Topic: April Movie Marathon: Superhero Showdown!

[addicted2dvd]

The Contest:

This month Danae Cassandra and I decided to have a mini-contest within our movie contest we are having this year. We are going to see who can watch the most superhero films within the month of April.

The Prize:

The loser will take the winner out to eat at Superchefs. A superhero themed restaurant in Louisville.

The Rules:

Films Watched must be at least an hour long.
More rules may follow once we discuss them.

I will probably be doing this a little differently. As I have most the superhero movies I owned already reviewed... I will most likely just post a list with rating and link to earlier review. And actually review the ones I haven't yet reviewed.

So... Who will the winner be... and how big of an appetite will they have?

[addicted2dvd]

Thor: Tales of Asgard (2011/United States) Trailer |IMDb | Lionsgate (United States) Director: Writing: Length: 77 min. Video: Widescreen 1.78:1 Audio: English: DTS-HD Master Audio: 7.1, Spanish: Dolby Digital: 5.1 Subtitles: English, Spanish

Stars:
Matt Wolf as Thor (Voice)
Rick Gomez as Loki (Voice)
Tara Strong as Sif (Voice)
Alistair Abell as Fandral (Voice)
Paul Dobson as Hogun (Voice)

Plot:
Fantastic journeys beckon from the mysterious nine realms. Places of dark mists and fiery voids. Of winged creatures and giants in the ice. And of the most alluring quest of all – the search for the legendary Lost Sword of Surtur. Hungry for adventure, Thor secretly embarks on the journey of a lifetime, joined by his loyal brother Loki, whose budding sorcery equips him with just enough magic to conjure up trouble, along with the Warriors Three – a band of boasful travelers reluctant to set sail on any adventure that might actually be dangerous. But what starts out as a harmless treasure hunt quickly turns deadly, and Thor must now prove himself worthy of the destiny he covets by saving Asgard itself.

Extras:

• Scene Access
• Audio Commentary
• Bonus Trailers
• Featurettes
• The Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes! Bonus Episode

My Thoughts:

I found this one to be not bad at all. It is a story of Thor and Loki when they are much younger. Thor doesn't even have Mjolnir yet. It is a fun story... worth the time put in to watch it.

Rating:

[Danae Cassandra]

Green Lantern: First Flight
Year of Release: 2009
Directed By: Lauren Montgomery
Starring: Christopher Meloni, Victor Garber, Tricia Helfer, Michael Madsen
Genre: Action, Science-Fiction, Animation

Overview:
When pilot Hal Jordan accepts a mysterious, powerful ring from a dying alien creature, it transforms him into a Green Lantern, one of an elite force of heroes who patrol the universe to ensure peace and justice under the leadership of the Guardians of the Universe. Unsure of their newest recruit, the Guardians assign Hal to their most-honored Green Lantern Sinestro for training, unaware that Sinestro wants to overthrow the Guardians and create a new order he'll control. It's a battle of might and willpower as Hal must prove his worth by defeating Sinestro to save the Green Lantern Corps. Voiced by a stellar cast including Christopher Meloni, Victor Garber, Tricia Helfer and Michael Madsen, this DC Universe original animated adventure bursts with action-packed shakedowns, showdowns and spectacular visuals as Green Lantern uses his powers and imagination to make the impossible real!

My Thoughts:
Not a bad introduction/origin story for Hal Jordan.  The animation and the voice acting are both pretty decent, and the script isn't terrible.  I do cringe every time they say "yellow element" however.  My other complaint is completely comic book nerd based.  Having been a long time reader of the comics (up until the New 52 relaunch), they're introducing Sinestro as a villain too soon.  I liked the post-Crisis story lines where you see Sinestro as a friend/mentor to Hal first, giving his ultimate betrayal more pathos.

Bechdel Test: Fail
Mako Mori Test: Fail

Overall: 2.5/5

[Danae Cassandra]

Green Lantern: Emerald Knights
Year of Release: 2011
Directed By: Christopher Berkeley, Lauren Montgomery, Jay Oliva
Starring: Nathan Fillion, Jason Issacs, Elizabeth Moss, Henry Rollins, Arnold Vosloo
Genre: Action, Adventure

Overview:
With stories by acclaimed writers including Geoff Johns, Alan Burnett and Dave Gibbons, this DC Universe Animated Original Movie explores the rich mythology of the Green Lantern universe through six interlocking chapters. While awaiting a battle with Krona, an ancient enemy of the Guardians of the Universe, Earth's Green Lantern Hal Jordan, Kilowog, Sinestro and other members of the Green Lantern Corps recount their greatest adventures to new recruit Arisia – everything from tales to the Corps' Blackest Night! The power-packed voice cast includes Nathan Fillion, Jason Isaacs, Elisabeth Moss, Henry Rollins and Arnold Vosloo.

My Thoughts:
Good animation and character designs and ideas true to the comics, this is a better Green Lantern film than First Flight. This is an anthology film, and it's nice to see the stories of other Lanterns than Hal. He is after all a Green Lantern, not the Green Lantern.

The biggest problem is that it came out after First Flight and is therefore full of continuity errors. We've got Hal as the experienced Lantern working along side pre-yellow ring Sinestro. Boodikka's seen alive and well, and Arisia is the young fresh recruit. This matches comics better than First Flight, and had this come first and then put forward Sinestro's fall from grace would have made that story much better (wouldn't be an origin story for Hal at that point, but...)

Better all round than First Flight, this is the one worth watching if you're a Green Lantern fan.

Bechdel Test: Fail
Mako Mori Test: Pass

Overall: 3/5

[addicted2dvd]

1. Thor: Tales of Asgard		Review
2. Daredevil		Review
3.The Amazing Spider-Man		Review
4.The Amazing Spider-Man 2		Review
5. Justice League: The New Frontier		Review
6. Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths		Review
7. Iron Man		Review
8. Justice League: Doom		Review
9. Justice League: War		Review
10. Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox		Review
11. Spider-Man		Review
12. The Incredible Hulk		Review
13. Superman and the Mole Men
14. Superman: The Movie		Review
15. Superhero Movie		Review
16. Superman Unbound		Review
17. X-Men		Review
18. Batman & Mr. Freeze: Subzero
19. Iron Man 2
20. X2: X-Men Unite
21. Batman: Under the Red Hood
22. Batman: Mystery of the Batwoman
23. The Batman Superman Movie
24. Batman: Bad Blood
25. Batman: The Dark Night Returns
26. Green Lantern: First Flight
27. Batman: The Killing Joke
28. Batman: Assault on Arkham
29. Justice League: Throne of Atlantis
30. Thor
31. Green Lantern
32. Batman vs Robin
33. Justice League: Gods and Monsters
34. Teen Titans: The Judas Contract
35. Necessary Evil
36. Iron Man: Rise of the Technovore
37. Captain America
38. Man of Steel
39. Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice
40. Batman: Year One
41. The Avengers
42. Batman: Mask of the Phantasm
43. Batman: Return of the Caped Crusaders
44. Doctor Strange
45. Super Buddies
46. Justice League Dark
47. Elektra
48. Stan Lee's Mighty 7
49. The Batman vs. Dracula
50. Iron Man 3
51. Superman: Brainiac Attacks
52. Ultimate Avengers 2
53. Wonder Woman (1974)
54. All-Star Superman

[Danae Cassandra]

1.  Green Lantern: First Flight  - 2.5/5
2.  Green Lantern: Emerald Knights - 3/5
3.  Iron Man - 4.5/5
4.  The Science of Superman - 3/5
5.  Secret Origin: The Story of DC Comics - 3/5
6.  Look, Up in the Sky: The Amazing Story of Superman - 3/5
7.  Batman: Gotham Knight - 3/5
8.  Superheroes:  A Neverending Battle - 3/5
9.  The Incredible Hulk - 3.25/5
10.  Batman: Mystery of the Batwoman - 3.25/5
11.  Batman & Mr. Freeze: Subzero - 3.5/5
12.  Batman: Mask of the Phantasm - 3.5/5
13.  Batman: Under the Red Hood - 3.5/5
14.  The Batman Superman Movie - 3/5
15.  Sailor Moon R: The Movie - 3.5/5
16.  Sailor Moon S: The Movie - 3.5/5
17.  Batman: Year One - 3.5/5
18.  Iron Man 2 - 4/5
19.  Sailor Moon Super S: The Movie - 3.5/5
20.  Wonder Women!  The Untold Story of American Superheroines - 2.5/5
21.  Justice League: The New Frontier - 3.5/5
22.  Comic Book Heroes Unmasked - 3.25/5
23.  Astonishing X-Men: Gifted - 3/5
24.  Wonder Woman - 3/5
25.  Batman: Assault on Arkham - 3.25/5
26.  Thor - 4/5
27.  Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox - 3/5
28.  Justice League: War - 3/5
29.  Iron Man: Rise of Technovore - 3/5
30.  Superman - 3.5/5
31.  Iron Man: Extremis - 3.25/5
32.  Superman/Batman: Apocalypse - 3/5
33.  Captain America: The First Avenger - 4.5/5
34.  Bolt - 3.25/5
35.  Wolverine: Weapon X: Tomorrow Dies Today - 2.75/5
36.  Ultimate Avengers - 3.5/5
37.  Astonishing X-Men: Dangerous - 3/5
38.  All-Star Superman - 3.5/5
39.  The Avengers - 4/5
40.  Son of Batman - 3.5/5
41.  Justice League Dark - 3.5/5
42.  Super Buddies - 2.5/5
43.  Legends of the Knight - 3.25/5
44.  Batman vs Robin - 3.5/5
45.  Ultimate Avengers 2 - 3/5
46.  Batman: Bad Blood - 3.5/5
47.  Superman: Unbound - 3.25/5
48.  Turtle Power: The Definitive History of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles - 3/5
49.  Comic Book Confidential - 2.5/5
50.  Justice League: Throne of Atlantis - 3/5
51.  Batman: The Killing Joke - 2.5/5
52.  Iron Man 3 - 3/5