Comicbook Comeback

Beginning with "X-Men" and "Spider-Man" at the dawn of the new millenium, movies based on popular comic books enjoyed a dramatic surge in popularity. We've often heard the adage that sequels rarely live up to the originals, but despite certain popular and fan-based opinion, many franchises such as "The Incredible Hulk", "Iron Man", and "Fantastic Four", as well as "X-Men" and "Spider-Man" enjoyed sufficient success for major production companies to order at least one follow-up each throughout the first decade of the 21st century.

In the last 2-3 years, however, with the immense development of computer technology and 3-D viewing options, comic book heroes are enjoying a greater and more dramatic presence on the silver screen than ever before. Examples include "Green Lantern", "Captain America: The First Avenger", "Thor", as well as a revival of the "Spider-Man" franchise scheduled for next year. Personally, I think all of this resurgence of comic book franchises is leading up to one thing: the start in 2012 of planned series of films featuring Marvel Comics' mightiest heroes in "The Avengers".

"A Dangerous Method:" Cronenberg takes on a new type of controversy

Filmmaker, David Cronenberg has a forty-year body of controversial work. His film "M. Butterly" was released in 1993 at a time when LGBT issues were at their peak. Ahead of his time, Cronenberg portrayed a romance between a man and a woman, where the woman was really a transvestite and a spy.

18 years later, Cronenberg tackles the history of psychoanalysis in the film "A Dangerous Method," set to be released in November of this year. This concept fits well with the psychological dynamics of his trademarks. The film may likely raise different eyebrows as it questions the ethics of respected psychoanalysts Sigmund Freud and Carl Jung.

Viggo Mortensen, most known for Lord of the Rings, became a regular leading man for Cronenberg after starring in A History of Violence. He was cast as Freud, while rising X-Men: First Class star, Michael Fassbender plays Jung, Freud's student. Keira Knightly plays Sabina Spielbein, Jung's patient who became his mistress and later the first female psychoanalyst.

The film is based on a book by John Kerr that imagines how these events unfolded. When we think of the psychoanalysts of today, we think of a strict code of ethics. Now, however, we can wait for Cronenberg to shake things up, yet again, by revealing scenarios that make us wonder what is behind these theories. It will be fascinating to see Cronenberg's genre of his own take it's interpretation of this story.

The trailer for the film is here and ready to capture your desire to know more, no matter what you already know about the history or the filmmaker. I know that's the effect it has had on me.