Lisa Laman

Back in the '80s, there were apparently plans to have Nicholas Hammond's Peter Parker aka Spider-Man from the '70s TV show "The Amazing Spider-Man" cross over with Bill Bixby's titular character from "The Incredible Hulk" in a TV movie. This turned out to be an early example of a canceled Marvel movie we'll never get to see, since the proposed project never got off the ground. "Spider-Man: Brand New Day," though, finally let Bruce Banner aka the Hulk (Mark Ruffalo) and Spidey (Tom Holland) hang out in a major motion picture.

When Peter Parker/Spider-Man (Tom Holland) needs some guidance on the unusual phrase "V-Maxx" in "Spider-Man: Brand New Day," he turns to another New York superhero who is now part of The New Avengers. That person isn't necessarily, though, one of Spider-Man's best partners from the comics

Contains spoilers for "Spider-Man: Brand New Day" Back in the '80s, there were apparently plans to have Nicholas Hammond's Peter Parker aka

In 2001, the American cultural landscape experienced a classic example of a movie that became an unexpected blockbuster. "Spy Kids," an original live-action family film from director Robert Rodriguez, debuted in March 2001 to a significantly better opening weekend than anyone could've dreamed of, aided by great word-of-mouth and a fun concept of an entire family working together as spies that appealed to all ages. This shockingly solid performance didn't just add another financial winner to Rodriguez's track record. It also kick-started a film series that would keep producing new installments for decades to come.

The history of Hollywood is littered with planned sequels that were completely abandoned. Follow-ups that were supposed to pay off cryptic credit scene teases or adapt various sequels to a film's source material, but never got realized, are often etched into legendary status. Then there are the rarer movies that are surprising in how many sequels they've inspired. These titles aren't necessarily dismal in quality. It's just that nobody could have imagined while watching the original installments that these films would have subsequently inspired decades of further storytelling.

“It seems I’m filming my life in order to have a life to film, like some primitive organism that somehow nourishes itself by devouring itself, growing as i

The 2000s were a transformative era for the film industry, with the first few years of the decade proving especially lucrative for all kinds of motion pictures. 2002, for instance, was a record-shattering year for theatrical moviegoing that not only included the first ever movie weekend to clear $100 million domestically on opening (with "Spider-Man"), but also reached a 21st century high in tickets sold. 2009, meanwhile, delivered "Avatar," which dethroned "Titanic" to become the biggest movie in history in North America. The 21st century theatrical moviegoing scene certainly started off with a bang thanks to the 2000s.

The cyberpunk film world is a fascinating one to unpack. It's also one that, on the surface, sounds like it could produce a bunch of films that work better as time capsules than entertaining motion pictures. After all, the word "cyber" in this subgenre's name reflects how important technology is to these projects. Considering today's fancy iPod can become tomorrow's dusty relic, one can easily imagine cyberpunk movies coming off as impenetrable or just goofy decades removed from their respective release dates. However, the greatest cyberpunk movies never go out of style. Even if their plots involve Betamax tapes or floppy discs, strong storytelling, evocative images, and memorable performances (among other achievements) can resonate in any era.

The greatest episodes of "The Simpsons" are some of the finest pieces of television — or even art — ever produced. The world of Springfield and its inhabitants have inspired tremendously humorous storytelling and even some deeply moving material, like the unforgettable ending of "Mother Simpson." Even recent "Simpsons" seasons have seen the show embracing some audacious storytelling impulses and character-based inclinations that have led to it resecuring its creative mojo. Homer, Marge, and many more iconic "Simpsons" characters are just delightful and have more than earned their legendary status.

Alas, the acclaimed Frank Reynolds Spider-Man costume has yet to appear in any Spider-Man movie Spider-Man's got one of the best superhero c...