Welcome to Comic Book Guy! This batch of films is the cinematic equivalent of a wild potluck—some dishes are inspired, others are barely edible, and a few are inexplicably spiced with chaos. From Soviet superhero armories to martial arts showdowns and Wild West vengeance, these movies swing for the fences. Sometimes they hit a home run; other times, they miss so hard you have to question why they even stepped up to the plate. Let’s dive in!
ROCKET RED
The Cold War but make it super. Rocket Red is packed with communist propaganda, flying androids, and Kilowog grumbling in a Russian gulag—because apparently, nothing screams “Green Lantern Corps” like serving as the USSR’s Iron Man assembly line. Joel Edgerton does his best as the reluctant Soviet hero, but the film’s multiple plotlines (featuring alien refugees, nuclear bombs, and time-jumping sorcerers) collide like bad caviar and vodka. There’s something both absurd and kind of fascinating about seeing Gorbachev recruit an alien to make him a superhero army. But the film drags so much in its second act that by the time Kilowog goes rogue, you’re rooting for the nuclear warheads.
DRAGON BALL: THE WRATH OF THE DEMON KING
James Wan takes us to the world of Dragon Ball, where Aaron Taylor-Johnson as Goku fights his way through a martial arts tournament that escalates into a kaiju-sized brawl with Piccolo Jr. It’s packed with action, nostalgia, and a surprisingly wholesome romantic subplot featuring Chi-Chi. But let's be real—this movie exists for the absurdly bombastic fight scenes, and Wan delivers them in spades. It’s goofy, over-the-top, and frankly a lot of fun.
HEX
What if Clint Eastwood’s Unforgiven had a baby with Mad Max and named it Hex? Brad Pitt grunts his way through this gritty revenge Western, and his scarred, stoic Jonah Hex is somehow both ridiculous and compelling. Kelsey Asbille’s Talulah adds some much-needed heart, but the film's nihilistic tone might leave you feeling like you got shot in the gut along with half the cast. The plot is pretty standard vengeance fare, but the colorful supporting characters (like Gary Cole’s over-the-top Buffalo Bruce) and Chan-wook Park’s sharp direction elevate it beyond mediocrity. Bonus points for Hex shooting a guy in the back without breaking a sweat.
BATMAN: ARKHAM
The Bat is back, and this time he’s bringing his whole utility belt of angst. Batman: Arkham is like a gothic buffet of villains, with Caleb Landry Jones’ Joker, Adrien Brody’s Scarecrow, and Matt Smith’s Riddler all vying for screen time. Jake Gyllenhaal’s Batman broods, punches, and growls through the chaos while Taron Egerton’s Robin makes a late-game debut to lighten things up. The highlight? Watching Batman casually beat up thugs while delivering life lessons to his new sidekick. The lowlight? A bloated middle act that feels like a video game side quest gone wrong. Still, it’s a dark, moody ride worth taking for fans of Gotham’s grimiest corners.
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