Kick-Ass wasn't a box-office sensation, but it may have helped superhero films break out of their same old boring mold, the Guardian suggests. Here are eight other superhero films that Hollywood can study, which helped avoid the same old cliches.

Hollywood often does such a bad job translating comic books to film, it's better to start from scratch. When movies create their own original superheroes, they can have the cool comic booky trappings, without the need to include/ignore/defile decades of print history. If it works (The Incredibles) you get something…

Must-see movies are futuristic classics that shouldn't be missed. Of course, not every must-see is perfect. That's why we've rated them 1-5 on the patented "crunchy goodness" scale. Written by James Rocchi.

Title: Darkman
Date: 1990

Vitals: A brilliant scientist (Liam Neeson) runs afoul of a crime lord — and, after an …