2011's Upcoming Superhero Movies

Unless you’re a total cynic, have a taste for anything other than colorful art or simply aren’t into Sci-Fi/comic book kind of stuff, you’ll have probably heard that this year, we might just be in for a real treat from the Comic Book/movie segment of Hollywood. While 2010 may not have been the best year for movies and let’s face it, it really didn’t offer too many great Superhero flicks, 2011, I’m hoping, will be different.

Here’s what we can expect from DC and Marvel this year from their movie divisions -

Thor - Release Date: May 06, 2011
Marvel’s God of Thunder will be making his second big screen debut, the first being an appearance in the 1988 TV Movie – The Hulk Returns, featuring Thor. The latest take showcases the God of Thunder aka Thor (played by relatively unknown actor Chris Hemsworth) being sent out from his legendary Norse home, Asgard, by his father Odin (played by Anthony Hopkins) to protect the ‘innocent’ beings that reside on our plane of existence. The movie also features recent Oscar winner (much deserved might I add) Natalie Portman who plays Thor’s love interest, Jane Foster. Brandishing his majestic hammer Mjolnir, he kicks demon butt and will obviously win the day!

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The God of Thunder

Thor promises to be a very modern take on the comic book character but, the little you see in the trailer shows off a very true-to-the-books costume selection for all. At least Hollywood gets some details right. This is the next addition to the upcoming Avengers movie. In case you don’t recall, Iron Man 2 ends with a teaser for this movie and that’s where the story begins.

Check out the official trailer -

   
Green Lantern – Release Date: June 17, 2011

I’ve been waiting for this movie for a long time since Green Lantern has been a personal favorite amongst my comic book collection. The movie features Ryan Reynolds who’s no stranger to the superhero type genre playing Wade Wilson aka. Deadpool, in the recent (but absolutely ridiculous) X-Men Origins: Wolverine and Blade Trinity movies. I’m not entirely sure he’s best suited for this role as Hal Jordan aka. Green Lantern of sector 2814, but, I’d like to be proven wrong.

Green Lantern

Entrusted with one of the Universe’s mightiest weapons, the Emerald Ring of Oa, a planet occupied by beings called the Guardians of the Universe, Hal Jordan, footloose, fancy free, daredevil test pilot, must protect the Earth from would be alien baddies. Of course, the bad guys here on the planet aren’t just your run-of-the-mill villains either, but this guy’s an inert-planetary super cop so… bring on the big guns! Always loved the Green Lantern’s creed - “In brightest day, in blackest night, no evil shall escape my sight. Let those who worship evil’s might, beware my power, Green Lantern’s light!”

Here’s the trailer -

 Captain America: The First Avenger – Release Date: July 22 2011

Another personal favorite from Marvels selection of Superheroes is Captain America aka Steve Rogers. Recruited as a soldier for a special Super Soldier program during World War II, Steve Rogers is transformed into the world’s first Avenger Captain America. Played by another familiar face in the superhero genre of movies, Chris Evans (Johnny Storm aka The Human Torch of the Fantastic Four), our intrepid Hero faces off against Nazi officer the Red Skull played by Hugo Weaving (love this guy) – Agent Smith of the Matrix, V for Vendetta and Elrond of LOTR.

Captain America

Once again, what really works for me is the true-to-form costume and more or less accurate origin story. If you’ve paid close attention, you’ll know that bits of information about this movie sort of made an appearance in the two Iron Man flicks. The first two Captain America movies, as good as they may have been for the time, will be nothing more than uber cheesy for today’s audience who aren’t comic book fans. This rebooted version might be just the ticket for Marvel to recruit new ones.   

The trailer really doesn’t show you too much about the story and I’d recommend, if you’re not aware of it, stay that way till you watch the film.

X-Men: First Class - Release Date: June 03 2011
I’ve never been much of an X-Men fan be it comic books or the movies that made it out. The latest in the Origin series that Marvel is showcasing is of the initial founding members of the two groups the X-Men, Led by Professor Charles Xavier (James McAvoy – Wanted) and the bad guys headed up by Erik Lehnsherr aka Magneto played by Michael Fassbender (Inglorious Basterds, 300, Centurion). Other cast members include – Jennifer Lawrence who’s replacing Rebecca Romijin as Mystique, Kevin Bacon Oliver Platt and January Jones as Emma Frost.

X-Men First Class

The movie will, of course, show you just how these two groups were formed and how this group of young mutants wound up on either said of the decades long comic book face off. Let’s hope its better than the last three X-Men movies with a few more mutant powers showcased rather than just long winded explanations.

Here’s the trailer -