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SciFi Power Ranking -- Iron Mania, Two Faced Villians, and a Slow Start for Speed Racer (May 12, 2008)

I..Am...Week Three of Scifi Power Ranking! As if there was any doubt, Iron Mania continues to sweep the rankings. But with new photos and rumors of possible alien twists, Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull makes a surprise showing on the list. (George Lucas, can't you keep preposterousness out of anything?) Plus, will Speed Racer crash and burn? And what is this about a Frank Miller Buck Rogers?

Find out below.

SciFi Power Rankings
Rank LW   Movie (or Comic, etc.)
1 1 Iron.Man.jpg Iron Man
Not only did Tony Stark break box office records, but his flick is also the launch pad for the Thor, Captain America, and Avengers movies. And to think, Downey was worried whether people would show up.
2 3 the-dark-knight-75.jpg The Dark Knight
A new trailer was officially released so we finally got a grisly sneak peek at Two Face, and Heath Ledger action figures flew off shelves. It's 1989 all over again! Now where's Ghostbusters III?)
3 - indiana_jones_crystal_cave_75.jpg Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull
With all the Iron Man hoopla, we almost forgot about Indy's buzz-worthy trailer and accompanying photos. But we could never forget Cate Blanchett's ultra-hot Russian bad girl. No sir!
4 - buckrogers75.jpg Buck Rogers
The pulp space-farer (and first scifi comic strip hero) is getting a cinematic update from Sin City's Frank Miller. We'll temper our misgivings over yet another classic character getting Miller-ized (cough, The Spirit, cough) with hope that it gets the old serials and comic strips back into circulation.
5 - speedracer-75.jpg Speed Racer
Box office analysts predict it could be the summer's first disappointment. The candy-colored visuals are enticing (if headache inducing), but audiences were more interested in spending their weekend with Tony Stark than with the latest from the once-unstoppable Wachowski Bros.
6 - x-menmovie X-Men Origins
Cyclops will be helping out Wolverine, and Gossip Girl's Josh Schwartz could be penning an X-Men  prequel. Finally, fans will get a peek into Kitty Pryde's dishy X-blog. (And Ellen Page could still play Kitty, considering she perpetually looks about fifteen.)
7 - hulk-75.jpg Terminator 4
Expectations for the fourth installment were further dampened with news of a PG-13 rating. The apocalypse just got a whole lot tamer. Hey, at least Common is in it. Oh, Christian Bale, you're going to be working overtime to save this one.
8 - capt_america-75.jpg First Avenger: Captain America
The just announced Avengers prequel has fans worried for two reasons: the cumbersome title and the Matthew McConaughey casting rumors. Finally, the stoned, shirtless Cap we've all been waiting for. Get ready for a cameo by McConaughey pal Lance Armstrong as Bucky Barnes.
9 - smallsoldiers.jpg Little Big War
FOX attempts to cash-in on Night at the Museum with a tale of action figures running amok. Did no one see Joe Dante's underrated Small Soldiers? Come on! Kirsten Dunst was in it. Netflix it and get back to me.
10 superhero-movie.jpg Superhero Movie
Mock maestro Craig Mazin is aiming his fart-joke raygun squarely at our genre for next year's annual spoof-a-palooza. It had to happen sooner or later. How many genres are left?
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Filed under: SciFi Power Ranking
Tags: buck rogers, dark knight, indiana jones, iron man, scifi spoofs, speed racer

SciFi Power Ranking - Breaking The Hobbit, Ironing Out the Backlash
(May 5, 2008)

It's week two of the Scifi Power Ranking, and the superheroes are still holding strong. Will a straight scifi flick climb through the ranks to unseat the capes? (Babylon A.D., you might be our only hope.)

Even with a possible backlash, Iron Man is on top. But a rookie entry threatens its position, despite its completion being two years off. Also, will The Dark Knight prove to be the summer film to beat? And how many Meet Dave digs can we squeeze into one Power Ranking?

Find out below.

SciFi Power Rankings
Rank LW   Movie (or Comic, etc.)
1 2 Iron.Man.jpg Iron Man
Robert Downey Jr. is already talking sequel, but is a backlash inevitably about to set in? Tune in next week when we'll be discussing the backlash to the backlash.
2 - the-hobbit-75.jpg The Hobbit
Guillermo del Toro and Ian McKellen have finally confirmed for the two-film Lord of the Rings prequel. Until 2010 though, we'll be watching the Rankin & Bass cartoon version on a loop.
3 - dark_knight_75.jpg The Dark Knight
Fans are rabid for the new trailer, even in shaky bootleg form. (Note: the video has probably already been removed.) Is there any doubt this will be one of the summer's best films?
4 - deathrace-2000-75.jpg Death Race 2000
Info on the remake has leaked, and it actually looks kinda okay. Here's hoping it leads to a proper special edition DVD release of the original. Special F/X be damned, they'll never outclass that car on the left.
5 - starwars-75.jpg Star Wars
What a week for gossip! Peter Mayhew dropped hints about future Star Wars films (Clone Wars, anyway) and Carrie Fisher dished about Harrison Ford dropping his pants. Its getting hotter than the dunes on Tatooine.
6 - simpsons-movie-75.jpg The Pet
The Simpsons Movie director David Silverman will helm this live-action scifi comedy about a human who becomes the pet of a group of aliens. Well, it can't be any worse than Meet Dave.
7 hulk-75.jpg Incredible Hulk
The new trailer is finally quieting down bad buzz on the film, but you still won't be seeing Ed Norton and Marvel sharing a 7-11 Hulk Slurpie anytime soon. Is it too little too late for Hulk?
8 - transformers-75.jpg Transformers 2
Superbad's Jonah Hill could be Shia's sidekick in the sequel. Get ready for plenty of jokes about male anatomy. (And, correct me if I'm wrong, but I heard there were robots as well as actors in this franchise.)
9 - the-flash-75.jpg The Flash
DC Comics cancels out the last meaningful death in comics -- outside of Captain America -- by bringing back The Flash. Sounds like a ploy to drum up interest in the stalled David S. Goyer/Ryan Reynolds project.
10 10  eddiemurphy75.jpg The Incredible Shrinking Man
Which vanity vehicle will prove this summer's worst: Meet Dave or The Love Guru or You Don't Mess with the Zohan? We're hedging our bets and sticking with the Murphy-Ratner Incredible Shrinking Man remake.

Filed under: SciFi Power Ranking
Tags: deathrace 2000, incredible hulk, iron man, star wars, the dark knight, the flash, the hobbit, the incredible shrinking man, transformers

SciFi Power Ranking - Of Iron Men and Golden Armies

Power. Everyone wants it, few have it. In the scifi world, power comes in many forms. Mad scientists. Spice-controlling despots. City-stomping monsters. Superheroes. (Though lets skip the old "Superman Vs. The Hulk" debate, shall we?) But who holds the most power over scifi fans? What stories are blasting around the Web faster than The Flash whizzing past Superman? (Sorry, couldn't resist.)

Behold, the dawning of the Scifi Power Ranking. May its rankings reign supreme over all other geek culture-themed lists. May it be endlessly debated and commented on until its readers are weak of eyes and sore of fingers. May it determine, once and for all, who holds the real power in the scifi-verse.

At least until next week.

SciFi Power Rankings
Rank LW   Movie (or Comic, etc.)
1 - Hellboy2.jpg Hellboy II: The Golden Army
New characters and clips from the sequel debuted at NY Comic Con, the director is a fanboy in the best sense, and the sooner it comes out, the sooner we'll get The Hobbit. Plus, any movie with a Drew Struzan poster automatically gets knocked up the list.
2 - iron-man-75.jpg Iron Man
His confirmed cameo in The Incredible Hulk dampens bad buzz brought on by the Norton/Marvel feud. Furthermore, he's the anchor for the Avengers movie. Memo to DC: This is how to do a superhero crossover film.
3 - endersgame75.jpg Ender's Game
The bad news... Wolfgang Petersen is off the film. The good news... Marvel is doing the comics. Hey, if I Am Legend can get made, so can this one. Keep the faith. And Michael Bay away from it.
4 - speedracer75.jpg Speed Racer
Who would have thought that a Speed Racer movie would close the Tribeca Film Festival? Better question: Will the Wachowskis show up to the premiere? And will Larry bring his dominatrix?
5 - universal-soldier-75.jpg Universal Soldier
News of Dolph Lundgren and Jean-Claude Van Damme mulling a return to the Universal Soldier franchise leaves fans willing to forgive Universal Soldier: The Return, Universal Soldier II: Brothers In Arms, and Universal Soldier III: Unfinished Business.
6 - Wonder-woman75.jpg Wonder Woman
Joel Silver confirms the "tabling" of Justice League, but gives hope to the Wonder Woman resurrection. Does anyone care without Joss Whedon aboard? A resounding yes.
7 cloverfield-75.jpg Cloverfield
JJ Abrams says the film was meant to be seen on the small screen, comparing it to a home movie. You know, the kind of home movie that leaves you dizzy and vaguely dissatisfied afterwards.
8 - barbarella_rose75.jpg Barbarella
Rose McGowan slammed reports that the Barbarella remake is getting axed due to her lack of marquee value. Husband Robert Rodriguez cast her. Here's hoping this isn't a Madonna/Guy Ritchie debacle.
9 - Stan_Lee_1973.jpg Stan Lee
Stan "the Man" is teaming with Virgin Comics to create a new line of superheroes. Finally, the man who gave you Spider-Man and The X-Men pairs with the company that gave Jenna Jameson a comic book.
10 - eddiemurphy75.jpg The Incredible Shrinking Man
Eddie Murphy + Brett Ratner + pointless remake = a place on the bottom of the SciFi Power Ranking for some time to come. Oh, Eddie! How small you've become!

Filed under: SciFi Power Ranking
Tags: enders game, hellboy 2, iron man, orson scott card, rose mcgowan, scifi power ranking, speed racer, stan lee, universal soldier, wonder woman

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