Sunday, March 6, 2011

Underdogs and Boxoffice Disasters

How much can you really tell from a movie trailer? Will it be a small budget gem, critical success, hardly seen by anyone? A big budget financial blowout that looks like garbage, trashed by critics, but like a junky in a need of a fix, we're willing to slap down the money to see it? Hoping that it won't suck as badly as we know it will. Comic movies are no different. This year with the releases of The Green Hornet, Captain America, Thor, Green Lantern, Cowboys & Aliens and Xmen: First Class will easily be one of the best years for this genre. But with Seth Rogan's godawful take on The Green Hornet's Britt Reid (and cowriting the film) we've already hit a speed bump (I work for a movie theatre, seeing movies for free and I STILL wanted my money back. I'm not a Seth Rogan fan). With Marvel's 'in house' productions of Kenneth Branaugh's THOR with Chris Hemsworth looking every bit the God of Thunder and Joe Johnston's CAPTAIN AMERICA with Chris Evans feeling more and more like the Star Spangled Avenger every day, we don't really need the luxury we've had with trailers, interviews and behind the scenes footage to know they're in good hands. With the creative involvement of producers Steven Spielberg, Ron Howard and Brian Grazer, an all-star cast and Jon Favereux at the wheel, hell's likely to freeze over if Cowboys & Aliens sucks.

On the other hand, what's been released for Green Lantern, including a trailer with unfinished special effects, is a little worrying. With a talented director like Martin Campbell (off of successfully reviving James Bond), Ryan Reynolds (finally getting some respect with the public. See BURIED if you don't believe me.), Mark Strong (a man who understands arrogant and menacing) and beautiful, smart actress Blake Lively, did with we just catch them before they had a chance to tweak the product or is this another example of a people who just don't get it? Everything I've seen so far relating to Xmen: First Class leaves me wanting and anticipating more. The actors (especially, actors James McAvoy and Micheal Fassbender) and director Matthew Vaughn feel genuinely involved in this project. Genuinely proud. But it's a film produced by FOX. That alone may hurt boxoffice numbers, critical opinions and we still can't say if they've finally listened to the fans and made a worthwhile adaptation or if they've screwed the pooch again. Considering their reputation, they're on EXTREMELY shaky ground. All we can do now is wait and hope that our worries are unnecessary and that this year will be one to remember!

P.S.: Anyone know when the Cap' trailer is debuting?

Source: http://www.comicbookmovie.com

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