Flame on?
Or flame out?
The latest in a long line of comic-book adaptations, Fantastic Four arrives with expectations of spawning another franchise à la X-Men.
Batman Begins, Constantine and Sin City have already overpowered the competition this year. Can Marvel’s most famous team of superheroes also rule the box office? Or will audience fatigue result in Fantastic Four–and the onslaught of comic-book adaptations ready for release or in production–going the way of duds Blade: Trinity, Catwoman and Elektra?
Fantastic Four (July 8)
Everything about the lighthearted but terribly unexciting Fantastic Four is less than fantastic. OK, maybe not Michael Chiklis, who’s perfect as the tough, surly but kindhearted Thing. Too bad he’s stuck inside a rubber suit that looks as cheap and cheesy as the film’s special effects. Ioan Gruffudd certainly doesn’t possess Mr. Fantastic’s cool intellect. Chris Evans tries too hard to capture the Human Torch’s cockiness, but he comes across as more of a lunkhead than a hothead. Sure, Jessica Alba kicked butt on TV’s Dark Angel, but she’s barely noticeable as the Invisible Woman. And Julian McMahon chews up the scenery, but fails to make the evil Dr. Doom much of a malevolent presence. Fantastic Four also proves that director Tim Story, of Barbershop fame and Taxi infamy, lacks imagination when it comes to any action that doesn’t involve a pair of scissors. And his goal of creating a slightly jokey alternative to The X-Men feels woefully forced. This isn’t a Hulk-like disaster. But if fans of the comic book walk away disappointed, and decide not to pay $10 to see it again, then Fantastic Four will barely match Hulk‘s unimpressive $132.1 million. And that certainly will place a potential Fantastic Four franchise in harm’s way.
A History of Violence (Sept. 30)
Culled from the same series of Paradox Press graphic novels that yielded Road to Perdition, this Cannes smash doesn’t possess a star of Tom Hanks-ian stature in Viggo Mortensen. So John Wagner‘s grim tale of vigilantism and unwelcome celebrity won’t attract Road to Perdition-size audiences. But a new film by David Cronenberg is an always an event. If any director can create a thinking man’s Death Wish, it’s the warped but brilliant mind behind The Fly and Dead Ringers.
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V for Vendetta (Nov. 4)
Writer Alan Moore wasn’t thrilled with From Hell and The League of Extraordinary Gentleman, both based on his graphic novels. And it’s unlikely this Wachowski brothers production will win him over. Furious that a press release erroneously touted his endorsement of V for Vendetta, Moore cut ties with the Warner Bros.-owned D.C. Comics. Regardless, this remains a tough sell with or without Moore‘s support. Will audiences care for an obscure London-set sci-fi tale of rebels overthrowing a fascist regime? And, after looking terribly uncomfortable in the Star Wars prequels, we’re betting Natalie Portman‘s all wrong to play our heroine.
Zoom (May 12, 2006)
Tim Allen‘s already goofed on Star Trek with Galaxy Quest. Let’s hope he can mine just as many laughs with this adaptation of the Harry Potter-ish Zoom’s Academy for the Super Gifted. But Allen‘s aging Captain Zoom has already made an enemy of The X-Men. A lawsuit by Fox and Marvel claims Zoom–unlike Jason Lethcoe’s graphic novel–bears an uncanny resemblance to X-Men franchise. Forget the lawyers: let Wolverine and Captain Zoom settle this like supermen.
X-Men 3 (May 26, 2006)
Those misunderstood mutants finally face a foe scarier than Magneto: Brett Ratner. Ironically, the Rush Hour director steps in for Bryan Singer, who fled the franchise for Ratner‘s onetime pet project, Superman Returns. Remember how the Batman series descended into pure unadulterated camp under Joel Schumacher‘s watch? Well, Ratner‘s too conventional in his ways to comprehend and probe the dark and brooding nature of the X-Men. And the slightest hint of a disaster could derail three intriguing spin-offs, including Wolverine and Young Magneto.
Superman Returns
The Man of Steel flies again after several false starts. Tim Burton‘s Superman Lives died, and Batman vs. Superman stalled when Warner Bros. decided to revive the two franchises. Only the hunks du jour–including Ashton Kutcher and Josh Hartnett–didn’t want to slip on Supes’ red underwear. So director Bryan Singer‘s placed his trust in Brandon Routh. Wise move. Singer‘s already proved he mold an unknown into the superhero we expect him to be, as demonstrated by Hugh Jackson as X-Men‘s Wolverine. Too bad Gene Hackman’s not back as Lex Luthor, but Kevin Spacey’s an inspired choice to portray the diabolical genius.
Ghost Rider (Aug. 4, 2006)
Nicolas Cage makes like a bat out of hell as Johnny Blaze, motorcycle stuntman and flaming-skulled spirit of vengeance. Like Blade, Ghost Rider’s another lesser-known Marvel Comics creation born of evil. So the presence of Cage should ensure Ghost Rider isn’t gone from theaters in 60 seconds. The wild card is director Mark Steven Johnson. Purists who despised Johnson‘s Daredevil may not want to give him a second chance.
Spider-Man 3 (May 4, 2007)
Guess we’re going to have to wait just a little longer before director Sam Raimi reveals the webslinger’s new adversaries. We do know two ex-sitcom stars–That ’70s Show‘s Topher Grace and Wing‘s Thomas Haden Church–will receive the honor of trying to squash Spider-Man. And James Franco‘s Harry Osborn may try to finish what his dastardly dad Norman, a.k.a. the Green Goblin, started. Bring it on!
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Sam Raimi’s done a tremendous job with Spider-Man. And if the second sequel lives up to expectations, it will join its predecessors as one of the three most successful comic-book adaptations ever made. But if Bryan Singer treats Superman with as much respect as he did the X-Men, then the Man of Steel and Spidey could find themselves locking horns for box office supremacy. ‘Nuff said! | |
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