ANIMATED "THE AVENGERS" ANIMATED TRAILER IS BACK ONLINE

Check it out and let me know your thoughts!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vvA797QHVww&feature=player_embedded#

BATMAN 3 IS IN DEVELOPMENT!!

See my article regarding Superman and Nolan's role in bringing the man of steel back to the big screen! Word is David Goyer (Co-writer of Batman Begins, Dark Knight) has left his show "Flash Forward" on ABC because he is being "pulled in too many directions" Hence now he is free to write further adventures of the world's greatest detective! Chris Nolan was hesitant to return to the batcave fearing he couldn't follow up with anything better than Dark Knight. Well word has it, he's cracked the next story and his brother Jonathan Nolan and David Goyer will begin writing the script almost immediately!

SMALLVILLE ABSOLUTE JUSTICE DELIEVERS KILLER RATINGS FOR THE CW!!

The February 5th 2 hour movie event Smallville: Absolute Justice delivered the shows best ratings so far this year... i am confident that there is potential for a JSA spin off! I hope CW will consider it. Despite the awful acting the story was written by comic scribe/god Geoff Johns (The Flash, Green Lantern, Blackest Night, Etc). I also hope Warner Bros is paying attention to this episode because after seeing the character in live action, a "Hawkman" movie must NEVER see the light of day!! The costume will just never translate well to screen! Pam Grier was just awful as Amanda Waller! Why not just get CCH Pounder from Justice League Unlimited (Animated series) to reprise the role in live action!? That would have been a fantastic tip of the hat to JLU! I'll keep you posted for any info about a possible spin off series!

INSANE NEWS REGARDING SUPERMAN!!!

The people over at Deadline are reporting that Bat-God Christopher Nolan is in talks with Warner Bros on producing and developing a new Superman film!!! Fret not bat fans he's not leaving us in the cold with the third installment of the bat franchise. He will only be overseeing the development of the new film. If there is anyone who can reinvent Superman it's Nolan! This of course would ignore the most recent "Superman Returns" film which X-Men's Bryan Singer directed (Awful!) here is a great article from the good folks over at collider.com!


Yesterday, we reported on David Goyer leaving his showrunning duties for ABC’s FlashForward focus on his film career, which included a mention of the inevitable Batman 3. At the time, it seemed like a continuation of the logical but as-of-yet unconfirmed rumor that director Christopher Nolan and screenwriter Goyer would return to Gotham. A new report Deadline, advances said heresay and ups the ante by about a million chips. Not only has Nolan cracked the story of the sequel to The Dark Knight and committed to participate, but Warner Bros. has recruited the modern auteur to “godfather” the newest film in the Superman franchise. It’s unlikely that Nolan will direct the Superman sequel, but any portion of the reins handed to the man indicates a serious effort on the studio’s part to make the best Superman while they still have the time.

For speculation on the future of two of the biggest superhero franchises on the planet, hit the break.

Recall that Superman sequel is in its own kind of production hell right now due to the critical and commercial underperformance (relatively speaking) of Superman Returns as well sa the ongoing legal battle for the rights for the iconic tale of Clark Kent. Last time we checked, all story rights will return to the families of Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, the creators of the Superman comics, in 2013. Not only does this create a deadline for Warner Bros. to make a movie, but it puts into question the profitability of such a move. After all, why should the studio spend $232 million (the budget of Superman Returns) to reboot a struggling franchise if they do not have the rights to sequels to capitalize on the theoretical success of said film?

Nolan’s involvement is surely a sign, however, that the studio has hope for the franchise. Superman is, of course, one of the most recognizable superhero brands on the planet. Warner Bros. values its relationship with Nolan, particularly after he delivered a billion dollar success in The Dark Knight; they bought into his mysterious (and expensive) Inception despite a premise that seems impossible to advertise, and they have let Nolan take his time in crafting a worthy follow-up to The Dark Knight, perhaps foregoing the opportunity to strike while the iron is hot.

I don’t want to overstate Nolan’s control over the project; it seems very unlikely that he will direct any Metropolis-based adventures. But if you’re Warner Bros., and you truly want to unleash a successful Superman film on the moviegoing public, this seems the best way to announce your intentions: hire the guy who created the most critically acclaimed (and most profitable) superhero movie of all time to mentor the attempt. The sequel is now closer to fruition than before, but perhaps only marginally so. They still need a solid script, a director who knows what to do with the material, a star who can fill every inch of the Superman’s red boots, and in all likelihood a deal for sequel rights beyond 2013 before this thing really gets going.

So what exactly will the next film look like if Warner Bros. makes it in the next couple of years? It seems that Bryan Singer and Brandon Routh of Superman Returns are out for good. Many directors–including Tim Burton, JJ Abrams, McG, and Brett Rattner–came and went before Singer was chosen. Clearly it’s no easy task to find the director right for such a vision, though I imagine they are searching far and wide as we speak.

Consider the influence Nolan will have in his peculiar involvement. He is famous for bringing a gritty, realistic touch to his Batman films while shying away from a more traditional escapist approach to comic adaptations. Warner Bros. Pictures Group president Jeff Robinov has previously mentioned interest in making the Superman franchise “edgier”. Especially after the announcement that Spider-Man franchise will be rebooted in a “gritty, contemporary” style, confirming a sea change in Hollywood’s approach to costumed heroes, we have every reason to believe that any new Superman movie will be grounded in some form of realism. I’m excited about any forward motion on a new Superman movie, and am even more jazzed that Nolan, who has yet to make a bad movie, is attached in any manner. But I do wonder if a gritty Metropolis is the best approach to the infinitely wholesome character of Superman.

I approach the news of Nolan’s commitment to a Batman sequel with much less reservation. Though The Dark Knight has the makings of a perfectly suitable end to Nolan’s Bruce Wayne saga, it also set up a potential third movie that could conclude a wonderful trilogy. If you recall, at the end of The Dark Knight, Batman sacrificed his reputation for the good of Gotham to become an enemy of the state. I would suggest that the theoretical third chapter would be a redemption story for Batman, as he finds some way to balance the nobility of his intentions with the moral ambiguity of his vigilantism. It will be hard to top The Dark Knight, of course, in either the critical or commercial realm. But I trust Nolan’s sense of integrity; if he didn’t believe he had anything more to say on the subject, I truly believe he simply wouldn’t return to the world, and let another director depict his own vision of Gotham. For me, his participation is confirmation that a Dark Knight sequel could be terrific.

Really, for how cool all this news is, we probably aren’t much closer to seeing either Superman or Batman on the screen than we were yesterday. Warner Bros. always wanted to make a new Superman movie, but there still isn’t a script, star, or director. Likewise, the studio always wanted Nolan to return (and he has!), and the story is “cracked”, but the script is unwritten. But “cool” this news undoubtedly is, and I think it serves as a great foundation upon which to bat around theories on both of these franchises which permeate pop culture so thoroughly. I would love to hear your views in the comments below.

MASSIVE SUPERHERO NEWS THESE PAST FEW DAYS!

Sorry that i've been away for so long without any new posts but i'm back and here is the latest!

MAJOR Captain America News! Joe Johnston is out promoting "The Wolfman" and let quite a bit of info about the Cap movie slip!!! I'm quite shocked that Marvel hasn't told him to shut his mouth already! See all cap related news below:


Newsarama has released their interview with Joe Johnston revealing a bit more for the First Avenger. Check It Out:

'What little is known about "The First Avenger: Captain America" is that it will be set in World War II, around the time of Pearl Harbor. Johnston told Newsarama that he is well aware of the potential risk in shooting a big-budget comic book period piece, but believes it's a story the fans will appreciate seeing unfold onscreen.

"You couldn't do a modern-day Captain America," Johnston said, "and then go back and tell the World War II origin story."

The film will be bookended with scenes set in the present day that presumably will set the stage for "The Avengers" movie.

"That's the way this story ends. [Cap] is...at the end of this film, he's been brought back and been unfrozen, revived and he is definitely a fish out of water. He's a 1942 guy in 2012...it's going to be a lot of fun."

Johnston pointed out that Cap's lack of superpowers are part of what makes him such a compelling character.

"He can die, he can be injured, you know, he can't see through walls and fly and do any of that stuff, we have some great action sequences that stay within the laws of physics...but he's not Superman."

Johnston, who prefers Ed Brubaker's current run on the series to the Cap stories of the 1960s and 70s, admits he wasn't a huge fan of the character or of comic books in general. But he believes that will serve him well on this project.

"I don't think you necessarily want the world's biggest Captain America fan to be directing this film," he said.

Johnston mentioned that one reason he wanted to do the origin story first was because the sequels would take place in the present day. That would indicate that the 'fish out of water' story element mentioned earlier will play a prominent role.

The First Avenger: Captain America is the pivotal piece in the entire Marvel movie puzzle. For an Avengers movie to succeed, Cap has to be a multiplex hero. Which is why it's not surprising to hear Johnston say the movie will feature links to the rest of what will become the Marvel Universe's most renowned super-team.

"We have stuff in our movie that relates to Thor, and we have stuff that relates to Iron Man and the fun is integrating it into the story. If you're a fan, you'll get it and you'll recognize it. If you're not a fan, it just becomes part of the story. We're sort of integrating 3-4 things that are links to the rest of the Marvel Universe. It’s not really difficult. The challenge is to make it seamless, and so it doesn't feel out of context."

CASTING NEWS:
Top Three Contenders for Captain America Revealed?

A supposedly trusted source has pointing out three contenders Marvel Studios is considering for the lead role in The First Avenger: Captain America. Follow the jump to see who they are.
The source, who remains unnamed, specifically pointed out Chad Michael Murray (One Tree Hill), Ryan McPartlin (Chuck) and Jensen Ackles (Supernatural) as being among the top choices.We've already heard from other sites that both Murray and McPartlin have potentially read for the role, but this is the first (albeit unofficial) word that fan-favorite Jensen Ackles is in serious consideration.

PLANET HULK IS OUT ON DVD & BLUE RAY AND THE REVIEWS ARE IN!

FROM COMICBOOKMOVIE.COM: *WARNING CONTAINS SPOILERS!!**

Marvel Animation at it's finest!
I just got finished watching Planet Hulk a few hours ago and I couldn't wait to write this review! Planet Hulk has many things going for it that other Marvel animated films did not. It is actually based on a particular comic unlike Invincible Iron Man, Doctor Strange, or Next Avengers. Also the source material is chock full of plot goodies. Unfortunatley, not all of it could be integrated into the movie. But for the first time ever in animated history, Marvel gives us an intelligent Hulk! Not Einstein intelligent but smart enough to talk more than just two words. He broods just about as much as he fights. And Hulk doesn't just fight, Hulk SMASHES!!!

The animation is different from all of the other Marvel Animated Features. At first glance, the art work could be described as cartoony. The other films had a crisp realistic anime feel to them. While Planet Hulk has that American anime design, it looks more in line with Ben 10 than Doctor Strange.
But the world of Sakaar is brought to vibrant life with the great use of contrasting colors. The forces behind this movie stated that they wanted Sakaar to have this rugged desert feel to it and I must say that they have succeeded.
The opening title sequence also deserves mentioning. They did a superb job in constructing the computer generated credits. From the native cave drawings, to the chains breaking, to Hulk's blood washing over the ground it truly was astounding.

For those not already initiated into the premise of Planet Hulk, WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN? But seriously, a secret cabal of heroes known as the Illuminati (including Iron Man, Doctor Strange, and Mister Fantastic) deem the Hulk too dangerous for the people of Earth. And so, like any free thinking super powered American, the Illuminati decide to jettison the Hulk off into space.
After a navigation malfunction caused by the Green Goliath, the shuttle crash lands on the unforgiving planet known as Sakaar. There Hulk is captured by the Imperials (Red Skinned) and sold into slavery as a gladiator. There he makes a pact with fellow gladiators and forms the Warbound. They then plot to escape and overthrow the manipulative Imperial despot aka the Red King.

*SPOILER*

As an adaptation, this film follows the comic from which it was based very closely. Having read Planet Hulk prior to viewing this movie, I am a little biased over some of the plot decisions that were made. The most obvious is the exclusion of the Silver Surfer. Because of legal reasons, the big SS couldn't make an appearance. But that doesn't mean there wasn't a replacement.
Beta Ray Bill is finally in the limelight after more than two decades. His presence actually makes more sense plotwise even though it kind of does mess with Thor's first issue. The loss of NoName, the Brood sister, was barely noticeable.

But my biggest qualm isn't with Beta Ray Bill and the Silver Surfer. It was how the film makers handled Miek and the Spikes. In the graphic novel, Miek's devlopment is much more profound. He is mentored by Hulk (sort of) and learns how to never stop fighting. He also meets the last native queen and morphs into her king. Miek started out as a feeble "hider" but wound up an unrelenting fighter. This would set him on the path that would lead to World War Hulk. Instead, he just learns to be a fighter. End of story. The Spikes on the other hand weren't explained at all. There was a flashback showing how they infected people and turned them into spiked zombies. But not where they came from and not why the Spikes came to Sakaar. They were just weapons used by the Red King. For a film as short as this, I knew going in that there wouldn't be enought time or budget to include every bit of the complex story arc that is Planet Hulk. I just wish that these two intricate arcs played a bigger part.
I did enjoy the fight scenes but did feel that the way that two of the natives died in the first gladiator fight was a bit much. Especially the one whose head exploded. But the change I liked the most was the death of the Red King. After Hulk defeats him in battle, the Jolly Green Giant allows Caiera to finish him. She infects him with a Spike. You can guess what happens.

*END SPOILER*

Planet Hulk did give some above average performances. I have been and always will be a fan of Fred Tatasciore as Hulk. But Rick Wasserman did the fans justice by giving us the intelligent Hulk. He sounded like he was holding back a LOT of anger. I'd never want to be near him when he lets loose! On a side note, Miek didn't really sound LIKE Gollum. From early reviews on a bunch of sites, I was expecting lots of hissing, hacking, and spitting. This was not the case. He was whiney, sure. But he didn't have the dementia of Gollum!

The Special Features for this film are as follows:
1) A Whole World of Hurt: The Making of Planet Hulk
2) Let the Smashing Commence! The Saga of Planet Hulk
3) Audio Commentary by Supervising Producer Josua Fine and Screenwriter Greg Johnson
4) Audio Commentary by Director Sam Liu, Character Designer Philip Bourassa, and Key Background Painter Steve Nicodemus
5) Opening Sequence- Thor: Tales of Asgard
6) Wolverine and the X-men- "Wolverine vs. Hulk" Episode
7) Spider-woman: Agent of SWORD Motion Comic
8) Astonishing X-men: Gifted Motion Comic
9) "Watch Your Step" Spider-woman Music Video
10) "Rise Up" Astonishing X-men Music Video

And to those of you who pick up the Target exclusive, a digital comic of Hulk #92 on CD-ROM!

The featurettes are about forty minutes long and not half bad. They talk about the development of both the comic and the film! Haven't watched or listened to the commentaries yet, but I figure I'll get to them eventually. The Wolverine and the X-men episode was pretty good. Despite the fact that the cartoon is aimed at younger viewersand the violence is toned down. Cameo appearance by Nick Fury was most welcoming.
The rest of the features showcase other parts of the Marvel Universe. I'm gonna watch the motion comics later and I found the music videos most engaging. At least they had a beat to them. And I can't even begin on the Tales of Asgard sequence seeing as how it has already shown up here on CBM. So I don't have to go on about how much I can't wait to see it!

Overall, I found Planet Hulk to be Marvel's best animated film yet. It can give any DC movie a run for it's money. I just hope that Marvel can keep getting better. And maybe we'll see some WorldBreaking in a sequel titled World War Hulk!

KICK ASS RED BAND TRAILER.,...WELL KICKS ASS!!

I know nothing about the "Kick Ass" comic other than its about a kid who goes out as a superhero even though he has no powers. After this trailer, I will SO be in the theatre opening day! check it out at the link below!


http://www.comicbookmovie.com/fansites/rorschachsrants/news/?a=14503