Marvel's Expanding Universe: Comic Con in Short

Because Otherwise We'd Be Here Forever

Finally found a cover picture for these articles!

Due to complaints that the superhero-movie posts are too many, and the "other stuff" movie posts are too few on this site, I'm going to compile the 10 posts I wanted to put up these past few days into one summarized post of all the excellence that happened at Comic Con. From an intergalactic raccoon to cream-colored armor, here's the finest bits of Marvel news for you.

Marvel Geekery July 9

First Live-action Spider-man Film

This fan-made film was the first ever documented live appearance by Spider-man in a film. Talk these days is all about reboots and remakes, but every Spider-man movie is a reboot of this, I guess you could say. Has The Amazing Spider-man improved upon this film? Judge for yourself!

The Avengers Spoilers

SERIOUSLY GUYS, SPOILERS AHEAD

The city did actually collapse from their combined awesomeness....

This article is purely spoilers. If you're looking for our review, look no further. If you're interested in the financial success of this movie, check it out here. We aren't going to talk about the great quality of the story, the depth of the characters, the awesomeness of the effects, or the fact that this movie just made box-office history. Oh wait... Anyways, here's a list of some major spoilers from the movie, so if you haven't seen it yet, beware. Then again if you read the title and heading thus far and haven't seen it yet, I'm sure you're going to keep reading...

If you have seen the movie, this is a great place to discuss the spoilers and what they entail. What we might see in future installments, who we'll see in them, who we won't see in them. Stuff like that. Feel free to comment after reading! The fact that we only get one or two comments a week notwithstanding, we love to hear your views and opinions!

The Avengers Review: Updated Box Office

Step aside, Christopher Nolan

Earth's Mightiest Heroes: And the theater collapsed under the weight of their awesomeness, but then they saved everyone, and were amazing whilst doing it

After getting home, taking off my Spidey costume, and relaxing, I sat down to write this, and after going through a few drafts, still am not quite sure how to put everything I just saw into words.  I've read so many of the reviews, and I agree with all the good stuff, and disagree with all the bad stuff.  Some people say it feels like a TV movie, but it doesn't at all.  People say that a certain character stands out above the rest, but no one does.  Everyone gets their time in the sun.  This review will be (mostly) spoiler-free, but if you want to save yourself a few minutes of reading, just don't even read this.  Instead go to a theater now, and watch The Avengers.

The Amazing Spider-Man New Trailer Analysis

With the release of The Avengers came two new comic book movie trailers: The Dark Knight Rises, and in IMAX 3D showings, The Amazing Spiderman. Fellow blogger Peter already looked at The Dark Knight Rises new trailer, and now I'm going to look at the new Spiderman trailer. Instead of going through every single tiny scene and detail, I'm just going to look through some of the newer material.  Here we go!

Opening Monologue

The opening monologue can tell us a lot about this movie.  Peter Parker (Andrew Garfield) is talking in the past tense about his struggles as Spiderman.  We can assume this means the death of Uncle Ben (Martin Sheen), the enemies he's made, the impact it had on high school, how his loved ones are in danger, and a bunch of other really serious stuff.  Then we get the same plot point that Marc Webb has been drilling into our minds in every trailer so far.  "But the one thing that has haunted me...my entire life...is finding the truth about my parents..."  This is going to be a huge part of the movie.  Peter Parker's parents left him with his aunt and uncle at a very young age.  We know from enough previews already that Peter's father worked with Dr. Curt Connors at Oscorp, which we get to see a massive image of in this trailer. The speaking in past tense also means that the film will cover a pretty large time-frame. It's my opinion that we'll see Peter's beginnings as Spiderman, as well as quite a few flashbacks, a la Batman Begins, which is okay, since Nolan and DC have decided to copy the Spiderman viral campaign....

Marvel's Expanding Universe, Pt. V

Someone deserves some more screen time

"HULK WANT OWN MOVIE!"

Today, Earth's Mightiest heroes made us laugh, cry, and cheer as they defended us from an alien invasion. It's now safe to say the movie is incredible, and definitely worth a trip to the theater. We've been exploring some of the characters from the Marvel universe, and what they might be doing now that The Avengers is done. In the last article, I mentioned that we would be looking at some new characters who haven't hit the big screen yet, and sadly I have to take it back. Bear with me, because this series will now continue past the release of The Avengers. There's just one more character who deserves your attention.

He's been through three different actors now, since Eric Bana played him in 2003. The films have been passable, and the character has gone through some changes. Studios tried changing up his origin story. They tried making him look more attractive. They tried casting incredible talent to play him. He's been there and back again. Now the story of one of Marvel's greatest characters is being told the way it was meant to. Ladies and gentlemen, I give you the big, green, ugly, unstoppable, Incredible Hulk.

The Amazing Spider-Man New Trailer

Here it is gang.  Let us know what you think!

Recommend you watch in full screen.

It appears Marc Webb has managed to really separate his Spidey movie from Sam Raimi's version.  He has a great blend of bright colors mixed with dark shadows.  The web swinging really seems to employ real physics and mechanics.  The action looks intense, the story deep, and the characters realistic.  I think it's going to blow us all out of the water.

Your friendly neighborhood Spiderman,

Zack

Updates from Zack-May 1: Superhero Reboots

If we were to name a common theme in movies today, one would absolutely definitely very completely 100% maybe say reboots.  Snow White,Conan, Footloose, Fright Night, True Grit, The Tourist, and The Thing, to name but a few.  There's quite a few in the works too.  Snow White, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Robocop, Judge Dredd, and of course more and more.  It's safe to say it's been happening a lot, and it's been happening in the world of superheroes too.  There's been an exceptional amount of news about three big superhero movies coming out this Summer: The Avengers, The Dark Knight Rises (Batman reboot-old news), and The Amazing Spiderman (Spiderman reboot).  While there were tidbits here and there about them this past weekend, here's some movies you may not have heard about...

Marvel's Expanding Universe, Pt. IV

You say you want some more?  I'm not surprised.

        Joe Johnston's (The Rocketeer) Captain America: The First Avenger was a critical and financial success.  Being the last of Marvel Studios' Avengers' lead-in films, it had a lot to live up to.  I think we can for the most part say it more than lived up to expectations.

        I believe the main reason for this is the reason why I actually enjoyed TFA.  As a die-hard Marvel fan, I have to say I'm not a fan of every character.  One of the characters I'm super not a fan of is Captain America.  I think he looks ridiculous, acts ridiculous, takes himself too seriously, and looks ridiculous.

Did I mention he looks ridiculous?     

        Having said that, I think Chris Evans did a fantastic job of making Captain America into everything I just described, but he did it in a way that was appealing and downright awesome.  Of the current Marvel movie heroes, Cap is one of my favorites.  I was worried when I heard The Human Torch was taking up the mantle, but then I saw how insanely buff he got.  I was feeling better.  Then I saw the preview.  I felt way better.  Then I saw the movie.  NOW I LIKE THE HERO, EVEN IN THE COMICS.  Go Chris Evans.  Oh Captain you are my captain.

        After basically winning World War II, Captain Steve Rodgers crashed a giant plane in the arctic, not to be seen for almost 70 years.  After being found and rescued by SHIELD, Rodgers woke up to the modern day.  He is a member of SHIELD, and one of the first Avengers.  So far the story of how he came to be an Avenger is congruent with the comics, with a minor change here and there.

Updates from Zack-April 26

This is me. Obviously.

This week featured a lot of comic-book movie news.  The Avengers is hitting international theaters tonight, The Amazing Spiderman is releasing their final trailer, and The Dark Knight Rises is apparently starting their uber-promoting earlier than expected.  I'll take you guys through the best parts of recent news, and give you my thoughts and feelings.  Afterwards let's hear your opinions!  Just shoot us a comment or a reaction, or help us out by posting on Facebook, Google+, and Twitter!