1. Big Hero 6 (Disney, 3,761 Theaters, 108 Minutes, Rated PG for action and peril, some rude humor, and thematic elements.): Some of you might have heard something about this being a Marvel film based on a Marvel comic. You would have heard both right and wrong. The concept did originate in comics, in two miniseries Marvel published in 1998 and 2008 respectively, but there is a reason why the film is a Disney film and not a Marvel film.
When Disney bought Marvel, the studio began rummaging through Marvel’s intellectual property for concepts they could bring to life themselves, with as little involvement from Marvel as possible. Big Hero 6 was the one they selected.
Marvel wanted a more mature take on the concept, but Disney viewed the film as their show and Marvel would just publish the tie-in comic books. Marvel was insulted by this and refused to publish those comics. Disney fought back and said that they’d publish the tie-ins themselves.
Eventually, cooler heads prevailed and a compromise was made. Disney would get full control over the concept, but neither would publish the tie-in comic (That honor went to Yen Press).
The film looks good from what I’ve seen of it (and I’ve seen a lot. My daughter watches a lot of Disney Channel and they relentlessly promote the film there). But hopefully this will be the last concept Disney steals from Marvel and they’ll eventually be able to work together from now on.
2. Interstellar (Opened Wednesday, Paramount, 3,561 Theaters,169 Minutes, Rated PG-13 for some intense perilous action and brief strong language.): This might be marked down as the film where the Christopher Nolan backlash begins.
Nolan has been riding high for years, seeing films he wrote and directed become successes both financially and critically. That run has gone on for so long, it would have to come to an end at some point. And it seems that the critics are jumping off now. This film is the worst reviewed of all that Nolan wrote and directed.
The film deals with a near future where the Earth has become unlivable. Scientist have sent a team of astronauts out to examine other planets to see if they can support life. However, a race against the clock is complicated by unforeseen circumstances, and no alternate planet might be found.
