Bob PeryeaThe Failing Future of Comic-to-Film
April 28th 2008 01:53
The sudden rise of Marvel as a film studio with them pumping out one new comic franchise after another has been coming for quite some time, but I’m beginning to wonder if it’s starting to go too far. X-Men, 300, Batman and Spiderman are one thing, but it really looks like some of the proposed films may stretch even the film-going public’s imagination too far.
Now I’m not a comic book reader, but I love superhero and other comic flicks; the two mediums seem to be a match made in heaven with modern special effects. Suddenly we are able to fully realise Spidey swinging through the streets above Manhattan, Wolverine regenerating from wounds and sprouting claws. Previously these effects looked ridiculous and cheesy, now they almost look life like. The refined style of Sin City and 300 was possible only due to modern green screen techniques. These films were great, they fully kept to the comics style and it looked good on the big screen. I’m pretty sure when Iron Man releases later this week it will have that vague realism going on as well (not to mention an awesome Black Sabbath song to back it up). And, at least from previews I’ve seen, it looks like it could pull it off. But I think a couple of proposed films could be taking it a bit too far.
One such example is Thor. Now I’m totally pro-Thor as a character. I’ve read a couple of comics with him in it and he is a beast, and awesome character. But I don’t think that anyone is going to be able to pull off a realistic portrayal of a modern superhero, who is actually a Norse God. It seems like it would have to somehow incorporate modern times and medieval Scandanavia/ Asgard/ Valhalla. The scope seems far too great. And then to be able to realistically show him as a being who has all the powers of a god, is virtually indestructible, can summon lightning as well as the dead heroes soldiers of Valhalla. Seems a bit much for any single movie.
The same goes for Captain America: any film would have to show his creating during World War II in order to fight the Nazi occult program, then how he came to exist in modern times (I think he was frozen under an ice cap or something right?). Now I could maybe see this working as a trilogy, but as a one off film it seems a bit too much. And I’m not too sure how keen a studio will be to do three movies of an uncharted franchise, the flops of The Hulk, Ghost Rider and Daredevil/Electra should be enough to show that a comic book fanatic group isn’t enough to keep a movie alive, especially if it sucks.
Finally; I’m concerned about The Watchmen. This is the only comic I actually own. And the only comic that was named one of Time Magazine’s Top 100 Books of the 20th Century. It’s an incredible story with some of the coolest characters, biggest twists and potentially most stunning special effects imaginable. It’s, essentially a detective story, with a back passages throughout the 40’s, the Vietnam War, McCarthyism in USA, finishing up in the final tumultuous days of the Cold War. I think there is just too much for a film to do. Zack Snyder, who directed 300 is currently lined up to do this, and I’m not sure if he will be able pull off the intelligence of this book. 300 was essentially one long battle scene, and it was awesome. This isn’t. There is little fighting, no supervillians, but a whole heap of very complex characters.
I’ll be very happy to be proved wrong, especially on The Watchmen front; but I can really see these movies failing. These are meant to be sure things for their studios, big name titles with set in stone big name heroes and stories, yet I’m sceptical that they can be successfully pulled off.
Now I’m not a comic book reader, but I love superhero and other comic flicks; the two mediums seem to be a match made in heaven with modern special effects. Suddenly we are able to fully realise Spidey swinging through the streets above Manhattan, Wolverine regenerating from wounds and sprouting claws. Previously these effects looked ridiculous and cheesy, now they almost look life like. The refined style of Sin City and 300 was possible only due to modern green screen techniques. These films were great, they fully kept to the comics style and it looked good on the big screen. I’m pretty sure when Iron Man releases later this week it will have that vague realism going on as well (not to mention an awesome Black Sabbath song to back it up). And, at least from previews I’ve seen, it looks like it could pull it off. But I think a couple of proposed films could be taking it a bit too far.
One such example is Thor. Now I’m totally pro-Thor as a character. I’ve read a couple of comics with him in it and he is a beast, and awesome character. But I don’t think that anyone is going to be able to pull off a realistic portrayal of a modern superhero, who is actually a Norse God. It seems like it would have to somehow incorporate modern times and medieval Scandanavia/ Asgard/ Valhalla. The scope seems far too great. And then to be able to realistically show him as a being who has all the powers of a god, is virtually indestructible, can summon lightning as well as the dead heroes soldiers of Valhalla. Seems a bit much for any single movie.
The same goes for Captain America: any film would have to show his creating during World War II in order to fight the Nazi occult program, then how he came to exist in modern times (I think he was frozen under an ice cap or something right?). Now I could maybe see this working as a trilogy, but as a one off film it seems a bit too much. And I’m not too sure how keen a studio will be to do three movies of an uncharted franchise, the flops of The Hulk, Ghost Rider and Daredevil/Electra should be enough to show that a comic book fanatic group isn’t enough to keep a movie alive, especially if it sucks.
Finally; I’m concerned about The Watchmen. This is the only comic I actually own. And the only comic that was named one of Time Magazine’s Top 100 Books of the 20th Century. It’s an incredible story with some of the coolest characters, biggest twists and potentially most stunning special effects imaginable. It’s, essentially a detective story, with a back passages throughout the 40’s, the Vietnam War, McCarthyism in USA, finishing up in the final tumultuous days of the Cold War. I think there is just too much for a film to do. Zack Snyder, who directed 300 is currently lined up to do this, and I’m not sure if he will be able pull off the intelligence of this book. 300 was essentially one long battle scene, and it was awesome. This isn’t. There is little fighting, no supervillians, but a whole heap of very complex characters.
I’ll be very happy to be proved wrong, especially on The Watchmen front; but I can really see these movies failing. These are meant to be sure things for their studios, big name titles with set in stone big name heroes and stories, yet I’m sceptical that they can be successfully pulled off.
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Comment by Cibbuano
20/20 Filmsight
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Fat Cult
Techbreak
I'm hoping that they'll start doing really poorly at the box office... but that's unlikely to happen...
Comment by S
Comment by S.L. Bradish
Comment by Geoff Egan
Noise Fanatic
I've liked a lot of them, and I can't wait until The Dark Knight, but I think trying to turn every single comic franchise into a movie is a mistake. Movies like Ghost Rider, Daredevil and Elektra were a mistake straight up.
Comment by Geoff Egan
Noise Fanatic
Comment by Luke
Book Club
Old Movies
Cane Toad Warrior
and it's been waning ever since Daredevil.
Captain America is probably the last big unadapted comic series (now that Thor and Iron Man are on their way). I'm afraid Hellboy beat it to the punch though.
Comment by Aldoth
It's All Geek To Me
I think that out of the next batch of comic book films that will be released X - Men Origins: Magneto has the best script from what i hear and that wont be for another year or so.
I think that we have another five years till comic books hit the skids.
Batman: The Dark Knight is going to own so I think there is still life left in the comic book movies.
Blade was the first successful marvel comic book movie but X - Men was the start of the wave.
Comment by Geoff Egan
Noise Fanatic
I guess the thing with the Watchmen is Aldoth, I don't want an enjoyable film from that. I want Iron Man to be enjoyable, I want the Watchmen to be a masterpiece. It's an incredible story and deserves to be taken seriously as a movie, not just as a comic book or superhero flick.
Comment by Irene
Grammar Matters
Cooking Monkey
I'm biased, I guess, because I can't stand Marvel comics (or their movies, for the most part). But if movies based on comics are doomed to fail, it'll be thanks at least in part to Marvel movies.
Comment by Aldoth
It's All Geek To Me
The film is just a film. Nothing more nothing less. If you go in expecting a masterpiece you will be disappointed. Just go in expecting to see a film based on the book that you love and you will be fine.
I think where we all get into trouble is that we expect these things to be more than they are.
I mean someone was going to make a watchmen film eventually. I know that Zack Schnyder loves the material and that he is going to do his best to make it as faithful to the source material as possible. (It is even set in the 80s)
So give it a go and you might enjoy it. isn't that why we go see film to have an enjoyable experience
Comment by Brad Gaylard
Mens Zen
The film has the potential to be something great, or a train wreck of epic proportions. I actually have faith in Zack Snyder - I feel he proved he has a great eye with 300, which was a visually stunning film.
The problem with Watchmen is its density. Every frame of the book is packed with symbolism and thematic layers and to fit it all in 2-odd hours is impossible.
The great challenge for Snyder will be how he distills it all into the screen form. I dare say it will prove his true measure as a filmmaker.
Comment by Geoff Egan
Noise Fanatic
Irene, other than Batman, I've always found DC comics (with the exception of 300 and Watchmen, so maybe limit this to the main universe) to be pretty one dimensional. And I hate Superman. That's probably the main thing here. haha. I agree that most Marvel flicks have a more light hearted tone, but that works for a lot of them. When Spiderman 3 takes it over the top then it sucks, but for most of the others it seems to work. At least for me
And I'm not sure if DC has the characters to pump out film after film. I mean after the big three of Superman Batman and Wonder Woman. Do they have any names that would get much interest? I'm asking here I don't know them too well.
And I'm not sure I trust Snyder for Watchmen. Like I said above, I just don't know if he has what it takes to make an intellegent movie like this, rather than a slug fest like 300 was
Comment by Irene
Grammar Matters
Cooking Monkey
You're right about the lack of popular DC characters...well I can think of more than the three of course, but I don't know if they'd appeal to mainstream audiences. Would anyone outside of DC fans care about an Aquaman movie? Or even a Green Lantern one? Doubt it. I can see them making a Justice League movie, which is supposed to happen, but that would still be headed by the big three.
I don't know much about Snyder (didn't see 300). But the one thing that did worry me about Watchmen is the fact (? or was it rumour only) that Keanu Reeves was considered for one of the roles. Maybe Dr Manhattan? Horrible idea.
Comment by Brad Gaylard
Mens Zen
Marvel's A-List is basically Spider-Man, Fantastic 4 and X-Men (I wouldn't class The Hulk as A-list). DC has Superman and Batman... the rest are B- and C-List.
Peronally, I see the comic to film genre evolving beyond superhero stories. If Watchmen can successfully deconstruct the superhero film genre the way the graphic novel did with comics, then we might even see the comic superhero genre wane even further.
I see it shifting more to non-superhero stories... like Sin City, 300, Road to Perdition. Maybe even draw on more Manga influences like Ghost in the Shell or Oldboy.
Of course, it would probably be too much to ask for more original film ideas...
Comment by Cibbuano
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I thought Snyder ruined 300, but I appear to be alone in my opinions. I actually turned it off because I disliked it so much.
And I agree, Watchmen should be a masterpiece... but I'm expecting it'll only be an 'enjoyable' film.
I read an article, perhaps on Cracked, about trends of comic book movies. After watching Iron Man this week, I have to agree.
The first movie is always an 'origin of' film, with the big villain. The sequels, running out of gas, usually pair up B-class villains, like in the Batman movies.
Comment by Geoff Egan
Noise Fanatic
I mean Ras Al Ghul? The Scarecrow? Everybody knows that The Joker is the big name bad guy for Batman, does anyone else even compare?
As for Iron Man, Wikipedia tells me that the Mardarin is Iron Man's arch enemy, not Obidiah Stane.
I always would have put Venom as Spiderman's nemesis, although others more versed in comics (and less in the early 90s cartoon) would probably disagree.
But these are probably more exceptions than the rule.