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NEWS AND VIEWS THAT IMPACT LIMITED CONSTITUTIONAL GOVERNMENT

"There is danger from all men. The only maxim of a free government ought to be to trust no man living with
power to endanger the public liberty." - - - - John Adams

Sunday, October 2, 2011

The Superheroes of 2011


Thor.  The best action movie of the summer and the best of the 2011 Superhero films.

American movies are still big business and a new crop of Superheroes are pulling in big money


By Gary;

There is one American business that is still going strong.  The movie business.

2011 produced a bumper crop of a special type of movie for us crazy action / fantasy fans  -  the Superhero film. 

The Superhero goes deep into the culture of humans.  We are looking so very, very hard for those who can rise above the muck of everyday living and be greater, wiser and more powerful than the rest of us. . . . or Super-Evil.  The Hero must always have a greater than life villain to fight.

Popular great heroes from past centuries include Hercules, Achilles, Jason and his Argonauts, Sinbad, Aladdin and Thor the God of Thunder.

The 20th century saw a re-birth of the Superhero in books and film.  Tarzan, Conan, Batman, the Shadow, Superman, the Phantom, Wonder Woman, the Hulk, Spiderman and so many more.

So with summer at an end I thought I would rate the 2011 Superhero releases.


#1  -  THOR   -   Box office $448,512,000

The best of the 2011 films.  Wonderful special effects, great acting and a solid script. 

Natalie Portman and Anthony Hopkins gave the movie a good professional feel.  Newcomer Chris Hemsworth shattered all expectations and dominated the screen with a firm grip on both drama and comedy.

RATING  A


#2  -  CAPTAIN AMERICA  -  Box office $360,843,000

I went in to the theater wanting to dislike the film.  Cap was never a favorite of mine.

But shock!  The film was damn good.  Chris Evans as Cap blew me away.  Evans proved himself a quality actor in the Fantastic Four.  But here as the only star he dominated the screen.

A nod to the great Hugo Weaving as the Red Skull.

RATING  A



#3  -  X-MEN:  FIRST CLASS  -  Box office $352,613,000

I had my doubts, but the cast pulled it off.  A very watchable popcorn flick to take your mind of the crap that is the world today.  Mutants, things blowing up and a tub of popcorn.  Really, what more do you need?

Great fun, good cast, good script.

The franchise is kept alive.

RATING  A-



#4  -  CONAN THE BARBARIAN  -  Box office $48,715,000

The 1930s grandfather of all modern action heroes  -  Conan.

Not a big money maker, but the movie was pure Robert E. Howard in atmosphere, blood, guts and action.  Jason Momoa did a very good job as Conan.  The script lacked a bit here and there.  Screenwriters always think that they have the talent to do better than the original author.  They don't.

Just once I would like to see a Robert E. Howard movie slavishly copy the original book.  You cannot improve on perfection.

RATING  B-


#5  -  GREEN LANTERN  -  Box office $219,847,000

Fun film.  Plot good at times, weaker at others.  Supporting cast is mostly very weak.  Very good special effects.

RATING  C+


#6  -  THE GREEN HORNET  -  Box office $227,817,000

If there is a God, he would gather all copies of this movie and burn them.  Seth Rogen should never be allowed near a movie set again.

RATING  D-


Coming in 2012

Ghost Rider  -  The Avengers  -  Spiderman  -  The Dark Knight Rises  -  Man of Steel.

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