10. Michael Chiklis as The Thing
Both fairly recent Fantastic Four movies were abominations, but the one thing the flicks got right was Ben Grimm, otherwise known as The Thing. The costume was great (for the time), and the acting and mannerisms were spot on. You really felt for the big guy, and that really says something when the rest of the movie was a flaming train wreck.
9. Ray Stevenson as The Punisher
Here's another case of the movie being trash around an otherwise excellent performance. Out of the three (!) Punisher movies, Ray Stevenson has hewed the closest to the tough as nails, no remorse/no regrets killer, Frank Castle. He shoots people in the face with a shotgun and calls it justice. Now that's badass.
8. Michael Keaton as Batman
Props to Christian Bale for making Batman dark and intimidating again, but the dude makes for a subpar Bruce Wayne. Michael Keaton, on the other hand, made for an excellent Batman and an even BETTER Bruce Wayne. Honestly, it's a dual role that only Michael Keaton has only truly pulled off. All others have been mediocre at best.
7. Patrick Stewart as Professor X
If not for his portrayal as Captain Jean Luc Picard of the U.S.S. Enterprise, I'd say Professor X was the role Patrick Stewart was born to play. Besides the bald pate, Stewat brings gravitas to a role that truly deserves it. He takes his shit seriously, and he's the strongest part about the whole franchise. Magneto be damned!
6. Ron Perlman as Hellboy
Both funny and a total tough guy, Ron Perlman was perfect for the role as Hellboy. He even kind of looks like him even without the red makeup and the trimmed down horns. Still hoping for another sequel.
5. Mickey Rourke as Marv
Another tough as nails character, Mickey Rourke made for the perfect Marv. With his beaten up face, gruff personality, and fists used for smashing people's faces in, you truly believed Rourke. In fact, this may have been the role that reinvigorated his career, so he's got that going for him.
4. Jackie Earle Haley as Rorschach
Personally, I wasn't a huge fan of Zack Snyder's Watchmen movie, but Jackie Earle Haley shined as Rorshchach, especially when the mask came off in the prison scenes. Those would be the hardest to pull off, but Haley truly made the diminutive man a real terror. If I ever see him in a line to get food, the last thing I want to do is piss him off.
3. Robert Downey Jr. as Iron Man
Though we never actually saw him get drunk and become a raging alcoholic like in the comics (Which would have actually been perfect given RDJ's track record), he still played the part of the wealthy playboy who doesn't seem to care about anybody but himself, but then shows that he really cares for all of humanity. Plus, he's extremely funny and charming. He was the beginning of the long road of success for Marvel in the multiplex, and for good reason. He's perfect in the role. Absolutely perfect.
2. Andrew Garfield as Spider-Man
Say what you will about The Amazing Spider-Man movie, Andrew Garfield IS Peter Parker. He's got the rhythm of the character, the build, and he can even deliver goofy one-liners with aplomb. While Toby McGuire wasn't bad as the ol' webhead, there was just something missing. It didn't help that Spider-Man was all but silent once he put on the mask, which was a directorial choice, but a bad one. But Andrew Garfield's Spider-Man really works. It reminds me of my childhood, and I can truly see the Spider-Man I always envisioned in my head when I watch Garfield on the big screen. Perfect casting!
1. Karl Urban as Judge Dredd
I had my doubts after the Sly Stallone "impression" (That's the best I can call it), but Karl Urban truly pulled the deadliest and scariest Judge of them all, off. Utilizing a constant scowl, there's not a second that you don't feel the spirit of Judge Dredd in Karl Urban's portrayal. Now THIS is how you represent a comic book character, not like Hugh Jackman as Wolverine. This is how it's done, baby!
