Trailer Terrors: Steel (1997)

Heroes don't come any bigger.

Before Batman "began" his crusade against crime or Superman "returned" to save Earth from villainy there was one superhero who was keeping in real. His name was Steel and, as portrayed by pro athlete Shaquille O'Neal, he was the baddest mofo since Shaft strolled the streets of Harlem back in 1971... except of course until it came to his own grandmother.

Truth be told, the film isn't actually half bad when compared to other cinematic superheroes of the time which included the Bradford May incarnation of Darkman, Billy Zane as The Phantom (1996) or even the dark knight himself in Tim Burton's second franchise film Batman Returns (1992). Granted, its not Academy Awards material that the director and actors are working with here, but no one can deny that its a modest improvement compared to the ill-fated O'Neal vehicle Kazaam! (1996).

There were hi-tech gangsters roaming the streets, a laser-wielding wheelchair and even Judd Nelson in the role of evil mastermind Nathaniel Burke. It was, of course, based on the DC comic of the same name which itself was a Superman spin-off, but actually took a few creative liberties with his appearance and supporting cast and despite negative box office returns, the film succeeds in providing the same cheesy superheroics that many fans came to love about Super-Friends or He-Man. An added bonus? Shaq doesn't have a single rap in the entire film.

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