As Man of Steel Sequel Gets Crowded, Let’s Hope There’s Room for a Sense of Humor

With confirmation of only that Batman (Ben Affleck) and Wonder Woman (Gal Gadot) will appear, the Man of Steel sequel has been ripe for speculation, with everyone from Nightwing to Martian Manhunter rumored to make an appearance. Will this still untitled Super-sequel be a backdoor Justice League movie, or will it simply be the DC Trinity as a set-up, with the rest of the League being primed for future solo or team movies (via post-credits teasers). In addition to those, I've heard rumors of Flash, Aquaman, Green Lantern and Doomsday. They can’t all be showing up for this film, can they?

One thing we do know for sure is the tone established by Zack Snyder and David Goyer, both back for the follow-up. With Man of Steel set as the opening salvo in a shared DC cinematic universe, we can expect some major differences from the Marvel universe which takes a more light-hearted approach. There was not an ounce of humor in Man of Steel and I don’t see how the addition of the Dark Knight Detective and a warrior Amazon are going to change that tone very much.

Presumably the movie will pick up on the fallout from the invasion of Zod and Battle in Metropolis (not to mention Smallville), where Superman may have saved the day, but not without a lot of collateral damage, and a fatality to his name. Repercussions are sure to follow and leading the charge are likely to be Lex Luthor (currently rumored to be Joaquin Phoenix) and fellow wealthy philanthropist Bruce Wayne. The movie could use some lightening up, but I think we've all seen enough of a movie Luthor played for laughs, so that isn't the route to go either. Maybe the secret identities of the world’s finest heroes can work in some humor as they play off of each other in their “disguises.’

While my initial response to Superman killing Zod and the massive destruction was disappointment, I recognize the storytelling possibilities it provides and visually, the movie looked terrific. We asked for a Superman that would actually hit someone, and boy did we get that. I can only hope that the sequel will indeed face the climactic actions head on and hold him accountable. You don’t destroy a city and kill your enemy without there being some push back from the government, concerned citizens or fellow “do gooders” This movie should be Superman’s redemption and emergence as a leader, a real super-hero. He still has to earn trust. I hope that having Batman and Wonder Woman join him will help set that up.

The Dark Knight trilogy did very well by playing it very serious (with occasional moments of levity) and I expect that the new DC movies will follow a similar formula. I just hope the movie aren't too much like video games that is just confrontation after confrontation with nary a laugh to be found.  I do hope Nightwing shows up, because having a Robin around is sure to brighten things up a bit. Even if he’s rebelling against Batman.

Yes, this is actually happening

Beatles' "Yellow Submarine" to be Remade in 3D Animation

On August 19, Disney announced it was teaming with director Robert Zemeckis to remake the Beatles’ 1968 animated classic, Yellow Submarine in the same 3D animation style Zemeckis is using in the upcoming A Christmas Carol, which stars animated versions of Jim Carrey in all of the major roles. Zemeckis’ submarine will use 16 Beatles’ songs.


From Variety:

Disney and Robert Zemeckis are looking to catch the wave of Beatlemania, floating a new 3-D "Yellow Submarine" for the bigscreen, with merchandising in tow and prospects for spinning off both a Broadway musical and a Cirque du Soleil stage production.

The original version of the film was animated in a psychedelic style (not dissimilar to Terry Gilliam animations in Monty Python’s Flying Circus about a year later) and featured several Beatles songs, including “Sgt. Peppers’ Lonely Hearts Club Band" and "All You Need is Love". The Beatles did not do their own voices in the film and their only active participation was in the live-action closing scene.

This is the latest example of the Beatles seeming resurgence in pop culture that began with “Love” the Vegas Cirque De Soleil production (and soundtrack album) based on remixes and remastered Beatles songs and continues next month with the release of Beatles: Rock Band video game and the entire remastered Beatles catalogue.

The original Yellow Submarine movie is both of its time and a timeless classic, melding of music and visuals. Hopefully, the Zemeckis version, planned for a 2012 release, will be a celebration and tribute to the original rather than solely a crass remake, but if gets more people to experience the music of the Beatles, then it can’t be all bad, can it?

My Favorite Scene: Some Like it Hot

At about an hour and a half into the two-hour Some Like it Hot, the scene opens with Jerry (Jack Lemmon) dressed as ‘Daphne” – wig, dress, jewelry, make-up – lying on the bed, humming the tango and shaking maracas above his head, smiling at the events of his evening. Joe (Tony Curtis) climbs in the window, returning from his own escapade:

“Hi Jerry, everything under control?”
“Have I got things to tell you!”
“What happened?”
“I’m engaged!”
“Congratulations! Who’s the lucky girl?”
“I am!”

This exchange sets the tone for scene as Jerry, who up to this point had trouble playing along with the evening’s scheme (his occupying an elderly millionaire by accepting a date with him so Joe can woo a girl on the millionaire’s yacht he pretended was his own), fully embraces his role. That is why, for almost the entire scene, from when he is alone at the beginning until after Joe enters the room, he remains in “costume.” He only removes his wig when Joe tells him to remind himself “you’re a boy, you’re a boy” (a call back to a scene earlier in the movie when Joe has to remind Jerry “you’re a girl, you’re a girl” when they are surrounded women parading around in their underwear early into their masquerade).

Throughout the scene, Jerry cites all the clichés of a woman about to be married – “Do you think he’s too old for me?”, marrying him for “security,” mulling over honeymoon locations, wondering what his fiancé’s mother will think. After all, it’s his “last chance to marry a millionaire.”

Joe insists to Jerry that he has to call off the engagement/marriage. “There are laws, conventions, it’s just not being done!” but Jerry says he will go through it only until after the honeymoon, when he will ask for a divorce and “keep getting those alimony checks every month!” This represents the first time we see Jerry initiate his own money-making scheme, which are usually spearheaded by Joe. This time, however, Joe thinks, the idea is too far out – until Jerry shows Joe his engagement presents, a diamond bracelet. “Hey these are real diamonds!” Of course they’re real! Do you think my fiancé’s a bum?” Now, Joe recognizes the possibilities. When Jerry finally realizes he’ll have to call of the engagement and return the bracelet, Joe, replies “Now, Jerry, let’s not be hasty.” Joe’s true nature shines through.

In only about three minutes, attitudes, plans and schemes evolve, with a role reversal that unravels, as Jerry can’t maintain the deception and Joe is motivated by easy money. This, however, is the last scene where we see Joe behave in this way, as reality closes in and he also realizes the emotional damage his masquerade has caused. His change of heart is illustrated by what he ultimately does with that diamond bracelet (not that it was his to do anything with, but why quibble?). As such, this scene sets the stage for the final act of this brilliantly written, directed and acted classic with one of the best closing lines in movie history: “Nobody’s perfect.”

Who Watches the Watchmen?

Earlier this week, an expanded trailer for Watchmen debuted during Spike TV's Scream Awards, and showed up online shortly thereafter in regular and HD versions (in HD, you can see Dr. Manhattan's junk about 19 seconds in when he and the Silk Spectre appear on the moon). Coinciding with the new trailer was the release of this new poster featuring an image from the end of the trailer and the beginning of the book, the event that kicks off the story.

Written by Alan Moore and illustrated by Dave Gibbons, Watchmen was published by DC Comics in 12 monthly installments in 1986, and is considered the greatest graphic novel ever by most critics, and in fact is on Time's list of Top 100 Novels. Many, including Alan Moore, who hates all adaptations of his work, consider the book unfilmable, but based on the trailer and other images that have been released so far, it seems pretty close. Anticipation has been building since the release of the first trailer in front of The Dark Knight over the summer. Sales of the book have exploded since then, and this new footage will likely sell even more. The book is prominently displayed in all bookstores -- not just comic shops, so awareness is pretty high.

Barring complications due to the lawsuit between Fox and Warner Bros. over the movie, Watchmen opens in theatres on March 6, 2009.

A Wascally Wabbit of a Movie

Let me talk about an awesome little movie called Shoot ‘Em Up.

Starring Clive Owen and Paul Giamatti, this 2007 movie has no aspirations except to entertain action fans for under 90 minutes. Full of mindless sex and violence (and in one incredible scene, both at the same time), not to mention Bugs Bunny references, this movie is funny, violent and completely nonsensical – in the best way possible.

It’s like Clive Owen decided he had a great time doing Sin City and wanted to do something similar without so much green screen, and Paul Giamatti figured it was time he played an over-the-top bad guy after being an indie darling for the past few years.

Just as you think it’s winding down as it pays obligatory attention to the "plot," another scene that is so outrageous – to an hard rock soundtrack, of course – explodes that you can’t help laughing at. And then more after that. Until the very end. Did I mention it’s under 90 minutes?

It’s bloody, and it’s ridiculous and you’ll never look at carrots the same way after you watch this, but you’ll laugh your ass off at the sheer audacity of this great silliness. Trust me, watch this one.

How I Spent My Summer Vacation (Part 1)

June 30? My last post was over two months ago?! Apparently I decided to take the summer off from blogging, despite all kinds of "stuff" happening tailor-made for this place. But, once I started missing a few things, it got harder to catch up. And with such a gap, I started to feel a little overwhelmed about everything I "should be" covering, and that kept me away even longer. So finally, I realized/decided by the end of July, well, I’m taking the summer off.

Now, I want to wipe the slate clean and start fresh for the fall, so I’m going to get all of this out of my system with a series of summarizing posts. Then, we can begin again with hopefully a little more regularity.

The biggest miss of course was my review of The Dark Knight. If you scroll down this page, I spent almost a year blogging about my anticipation for this release. Then on July 18, it finally comes out and…nothing, even though I saw it twice (and still hope to catch it in IMAX). I reviewed Iron Man back in May , but skipped reviews of the other big summer movies I saw – Indiana Jones, The Incredible Hulk and … The Dark Knight.

One of the reasons I think I skipped it was because I didn’t know what to write. I LOVED the movie. There are only so many ways I can write "awesome". And I had read so much about the movie before and after its release, it was hard not to be influenced by some of what I had read. Heath Ledger’s Joker was inspired and Aaron Eckhart’s Harvey Dent was mostly great, though the resolution seemed a little… rushed, despite the movie’s length. Returning cast Bale, Oldman, Freeman and Caine built on their strong showing from Batman Begins with even meatier performances. Nolan blended drama, action and humor to create a fantastic, very dark sequel. It immediately leaps to the top of the list of the best comic book movie, though it’s followed pretty closely by Iron Man, as I wrote earlier.

The Incredible Hulk was a fun movie too. Casting aside the Ang Lee version from 2003, this Edward Norton-led version owed a lot to the TV show and the comics. It provided what we were looking for the first time – lots of action, with some major fight scenes against the military and the Abomination, and featured the Bixby-like Banner on the run and in hiding doing menial jobs under false names. And like Iron Man before it, the movie made clear its part of a larger Marvel movie universe. Kudos to Marvel for taking control of the movies based on its characters and planting the appropriate amount of seeds.

As for Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, while it was great to see Harrison Ford back with his fedora and whip on the big screen again, the movie was a bit of a letdown that slightly tarnished the legacy of the character. It has its moments, but overall it was disappointing.

I didn’t see other comic adaptations Hellboy II or Wanted in the theatre, but I’m sure I’ll catch them on cable within the next year. Other summer movies I considered seeing but haven’t were the comedies Pineapple Express and Tropic Thunder, both still in theatres. I’m on a mini-vacation late this week. Maybe I’ll catch one of them.

New Hellboy II promos include animated Mignola preview

From Collider.com comes all kinds of new promotional videos for Hellboy II: The Golden Army, opening July 11, the coolest of which is an animated prolgue by comics writer/artist and Hellboy creator, Mike Mignola.

If nothing else, the movie looks pretty cool. The first one was a lot of fun, and there's no reason to expect this one won't be too, though it will be quickly be overshadowwed by Dark Knight, opening only a week later, which you may have seen mentioned a time or two on this site.

New Bond trailer

Check out 007.com to catch the trailer for the new James Bond film, Quantum of Solace, starring Daniel Craig, opening November 7th.

Shedding light on the Dark Knight

The Dark Knight opens in less than three weeks, and the full-court marketing press is on. Among the coolest promotions is from Comcast. For those with Comcast's digital cable, you can see trailers, mini documentaries, special "newscasts" and even one of the six animated segments from Batman: Gotham Knight, the animated DVD feature due out July 8, through On Demand (check "Movies & Special Events').

But even if you don't have digital cable, you can still see some of the Comcast goodies. Just go to the dedicated mini-site for some of the same documentaries and trailers.

Elsewhere are actor, writer and director interviews that help set the stage for the sequel. Most notably, you can read these interviews with star Christian Bale, co-star Aaron Eckhart, director Christoher Nolan and writers, David Goyer and Jonathan Nolan.

You can see five minutes from another segment of Batman: Gotham Knights here.

Finally, here's an early mainstream review (from Rolling Stone) that will make you just want July 18 to get here quicker!

Why So Serious?

New Hulk trailer

"The most powerful superhero on Earth returns" Now, that's interesting. The CGI is looking better too.

Getting psyched yet?

New trailer for "Star Wars: Clone Wars"

If you thought you'd never get to see new Star Wars on the big screen, may the Force be with you. On August 15, Star Wars: Clone Wars, a computer animatred sequel to the last big screen chapter, Episode III: Revenge of the Sith opens in theatres. Here's the trailer.


The movie release of Star Wars: The Clone Wars leads directly into this fall's premiere of a weekly, animated Star Wars: The Clone Wars series on Cartoon Network, followed by airings on TNT.

Review: "Iron Man" may be the best superhero movie EVER!

I feel like a traitor, but Iron Man may be the best superhero ever made. I am loyal to the DC comics heroes, Superman and Batman. And at Marvel, only Spider-Man holds any serious sway with me. In over 30 years of reading comics, I’m not sure if I’ve ever even read an "Iron Man" solo comic, but none of that matters – Iron Man is a fantastic superhero movie, a fantastic movie, period, regardless of genre. It’s been said that Marvel heroes are more easily translatable to the big screen than the DC heroes. Iron Man is proof positive of this.

A lot of the credit has to go to Robert Downey Jr. I may not have ever been an Iron Man fan, but I’ve always loved this actor. News of his casting as Tony Stark was almost as thrilling to me as hearing Christian Bale was going to be Bruce Wayne. The rest of the cast is great too – Terrence Howard as military liaison James "Rhodey" Rhodes, Gwyneth Paltrow as loyal assistant Pepper Potts and Jeff Bridges as business partner-turned-nemesis Obadiah Stane. With a running time of just over two hours, not once did this film drag. Not a single frame was wasted, not a single scene went on too long, nor did any performance mar the film (unlike, say Katie Holmes in the otherwise excellently cast and acted Batman Begins, a mistake rectified in the sequel). There are plenty of Easter eggs for comics fans (even though, I don’t read the "Iron Man" comics, I’m familiar enough with the world to have picked up on most of them, though I’m sure I may have missed a few).

The reason this movie works for audiences beyond fanboys though is the overall realism of the film. Though there’s plenty of CGI and questionable science in the film, it doesn’t require any more suspension of disbelief than most action/adventure films, and certainly a lot less than most superhero movies. That’s because the source material is based more on reality than any of the other heroes. Though updated for the times, the origin from the comics holds up very well in the live-action adaptation. The film establishes early on Stark’s scientific and engineering expertise, so watching him, design, test, and perfect his armor in a series of vignettes is one of the best parts of the movie – a showcase of fantastic special effects, sight gags and one-liners that grounds the movie more than, say, Peter Parker finding out that he can climb walls and shoot sticky stuff out of his wrist (not that I’m knocking Spider-Man at all – I loved the movie, but still…)

What’s a good superhero movie without a good super-villain? Those looking for a more comics-accurate portrayal of Lex Luthor need look no further than Bridge’s Stane, a greedy businessman looking to eliminate his super-powered obstacle with his own super suit. Jeff Bridges is great in this movie and teaches a new lesson – never trust a man bearing New York City take-out pizza. I’ve never had much of an opinion of Paltrow one way or another, regarding either her acting or her looks, but here she more than holds her own with the great Downey and Bridges, and looks great doing it. Howard doesn’t have a lot to do, but like Samuel L. Jackson in the Phantom Menace, you know he’s going to have more to do in the inevitable sequels (one of those Easter eggs I mentioned earlier). Regardless, he’s great as both a loyal friend and solider.

But Downey carries this movie. He’s in just about every frame of this movie and never does he fail to impress, bringing his well-known personal history into the role. He’s by himself for most of the middle of the movie during the design/test/perfect scenes I mentioned, but he’s still talking almost non-stop to his mechanical assistants, those with and without voices of their own. We see him as an immoral playboy, prisoner of war, brilliant eccentric (he’s based on Howard Hughes), naïve businessman and crusading superhero, and he pulls all of them off.

Every review I’ve read of this movie has been overwhelmingly positive, noting that only the conclusion is a little cliche and too effects-driven. While I won’t say the finale is completely original, it is by no means underwhelming – yes, it’s a battle of two guys in armored suits, but unlike Transformers, you’re still caught up in the movie, knowing there’s two guys in there, not just effects (even though that’s pretty much what it is), and it not drawn out too long. It’s a short, intense, action-packed final a battle that keeps you engaged and amazed throughout.

And, very importantly, if you are a Marvel comics fan, you HAVE to wait until after the credits end for a very short scene that will soon prove that Marvel was absolutely right to take control of their characters’ movies, the next of which is The Incredible Hulk, which had a trailer in front of Iron Man.

You don't have to be a comic fan to enjoy this movie, and if you are – especially a Marvel Comics fan – you will be very, very happy with this movie.

New Dark Knight trailer!

"You either die a hero, or you live long enough to see yourself become the villian." -- Harvey Dent

The new Dark Knight trailer is here! It takes a while to download, so go to the site, and come back to it a few minutes later so you can watch it straight through. Pause the scene right before Harvey says the quote above, when he is holding up a gun, and you can see the barest glimpse of Two-Face.

Very cool!

New Hulk trailer

See the new trailer for The Incredible Hulk here.

New Dark Knight posters

New trailer expected on Sunday....

See more posters here.

New Hellboy II trailer

Hellboy II opens July 11.

Rachel Dawes believes in Harvey Dent!

Rachel Dawes supports Harvey Dent. Do you?

The Harvey Dent for Gotham City district attorney campaign is heating up. I even saw a campaign sticker in Center City Philadelphia.



However, since the fear toxin incident, crime is up and Lt. James Gordon has been tapped to head Gotham's new Major Crimes Unit.

Isn't viral marketing fun?

Charlton Heston dead at 84