Yesterday I took a look at all of the great family fun that you and yours can have this summer at your local cineplex. But then again, what if you are like me and you do not have a bunch of little rascals running around your abode? What if, instead of chasing girls and planning your future, you spend time at your local comic book shop waiting for someone to trade an original copy of Spiderman, Issue One, because that is the last one you need to finish your collection? If this statement applies to you, then keep reading because you are a fanboy and today's edition is just for you.
A recent trend in Hollywood has shown that silver screen marketers and producers are beginning to notice the presence of the afore mentioned comi-con maniacs and are bringing to life some of our favorite comic book characters in ways that work
— and some that don't. Take recent films like the Fantastic Four, Daredevil and the Hulk. These films make us wish someone was there to warn us, to tell us that instead of wasting $10 on Ben Affleck in tights, we should have been saving our money and waiting for X-Men 2. But despite some shortfalls, Hollywood has seen a great deal of success thanks to previous summer winners like Spiderman and X-Men and they are continuing to greenlight films like Ghost Rider, Iron Man and Ant-Man that are set to be released in 2007 and 2008. So that pretty much brings us up to speed on the past and sets the stage for the future, but what about this year?
This summer started off with a bang, delivering the third and seemingly final chapter in the X-Men saga, The Last Stand. While it was not well-received by critics, the fanboys did come out in force to drive it to a record breaking Memorial Day weekend opening. Take that, Ann Hornaday! We cannot be led around just because your paycheck says The Washington Post. And fear not, fanboys of all shapes and sizes, for there is something left in the summer of '06 for everyone.
It all explodes on the last weekend in June, with the highly anticipated and carefully scrutinized release of Superman Returns. After years of floating around the rumor mill, multiple director changes, and the fight to find the next Man of Steel, Warner Brothers finally settled on Brian Singer and young Brandon Routh to carry Superman into the next millennium. Some say this one does not stand a chance and no one will ever be able to portray Superman in the same way that Christopher Reeve did so many years ago, but there are plenty of people who will be standing in line to see for themselves. From the look of the trailer, Superman looks to have been well revised with slick new CG and plenty of extra-hold hair spray. Throw in the anticipation of the always-fantastic Kevin Spacey as Lex Luthor and we have something to truly look forward to. If you are a fan of big summer event movies, then can't help but give Superman a shot.
Article comments
1 - A.L. Harper
Neil darlin', you need to get laid.
Good article though. And I admit I am really looking forward to Strangers With Candy. Took them long enough.
2 - Fangirl
Excuse me! Daredevil, the Director's Cut of course, was a perfectly fine movie adaptation. In fact, it was one of the better ones because it was geared more for adults than the kiddies! I think most people who criticize it, haven't gotten off their asses and rented the DC version and they should be ashamed to call themselves critics if they haven't, ahem!
Also, the only damn reason DD2 isn't being done by Marvel at this time is because they can't sell it out to the kiddies who will buy anything Spiderman or Superman related, no matter how stupid! My nephew, who is 5, has underwear, towels, sheets, DVDs, Video Games, paper plates, and every other obnoxious thing you can think of with Spidey on it! Marvel is pissed that DD is geared to the adults me thinks because they can't make millions off a load of crap by selling out the image!
3 - Neil Miller
I would agree with you, Fangirl. I feel bad for picking on Daredevil like that, but it was an obvious choice. So many people initially didn't like the adaption. You are right in the sense that it was geared toward adults, but my question to you is, "Why didn't it do better, then?" Most fanboys are adults. They could have gone to see it. The answer lies within two words: Ben Affleck. He just wasn't appealing as DD. Just as wifey Jennifer Garner wasn't appealing as Elektra in her own flick.
4 - Brian Gibson
Fangirl...did you just speak positively about the Daredevil Director's Cut? Yuck, the Coolio subplot? Yuck