Yes despite the fact that most of the Midwest saw snowflakes in the last week it really is summer movie season. Of course that means it’s time for my third annual summer movie preview. Now these aren’t necessarily the best movies of the summer but my most anticipated. Quite honestly I’m sure some of them will be monumental pieces of crap like 2006’s Nacho Libre or The Da Vinci Code and of course last year’s Spiderman 3. Nevertheless, this is that wonderful time where I can be hopeful that the Hollywood blockbuster doesn’t have to be crap and can actually be worth a damn. I’m happy to say my #1 most anticipated film certainly renews my faith and since it was released this weekend we’re going to do this year’s preview from the top down complete with a review of #1.
#1. Iron Man (in theaters now)
As I prepped my list I was so shocked that this flick came in a number 1, that I actually ended up doing the list a couple of times to make sure I wasn’t giving anyone short shrift. I mean Iron Man has always been a second-class hero to me. I hated the Avengers as a team and Iron Man was just a drunk with too much money. Yet when the info on the movie started to hit the web a couple years back my interest began to grow. Robert Downey Jr. was the best superhero casting I’d ever seen on paper. He screams Tony Stark with his look and natural behavior. Jon Favreau was an odd to choice to direct but he handled a special effects film deftly with Zathura and he’s obviously got a good storytelling hand. Thrown in Gwyneth Paltrow, Jeff Bridges and Terrance Howard and I was officially psyched.
Now having seen the flick I’m happy to say all my hope and expectations were actually met which is virtually unheard if in the summer movie season. It seems like every couple of years a comic book movie comes along that raises the bar for the genre. First it was X2 then Spiderman 2, then Batman Begins and now Iron Man. This is a great movie and it’s the gold standard for comic book movies to come (hear that Batman and Hellboy). Downey Jr. redefines the lead role in a comic book movie. If Christian Bale took the genre to the next level in Batman Begins, Downey might have just taken it to its peak. His Stark is filled with flaws, some of which are only hinted at in the film. In fact one the biggest complements I can give this film is that I want to see a sequel not just because the action was great but because I want to see the evolution of the characters. Paltrow rejuvenates her career here by giving us a modern take on the old “His Girl Friday” routine. Favreau keeps the pace moving and the F/X are great without being overpowering. Of course I’ve got to say the geek out moments are awesome too especially the post credit sequence. With Marvel Comics now producing all their own films in house the continuity between films could be great and Iron Man certainly is a shining first effort.
#2. Speed Racer (May 9th)
I hate the Matrix films. I used to like the first one but after the steaming piles that were the sequels any joy I once had disappeared like it never happened. That being said the Wachowski brothers are two filmmakers who will always capture my interest. Their debut film, Bound, was a tight thriller that was visually exhausting. The Matrix was a beautiful looking film if nothing else, and V for Vendetta (technically produced but we’ve all heard the rumors) is a highly underrated film that again pushed the visual boundaries of modern cinema. With all that said Speed Racer looks like it’s set to bury them all. The first pictures of the Mach 5 made my eyes pop and the subsequent trailers have made me drool. Of course I’m a bit worried this film is all visuals and nothing else but the appeal of seeing some japanimation come to life on the big screen is enough for me to take a leap and make Speed Racer my second most anticipated film of summer 2008.
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