Top 5 Super-Hero Films

With Captain America: The First Avenger opening today and thousands descending upon San Diego this weekend for Comic-Con, I thought it appropriate to showcase some of the best super-hero films over the years.

What makes a good super-hero film? Well, the character first and foremost: is he or she's story engaging enough to carry their own movie? Second, the villain: you need an adversary just as compelling as your hero. Finally, you need the right crew: having a great character and villain means nothing if you don't have the right director, actors and composer to pull things together and deliver a truly memorable, timeless piece of entertainment. Below are five that have all of the above and then some.

1. Superman: The Movie (1978) - 33 years after first believing a man could fly, the father of the modern super-hero film remains the gold standard. The setting and effects may look a bit dated but it's still the best due to four simple ingredients: Richard Donner, Christopher Reeve, Gene Hackman and John Williams. These guys working in concert could have made Ernest Goes to Camp an Oscar winner.

2. The Dark Knight (2008) - Christopher Nolan's second Batman feature is much more than a great super-hero flick, it's a multi-tiered crime epic in the tradition of Michael Mann's Heat and Brian DePalma's Scarface. Heath Ledger provides a wholly original, chilling take on the Joker and Christian Bale is simply the best Caped Crusader ever.

3. Iron-Man (2008): John Favreau's tale of egocentric weapons manufacturer Tony Stark who escapes death and grows a conscious with the help of a super-charged suit of armor is an adrenaline-fueled blast from start to finish, mainly due to Robert Downey Jr.'s charismatic, pitch-perfect performance as Stark. Having Jeff Bridges as the heavy doesn't hurt either.

4. The Rocketeer (1991) - Joe Johnston's adaptation of Dave Stevens' beloved comic about test pilot Cliff Secord who finds a rocket pack and uses it to battle gangsters and Nazis in 1930s Hollywood is pure cinematic gold, a throwback to Saturday-morning serials of yesteryear (think Raiders of the Lost Ark). The entire cast - Billy Campbell as Secord, Alan Arkin as Peevy, a voluptuous Jennifer Connelly as Betty and Timothy Dalton as the nefarious Neville Sinclair - is absolutely first rate. James Horner's soaring score only helps make it that much more of a classic.

5. Batman (1989) - Ok, I'll probably take some flack for including this in the top five but if you were between the ages of 5 and 55 in the summer of '89, chances are you saw and least somewhat admired Tim Burton's dark reimagining of the Batman legend. Sure Michael Keaton was a bit stiff as Bats and we could have done without the comedic stylings of Robert Wuhl, but the film's pure visual splendor, coupled with Danny Elfman's brooding score and Jack Nicholson's over-the-top performance as the Clown Prince of Crime are enough to to warrant a return to Gotham every few years.

If I could pick five more: 6. X-Men 2 (2003); 7. Superman II (1981); 8. Spider-Man 2 (2004); 9. Hero at Large (1980); 10. Batman Begins (2005)

Newly Renovated Village Theatre Sparkles on Coronado Island

The wife and I just got back from a quick little jaunt to San Diego. One thing we like to do while down there is cross the bridge over to Coronado Island. You can't beat spending a summer evening browsing Bay Books, strolling the grounds of the Hotel Del and enjoying a relaxing dinner at the Rhinoceros Cafe (ask for the dill-crusted salmon, my favorite for nearly 20 years).

I can't imagine visiting the island and not spending time outside or at least next to an open door with the sea breeze gently kissing your face. Well, that is until I took a gander at the newly renovated Village Theatre on Orange Ave.

Shuttered for more than a decade, the 64-year-old movie theater has staged a comeback thanks to Vintage Cinemas of Los Angeles and Coronado's Redevelopment Agency. This is more than a fresh coat of paint and adding new seats. $3 million has been spent to take the the theater from one screen to three; digital sound and 3D projectors have been added; and renowned theater designer Joseph Musil, whose work includes the El Captain Theatre in Hollywood, helped develop the Art Deco interior before his passing last year.

Stepping inside, a long, vintage concession stand greets you on the left and the inviting Art Deco lobby, complete with pleated, red-velvet benches and vased flowers, beckons you toward the the three theaters in the back. The one theater I was able to peek in was beautiful: red-velvet, high-back chairs arranged in a semi-circle around the screen, a grand red curtain protecting its secrets; neon, three-dimensional murals (designed by Disney muralist Bill Anderson) depicting Coronado treasures like the Hotel Del adorned each of the side walls. Made me want to run back for a bag of popcorn and stay for the flick.

The only visible complaint would be the marquee: it’s digital and while beautiful too, it doesn't provide showtimes, just graphics on the three films. To see what time something is playing, you have to physically go up to the box office where the times are posted on a small sheet of paper. Kind of frustrating when there’s really no place for a quick stop on busy Orange Ave.

Where you saw a movie used to be as important as the movie itself. Theaters used to be majestic and unique. They had ornate chandeliers and cozy balconies, Wurlitzer organs pumping out live music before shows and velvet curtains that didn't rise until the lights went out. It wasn't just a business, it was an art form.

In this age of cookie-cutter multiplexes that emphasize quantity over quality, it's nice to see the Village Theatre buck that trend and bring back a sense of grandeur to seeing a movie outside our homes. This is a theater worthy of your time and something the people of Coronado should be very proud of.

For more information and pictures, visit http://cinematreasures.org/theaters/2552

Five 4th of July Flicks Worth A Bang

Ah, the 4th of July: summer; independence; celebration. Some pretty potent, universal themes. Perfect ingredients for a movie, actually. Looking for something to do between barbecues and firework shows that captures the mood of the season? Try one of the flicks below, five of my favorites. Enjoy the weekend.


1. Jaws (1975) - 36 years after its initial release, Steven Spielberg's classic about a man-eating shark terrorizing a small New England island over the 4th of July remains the perfect summer matinee. For best results, you're going to need a bigger screen. (Available on DVD)

2. The Patriot (2000) - Before he went nuts, Mel Gibson starred as a soldier turned farmer who takes up arms once again during the onset of the American Revolution to avenge the murders of his sons. A little too long but extremely entertaining. John Williams' inspiring score doesn't hurt either. (Available on DVD/Blu-ray)

3. Independence Day (1996) - You couldn't escape Roland Emmerich and Dean Devlin's alien-invasion epic in the summer of '96. Ignore the laughable characters and inane dialog and focus on things blowing up and you'll have a pretty good time. (Available on DVD/Blu-ray)

4. Blown Away (1994) - Boston cop Jeff Bridges battles mad-bomber Tommy Lee Jones. Throw in Forrest Whitaker as a wise-ass rookie cop, Lloyd Bridges as a crusty mentor to young Bridges and a rousing finale set to the 1812 Overture and you've got a nifty little thriller. (Available on DVD)

5. Roller Coaster (1977) - George Segal (yes, George Segal) plays an amusement park safety inspector battling a mad bomber looking to blow up a new coaster during its grand opening on the 4th of July. A bit dated but still effective; a precursor to 1994's Speed. (Available on DVD)