FROM Gary the Tooth Fairy’s rib- tickling spoof of M-Net Movies, and the numerous billboards advertising the Superheroes Film Festival this month, viewers could be forgiven for being unaware that all of the hype has been geared towards the movie channels celebrating their first year on air this month.
And the channels are airing a slice of old-meets-CGI-enhanced superhero movies.
Be sure to tune in if you are a fan. Below is an overview of the highlights.
M-NET MOVIES SHOWCASE – SUPERMAN FESTIVAL
Superman 4: Directed by Sidney J Furie. Starring Margot Kidder and Christopher Reeve. Just as Superman promises to rid the world of nuclear weapons, arch nemesis Lex Luthor is released from jail. With a powerful adversary by his side, Luthor tries to finally bring down Superman. (Tonight at 7pm)
Superman Returns: Directed by Bryan Singer. Starring Kevin Spacey, Kate Bosworth and Brandon Routh. Superman returns to earth to find that Metropolis no longer needs him, and the woman he loved has moved on. With Luthor plotting a scheme that could see billions of people killed, Superman has to stop him, and try to reclaim his lost love.
(Sunday at 7pm)
M-NET MOVIES SHOWCASE – MARVEL FESTIVAL
Fantastic Four: Directed by Tim Story. Starring Ioan Gruffudd and Jessica Alba. Four scientists are exposed to gamma rays in space and each ends up with super powers. They must test their new abilities against a nemesis who’s using his powers for evil. (Tuesday at 7pm)
X-Men: First Class: Directed by Matthew Vaughn. Starring James McAvoy and Michael Fassbender. It’s 1962, and a young Professor Xavier and a band of newly-discovered mutants are enlisted by the government to stop a dictator who seeks to start WW III. The first class of the X-Men have to learn to master their powers, while creating alliances that will determine the separation of good and evil in the X-Men universe. (Wednesday, 7pm)
Captain America: Directed by Joe Johnston. Starring Chris Evans and Hugo Weaving. In 1942, Steve Rogers attempts to enlist in the army hoping to play a part in WW II, but is deemed unfit for military service. After being rejected, Steve decides to become part of a top secret research pro- ject. He emerges from the experiment as a tall, muscular soldier, and becomes the masked superhero, Captain America. (October 17 at 7pm)
Thor: Directed by Kenneth Branagh. Starring Chris Hemsworth and Tom Hiddelstop. In the mystical realm of Asgard, Thor is a powerful god, but lacks the humility to be a ruler. After his arrogance towards another race reignites an ancient war, his father banishes Thor to Earth where he is forced to live among mortals. But all is not well as war begins and one of their own is a traitor. Thor has to regain his place among the Asgardians before the war spreads to Earth and destroys his home world. (October 18 at 7pm)
Marvel’s The Avengers: Directed by Joss Whedon. Starring Chris Evans and Robert Downey jr. When Loki threatens the globe’s safety, the newly formed Avengers are tasked with resolving the threat. Working together with an international peacekeeping agency, they must overcome their differences to defeat Loki’s army. (October 20 at 7pm)
M-NET MOVIES SHOWCASE – UNSUNG HEROES FESTIVAL
Unbreakable: Directed by M Night Shyamalan. Starring Bruce Willis and Samuel L Jackson. A man finds himself the only sur- vivor in a train crash that kills 131 people. What’s more, he does so without so much as a scratch. He’s contacted by a stranger who is convinced the man has superpowers that make him invincible and able to sense danger. Slowly he starts to put his alleged abilities to the test, but as he learns more about the stranger he uncovers a startling truth. (October 24 at 7pm)
The Amazing Spider-Man: Directed by Marc Webb. Starring Emma Stone and Andrew Garfield. Peter Parker, a teenager struggling to find his place in life since his parents disappeared when he was a child, inherits spider-powers after a spider bite. In this, the fourth instalment of the series, Peter finds a clue that might help him understand why his parents disappeared. His path puts him on a collision course with Dr. Curt Connors, his father’s former partner, a scientist who has turned into a violent hybrid of lizard and man. (October 26 at 6.15pm)
M-NET MOVIES PREMIERE – SUNDAY NIGHT BLOCKBUSTERS
Ted: Directed by Seth MacFarlane. Starring Seth MacFarlane, Mark Wahlberg and Mila Kunis. As a kid, John wished his stuffed animal could just come to life and play with him. When that wish becomes reality, John is unprepared for the reality that he’s one day going to be an adult with a talking, living teddy bear. While he’s trying to pull his life together and do right by his long-term girlfriend, his stuffed bear has ideas of his own on how to derail his owner’s plans. (October 20 at 8.30pm)
Batman: The Dark Knight Rises: Directed by Christopher Nolan. Starring Christian Bale and Anne Hathaway. After being branded a menace by the people of Gotham, Batman hangs up his cape. Now with a new foe threat- ening the city, he must rise again for the battle that will see him redeem himself, or die trying. (October 27 at 8.30pm)