Rating: 
Summary: Comic yet bittersweet in a low-budget way
Review: After watching "Comic Book - The Movie" on DVD I wasn't completely sure completely sure what to think. Yes, Mark Hamill was trying to do another "Spinal Tap" / "Best In Show" / "Trekkies" mockumentary, and he does star in it - but between the high-profile "Directed By Mark Hamill!" tags and the shot-on-video low budgetness of it all it seems like he just wanted to get a directing debut at any cost and could probably self-finance this one.The plot is actually pretty good, and true to the heart of comic-book collector fandom; in fact, there's a lot of well-researched backstory behind the made-up story of "Captain Courage" and the phony Hollywooders trying to remake a golden-era pseudo comic into a "GI JOE 2004" doomfest. There's also an attempt to play the comic-book fans with heart too, but in the end it's not enough heart - like "The Cable Guy", Mark's quixotic quest doesn't overcome the "Trekkies"-type mocking atmosphere of the film. I'd give it 2 stars - though Donna D'errico (as "Papaya Smith") is still superbly cute. Knowing what I know about Donna from Motley Crue's "The Dirt", I wonder how she could actually keep a straight face with a name like that!
Rating: 
Summary: Forever COMIC
Review: Arguably, what elevates COMIC BOOK - THE MOVIE above average cinema fare is the fact of who's in it: Mark Hamill, Stan Lee, Peter David, Hugh Hefner, Bruce Campbell, etc. Sadly, though, even all of this talent isn't able to elevate the film above an average rating. Don't get me wrong: there is plenty of 'inside' joke material here, and COMIC amply mines the territory for some solid laughs. However, the film ends up uneven, perhaps not focusing enough on a smooth narrative and, instead, juggling around narratively between trying to be a true mockumentary and taking some easy swipes at what it means to be part & parcel of any genre fandom. Nerds aplenty and some great chuckles from the cameraman (who happens to be filmed by yet another cameraman), COMIC BOOK will probably appeal to a cult audience but'll avoid mainstream recognition. Some of the extras are nice -- featurettes on Commander Courage and some interviews with the powerful folks about comicdom and the convention scene as a whole -- but, overall, the package lacks one solid storyline to lift this flick up, up, and away!
Rating: 
Summary: A fun film for fans of all pop media
Review: Comic Book the Movie attracted my attention because of the type of movie that it was. I have always enjoyed movie like Best in Show, and this one had many cameos by some of my favorite stars like Bruce Cambell and Kevin Smith that I couldn't pass it up. The movie has a lot of clever humor and inside jokes that fans will appreciate. Thumbs up to an exceptional performance by Daran Norris.
Rating: 
Summary: Funny and heartfelt
Review: Comic Book: The Movie is an unpretentious film with mostly-improvised dialogue, a lot of laughs and a very warm heart. Much of the movie was filmed at San Diego's ComicCon, an annual gathering of 60,000 comic book enthusiasts. Mark Hamill stars as Don Swann, an obsessive comic book collector and fan of a Golden Age superhero named Commander Courage (invented for the film). Swann is horrified to learn that a major motion picture studio plans to film an updated, ultra-violent version of his beloved hero. As a well-known authority on Commander Courage, Swann is hired by the studio as a "consultant" in order to placate the fans. To humor him and keep him busy, they send him off to San Diego Comic Con to make a documentary short about Commander Courage, to be packaged as a DVD extra with their film. Swann takes every opportunity to rally support for the "classic" Commander Courage, which sets him on a collision course with the studio. The movie is a bit uneven, with some scenes that are very, very funny and others that don't work as well. It isn't consistently hysterical along the lines of "Spinal Tap," but one advantage it has over "Spinal Tap" is its heart: it's about the love and joy the fans feel, and it doesn't go for laughs by treating the fans as freaks (although the nerdiness of Swann and his friends is played for laughs, it's done in such a way that any fan with a sense of humor about him or herself can laugh too). Instead, the comic book nerds are the heroes, and we get to empathize with their love for comic books and for the wonderful world of make-believe that is the comics convention. A number of scenes are touching, as when Don Swann meets Ray Harryhausen. The scenes set at and around the convention are especially funny, and as Don's conflict with the movie producers comes to a head, you get drawn deeper into his passionate quest to protect his childhood hero from the ravages of Hollywood. The ending is wonderfully uplifting (watch the credits, too; there are additional clips interspersed that tell the very end of the story). The movie left me with a silly smile on my face. Quite a few major names in the comic book and animation industries have small parts in the film; the features menu includes a guide to all the cameos. The DVD comes with a second disc full of extras which merits reviewing in its own right. Probably the best item there is the "Behind the Voices" panel, at which several of the best voiceover artists in the business, who were also in the movie, do a wonderful range of voices; it's very funny, and for anyone who's a fan of voiceover work, it's great fun to actually get to see these people do their thing. There are also full-length versions of the interviews with Kevin Smith, Bruce Campbell and others, of which shorter excerpts appear in the movie itself.
Rating: 
Summary: NO,NO,AND MORE NO.
Review: Comic books need to be taken seriously. They are an American artform, and should be looked upon as seriously as you would with novel publishing or film making. The genre has crafted many talented writers and artists who have created many fine books and human characters with powers. It kind of is an insult to do a movie like this which shows comics as a non-artform and it's fans that have no life. This is not true. It's a rumor that is not founded on anything but mainstream media's perception of the artform, and they are dead wrong. I think Mr. Hamill should be ashamed of himself for doing this movie. Stan Lee did a disservice to comics by appearing in this movie which is a thumbs down to the artform that he has spend most of his life working and promoting. Will they ever make a good serious documentry on the history of comics and the lives of the writers and artists who worked on brining us this wonderful American mythology? I'm still waiting. Meanwhile this film should be enjoyed the Image/Dark Horse Comics fans.Ranked up there with Superheroes unmasked, Stan Lee's Mutants,Monsters, and Marvels, and all the Kevin Smith films ever made, Bleech.
Rating:
Summary: NO,NO,AND MORE NO.
Review: Comic books need to be taken seriously. They are an American artform, and should be looked upon as seriously as you would with novel publishing or film making. The genre has crafted many talented writers and artists who have created many fine books and human characters with powers. It kind of is an insult to do a movie like this which shows comics as a non-artform and it's fans that have no life. This is not true. It's a rumor that is not founded on anything but mainstream media's perception of the artform, and they are dead wrong. I think Mr. Hamill should be ashamed of himself for doing this movie. Stan Lee did a disservice to comics by appearing in this movie which is a thumbs down to the artform that he has spend most of his life working and promoting. Will they ever make a good serious documentry on the history of comics and the lives of the writers and artists who worked on brining us this wonderful American mythology? I'm still waiting. Meanwhile this film should be enjoyed the Image/Dark Horse Comics fans.
Rating:
Summary: Incredible
Review: Don't believe the negative reviews here. This movie is awesome! I had no expectations going in, but left with a favorite movie. In a 'Mighty Wind' kind-of way, this movie queues into the underworld of cult collectors. But a blend of honesty and soul breathes life into legions of fans without cutting them down. On the contrary, the ending will lift you to heights you probably never thought possible by a comic book movie. Characters -- especially the cameos (the best of whom aren't on the cover) -- are perfect. The performers keep you laughing, the movie keeps you a believer.
Rating:
Summary: Incredible
Review: Don't believe the negative reviews here. This movie is awesome! I had no expectations going in, but left with a favorite movie. In a 'Mighty Wind' kind-of way, this movie queues into the underworld of cult collectors. But a blend of honesty and soul breathes life into legions of fans without cutting them down. On the contrary, the ending will lift you to heights you probably never thought possible by a comic book movie. Characters -- especially the cameos (the best of whom aren't on the cover) -- are perfect. The performers keep you laughing, the movie keeps you a believer.
Rating:
Summary: Mark Hamill's Love Letter to Comic Books and Comic Book Fans
Review: Fanboy legend Mark Hamill has gathered the finest animation voice talent in Hollywood to create a magnificent and heartfelt tribute to the comic book art form and its fans in the shape of, "Comic Book: The Movie." In the film, Mark plays high school history teacher Don Swan, a man who, like more of us than society admits, is completely obsessed with comic books and pop culture. Don's favorite character is one Commander Courage, a patriotic superhero from the 1930s that has been revamped over the years into his current incarnation, a terrorist fighting secret agent known as Codename: C.O.U.R.A.G.E., much to Don's dismay. The Commander's faithful sidekick/nephew, Liberty Lad, has been replaced with the ultra-sexy Liberty Lass, no relation, and now a movie is going to be made using this completely distorted new version of Don's heroes. It's all too much for the humble history teacher to take, but the "powers that be" seem to have given him one chance to swing things his way. The major movie studio that is planning to make the big-budget blockbuster, Codename: COURAGE, has hired Don, known as the "go-to guy" for Commander Courage, to make a brief documentary; a little something to give their film credibility with the oldschool fans, as well as a future DVD extra. Don sees this as his opportunity to convince the studio that they should change their plans completely, or at least, as much as possible.
So, our hero sets forth with his new sidekick, studio provided cameraman and self-professed chick-lover Ricky, on a quest to interview anyone and everyone who MIGHT be in his corner. Don's little documentary, which was supposed to be a brief background on the roots of Codename: COURAGE , quickly becomes an all out petition to make Commander Courage: The Movie! But his first interviewee, Playboy Founder Hugh Hefner, seems to support the Codename COURAGE idea. Big surprise, what with Liberty Lass and all. He fares somewhat better with Kevin Smith, who seems to take the middle ground. And finally, Don finds a true crusader in B-Movie Legend, Bruce Campbell. Unfortunately, Bruce's choice to side in with Don only manages to get him dropped from consideration for the starring role, and also clues the studio in on the danger of Don's influence. Now, Don, Ricky, and their new pal, the clueless Leo (newly discovered grandson of the Commander's creator), must thwart the efforts of studio execs while continuing to make their documentary and spread the gospel of the Commander at the San Diego Comic-Con, the world's largest sci-fi and comic book convention. Leo doesn't turn out to be much help though. He knows absolutely nothing about comics, and didn't even know who his grandfather was! The studio execs see his weakness, and quickly attempt to turn him over to the dark side. Ricky is a little too preoccupied with chicks, and the Incredible Hulk, AND his hilarious efforts to teach Leo to be a chick-magnet like himself. And even Don's hometown friend and fellow Commander fanatic, Derek, is too busy struggling with his frustrated wife and exhausted little son, who had no idea he was dragging them out of Wisconsin just to see a comic book convention. It seems that it's all up to Don Swan to save the day, and when he gets his hands on a copy of the secret script on the eve of the studio's big Codename: COURAGE publicity launch, our hero finally snaps! Only Commander Courage can help now! Comic Book: The Movie, is a wonderful gift from the mind of Mark Hamill, a true and knowledgeable fan. Filmed in mockumentary style, but without mocking the subject at all, it is a tribute to the creators and readers of this overlooked art form, as well as a showcase for some of the greatest untapped (onscreen anyway) acting talent in show business, the voice actor. Filled to the brim with legends, not just from the comic world but other areas too, emotions run from nostalgic, to hilarious, to downright tear-jerking. There's something in it for every type of comic fan. Mr. Hamill even manages to mention my personal favorite comic legend, Carl "the Duck-man" Barks, creator of Disney's Uncle Scrooge. And there's plenty of eye-candy too, not just in the form of laughter and drool inducing Donna D'errico as Liberty Lass, but also from various comic con fan-girls in even more delectable costumes. So THIS is where you meet cute girls who actually LIKE comics and cartoons (and don't mind wearing costumes, *ahem*)! In fact, the real star of this film is the San Diego Comic Con itself, and all its participants! It definitely left me with a strong desire to visit the annual event someday! It must be great to be surrounded with so many folks, of all types (and both sexes), who are as obsessed with comics, movies, and toys as you are!
This DVD is a gem for all it has on it. The audio commentary is great, especially for a wannabe voice actor and cartoonist like me, not to mention another of Hamill's Star Wars junkie fans. And the 2nd disc practically has a feature of its own in "Behind the Voices," a great interview session at the Comic Con with several current cartoon greats, from Jim Cummings to Billy West (who plays Leo). The complete interviews run the gamut from informative to hilarious! Bruce Campbell's is a real treat! Everything that supplements Comic Book: the Movie is worthy of a thorough look, and the movie itself can be rewatched over and over. In fact, I'm not even sure how many times I've seen it by now. If you love comics, collecting, or anything even vaguely associated with the subject matter in this film, do yourself a favor and pick it up! And anytime Jess Harnell's "Ricky" character is onscreen, keep your eyes and ears at attention! That guy is hilarious!
Rating:
Summary: Mark Hamill's Love Letter to Comic Books and Comic Book Fans
Review: Fanboy legend Mark Hamill has gathered the finest animation voice talent in Hollywood to create a magnificent and heartfelt tribute to the comic book art form and its fans in the shape of, "Comic Book: The Movie." In the film, Mark plays high school history teacher Don Swan, a man who, like more of us than society admits, is completely obsessed with comic books and pop culture. Don's favorite character is one Commander Courage, a patriotic superhero from the 1930s that has been revamped over the years into his current incarnation, a terrorist fighting secret agent known as Codename: C.O.U.R.A.G.E., much to Don's dismay. The Commander's faithful sidekick/nephew, Liberty Lad, has been replaced with the ultra-sexy Liberty Lass, no relation, and now a movie is going to be made using this completely distorted new version of Don's heroes. It's all too much for the humble history teacher to take, but the "powers that be" seem to have given him one chance to swing things his way. The major movie studio that is planning to make the big-budget blockbuster, Codename: COURAGE, has hired Don, known as the "go-to guy" for Commander Courage, to make a brief documentary; a little something to give their film credibility with the oldschool fans, as well as a future DVD extra. Don sees this as his opportunity to convince the studio that they should change their plans completely, or at least, as much as possible.
So, our hero sets forth with his new sidekick, studio provided cameraman and self-professed chick-lover Ricky, on a quest to interview anyone and everyone who MIGHT be in his corner. Don's little documentary, which was supposed to be a brief background on the roots of Codename: COURAGE , quickly becomes an all out petition to make Commander Courage: The Movie! But his first interviewee, Playboy Founder Hugh Hefner, seems to support the Codename COURAGE idea. Big surprise, what with Liberty Lass and all. He fares somewhat better with Kevin Smith, who seems to take the middle ground. And finally, Don finds a true crusader in B-Movie Legend, Bruce Campbell. Unfortunately, Bruce's choice to side in with Don only manages to get him dropped from consideration for the starring role, and also clues the studio in on the danger of Don's influence. Now, Don, Ricky, and their new pal, the clueless Leo (newly discovered grandson of the Commander's creator), must thwart the efforts of studio execs while continuing to make their documentary and spread the gospel of the Commander at the San Diego Comic-Con, the world's largest sci-fi and comic book convention. Leo doesn't turn out to be much help though. He knows absolutely nothing about comics, and didn't even know who his grandfather was! The studio execs see his weakness, and quickly attempt to turn him over to the dark side. Ricky is a little too preoccupied with chicks, and the Incredible Hulk, AND his hilarious efforts to teach Leo to be a chick-magnet like himself. And even Don's hometown friend and fellow Commander fanatic, Derek, is too busy struggling with his frustrated wife and exhausted little son, who had no idea he was dragging them out of Wisconsin just to see a comic book convention. It seems that it's all up to Don Swan to save the day, and when he gets his hands on a copy of the secret script on the eve of the studio's big Codename: COURAGE publicity launch, our hero finally snaps! Only Commander Courage can help now! Comic Book: The Movie, is a wonderful gift from the mind of Mark Hamill, a true and knowledgeable fan. Filmed in mockumentary style, but without mocking the subject at all, it is a tribute to the creators and readers of this overlooked art form, as well as a showcase for some of the greatest untapped (onscreen anyway) acting talent in show business, the voice actor. Filled to the brim with legends, not just from the comic world but other areas too, emotions run from nostalgic, to hilarious, to downright tear-jerking. There's something in it for every type of comic fan. Mr. Hamill even manages to mention my personal favorite comic legend, Carl "the Duck-man" Barks, creator of Disney's Uncle Scrooge. And there's plenty of eye-candy too, not just in the form of laughter and drool inducing Donna D'errico as Liberty Lass, but also from various comic con fan-girls in even more delectable costumes. So THIS is where you meet cute girls who actually LIKE comics and cartoons (and don't mind wearing costumes, *ahem*)! In fact, the real star of this film is the San Diego Comic Con itself, and all its participants! It definitely left me with a strong desire to visit the annual event someday! It must be great to be surrounded with so many folks, of all types (and both sexes), who are as obsessed with comics, movies, and toys as you are!
This DVD is a gem for all it has on it. The audio commentary is great, especially for a wannabe voice actor and cartoonist like me, not to mention another of Hamill's Star Wars junkie fans. And the 2nd disc practically has a feature of its own in "Behind the Voices," a great interview session at the Comic Con with several current cartoon greats, from Jim Cummings to Billy West (who plays Leo). The complete interviews run the gamut from informative to hilarious! Bruce Campbell's is a real treat! Everything that supplements Comic Book: the Movie is worthy of a thorough look, and the movie itself can be rewatched over and over. In fact, I'm not even sure how many times I've seen it by now. If you love comics, collecting, or anything even vaguely associated with the subject matter in this film, do yourself a favor and pick it up! And anytime Jess Harnell's "Ricky" character is onscreen, keep your eyes and ears at attention! That guy is hilarious!
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