Saw "Thor: The Dark World" a while back, just a couple days after it premiered in Taiwan. I thought it was a vast improvement over the first "Thor," and it reminded me of the run Walt Simonson did on the comics when I was a kid. While "Thor: The Dark World" wasn't as earth-shattering as Surtur forging a sword and signaling Ragnarok, it was a solid, fast-paced action movie. It was also much better than the disappointing "Iron Man 3."
With Thor 2 out of the way, 2014 will see the arrival of "Captain America: The Winter Soldier" in April, "Guardians of the Galaxy" the following summer, and "The Avengers: Age of Ultron" in 2015. The preview for the next Captain America film has already appeared, and it looks like it will be even better than Thor 2.
I'm a bit skeptical about "Guardians of the Galaxy," especially after that weak post-credits scene at the end of Thor 2. It will be quite a departure from what Marvel has done already, and we'll see if director James Gunn's brand of "funny" really works in a Marvel context. Hopefully we won't have another "Howard the Duck" on our hands. I have a hard time imagining that the Avengers sequel won't be good. All of the cast from the first film are returning, and Joss Whedon is once again writing and directing, so it seems like a sure thing. The Avengers will be facing off against their robot adversary Ultron, with Quicksilver and the Scarlet Witch added to the roster. I'm interested to see what they do with Quicksilver, since the Marvel movies haven't done much with super speed thus far.
I doubt that the cinematic Scarlet Witch will look half as sexy as her comic book counterpart. The comic book Scarlet Witch has one of the sexiest costumes ever, and I suspect that director Whedon will be under pressure to make her less of a sex object. This is unfortunate, since it is this very sex appeal that has made her one of the more interesting characters in the Avengers lineup.
Edgar Wright's "Ant-Man," which kicks off Phase 3 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, is also due out in 2015. It's too early to say much about this one, aside from the fact that they're still writing the script, and Paul Rudd has been rumored for the lead. In the X-men camp, there is "Days of Future Past," which just looks boring to me. The trailer is already on YouTube, and despite reaching for a more "epic" feel the whole thing just looks like another episode of the same, tired superhero soap opera. Wolverine is the only interesting character that movie franchise has, and I think he would be better served by another solo film. "The Wolverine" wasn't as good as ANY of the Marvel films, but it was still much better than any of the X-men films.
And I'm not going to argue that Hugh Jackman isn't a great actor, or that he hasn't done a good job with Wolverine, but he really doesn't LOOK like Wolverine, and that has always bothered me. They need to find a much shorter, much hairier, much uglier actor for this part. Wolverine (like Spider-man) is everyone's favorite underdog, and a Wolverine that looks like Hugh Jackman isn't really anyone's underdog. I think that if you could go back to the early 80s, and tell Danny Devito to start lifting some serious weights, after a year or so he might start to look something like Wolverine. In 2015, 20th Century Fox, the studio producing the X-men films, will also release a Fantastic Four movie, set in the same cinematic universe. It's too early to get hopeful about this one. The director, Josh Trank, was the guy behind "Chronicle."
And Spider-man? A teaser for "The Amazing Spider-man 2" is online, but it doesn't show much. This sequel will pit Spider-man against Electro and the Rhino. Sony is quite keen on this film series, and there are already plans for an "Amazing Spider-man 3" and "Amazing Spider-man 4." Elements of this film series (and one dare hope - Spider-man?) might appear in the second Avengers movie. Warner Bros./DC have plans of their own. By now I'm sure everyone is aware of the "Batman Vs. Superman" movie, which will appear in 2015. Ben Affleck will be the Dark Knight, Henry Cavill will reprise his role as Superman, and the woman from the "Fast and Furious" films has been confirmed as Wonder Woman.
The problem with Wonder Woman mirrors that of the Scarlet Witch. Say what you like, but Wonder Woman IS a sex object, and casting one of these thin supermodel types isn't in keeping with the character. Even hiring a female bodybuilder would be closer to more recent incarnations of Wonder Woman. The actress that they've hired is certainly pretty, but unless she engages in some serious weight training, I'm not sure how much she's going to look like Wonder Woman. Wonder Woman also needs BREASTS, for God's sake! I may just be another male chauvinist pig for saying so, but her "assets" play into the mythology built up around the character. If she isn't achingly "hot," then she should at least be physically intimidating. Of all these movies, I'm most looking forward to the next Captain America film and "Age of Ultron." I'll probably see "Guardians of the Galaxy" and "The Amazing Spider-man 2" in the theater, but I'll wait for the next X-men film on DVD. "Batman Vs. Superman?" I'll make that decision when I finally see the preview. 2015 is going to be a HUGE year for superhero movies, and I can't wait to see how the ongoing DC/Marvel/Sony/Fox rivalries play out over the next two years.
Anyone who's read this blog more than once probably recognizes my fondness for both superheroes and superhero films. In this I am like many other guys my age. Ever since Man of Steel came out, there's been talk of its sequel, which we now know will also feature Batman. Who's in it, who's not in it, who's directing it, who's writing it, etc., etc., etc. I've been doing my best to stay abreast of the rumors (and most of them are just that, rumors), and I have a few thoughts on the subject that I'd like to share. 1. The General Premise So soon after Marvel's The Avengers, a Justice League movie would be too much to absorb. We need an interim movie to bridge the gap. If they can find a believable, interesting Batman to go with the Superman they've already created, we'll have a movie that very effectively leads us into the Justice League.
As great as Christian Bale was in Nolan's Dark Knight Trilogy, I don't think his particular take on Batman would work in the context of Superman. For "Batman Vs. Superman", we need the kind of Batman that created Brother Eye, the kind of Batman who keeps secret files on EVERYONE, and the kind of Batman who is smart enough to stay several steps ahead of everyone else. 2. How it Relates to Frank Miller's "Dark Knight Returns" The earliest announcement of this movie featured a cast member from Man of Steel, quoting a line from Frank Miller's Dark Knight Returns. As comic book fans everywhere are aware, The Dark Knight Returns was perhaps the most celebrated comic book series of the 1980s, and moreover a series that redefined Batman as a character.
The use of the quote leads one to think that Batman and Superman will be at each others' throats in some fashion, with an older Batman outsmarting Superman near the end. While I would love a movie adaptation of one of my all-time favorite comic books, they are obviously going to adapt elements of Miller's story to the world already established in Man of Steel. Miller has been called in to advise on this project, so I am hopeful that any elements from his comic book will be handled well. 3. Zack Snyder Zack Snyder just isn't as consistent a film maker as Christopher Nolan. This point should be fairly obvious. I thought Watchmen was great, I liked the Dawn of the Dead remake, and I even thought 300 had certain points in its favor. For all his decent films, however, there is Sucker Punch.
At his worst, he is all style and very little substance. Man of Steel had a good first half, but the second half of the movie degenerated into a WWE Smackdown. Altogether it was OK, but it could have been a lot better. I think that if we get the careful "Watchmen Snyder" we'll get a good movie. If we get the flashy "Sucker Punch Snyder" then this thing will be a disaster. 4. David Goyer Yes, he wrote the Dark Knight Trilogy. But yes, he's written a lot of bad films. I think his presence is largely irrelevant. If the director handles his script well, it will be good. If the director handles his script badly.... 5. Henry Cavill
He's a good actor, and a great Superman. I'm happy he's coming back for the sequel.
6. Ben Affleck
My first thought was: "Really? The guy from Daredevil?" But he has directed and starred in some good films since, so maybe it won't be as bad as all that. He's certainly a good actor, and if the story's solid I'm sure he will make a convincing Batman.
I just find it strange that he's involved with this project. After Daredevil bombed, wasn't he quoted as saying that he wouldn't even consider a project unless the script is solid? This movie doesn't even have a script yet!
7. The Possibility of Robin Appearing
Please no. Robin is a relic of a time when all superheroes needed to have younger sidekicks, or stand-ins for an adolescent readership. Believing in a grown man who dresses up as a bat is hard enough. But a younger boy at his side, dressed up as a bird? In a pair of speedos?
8. Cameos by Other Superheroes
Some speculate that Wonder Woman might appear in this movie. It would be difficult to make such a cameo work, and Wonder Woman is the one superhero(ine) who really, really deserves her own movie. I'm hoping they don't waste her on this one.
If Warner Bros. is really going ahead with The Flash film, then it is also possible that he might appear in this movie as a teaser. Given the Flash's alter-ego as "police scientist," this might be more in keeping with an attempt at realism. Any display of his powers, however, would be distracting.
Either way, I doubt that either character could be easily incorporated into the film. Batman is so grounded in "realism," and bringing him into contact with a Superman will be a feat in itself. Why complicate the issue with other superheroes?
9. Potential Villains (If There are Any)
Lex Luthor is inevitably mentioned. But why? In the presence of a supersmart Batman - the kind of Batman that this movie needs, Lex Luthor seems redundant.
I can't see how a villain is necessary for this movie, and I think it would be better to let the audience take sides. This element - moral ambiguity - is one element from the Nolan films that ought to be preserved.
10. How Successful it Might Be
That's the big question, isn't it? I'm thinking that it will be moderately successful, but far from earth-shatteringly so. The novelty is going to sell a lot of advanced screening tickets, but the script and especially the direction will need to be really, really good if we're going to see a blockbuster. My guess is that it will enjoy a huge opening weekend, but lack the staying power that The Avengers is STILL enjoying.
11. What it Might Bode for the Future DC Cinematic Universe
Of course if it does moderately well we'll see that Justice League movie, possibly with Ben Affleck or Zack Snyder directing. If it tanks? I predict that The Flash will either be scaled down or disappear altogether, and that Warner Bros. might just decide that the superhero movie game is best left to Marvel, Fox, and Sony. I hope it does well, just because I am dying to see a Flash movie.
12. Marvel, Fox's X-men, and Sony's Spider-man
Let us not forget the competition. This movie is due out in 2015, when several other superheroes are also due to hit theaters. By that time "Batman Vs. Superman" will be squaring off against The Avengers: Age of Ultron, Ant-Man, and a rebooted Fantastic Four... which, by the way, will exist in the same film universe as the X-men films. Sony's Spider-man will sit 2015 out, though a third (sixth?) film is scheduled for 2016.
Which is not to mention the Star Wars sequel, a movie that will be rocking our worlds the same year. 2015 is a big year for movies, and "Batman Vs. Superman" will be facing some stiff competition.
