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Conference bookie::movies

Title:Movie Reviews and Discussion
Notice:Please do DIR/TITLE before starting a new topic on a movie!
Moderator:VAXCPU::michaudo.dec.com::tamara::eppes
Created:Thu Jan 28 1993
Last Modified:Thu Jun 05 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:1249
Total number of notes:16012

1065.0. "Comics go Big Screen" by WMOIS::LYONS_S () Thu Apr 18 1996 16:40

    
    
    Just read in EW that they (film companies) are going to latch on to the
    cape of Batman and are going to be producing more comic book heroes go
    big screen.  This could make for some interesting movies although it
    would definatley depend on what comics they choose.
    
    Spiderman was supposed to have hit production a few years ago but the
    film company has been running into lawsuits as to who actually "owns"
    Spiderman.  This film would definately need some believable special
    effects to get you to believe Spiderman is flying through the air on
    web-like "rope".
    
    Other comics gone big screen in the works is X-Men and Spawn. (And then
    there is the movie Barbed Wire, starring Pamela Lee, which is based on
    some comic character) I personally have never heard of Spawn, so I can't 
    imagine what that would be about.  
    
    I think that there is a lot of risks in doing a comic to big screen
    movie....how many people know the characters....what if it turns out to
    be another Judge Dredd (which flopped)...can they capture the audience
    they need....can they provide the special effects?
    
    It will be interesting to see what comics they will choose and even
    more intersting...who they choose to star in them.
    
    Well, enought rattling for now.  I thought this could be an interesting
    topic.  Of course any movies that actually get released should be
    discussed under their own title, but I figured the general "stuff" 
    could be discussed here.
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1065.1BSS::DEVEREAUXThu Apr 18 1996 17:0619
>>  I personally have never heard of Spawn, so I can't imagine what that
>>  would be about.  
    
    I have heard of SPAWN and even have a comic shoot-off from this
    comic (Angela). Still, I can't imagine a movie made off this (SPAWN)
    one.
    
    BTW, they are making a CROW 2, FYI

>> I think that there is a lot of risks in doing a comic to big screen
>> movie....how many people know the characters....what if it turns out to be
>> another Judge Dredd (which flopped)...can they capture the audience they
>> need....can they provide the special effects?

    There's even a bigger risk of doing coinop games on the big screen, but
    it's been done, quite successfully, I believe.
    
    Anyway, movie makers are probably running out of ideas. Look how many
    remakes of "old" movies are still coming out.
1065.2My spidey senses are tingling!POLAR::TYSICKIf ya wanna come in 2nd; follow me!Thu Apr 18 1996 17:5112
    RE: -1 & -2
    
    	Spawn from my understanding is an Ex-C.I.A. agent who dies and
    sells his soul to the devil. The deal is; he has to hunt down criminals
    such as rapists, child molesters and murders...he then trades their
    souls into the devil. All he has to do is keep producing souls!
    
    	I think Spidey would be kinda cool on the big screen, as long as
    it's done properly! The web shootin' & swingin' could be difficult...
    but that's a job for a DEC computer to take care of.
    
    	J
1065.3CHEFS::HANDLEY_IDJ's do it with 12 inchesFri Apr 19 1996 09:1213
    
    There's a British comic called "Button Man" which I think would make an
    excellent movie.  It's about an ex-mercenary who gets suckered into a
    game run by the wealthy heads of society which pits each player's
    asassin, or "button man" against each other.  The button mans who comes
    out alive then wins his "fixer" the bet.  The button men and "voices"
    never meet but when the main character is set up to be killed, he goes
    after his voice with revenge in mind.  This would make an excellent
    thriller.  Anyone else think of comics that would translate well to the
    big screen?
    
    
    I.
1065.4You should hear my yell when I'm alone...BRAT::MONBLEAUFri Apr 19 1996 16:2711
    I may be showing my age here, but as a boy a long time ago, my favorite
    comic hero, and thus, movie hero was Tarzan. I've followed them all -
    from Elmo Lincoln through Ron Ely. "Tarzan The Ape Man" was the
    industry break through of it's era, but as a Tarzan enthusiast, I
    longed for the day when a producer would work with one of ERB's goo
    Tarzan books and feature places such as the lost lands of Paul-ul-Don,
    Opar, or Peluseda, or show a battle between the Terribs and Queen
    Lara's tropps in the croc boats. ERB's Tarzan was at the forefornt then
    of fantasy/fiction and there is still tonbs and tons opf material that
    the movies have never touched. Plenty of room for outrageous special
    effects.
1065.5BUSY::SLABOUNTYAudiophiles do it 'til it hertz!Fri Apr 19 1996 16:396
    
    	So I guess you weren't a really big fan of "Tarzan: The Legend
    	of Greystoke", were you?
    
    	8^)
    
1065.6Oodles of former comics on the big screen ...ZPOVC::GEOFFREYTue Apr 23 1996 08:0713
    This isn't a new trend!! How soon we forget Ninja Turtles, Addams
    Family, Dennis the Menace, Richie Rich, Darkman, uh, lessee, and
    Tales from the Crypt, Dick Tracy, Tank Girl, uh, uh, well ...
    
    At any rate, I read somewhere that there are at least forty recent
    movies that were originally comics and/or cartoons. Statistically,
    most of them are bombs, or at least marginal, like Dick Tracy. But
    the ones that pay off big like Batman are the ones that everyone
    remembers, even the studio heads. These days they are terrified of
    trying anything new on a big budget, so they recycle whatever they
    can find that once earned some audience acceptance, somewhere.
    
    Geoff
1065.7Greystoke was an OK guyBRAT::MONBLEAUMon Apr 29 1996 17:1522
    .5 Tarzan, Legend of Greystoke
    
    Actually, I did enjoy that film. It wasn't the fantasy trip that could
    be possible, but it was a serious attempt to deal with the original
    premise that put Tarzan in the jungle in the first place. It was
    actualy quite well done I thought, and made a great deal more sense
    than what the movies in the 40s & 50s did - 
    
    The one that really irritated me was Tarzan played by Jock Mahoney 
    (Range Rider) parachuting into India to help out with some foolish plot.
    The Ron Ely ones I really hated - any fool could recognize Indian
    elephants (easier to train) shot "on location" in central America,
    using locals pretending to be African Tribesmen. Had to set Tarzan back
    50 years. 
    
    Anyway. Legend of Greystoke was a decent attempt to get a message out,
    (civilized man might not be as civilized as the noble wild man, and a
    few environmental messages as well.) 
    
    I am open minded - I just want reasonable treatment of the material.   
    
    Thanks for asking - I had forgotton that movie.	
1065.8ODIXIE::LOWERThu May 09 1996 06:201
    Don't forget Howard the Duck...
1065.9Jenny should have been more like Betty...SWAM1::STERN_TOTom Stern -- Have TK, will travel!Mon May 13 1996 18:291
    The Rocketeer...
1065.10BUSY::SLABOUNTYBeing weird isn't enoughMon May 13 1996 18:363
    
    	Oh, but Jenny is such a doll.
    
1065.11...I know I have...SWAM1::STERN_TOTom Stern -- Have TK, will travel!Mon May 13 1996 19:572
    And just think what it would have been like if they had hired Connely
    to play Betty instead of Jenny
1065.12CHEFS::HANDLEY_IZuul!Tue May 14 1996 09:115
    
    That movie only has two things going for it, and Jennifer Connelly
    posesses both of them.
    
    ;^)
1065.13BUSY::SLABOUNTYCrackerTue May 14 1996 13:436
    
    	Humor and charm, I'd bet.  But I wouldn't bet too much money
    	on that.
    
    	8^)
    
1065.14I LIKED IT!VYGER::GIBSONJSundays papers on a Saturday?Tue May 14 1996 18:295
    I actually enjoyed The Rocketeer. 
    
    And Jenny!
    
    					Steve