The Turtles, the Witch, and the Guardians Come this Summer
The news that Michael Bay would produce the latest big-screen version of "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" caused concern among fans. But based from the first teaser trailer, there was no need to worry.
Created by Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles first appeared in a comic book in 1984. These four anthropomorphic turtles became famous overnight, gaining worldwide fame during the late 80s and 90s. They were novelty back then, named after the four Renaissance artists. (Leonardo da Vinci. Michelangelo. Donatello. Raphael.) Fans rather called them Leo, Mike, Donnie, and Raph, which sounded more appropriate to their age. They also can't get enough of pizza, a sign that they're very American. Trained by their rat sensei from their home in the storm sewers of New York, they battle criminals and mutated animals, even alien invaders. They're the heroes of Big Apple, but they rather remained isolated from society.
The teaser trailer reveals a creepy look, but it's too early to judge; the Ninja Turtles will be kicking on August 8.
Meanwhile, the third trailer of "Maleficent" was released. This is another highly-anticipated film, about one of the most sinister Disney villains. She was the star of Walt Disney Pictures's animated version of "Sleeping Beauty" (1959), the wicked fairy godmother who cursed Princess Aurora to prick her finger on the spindle of the spinning wheel on the eve of her sixteenth birthday, and die. This was an adaptation of a popular Grimm Brothers fairy tale, so everyone knew the outcome. What they didn't know was there were plans to do a live-action version, as Maleficent was a fascinating character. It's no surprise that Angeline Jolie will play the titular character, her looks both bewitching and frightening. The movie poster shows it, her cheeks seem unnatural.
Tim Burton was rumored to direct the film, but he had other projects. Robert Stromberg, production designer of Burton's "Alice in Wonderland", stepped in, making his directorial debut. How the live-action retelling will turn out is anyone's guess, but based from the trailer, it looks good.
Finally, those who haven't enough of the Marvel Cinematic Universe will get another treat this August, as James Gunn's "Guardians of the Galaxy" will hit the theaters. As the name implies, they're interstellar heroes who are proactive in protecting the galaxy. It's an unlikely team comprising Adam Warlock, Gamora, Drax the Destroyer, Groot, and Rocket. (A group with one human, who is also the leader.) Fans got a sneek peek of this film, when the Collector (Benicio del Toro) appeared in the mid-credits scene of “Thor: The Dark World”. Thanos was their main villain, a pacifist who became fascinated by nihilism and death. He made a brief appearance in the mid-credits scenes of "The Avengers", hinting that he would be the main foe of Iron Man, Thor, Captain America, the Incredible Hulk, Hawkeye, and Black Widow in the next installment. Will Adam Warlock and company make an appearance in "Avengers: Age of Ultron"? It's possible, as Marvel Studios and Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures want a franchise. The box-office results indicate that they're so successful, with possibilities of more Marvel superheroes appearing on the big screen in the near future. Justice League can't be far behind.
