A neophyte's quick lessons on comics superheroes

It does seem there is truth to the observation that movie-watching in cinema houses still exists, as we noted in our last column. And this is despite the high cost of movies (P150 to P180), when pirated DVDs can be bought for P40 and rented at P25.

Never ever having followed the exploits of Marvel Komiks superheroes, we watched both 3D and 2D versions of The Avengers precisely to understand why it was showing in all theaters of cineplexes all over Manila, and why the theaters were all full. Our knowledge of superheroes being limited to Superman, Batman & Robin and Catwoman (of DC Comics), we couldn’t immediately grasp what was so earth-shaking about six superheroes getting together to fi ght a war.

Of course, children made up most of the 3D audience, and they shrieked and screamed during the introductions of the Marvel heroes gathered together by Fury and villainous Loki, brother of Thor during the fi refi ghting with the Chitauri who were out to conquer the Earth. We doubt at all that the children comprehended the amazing talents of director Joss Whedon who could keep super-egos in check while never losing sight of the narrative. But this wasn’t at all important as of the moment.

What we appreciated most was getting a quick lesson on some of the most successful comics heroes to date in one blow. We learned of the mythical warrior Thor sent to live on Earth; Dr. Bruce Banner who unwittingly is able to turn into The Incredible Hulk; and the handsome Captain America who wears the American fl ag on his bodice.

Black Widow alias Natasha Romanoff who can outdo any male opponent and the sarcastically funny Iron Man in a heavy iron costume are our favorites of all. We hear that soon Black Widow will be given a solo fi lm.

Taylor Schilling (right) and Zac Efron in a mushy romance hit

Naturally, where there are heroes, there will be villains, and Loki is the super villain of them all. Adoptive brother and archenemy of Thor, he similarly comes from Norse mythology. In 2009, he was honored as the Eighth Greatest Comic Book Villain of All Time.

Nick Fury, played by Samuel Jackson, is head of the espionage agency Shield.

Fury discovers that the Tesseract energy source that could save the world’s problems had activated and is now held by Loki. In his hands, the Tesseract could destroy the world. That convinces Fury to gather together the Avengers to save the world. Which they do in an aerial battle with the Chitauri to the accompaniment of cheering children from Earth in our audience. Loki and company are subdued and the Avengers go their separate ways until they are again needed for another Earth threatening job larger than the one they had just faced. Which, of course, will be in The Avengers Part 2.

Romance galore inThe Lucky One

After immersing ourselves in the exhausting battle of the superheroes, we needed a break and found it in The Lucky One.

If the Avengers was debilitating, The Lucky One was weepie, courtesy of a beefed-up Zac Efron who became known as teen poster boy in High School Musical.

Now, he plays a brooding US marine recovering from three tours of duty in Iraq, who found a photo of a mysterious Taylor Schilling he believes he was destined to meet. Before long, he had walked miles to her home in a small town, got a job as all-around helper in her house, and warmed himself into the hearts of Taylor, her mom, and her child, with the exception of her ex-husband.

Black Widow and Iron Man are our favorite Avengers

Practically all reviews we’ve read are negative, calling the specialty of writer Nicholas Sparks “mushy,” “predictable,” “contrived” to the max starting from The Notebook, Message in a Bottle, A Walk to Remember, Nights in Rodanthe, Dear John and The Last Song. Maybe so, but we loved the mushiness of Nights in

Rodanthe, the contrived setting of a storm at sea, and the predictability of a love story between a solitary mysterious occupant (Richard Gere and Diane Lane) of a bed and breakfast on a beach. Of course, the movie was similarly panned. So don’t expect an Academy Award type of a movie in The Lucky One, but for a good healthy cry, nothing can beat it.

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