Review: Toy Story 3

No matter what you're age, you probably enjoy Disney/Pixar films. The best part is, you never have to be embarrassed for saying that, because everyone enjoys them. I get the feeling that previous generations weren't so into animated films when they were in their 20s, but our generation grew up with these films. It's hard to deny that there is something else going on there. Some factor that goes beyond cute childish characters or simply story lines. These films have the ability to make adults cry and children flush with laughter and excitement. However, in years past, we've never seen a successful animated franchise. But "Toy Story" has become a trilogy that defines our generation.

The original film came out in 1995, when those of us in our 20s were children. Also being the first major motion picture by Pixar Animation Studios, it changed how animated films were made, and along with the technology came stories that viewers of all ages could enjoy. 1999 was the year of "Toy Story 2," which was a great addition to the story of Woody, Buzz and all the rest. Part of the plot of that movie was asking the question, "what will Andy do with his toys when he goes off to college?" Well, "Toy Story 3" came along to answer that question, and just in time for many of us who saw the original to either be entering, still in, or just leaving college.

So here's what happens. Andy's mom tells him to separate his room into what's going with him to college, what's going in the attic and what's getting thrown away. We find that Andy hasn't played with his beloved toys in years, but they still keep trying to be there for him. The saddest moment is when you realize that only the core characters in previous films are still there, because Andy has already gotten rid of his other toys. All that's left is Woody, Buzz, Jessie, Bullseye, Mr. and Mrs. Potato Head, Hamm, Rex, Slinky and the little alien dudes from the claw machine. It's clear Andy is a very different kind of teenager, and he's always kept a place in his heart for these toys. However, through a mix-up they get grouped together with toys that Molly gave their mom to donate to Sunnyside Day-Care. At first, the toys are relieved to be in a place where they'll always be wanted by children who will play with them. An older toy, Lotso (the lots o' hugging bear) assures them that they'll never get thrown out or ignored, and they can't get their hearts broken if they don't have an owner. Most are ready to move on, but Woody refuses to give up on Andy and manages escape. But the toys soon learn that Sunnyside is not the paradise they were told, and find themselves missing Andy more than ever and in need of rescue. But what will become of them as Andy is ready to move on?

The movie is an adventure, but what Toy Story film hasn't been? I always find myself shaking my head and saying, "Wow, these toys have the absolute worst luck. Everything is always so difficult for them." And that's always been the heart of these films. These toys refuse to give up on their owner or let him down. Woody has been a hero to every child who sees these movies, and every adult that grew up with him. He is the friend that will never ever let you down. As with any animated film of the past few years, there are enough jokes aimed at older audiences to keep everyone laughing. The dramatic situations in "Toy Story 3" rival that of any other dramatic film, particularly in scenes where you feel it could be the end for this bunch of play-things. It's heart-warming how much they go through to get back to Andy, even though it's likely he'll never play with them again. The greatest thing is that they chose to end this film in a logical and plausible way (as plausible as talking and feeling toys could be) and when looking at the entire trilogy, the story comes completely full circle. There's no need for specifics in this review, because if you're a fan of "Toy Story" or any Pixar film, you already know you're going to enjoy this.

"Let's go see how much we're going for on eBay."

-Brendan

Pick of the Week: Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story

Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story - 2007

The road for any music legend is a long and rocky one. There are ups and downs both in career and personal life. Temptations of women and drugs conflicting with the burdens of fame. This is all chronicled in the fictional and satirical story of Dewey Cox, as he embodies the rock star persona in the most ridiculous and hilarious way.

John C. Reilly ("Boogie Nights," "Step Brothers") stars as Dewey Cox, and yes, many subtle jokes are made about his last name. At a young age, Dewey is involved in a terrible accident that results in his brother's death. Using music as an outlet, Dewey leaves home as a teenager to pursue a career in music. With a growing family, Dewey soon becomes a big star with a slew of number one hits. Troubles of life on the road lead him down a self-destructive path of drugs and infidelity, straining his friendships, family life and his inner-demons.

Okay, that paragraph really made this sound like a serious movie, but in no way is it serious. The film serves strongly as a parody to the Johnny Cash biopic "Walk the Line,"as well as the Ray Charles biopic, "Ray." Both are fantastic, Oscar-winning films, and you absolutely must see them both before watching "Walk Hard," otherwise you won't get most of the jokes and references. John C. Reilly does his own singing in the film, which audiences know he's capable of, as proved by his Oscar nominated for Best Actor in a Supporting Role in 2003's adaptation of hit Broadway musical "Chicago." I also just realized that Reilly received a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actor in a Comedy or Musical for "Walk Hard," which is a bit surprising.

The film was co-written by Judd Apatow, whose helped bring about nearly every hit comedy in the last five years or so, including "The 40-Year-Old Virgin," "Knocked Up," "Pineapple Express" and nearly every great Will Ferrel movie. There are countless cameos in the film by "Saturday Night Live" cast members and alumni (most notably Kristen Wiig as Dewey's wife and Tim Meadows as his drummer), and several actors from hit series "The Office" (Jenna Fischer, who plays Pam, is Dewey's backup singer and love interest). Musicians and musical styles parodied in the film include Elvis Presley (played by Jack White of the White Stripes), Buddy Holly, Bob Dylan, Brian Wilson of The Beach Boys, The Big Bopper, The Beatles (definitely the funniest scene of the movie, as it features comic greats Jack Black, Paul Rudd, Jason Schwartzman and Justin Long), and of course, Johnny Cash and Ray Charles.

I will say that this film is sometimes stupid, but it's always clever and funny. It's one of the few movies I've seen multiple times and can still laugh out loud when watching it by myself. It's worth it for a great laugh, but beware the director's cut, which clocks it at just over two hours. Oh, and if you have a problem with seeing a man's penis (more than once), then be careful. You've been warned.



-Brendan

Pick of the Week: Chasing Amy

I've decided to start doing a pick of the week. Just a random movie I feel like talking about that week. Hopefully I keep up with it every week, but we'll see.

Chasing Amy - 1997

Written and directed by Kevin Smith as what he calls the third part of his "New Jersey Trilogy." Smith, who's always had a soft spot for his holy land of New Jersey, centers around his cast of re-occurring characters and references to characters and events never seen (specifically the death of Julie Dwyer in the YMCA pool, mentioned in all three films). His first film, 1994's "Clerks," became a cult classic thanks to its low-budget black and white filming, but also its use of believable characters (in some less than believable situations) and sex humor. Oh, and in-depth conversations about Star Wars. He reuses these methods in 1995's "Mallrats," which had a bigger budget, more characters and less appeal to the masses. He may have been trying to hard to make a comedy that he went over the top. However, it succeeded in being memorable and solidifying the characters and the atmosphere in which his films are set. "Chasing Amy" came along as Smith's most personal story, brought in many ways from his own relationship with the female lead.

The story centers around Holden McNeil (Ben Affleck, who believe it or not got his start in Smith's films) and Banky Edwards (Jason Lee, who you may know best from NBC's "My Name is Earl"). They are two old friends who write and animate a popular comic book called "Blunt Man and Chronic," which parodies Batman and Robin and is based off the infamous Jay and Silent Bob, who exist in the reality of Smith's universe, of course. Forget the fact that Affleck's character in "Mallrats" is mentioned once, or that all three lead actors (Affleck, Lee and Joey Lauren Adams) are all in "Mallrats" as different characters than this film. They also all know and speak of characters from "Clerks." Anyway, Adams' character, Alyssa Jones, is a fellow comic creator who has a connection with Holden. But when Holden starts to have a "thing" for Alyssa, he finds out that she's a lesbian. WHAT A TWIST! So, despite Banky's feelings, Holden and Alyssa become good friends and their relationship eventually escalates to a romantic one. Tension grows between Holden and Banky, while Alyssa gets flack from her fellow lesbian community. It all really hits the fan when Holden confronts Alyssa with dark tales of her sexual history, which involve more than just women from Manhattan, and in some cases more than just one guy at a time.

I've always felt this story was so interesting and unique. When I was younger and first became a fan of Smith's films and his intertwining universe of characters and stories, I saw this as a very basic plot. I would explain it to others as, "A guy falls in love with a lesbian. It's really funny." But that's not the point of the film. It took some growing up, and reading Smith's description of the film and his personal story to get the real message across. This film is about relationships, and how to deal with your lover's past. The underlining theme here is that it doesn't matter (to an extent) what someone did before they met you. They've chosen you now and that has to be good enough. You can't expect someone to apologize for the things they did before they ever knew you existed. It had nothing to do with you. There are also several instances where Smith so accurately shows certain rationalizations men make because of our insecure minds. Wanting to know every detail, not because we want to but because we feel a need to. Needing to feel like we're a woman's first experience with something. And of course, men's jealously and trust issues toward the opposite sex and how we always feel the need to fix everything even when it's not broken. I think it took a lot of guts for Smith to write a film that not only put himself down, but his entire gender, because he knows deep down that it's all true.

I have a feeling the gay community would be slightly offended at Alyssa's ability to decide to date a man instead of women, or the idea that "secret" parts of her sexual history involve men, while the parts she most proud of are her many experiences with women, which Holden has no problem with, by the way. He's only upset about all the dudes. I would view her "switch" as unrealistic if I didn't actually know someone who has dated both genders and refuses to refer to herself as bisexual, because what do labels prove anyway? Smith also takes a deep look at the politics within the gay community, as his black gay comic writer Hooper X (posing as a tough, masculine racist towards whites to sell comics) expresses his frustrations with the social fixation on lesbians being "cute," while gay men are viewed as disgusting. Alyssa's friends basically ostracize her for dating a man, showing a very "us vs. them" mentality amongst homosexuals, despite a message in the film that tells us "the heart wants what it wants." These are his observations of the community, but although these might be a stereotype, who's to say it isn't accurate of some?

Overall, if you can get over the (at times) lack-luster acting, and especially Ben Affleck's awful facial hair, you can really see the messages in this film. Holden's solution to this whole debacle is a perfect example of men trying to fix things and the horrible rationale we have. What seems like sort of an epilogue drags out a bit too long, but this is truly one of those films you can laugh at, and possibly cry. Real characters and emotions, and all the more powerful that Smith cast his then girlfriend in the lead, exposing his insecurities on screen. If your a fan of Smith's work, do yourself a favor and see this.

"I finally had something personal to say."

-Brendan

Review: Iron Man 2

I might have gotten ahead of myself with my excitement for "Iron Man 2" and the list of Marvel Studios movies coming out in the next few years. Part of the problem is that every superhero movie since "The Dark Knight" has had to suffer being compared to a landmark film that set the bar way too high for movies in general. After seeing how dark, dramatic and somewhat realistic superhero movies can be, it's hard to believe in things like superpowers and the idea that these guys don't die from all the things they put themselves through. Robert Downey Jr.'s Tony Stark and Iron Man come dangerously close to playing themselves off as a joke.

The first few scenes of a movie can tell you a lot. "Iron Man 2" leads off with Tony Stark's public announcement that he is Iron Man from the end of the first film. However, we're seeing it from a small t.v. screen somewhere in Russia. Enter Mickey Rourke ("Sin City," "The Wrestler") as Ivan Vanko, a Russian physicist who looks more like a biker turned convicted felon who screams with anger in possibly the worst acting I've seen in a long time. Vanko has reasons for revenge against Tony Stark, or more so, the Stark family. We jump six months to the Stark Expo, an on-going conference of technological inventions and presentations, where Iron Man makes an appearance complete with dancers. Downey Jr.'s Iron Man is cocky, comical and a bit obnoxious. Part of the plot centers around the governments desire to seize Stark's Iron Man suit and the technology around it saying a civilian should not possess such weaponry, and that they are concerned enemies of the U.S. have begun to attempt to replicate the technology. Stark Industries' rival weapons maker Justin Hammer, played by Sam Rockwell ("Choke," "Moon"), who serves as a great counterpart to Stark, is trying to convince the government to take Stark's suit while slowly developing the technology himself. After Vanko attacks Stark, Hammer recruits him to build suits similar to that of Iron Man's to sell to the government. Vanko's plans of revenge, however, outweigh his agreement with Hammer.

Meanwhile, Stark is trying to deal with the way the suit is affecting his health and the pressure being put on him by Nick Fury and S.H.I.E.L.D., who we met in the teaser scene at the end of "Iron Man." Fury is trying to help Stark get control of his suit while evaluating whether or not he is what they're looking for to be a part of the Avenger Initiative. On top of all of this, Stark's relationship with Pepper Potts (Gwyneth Paltrow) is strained, and his friendship with Rhodey escalates over Rhodey's allegiance to the military.

It's almost too much to keep straight. In addition to all of Stark's growing problems, he continues to out-do technology (or even realistic ideas or what's possible, like creating new undiscovered elements) and keep throwing one-liners at the other characters, who can't seem to find it funny anymore. Rhodey has been re-cast in this sequel by Don Cheadle ("Crash," the "Ocean's" films), and he serves as a good compliment to Downey Jr.'s Stark. Scarlett Johansson ("The Other Boleyn Girl," "Vicki Christina Barcelona") is intriguing as Stark's new assistant, and a character the comics would know as Black Widow, though this name is never mentioned in the film. Black Widow will reportedly be appearing is several other upcoming Marvel Studios movies. Interviews with Rourke revealed that he didn't even read the entire script, but just his parts. Not surprising, as his acting reflected a lack of interest in the entire film. In the few instances when his character speaks, he barely speaks any lines of English.

Here's how this film fits into the Marvel Universe of upcoming and past superhero films. At the end of 2008's "The Incredible Hulk," which was released just weeks after "Iron Man," we see Tony Stark in a teaser scene where he confronts General Ross on his "problem" with the Hulk. He then mentions that "we" are getting a special team together. "We" implies that after meeting with Nick Fury at the end of "Iron Man" that Tony Stark is part of the Avenger Initiative Fury mentioned. In "Iron Man 2," he's being evaluated on whether or not he could be a part of this initiative. Also, at a point when Stark meets with Fury, you can see in the background that the college campus scene from "The Incredible Hulk" is being reported on the news (I didn't notice that myself, I read it online). So perhaps the events of "The Incredible Hulk" were actually happening after the events of "Iron Man 2." Also, several references were made to Captain America, who has his own film planned for next summer. Also, the teaser trailer at the end. I'll tell you right now it's not worth waiting past all of the credits for, but in case you want to be surprised, skip the next paragraph.

*SPOILER, TEASER SCENE*
The scene at the end of "Iron Man 2" shows Agent Coulson arriving in New Mexico, which he mentions several times throughout the film. There, we see a giant crater in the ground, and at the very last second we see what is supposed to be Thor's hammer in the crater. That's it. There is no surprise here. "Thor" is being released next summer and he will eventually be in "The Avengers," set for summer 2012 with Iron Man, War Machine, Captain America, Black Widow, Nick Fury and most likely The Hulk. There is no shock here. All we see is a hole in the ground and a glimpse of a hammer. Filming for "Thor" has already begun, so couldn't they have thrown a glimpse of him in there? I think that would have been very doable. It's not the worst teaser, just not worth waiting around for. I already knew all of that.

So "Iron Man 2" doesn't really live up to its predecessor, and hopefully it isn't a strong indication of upcoming Marvel movies. It's still a fun and enjoyable film, but you'll probably enjoy it more if you're a superhero fan and especially if you're trying to follow this massive Marvel plan to bring all these movies together. If you're not particularly in to this stuff, then you can probably skip it, or wait until it's out on video.

"I'd love to leave my door unlocked at night, but this ain't Canada."

-Brendan

Review: Crazy Heart

Aged country legend Bad Blake has a rocky career, an unhealthy lifestyle and a seemingly lonely life. The question the film asks is, "Is it ever too late to change?" Jeff Bridges stars in an Oscar winning role as Blake: a fictitious character that could represent any number of former country music stars. We meet Blake on one of his tour stops, which just so happens to be a bowling alley. He reveals his lifestyle pretty quickly with excessive smoking and drinking (mostly whiskey), one-night stands with star-struck fans and late nights on the stage. When he meets a local reporter in Santa Fe named Jane, played by Oscar nominee Maggie Gyllenhaal ("Stranger Than Fiction," "The Dark Knight"), he begins to think a bit differently. Blake sees a way to better himself in Jane and her four-year-old son Buddy. Young country star Tommy Sweet (Colin Farrell, "Phone Booth," "In Bruges") is also a thorn in Blake's side, though one with good intentions. Once somewhat of a student to Blake, Sweet has learned everything he knows from the former star and has gotten famous from Blake's previous support and songs Blake has written for him to perform. As he becomes closer with Jane, Bad Blake finds reason to change his ways, and a few career opportunities open up to him as he begins to write new songs, which is something he hasn't done in years.

The problem here is not so much the story. It's a familiar story with heart, and the cast is easy to fall in love with. What lacks is the dramatic event the film builds up to, but doesn't exactly deliver. There are several dramatic moments that create tension and help push the story. It just feels like something bigger is coming, and the ending itself, although it wraps up nicely, feels anti-climactic. The best part of the ending is hearing the song that Blake has been working on in pieces throughout the film.

While watching "Crazy Heart," it's hard not to compare the story and the character of Bad Blake to 2008's "The Wrestler," starring Oscar nominee Mickey Rourke in what is argued to be the comeback performance of his career. Jeff Bridges wasn't exactly in need of a comeback, so his performance doesn't seem to carry the weight that Rourke's did, despite his Oscar win. Personally I don't feel Rourke is that strong of an actor, but he was fantastic in "The Wrestler." That film, although not as visually pleasing, had a story with even more heart and emotion, and felt so real and personal. The dramatic moments were even more dramatic, the main character, similar in career and personal situations, fell harder and further with each misstep. Above all, it builds to a dramatic moment and ends in such a beautiful way that I can't say I've seen before. The stories, actors and films as a whole are much different, but so similar at the same time. The 2009 Academy Awards saw the much-deserving Sean Penn beat out Rourke for the Best Actor Oscar, but I think if you put Bridges' Bad Blake up against Rourke's Randy "The Ram" Robinson...ya know, that would be a pretty good fight.

Jane: Where did all those songs come from?
Bad Blake: Life, unfortunately.

-Brendan

Review: Pirate Radio

Set in 1966, "Pirate Radio" chronicles a time when rock n' roll music wasn't allowed to be played on mainstream British radio stations. What the great rebels of society decided to do at the time, was to anchor large ships out in the middle of the ocean and broadcast the defiant sounds of rock music 24 hours a day. Angering the British government, it became the mission of several sticklers to shut down such groups. The film focuses on a fictional ship with several characters based on known radio DJs of the time, and a colorful crew of rock enthusiasts. Young Carl is sent to the ship by his mother so he may spend time with his God-father Quentin, played by the ever-impressive Bill Nighy ("Love Actually," and Davey Jones in the "Pirates" films, though you can't always tell). When the government makes several frivolous attempts to outlaw the pirate broadcasts, but eventually puts some pressure on the crew, who must find new ways to reach their fans. Ultimately, the foreground of the story seems to center at times on Carl's attempt to lose his virginity to a girl who really likes him among a sea of sex, drugs and rock n' roll, in which everyone else seems to be more smooth and charismatic, though equally as unattractive.


Phillip Seymour Hoffman ("Capote," "Doubt") plays The Count, the lone American DJ (for a while) and is clearly one of the more rebellious members of the crew. His character seems part Howard Stern (without being horribly sexist and overly offensive), and bares a very strong resemblance to his portrayal of famous rock journalist Lester Bangs in "Almost Famous." Nick Frost ("Shaun of the Dead," "Hot Fuzz") is for once not the bumbling idiot of the group, though his character is at times a bit unlikable as he tries to help Carl out, but is just as quick to help himself out first. A rivalry arises between The Count and Gavin, an even smoother and more desired American DJ who once left the ship, but is now back to support them in their battle against the establishment. Gavin, played by Rhys Ifans ("The Replacements," "Little Nicky") could easily be confused with other characters in the film, as he doesn't speak enough dialogue or stand out in appearance. Maybe that's just me, but he's a memorable actor in a mysterious role amongst mysterious roles.

There are a handful of moments in the film that made me laugh out loud, by myself, and it's a funny enough movie overall, but the story itself is just alright. Having nearly all of it set on an anchored ship provides great visuals, and also a fantastically shot scene where records spill out of their covers through a room filled with water. It's no surprise this film had an extremely limited release. In fact, I knew it was coming out, but it was so quickly released on DVD that I think so few had the chance to see it in theaters. Either way, it's funny enough to watch if you're out of ideas, but I'm sure you could find something better to spend your money on.

"Here's a rather long record. I hope I'm here at the end of it."

-Brendan

What's New with Superheros!?

I apologize for the lack of posting lately, as I am finishing up my final semester of college and haven't had the time or money to see new movies. But I have found plenty of time to surf imdb.com like the sad, obsessed movie viewer I am, so here are some updates on what is going on with the crazy amount of superhero adaptations and remakes set to be released in the next few years (we'll try to go chronologically).


Iron Man 2 - May 7, 2010
Set for release just a few short weeks away, we're picking up where we left Tony Stark in 2008, when he had just announced to the world that he is Iron Man. Yes, we love that cocky bastard and can't wait to see him light up the screen as the rock star of superheros. Director Jon Favreau has some pressure riding on him, since this film will be setting the stage for a slew of Marvel Universe movies that will all tie together with similar characters (Samuel L. Jackson's Nick Fury, who I've read will have a bigger role in this movie) and the eventual Avengers film. Thanks to the success of "Iron Man" and "The Dark Knight" in the summer of '08 (and I think "The Incredible Hulk" was note-worthy too), the newest comic flicks have been announcing all-star casts, though this can be seen in the "X-Men" trilogy and the original Batman franchise as well. Robert Downey Jr. is back, but Oscar nominee Don Cheadle will be replacing Terrence Howard as Rhodey, who will be seeing more action this time around as War Machine (Iron Man's sidekick, more or less). Oscar winner Gwyenth Paltrow ("Shakespeare in Love") is back, and new additions include the underrated Sam Rockwell ("Choke," "Moon"), the beautiful Scarlett Johansson ("The Other Boleyn Girl," "Vicki Christina Barcelona") and Oscar nominee Mickey Rourke ("The Wrestler"). My only concern is Rourke as the villain, Whiplash, as he speaks Russian for a good portion of the movie, and I don't consider him that talented of an actor. Then again, Iron Man resurrected Robert Downey Jr.'s career, so can it sustain Rourke's recently saved one?

The Green Hornet - January 14, 2011
You may not have heard of this one, but Seth Rogen stars as a newspaper publisher turned crime fighter with martial arts toting sidekick. No, that's not a joke, and no, it's not supposed to be a comedy. It's actually a remake from 1966. This version will star Cameron Diaz, Oscar nominee Tom Wilkinson (one of my favorite supporting actors) and recent Oscar winner Christoph Waltz (only known to Americans as Hans Landa in "Inglourious Basterds") as the villain. I'm having a hard time believing this isn't supposed to be hilarious. It was just pushed back to the date listed above, reportedly because it is now going to be in 3D. Yay?

Thor - May 6, 2011
The next step in the Marvel arsenal will star Chris Hemsworth (died in the first 10 minuets of "Star Trek" as George Kirk) as the Norse warrior. Natalie Portman ("V for Vendetta," "Garden State") is the love interest required in any superhero story, and veteran actors Anthony Hopkins ("Silence of the Lambs") and Stellan Skarsgard ("Angels and Demons," and the Pirates trilogy as Bootstrap Bill) lend their talents as well. This is being directed by Kenneth Branagh, who won multiple Oscars for directing and starring in "Henry V," and believe it or not, he was the confederate villain in the wheel chair in Will Smith's "Wild, Wild West." This film is rumored to feature a lot of special effects, due to portions of the film spent among a world of Gods. The hammer-totting hero is already in the filming process.

Green Lantern - June 17, 2011
Ryan Reynolds has always been the guy making witty, smart-ass remarks in comedies, and in the past few years also a romantic comedy go-to guy. But he's also thrown in the occasional action appearance, but only in comic book adaptations like the "Blade" trilogy and "X-Men Origins: Wolverine." In fact, his portrayal of Wade Wilson, aka Deadpool, in "...Wolverine" earned him a solo Deadpool film also set to release in 2011, which is very confusing. He fits the part of Deadpool so well, as he is a smart-ass assassin full of witty quips and a killer instinct. Some feel he doesn't have what it takes to be the Green Lantern. Blake Lively ("Accepted," "The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants,") also stars along with a slew of talented actors like Peter Sarsgaard ("Garden State," "Jarhead,"), Oscar winner Tim Robbins ("Mystic River," "The Shawshank Redemption,") and Oscar nominee Angela Bassett.

The First Avenger: Captain America - July 22, 2011
It took forever to cast the red, white and blue superhero, but Marvel finally landed on Chris Evans, who appeared in both "Fantastic Four" films as the Human Torch, Johnny Storm. Luckily for them, those movies weren't that great and they aren't making any more (at least not with the same cast). Evans signed a nine-picture deal (similar to Jackson's deal as Nick Fury), ensuring he will appear in several films, including cameos in other Marvel Universe films (again, trying to tie everything together). The rest of the cast has not been solidified, but Hugo Weaving ("The Matrix" and "Lord of the Rings" trilogies), has been rumored to play Captain's arch enemy Red Skull, which would be fantastic. The film is set to take place in the 1940s during WWII, which is how the Captain America story begins. Director Joe Johnston ("The Rocketeer," "Jumanji" and most recently, "The Wolf Man,") is being doubted in his abilities, but the hope is that he can pull it together to introduce the most important part of the Avengers team.

Untitled Batman Project - 2011
Christopher Nolan, as usual, has been pretty hush-hush about the next Batman installment, supposedly his last. Nolan is returning with writers, his brother Jon and David S. Goyer, and the same core cast of Christian Bale, Michael Cain, Gary Oldman and Morgan Freeman. These facts alone are very reassuring. The villain and plot has not been announced, but ridiculous amounts of rumors and speculation have overrun the web since the success of "The Dark Knight." Nolan has said that he knows he can't out-do TDK, but everyone's expectations will be for him to do so, which is probably why he wants to get out of the Batman game before it goes the way of 1995's "Batman Forever."

A slew of X-Men related projects beginning in 2011
As for "X-Men Origins: Wolverine 2," so far only Hugh Jackman is cast and this will center on Wolverine's time in Japan...I really don't think this needs to be made. "X-Men: First Class" is also planned for 2011, though not a single detail exists yet. It's supposed to focus on the original class at Xavier's school for mutants, so basically younger versions of all the X-Men we've already seen in the trilogy. Speaking of the trilogy, some sort of "X-Men 4" is supposed to happen at some point with the same characters, but no one knows anything about that. "X-Men Origins: Magneto," which actually sounds really interesting, has been delayed numerous times and is now set for a 2012 release, but so far the only promising fact is that David S. Goyer is writing it. This franchise is so messed up.

Deadpool - 2011
Supposedly set for 2011, this was mentioned above in the Green Lantern section, as Ryan Reynolds will be playing both. This is a bit confusing, but it will probably be a better film. The question is, if the summer of 2011 is as jam-packed with important superhero films as it seems to be, is Reynolds going to be facing off against himself? At least this doesn't have the words "X-Men Origins" in front of the title.

The Avengers - May 4, 2012
This is the one that brings several years of Marvel movies together, and some of the biggest actors as well. Already set are Iron Man, Thor and Captain America (obviously). So much speculation and rumors have been swirling around as to who else would make up The Avengers team. Edward Norton is rumored to reprise his role as the Hulk in some way, and some feel characters like War Machine and Black Widow from "Iron Man 2" and Loki from "Thor" will also appear. Other superheros who won't be featured in their own movies before 2012 that might make the list include Hawkeye (which some are saying recent Oscar nominee Jeremy Renner is rumored to play), Wasp and Ant-Man. Acclaimed writer Joss Whedon ("Buffy the Vampire Slayer" series, "Firefly" series) is set to direct and has been asked to re-write the already existing script. It seems like Marvel is putting a lot of faith in him, though he is a trusted pick since he has actually been writing comic books featuring these heroes in recent years. This will be a big budget production and, like I said, a culmination of Marvel's recent and upcoming work. Whedon's biggest challenge will be directing the cast and the film in his own style, since all the other movies are being directed by different people.

Untitled Spider-Man reboot - July 3, 2012?
Ugh! I might be the only one who thought "Spider-Man 3" was not bad enough to derail the entire series, but I guess the studios did. Considering the backlash from internet fans, it made a decent amount of money, especially in its opening weekend. Director Sam Raimi said he knew what he did wrong and planned on fixing it in the fourth installment, which is now not happening. Reportedly, John Malkovich was possibly going to play The Vulture - not a great villain, but a fantastic actor. What many speculated, and what I was hoping, was that Peter Parker's professor and friend, Dr. Connors, would turn into the Lizard, which it seemed was a plan all along. Either way, the old Spider-Man franchise is dead, and just five years later they'll be putting out the newest one, which will go back to Peter's highschool roots (again) and will probably star a young actor that teenage girls love (which will make him a poorly-fitting Peter Parker). I also can't wait to see them ruin villains that were so perfectly portrayed like Willem Dafoe's Green Goblin or Alfred Molina's Dr. Octavious. Oh, and I read this is supposed to be in 3D (...just became not worth seeing).

Ant-Man - 2012?
The imdb entry itself is mostly speculation, especially the date. This will probably appear after "The Avengers" comes out but no one knows for sure when. All that they know is that Edgar Wright ("Shaun of the Dead," "Hot Fuzz") is directing, so it will not disappoint. Whether Ant-Man will appear in "The Avengers" is yet to be seen, but I think he probably will, which will create more interest in a lesser known superhero before his solo movie comes out.

Superman: Man of Steel - 2013
Supposedly this is not a sequel to 2006's "Superman Returns," which also was not a sequel, though the title implies such. Basically that film stood alone between the Superman series of the '70s and '80s and the 2006 reboot. So here's another reboot, currently being written by David S. Goyer (this is the third time he's being mentioned in this post so clearly he's important to this genre), and a helping hand is being lent by Batman guru Christopher Nolan, though he's not writing or directing or in any way taking over the project. Just...supervising? Either way, this story is going back to the roots of Superman and retelling the story, but it has been said it will not be a complete origins story as Goyer assumes the audience knows the story of Superman by now. Not much is known about this movie, but it should be the first good approach to the character in a while, assuming we all make it to 2013.

On top of all this, imdb pages exist for "Wonder Woman" and "Justice League: Mortal" in 2011, which seem pretty unlikely since there are no details announced. If you think this is a ridiculous amount of superhero movies to be coming out in the next two or three years then I completely agree. We've had more happen in the past 10 years than most people probably realize, but the trend just keeps on growing. Marvel definitely has the best idea of tying their movies and characters together, drawing in more fans and causing viewers to be pushed from one movie to another based on curiosity at the very least. You can also expect eventual sequels to most of these films, since no one ever seems to know when to quit when it comes to a good thing.

"A hero kills people - people that wish him harm. A hero is part human, and part supernatural. A hero is born out of a childhood trauma or out of a disaster that must be avenged." - Dwight Shrute

-Brendan