There is something very creepy going on in the bottom right of this photo.
It comes as a surprise to pretty much nobody that Iron Man 2 was the number one film this past weekend. While the actual box office itself didn’t set any #1 records (it placed fifth for all-time best grossing weekend), I was a bit surprised to learn that it did set the record for the widest release in motion picture history(4,380 theaters to be exact), beating former record holder The Dark Knight by a mere 14 theaters.
Meanwhile, repeat business is supposed to make it’s overall box office climb even higher. If you’re one of those nerds- I mean, people…no wait, nerds will do…that plan on seeing it again, why not check out some of the confirmed Easter eggs that CHUD dug up.
So, what did your pals here at Critical End! Think about it? Find out tomorrow in our podcast!
Here’s the first image of Thor from Kenneth Branagh’s upcoming Marvel film. I have to say, I’m surprised that they’re sticking this closely to the costume from the comics. I thought they’d try to make it look a bit darker, maybe lose the big red cape. I wonder how weird this guys’ going to look standing next to Iron Man in the Avengers movie? On the upside, I still can’t really believe there’s going to be an Avengers movie. All my 7th grade fantasies are coming true! Except for the one about that chick who sat behind me in Math class…
Like many, I came out of Men In Black II disappointed. The story was kind of lame, Tommy Lee Jones’s reintroduction could have been much more epic, and it suffered from trying to cram in every character from the first film. I think I’m going to start calling that “Crank 2 Syndrome”.
In any case, I still thought the series had potential, which is why it’s good to hear that both Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones have agreed to a third film. Here’s the thing, though: Without the dynamic of introducing a new recruit to the Men In Black (which both movies used), what’s this movie going to be about? Maybe they’ll be forced to make the plot itself interesting. Or perhaps they’ll just write in a new rookie agent, treating us once again to the classic “small gun is surprisingly dangerous” bit.
I was pretty jazzed when Ryan Reynolds was cast as Green Lantern, but I figured it severely slimmed the chances of his reprising his role from X-Men Origins: Wolverine in a Deadpool solo flick. But, apparently, Deadpool is still a go, and the Zombieland guys are writing it. Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick (authors of my second favorite film of the year) have demonstrated an excellent mastery of dry wit and dark comedy, making them a solid choice for a successful adaptation of Deadpool.
And this will make Reynolds the first big name I can think of to headline as both a Marvel and DC hero (although, I guess if you count his role in the third Blade movie, he was there already.) All we need is a competent director, maybe somebody willing to let Reynolds improvise here and there, and this thing might turn out alright.
What’s all this then? Well, it’s our first video feature. A Critical Quip, if you will. In it, Logan and I have our way with the trailer for Solomon Kane. Wanna see more stuff like this? Let us know in the comments.
Ryan Reynolds has just gone from “actor whose agent says they like comics to up their geek cred” to “actual factual capes and cowls fan” in my book.
X-Men Origins: Wolverine managed to waste both Deadpool as a character and Reynolds as an actor, but Reynolds has apparently insisted that the spin-off movie stick close to the source material, specifically Deadpool’s fourth-wall-breaking awareness that he’s in a work of fiction. Combine this with the speculation that the albino thing at the end of Wolverine was in fact a clone of Deadpool and not the real deal (meaning we can happily ignore it going forward) and we may actually get an excellent cinematic take on one of my favorite characters.
Bryan Singer loves the X-Men almost as much as he loves making out with Frank Langella. And that's A LOT.
Well, okay, he doesn’t say that exactly. But when asked about the third X-film, which Brett Ratner directed while he was doing Superman Returns, Singer replied “It’s weird for me to watch it, because I’m so close to the universe. And also Brett is a good friend of mine. But, of course, I would love to return to that universe.” That sounds like disappointment to me.
He goes on to say he’d be interested in doing another X-Men film. To which I said, in a recent interview, “Yes please.” Too bad all the interesting characters are dead, depowered, or wussies now. Thanks, Ratner.
Critical End! (The Podcast) #14 is too sexy to die. REVIEWED: X-Men Origins: Wolverine. PLUS: More nerd talk than you can shake a bone claw at. SUPER BONUS PLUS: For a faster and wackier show, try the Alternate Nerd Voice Ashcan Edition.
What’s loud and long and blue all over? Wait, I think I told that wrong… REVIEWED: Watchmen. RETRO PICKS:V for Vendetta, From Hell, The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen. PLUS: Secrets of The Persuader revealed!
