Break out the sun block and banish the fur-lined parka because summer is upon us! For movie geeks, this is our Christmas, as it is routinely the best time to while away hours inside a multiplex…actual Christmas placing a distant, but formidable second. For the comic book literati, this summer is bursting with heroic enticements. The interesting thing about this summer is that the vast majority of comic book properties finding their way to theaters have never before enjoyed big screen adaptation. Nevertheless we, the Geek Elite, have a list of demands for our blockbuster dream team that will dictate with certainty whether we lineup for any potential subsequent franchises they may spawn—much as Spawn ironically failed to do.
When adapting so powerful a figure as Marvel’s Thor, a bona fide god on Earth, two challenges arise. Much like Superman, Thor’s might is seemingly limitless. The trick to keeping this hero, and this film, balanced is to present Thor with appropriately Earth-threatening baddies that would necessitate the intervention of a god. Simultaneously, we need Thor’s humanity to shine brighter than his gleaming hammer. Sure he can smite frost giants and fracture the very foundations of Asgard, but attention must still be paid to the intensely personal themes of father/son relationships, duty, and honor. It will also be critical to examine his vulnerability in the moments in which he is without his powers. Otherwise, this is going to be action figure white noise. Luckily, Chris Hemsworth has already proven himself to be an astonishing actor, commanding empathy and emotionally centering the Star Trek reboot inside his limited screen time.
Professor X (X-Men: First Class)
James McAvoy finds himself in an especially precarious position in that he is donning the mantle of a comic book character already thrice immortalized on screen. Though wearing the mask of a prequel, X-Men: First Class is actually a calculated reboot aimed at washing the bad taste of X-Men 3 from our palates and restoring faith in the franchise. What this means for McAvoy is that it now becomes doubly essential that he not simply roll out a Patrick Stewart impression, but rather delve into the complex and layered motivations of a young, idealistic Charles Xavier to make that character his own. McAvoy is a respectable actor, but the fact that this role represents his biggest box office opportunity to date may tempt him to shy away from strong performance choices in favor of being as generically crowd-pleasing as possible.
Green Lantern
The night has the potential to be blackest for Marvel’s Green Lantern. As much as the slate of superhero flicks is already trending toward the lesser-known, Green Lantern may be the most esoteric of the lot. Even among the comic book savvy there exists a massive contingency that do not count themselves even borderline familiar with the character. The task set before Ryan Reynolds is daunting, but also speaks to the aptness of that casting. Green Lantern’s power is beholden in toto to his will; the more willpower he demonstrates, the stronger his special abilities. Reynolds is not an actor who gets lost on a crowded screen; the guy is a movie star personality whose characters are always fiercely independent and idiosyncratic. This asset will be thoroughly tested when Green Lantern ventures to Oa and is surrounded by throngs of CG monsters and aliens in the Green Lantern Corps. Reynolds will have to use expert performance to ground the character and foster relevance. I have no doubt that Reynolds has done his homework and harbors a legitimate affinity for this character; this incredibly sweet moment from Comic Con stands as evidence.
Priest
Priest, don’t be Legion. This advice is a bit of a cheat given that it’s more a demand of the film and not specifically the character. But for the love of whatever deity or fallen angel to whom you chose to pray, do not ask us to abide another Legion.
Captain America: First Avenger
Captain America is a hero whose name, if nothing else, bears great weight. The anticipation for this film is bred entirely of the iconic, jingoistic spirit of the character. Chris Evans, like so many on this list, has no cinematic measuring stick for the role. Of the ten people who saw the 1990 film version staring Matt Salinger, I would hazard not many of them latch lovingly to his portrayal of Cappy nor will they cattily judge Evans against him. Evans has been given the opportunity to play a superhero far more complex than his Human Torch and my sincere hope is that he is able to do justice to both sides of Captain America. His Steve Rogers must be frail (possible obstacle for the well-built Evans) and unflappably patriotic while his Captain must communicate that same loyalty to country with explosive vengeance. I want to see a man who, though endowed with incredible strength, is still connected to the spirit-willing/flesh-weak boy: a hero in his own right.
