Another Megamind Trailer Elicits More Yawns

While better than the teaser, this just seems like a ripoff of so many things like Austin Powers and the Incredibles. Also, there weren't any hints of the potentially interesting "villain turns hero" plot line that was originally rumored.

Smallville Season X - The Final Chapter

After 10 years and after besting nearly all of Superman's classic enemies, Clark Kent will finally be ready to become Superman. Smallville Season 10 will be the last. Will we finally see flights and tights? I sure hope so. It's not that I particularly want Smallville to end, but I think most people still watching are watching because they want to see the end- the end being Superman, in costume, flying. And, while cool, this single frame from the season 9 finale doesn't count:


So, what does season X promise? Due to mentions of Apokolips and sightings of a possible Granny Goodness (see below), the rumor mill says Darkseid. Since he is the one major villain left, I am all for it. I just hope Lex rears his bald head at least one last time before the end.


We shall see, but in the meantime, here is a clip of what the final season may hold in store:

Green Lantern's Brightest Days #11

#11 Justice League: Legends

Up until just recently when Alan Scott got a shoutout during Smallville's 9th season, the Golden Age Green Lantern had never appeared on film. However, the 2002 Justice League episode Legends, paid homage to original Justice Society members with its portray of the Justice "Guild." Guild member Green Guardsman was an obvious, though respectful tribute to the original bearer of the emerald power ring. John Stewart teaming up with one of his childhood fictional heroes was another nice touch.

#25 - Justice League Unlimited: Initiation - John Stewart's new look
#24 - Batman: The Brave and the Bold: Death Race to Oblivion! - Guy Gardner's Lanternmobile
#23 - Justice League of America: Pilot - Doesn't air
#22 - Justice League Unlimited: The Once and Future Thing: Time Warped - Hal Jordan joins the league
#21 - Legends of the Superheroes - Lantern goes live-action
#20 - Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths - Darker shade of green
#19 - Batman Beyond: The Call - Lantern of the future
#18 - Static Shock: Fallen Hero - Hero Worshiped
#17 - Batman: The Brave and the Bold: The Revenge of the Reach! - Loads of Lanterns
#16 - The Batman: Ring Toss - Gotham by Greenlight
#15 - Justice League: Hearts and Minds - More to the Corps
#14 - Justice League Unlimited: The Return - The Corps is Greener Yet
#13 - Justice League: The Savage Time - Ringless
#12 - Batman: The Brave and the Bold: Day of the Dark Knight - Guy is the Man
#11 - Justice League: Legends - The Green Guardsman

No More Capeless Heroes on NBC

Its official, NBC has canceled Heroes. There is still a chance that Volume 6: Brave New World may get made as a special event movie. Anyways, out with the old and in with the new. NBC will instead be showing a series titled The Cape. Here is the series description:

"The Cape" is a one-hour drama series starring David Lyons ("ER") as Vince Faraday, an honest cop on a corrupt police force, who finds himself framed for a series of murders and presumed dead. He is forced into hiding, leaving behind his wife, Dana (Jennifer Ferrin, "Life on Mars") and son, Trip (Ryan Wynott, "Flash Forward"). Fueled by a desire to reunite with his family and to battle the criminal forces that have overtaken Palm City, Faraday becomes "The Cape" his son's favorite comic book superhero -- and takes the law into his own hands. Rounding out the cast are James Frain ("The Tudors") as billionaire Peter Fleming -- The Cape's nemesis -- who moonlights as the twisted killer: Chess; Keith David ("Death at a Funeral") as Max Malini, the ringleader of a circus gang of bank robbers who mentors Vince Faraday and trains him to be The Cape, Summer Glau ("Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles") as Orwell, an investigative blogger who wages war on crime and corruption in Palm City; and Dorian Missick ("Six Degrees") as Marty Voyt, a former police detective and friend to Faraday. "The Cape" is a Universal Media Studios and BermanBraun production from executive producer/creator Thomas Wheeler ("Empire"), executive producer/director Simon West ("Con Air"), the executive producing team of Gail Berman and Lloyd Braun (NBC's "Mercy), and executive producer Gene Stein ("Accidentally on Purpose").

And some clips:

Is this a worthy replacement? All I know is that by the end, even though I somewhat enjoyed heroes, I was watching it more out of habit than because it was good. I am kind of relieved to have an hour of my life back each week. I will reserve judgment for this until I see a bit more, but I will say the show looks less cheesy than the title sounds, but it still looks in the territory of Smallville.

Evolution of the Batman (and Robin) - The Dark Knight

What can I say, who hasn't seen this movie that would be reading this? After the moderate financial successful of Batman Begins which gave film Batman back his dignity, fans were primed for more of with The Dark Knight. Not only was the most menacing on screen version of the Joker to date presented, making fans forget the once definitive version from 1989. but the movie basically improved on Begins in every way. Well, Batman's voice was still lame.

Part spy thriller, part crime drama, the movie transcended the superhero genre while even managing to balance multiple villains. Let us not forget that equally important to the film was the story of the rise and fall of a great, though all too brief, version of Two-Face.

The movie was a huge hit, earning $533 million - tops for the genre and building anticipation for the next sequel slated to arrive in 2012.

Up Next: Batman: The Brave and the Bold

Batman Serial * Batman and Robin Serial * Batman '66 TV * Batman '66 Movie * Batman with Robin the Boy Wonder * Batman on Scooby Doo * Batman the Super Friend * The New Adventures of Batman * Batman '89 * Batman Returns * Batman: The Animated Series * Batman: Mask of the Phantasm * Batman Forever * Batman and Robin * The New Batman Adventures * Boo Wonder * Batman & Mr. Freeze: SubZero * Batman Beyond * Gotham Girls * Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker * Batman on Justice League * DCAU Crossovers * Birds of Prey * Teen Titans * Batman: Mystery of the Batwoman * Chase Me * The Batman * Batman Begins * Batman Vs. Dracula * Justice League: The New Frontier * Batman: Gotham Knight * The Dark Knight *

* Special Musical Edition * Special Christmas Edition * Special OnStar Edition * Special Never Happened Edition * Special Canine Edition *

How Does Iron Man 2's Debut Compare to Heroes Past

(Click to Enlarge)

Though some predicted Iron Man 2 would break the opening weekend box office record set in 2008 by The Dark Knight, the movie fell a bit short placing 3rd for the genre (behind Spider-Man 3). This was a $30 million dollar improvement of 2008's Iron Man which went on to make $318 mil. So, what does this mean for the hero? It looks like Iron Man 2 will end up grossing somewhere around $350 million or so. And surprisingly, execs are probably a bit disappointed by that. Before its opening the $400 million mark was in view and may now be just out of reach. Of course, the lack of 3D is getting some of the blame with upcoming Captain America and The Avengers now being considered for 3D filming. In the end Iron Man 2 will do just fine and IM3 is all but certain. And for now, The Dark Knights record seems safe.

Superest Sequels - 2010

The assembly of Iron Man 2 has necessitated the reevaluation of my superhero sequel rankings (click here for last years list) The top entries remained stable but lower on the list, some of my rankings were shuffled up a bit based on how much I would actually want to revisit the movies. As for Iron Man 2, it definitely wasn't the disaster than many sequels in the genre end up being, but it fell just short of the classics ending up in position #6 (Again, my rules for inclusion consider prequels as sequels, but do include clear-cut franchise reboots).

15. TMNT

Kind of a bizarre sequel, coming 14 years after its predecessor, and also being animated as opposed to man-in-suit. But this is clearly a sequel as opposed to a reboot. The animation actually fit the film, as turtle ninjas were much more believable when they are toons (believe it or not). Leo and Raph had a fantastic rooftop fight in the rain. This incredible sequence really stood out and showcased some fancy animation and cinematic camera movements. Unfortunately, the movie overall was just kinda dull. This one took a big drop in the rankings because I just can't really imagine myself ever having the urge to see it again any time soon. (Better than Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles? - Yes)

14. Batman Forever

I will rank Batman Forever above Returns (dropped from this year's list), though over the years they have switched places a number of times. I guess what gives this one the edge for now (giving it the oh so prestigious 14th spot) is that it at least rings truer to the Batman character. The Robin origin in particular is not bad. Val Kilmer as Batman was a step down from Keaton, but still way better than Clooney. I also thought the riddles themselves were fair, and the Riddler's take on being a mirror image of Bruce Wayne was interesting - though pink haired Jim in spandex is a bit yikes. Two-Face on the other hand was irredeemable and fares even worse when compared to The Dark Knight. (Better than Batman '89? - No)

13. Superman 3

Although Superman 3 really doesn't have any business being on any Top anything list, there really aren't THAT many superhero sequels. Besides, the movie is not completely devoid of redeeming moments. After two films focusing on the relationship between smoker-teeth hag Lois, it was great to see Superman going for the upgrade in Smallville with Lana Lang. The main villain of the film being a plain old computer as opposed to Brainiac is a let down, but when the computer turned the villainess Vera into a cyborg... that was some scary stuff. The fight between Clark Kent and Evil Superman in the junkyard was also one of the great superhero clashes in any movie - even if it doesn't really make sense. When that Superman theme chimes in at the end, you can't help but feel excitement! (Better than Superman? - No)

12. Superman Returns

What a gorgeous movie this was. It played homage to the first two Superman films and includes the memorable Superman themes. The airplane rescue was also jaw dropping, but unfortunately, one amazing scene does not a great movie make. All of the Super-stalking and child subplots sullied the hero. The lack of a superhero throw down was also disappointing. Sure, we saw plenty of heavy lifting, but zero punches and that is criminal. And I don't even want to get into the lameness of the Kryptonite island real estate scheme. Sorry movie Lex, you are still lame. After Superman 3 and 4, this was a pretty good return to form for Superman, but they probably should have freed themselves of the 30 year old film baggage and gone for a reboot. (Better than Superman? - No)

11. Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer

The Silver Surfer did all he could to save this sequel from disaster. I am not sure he was successful, but the character was easily the greatest part of the film "steel"ing every scene he was in, and looking "fantastic." If only the Fantastic Four had had someone to fight other than a cloud or a Ferris wheel, this movie may have been better received. I must also admit to enjoying the power swapping scenes, and the super powered Johnny that takes out Dr. Doom. In spite of everything, the movie gets marks for improving on the original - even if the bar was set awfully low. (Better than The Fantastic Four? - Yes)

10. Spider-Man 3

After a recent rewatching this movie dropped a few spots in the rankings this year. Some of the scenes in the movie were good, but the way they were threaded together was just so sloppy. The alien symbiote's arrival on Earth was a joke, Sandman's backstory (especially his role in the retconned death of Uncle Ben) was horrible, and pretty much everything about Venom was mishandled (no one wants to constantly see Eddie's face). I didn't have a problem with the dark Peter Parker. I just imagine that a Peter Parker amped up on "roids" be a jerk, but he would still be a geek. The jazz club dance on the other hand was jarringly out of place. Sandman's origin and fights were among the movies highlights, at least until he turned into a giant dirt moron at the end. In spite of the flaws, the movie did wrap up the goblin arc in a decent enough manner. Rest in peace Harry Osborn. (Better than Spider-Man? - No)


9. X-Men Origins: Wolverine

The sole prequel on the list (perhaps because its the only prequel in the genre, for now...). The movie lacked the epic feel of your X2, or Dark Knight, but also absent were any cringe worthy moments that often rear their heads in superhero sequels such as dance club sequences (found in BOTH Spider-Man 3 and Fantastic Four 2), costume nipples (Batman Forever and B&R), or not so subtle political statements (Superman 4). The movies biggest offense, much like X3 was the slew of missed opportunities. Deadpool, Gambit, even Emma Frost could add a lot to a movie, but not so much here, especially in the case of Deadpool (getting the old Angel 2-scene treatment). The main element missing was a grand Magneto scale villain. Weapon XI, William Stryker, and Sabretooth just didn't quite cut the mustard for me. (Better than X-Men? - No)

8. The Incredible Hulk

This is a bit of a cheat because Marvel calls this a reboot, but to me it seemed like it could just as well have been a sequel. Hulk ended with Bruce Banner speaking Spanish in Central America, and The Incredible Hulk opened with him a bit farther south, still on the run from Thunderbolt Ross and the Army. Finally, we got to see the Hulk fight a real enemy. Watching him thrash tanks was also fun, but once the Abomination showed up, Hulk actually had a non-canine challenge. Though I enjoyed the dark, slow, physiological build of Hulk, a lighter more action packed follow-up is just what audiences wanted. (Better than Hulk? - Yes)

7. X-Men 3: The Last Stand

X-Men 3's biggest failure was in not living up to massive expectations. Second to that, it took characters in directions different from the comics (and admittedly usually for the worse). But even though they were not all executed well, there are some thought provoking themes under this movies surface and I would wager than if the Phoenix saga had never been told in print, the plot of this movie wouldn't have been so maligned. In my opinion, this film is greatly under appreciated. The additions of Beast, Shadowcat, and Juggernaut were excellent and the whole ending sequence with Jean / Phoenix was pretty amazing. Sure, it could have been better, but this movie avoided the steep decline in quality that befell other 3quels (see Batman Forever, Spider-Man 3, and Superman 3). (Better than X-Men? - Yes)

6. Iron Man 2


Most of the movies on this list are either better than the original, or disasters. Iron Man 2 is the exception, partly because Iron Man 1 was so good, and partly because even though this movie was cohesive and enjoyable, I'm not really sure what it was about. I'm not even really sure who the villain was. There were lots of antagonists (Justin Hammer, Whiplash, Drunk and depressed Tony, Rhodey), but none of them ever really had a substantial showdown with the hero. Its not necessarily a bad formula, but it is unorthodox. When the movie ended it just didn't really seem like there had been a point to any of it. I mean, Iron Man had a new chest piece, War Machine was on the scene, and it was clear an Avengers movie was in the works, but everything else was pretty much status quo. (Better than Iron Man? - No)



5. Hellboy 2: The Golden Army

I can't smile without Hellboy 2 getting some much deserved recognition. What an odd choice of a song for the movie, and yet it worked so well. This movie really upped the ante on a solid first movie. The art department did an amazing job designing the troll market and even the actual golden army and the story was pretty interesting and atypical even. Its just goes to show you that some quirkiness never hurts when combined with polished effects and good action. (Better than Hellboy? - Yes)

4. Spider-Man 2

Spider-Man 2 kept it simple. It didn't try and give us twice the villains or twice the explosions, it just built on the foundation of Spider-Man. We got to see the characters grow and Doc Ock was a better villain than the original's Green Goblin. The clock fight / train sequence stands out as an action highlight. But the best aspect of this film is that we can really identify with Peter Parker. Spider-Man 2 stole a page from Superman 2 with the hero finally embracing his powers and responsibility. When Peter finally catches a break from MJ at the end, we get to cheer for him. and not just for his alter-ego. (Better than Spider-Man? - Yes)

3. Superman 2

Call it nostalgia, but this movie is just so much fun and shows what a good Superman movie can be. General Zod and his crew were a viable threat for the Man of Steel. They easily stole the show from Lex Luthor and gave audiences a reason to cheer for dude that is practically perfect in every way. The movie has an interesting story as well with Superman deciding if he really wants to be a the hero and then regretting his decision after getting pwned in a dinner by Bubba. The fight on the Streets of Metropolis was high stakes and my vote for the best Superhero fight on film. "Kneel Before Zod" is an all-time great movie line and seeing Zod bested is a delight every time. When so many things are done right, you can even forgive some missteps like bizarre un-Superman powers (super plastic S-shield throw, amnesia kiss, finger beam). (Better than Superman? - Yes)

2. X2: X-Men United

X-Men was good, but no one was prepared for the epic X2. The film seemed like it could be overstuffed like many sequels are, but the additions of Nightcrawler and Lady Deathstrike did not rob the other heroes of their moments. The opening scene of Nightcrawler's White House infiltration is a perfect action sequence and Magneto's plastic prison escape was also awesome. Though the subtitle "X-Men United" is awfully cheesy, seeing the X-Men forced to team up with Magneto, and then be betrayed by him, was great. The film's cliffhanger ending was a perfect final note for this near flawless sequel. (Better than X-Men? - Yes)

1. The Dark Knight

Two years after its release, The Dark Knight maintains its position as the bar by which superhero movies will be measured. Even with two main villains, the movie never suffered from character overload. It helps that both characters were written and played so well. While the action in the film may not be quite up to par with some in the genre, its the characters that make this one great. That is not to say the action is bad, there are some classic sequences, especially the Bondesque Honk Kong abduction. Small problems like the misuse of Scarecrow and questionable bullet reconstruction forensics are minor detractors from the best superhero sequel of all time. (Better than Batman Begins? - Yes)