Hollywood summer is a blockbuster season and 2012 is by no means an exception with anticipation rising to a fever pitch and studios hunting for big bucks. TWF Correspondent Arnab Chakraborty raises the curtain to a slew of comic book heroes coming up in the silver screen this summer Hot, sultry days are here again –not something to relish about, but for movie buffs and comic book lovers there is some respite. So banzai to that (also to soft drinks and popcorn, should the reviews match up to the previews).
First, the biggies
There is no need to fret if you missed the second Ghost Rider this year, as our Comic Gods shall descend to this mortal world at multiplexes soon.
The Avengers, releasing May 4: Remember that rampaging ‘Green Monster’? No? Then what about the charming altruistic god with a hammer or the blonde fossilized soldier decked in a blue-red American emblem? If all that doesn’t light the bulb, then perhaps you know the billionaire playboy in red and yellow flying armour? If names like Iron Man, Captain America, Hulk and Thor stir you to frenzy then buckle up, because they are joining hands to fight for humanity against Loki this summer.
With a galaxy of stars including Robert Downey Jr. (as Iron Man), Chris Evans (As Captain America), Chris Hemsworth (as Thor), Mark Ruffalo (as Bruce Banner or ‘The Incredible Hulk’), Tom Hiddleston (as Loki)and Samuel L. Jackson (as Nick Fury), The Avengers appears to be the biggest head turner of the year. Add to the mix the name of director Joss Whedon who had previously tackled the screen with critically acclaimed dexterity, and you are promised to get a sure winner. Plus if trailer views are something to go by then the first trailer of The Avengers has broken all previous records with over 13.7 million views in the first 24 hours.
“Even the most casual moviegoers have been excited since the announcement of this ‘Ocean’s Eleven’ of superheroes,” writes Brian Marderof Hollywood.com. Though the fear of a weak storyline is yet to be assuaged, the euphoria has already reached colossal proportions.
“And there came a day… when Earth’s mightiest heroes found themselves united against a common threat… on that day, The Avengers were born,” quoted Jackson at a San Diego Comic Convention from his part as Nick Fury in the movie.
The Dark Knight Rises, releasing July 20: “The Legend Ends” this summer when Batman will lock horns with Baneto to bring about an epic conclusion to the trilogy.
Following the cult-classic success of Christopher Nolan’s interpretation of Gotham’s caped crusader in the last instalment of The Dark Knight, expectations have reached almost a crescendo. Unless you are totally immune to celluloid comic heroes, you wouldn’t like to miss this grand finale starring Christian Bale as Batman/Bruce Wayne, Michel Caine as Alfred, Tom Hardy as Bane and Anne Hathaway as Catwoman.
However, even the diehard fanatics would agree that the movie’s success hinges precariously on Hardy as he has some pretty high standards to match, following the enigmatic Joker played by late Heath Ledger. Nolan has himself highlighted the hazardous debacle of portraying the “brute with brains.”
“Bane, to me, is something we haven’t dealt with in the films,” he says.
Indeed, more than 500,000 (and counting) Facebook ‘likes’ for the official page shouldn’t sound shocking. As Hollywood.com aptly summarises, “Add up all the excitement over every movie this summer, and it still wouldn’t equal that of the Dark Knight sequel.”
The Amazing Spider Man, releasing July 3: Perhaps you adored Tobey Maguire as the “friendly neighbourhood” version of the cobweb-swinging superhero and perhaps you enjoyed Sam Raimi’s creative spurt with him. Even then you can’t deny that Andrew Garfield looks dark and slick as the new not-so-friendly Spidey!
Spider Man – part IV? Groan… Admit it, we were getting a little too tired of prequels and sequels (barring the Gotham Avenger, of course). But even then a whole reboot of Spider Man to his “ultimate” avatar seems suspicious, not to mention Marc Webb as director (whose only movie was the Rom-com 500 Days of Summer).
And then came the trailers!
An overhauled costume with a threatening aura, a new protective girlfriend Gwen Stacy (played by Emma Stone) and the nine feet slimy antagonist aka Lizard (played by Rhys Ifans)…. Yup its kicking!
Webb, however, seems confident and claims that he has fiddled with the former innocent image of Peter Parker to give him some “trickster-y” attitude.
“There’s a little bit of distrust towards the world and a little bit of ‘I don’t need you.’” he explained during an interview.
(Trivia: All you Irrfan Khan fans; rejoice! He plays the “pivotal role” of ‘Dr. Ratha in this movie)
The small fries
Even though the big trio has eaten up most of the cover-space and entertainment sections, G.I. Joe and Men in Black sequels require a mention.
G.I. Joe: Retaliation is set to release on 29 July with Dwayne Johnson getting maximum poster and screen space.But following a dismal showing of the first movie hopes are not exactly skyrocketing for this sci-fi action flick.
Will Smith is again going to don the infamous Men in Black suit to kick some alien butt. Though the trailers sparked up some interest, it remains to be seen how much impact Men in Black III can have releasing almost a decade after a blotchy Part II.
Even if you do not share an orgasmic relationship with animated superheroes coming to life on the screen, the availability of stellar lineups and capable directors may just provide that lingering push towards movie theatres this summer. (IBNS)