Stan Lee Movies
In addition to being the man who crafted both the "Marvel Universe" as well as some of the most popular comic book superheroes of modern times, longtime artist and writer Stan Lee played a pivotal role in bringing genuine human emotion into comic book characters, a trait that, up until the creation of such characters as the enduring Spider-Man, was sorely lacking in comics. Born in New York in 1922, it was at the age of 17 that Lee began work as an assistant editor for Timely Comics. Promoted to editor soon thereafter, Lee remained with the company as it changed its name to Atlas and fought slumping sales in the following years. At first simply carrying on with the stories of the characters that had already been created, the company got a fresh burst of creativity when, in 1961, it changed its name from Atlas to Marvel Comics. Soon carrying stories of emotionally complex and multi-dimensional characters such as Spider-Man, The Hulk, and Daredevil, Lee's intelligent story lines -- coupled with artist Jack Kirby's impressive images -- helped Marvel's popularity surge during the '60s. Advancing to the position of publisher and editorial director in 1972, it was during this decade that such popular television series as The Incredible Hulk and The Amazing Spider-Man truly came to life on the small screen. Though many of the characters had appeared in cartoon form on television in the previous decade, their transformation from animated characters to living, breathing humans truly brought comics into a new light and exposed them to audiences who otherwise might have scoffed at such fiction. Of course, this was only the beginning, and throughout subsequent years, Lee's characters made the leap to feature films in such blockbusters as Bryan Singer's X-Men (2000) and Sam Raimi's Spider-Man (2002). In addition to his role as a popular writer in comics, Lee also played a pivotal role in reducing censorship in the medium. Addressing the issue of drug addition in an issue of The Amazing Spider-Man at the request of public health officials, Lee defied the strict rules set by the Comics Code Authority (which banned any portrayal of drug use whether it be in a positive or negative light) and ultimately put the downfall of the CCA into motion. In the decades since, Lee's creations have not only graced the pages of comic books, but have sprung to life as never before with numerous film and television adaptations. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide- 2008
The fourth animated TV incarnation of Stan Lee and Steve Ditko's evergreen comic-book superhero and megamovie franchise "Spider-Man", the weekly, 30-minute The Spectacular Spider-Man returned to basics as an "origins" show, a la the live-action "Superman" derivation Smallville. Having only recently been bitten by a radioactive spider, 16-year-old high school junior Peter Parker was having a lot of trouble adjusting to his new powers, specifically the ability to climb walls, and his heightened "spidey-sense." This would be bothersome enough if Peter had been an adult, but as a high-schooler he was also struggling with such issues as teen angst, peer pressure and raging hormones. In addition to surrounding the hero with younger versions of such friends, family members and coworkers as Aunt May, Mary Jane, Gwen, and bombastic "Daily Flash" editor J. Jonah Jameson, the series was also well stocked with the familiar "Spider-Man" villains, among them the Sandman, Doc Ock, Venom, Electro, and the pre-Green Goblin Harry Osborn; foremost among the heavies was the Vulture, head of the fearsome assassination group known as the Enforcers. Greg Weisman, whose prior credits included the classic Disney animated series Gargoyles, served as story editor. Produced by Marvel/Culver Entertainment, The Spectacular Spider-Man joined CW's Saturday-morning cartoon lineup on March 8, 2008. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
A skateboarder-turned-superhero dedicates his life to fighting the forces of evil in an animated adventure produced by comic book icon Stan Lee and featuring the voice of That 70s Show star Wilmer Valderrama. All Tony Valdez ever wanted out of life was some smooth concrete and four good wheels to coast on, but then his parents were mysteriously killed and he sustained life-threatening injuries in a horrific zombie attack. Thankfully modern technology has advanced to the point where Tony's health could be restored, and thanks to some unexpected side effects the vengeful thrasher now has the power to seek justice against the villains who murdered his parents as well. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Wilmer Valderrama, Maria Conchita Alonso, (more)
- 2007
Will Eisner never became a household name, but ask nearly anyone who works in comics about him and they'll speak with admiration about one of the pioneering talents in the medium. Born in New York City in 1917, Eisner started drawing at a young age, and became involved in comics at a crucial point in their development, when comic books were moving from reprints of popular newspaper strips to tabloids featuring original material. In 1936, on the advice of his friend Bob Kane (who went on to create Batman), he created an adventure series, Captain Scott Dalton, for a new publication called Wow, What A Magazine! It was the first step in a successful career in what he called "sequential art," and in 1939, Eisner created the series The Spirit, following the adventures of a masked crime fighter patrolling the streets of a major American city. The Spirit boasted artwork with a unique, richly detailed look inspired by the shadow lands of film noir, and Eisner gave his characters an emotional depth that was unique to comics; the result was a mature creation that appealed to adults as much as youngsters, and was wildly influential on a generation of artists and writers. Eisner believed that comics were an art form long before the notion was popular, and created one of the first "graphic novels," A Contract With God, a book-length comic story of life in a Jewish ghetto. Eisner was also one of the first comic artists to control the rights to his own creations, giving him creative control over his work and a fair share of their profits. Will Eisner: Portrait of a Sequential Artist is a documentary which explores the life and career of a true giant in American graphic arts; the film received its world premiere at the 2007 Tribeca Film Festival. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
This animated feature brings to life the bestselling Dr. Strange series of Marvel comic books. The film -- like the original works -- plunges viewers into an otherworldly, mystical realm, rife with strange and mysterious creatures, of centuries-old spells and barrel-chested heroes. As the story opens, a surgeon, Dr. Stephen Strange, must first travel to the Tibetan Mountains to seek out healing from the Ancient One. After letting go of long-buried wounds from his past, he begins to tap into an inner aptitude for magic and sorcery that will enable him to take on a host of monsters that threaten the sanctity and very existence of humankind. Marvel guru Stan Lee co-executive produced; Bryce Johnson, Paul Nakauchi, Michael Yama, and others provide voices. ~ Nathan Southern, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Bryce Johnson, Paul Nakauchi, (more)
The fantasy adventure film Stan Lee Presents: Mosaic tells the tale of Maggie Nelson, an average teenage girl who one day discovers she has superpowers. Around the same time, she befriends a mentor, who informs her of her role in helping bring peace to factions that have been at war for hundreds of years. ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Anna Paquin, Kirby Morrow, (more)
- 2006
The superhero story Stan Lee's Lightspeed concerns a man named Daniel Light, who discovers he has the ability to run at the speed of light after a brush with death. He must use his newfound skills to defeat the evil Goddard, a person who is half-man, half-snake. ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jason Connery, Nicole Eggert, (more)
- 2003
One of three TV14-rated animated series debuting June 26, 2003, on the Spike TV cable channel (the others were Gary the Rat and Ren and Stimpy Adult Party Cartoon), Stripperella was developed (in every sense of the word) by comic book entrepreneur Stan Lee -- though in a reversal of the usual procedure, the TV show came before the comic book, rather than afterward. Well-endowed actress Pamela Anderson (Baywatch, V.I.P.) provided the voice for the title character, a sexy super-heroine whose alter ego was stripteaser Erotica Jones. Working for the top secret organization THUG, Stripperella could float from one crime-busting assignment to another through the aid of her enchanted blonde hair. Her crime fighting equipment included a lie detector hidden in her bra, and a digital computer embedded in her tongue. Each of Stripperella's half-hour adventures was chock full of sexual innuendo...some unsubtle, some really unsubtle. Numbering among the villains were the likes of demented plastic surgeon Dr. Cesarian and bitchy fashion designer Pushy Galore. Co-created by Kevin Kopelow and Heath Seifert, who in their kiddie show days had been responsible for the live action comedy series All That, Stripperella was seen in late prime time, ostensibly out of the viewing range of the small children for whom the show was most emphatically not intended! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Pamela Anderson, Jill Talley, (more)
- 2003
Wednesday is the day when comic-book shops receive the week's newly released titles, and more than one aspiring artist has watched fresh titles hit the racks while wondering how they can get their own book on the shelves as well. Countdown to Wednesday: An Inside Look at the Comic Book Biz and How to Break In is a documentary which offers a light-hearted but practical look at the inner workings of the comics industry, the chain of command and production at major comic-book publishers, and ways in which a newcomer can get his or her foot in the door. Countdown to Wednesday includes interviews with Stan Lee (creator of Spider-Man), Marc Silvestri (of Top Cow Comics), artists Paul Dini, Jim McLaughlin, Matt Hawkins, and many more. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- 2003
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Hosted by Peta Wilson, this breezy cable TV documentary chronicles the history of comic-book superheroes, from the introduction of Superman in 1938 to the present day. The producers were given unprecedented access to the files of DC and Marvel, the foremost purveyors of funny-paper protagonists with "powers far beyond those of mortal men." Among the topics covered are the neurosis-ridden heroes created under the aegis of Marvel's Stan Lee, and the kinkier aspects of DC's superheroine Wonder Woman. And of course, there is ample time afforded to the clean-up-comics campaign of the 1950s, sparked by the specious findings of psychologist Frederick Wertham (Seduction of the Innocent). In addition to the ubiquitous Stan Lee, artist/writers Jim Steranko and Will Eisner are interviewed. Released around the same time as the theatrical premiere of the Marvel-inspired movie The Hulk, Comic Book Superheroes Unmasked first aired on June 23, 2003. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Peta Wilson
Experience the best of the web in this collection of Flash animations from some of the most skilled internet artists and studios around. With thirty animated shorts by such prolific web-based talents as Camp Caos, Stan Lee Media, Doug Powell, Scream Therapy, Marina Zurkow, and more, this release offers the opportunity to view the animations in their original form and without the need for a broadband connection. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- 1998
Based on the popular Marvel Comics franchise, the made-for-TV Nick Fury: Agent of SHIELD stars David Hasselhoff in the title role. Having retired from active duty upon the end of the Cold War, war veteran and secret agent Col. Nick Fury squirrels himself away in his Yukon retreat. Meanwhile, enemy organization Hydra is taken over by the progeny of Fury's perennial enemy, ex-Nazi Baron Von Stucker. Under the leadership of Von Stucker's daughter, "Lady Viper" (Sandra Hess), the bad guys have gotten their mitts on a deadly virus, and intend to destroy America within 48 hours. Summoned from his hideaway by his old bosses at SHIELD, Nick Fury quickly reunites his familiar band of heroes -- the Contessa (Lisa Rinna), Dum-Dum (Garry Chalk), Gabriel (Ron Canada), et al. -- along with a newcomer to the ranks, Britisher Alexander Goodwin (Neil Roberts). Clearly the pilot for a proposed TV series, Nick Fury: Agent of SHIELD never quite makes up its mind to be taken seriously or to be enjoyed as high camp. The film was first shown over the Fox network on May 26, 1998. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- David Hasselhoff, Lisa Rinna, (more)
- 1990
This paranoid thriller begins as Eric Roberts' girlfriend (Janine Turner) is taken away in an ambulance and he can't find her. She's been taken prisoner by Eric Braeden, a crazed doctor who kidnaps people and sells their bodies for spare parts. Roberts hooks up with pretty cop Megan Gallagher to solve the mystery. A campy, action-packed thriller from cult director Larry Cohen (It's Alive), The Ambulance features a cameo by Marvel Comics prez Stan Lee and lots of tongue-in-cheek humor. It's as quirky as Cohen's other genre forays, and is entertaining enough for a rainy day rental, with clever photography by Jacques Haitkin and a tense score by Jay Chattaway. ~ Robert Firsching, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Eric Roberts, James Earl Jones, (more)
Though aimed at those fastidious comic book collectors who spend exorbitant sums for old DC first editions (only to leave them unread and wrapped in plastic), Comic Book Confidential manages to convey the fanaticism and fun of this hobby to non-aficionados. Canadian director Ron Mann traces the history of the comic book industry, the idiotic purging of so-called violent comics in the 1950s, and the growth of the collectibles industry. Throughout the film, any comic book which does not meet Mann's exacting standards is trashed (Dell and Harvey, beware!) Among those interviewed are Marvel Comics mavens Stan Lee and Jack Kirby and EC mentors William M. Gaines and Will Elder. The underground "comix" movement is represented by Robert Crumb. Though he clearly loves comics, Ron Mann might have more successfully conveyed this with fewer clever camera angles. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lynda Barry, Robert Crumb, (more)
- 1988
- Add How to Draw Comics the Marvel Way to QueueAdd How to Draw Comics the Marvel Way to top of Queue
Aspiring cartoonists with a flair for action, drama, and humor may want to watch this program featuring two of Marvel Comic's top artists. John Buscema, the man responsible for Conan the Barbarian and Silver Surfer, teaches a few of the basic drawing skills while Stan Lee demonstrates several others. Lee is best known to comic book fans as the creator of both Spider-Man and the Incredible Hulk. The two men present each lesson at levels appropriate for both beginners and experienced cartoonists. They discuss such topics as perspective, proportion, penciling, and finding new ways to help drawings convey a sense of excitement and drama. ~ Elizabeth Smith, All Movie Guide
On his 81st birthday, grandpa George Burns, bemoans the fact that he's wasted his life, and wishes he had it to do all over again. He gets his wish when he and his 18-year-old grandson Charles Schlatter are involved in an auto accident. When he awakens, Burns' personality has been transferred to Schlatter's body, and vice versa! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- George Burns, Charlie Schlatter, (more)
Follow filmmaker Hasko Baumann as he takes viewers on a mind-bending journey into the world of famed French comic book artist Jean Giraud - aka Moebius - the man behind such popular comics as Blueberry and Le Monde d'Edena. Interviews with such contemporaries and collaborators as American comic book artists Jim Lee and Mike Mignola, writer and filmmaker Alejandro Jodorowski, and Marvel Comics legend Stan Lee offer unique insight into Giraud's past, present, and future as the music of ex-Kraftwork member Karl Bartos sets a surreal tone for the proceedings. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- TVY7
- Add Spectacular Spider-Man: Attack of the Lizard to QueueAdd Spectacular Spider-Man: Attack of the Lizard to top of Queue
Witness the original web-slinger's mythology from the beginning! Peter Parker is a not so typical high school junior, fresh off an exciting summer engaging common criminals with his new found powers. But now he must conceal his secret identity as "Spider-Man", while engaging a new level of terror: the multi-leveled pressures of teenage life at home/school with combating bigger, badder super-villains in the real world! Movie comprised of 3 episodes tied seamlessly.
