Tags: Movies
By Ricardo Chucky and courtesy of Comics Alliance.
I think it’s safe to say that 2011 is the year of the comic book movie. For several years now, I’ve kept a running tab of the best and worst superhero comic book movies (and the best zombie ones, too) on a separate page—but it’s high time for an update. Hence, this post . . . Which will be reprinted on that page for posterity.
The rules:
(1) It has to be a movie. DVD movies are okay, but TV shows and TV movies don’t qualify. Maybe, if you all are interested, I’ll make a list of those one day, too.
(2) It has to be based on an English-language comic book—because I can’t read comics in any other language—or be about superheroes. Both is even better.
(3) I have to have actually seen it. If your favorite or least-fave isn’t on here, drop me a comment. I’ll do my homework.
So, send me your votes for up to 10 films for the best comic book movies of all time! You can drop a comment, or email me with your votes. Results won’t be tallied until mid-August, so you’ve got lots of time to think about it!
Tags: Comic books, Movies
I know I just did one, but with the release of new Justice League pictures, and information about the Batman reboot and upcoming sequels to GI Joe and R.E.D., I couldn’t wait for a regular bi-weekly update . . . Also, I want to say that the critics who said Transformers 3 was good and better than the first . . . Were wrong.
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Tags: Comic books, Filthy Muties, Flash, Green Lantern, Movies, Spider-Man, Superman, The Caped Crusader, Thor
As we approach the June 3 release date of X-Men First Class, the movie, it might be worth going over a few facts. First of all, the “First Class” of X-Men isn’t really the first class. Comic fans know that the first five were Beast, Cyclops, Marvel 
Girl (Phoenix/Jean Grey in the X-Men film trilogy), Iceman and Angel. The terrific X-Men First Class comic books, written by Jeff Parker, were about that team.
For the film, we’ll see a few faces that will be familiar to those who know X-Men only from the three films: the team will be led by a pre-doctorate Professor X, and will include Beast—who we will see both pre- and post-blue hair, Magneto, and Mystique. However, the roster will also include some pretty esoteric folks. Who, you ask?
Angel. Rather than use the Angel character from X3, the film picked out Grant Morrison’s insect-winged character, who also goes by the name “Tempest” because she can create ice/fire blasts. The weather powers won’t be part of the movie, as I understand it—she’ll just have her insect powers, which include regurgitating acid. She’s a pretty minor mutant in the X-world—I’m surprised she’s in the movie.
Azazel. Named after a “real” mythical demon, Azazel is Nightcrawler’s daddy. It’s not clear whether he’ll serve that role in the film, but since his powers are basically the same it will be hard to distance the character from the Nightcrawler character in the first trilogy (that actually takes place after XM:FC–like Star Wars). Plus, he’s got that pointy tail. Of course, Mystique is Nightcrawler’s mommy, so that whole thing might be hard to reconcile in this film. This is another pretty esoteric choice–although he’s somewhat more mainstream than Angel Salvadore by virtue of his progeny. It’s weird–were the film’s creators trying to reward nerds, or alienate audiences with a passing familiarity with X-Men? It’s very hard to tell why they chose these particular mutants….
Banshee. Banshee’s unfortunate “real name” is Sean Cassidy. But he first appeared way, way back in 1967, so it’s not like Roy Thomas got the name from the former Hardy Boy/teen 
heartthrob. His power is a sonic scream. Kinda like Black Canary, only he can fly and isn’t as easy on the eyes. In the film version, this may be adapted to be sonic blasts—it’s unclear that he’ll actually be screaming for the entire movie. That would, after all, be very annoying. Banshee is far and away the best known and most used of the lesser-knowns who make up the cast. Your girlfriend might even have heard of him.
Darwin. Darwin got his start in X-Men: Deadly Genesis—Ed Brubaker’s first major work for Marvel Comics—and has the ability to quickly adapt to any situation. It’s a tremendously cool power, and he’s been a great contributor to Peter David’s wonderfully underread and underrated X-Factor series. Darwin is the guy I’m personally most interested in seeing on the big screen.
Emma Frost. Known as the world’s hottest comic book character, Emma can turn diamond hard (and can make geeks hard, too) and has psychic powers. She’s also Scott “Cyclops” Summers’ girlfriend, at least in the comic books. Doubt they’ll include that little wrinkle in the 
movie, though.
Havoc. Cyclops’ bro. But apparently he won’t be a sibling in the movie. Anyway, he can shoot plasma blasts. That’s pretty much all you need to know.
Riptide. Riptide is a Chris Claremont/John Romita Jr. creation who is pretty similar to Red Tornado. He has wind power—but not break-wind power. That would be cool, wouldn’t it? Like Angel, Riptide’s not a major character in the comic books—I don’t know why they’re picking him over so many other, better-known and cooler options (like Madrox or Polaris or Dazzler or Longshot (now, that would have been awesome)). 
Sebastian Shaw. Head of the Hellfire Club in the comics, he’s a huge guy who can absorb energy and throw it back at you. So if Hulk hits Shaw, Shaw hits back with the same force, basically.
There you have it! With this info, you should be able to impress any non-geeks you find at the theater. So, if it’s possible to get laid at a superhero movie, you’ve got a bit of a leg up. Thank me later.
The movie is coming on June 3.
Tags: Comic books, Filthy Muties, Movies
‘Cause I’ll be watching movies for the whole summer . . . Here’s where you will find me . . .
May 6. Thor. Starting the season off right. But not the 3D version.
May 14. Hobo With A Shotgun. Rutger Hauer in some bloody B-Movie badass nonsense. In terms of titles, this is better than Snakes on a Plane. It’s released on May 6, but if it lasts a week, I’ll be here!
May 21. Priest. If the reviews aren’t horrible, I’ll see it in its second week of release.
May 27. Hangover 2.
Summary: One a weekend. That’s manageable.
June 4. X-Men: First Class.
June 11. This Saturday, I’m staying in to watch Green Lantern: Emerald Nights on DVD. DC toons are pretty damn good.
June 12. The Chameleon. ‘Cause Sundays are a good time to see a reader, and this French film looks like it could be awesome. And I’m a guy who typically avoids French movies.
June 18. Super 8. No, I didn’t forget about it when it opened last Friday. I just didn’t want to fight the crowds last week.
June 19. Green Lantern. Looks like my kids’ll be seeing two movies this weekend.
June 25. If it’s still around, I might try to catch art-house flick Beautiful Boy, a drama about a Columbine-type shooting told from the p.o.v. of the parents of the shooter, or B-action/horror flick Trollhunter if it doesn’t get completely wrecked in the reviews.
Summary: Getting a little crowded, but even if miss a couple of these I’ll be fine.
July 2. Transformers 3. I can’t believe they scared Captain America off of Independence Day. Such a shame.
July 9. Horrible Bosses. Looks hilarious.
July 16. Salvation Boulevard. A former Deadhead/now ardent Christian tries to escape his followers. It’s directed by George 
Ratliff, who did a great doc called “Hell House” about an antiabortion haunted house program.
July 23. Captain America! If you even wondered about this, you’re nuts. My personal most anticipated movie of the summer.
July 30. Cowboys and Aliens. I won’t fight the lines on Friday night, but if there’s a 7AM show, I’m there.
July 31. The Guard. I just love Don Cheadle. Or, I may be taken to The Smurfs, depending on my boys’ level of interest.
Summary: Now it’s getting crowded. I also may want to see Another Earth, The Perfect Host, Beats, Rhymes & Life . . . Too much to see!
August 5. The Change-Up. Freaky Friday for grown-ups. Looks funny.
August 6. Rise of the Planet of the Apes.
August 12. 30 Minutes of Less. A black comedy that looks like it could be funny–by the director and one of the stars of Zombieland.
August 13. Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark. It’s Guillermo del Toro, for goodness sake.
August 20. I might see Fright Night, if the reviews are decent. But I can pretty much guarantee I’ll have zero interest in the Conan reboot.
August 26. Believe it or not, nothing. A free weekend! Maybe I’ll spend time with my family!
August 31. The Debt. Jews with guns! And one of them is Helen Mirren!
And then it’s nearly September, and time for “serious” movies. Except of course for the prequel to The Thing. I’ll be all over that.
Tags: Movies
Dudes–I’m sorry. Such regrets. I haven’t been good about keeping up with my news posts. Job has been off-the-hook busy. Anyhow, it’s been a long time, so some of this may be old news, but I’m sure you’ll find some surprises. After all, the Superman movie is getting cast fast-and-furious–and it looks like the hottest cougar in Hollywood will be playing his mom! Oh, and then of course there’s the new X-Men cartoon. That’s right.
Hit the break.
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Tags: Comic books, Filthy Muties, Garth Freakin Ennis, Movies, Spider-Man, Superman, The Avengers
Howard Stern?! Really?! Yes! Hit the break! But in the meantime, check out this amazing cover for this year’s Marvel event, “Fear Itself.”
Tags: Captain America, Comic books, Fantastic 4, Filthy Muties, Movies, Television, The Avengers, Thor
