After the phenomenal success of X-Men 2, Fox studios immediately green-lit a third instalment to complete the X-Men trilogy. Bryan Singer, director of the first two films was too busy working on Superman Returns and stepped down. Initially Darren Aronofsky and Joss Whedon were both attached to the project, but a series of clashes with other films forced their withdrawal and … [Read more...]
X-Men (2000) review by That Film Guy
Based on one of Marvel's most popular titles, X-Men directed by Bryan Singer was one of the first highly successful comic book films of the modern era. It spawned two direct sequels and a host of spin-offs and prequels having taken nearly $300m at the box office from a budget of $75m. Loosely based on the early X-Men stories shown in the 1990s cartoon it focuses on mutation as … [Read more...]
Men in Black (1997) review by That Film Guy
In 1997 director Barry Sonnenfeld, fresh off the success of adapting the classic TV shot The Addams Family, turned his attentions to the world of comic books and a little known title called The Men in Black. Casting Hollywood A-listers Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones as the central duo paid dividends as their natural on-screen chemistry helped propel Men in Black to a box office … [Read more...]
Review: Watchmen (2009)
[pullquote cite="" type="left, right"][amazon text=Amazon&template=carousel&chan=that film guy&asin=B00450AGFA][/pullquote] Generally considered one of the best and most influential comic books ever written, Watchmen was one of those things that no one ever really expected to see turned into a film, not least because it was in development hell for twenty years … [Read more...]
Review: The Avengers (2012)
Ever since Iron Man was released in 2008, Marvel have been building toward a huge ensemble film called The Avengers. Members of SHIELD (Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement and Logistics Division), notably Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson) and Agent Coulson (Clark Gregg), have appeared in all of the Marvel films involved, including Captain America: The First Avenger, The … [Read more...]
Review: Iron Man 2 (2010)
When Iron Man burst onto cinema screens in 2008, it represented a something of a gamble. Lacking the cultural popularity of Spider-Man or Batman, 'ol' shellhead' was a B-List character and casting Robert Downey Jr. in the role seemed like just as much of a gamble. Fortunately for Marvel and director Jon Favreau it paid off and Iron Man became a huge hit. Cue sequel. Reuniting … [Read more...]
Review: Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance (2012)
The original Ghost Rider was released in 2007 and took its time to tell the origin story of the flaming skulled demon rider from Hell. Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance follows on from the original, but with a few notable changes that make it almost a reboot of the character. Nicolas Cage is once again cast as daredevil motorbike jumper Johnny Blaze. This time the script and … [Read more...]
Review: Ghost Rider (2007)
After the explosion of comic book films that followed the incredible success of Superman: The Movie, Batman and Spider-Man, a lot of lesser known characters had their stories adapted to the silver screen. One such film, released in 2007 was Ghost-Rider, starring Nicolas Cage as Johnny Blaze, the man who sold his soul to the Devil to save his father's life and became the demon … [Read more...]
Review: The Dark Knight (2008)
[pullquote cite="" type="left, right"][amazon text=Amazon&template=carousel&chan=that film guy&asin=B008JARIIA][/pullquote] Batman and Robin proved such a monumental disaster, despite reasonable returns at the box office that many feared it had killed the profitability of Batman as a movie franchise. 8 years later, Christopher Nolan successfully rebooted the … [Read more...]
Review: Kick-Ass (2010)
[pullquote cite="" type="left, right"][amazon text=Amazon&template=carousel&chan=that film guy&asin=B0038M1CMC][/pullquote] Kick-Ass stands as not only one of the most controversial films of 2010, but rather one of the most controversial films of the last decade. Directed by Matthew Vaughn, it split critics straight down the middle with half hailing it as a future … [Read more...]