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While Bollywood holds back its big budget releases till after the IPL tournament, Hollywood gears up to cash in on the vacation mood this summer. Letting loose a platoon of comic book superheroes, Hollywood is simply ODing (overdosing) out on hi-tech comic book movies this holiday season. Just check out the release calendar: The Avengers (May 4), Men in Black III (May 25), G.I. Joe: Retaliation (June 29), The Amazing Spider-Man (July 3), Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance and The Dark Knight Rises (July 20). And, don’t you know, the internet generation keenly awaits all these films.
"The Avengers is a film to watch out for — imagine what happens when Iron Man, Hulk, Thor, Black Widow and Hawkeye team up together in a film," gushes young Yashraj, who has just wound up his board exams and is all too keen to break free. Well only last month, the foremost reason cited for the debacle of Saif Ali Khan’s Agent Vinod, besides weak plot was "alienation of the viewers as the film was shot at too many exotic places that they couldn’t connect with". But somehow the alienation theory does not hold water with the superhero flicks, as Satyajit Dixit, manager of a multiplex chain, in an upbeat mood cites, "The new generation values these high-tech, high octane action superhero bonanzas. There is a strong buzz about The Avengers already. Also the simultaneous release of the films worldwide helps in satiating the curiosity factor of the viewers. We are sure the superheroes will save the theatres from the ongoing draught," he adds emphatically. N. P. Yadav, editor of Entertainment Trade, concurs, "Hollywood fantasies have a special appeal for the Indian viewer. Moreover, their films are very well marketed and released in plum vacation period." If the success of James Cameron’s alien film Avatar (2010) is anything to go by, then assuredly Indian filmgoers may embrace the upcoming bunch of superhero flicks reiterating the universal appeal of cinema. Swarali Marathe, clinical psychologist and psychotherapist explains, "All superhero films also have video game versions so the children today are totally clued in. They are naturally drawn to the stunts and technical wizardry of these films. There is a distinct connect between the youth and all those men — Spiderman, Batman, Iron Man and GI Joe. They are cult films," she stresses. A recent internet poll revealed that the most-awaited films this summer are The Avengers followed by Men in Black III (MiB)and The Dark Knight Rises. Cartoon superheroes have certainly overtaken family animation romps (Shrek, The Toy Story, Ice Age etc). The summer brings out comic strip heroes of two of the world’s most popular comic book publishers — Marvel comics and DC Comics — into the theatres. Kicking off with a big bang on May 4, The Avengers has the ultimate team-up of Marvel comic book heroes, including Iron Man (Robert Downey, Jr.), Captain America (Chris Evans), the Hulk (Mark Ruffalo), Thor (Chris Hemsworth), Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson) and Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner) to combat an alien villain with evil intentions on Earth. Will Smith, the lead man of MiB series, suggested the premise of Men in Black III while filming MiB II. This quaint action drama will release on May 25. The Men in Black was a comic book created and written by Lowell Cunningham, and published by Aircel Comics later to be bought out by Marvel Comics. The third most anticipated release, The Dark Knight Rises features the iconic Batman, from DC comics universe, pitched against an all new villain Bane, who replaces the sadistic Joker. In 2008, The Dark Knight had notched up top opening the world over. The Dark Knight Rises stars Christian Bale as Batman and Tom Hardy as the new super villain Bane, alongside regulars Anne Hathaway playing the Catwoman. G. I. Joe: Retaliation based on Hasbro’s G.I. Joe toy, comic and media franchise, the film has an ensemble cast featuring WWE Superstar Dwayne Johnson and Bruce Willis. The film will have the G.I. Joe team taking on Cobra Commander yet again. The Amazing Spider-Man swings into theatres in 3-D, starring new spidey Andrew Garfield as Peter Parker. Indian viewers shall await Irrfan Khan’s evil avatar as as Nels Van Adder. Additional attraction is that spidey turns 50 this year as he was first introduced to the world in 1962 in Amazing Fantasy #15. "This is one of the biggest stories in Marvel history. This is only the beginning of how we’re celebrating spiderman’s spectacular 50th anniversary," Axel Alonso, editor-in-chief, Marvel Entertainment, said in an interview. Back home, so far, we have only had a tele-serial based on comic book character — Chacha Chaudhary. Filmmaker Anurag Kashyap had announced adapting Raj Comics hero, Doga with Sony Pictures. Kunal Kapoor was slated to play Doga. But trade analyst Yadav has a word of caution for the makers, "Perhaps, the novelty element may work but unless the story is well Indianised like Krrish, such ventures have really never worked. Remember Drona?" he asks. Hindi films have diligently followed Hollywood in making sequels and action thrillers but it remains to be seen if desi makers will also find comic book stories and heroes a calling card.
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