Lists are fun. Lists are, at least in some cases, easy to create. In this case, the list in question for today is The Five Best Movies Adapted From Comics.

I know what you’re thinking. Why five? Well, it sorta works with the word “Flickcast” and we’re fans of alliteration around here, so that’s one reason. Of course, it also means I only need to come up with five items to fill the list, so that might have something to do with it too. I’ll never tell.

I’m also in the process of preparing a list of the worst movies adapted from comics as well because what’s a “best” list without a “worst” list, right? Right.

However, in this case, we’re talking best. And do we have a lot of great “best” ones to choose from. That’s not a question, we do.

The ones I’ve chosen are not only great examples of comic book adaptations done right, they’re also great movies too. From a clever screenplay to expert direction, exciting visuals, to compelling characters and performances, these five films deliver on many levels and also manage to demonstrate a real love for their source material.

Okay, enough setup. On with the listing of the things.

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In the 1990′s, a pair of French directors brought us two fantastical movies unlike anything I had ever seen before. Delicatessen (1991) and La cité des enfants perdus (The City of Lost Children, 1995) were wildly imaginative, twisted, and haunting, but they were also quite beautiful. Marc Caro and Jean-Pierre Jeunet packed their movies with so many visual delights that repeated viewings were necessary to absorb even a fraction of them. I forgot how much I loved those films. . . until now.

Watching Terry Gilliam’s The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus, I experienced the same awe and wonderment that those French films evoked in me. Imaginarium is like a grown up version of The Wizard of Oz, painted liberally by the storytelling brush of  the Grimm brothers. It’s dark and twisty, colorful and lovely all at the same time.

Mainstream audiences might recognize some of Gilliam’s work (Monty Python and the Holy Grail, Twelve Monkeys, Brazil, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas), but this film will probably not garner him any new fans, it is just too bizarre. The Gilliam loyalist, however, will be richly rewarded by this visual masterpiece. Before I continue, just a warning that this review contains mild spoilers.

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There’s been quite a lot of buzz around Heath Ledger’s final role in The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnasus. Not only is it the Academy Award winning actor’s swan song, but this is writer/director Terry Gilliam’s (The Adventures of Baron Munchausen) first film in four years, since The Brothers Grimm, starring Ledger and Matt Damon.

The film is about Doctor Parnassus and his wondrous traveling show. Parnassus makes a deal with the devil to live forever, and living with this curse consumes the good doctor. He then comes across Tony, in his multiple incarnations, and things get turned upside down–literally.

The film is written by both Gilliam and Charles McKeown (Ripley’s Game). The cast is rounded out by the super team of Ledger, Johnny Depp, Colin Farrel, Jude Law (all playing the same character), Christopher Plummer, Lily Cole (St. Trinians), and even Tom Waits as the devil.

Check out the first full trailer for the film after the jump. Catch The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus, and Ledger’s final performance, on Christmas Day from Sony Pictures Classics.

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The results are in and sadly, not everyone goes home with an award. But they do probably all go home in some sort of limo — or a hybrid because stars love to be politically correct. Still, even though some people had to lose, the 2009 MTV Movie Awards was a night filled with fun, celebs and lots of great clips from movies past, present and future.

Some of the highly anticipated new movies viewers got a glimpse of during the show included The Twilight Saga: New Moon, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, G.I. Joe: Rise of Cobra and Public Enemies. There were also the usual movie parodies and comedic bits featuring host Andy Samberg and a multitude of guest including Taylor Swift, Justin Timberlake, Sacha Baron Cohen as Bruno and a rather angry Eminem who proved he has no sense of humor by storming off the stage after a close encounter with a face down Bruno who had landed in his lap.

Twilight and its cast were the big winners, taking home 5 awards, with High School Musical 3: Senior Year and its stars in second with 2. Finally, Heath Ledger posthumously won the award for ‘Best Villain’ for his performance in The Dark Knight. Not a surprise but still, a fitting final tribute to an actor, and a human being, who died far too young.

See a list of all the big winners after the break:

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