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SALT LAKE CITY — "Iron Man 3" opened in theaters Friday and the film is receiving solid reviews.
With the movie opening it's a safe bet that Iron Man and superheroes are on the minds of just about every movie lover on the planet.
With that we thought we'd have the ksl.com movie nerds, John Clyde and Travis Poppleton, give us what they consider to be the greatest superhero movies of all time.
As always, these two don't really agree, but that's how these things go.
Batman (Tim Burton) - Travis Pick
Travis: Debating "Batman" films is a risky pastime, and really not all that necessary since both Christopher Nolan and Tim Burton did fantastic jobs with their individual Gothams. But as a matter of preference, I simply love the gothic look in which Burton dressed his Batman universe.
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I love that Bruce Wayne is only slightly less crazy than the Joker, Michael Keaton has a way cooler Batman voice than Christian Bale, the Batmobile shields are more fun than a hidden motorcycle, Vikki Vale is a more convincing love interest than either version of Rachel, and Danny Elfman's score drops a flying elbow from the top ropes on Hans Zimmer's four-note wonder theme. And, really, Burton made superhero movies marketable again, so we all owe the guy a high five.
John: I'll give it to Travis. This is a mighty fine film, and it's just out of the top five for me. While it's incredibly close, I just have to give the edge to some other films.
Travis is the ultimate retro guy; he's a movie hipster, but just because it's older doesn't mean it's better. But again, it's a mighty fine pick.
X-Men: First Class - John Pick
John: While "X2" is a fantastic film, I have to give the nod to "X-Men: First Class."
I loved Michael Fassbender and James McAvoy bringing some new life to old characters, and the story was just all-around interesting.
It was a blast to watch Magneto in this film. You knew he was the bad guy and he never tried to hide it; you were just waiting for the ticking time bomb to go off.
Travis: "X-Men: First Class" threw a really interesting change-up after the terrible "X-Men: The Last Stand." Instead of totally rebooting a lackluster trilogy, they simply flipped back a few chapters and said, "Let's go back to a time before we messed everything up."
Surprisingly, it worked really well and is allowing for some of the great cross-over work they'll be doing in the next film. Who knows, maybe it even paved a way to pretend "Last Stand" never happened. Regardless, it was a great play and a very entertaining film.
X2: X-Men United - Travis Pick
Travis: "X-Men: First Class" was a great film and one that I tossed around for my list. I think at the end of the day, though, John prefers a more realistic superhero film, while I still harken back to my days playing with action figures in the bathtub.
Quickly, though, "X2" wins a place on my list over "First Class" because of the Nightcrawler character, and Magneto's escape — that, and I prefer Ian McKellen and Patrick Stewart to Michael Fassbender and James McAvoy.
John: You already know my thoughts on Fassbender and McAvoy, so no need to revisit them. And Travis is right, I'm a sucker for the based-in-reality films. But then again, how based-in-reality is any X-Men movie?
"X2" for me is much like Tim Burton's "Batman," it's right on the cusp. Comparing the original X-Men films, however, this one is the gold standard.
Unbreakable - John Pick
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John: Say what you will about M. Night Shyamalan, and Travis will, but the guy made some good movies, and "Unbreakable" was one of them.
Not your typical superhero movie, but at its core that's exactly what "Unbreakable" is.
The story telling is bizarre and different from any other super hero movie, and that's what makes it so great. Not to mention Shyamalan's direction. Some of the shot selections in the film are poignant and powerful.
So, if you can let go of the fact that he went on to make "The Last Airbender" and "The Happening," then you should be able to enjoy "Unbreakable."
Yes, that goes against what I will say about "Spider-Man 2" in just a few minutes, but that logic doesn't support my argument here so I'll just ignore it.
Travis: Oh, M. Night Shyamalan, you used to make such great movies. Seeing "Unbreakable" on John's list was like a sad reminder of a dear, long-lost grade school friend. But it's even worse. It's like finding out that friend went on to make terrible movies like "The Last Airbender." But here's to the old Shyamalan, and entertaining films like "Unbreakable." Thanks, John, for the reminder.
Spider-Man 2 - Travis Pick
Travis: Overall, I'm not a fan of Sam Raimi's "Spider-Man" trilogy. I think Tobey Maguire and Kirsten Dunst work for some people, but I'm still waiting for a witty Spidey that isn't so weepy. But something happened in the middle of "Spider-Man 2" for me.
While Dr. Octopus and Spider-Man were falling down the side of a skyscraper, still swinging at each other, totally ignoring the inevitable splat awaiting them while trying to get in that last spiteful punch, I realized I was having a blast. Raimi kept that going for most of the film, and did so in a way I have yet to see in another "Spider-Man" movie.
John: I have a hard time swallowing Raimi's Spider-Man trilogy. The first was commendable, the second was fun and the third was an utter nightmare. I agree with Travis that this movie keeps a smile on my face, but knowing that "Spider-Man 3" is coming just kind of kills it.
And I agree with Travis, "Spider-Man 2" was good in spite of Dunst and Maguire.
Iron Man - Travis and John Pick
John: The original "Iron Man" is without a doubt one of the best superhero movies of all time.
It's fun with a great story and fantastic performances from Robert Downey Jr. and Jeff Bridges. It's exactly what an origin story should be.
Travis: John and I agree this is going down as one of the classics. Tony Stark has a great origin story, it transfers well to film, and Robert Downey Jr. was perfectly cast.
Not only was it engaging as a self-contained film, but it set up Marvel's phase one, which has to be one of the most successful studio strategies in movie history.
The Dark Knight Rises - John Pick
John: "The Dark Knight Rises" is likely the best wrap-up to any story I've ever seen. The precision with which Christopher Nolan pulled off the conclusion is mesmerizing.
I know Travis thinks this film was more or less a train wreck, and I admit it had its problems, but much of that stems from people complaining it wasn't as good as "The Dark Knight." It's hard for any film to touch what "The Dark Knight" did, but the truth is, they were very different films and should be appreciated as such.
At the same time I admit, I do love Nolan more than just about any other human being, so my judgment may be a little skewed.
Travis: I'm a little surprised to see "The Dark Knight Rises" on this list, even knowing John's love for all things Nolan.
I understand liking the movie, despite the many logical red flags and painfully lazy time bomb plot line, but putting it on a best-ever list seems more like something you do after losing a bet. I don't want to trash the film, because it was entertaining, but there were too just many problems to call it great.
The Avengers - Travis Pick
Travis: When John was about 16, he had his inner-child removed after a freak accident at Santa's Village. At least, I think that happened. It's the only way I can explain his disdain for "The Avengers."
Marvel took years and hundreds of millions of dollars leading up to one glorious crescendo that had every reason in the world not to live up to expectations. When you make that kind of gamble, and deliver on the scale of "The Avengers," the least I can do is put you on my five-favorite-super-hero-movie list.
John: Let the hate mail begin pouring in. That's righ,t world, I don't like "The Avengers."
Did I lose my inner-child? No, but apparently my inner-child wasn't as oblivious to plot holes and terrible stories as the rest of the world.
Is "The Avengers" entertaining? Sure. But is it a good movie? No.
The story is non-existent and the plot holes are big enough to drive a train through.
Some day the mysteries of the world will be revealed, like why do dogs hate cats, where on earth are the majority of my left socks, and why do people think "The Avengers" is the greatest movie ever made. Until then, I'll keep fighting for the truth.
The Dark Knight - John Pick
John: Christopher Nolan totally changed the game when it came to superhero/comic book movies when he made "The Dark Knight."
Despite what Travis thinks, Heath Ledger is not the only thing this film has going for it. The story is enthralling, the action is incredible and the pacing is spot on.
It's hard for me to continue listening to Travis's opinions when he complains about Harvey Dent yet praises "The Avengers" on being a great film. Our friendship is on the rocks, good sir.
Travis: I don't think "The Dark Knight" is a movie that is aging well. I actually put it on the other night because I'm always amazed by Heath Ledger's performance, but I just shook my head during the Harvey Dent courtroom scene and pretty much anything relating to Rachel Dawes.
That said, I still really do enjoy the movie, and loved it when I first walked out of the theater; but sans Ledger, I think "Batman Begins" was the best film in Christopher Nolan's trilogy.
There you have it. What do you think of the picks? Who's right and who's wrong? Or are they both crazy? What's on you list? Let us know on the comment boards, Facebook or send an email.
