It’s a bird. It’s a plane. It’s a comic book movie
2017 OFFERS UP SOME FEATURES WORTHY OF ATTENTION
Six comic book movies scored more than $ 4.76 billion US at the box- office l ast year. Anticipation for the 2017 slate might not be as widespread but there are some features that warrant attention.
One film counts as a swan song for a surly sort. Another picture is the end of the road for a filmmaker who defied conventional wisdom with his narrative reinvention. Add to the list a few reboots, an all- star event, a long-time-coming cinematic headlining debut and more than a few lively showcases profiling the lighter side of the genre.
Here are some of the highlights:
THE LEGO BATMAN MOVIE, OPENS FEB. 10
❚ The Pitch: Will Arnett voices headliner Batman in this frenetic follow up to the first animated Lego hit. ❚ Hit or Miss: For those who enjoy it when myth- making mirth meets mirth- making myth.
LOGAN, OPENS MARCH 3
❚ The Pitch: Hugh Jackman’s confirming this standalone flick — the third Wolverine solo effort — is his last Wolverine performance in the X- Men world. Sad for all concerned as the snarling super dude’s healing powers seem to be fading in the final chapter. ❚ Hit or Miss: While the movie might be R- rated, fans of all ages will be in full support mode as Wolverine teams up with a deathly ill Professor X (Patrick Stewart) to protect a young mutant girl under attack.
POWER RANGERS, OPENS MARCH 24
❚ The Pitch: In the 21st century reboot of the popular franchise, five not- so- typical teens use their warrior energy for good. That’s especially true when they battle a powerful witch and assorted monster villains with evil domination on their minds. ❚ Hit or Miss: The faces are different but the characters are based on 1995’s Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, so multiple generations are destined to find out if nostalgia is what it used to be.
GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOL. 2, OPENS MAY 5
❚ The Pitch: The spaced- out gang is back together again as Peter Quill ( Chris Pratt) tries to find out about where he came from. ❚ Hit or Miss: It’s more or l ess the same tongue- incheeky snappy patter to the beat of post- modern ditties with guest appearances from Sly Stallone, Glenn Close and Firefly’s Nathan Fillion. ❚ The Pitch: When Wonder Woman ( Gal Gadot) meets up with an American WW I pilot ( Chris Pine), she decides to end the first world war before the mayhem creates future havoc. ❚ Hit or Miss: Since Gadot’s s uper Amazonian princess turned out to be one of the positives in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, zealots are hoping for the cinematic best after nearly two decades of wishful thinking. ❚ The Pitch: Tom Holland’s Spidey solo effort arrives with lots of anticipation after his witty introduction in Captain America: Civil War. In the new adventure, he’s taking on The Vulture even as tries to meet his Peter Parker high school deadlines. ❚ Hit or Miss: With an appearance by Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.), great expectations come with great responsibilities.
TRANSFORMERS: THE LAST NIGHT, OPENS JUNE 23
❚ The Pitch: Mark Wahlberg and Stanley Tucci return for more after Age of Extinction, confirming that getting paid counts, too. Autobots and Decepticons continue to battle like all-star wrestlers. ❚ Hit or Miss: The Last Night is the fifth and allegedly final Transformers to be directed by Michael Bay. Some movie goers might want that in writing.
KINGSMEN: THE GOLDEN CIRCLE, OPENS OCT. 6
❚ The Pitch: Eggsy ( Taron Egerton) mostly fends for himself minus Colin Firth. In the next edition of the superhero spy comedy, the likely lad battles criminal mastermind Poppy (Julianne Moore). ❚ Hit or Miss: Although Firth has a cameo he will be missed. Channing Tatum will do his best agent thing in the sequel to expand the demographic after the first film became the surprise hit of 2015.
THOR: RAGNAROK, OPENS NOV. 3
❚ The Pitch: Chris Hemsworth’s Thor confronts the evil Hela (Cate Blanchett) in the most intense special effects battle money can buy. ❚ Hit or Miss: Hemsworth’s Thor usually needs all the support help he can get, so maybe Mark Ruffalo’s Hulk will be enough.
JUSTICE LEAGUE, OPENS NOV. 17
❚ The Pitch: DC Comics allstars — Batman ( Ben Affleck), Superman ( Henry Cavill), Wonder Woman (Gal Gadot) — compete for screen time with The Flash ( Ezra Miller), Aquaman ( Jason Momoa) and Cyborg ( Ray Fisher). Their foe is Steppenwolf ( Ciaran Hand) who is up to no good. ❚ Hit or Miss: The blockbuster will be in a league of its own.