Comic Book Villains (2002)

Great movie! If you want to be entertained and have a few good laughs, see this movie. The music is also very good,

One of the most extraordinary films you will see this year. Take that as you want.

By the time the dramatic fireworks start popping off, each one feels earned.

One of the worst ways to make a cult movie is to set out to make a cult movie.

First I should say I am fanboy who owns about as many comics as the collector only seen in this movie in a photo of a woman's departed son. Needless to say I was interested in the movie. I did like the movie, not because it was about comic books as, to be honest, the comics were just a prop for what I felt was a very good story.I am pleased to say I did not see a two dimensional simpsonesque 'comic book guy' in this movie. I did not see a movie about comics but a movie about how rivalry, greed, desperation, and regret can cause people to do bad things. I believe the real focus of this film is the habitually greasy comic book shop owner and true fanboy Raymond. A man who has a true passion for comics, who is 'off' and because of this has had a very hard life. He followed his passion and now finds himself broke and faced with what might be his only chance to find what he see's as greatness and while it seems trivial to most to set the bar of greatness where he has, his desperation has now made it so that he is willing to do whatever to takes to accomplish this goal.Although he justifies his actions by the fact that he truly appreciates the art, history and craft of comics while his rivals merely see them as a means to make money...in the end it is, to him, also all about money and he is just the most desperate of those who are looking to get them. It did not have to be about comics. It could have been coins, art, jewels, anything of great value...this is about a group of people turned into killers to get their hands on what they see as a chance to cash in and become rich....and certainly this can happen, to good people, especially in the case of someone like Raymond who feels he has nothing at all to lose.This movie IS a comedy / drama but it is a very dark one. I enjoyed the film and recommend it whether you like comic books or not....in the end it was a good story and well executed by most involved with a special acknowledgement to Donal Logue who was outstanding.

Comic Book Villains tells the story of Archie (DJ Qualls) who works at his best friends comic book store. His best friend is Raymond McGillcuddy (Donal Logue) who's enemy's are rival comic book store owner's Norman and Judy Link(Micheal Rapaport & Natasha Lyonne). When both parties here of a recently deceased comic book fan's large collection of priceless comic book's both parties declare all out war. While the two parties are plotting against each other Archie Befriends the dead comic collector's Mum Mrs Cresswell (Eileen Brennan). When Mrs Cresswell refuses to budge about not selling the comics Raymond hires his old school bully Carter (Cary Elwes) to steal the comics. If you like low budget movies you'll love this. If you hate anything to do with comic book's you will surely hate this I will give an 8 for different to Hollywood dross.

"Comic Book Villains" is a darkly funny movie, but it mainly caters to a relatively small audience. It helps to understand and enjoy this movie if you are a comic book fan. The story revolves around the rival owners of two comic shops, each wanting to obtain a stash of very valuable comic books. Some might call this a clever story, but a lot might not. Donal Logue and DJ Qualls are well cast in the roles on the side of comic book fans. Cary Elwes, on the other hand, seems a bit miscast as a thug hired by Logue to steal the comics. Anyway, if you like comic books, you will like "Comic Book Villains," and might even relate to it. If you are not a comic book fan, at least give it a try!

the problem(s) with this film is one of desire. our main character doesn't have any. the story is told through one young boy and all he does really is hang out at the comic book shop wanting to be in with the owner. but the film becomes a morality tale about what not to do, and ceases to be a story, and our hero does little more than just watch....very boring. and the one interesting villain is introduced and then forgotten about. cardinal screenwriting rules. the ending is pseudo-tarantino, but then maybe somebody should have told the film's writer/director that even tarantino can't do tarantino anymore.