As I think we all expected, Marvel’s The Avengers did very well this weekend, with an estimated $200.3 million in ticket sales. It’s been out overseas for 12 days now, bringing it to a total of $641.8 million so far. Disney’s press release points out these record-setting markers: Highest-grossing domestic debut of all time (beating out the previous winner, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows — Part 2) Fastest movie to reach $200 million domestically Friday’s $80.5 million is the […]

Disney has announced that Captain America: The First Avenger will have a sequel opening on April 4, 2014. (A little early for the traditional “Marvel movie opens on the first weekend in May” pattern we’ve followed so far.) They describe plans for the film as a quasi-Avengers sequel, stating The second installment will pick-up where the highly anticipated Marvel’s The Avengers (May 4, 2012) leaves off, as Steve Rogers continues his affiliation with Nick Fury and S.H.I.E.L.D and struggles to […]

When I first had a chance to see The Rocketeer, I was too young to appreciate the appeal of a simple adventure story. (I thought maturity required cynicism.) Now, I’m thrilled to get a chance to better appreciate the excitement and nostalgia of this 1938-set tale about a guy with a jetpack who fights Nazis and saves the day. It’s a lot more fun for me now, especially since I know more about the period and some of the inspirations […]

Since I thought I remembered the movie pretty well, for my first home video viewing of X-Men: First Class, I chose “X Marks the Spot” mode, which interrupts the film with interview inserts (such as director/co-screenwriter Matthew Vaughn explaining his goals for the film) and behind-the-scenes footage (including some special effects tricks and the design concepts behind the credits). Other participants are production designer Chris Seagers, producers Bryan Singer and Lauren Shuler Donner, visual effects designer John Dykstra, and specialized […]

I thought I’d already reviewed this movie when it came out in theaters this summer, but apparently not. I enjoyed watching Captain America: The First Avenger, but I didn’t have much to say about it. Since everyone’s moved on to wondering about Marvel’s The Avengers, this film feels a little like marking time, like a preview of the thing you really want to see, as indicated by the subtitle and the movie’s final “bonus” scene. The production company stuck closer […]

Marvel’s The Avengers (apparently the official name of the film) will be released in theaters May 4, 2012. Here’s the first trailer: What do you think? My favorite bits are the snarky Robert Downey, Jr. comments, but then, he’s my favorite film superhero. I really wish there was more than one woman, and I’m not a fan of Scarlett Johansson. I’m more eager to see Thor now, though, because Chris Hemsworth looks like he’s having fun. I would have liked […]

The Shout! Factory Captain America double feature will be available on October 18. The disc contains two films, the 1979 Captain America and its sequel, Captain America II: Death Too Soon. In both movies, Captain America/Steve Rogers is played by Reb Brown, who looks the part well enough but doesn’t have much charisma. From the beginning of the first film, where we’re tracking a van driving along the California coastline while an instrumental ballad plays, it’s pretty clear that yes, […]

I was pretty excited to see this movie at home, since I’d missed it on its summer run in theaters. I know some feel that an effects-heavy film should be seen on the big screen, but I dunno, any movie that opens with an alien ghost sucking yellow spirits out of astronauts, I’m more comfortable seeing that from my couch. I wasn’t expecting to devote 100% of my attention to Green Lantern, since I was already familiar with the high […]