Movie News, Reviews, & Reactions 2012

[Desertpuma]

There was a Black Panther in line several years ago with Wesley Snipes before he had federal tax problems. As far as I know it is something that Marvel still intends to do with or without Snipes.

As for the JLA, you can do Green Arrow and Martian Manhunter (due to Smallville) but the non-comic audience will certainly need time on Manhunter to figure things out. Green Arrow is DC's Hawkeye more or less and his backstory is relatively basic enough that you could slip him into the story like Hawkeye.

As for Green Lantern, it was almost too comic book-y and the comic book physics in space did nothing to help. If it were a more gritty story with real physics applied, then maybe it would have been better.

[Crafty_Pat]

There's a lot of magic going on with The Avengers and it's not all easy to replicate.

• For one, Whedon is about the best ensemble writer/director out there (at least in the top five), and finding someone with similar skills won't be easy.
• For another, this is the Marvel creatives making a movie about their own characters (the folks in charge of making high-end calls and cutting checks are Marvel personnel first and foremost, and they care a whole lot more about the end product as a result).
• For still another - and I personally think this is the most important of all - Marvel's characters are essentially human, with frailties and practical responsibilities. DC's characters are rarely challenged on any meaningful level, and are often either mythical in scope or alien in nature. Batman is the most human and relatable of the DC heroes, which is why I think his movies are consistently best regarded (and have consistently done the best at the box office).

Don't get me wrong - a JLA movie is possible, but anyone who thinks The Avengers happening as it has translates to an easier time making a Justice League picture isn't really considering the bigger picture. Name any fan favorite Justice League story and I bet it a) happens at least partly off-world, adding ~100 million to the budget, minimum, and b) is so huge and complicated that it would take hours and hours and hours to tell. There are of course exceptions and I'm sure you guys will remind me of several, but that's true of most JLA stories, I think, and that's what matters. These aren't easy characters to translate - they don't naturally lend themselves to the process.

P.S. Not to further rain on anyone's parade - again, I want a JLA movie as much as anyone - but remember that Spder-Man (the X-Men, Fantastic Four, Daredevil,  Ghost Rider, and Punisher (at least) are currently optioned by other studios, and those contracts are set up such that the other studios retain those rights so long as they crank out a new flick every so often (thus the new movies you're seeing roll out on a regular schedule, even when previous installments faltered). Sadly, this essentially makes cross-overs with those characters impossible for, well, the foreseeable future (and if simple economics has anything to do with it - and it does - then at least until Marvel's current reign supreme is well and truly over).

[Crafty_Pat]

In other movie news...

Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter Featurette: This flick is so ridiculously over the top it just might work. Maybe.

Also, here are the first two official Lizard stills...

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[Sletchman]

A clearer version of the first shot would be great.  Still looks pretty cool (and a big lizard on screen is hard to get right) is super blurry.

I am pretty hyped (some have said "strangely hyped") for Abe Lincoln: Vamprie Hunter.  I knew from the outset that given the directer and source material it would be pretty over the top, hopefully it doesn't fall into that valley where it's too insane to be credible, but not insane enough to be great stupid fun.

[Agent 333]

Avengers: Awesome.

Non-Spoiler reaction:
Hulk stole the show. The whole cast was phenominal, the dialog was witty and concise, the plot was always clear and never slow. Stay after the credits. There's a scene mid-way through the credits, but keep watching after that, there's another scene at the very end. It's purely for humor value though, so it's not necessary, but it is hilarious.

Spoilers!

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I was on the fence about the whole alien-invasion angle, but it worked really well. The Chitauri were never called Skrulls, so I'm ok with them not shapeshifting or looking at all like skrulls. They had the same magi-tek feel of the Asguardians, with flying chariot thingies and mecha-serpents of doom and staff weapons. There were so many little shout outs and awesome parts that it's hard to describe. And THANOS! WOO!

[Crafty_Pat]

Brad Bird (Iron Giant, Mission: Impossible 4) is working on a top-secret live-action flick for Disney. It's code-named 1952 and scripted by Damon Lindelof (Lost) and Jeff "Doc" Jensen of EW (the mag's Lost expert when the show was on the air). Disney's earmarked the film as a potential tentpole with tons of transmedia and merchandising potential.

Here's some speculation about what the film might be about.

[VisualStatic]

Avengers: Awesome.

Non-Spoiler reaction:
Hulk stole the show. The whole cast was phenominal, the dialog was witty and concise, the plot was always clear and never slow. Stay after the credits. There's a scene mid-way through the credits, but keep watching after that, there's another scene at the very end. It's purely for humor value though, so it's not necessary, but it is hilarious.

Spoilers!

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I was on the fence about the whole alien-invasion angle, but it worked really well. The Chitauri were never called Skrulls, so I'm ok with them not shapeshifting or looking at all like skrulls. They had the same magi-tek feel of the Asguardians, with flying chariot thingies and mecha-serpents of doom and staff weapons. There were so many little shout outs and awesome parts that it's hard to describe. And THANOS! WOO!

Saw Avengers today, completely agree.

And yes, this is definitely a Joss Whedon film.   Pat was right, he does ensembles so well.

[Krensky]

Avengers is worth seeing in the theater, and Pat's right. It wouldn't have worked without Lee's humanistic approach to superheroes.

It would have been nice to see Warmachine, but that's my only real quibble.

As for the aliens, it's fitting with the movie universe borrowing heavily from the Ultimates continuity.

Also, stay for both scenes during the credits. The one halfway through is the setup for the next cycle, but the one all the way at the end is just pure win.

[Mister Andersen]

The latest "viral" in-universe ad for Prometheus

[Desertpuma]

Seen that one before

[Crafty_Pat]

Good news everyone! Prometheus will be Rated R!

Uh, the other thing everyone! Prometheus is likely the final nail in ATMOM coffin.

[Sletchman]

Good news everyone! Prometheus will be Rated R!

Uh, the other thing everyone! Prometheus is likely the final nail in ATMOM coffin.

So my face went and then .

I would have originally thought Prometheus would be a reason Mountains would get made - the (likely) huge success of a film with a similar feel would have made backers very keen on duplicating that success.  Someone on that forum echoed my sentiments, but GDT's reasoning makes a great deal of sense.  I can just imagine someone going "Del Toro just ripped off Prometheus".  You know, because people are idiots...

Still, c'mon Hellboy 3...

[Krensky]

Heh, reminds me of an English Lit major I knew in college who did the school paper's movie reviews.

She panned Branagh's Much Ado as a derivative, unimaginative romantic comedy that ads nothing to the genre or art.

No, she was not joking or being ironic or anything.

[Mister Andersen]

Just saw Avengers. That thing rocks on toast.

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Oh gods, the Loki/Hulk scene was worth the price of admission alone. And that wheeze!

Thanos, huh? Hope that means there's a Grootastic Guardians movie in the works.

I'm going to call it now: Coulson was an LMD.

Can someone please fill me in on the 2nd post credit sequence? They haven't bothered to attach it to the Austrlian prints.

[Krensky]

Mr A.,

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The avengers are sitting in a semi destroyed shwarma resturant with the staff cleaning up behind them with a table covered in empty plates and trays. The all look tired, beaten up (Tony's still in his wrecked armor) and over fed. They're staring off and picking at the remains of their food.

It runs for a few minutes like that, then ends without dialog.

It sounds dumb, but it was hilarious in the theater.