Kapow! Wham! Biff! Superhero Movies Ahead!

With the deluge of superhero movies these days, Red Dot Diva is predicting that prices for spandex will be increasing soon.

Can one imagine the bales of that stretchy synthetic fibre (especially in red, blue, white and black) it would take to make these costumes?

After all, Red Dot Diva is sure those super-powered tooth-and-nail fights and arduous practice rounds must cause a lot of wear and tear on these attire.

And Red Dot Diva doesn't even want to go into the costumes that the super-villains need to wear to look more scary.

That's a WHOLE LOT of Spandex!

(Of course, all these do not apply to Doctor Manhattan.... )

Perhaps Red Dot Diva should try getting an interview with Edna Mode. Why Dahlings, business must be on the up and up for her!

So if one is ever wondering which superheroes will be parading their specially-designed costumes on the big screen, here's the coming soon list:

Thor (2011) - 6 May 2011

Red Dot Diva has still got to get used to a more hirsute version of papa Kirk, but Aussie actor Chris Hemsworth sure bulked up a great deal for the titular role of Thor. Just look at those arms in the pic on left! O_O

After viewing the official trailer, Red Dot Diva was expecting Thor's voice to be lower, boomier and less pseudo-American sounding. But the gratuitous shirtless scene was sure distracting enough!

Red Dot Diva is aware that there has been many complaints about seeing a black dude (Idris Elba as Heimdall) and an Asian guy in Asgard. Interesting that no matter how fictional and fantastical a superhero movie is, people still perceive it in their own cultural mindset. A white Cai Shen Ye (财神爷), anyone?

Plus there's the incessant grousing about the lack of helmets and the too-futuristic looking Thor costume... and most humourously to Red Dot Diva, the size of *ahem* Thor's hammer, Mjolnir. 

Seriously though, would a truly Nordic-looking or sounding film based on a comic character (which is actually based on a revered Norse god - a travesty already by itself - ) do well in the movies made for the international mass market? Red Dot Diva doubts so.

Anyway, it is a yay for Red Dot Diva that there's the usually solid actress Natalie Portman as Jane Foster in the "Thor" movie. She hopes that Natalie will not be underutilized as a mere love interest. Now, that would annoy Red Dot Diva way too much.

And double-yay to one of Red Dot Diva's favourite actors too - Anthony Hopkins who she knows is very well cast as Odin.



The movie is directed by Kenneth Branagh and also includes Tom Hiddleston and Jaimie Alexander.

X-Men: First Class - 3 June 2011

There has been a lot of confusion as to which timeline this "X-Men" movie is actually based on.

From what director Michael Vaughn revealed, the movie is "its own beast" and not based on the "X-Men: First Class" comic series. (Source: UGO) And all this will probably make many hardcore comic book readers rage and dismiss the movie. Even more so, when they know that the key characters Jean Grey, Cyclops and Storm are not in it.

Red Dot Diva recalled that when the question of movie versus comic book continuity was fielded to Matt Fraction during STGCC 2010, he had said that this is often not followed stringently, and it is about putting "the most accessible, most understandable kind of story" to a different kind of audience. David Lloyd, co-creator of "V For Vendetta" also indicated the same sentiment. David stressed that so long as the essence of the character/ story is present, people have to understand that movies are a different kind of visual medium.

Indeed, Red Dot Diva has found that it is a far better experience going to watch a movie adaptation with an open mind. Although, she can definitely understand the feelings of agitation. Being an avid book reader, she feels a brain + heartache when her favourite novels get bastardized by Hollywood.

The movie is also somewhat of a prequel to the other "X-Men" movies, and will tell the tale of how the "X-Men" and "The Brotherhood of Mutants" were formed by Professor X and Magneto respectively.

Michael Fassbender (Magneto), James McAvoy (Professor X), Rose Byrne (Dr. Moira McTaggert) and January Jones (Emma Frost) are a few of the actors involved with "X-Men - First Class". Red Dot Diva thinks that these actors often do good work, so fans may very well be taken by surprise by the actual movie.

And anyway, she quite digs the mod 60's look for the film.

Other cast members include Jennifer Lawrence, Nicholas Hoult, Kevin Bacon, Lucas Till, Caleb Landry Jones, Jason Fleming, Zoe Kravitz, Edi Gathegi, Olive Platt and Ray Wise.

Captain America: The First Avenger - 22 July 2011

Previously a Human Torch now Captain America, but Red Dot Diva still thinks Chris Evans is om-nom-nomy by any superhero name.

Some cool "Captain America - The First Avenger" movie promo pictures have been released through the media channels this past couple of weeks. The latest being the rather awesome poster of an emo Captain America holding a battle-scarred shield.

Sentiments on the internet regarding the poster have mostly been positive. And it was a really good teaser for fans who are eager waiting for the first official movie trailer, which will be shown this Sunday during the Super Bowl telecast.

Red Dot Diva is sure that it'll be all over YouTube after the 30-sec trailer is aired. W00t!

In the latest issue of UK's Empire magazine, there is also a wonderful Captain America cover with an article chockful of promo pics. ComicBookMovie.com has the scans.

The movie tells the story of how Steve Rogers became a Super Soldier aka Captain America through an experimental program. "Captain America - The First Avenger" is one of the superhero movies that will lead to "The Avengers" movie, which will be released in 2012.

Other cast members are Sebastian Stan, Hugo Weaving, Hayley Atwell, Toby Jones, Stanley Tucci, Richard Armitage, Natalie Dormer, Dominic Cooper, Neal McDonough, Tommy Lee Jones and Samuel L. Jackson. The movie is directed by Joe Johnston.


And if one thought that's all, there are MOAARRRRE superhero movies which will be released in 2012!

Hollywood seems to be going on a supervillain-frenzy with the franchises these days. In production are the Batman sequel's sequel, Spiderman reboot, new Superman ......

Which actually sounds like fun.

So, Red Dot Diva will now take a break to mull on the design of her own spandexy supervillain costume. And she will return with more about superhero movies in part 2 of this article.