IGN's Autumn 2012 Movie Preview

Now that the summer is over (so long, superheroes!) we look ahead to what IGN-centric films are on the horizon for September through November. Zombies, demons, the return of 007, and the swan song of Teams Edward and Jacob are just some of what's in store for filmgoers. Here are all the movies you might want to catch this season!

The Cold Light of Day

Release Date: September 7 (US): April 6 (UK); May 21 (AU)

Studio: Summit

On the surface, there’s nothing too original about the Cold Light of Day plot, which has armed and distraught future Superman Henry Cavill discovering the secrets of his CIA agent father after his entire family is kidnapped. But when you throw into the mix the fact that said father is played by Bruce Willis, and his partner is Sigourney Weaver, then this action thriller - directed by JCVD helmer Mabrouk El Mechri - doesn’t look quite so bland.

REC3: Genesis

Release Date: September 7 (US): March 30 (UK); TBD (AU)

Studio: Magnet

The third instalment in the [REC] franchise has provoked a pretty mixed reaction. Pitched as a comedy-horror, critics and fans of the original have expressed disappointment at the fact that the film strays from the serious overtones of its predecessors. That doesn’t mean it’s not good fun, but maybe forewarn yourself with our review before buying a ticket.

The Sweeney

Release Date: TBD (US); September 12 (UK); January 24 (AU)

Studio: Vertigo Films

Creating a modern police movie by resurrecting an obscenely popular cult 1970’s British TV classic is a risky move, but The Sweeney looks like it could be a blast. Ray Winstone plays iconic copper Jack Regan, while rapper-turned actor Plan B is his hard-as-nails partner. And if you were wondering about the title, Sweeney Todd is cockney rhyming slang for the police force’s Flying Squad.

Finding Nemo 3D

Release Date: September 14; March 29, 2013 (UK);  August 30 (AU)

Studio: Disney-Pixar

The 3D conversions of beloved classics seem to polarize people, but converting one of Pixar’s most striking, original and successful animated fables seems like a no-brainer. After all, who wouldn’t want to dive back into the big blue with Marlin and Dory, and as the sequel fast approaches, the re-release will be a good refresher.

Resident Evil: Retribution 3D

Release Date: September 14 (US); September 28 (UK); September 20 (AU)

Studio: Screen Gems/Sony

You know the drill by now. Milla Jovovich returns once more as Alice in the fifth instalment of videogame spin-off helmed by Paul W. S. Anderson. The trailer promises action, and lots of it, and if it turns out to be the director and star’s franchise swansong, here’s hoping they go out with a bang.

Stolen

Release Date: September 14 (US); TBD (UK, AU)

Studio: Millennium Films

Think Taken with a taxi and Nicolas Cage. The Ghost Rider star plays Will Montgomery, a master thief who becomes suitably annoyed when – upon being released from prison – he discovers that his former partner-in-crime has kidnapped his daughter and is holding her hostage in a hijacked taxi. Typical.

The Master

Release Date: Sept. 14 (US, limited); Sept. 21 (US, wide);  Nov. 9 (UK); Nov. 8 (AU)

Studio: The Weinstein Co.

Paul Thomas Anderson’s latest feature is sure to be one to watch come awards season. Philip Seymour Hoffman plays Lancaster Dodd, a smart and charismatic guy who sets up a religious organisation – which may or may not be based on Scientology – following World War II. Sparks fly when he falls out with right-hand man Joaquin Phoenix, with both actors receiving early rave reviews for their work.

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Hero Worship: Indie Superheroes Could Be the Future

It’s a well-known fact that a large percentage of pop culture’s superheroes fall into one of two categories: Marvel or DC. While the die-hard fans of one or the other will forever argue which universe is better, there is a third party in this equation that is often overlooked by the mainstream: independent comics. “Independent” meaning a stand-alone, small publisher. In the case of comics, that pretty much means everyone except for the Big Two and their creator-owned imprints.

And though the spirit of independent comics has mostly been to drive alternative stories (non-capes) and promote creator-owned work, they do indeed have their own superheroes, some that are more beloved by fans than even corporately owned characters. Spawn, the TMNT, Invincible, the Tick, the Rocketeer and more are all derived from independent works. Some have had successful multimedia projects in the past, and some have not. Yet despite the massive upswing in cinematic superhero adaptations in the last decade, most of the independent superheroes have failed to make a jump onto the big screen in recent years.

New movie, plz.

That’s not to say alternative comics themselves haven’t made it – movies like 30 Days of Night, Wanted, American Splendor and Surrogates all spring to mind – but for superheroes, only Hellboy has made a go of it (we're using the term "superhero" loosely here). And, before you point it out, Kick-Ass is indeed creator-owned, but it’s not independent – Icon is a branch of Marvel Comics. We’ve got Dredd coming soon, but it remains to be seen if 2000AD’s figurehead will make a splash. And with the new TMNT movie and The Crow reboot (though I would argue that they’ve transcended their own comics anyway) still in flux, who knows when they’ll actually make it back on the big screen.

Things might look somewhat bleak for most of these properties at the moment, but I would say that the future of creativity in cinematic superheroes lies in these left-of-center characters. Give us a Rocketeer, SCUD the Disposable Assassin, Tank Girl, Witchblade, Bloodshot, Luther Strode and Invincible movie and I think we’ll reach an exciting new high for not just superhero flicks, but comics in general. Sure, some might tank… but some might be the next big thing, if done correctly.

I’m not disavowing the Marvel movies – not in the least – or Man of Steel or anything else DC might have planned. I’m simply saying that, just as their comic book counterparts have to maintain a certain status quo, so too do the films. The Marvel movie universe is massive, and it’s only going to get bigger. That said, if one link in the chain falters, it could do serious damage to the rest of the line. And as for DC, well, they’re still playing catch up, but all signs point to them trying to replicate Marvel’s success (why that’s a bad idea altogether is another column entirely).

The fact is, it feels as though there’s a certain formula. While Guardians of the Galaxy will certainly expand on what the Marvel movie-verse has been to this point, it’s still tied to the larger whole and will have to reflect that. To a certain degree, Marvel movies can rely on a certain amount of fan service. I mean, come on, seeing Rocket Raccoon on screen is going to be fantastic even if the movie bombs. But there’s a necessary conformity to keep the franchise afloat. In the case of an independent superhero, that conformity can be broken. That’s not to say they won’t be turned into franchises in and of themselves, but they’re not beholden to the mainstream perception.

The average movie-goer walks into a Spider-Man movie expecting certain things. Even if they don’t read comics, the character is an icon across all media. You know to expect web slingin’, one-liners, punches thrown, and some spectacular action. But toss them into unfamiliar territory, and we can not only introduce them to something new, but maybe – just maybe – we can show them that comics are a whole lot more than just Batman and Spidey, while also reinvigorating the creativity in a genre that, as David Cronenberg so eloquently put, is “adolescent to its core.” (He’s wrong)

In all seriousness, just as independent comics open the floodgates to absolute freedom and creativity, hopefully the movie counterparts would not only adapt the stories of those books, but the spirit in which they were created as well.

Joey is IGN's Comics Editor and a comic book creator himself. Follow Joey on Twitter, or find him on IGN. He loves superhero pets so hard.

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