This year sees quite possibly the most big screen adaptations of comic book characters and/or stories in history, with five separate films based on works from three different publishers. We've come a long way since Arnold Schwarzenegger punned his way through Batman & Robin, that's for sure. But the night is darkest right before the dawn, and all that.
With so much coming at your face all at once, I have compiled a handy guide to get you through the year, and to get me through the next five minutes. Enjoy!
THOR
Release Date: 27th April
Director: Kenneth Branagh
Cast: Chris Hemsworth, Natalie Portman, Anthony Hopkins, Tom Hiddleston
Based On: Marvel Comics' character created by Stan Lee, Larry Lieber and Jack Kirby
Plot: Ancient Norse God of Thunder Thor (Hemsworth) is exiled to Earth by his father Odin (Hopkins) in accordance with a vile scheme perpetrated by his evil stepbrother Loki (Hiddleston). There, Thor meets scientist Jane Foster (Portman) who, despite believing him to be mental, must help him stop Loki's masterplan.
Excitement Level: 4/5
Trailer
X-MEN: FIRST CLASS
Release Date: 2nd June
Director: Matthew Vaughn
Cast: James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, Kevin Bacon, January Jones, Rose Byrne
Based On: Marvel Comics' team created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby
Plot: With the Cold War and Civil Rights Movement both in full swing in 1960s America, a young Charles Xavier (McAvoy) meets a young Erik Lensherr (Fassbender) and both discover that they have unique abilities. Forming a group of similar individuals they strive to stop mankind from destroying itself while also introducing mutants to an already scared world.
Excitement Level: 3/5
Trailer
GREEN LANTERN
Release Date: 17th June
Director: Martin Campbell
Cast: Ryan Reynolds, Blake Lively, Mark Strong, Peter Sarsgaard, Tim Robbins
Based On: DC Comics' character created by John Broome and Gil Kane
Plot: Cocky test pilot Hal Jordan (Reynolds) finds himself bestowed with a ring that grants him near-limitless power, and is shanghaied into the Green Lantern Corps; an intergalactic police force. Forced to accept responsibility for the first time in his life, Hal must also investigate the circumstances that led to his predecessor's death.
Excitement Level: 3/5
Trailer
CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE FIRST AVENGER
Release Date: 29th July
Director: Joe Johnston
Cast: Chris Evans, Hugo Weaving, Hayley Atwell, Tommy Lee Jones, Sebastian Stan
Based On: Marvel Comics' character created by Jack Kirby and Joe Simon
Plot: During WW2, skinny nobody Steve Rogers (Evans), eager to fight the Nazi menace yet unfit for the regular army, volunteers for an experiment that transforms him into the ultimate super-soldier. Without losing his compassion or humility, Rogers must use his skills to bring down a foe even worse than Hitler -- the Red Skull (Weaving).
Excitement Level: 5/5
Trailer
COWBOYS & ALIENS
Release Date: 12th August
Director: Jon Favreau
Cast: Daniel Craig, Harrison Ford, Olivia Wilde, Sam Rockwell
Based On: Platinum Studios' graphic novel by Scott Mitchell Rosenberg, Fred Van Lente and Andrew Foley
Plot: 1873: A stranger (Craig) with no memory and an odd device on his wrist wanders into the town of Absolution, Arizona, and soon discovers that the local lawman Col. Dolarhyde (Ford) isn't very friendly. But that soon becomes the least of his worries when visitors from beyond the stars come a'visiting. And they're not too friendly either.
Excitement Level: 4/5
Trailer
Looks like a fuck of a year, ladies and gentlemen (mostly gentlemen). And in 2012 we've got The Avengers, The Dark Knight Rises and The Amazing Spider-Man to look forward to. My inner child is exploding perpetually.
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