The Forbidden Planet International Blog Log

A couple of weeks ago, I went to see There Will Be Blood (excellent film), and during the trailers was struck by a sudden realisation: for science fiction and comics geeks, this summer’s cinema is going to be awesome.

(the new Jolly Green Giant advert was deemed not to be friendly enough for consumers)

Let’s see: we have the Iron Man movie (I’ve seen that trailer a dozen times, and it still gives me goosepimples), the Incredible Hulk movie (which looks to be a substantial improvement on the frankly baffling Ang Lee version), the new Indiana Jones movie (I’d comment, but the trailer has reduced me to incoherent squeaking noises), the new Narnia movie (oh, not another one – Joe), the new Hellboy movie, the new Batman movie (much though it’s been shadowed by the tragically premature death of Heath Ledger, it’s still probably going to be a great flick), the new X-Files movie (which doesn’t seem to have an official site, and perhaps that’s not surprising since the principal shooting only wrapped on the 11th of March), the Speed Racer movie, Star Wars: the Clone Wars, The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor (again, no official site, though there’s a blog from the director which is worth a look), the adaptation of Mark Millar’s Wanted, and the Sex and the City movie. Okay, so Sex and the City is not SF or comics… but don’t tell me you’re not looking forward to Carrie’s wedding. I won’t believe you (unless she’s marrying Abe Sapien I’m not interested, honest – Joe).

(the cast of the new Indiana Jones movie pose with Steven Spielberg)

“But Katherine!” I hear you cry, “aren’t these all either sequels or adaptations? Isn’t that a token of Hollywood’s bandwagon-jumping and lack of originality?”

Well, firstly, some of the best movies ever made have been either sequels or adaptations – exhibit A: The Empire Strikes Back; exhibit B: Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings trilogy. And secondly, that’s not even all. There’s Kung Fu Panda (the title alone sells it, and then you realise Jack Black’s doing voice acting, and then you see the fabulous animation in the trailer…), and Hancock – Will Smith as a homeless superhero? SOLD! (damn, I thought he was going to perform the classic blood donor and radio ham sketches – Joe), and Wall-E (it’s a Pixar film; Pixar can do no wrong). And there’s a new M. Night Shyamalan movie coming too, The Happening, and while I’m not always thrilled by everything Shyamalan does, he’s always worth a look at least.

It is just possible that I may explode from the sheer volume of blockbusting goodness on offer this summer.

Katherine Farmar writes regularly on comics and culture, you can read more on her comics blog Whereof One Can Speak.