frail. However, he more than makes up for it by convincing us that Magneto isn't evil, but determined and devoted to make sure his history doesn't repeat itself. Magneto is doing what is justified in his mind, and McKellan helps the audience understand that. I remember when I saw X-Men in the theater, my girlfriend commented what a great actor he was. I also vividly remember trying the popcorn trick on my girlfriend and failing miserably. Not because she never once reached for popcorn, but because salt and butter in your peehole stings like a motherfucker.

Robert Downey - Tony Stark - Iron Man

It seems that Downey was born to play the role of Tony Stark - the similarities between the two are striking. Downey's Tony Stark created a huge buzz about Iron Man and made the actor an A-lister again. He showed audiences a rich, smug, womanizer, but managed to do so while not creating a one-dimensional character - Downey was also able to show us Stark's compassion, patriotism, and ambition. I'm a lot Like Stark, and I think I could have done just as good a job as Downey, by the way. I am a womanizing drug-abuser who fights terror with a suit of armor. OK, so I've been with 2.5 girls since high school, and my armor is really just dryer tubes and tin foil. But I do huff paint.

Alan Cumming - Nightcrawler - X-2

Cumming is a true thespian and tackled a complex character in X-2 in his role as Nightcrawler. Cumming made a monster into a character audiences could sympathize with and root for, all while showing the less-than-awesome parts of life that come along with being a mutant. Cumming's Nightcrawler, lacking confidence and direction, embraces what he is by movie's end and contributes to helping his fellow mutants. It's not always good to embrace what you look like, though. Today on the subway, I saw a woman with a full AND STYLED mustache. What the fuck is that? Seriously, I don't get it.

Brandon Lee - The Crow - The Crow

The Crow came back from the dead to avenge his own murder and provided Halloween costume ideas to goth kids all over the country. Brandon Lee could obviously more than handle the action scenes, but his extremely dark and ominous Crow made the character seem all the more foreboding. The death of Brandon Lee while filming adds a haunting feel to the film and makes for an essential viewing. Except if you're from the south – then you can just watch old wrestling clips of Sting from the late 90s. Same thing.

Arnold Schwarzenegger - Conan - Conan the Barbarian

Acting chops are irrelevant when you have got to play Conan the Barbarian, one of the biggest badasses of all time. Arnie didn't butcher the dialogue to the point of of undermining it, which was just fine since he was three times the size of everyone else. Only a monster like Schwarzenegger could play Conan, but his unmatched screen presence and charisma make his Conan legendary. Well, that and his issue with animals: he eats a vulture, kills a snake, and punches a camel. He was one stage away from being the Cimmerian Mr. Hands. (Don't know Mr. Hands? Wiki that shit.)