Review: GREEN LANTERN

Green Lantern is a simplistic Saturday morning cartoon with a 200 million dollar budget and lots… I mean lots... of flashy CGI. I enjoyed it for all its silliness; it is the perfect movie to go shut down your brain at for about two hours. But you really, really have to try and shut it down fully, because Green Latern has the weakest, most hole riddled, plot of any movie I have seen this summer, including Transformers Dark or The Moon. Otherwise you might end up comparing the Green Lantern Corps to some fascist paramilitary organization.

Can the Summer Superhero craze be coming to an end?

            Is the end of the superhero craze that has plagued the box office for the last decade approaching? It may be so. Last weekend Green Lantern became the second superhero movie to under-perform at the box office during its opening weekend. We still have Captain America to go but if it stumbles it is likely studios will begin to loose their affinity for what has been their cash cow of choice. This brings up two questions: what will happen to the series of reboots, sequels, prequels, and rehashes that Marvel and Warner were allegedly planning to make? And if the superhero is indeed coming to an end what will replace it?

Review: THOR

            One of the biggest problems with The Hulk movies has been that it is really hard to take a big green dude with purple shorts seriously. Making a movie about a hammer-wielding Norse god who is prone to shouting “I AM THOR! THE THUNDER GOD!” and taking it seriously is perhaps even a bigger challenge. But unlike the Hulk movies, the filmmakers chose to embrace the absurdity of the movie’s premise and play along. The result is a movie filled with Viking pleasing, bashing fun that lacks the raping part of “raping and pillaging” in order to keep it PG-13. In other words, a brilliant kick off for this summer’s line of blockbusters.

 

Review: SUPER

             I can safely say I was not expecting Super to play the way it did. This is a sick, demented movie that could have only been conceived by the man who brought us PG Porn. And like PG Porn, this movie pulls the rug right under your feet in order to create a deranged commentary on the genre it is parodying.  This is not your little brother’s superhero movie, nor your parent’s superhero movie; to be honest this isn’t really a superhero movie. It has more in common with Hitchock’s Psycho than it does with Superman. This could be Batman Begins if Bruce Wayne lived on minimum wage in Arkansas. But could we really call that a superhero movie?

On Reboots and Why Warner/DC Should Not Try to Copy Marvel.

            Earlier this week it was confirmed in the LA Times that THE DARK KNIGHT RISES will be the final chapter in Nolan’s adaptation of the Batman story. I can understand why many fans are very displeased with this decision; Nolan’s vision of Batman is so epic we all want more of it. However there are a few advantages to this. First and foremost, The Dark Knight was so overwhelmingly awesome that there is no way any subsequent sequel will ever meet expectations. It might still be really good, but it won’t be The Dark Knight. Secondly it is the first time a definitive end has been announced for any superhero helmed by a single director, so it is going to be very interesting seeing some closure. Yes, Raimi’s Spiderman had an ending and he helmed all three. But, lets face it, those were not Raimi films in the same sense the Dark Knight is a Nolan film and there had been talks of making a fourth fifth and sixth installment with or without Raimi afterwards. Ultimately Marvel chose to reboot the Spiderman franchise so it can tie it to its new Avengers assembly of movies. Warner/DC has announced its intentions to reboot the Batman franchise after The Dark Knight Rises so it can tie it in to a series of films that will lead to a Justice League movie in a few years. Monkey see monkey do.

New Thor Trailer Surfaces

The first Thor trailer actually raised my hopes that Marvel was going to deliver another good pre-Avengers installment. At the very least it would be the one decent superhero flick this summer, since Green Latern looks like shit and we really don't need another X Men after X3 and Wolverine. But alas a new trailer has surfaced and this no longer seems as hopeful. I'll let you guys watch and have your say:

New Spidey Movie Officially Baptized

A few weeks ago we got the first glimpse of the new Spiderman costume Andrew Garfield will be sporting in the reboot. That pic gave us a hint of what Garfield would look like as Peter Parker but the full costume was not revealed; it was missing the mask and the web-slingers. The full costume was revealed today as well as the official title of the film. Lo and behold the new Spiderman movie's official title will be:

The Amazing Spiderman.

Studios must think we are stupid if they believe that to be news. Unlike real news, everyone saw this coming. The new costume is much more interesting. Here is a pic of what Spidey will look like in the reboot:

Thankfully the studio decided to drop the huge bug eyes of the design of Ultimate Spiderman. That would have looked ridiculous; I have to say web-slinger aside I like this costume better than the classically inspired one of the Raimi films. It still doesn't look like something a high-schooler would be able to make, but I would take someone wearing this costume much more seriously than someone in tight red spandex.

What do you think?

The First Avenger Trailer Surfaces

The Trailer for Marvel's next Superhero flick, Captain America the First Avenger, surfaces.



At least it looks better than The Green Lantern, although expectations for that one are not being set anywhere near what one can call high. But I don't know; it fails to surprise me in the way the Thor trailer did. Certainly looking forward much more for that one.

Review: THE GREEN HORNET

The Green Hornet is an amalgamation of two completely different movies forcefully meshed into each other to create a whole new monster. To paraphrase a quote from Goldeberg’s and Rogen’s previous film:

This is like if that superhero Tony Stark shit met that Chinese Kong Fu Chop Suey I had - and they had a baby. And then, meanwhile, that crazy Pineapple Express stuff we wrote two years ago and that guy from Inglourious Basterds met and had a baby. And by some miracle, those two babies met and fucked - this would the shit that they birthed.

Review: IRON MAN 2

Like its predecessor, Iron Man 2 delivers the finest form of entertainment within the confines of a very limiting genre. The first Iron Man was a strict superhero origin story that managed to stand out above the rest thanks to Robert Downey Jr.’s quirky acting. This time Iron Man 2 presents the superhero sequel formula with unprecedented elegance.

Recapping Marvel's Summer 'Block Busters'

Summer is over, and everyone is back to school and back to work (even though business does not take a summer break), so I think a short re-cap of the MARVEL films that were anticipated should be discussed and see if they live up to what they we're expected to be.



IRON MAN

Robert Downey Jr. plays the newest Marvel Comics hero to hit the big screen - IRON MAN. Downey Jr. gives a fantastic performance as the new hero, surprising many, and setting a new standard for the Marvel films. Also, this film is the first film produces entirely by the new Marvel Studios.

The plot was nicely handled, and the change of Jarvis from a human to a robot system was well received. Jeff Bridges played a good villain who had reason for his motives, and Gwenyth Paltrow and Downey Jr. had fantastic chemistry that made the man and woman relationship fun and believable, with out the tacky standard of 'love story'. Samuel L Jackson after the credits was a good nod to the character of Nick Fury, and indeed a nice touch.

Even so... the Video Game was terrible, and one of the worst that has been made in years.

But- Did IRON MAN live up to its expectations? ABSOLUTELY


The Incredible Hulk



A few years ago, Ang Lee directed a film called 'HULK' starring Eric Bana, that wasn't exactly a hit. It went far too deep into an existential journey of family reconciliation, loss, acceptance, and hulk dogs. But - just because that one wasn't a hit, does not mean that this one is awesome by default.

Here are the problems with it. The Hulk is never running away from the action, as the Hulk is normally supposed to do. He has no idea who this villain is, why he is fighting him or if he should be. Also, the action was weak, his head was too small, and there was an absurdly weak love story. One fantastic shot, however, was of him and Liv Tyler sitting on some rocks in the canyon in the rain at night. That was good filmmaking. However, the rest is just a cat and mouse, pointless chase that ends with a lame and weak outcome.

Norton did a good job with his performance as Bruce Banner/ Hulk, and Tim Roth did a nice job as well, it's nice to see him on the big screen again. However it is a shame that most story and character development were glazed over. But- apparently 70 minutes of footage were cut, and I will certainly re-judge the movie when I have a chance to check out the DVD and see it in what should be its fullest form.

Even so... The Video Game was fantastic. Lots of fun, roaming the cities in a free-form world, doing things the Hulk does that are fun in games but don't satisfy at all in movie form.

But - Did THE INCREDIBLE HULK live up to its expectations? NOT AT ALL




With a reboot of 'The Punisher' franchise coming soon, as well as sequels to most previous Marvel films, and more avengers movies on the way, it looks like Marvel has a chance to make some more good things on the grill. Lets hope they don't get spoiled with the success of Iron Man and think anything they do is golden. Movies take work to make them good. Even if you already wrote the storyboard 50 years ago.

Review: HANCOCK

Hancock is the summer Superhero movie that we all have been waiting for. Wait? What? Oh sorry... I meant Dark Knight... which will easily shadow Hancock as soon as it comes out and send it to the realm of Will Smith movies everyone has forgotten about... like MIB II and Sharktale. However... Hancock isn't a bad bad idea... its just a bunch of good ideas that was made into a bad film. Kind of like a collage that a 5 year old makes using classic magazine images.

Hancock tells the story of John Hancock (Will Smith) (a Superhero who's origins are never revealed). However, (surprise, surprise) Hancock is not your average Superhero. He does his job because he feels obligated, but like a burned out social worker, he does not care at all about how his actions affects everyone else. He has pending lawsuits and fines, has outstanding arrest warrants, and above all, he is an alcoholic. It is soon revealed that while Hancock cannot be penetrated by bullets, his feelings are not so strong. So he wanders around depressed and teary-eyed, until one day he saves the life of Ray Embry (Jason Bateman) a Public Relations man, who is looking for a new project... ie. Hancock.

Hancock is convinced to head off to prison to reform his image, messing up two guys who challenge him on the prison yard (apparently forgetting he was the superhero who put them in there). After some depressing basketball, a visit from Embry's wife, Mary (Charlize Theron), and several heads stuffed up other peoples bums, the city realizes that it needs Hancock the superhero, and he sets out to do what he does best... kickin' other peoples asses.

As far as acting goes, Will Smith is superb. You easily connect with Hancock's emotions, and feel where he is coming from right off the bat. In certain scenes, Smith does seem to be as old as his character, and this is one of his best. Jason Bateman essentially reprises his character from "Arrested Development", Michael Bluth, in trying to be the guy that holds his family and friends together. While Bateman is a good actor, this is a character who brings nothing new to the genre and we have all seen before.

Charlize Theron looks very attractive in this movie... but thats more or less it. Her character is far too over dramatic, and from the moment she 'meets' Hancock, you know something is up. Also, once it is revealed that something is indeed going on there, you wonder how you or anyone else never noticed it before. Each time Hancock walks in, the camera zooms in on her and she gasps, almost as in saying to the viewer "Hey you, you look dumb so let me tell you multiple times that a twist is eventually coming."

After all two or three twists come, the movie dramatically improves. The climax of the film is beautifully shot and a thing of total art, and Superhero drama in the best from. However is is disappointing that the ending of the film is when it finally gets good. Peter Berg (The Director) makes you feel as if you are watching three different movies that were cut together. Its almost as if someone edited together "Transformers," "The Notebook, and the non action parts of "Spiderman 3". The whole movie is disjointed throughout, and they never explain any of the origins or back-story before the film takes place, which is very annoying and confusing.

By far the best scene comes at the end of the film (mid credits) when Hancock goes to a bank robbery... and... well I won't spoil that part for you. If you do happen to head over to the theater to see the film... this is easily the best part. Too bad it didn't come sooner in the movie.

Review: IRON MAN

Lets have a quick chat about Iron Man, eh?

To take a moderatly unknown superhero and create a new franchise is a grand idea that should be tried more often. Iron Man is exactly that. By taking a superhero that everyone and their mothers do not know all about, creates the chance for a story that can thrill and achieve great heights with out everyone whining that it does not flawlessly follow the comic book story arch.