-
With 10 comic book movies headed to theaters in Summer 2011, Jon Favreau claimed the season would be a "bloodbath," saying: "There's not a weekend where there won't be teeth on the floor." Back in May, we asked you to predict which of those 10 would flatten the competition in our Summer Comic Smackdown. How did you do? And how did the Winner and Losers stack up?
Comic Book Movie Winners and Losers of Summer 2011 >>
Posted 08.29.11 by reelz -
Earlier this month, Marvel Studios scheduled the release dates for two mystery projects, one of which could potentially be Captain America 2. With screenwriters Stephen McFeely and Christopher Markus in place there are plenty of ideas to work with.
In June, McFeely revealed that a sequel, which would follow 2012's The Avengers and Cap's (Chris Evans) subsequent dethawing in the present day, would still have "room to go back to World War II." However, as the sequel would be set "in the present day," the writers later clarified that any potential World War II scenes would be told in "flashback."
More recently, Markus and McFeely revealed that they would like the sequel to include other characters from the Captain America comics, including Cap's crime-fighting partner the Falcon and Sharon Carter, Cap's love interest in the comics and a relative of his War-time girlfriend Peggy Carter, played by Hayley Atwell in The First Avenger. But what about a villain? In a conversation with The LA Times, Markus talked about the villain he'd like to see in Captain America 2.
who is the villain? >> Posted 08.29.11 by Ryan -
Though Marvel Studios has yet to officially put a sequel to Captain America: The First Avenger (CATFA) on the calendar (or have they?), the continuing box office success of the movie in foreign markets, added to its substantial domestic numbers, makes it pretty much a given. Marvel even began making preprations for a sequel to CATFA months before its release by hiring the writers of the movie, Stephen McFeely and Christopher Markus, to write Captain America 2. Whenever the pair have spoken about the movie in the past few months, they've made it clear that, due to Cap's (Chris Evans) presence in the present in The Avengers, the sequel "will likely be in the present day." However, both the screenwriters and CATFA director Joe Johnston have talked about the sequel "possibly staying in the 1940s," if only in "flashback." In a recent interview with NBC, McFeeley and Marcus reiterated their interest in setting "at least a portion" of Captain America 2 in the '40s and also teased some of the characters from Cap's comic book supporting cast that they would like to see, including one high-flying costumed superhero.
which superhero might turn up in the sequel? >> Posted 08.26.11 by BrentJS -
With all the summer movies released, it's time to take stock of what we saw on-screen. And what their successes and failures have taught us. For starters, we've learned that there can, in fact, be too many superhero movies; that not even Pixar can bat 1.000 forever; and that the funniest comedy of the season can, despite sexist naysayers, star an almost entirely female cast.
It also seems we've gotten really (really) comfortable with sequels, reboots, and remakes. You could say 2011 was the summer of comfort food.
2011 Movies: Summer's Top 10 >>
Posted 08.24.11 by reelz -
In January, news that Captain America: The First Avenger was going to be retitled for three international markets (Russia, South Korea, and the Ukraine watched The First Avenger instead) was the first sign that selling the movie overseas might be a little difficult with the word "America" in it. As THR reports, the movie has performed well in foreign markets, particularly in Latin America and Southeast Asia, earning $100 million during its second weekend while only being available in 41 markets, with many being smaller territories.
The profitability of Captain America overseas has to be a good sign for Marvel Studios, since the movie's success in the U.S. was unassured, as the comic book adaptation was set to open a week after Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2. Despite the strong possibility that Potter would dominate even in its second week, Captain America took the top spot.
With Captain America serving as the last Marvel movie leading up to The Avengers, this came as welcome news to the other Marvel actors involved in the superhero team-up, as Thor's Chris Hemsworth, explained to USA Today from the Avengers set.
Hemsworth, Chris Evans and Robert Downey Jr. talk Marvel success >> Posted 08.14.11 by Ryan -
Have you held off on seeing Captain America: The First Avenger because you're afraid you'll be too unfamiliar with the characters to get into the story? Well, now there are two new resources that can help get you up to speed on both Captain America (played by Chris Evans) and his nemesis, the Red Skull (Hugo Weaving). MilitaryVALoan put together an "Infographic" about Cap's history, from his creation in 1940 to his '70s TV show to The First Avenger, with details about his many powers, costumes and shields. And, Paramount has released an informational featurette about the Red Skull's history and movie design, with commentary from Evans and Weaving.
watch the red skull featurette >> Posted 07.30.11 by BrentJS -
No doubt in an effort to bolster Captain America: The First Avenger's (CATFA) second weekend in theaters — and to counter all of those unscrupulous people who have flooded the internet with their pirated camera phone videos of the awesome post-credits teaser for Marvel's next big superhero movie, The Avengers, which is currently in production — Marvel and distributor Paramount have released, via Yahoo!, the final scene from CATFA. (Don't worry, it won't spoil the ending of the real story in CATFA — Cap's battle to stop the Red Skull (Hugo Weaving) from destroying the Eastern seaboard.)
The scene, set in Times Square, shows Steve Rogers, aka Captain America (Chris Evans), waking up in his future, our present, and meeting S.H.I.E.L.D. Director Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson) for the first time. Additionally, a short preview of the aforementioned Avengers teaser is included, offering those of you have not yet seen CATFA a first look at Cap's new costume, Thor's (Chris Hemsworth) new costume and Black Widow's (Scarlett Johansson) new...hairstyle.
watch the video >> Posted 07.29.11 by BrentJS -
Posted 07.25.11 by reelz -
Critics are divided on Captain America: The First Avenger, with some calling it the best comic book movie of the summer and others saying it's merely a setup for next year's Avengers.
"...certainly is the most stylish comics-derived entertainment of the year..."
— Michael Phillips, Chicago Tribune"It was a pleasure to realize, once Captain America: The First Avenger got under way, that hey, here is a real movie, not a noisy assembly of incomprehensible special effects. Of course it's loaded with CGI. It goes without saying it's preposterous. But it has the texture and takes the care to be a full-blown film."
— Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times"...delivers comic book action that should satisfy Captain America's fans, old and new... Yet the film will leave others wondering — especially following the film's long gestation and marketing buildup — "Is this all there is?""
— Kirk Honeycutt, Hollywood Reporter"...in the end little more than a dutiful origin story for a superhero who has frankly long been something of a back-bencher."
— Chris Barsanti, filmcritic.com"Red, white and bland..."
— Peter Debruge, Variety"Captain America may be ripped, but his movie's still a 98-pound weakling..."
— Peter Paras, Hollywood Reporter -
Summer 2011 is filled with sequels, spin-offs, and reboots. That's right, as exciting as the season's blockbusters may seem, we're being inundated with one of the most unoriginal summers the movies have ever seen. Within that context, though, which movies rise above the "Yeah, we phoned this one in" benchmark? Find out with our patent-pending originality meter.
From 1 to 10, where do these releases register? >>
Posted 07.22.11 by reelz