2011 Set to Become Year of the Superhero Movie

Will 2011 be the year of the superhero? It's certainly shaping up that way, as a new crop of comic book he-men storm the big screen.  Pulled from the pages of beloved 20th century comic books, The Green Hornet, Thor, Captain American and the Green Lantern are all headlining big-budget adventures this year.  But that's not the whole story behind 2011's most anticipated Hollywood movies.

What's old is new again as Hollywood dusts off some of the most beloved comic book characters of the 20th century and revitalizes them for a new generation.  Nowhere is that "new blood" mentality more evident than in "The Green Hornet" (Jan. 14) and "The Green Lantern" (June 17).  Seth Rogen, 28, dons the Hornet's iconic green mask. Ryan Reynolds, 34, packs his formidable six-pack into the Lantern's bright green unitard.  Thankfully, a now thinner, fitter Rogen never sheds his comic timing for this new "Hornet" adaptation from director Michel Gondry ("Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind").

Reynolds's earlier superhero gigs in "Blade: Trinity" and "X-Men Origins: Wolverine" have also helped him give the cocky test pilot, Hal Jordan, some levity for his green transformations.  For their next trick, Rogen and Reynolds will try to turn these modern spins on the superhero into lucrative franchises.  That is challenge facing every actor portraying one of 2011's new superheroes, including "Captain America" star Chris Evans, 29.

Courtesy: Constance Droganes, CTV

San Francisco's Own Real Life Hero - Motor Mouth

The crimefighter known to Bay Area residents as Motor Mouth patrols through various neighborhoods and districts of San Francisco, Oakland, Berkeley, & San Jose (some of which are high crime areas, such as San Francisco’s Tenderloin & Fillmore districts) as well as doing periodic handouts to the homeless. Motor Mouth Is the original founder of the RLSH organization known as The Pacific Protectorate, which spans from Southern California through Western Canada to Alaska. Says Motor Mouth, "I’ve traveled the world, I’ve lived from the gutters to the mansions across our globe, and I’ve seen both great triumphs & utter horrors in humanity. I dedicate myself to stopping whatever real crime I can, as well as doing periodic charity work for both the homeless & the common citizen". From domestic violence in San Francisco’s Tenderloin & thugs in Oakland’s Chinatown to those that prey on the weak in downtown San Jose, this real life superhero is taking care of the trash of the Bay Area, day by day and one block at a time.

Have You Been to New York City Lately?

Maybe you ran into Chris Guardian. Chris got his start as a crime fighter one seemingly ordinary night on Staten Island.  Chris was minding his own business when he saw a man dash into a local convenience store. The man sprinted through the aisles, trashing the place, then broke a glass bottle on the floor and brandished the shards as a makeshift knife. Chris, coming to the rescue, cornered him in the aisle. While Chris kept the bad guy at bay, other customers called the police. That night, one of the most dangerous nights in his career, Chris truly earned the right to be called “Chris Guardian”. He is now 23 years old, and patrols the streets and alleyways of New York City. “I’ve always had something inside of me that made me want to really make a difference and just make the world a better place,” Guardian said recently.  Hats off to Chris, our first in a series of real life superheroes we will be showcasing here at RealSoop!

New on NBC January 9 - The Cape

Superhero fans have a new prime-time TV series to look forward to  starting January 9. The Cape, set in the fictional metropolis of Palm City, follows an innocent cop who has been framed for a crime he did not commit and then left for dead after he is caught. He is eventually saved by a circus ringleader who prepares him with special abilities to defend himself against his foes. Separated from his wife and son, he tries to clear his name while protecting them from being killed in the event that he should be reported alive. He takes the law into his own hands by taking the guise of his son's favorite comic book hero, The Cape, after he is given a special suit that has unique capabilities. Vowing to get rid of the corruption that has taken over both the city and the police force, he goes after the person responsible for setting him up and causing his "demise".  

The series stars David Lyons as The Cape – the alias of Vince Faraday, an honest cop who is believed to have died after he was framed for a series of murders, Jennifer Ferrin as Dana Faraday – Vince's wife, who believes her husband has died, and Ryan Wynott as Trip Faraday – Vince's son, who idolizes The Cape and who Vince hopes will give him the belief that there are still good people left in the world.