Karry Best movie of this year hands down!

Stometer Save your money for something good and enjoyable

Crwthod A lot more amusing than I thought it would be.

Mandeep Tyson The acting in this movie is really good.

wes-connors High School history teacher, and unapologetic fanboy, Mark Hamill (as Don Swan) is tapped to serve as technical adviser for a film adapting the adventures of his favorite super-hero, "Commander Courage". The film producers decide it would financially rewarding for a documentary to accompany the film, and DVD. So, Hamill is followed around, showing his love for "Commander Courage" (and bare-legged sidekick "Liberty Lad"), interviewing comic strip celebrities (like the Marvelous Stan Lee), and inadvertently causing trouble for the movie studio.Don't search your "Golden Age" comic book collection for any evidence of "Commander Courage". The "Wow Comics" heroes "Mr. Scarlett (& Pinky)" and "Commando Yank" look promising, but the super-hero is more (or less) a composite creation. His origin is like a "Big Bang" version of Fawcett's "Captain Marvel". As with "real" comic heroes, "Commander Courage (and Liberty Lad")" undergo a steroids 'n' silicone reboot. The "Dark Age" version is the movie studio's interest, much to Hamill's chagrin.Mr. Hamill's film satirically illustrates what it attempts; but, its specialized focus does not, unfortunately, advance the idea that comic books are an important art form. Instead, the film will probably confirm an unbeliever's view of comic book aficionados as arrestedly developed. "Comic Book: The Movie" is funnier as a satire on Hollywood studio types. While obviously low budget, it is an enjoyable movie.Cameraman Jess Harnell (as Ricky) is the film's greatest asset. Mr. Harnell smoothly makes every one of his lines, both scripted and improvised, work. Harnell is Hamill's indispensable, and sometimes hilarious, sidekick (and, he does a fantastic Beatles impression). Billy West (as Leo Matuzik) has some Keatonesque deadpan moments. Discovered in "a musical version of 'Under the Yum Yum Tree'", Daran Norris (as Bruce Easily) essays one of the better "comic" characterizations. And, Jonathan Winters and Maggie Thompson show how to give a great "cameo" performance. Do NOT skip viewing the full version of Hamill's historically revelatory interview with Hugh Hefner, on disc two.Finally, Matt Kenny, the boy receiving a "Shazam!" toy from Hamill, is the film's biggest super-hero. He REALLY knowing his "Marvel Family" characters. ****** Comic Book: The Movie (2004) Mark Hamill ~ Mark Hamill, Jess Harnell, Billy West

klchu I give the movie itself 6 stars and the DVD extras 8 stars. This movie has its heart in the right place and does assemble some of the best voice talent around. It's great to see these people in front of the camera. I only wish that they had added some writers into the mix. This movie is mostly ad-libbed in the style of "Spinal Tap" and other Christopher Guest movies so some of the jokes work, and others don't. Since everyone is trying to be "realistic" almost all of the jokes are subtle so the inattentive viewer is likely to miss them.I found that the DVD extras are the best part of this DVD. There are two disks, so there are a lot of extras. There are lots of helpful bios in case you missed some of the many cameos of industry insiders and other "masked" performers. The deleted scenes are actually pretty good (for deleted scenes). The best part is the real convention panel with all of the talent on stage telling stories and doing voices.Bottom line, if you love comics and animation, and even video games, then see this movie just to learn about the talent. Use IMDb to see what some of these people have done and you will be amazed. If you aren't into comics then this movie might be interesting to you just to learn about a different culture.

movieman_kev Mark Hammill plays Donald Swan, an elderly comic nerd who attends a con cause he loves Commender Courage (a made-up creation for the movie). If Hamill just made a straight up documentary, this film wouldn't be half as bad. As it is, the jokes are stale, and the guest stars including Kevin Smith, Bruce Campbell, Ray Harryhausen, Stan Lee, and others are pretty much wasted. Which is a damn shame, well not so much in the case of Kevin Smith as he's pretty much a one-trick pony (as evidence of him trying to get away for said one-trick and making a movie that bombed horribly). The extra "behind the voices" featurette on the second disc is better because it's REAL (why the hell did Miramax see fit to give this sad movie a deluxe set boggles the mind, by the way). Mr. Hammill says this move is a 'love letter to the fans', proving the saying "you only hurt the one's you love" all the more apt.My Grade: D+ DVD Extras: Disc 1) List of Cameos; Art gallery; 13 deleted scenes; Cast and crew bios; Trailers for "Spy Kids 3D" and "My Boss's Daughter" Disc 2) "Behind the Voices" 51-minute panel; Faux Extended Interviews with Kevin Smith, Stan Lee, Bruce Campbell, Hugh Hefner, Mark Evanier; Scott Shaw, Billy Mumy, Peter David, and Paul Dini; and some other stuff

poeticstickman I heard a promo for this movie on the howard stern show and figured I'd give it a try. I hated it. Watching movies like this make me value the Guest movies (Waiting for Guffman, A Mighty Wind, and Best and Show) and the grand master of them all, Spinal Tap, but this movie is a poser, and unwatchable. Not one character is believable. In these documentary style films the characters have to be believable, and none of the characters are close to feeling real. If you want to watch a movie you may not have seen in this genre but want to see a funny one with good characters, check out Fubar. That's a good one, funny, memorable, and believable.