It might be an uphill battle. For starters, Summer 2011 already has superhero fatigue, what with Paramount’s “Thor” and FOX’s “X-Men: First Class” opening in early May and early June.

In addition, Martin Campbell’s “Lantern,” which casts Ryan Reynolds as test pilot Hal Jordan who becomes an intergalactic hero when he receives a powerful ring from a dying alien, is staring down some ridiculously harsh reviews. The summer tentpole film has a 21% Fresh grade on Rotten Tomatoes, with critics using words like “deadly disappointment,” “derivative,” “clunky” and “unremarkable.”

Those negative reviews, in my opinion, are off the mark. While Campbell’s film is handcuffed by the formula assigned to every single superhero origin story to date, “Green Lantern” (**1/2 out of 4 stars) constructs some elaborately fantastic universes for the intergalactic portion of its story, where Jordan journeys to Oa to unlock the full potential of his stylish, green duds.

In some ways, “Lantern” is a companion piece to Kenneth Branagh’s “Thor,” as both adventures figured how to balance celestial action with human drama. Campbell’s film isn’t nearly as successful in sustaining the earthbound romance that’s a prerequisite in these four-quadrant blockbusters. But that’s largely because love interest Blake Lively’s too small of a performer for these rooms. Everywhere else, though, Campbell litters his roster with grade-A character actors (Peter Sarsgaard, Angela Bassett, Tim Robbins) who juice their caricatures, then get out of the way of the next expensive effect.

I find it amusing that you can’t spell “original” without the word “origin,” because every superhero origin story from this point forward will suffer from not being original. But the spare-no-expense “Lantern” lays the groundwork for a universe I’d happily revisit in subsequent sequels, particularly if Campbell was at the wheel of what could be a fantastic franchise.

We won’t get a chance, though, if audiences don’t show up this weekend and beyond. Deadline reports that “Lantern” grabbed $3.35 million in midnight screenings, which the studio called an “excellent result setting up for a strong Father’s Day weekend.” I honestly hope so, because I’d rather see more “Lantern” films than most of the superhero franchises that already are guaranteed sequels … and soon.

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OK, maybe it isn’t scientific fact, but borderline ignorable movies like “The Proposal,” “Buried,” “X-Men Origins: Wolverine” and “The Amityville Horror” remake were actually tolerable thanks to Reynolds’ charming participation.

It’s that grain of truth that has us looking forward to Warner’s “Green Lantern,” Martin Campbell’s adaptation of the D.C. Comic, and the studios entry into a crowded superhero summer. In the film, which co-stars Blake Lively, Reynolds plays a test pilot tapped by a dying alien to become a Green Lantern, part of a band of extraterrestrial protectors. While the effects look top notch, it’s Reynolds’ humor that seems to be the wild card in “Lantern,” and probably ends up being the key to the film’s eventual success.

And he’s hardly slowing down. Reynolds recently presented a Best Kiss trophy at the MTV Movie Awards. He’s gearing up for the body-swapping comedy “The Change-Up” with Jason Bateman. And he’ll return to the superhero realm for “Deadpool” somewhere down the line. This handsome actor is in the game to entertain, and that’s why we are very pleased to announce that Ryan Reynolds has been named our “Hollywood Movie Star of the Week.”

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Photo courtesy of PRPhotos.com.

But another comic book property from a rival studio that also connects our human realm with a powerful, intergalactic race is making sure that “Thor” doesn’t steal everybody’s thunder.

Warner Bros. has unveiled the longest (and presumably final) “Green Lantern” trailer. It is up on Yahoo Movies, where it can be viewed in HD.

Well-timed, Warner, as you know most movie sites are ramping up “Thor” coverage. Now we’re all forced to divert attention from Marvel to D.C., temporarily, to comment on the size and scope of Martin Campbell’s effects-laden superhero thriller.

Ryan Reynolds continues to look like the right choice for Green Lantern, while we get a better look at Peter Sarsgaard’s villainous Hector Hammond and the predicament he finds himself in. The film co-stars Blake Lively, Angela Bassett and Tim Robbins, as well as the voices of Geoffrey Rush and Michael Clarke Duncan.

“Green Lantern” will be in theaters on June 17.

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And we’re not even talking about “The Avengers,” which will hit theaters in 2012 and prominently features both characters.

“Thor will go off into a new adventure, and Captain America will continue to explore the modern world in another film of his own,” Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige told Disney’s D23 agazine (courtesy of IGN).

“We hope that holds true for the characters appearing in that film — Black Widow, Hawkeye, and the spy organization, S.H.I.E.L.D. — all of whom are more than worthy and capable of carrying their own films. And, we’ve got a lot of other characters we’re prepping and getting ready for film debuts: the world of martial arts, these great cosmic space fantasies, Dr. Strange, and the magic side of the Marvel Universe. There are many, many stories to be mined.”

But of course. We’re just starting to see the Marvel Studios universe exploding on screen, and if “Thor” and “Cap” make the money we expect them to do, then we’ll see plenty more superhero films over the coming years. And then sequels. And then reboots. Oh my.

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Shortly after that, however, another Marvel team of heroes will receive a brand new introduction as 20tht Century Fox tries to reboot its “X-Men” franchise with an origin story set around pre-established characters Charles Xavier (James McAvoy) and Magneto (Michael Fassbender). Will it work? I certainly trust in director Matthew Vaughn, who helmed “Kick-Ass” and the underrated “Stardust.”

This morning, Total Film (courtesy of ComingSoon) has an in-depth feature on the film with scans of the young mutants in period garb. Check it out here.

We’ve also got the latest “First Class” trailer posted below.

Vaughn has a great cast, including McAvoy, Fassbender, Rose Byrne, January Jones, Kevin Bacon, Oscar nominee Jennifer Lawrence, Oliver Platt and Zoe Kravitz. It opens everywhere on June 3.

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John Franco, a special effects worker on Warner Bros.’ upcoming “Green Lantern” film, has filed a lawsuit in Los Angeles Superior Court claiming “unspecified damages from an incident he claims took place in July 2010 on the Louisiana set” of Martin Campbell’s superhero flick.

Though the suit lacks specific details, THR reports that Franco claims to have suffered “numerous internal and external injuries, severe fright, shock, pain, discomfort and anxiety.”

Who hasn’t?

But Franco is thinking big, trying to sue Warner, DC Comics, South Bay EXF Inc. and virtually anyone associated with “Green Lantern.” Watch your back, Ryan Reynolds.

Warner did not comment on the suit. Smart move.

As for “Green Lantern,” it will be in theaters on June 17. Let’s hope it doesn’t cause us severe fright, shock, pain, discomfort and anxiety.

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In the process, we get the best look at Chris Evans in his Captain America suit (which we’ve posted below).

Both projects come across as risks. Most superhero stories go out of their way to connect the origin story to our modern time. Spider-Man is a New York teenager. The X-Men fight out of their home base in Upstate New York. Even Superman left his home planet for a good old fashioned Midwestern upbringing.

Kenneth Branagh’s “Thor,” on the other hand, has to introduce an otherworldly god (played by Chris Hemsworth) before transporting this powerful being to our planet. And Joe Johnston’s “Cap,” meanwhile, will be set in the past, introducing the Marvel hero as the World War II fighter that he was.

How important are these details? Will audiences mind if key elements are altered? So far, it looks like both Branagh and Johnston are walking along the right path, honoring Marvel’s roots while creating entertainment that will appeal to the masses.

Check out the new photos on Marvel.com, and prepare for “Thor” and Captain America,” which will open on May 6 and July 22, respectively.

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By Scott Mendelson

hollywoodnews.com: There is a refreshing quaintness to Michel Gondry’s The Green Hornet. In an age where every comic book adaptation and/or superhero adventure story sets out to be the biggest, most explosive, most fx-filled, most fantastical epic ever made, this new adventure (an adaptation of a classic radio serial) keeps the proceedings down to earth. It is, at its core, a character comedy rooted in an unexpected friendship that just happens to have the occasional car chase and action set piece. It brings to mind the 1990s superhero films, in that theoretical dead zone between Batman and X-Men, when the few super hero pictures weren’t afraid to have just a little charm and a touch of knowing panache.

A token amount of plot: Scorned at an early age by the death of his mother and his father’s cold and distant relationship, Britt Reid (Seth Rogan) is the spoiled, aimless son of recently-deceased newspaper owner James Reid (Tom Wilkinson). As Britt mourns the sudden loss, he stumbles upon his father’s former mechanic, an engineering genius and martial arts whiz known only as Kato (Jay Chou). Lashing out for their own respective reasons against the late elder Reid, the two team up to use Mr. Reid’s technology to fight crime, as a way of atoning for their previously aimless existences. But knowing that advertising their super-heroic natures will only put innocents in jeopardy, they instead masquerade as costumed super-villains, bent on destroying the criminal competition. Said ‘crime spree’ quickly attracts the attention of resident crime boss Chudnofsky (Christoph Weitz), who is having a bit of a midlife crisis as he wonders if the underworld still fears him like they once did. Will Britt Reid (now calling himself the Green Hornet) and Kato succeed in their scheme to rid the city of crime by becoming criminals themselves?

To say that the film doesn’t take itself too seriously is almost a given considering the cast and general premise. But what differentiates the picture from the recent glut of comic book adventure films is the absolute lack of pretension and the emphasis on character interaction. The core of the film is the friendship between Britt Reid and Kato. Seth Rogan and Jay Chou have a relaxed and completely unforced chemistry. The film certainly goes off into a verbal tangent or two, and it gives the two stars real room to breathe, so that we actually see these unlikely allies getting to know and like each other. The fancy car and snazzy gadgets are secondary to the somewhat silly story being told. What’s most refreshing is that Kato is not forced to be a sage monk of infinite patience and wisdom. Yes, Kato is smarter and tougher than Britt, but he’s just as prone to selfish impulses and just as willing to appreciate the sheer enjoyment of fighting crime with high-tech gadgets.

The supporting cast is filled out nicely by various veterans and character actors. Cameron Diaz scores a few laughs as an assistant with an uncanny knowledge of organized crime, and it’s to the film’s credit that she doesn’t serve as a love interest for either of our heroes. A welcome, if underused, Edward James Olmos plays it straight as the current head of the Reid family newspaper, and Edward Furlong drops in for a brief appearance. The opening moments involve a genuinely hilarious cameo that I won’t spoil, except to say that can only wonder when he found the time. But most superhero films are only as strong as their villain, and Christoph Weitz delivers in spades. The evil Chudnofsky even gets a character arc of his own, as he spends much of the film figuring out how to win back the ability to terrorize that he once possessed, an ability that now resides with a masked criminal moving in on his turf. Weitz scores big laughs in every scene he is in, and he’s one of the more just-plain amusing villains of this nature since Treat Williams smart-assed his way through The Phantom.

The action scenes are nothing to write home about, although the brief glimpses of ‘Kato vision’ are slightly amusing. The car chases are a bit choppy, but I was pleased by the action finale, which is one of those seemingly never-ending set pieces that just keeps going from one location to another, while constantly finding clever beats along the way. I like that the villains don’t screw around, as Chudnofsky immediately set out to kill the Green Hornet and attempt to do so as quickly and efficiently as possible (there is very little ‘monologuing’, except when it serves character beats). I like that the film is almost obscenely violent in spots, with several shocking deaths that only escaped an R-rating due to the irreverent tone of the picture. And I appreciate how the film slyly plays with comic book conventions and exists in a world where the characters had actual knowledge of the existence of fictional masked heroes and villains. This is no Scream/Kiss Kiss Bang Bang deconstruction, but far too many superhero pictures exist in a vacuum where seemingly no one has ever heard of Batman or Spider-Man. Oh, and the 3D is invisible and useless while the IMAX screen adds little, but don’t hold that against the movie itself.

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hollywoodnews.com: A Squared Entertainment (A2),the leading producer of comic book entertainment, and Stan Lee, founder, chairman and chief creative officer (CCO) of POW! Entertainment announced today at Comic-Con a new 21st century comic book label, Stan Lee Comics.

“We have known and respected each other’s work for years. A2 Entertainment is honored to collaborate and create the next great label of superheroes with a living legend in this field.”

Stan Lee Comics, based on new and original creations from Lee, will be published across both print and digital formats. Alongside the comic books, the franchises will be produced as both animated and live action entertainment, including webisodes and companion games. The new Lee creations will also be licensed and merchandised globally, across toys, video games, publishing and apparel, thereby creating a worldwide network of community support across a fully integrated brand. The first series, “Stan Lee and the Super Seven,” will also debut with an original made-for-video animated motion picture.

In 2010, Stan Lee Comics introduces three new superhero franchises including the world’s first reality comic book. Stan Lee makes his debut as a featured character in “Stan Lee and the Super Seven” when he befriends seven aliens who find themselves stranded after their spaceship crashes. The second, ”Airwalker,” was teased in last week’s episode of HBO’s hit series, “Entourage.” This Sunday’s episode will continue the story line with a cameo appearance by Lee. The third franchise of Stan Lee Comics will be announced in October 2010.

“This has been a lifelong dream for myself, Stan Lee and Jon Goldwater,” said A2 Entertainment co-founder and CEO, Andy Heyward. “We have known and respected each other’s work for years. A2 Entertainment is honored to collaborate and create the next great label of superheroes with a living legend in this field.”

“Creating this comic book line has been a humbling experience,” says Archie Comics Co-CEO, Jon Goldwater. “With this project we’ve brought together the most successful creator of comic book characters of all time, the most prolific producer of children’s entertainment and one of the most successful comic book publishers of all time to create a new series of superheroes that will influence generations to come.”

“For many reasons, Stan Lee Comics is an especially important venture for me,” says POW! Chairman and Founder Stan Lee. “With this new line, I have the chance to be intimately involved with the creation of a new world of superheroes and the opportunities are limitless with the Web, TV, film and more. Although the mediums may change, this proves there will always be a place for superheroes in the world of entertainment.”

A2 will manage the animated and live programming, as well as the global licensing and merchandising. Archie Comics will be responsible for the publication of the comics, in both the print and digital formats. Lee will be involved with all creation and creative for Stan Lee Comics.

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source: business wire

HollywoodNews.com: Marvel has just unveiled two concept posters for “Thor and Captain America: The First Avenger.” The posters will be featured at Comic Con and give fans a first look at what action we can expect from the film.

After being deemed unfit for military service, Steve Rogers volunteers for a top secret research project that turns him into Captain America, a superhero dedicated to defending America’s ideals.

What do you think of the new poster art?

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