The MRFH 2006 Revue

Oh, 2006. What can you say about a year that didn't see the release of a single Star Wars, Lord of the Rings, or Harry Potter movie? When even Pixar's contribution (Cars) isn't fawned over as unreservedly as their usual efforts, you know it's been an interesting year. Certainly 2006 felt quite a bit "quieter" at the box office than any other year in the past decade… while we got our fair share of event films (Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest, World Trade Center), comic book adaptations (X-Men: The Last Stand and Superman Returns), and books-to-movies (The Devil Wears Prada, Memoirs of a Geisha), more than anything this felt like the Year of Cult.

Yep, that's right… seemed like you could hardly turn around in 2006 without stumbling over a subversive or low-budget film that was on everyone's lips. My personal favorite, of course, Clerks II proved that it IS possible to go back to the well without poisoning the water, but there were plenty of others. Thank You For Smoking earned both critical and audience acclaim, as did Little Miss Sunshine. Whether you loved or hated it, Silent Hill attempted to combine elements of gothic, American, and Japanese horror in at least a visually-interesting film; and we closed out the year with Borat: Cultural Learnings of America For Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan, a movie that was both funnier and more uncomfortable than an entire season of The Office. And yet, not one of them could hold a candle to that granddaddy of all cult blockbusters, Snakes on a Plane. I'm not even going to say anything else, that's literally all you need to hear: Snakes on a Motherlovin' Plane.

Of course, I'd be remiss in not mentioning one of the most surprising but ultimately satisfying milestones of 2006: the reinvention of the James Bond franchise with Casino Royale. An admitted skeptic of Daniel Craig's potential as Bond, I was blown away by the tight action scenes and compelling love story… and as a poker fanatic, even the middle part didn't drag for me. Studios take note: both faithful to the book and respectful of the preceding movies, this is how franchise reboots should be handled. Here's hoping for more 007 in 2007!

And as for what's to come? Well, Lissa will write tomes about the next Harry Potter flick and the other Mutants will cover the rest, so let me just focus on one specific segment. The comic movie onslaught that seemed to be dying down gets kicked back into gear with Ghost Rider in February, the Faustian tale of a stunt rider who makes a deal with the Devil to save his father's life. Then summer brings us the one-two punch of Spider-Man 3 and Fantastic Four 2… well, I'm looking forward to one of them, anyway. (Say what you want, *I* liked Spidey 2.) Then of course there's a CGI revival of original indie comic stars the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, which has been getting some buzz.

But more than anything else this looks like Frank Miller's year to shine, as 2007 brings movies based on not one but two of his works. 300 provides an in-depth look at the small band of Spartan warriors who held the line at Thermopylae against thousands of Persian invaders, buying time with their lives for their fellow Greeks to escape and raise an army… "obedient to their will, even unto death." But of course, for nearly everyone the main event is Sin City 2, sequel to the 2004 smash-hit. Set to adapt more of Miller's comic book tales ("A Dame To Kill For" and "Blue Eyes"), plus include an original story examining the life of Nancy (Jessica Alba) after the events of the first movie, missing out on this one would be — dare I say it? — sinful.

And on a personal note, 2006 became the most important year of my life to date, as I proudly continued the annual tradition of male Mutants gettin' hitched. 9 months later, no permanent injuries, and my lovely, endlessly patient wife Lady Luck feels that maybe, just maybe, we're starting to get the hang of this whole "marriage" thing. Possibly. Even if she still doesn't "get" the whole comic book/cult movie thing, you nerd. As for me? I just can't wait to see what 2007 will bring. (Pssst… Kyle gets shotgun married in Vegas. You heard it here first!) Stick with us, folks, it's gonna be great.