For What It’s Worth: Are Marvel Studios, Warner Brothers Concerned? Should They Be?

Despite what the TV ad for Fast and Furious #5 says (there was a three and four?), the Summer movie season starts the first weekend in May. That is also the opening weekend for Marvel's new movie THOR. By the way, that Saturday (May 7th) is Free Comic Book Day so go to your local comic shop and support them.

This will be an interesting year for Superhero movies. Green Lantern, Thor and Captain America are not big named characters like Superman, Batman, Hulk and Spider-Man. Are these risky adventures? Well, yes and no. I would say to you that Captain America is more well known than Iron Man, and those movies did well. The Lord of the Rings did well as the box office so I think the general public can handle the mythical aspects of Thor. The Green Lantern movie is being called this generation's Star Wars. A little extreme, but I can see where the comparison is coming from.

The fanboys (and girls) will be there in droves, but the question is will these movies appeal to the general public? To be quite honest, I can see it go either way. However, I hope that they will do well, to ensure that other projects (other than said Batman, Superman, Spider-Man) will have a chance. The Avengers movie will go in production soon (if not already) for a release next year. The Justice League movie slated for 2013 with spin-offs to come after that.

It will be interesting to look back at this post in say - six months time and see how things went this summer.

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For What It’s Worth: Can't They Make a Decent Western Anymore?

I was just reading this morning that Ryan Gosling (The Notebook, the upcoming Logan's Run re-make) may join the upcoming Lone Ranger movie if schedule permits. Then I'm reminded of the version that Gore Verbinski (Pirates of the Caribbean films) wants to do. If you don't know or remember here's his quote regarding the project...

"The only version of Lone Ranger I'm interested in doing is 'Don Quixote' told from Sancho Panza's point of view. And hence I was honest early on with Johnny [Depp] that Tonto is the part. We're not going to do it (straight), everyone knows that story.”

Don Quixote is a retired country gentleman nearing 50 years of age, who has become obsessed with books of chivalry, and believes their every word to be true, despite the fact that many of the events in them are clearly impossible. Quixano eventually appears to other people to have lost his mind due to lack of sleep and food from dedicating all of his time to reading.

So, he rather have a crazy Lone Ranger and an Caucasian Tonto in his movie than do it straight. Obviously, no one told him the reaction Jonah Hex received after it came out. If you haven't seen that movie, your fortunate. That is the only movie I have ever walked out from. Having Hex with the ability to talk to the death, plus weapons that came out of the horrible Wild, Wild, West movie was really disappointing.

Can't Hollywood make a good western anymore? Yes, they can. True Grit (2010) and 3:10 to Yuma (2007) were critically acclaimed and did well at the box office. Granted, both of them are remakes, but that is Hollywood's current m.o. right now - remakes, reboots and re-imaginings. Do they feel that westerns are unappealing to the general public? Well, I refer to back a couple of sentences ago - the evidence shows that we like them, and will go see them - as long as we have a good story and very little CGI.

Oh, by the way, the above picture was found on The Art of Michael L. Peters' website. I though it was cool!

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For What It’s Worth: A Blue and Gold TV Series? Why Not?

After seeing the images released this week of Booster Gold and Blue Beetle from the upcoming Smallville episode, I was thinking "why not a Blue and Gold series?"

The premise is simple, Jaime Reyes, a normal young man is encounters a mystical scarab that fuses with him. The scarab can manifest a number of powers at its own volition, starting with body armor and going from there. While trying to control it and decides what's next when he encounters Michael Carter - Booster Gold. Michael created the Booster Gold identity, traveled into the past to become a superhero and gain fame and fortune based of his knowledge of future events. I think it would be an unique team-up. While I would love to be Ted Kord to be involved, I think this would be a great show just Jaime and Booster.



Will this happen? I don't know. There was some rumblings about a Smallville spinoff. I've seen several theories, including a Green Arrow series (which would be cool). I guess it would depend on how well the episode does and if Warner Brothers is receptive to the idea. Since they are working on a Wonder Woman and Raven series, I can't see a reason why not do a Blue/Gold show. The only drawback would be the cost of the special effects for Blue Beetle. And it can be done - have you seen the demo they did awhile back? If not, take a look...




Well, that's my $.02. I think it would work and be successful. Especially if Geoff Johns is involved...

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For What It’s Worth: The Justice League Movie

If you haven't heard, the plans are to have a Justice League movie out in 2013. At first, I got excited, then I started hearing the other news. First, Batman will be rebooted after The Dark Knight Rises. OK, Bale and Nolan only signed to do three and they did that. I hate that we'll get another restart - but it's not the end of the world.

Then I hear, that the rebooted Superman and Batman will be independent of the JL movie. They also said that the Flash movie AND Wonder Woman movie will come out after the JL movie. It was also revealed that the Wonder Woman TV series actress, Adrianne Palicki, will not be involved. So...we'll have two different actors for Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman AND maybe Green Lantern - we don't know if Ryan Reynolds will be involved.

Geez. I guess DC/Warner Brothers looked at what's going on with the Iron/Man/Thor/Captain America/Avengers movies and said "that's a great model to follow. Let's do that and mess it up." Quite honestly, I don't know if THEY know what's going on. There was scuttlebutt of a Clark Kent appearance in Green Lantern, but was shot down.

C'mon guys, it's one comic book company that's own by one movie company. Why make it multiverse? Sigh....

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