Super (2010)

Super (2010)
Director: James Gunn
Writer: James Gunn
Country: USA Runtime: 96 min Soundtrack: Tyler Bates
Cast: Rainn Wilson, Ellen Page, Liv Tyler
After his wife falls under the influence of a drug dealer, an everyday guy transforms himself into Crimson Bolt, a superhero with the best intentions, though he lacks for heroic skills.

An ordinary man turns super hero after his wife leaves him for a local drug dealer. Short order fast food chef Frank (Rainn Wilson) has had two great moments in life, one helping the police when he was younger to catch a shop lifter, the 2nd was when he married the beautiful recovering alcoholic waitress Sarah (Liv Tyler). He can see his wife slowly drifting out of his hands for a local drug dealer (Kevin Bacon) but isn't man enough to do anything about it. When she finally leaves, Frank as a break down and seeks the comfort of a Television evangelist super hero named The Holy Avenger (Nathan Fillion). Frank as a brainstorm and decides he too can become a super hero and stand up to wrong doings. For preparation he goes to the local comic-book store, where he meets Libby (Ellen Page). After his first few steps into the crime fighting gain the news headlines, Libby works out its Frank and together they form the duo Crimson Bolt and Boltie. Franks number one task as the Crimson Bolt is to save his wife Sarah from the hands of the drug dealer shes shacked up with.

Fun film dealing with an everyday man, hell bent on cleaning up life's wrong doings. Its similar to the film Falling Down, with the added appeal of super heroes. The same idea's been done loads lately with films like Special, Kick-Ass and Defendor, Super doesn't offer that much different, its only diversion really is how far Frank will go concerning some of the most trivial matters, like the queue pusher he beats to a pulp with his weapon of choice a pipe wrench. Enjoyable for what it is, I loved Fillions Christian crime fighter character, cult fans will have fun spotting the likes of Michael Rooker (Henry:Portrait Of A Serial Killer), Lloyd Kaufman (Troma) and Rob Zombie as the voice of God.

Themes Included: Super Hero ● Crime Fighter ● Costume Sex

Cultdb Totals
[Rated 7½ out of 10]
[Deathcount 8]
[Gorequota 6/10]
[Boobquota 0/10]

X-Men: First Class (2011)

X-Men: First Class (2011)
Director: Matthew Vaughn
Cast: James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, Jennifer Lawrence
In 1962, the United States government enlists the help of Mutants with superhuman abilities to stop a malicious dictator who is determined to start world war III.
STORYLINE : Before Charles Xavier and Erik Lensherr took the names Professor X and Magneto, they were two young men discovering their powers for the first time. Before they were archenemies, they were closest of friends, working together, with other Mutants (some familiar, some new), to stop the greatest threat the world has ever known. In the process, a rift between them opened, which began the eternal war between Magneto's Brotherhood and Professor X's X-MEN.

Entertaining fourth entry in the x-men franchise, this time an origin story of Prof X and Magneto. Not sure why it flew through the cinema's so quickly as its as good as the previous three entry's and heaps better than the tragic first Wolverine origin tale. James McAvoy, Jennifer Lawrence and Kevin Bacon were all great, I was particularly impressed with Michael Fassbender as Magneto. Not gonna bother going to in depth as there's 1000s of reviews already online, I liked it my only niggle was the Ron Weasley looking kid who could fly with sonic waves, the effects they used looked terrible.

Cultdb Totals
[Rated 7 out of 10 Good]
[Deathcount N/A]
[Gorequota N/A]

Themes Included: Comic Book Heroes ● Mass Missile Attack ● Nazi Death Camp

Thor (2011)

Thor (2011)
Director: Kenneth Branagh
Cast: Chris Hemsworth, Anthony Hopkins and Natalie Portman
The epic adventure Thor spans the Marvel Universe from present day Earth to the mystical realm of Asgard. At the center of the story is The Mighty Thor, a powerful but arrogant warrior whose reckless actions reignite an ancient war. As a result, Thor is banished to Earth where he is forced to live among humans. When the most dangerous villain of his world sends its darkest forces to invade Earth, Thor learns what it takes to be a true hero.

Not going to do anything in depth as there's already 10's of 1000's of reviews online for it, likable slightly above average Marvel action hero yarn. I liked the lead Chris Hemsworth, and Portmans always easy on the eye. I just hope that any sequels they do improve on the action. Was nice seeing old Stan Lee in a cameo and don't forget to stick around after the credits (we all know how kids love doing that) for the added link to the Avengers film.

(Rated 6½ out of 10)

Kick-Ass (2010)

Kick-Ass (2010)
Director: Matthew Vaughn
Writer: Jane Goldman, Matthew Vaughn
Cast: Aaron Johnson, Garrett M. Brown, Clark Duke
Dave Lizewski is an unnoticed high school student and comic book fan who one day decides to become a super-hero, even though he has no powers, training or meaningful reason to do so.

(Not Yet Rated)

.

Hellboy II: The Golden Army (2008)

Hellboy II: The Golden Army (2008)
Director: Guillermo del Toro
Writer: Guillermo del Toro
Cast: Ron Perlman, Doug Jones, Selma Blair, James Dodd, John Alexander, Seth MacFarlane, Luke Goss, Jeffrey Tambor, John Hurt
The mythical world starts a rebellion against humanity in order to rule the Earth, so as Hellboy and his team returns they must save the world from the rebellious creatures. Now, as the creatures who inhabit the spiritual realm gear-up for an all out attack on the human plane, the only one capable of saving the Earth is a tough-talking hellspawn rejected by both worlds.

[Synopsis Anthony Pereyra @ IMDB]

Finally got advanced screenings here in the UK after being out a good month or so stateside. Hellboy (Perlman), Abe (Jones) and Liz (Blair) are back protecting mankind and causing chaos for their boss Manny. Plot starts with a backflash of Hellboy as a boy, his father figure the professor Bruttenholm (Hurt) reads him a bed time story about a Golden army (very much like the Chinese terracotta army) who have been made to lay in wait till a time comes they will fight the human race. Cut to present and Prince Nuada (Goss) tries reclaiming a broken crown thats needed to make the golden army rise again. Hellboy and his merry band of misfits are joined by gas/spirit Johann Krauss (voiced by MacFarlane) to try stop the evil prince achieve his mission. Slightly lighter than the original film but still as humrous and unique feeling. Sadly even though this was opening night it was only an half full theatre, with the imax release of Dark Knight still having people queuing, I guess its hard having two great comic book based films go head to head, and I must be honest in admitting Dark Knight is the better of the two. Don't get me wrong Hellboy II still manages to be special, sure Ledger was stunning as the Joker but whereas I don't like Bale in the role of Batman here Perlman, Jones & Blair shine and make the characters of Hellboy,Abe & Liz their own. Guillermo del Toro does no wrong either building such a wicked visual treat for the viewer, with dozens of amazing creatures and spellbinding sets (best being the wonderful Troll market) . For me the down point is the over all story, as fun as it was it never really takes you anywhere unexpected or asks anything of the viewer. The addition of Krauss was great and Goss surprised me in his evil martial arts heavy role as the bad guy. All in all a worthy sequel and hope its not the last we see of Hellboy on the bigscreen (trouble is with director Toro set to do the lotrs prequel it could be years away) well worth seeing ohh I bet you can't leave without singing along with Barry Manilows 'Can't Smile Without You'.

(8 out of 10)

The Dark Knight (2008)

The Dark Knight (2008)
Director: Christopher Nolan
Writers: Jonathan Nolan, Christopher Nolan, Bob Kane
Cast: Christian Bale, Heath Ledger, Michael Caine, Gary Oldman, Aaron Eckhart, Morgan Freeman, Maggie Gyllenhaal
Set within a year after the events of Batman Begins, Batman, Lieutenant James Gordon, and new district attorney Harvey Dent successfully begin to round up the criminals that plague Gotham City until a mysterious and sadistic criminal mastermind known only as the Joker appears in Gotham, creating a new wave of chaos. Batman's struggle against the Joker becomes deeply personal, forcing him to "confront everything he believes" and improve his technology to stop him. A love triangle develops between Bruce Wayne, Dent and Rachel Dawes.

[Synopsis by Leon Lombardi @ IMDB]

Comic book based masterpiece that I'd thankfully saved as my first ever experience viewing a film in imax and boy was I blown away. The basic plots about the Joker staking his claim on a consortium of the worlds biggest mob/crime gangs riches, while new district attorney Harvey Dent is trying to clean up the city. Not even Gothams dark knight vigilante Batman can seemingly stop the jokers rise to power. The visuals are so jaw dropping when viewed on the eight storey high imax screen that not even my dislike for Bale in the Batman role managed to spoil it for me. Heath Ledger's Joker performance is rightfully taking most the praise for how well this entry in the batman saga is doing. It trumps Batman Begins because its story is so much darker and more involving. It has upped comic book based films into an whole new epic status level. Here's hoping next years Watchmen (was the only trailer shown before the Dark Knight screening I watched) manages to keep to this standard and that its not very long before Nolan dishes up his third entry. Guess its only fair to finish with an R.I.P. for Ledger as without his presence Dark Knight would of been so much poorer. "I bet I can make this pen disappear".

(9 out of 10)