Comic book movies

[Reverend Jax]

300 was a sleeper hit?

[The NZA]

wow.

one can only hope Miller handles this with all the grace he did "The Dark Knight Strikes Again".

[Iambaytor]

wow.

one can only hope Miller handles this with all the grace he did "The Dark Knight Strikes Again".

 

All I can picture is that scene from Rambo First Blood Part 2 only Trautman is Frank Miller and Rambo is King Leonidas and he looks up at Miller and says "Sir, do we get to win this time?"

[Silent Bob]

Thanks to the recent advance screening of Dark Knight, some early reviews are trickling in, and the word is good. Insanely good. Here's Peter Travers from Rolling Stone:

 

Heads up: a thunderbolt is about to rip into the blanket of bland we call summer movies. The Dark Knight, director Christopher Nolan's absolute stunner of a follow-up to 2005's Batman Begins, is a potent provocation decked out as a comic-book movie. Feverish action? Check. Dazzling spectacle? Check. Devilish fun? Check. But Nolan is just warming up. There's something raw and elemental at work in this artfully imagined universe. Striking out from his Batman origin story, Nolan cuts through to a deeper dimension. Huh? Wha? How can a conflicted guy in a bat suit and a villain with a cracked, painted-on clown smile speak to the essentials of the human condition? Just hang on for a shock to the system. The Dark Knight creates a place where good and evil — expected to do battle — decide instead to get it on and dance. "I don't want to kill you," Heath Ledger's psycho Joker tells Christian Bale's stalwart Batman. "You complete me." Don't buy the tease. He means it.

 

The trouble is that Batman, a.k.a. playboy Bruce Wayne, has had it up to here with being the white knight. He's pissed that the public sees him as a vigilante. He'll leave the hero stuff to district attorney Harvey Dent (Aaron Eckhart) and stop the DA from moving in on Rachel Dawes (feisty Maggie Gyllenhaal, in for sweetie Katie Holmes), the lady love who is Batman's only hope for a normal life.

 

Everything gleams like sin in Gotham City (cinematographer Wally Pfister shot on location in Chicago, bringing a gritty reality to a cartoon fantasy). And the bad guys seem jazzed by their evildoing. Take the Joker, who treats a stunningly staged bank robbery like his private video game with accomplices in Joker masks, blood spurting and only one winner. Nolan shot this sequence, and three others, for the IMAX screen and with a finesse for choreographing action that rivals Michael Mann's Heat. But it's what's going on inside the Bathead that pulls us in. Bale is electrifying as a fallibly human crusader at war with his own conscience.

 

I can only speak superlatives of Ledger, who is mad-crazy-blazing brilliant as the Joker. Miles from Jack Nicholson's broadly funny take on the role in Tim Burton's 1989 Batman, Ledger takes the role to the shadows, where even what's comic is hardly a relief. No plastic mask for Ledger; his face is caked with moldy makeup that highlights the red scar of a grin, the grungy hair and the yellowing teeth of a hound fresh out of hell. To the clown prince of crime, a knife is preferable to a gun, the better to "savor the moment."

 

The deft script, by Nolan and his brother Jonathan, taking note of Bob Kane's original Batman and Frank Miller's bleak rethink, refuses to explain the Joker with pop psychology. Forget Freudian hints about a dad who carved a smile into his son's face with a razor. As the Joker says, "What doesn't kill you makes you stranger."

 

The Joker represents the last completed role for Ledger, who died in January at 28 before finishing work on Terry Gilliam's The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus. It's typical of Ledger's total commitment to films as diverse as Brokeback Mountain and I'm Not There that he does nothing out of vanity or the need to be liked. If there's a movement to get him the first posthumous Oscar since Peter Finch won for 1976's Network, sign me up. Ledger's Joker has no gray areas — he's all rampaging id. Watch him crash a party and circle Rachel, a woman torn between Bale's Bruce (she knows he's Batman) and Eckhart's DA, another lover she has to share with his civic duty. "Hello, beautiful," says the Joker, sniffing Rachel like a feral beast. He's right when he compares himself to a dog chasing a car: The chase is all. The Joker's sadism is limitless, and the masochistic delight he takes in being punched and bloodied to a pulp would shame the Marquis de Sade. "I choose chaos," says the Joker, and those words sum up what's at stake in The Dark Knight.

 

The Joker wants Batman to choose chaos as well. He knows humanity is what you lose while you're busy making plans to gain power. Every actor brings his A game to show the lure of the dark side. Michael Caine purrs with sarcastic wit as Bruce's butler, Alfred, who harbors a secret that could crush his boss's spirit. Morgan Freeman radiates tough wisdom as Lucius Fox, the scientist who designs those wonderful toys — wait till you get a load of the Batpod — but who finds his own standards being compromised. Gary Oldman is so skilled that he makes virtue exciting as Jim Gordon, the ultimate good cop and as such a prime target for the Joker. As Harvey tells the Caped Crusader, "You either die a hero or you live long enough to see yourself become a villain." Eckhart earns major props for scarily and movingly portraying the DA's transformation into the dreaded Harvey Two-Face, an event sparked by the brutal murder of a major character.

 

No fair giving away the mysteries of The Dark Knight. It's enough to marvel at the way Nolan — a world-class filmmaker, be it Memento, Insomnia or The Prestige — brings pop escapism whisper-close to enduring art. It's enough to watch Bale chillingly render Batman as a lost warrior, evoking Al Pacino in The Godfather II in his delusion and desolation. It's enough to see Ledger conjure up the anarchy of the Sex Pistols and A Clockwork Orange as he creates a Joker for the ages. Go ahead, bitch about the movie being too long, at two and a half hours, for short attention spans (it is), too somber for the Hulk crowd (it is), too smart for its own good (it isn't). The haunting and visionary Dark Knight soars on the wings of untamed imagination. It's full of surprises you don't see coming. And just try to get it out of your dreams.

 

That's the second review I've read to compare the movie to Godfather Part II and A Clockwork Orange, and probably the fifth or sixth that has compared it to Heat. A Batman film being favorably compared to Heat...wow. I simply cannot wait.

[Ganny McVagflaps]

New Dominos Pizza DK trailer:

 

 

and something for the "Any one give a fuck?" file:

 

 

The only way to make a good Punisher flick at this stage is to bring some motherfucking Barracuda into the frame.

 

edit: html code on...

Edited July 1, 2008 by Testes McManballs

[Dark Kaniggit]

It looks like Punisher may have finally found the right actor, Ray Stevenson he was excellent in HBO's Rome. I think the costume is great too. Everything looks like it striking the right tone. I just wonder if may be too late to excite people about a Punisher movie. The trailer looked interesting, but it did not grab me. Don't get me wrong... it looks much better than the Thomas Jayne one, and don't even get me started on Dolph Lundgren making the Punisher look like a cheap Elvis imitation! I hope to see more from this movie, and hopefully it will get better each time.

Edited July 1, 2008 by Dark Kaniggit

[The NZA]

still hopeful for punisher for the same reasons as DK there, but...

 

That's the second review I've read to compare the movie to Godfather Part II and A Clockwork Orange, and probably the fifth or sixth that has compared it to Heat. A Batman film being favorably compared to Heat...wow. I simply cannot wait.

 

that's incredible. No idea where Godfather II comparisons draw from, but the Clockwork Orange - Joker - Moore's "Killing Joke" draws awesome comparisons, and Heat doesnt hurt either. Holy shit am i hyped here.

[Dark Kaniggit]

Holy shit am i hyped here.

 

 

I am just as hyped as anybody here, I am so hyped in fact, that I am trying desperately to not even think about the horrible 17 days I have to wait for it. It is not working at all. Every site I read says: "An Instant Classic" "Ledger owns the screen, and redefines it!" etc... It just sucks that they get to see it, and I have to try avoid reading ALL THE SPOILERS they are posting!

[alive she cried]

i can't wait for the punisher, i did'nt see the last one but have high hopes for this.

the dark knight looks interesting also

[Jables]

Oh my heart is slowly breaking for all the time I have to wait until DKR, but that Punisher poster looks amazing. Even if the movie turns out poo, the poster alone holds so much promise...

[alive she cried]

i just watched the first five minutes of the dark night here,

watch it before they take it down

 

also

Bale's Batman Doesn't Want a Robin

 

Says the Batman actor, "If Robin crops up in one of the new Batman films, I'll be chaining myself up somewhere and refusing to go to work."

 

That is what Christian Bale told entertainment content provider WENN. I'd have to agree with him. Let's keep batman working alone a little while longer. It all went to pot when they added Robin in the previous franchise. That is when things got corny and ambiguously gay.

 

finally

 

Superman Revamp On the Way!

 

CBM broke the story that Warner Bros was interested to see how The Incredible Hulk did because they were considering a redo of Superman, well now comes this news...

 

"Wanted" creator and comic book writer extraordinaire Mark Millar may just be the one to remake the Superman franchise. In this interview with Scotland's Daily Record he let drop this bombshell...

 

Mark's big dream is making a Superman movie.

 

He said: "Since I was a kid I've always wanted to reinvent Superman for the 21st century.

 

"I've been planning this my entire life. I've got my director and producer set up, and it'll be 2011. This is how far ahead you have to think.

 

"The Superman brand is toxic after that last movie lost Û200million, but in 2011 we're hoping to restart it.

 

"Sadly I can't say who the director is, but we may make it official by Christmas.

 

"But fingers crossed it could work out, that would be my lifetime's dream."

 

So, it sounds as though something is in the works. Does it not?

 

UPDATE: Here's a bit more from Millar's messageboard...

 

Millar later clarified on his message boards:

 

That Superman news is interesting, isn't it? In the interests of clarity (because I'm sure this will be picked up somewhere) a very well known American action director heard about my love of Superman, approached my and asked me to team up with he and his producer to make a pitch for this. We've been talking for several weeks now and, if this is going to happen, we'll know by Christmas. He has huge pull at WB so fingers crossed. But this is nothing more than a huge US name pulling me into his fold and making me part of a package."

[Reverend Jax]

Huge name? Action director? Superman as reimagined by Michael Bay and Joel Schumacher?

[Silent Bob]

i just watched the first five minutes of the dark night here,

watch it before they take it down

 

(Sigh) It's going to be a painful two weeks.

[Dark Kaniggit]

Man, the rave reviews for Dark Knight keep coming in. It looks like it is going to be epic. The best part, as long as Bale and Nolan are attached no Robin!

 

Superman Revamp On the Way!

 

And Millar is going to remake Superman in another reboot of the franchise?

 

I actually like Bryan Singer's Superman Returns. The story was good the action including the shuttle and jet scene are amazing, I loved that the movie went into the benevolent god who saved the people of earth. Because if Superman did exist he would certainly have a Messiah quality to him. The look that Singer gave it felt like I was watching one of the Fleischer Studios cartoons from the '40's. I love that Metropolis was a city, not substituted as New York like in other movies. It was also great to hear the Williams score on the screen. At times it felt like it was 1979 I was watching Superman on the big screen as new and fresh as it was then.

 

I really like when filmmakers get into the head of comic book characters. Like Ang Lee's Hulk, which I also liked. Raimi's Peter Parker is fully fleshed out conflicted hero. And Nolan's Batman movies storylines and villans all are brought from or affect the mind of Bruce Wayne. I really appreciate when the film gives you a glimpse at what drives these characters.

 

I was looking foward to another Singer Superman film. But, I could see why they would want to reboot Superman. I am sure some thought there was too much drama and not enough action. I think Iron Man, showed a good balance of character development and insane action.

 

I just hope Millar does not scrap all of the drama for nothing but insane action. I am hopeful he will find a good balance, like in his books.

Edited July 3, 2008 by Dark Kaniggit

[Iambaytor]

The problem with Superman Returns was simply that the story went nowhere and Supeman's power was apparently to lift shit for 2 hours and 40 minutes. Go back and watch it again, he doesn't throw a single punch.

[Silent Bob]

I liked Superman Returns too except for

Super Son

. That was crap.

[Reverend Jax]

Regardless of whether you liked it or not, it lost a lot of money, and trying at it again with a similar formula is not smart. And I think it's reasonable to ask for an actual super villain. Also, I know it'll never happen if they make 17 sequels, but a movie with Mxyzptlk would make he so very happy.

[Dark Kaniggit]

Regardless of whether you liked it or not, it lost a lot of money, and trying at it again with a similar formula is not smart. And I think it's reasonable to ask for an actual super villain. Also, I know it'll never happen if they make 17 sequels, but a movie with Mxyzptlk would make he so very happy.

 

Mxyzptlk would be awesome! It would make it almost a satire of Superman's powers. My pick would Braniac with some massive machines and weapons.

The problem with Superman Returns was simply that the story went nowhere and Supeman's power was apparently to lift shit for 2 hours and 40 minutes. Go back and watch it again, he doesn't throw a single punch.

 

That's an interesting point you bring up. He did not really exert all his strength except for the shuttle scene and the finale. He was very reserved. So yeah, I think we need him to let loose some. I just would not change the look and tone of it. I would even keep the same actors.

 

I liked Superman Returns too except for

Super Son

. That was crap.

 

I know how absurd that is to the continuity of Superman. I just can't bring my self to hate it. He wants to be human.

He never will be, the closest he will come is with his son. I am sure If I wasn't a dad I would look differently on it, but I am not able to change my perspective.

 

[Silent Bob]

I'm generally not a huge stickler on sticking with canon when it comes to comic films (though don't get me started on The Spirit) so it wasn't the fact that they gave him a son that bothered me. I just think they handled it in a sloppy way. It didn't help that the young actor they got for the role was only capable of displaying one expression throughout the whole film.

[Dark Kaniggit]

I'm generally not a huge stickler on sticking with canon when it comes to comic films (though don't get me started on The Spirit) so it wasn't the fact that they gave him a son that bothered me. I just think they handled it in a sloppy way. It didn't help that the young actor they got for the role was only capable of displaying one expression throughout the whole film.

 

 

Yeah, I guess your right. It's kind of hard to find a kid that can do that. What do you say... Alright you are the son of Superman, now go! Not many who could pull that off!

 

 

As far as the Spirit goes, doesn't it feel like a Sin City movie to you to? The Spirit I read actually had bright vivid colors. Will Eisner's art is hardly as monochromatic as they make it seem.

[MetalHeart]

i just watched the first five minutes of the dark night here,

watch it before they take it down

 

 

Holy shit! thanks for posting this! I watched it yesterday and forgot to comment to give my love and thanks to you. I CANNOT WAIT!

 

(Sigh) It's going to be a painful two weeks.

 

 

So true!

Edited July 4, 2008 by MetalHeart
to add words!

[Newtype]

That's an interesting point you bring up. He did not really exert all his strength except for the shuttle scene and the finale. He was very reserved.

 

The final was just a major plot hole.

 

Care to tell me how when was walk towards Luther but he lost his powers right away but was somehow able to lift the island into space?

[Silent Bob]

Yeah, I guess your right. It's kind of hard to find a kid that can do that. What do you say... Alright you are the son of Superman, now go! Not many who could pull that off!

 

 

Oh that's bull. Hollywood is full of truly gifted child actors now. Every day there's a new Culkin sibling or Dakota Fanning or Abigail Breslin being discovered. With the resources that the casting department of Superman Returns had, they should have been able to find a talented kid. This was the casting department that was good enough to look past all the clamoring A-listers and find Brandon Routh (who I thought was great, by the way, despite being a decade too young for the role) but they couldn't find a kid with a little talent? I mean, Jake Lloyd could have acted circles around Super Son.

 

But to be fair, even if the kid could act, it's not as if the script gave him much to do - and that's really the main problem.

 

 

As far as the Spirit goes, doesn't it feel like a Sin City movie to you to? The Spirit I read actually had bright vivid colors. Will Eisner's art is hardly as monochromatic as they make it seem.

 

(Sigh) Yes it does. At first Miller tried to justify it by talking about how Eisner took the Spirit to such "dark and scary" places and he wanted to bring that forth in a modern way to a modern audience.

 

Now his line is that this is his interpretation of the Spirit, so he's going to do it the way he knows how to do. To which I say, "Fuck off, Miller. Give it back to Brad Bird because he could have done it the way Eisner knew how to do it."

[Dark Kaniggit]

Oh that's bull. Hollywood is full of truly gifted child actors now. Every day there's a new Culkin sibling or Dakota Fanning or Abigail Breslin being discovered. With the resources that the casting department of Superman Returns had, they should have been able to find a talented kid. This was the casting department that was good enough to look past all the clamoring A-listers and find Brandon Routh (who I thought was great, by the way, despite being a decade too young for the role) but they couldn't find a kid with a little talent? I mean, Jake Lloyd could have acted circles around Super Son.

 

But to be fair, even if the kid could act, it's not as if the script gave him much to do - and that's really the main problem.

 

(Sigh) Yes it does. At first Miller tried to justify it by talking about how Eisner took the Spirit to such "dark and scary" places and he wanted to bring that forth in a modern way to a modern audience.

 

Now his line is that this is his interpretation of the Spirit, so he's going to do it the way he knows how to do. To which I say, "Fuck off, Miller. Give it back to Brad Bird because he could have done it the way Eisner knew how to do it."

 

I agree it was more of a problem having to with the script.

 

Brad Bird was going to do a Spirit movie! Aw Man! I can practically picture it! Insane action. amazing colors! It probably would have been a true adaptation.

 

Incidentally, IESB.net has posted 12 videos from the Dark Knight. There is one with Batman, Gordon and Dent standing near the bat signal. It is awesome! It's like straight out of a panel from Batman: The Long Halloween.

 

The Dark Knight's viral campaign (I must say the best viral advertising I have ever seen) revealed one more Dark Knight poster it is demented!

 

 

Edited July 4, 2008 by Dark Kaniggit

[Silent Bob]

Brad Bird was going to do a Spirit movie! Aw Man! I can practically picture it! Insane action. amazing colors! It probably would have been a true adaptation.

 

Yeah, he's a big fan (note the Incredibles' masks...not to mention the comic appearance in the Iron Giant) and tried for years to get the rights. I heard he was pretty close around the time of Eisner's death. I even met and talked a little bit with one of Eisner's friends and biographer, who said it was practically a done deal (and even suggested that Bird might bring the property to Pixar for consideration as his next project). But I guess, being a close buddy of Eisener's, Miller was able to snatch up the rights before Bird had a chance. This is all just second-hand info, of course, but if even half of it's true, it's a damn shame.