The Dark Knight is one of the best reviewed highest grossing domestic
movies ever and those who can't stand that it's based on a comic book
superhero will have to get over it.
Sure, the film could lose thirty minutes from the running time and Christian Bale's bat-voice may have been a little heavy, but that was still a darn good movie. Yeah, there's a guy in it who wears a cape and mask and for some that is an obstacle to their ability to enjoy the film. These are the same folks who are in awe when they discover there are other films they have liked that were adapted from comics. "Ghost World," "A History of Violence," "30 days of Night" and "Sin City."
It's gotta be the mask and cape thing.
For the sake of being all-inclusive I have compiled a short list of movies on the Hollywood development slate for those who are allergic to superheroes. It's also sort of a list of the kinds of comics and movies I enjoy.
1. WHITEOUT - Creators Greg Rucka and Steve Lieber's graphic novel about a sole U.S. marshal played by Kate Beckinsale who has to deal with a murder only days before a dismal
winter falls over Antarctica. The film also
stars Gabriel Macht and is directed by Dominic
Sena (Swordfish, Gone in
Sixty Seconds). I haven't read the graphic novel yet but I will put it
on my list because I like Rucka's work.
2. Y: THE LAST MAN - Some call it the best comic series in recent years. I have to agree and on top of that I'll tell anyone that it may have been one of the best science fiction stories I have ever read, period. Created by writer Brian K. Vaughn (BKV to y'all) and artist Pia Guerra, "Y: The Last Man" is the story of Yorick Brown the last man on earth after a mysterious holocaust kills every male except him and his pet monkey, Ampersand. The world is now in the hands of the surviving women who have to pick up the pieces. Since New Line Cinema, who had the film rights, was folded into Warner Bros. the property has drawn some renewed interest. Recent reports link director D.J. Caruso to the film with actor Shia LeBeouf, who stars in Caruso's upcoming EAGLE EYE. From what i understand this is not a solid commitment, LeBeouf reportedly said he was "interested" in the role. We'll discuss whether that will work or not another time. Anyway, 2010 is the suggested timetable for release but it can't get here soon enough for me.
Sure, the film could lose thirty minutes from the running time and Christian Bale's bat-voice may have been a little heavy, but that was still a darn good movie. Yeah, there's a guy in it who wears a cape and mask and for some that is an obstacle to their ability to enjoy the film. These are the same folks who are in awe when they discover there are other films they have liked that were adapted from comics. "Ghost World," "A History of Violence," "30 days of Night" and "Sin City."
It's gotta be the mask and cape thing.
For the sake of being all-inclusive I have compiled a short list of movies on the Hollywood development slate for those who are allergic to superheroes. It's also sort of a list of the kinds of comics and movies I enjoy.
1. WHITEOUT - Creators Greg Rucka and Steve Lieber's graphic novel about a sole U.S. marshal played by Kate Beckinsale who has to deal with a murder only days before a dismal
winter falls over Antarctica. The film also
stars Gabriel Macht and is directed by Dominic
Sena (Swordfish, Gone in
Sixty Seconds). I haven't read the graphic novel yet but I will put it
on my list because I like Rucka's work.2. Y: THE LAST MAN - Some call it the best comic series in recent years. I have to agree and on top of that I'll tell anyone that it may have been one of the best science fiction stories I have ever read, period. Created by writer Brian K. Vaughn (BKV to y'all) and artist Pia Guerra, "Y: The Last Man" is the story of Yorick Brown the last man on earth after a mysterious holocaust kills every male except him and his pet monkey, Ampersand. The world is now in the hands of the surviving women who have to pick up the pieces. Since New Line Cinema, who had the film rights, was folded into Warner Bros. the property has drawn some renewed interest. Recent reports link director D.J. Caruso to the film with actor Shia LeBeouf, who stars in Caruso's upcoming EAGLE EYE. From what i understand this is not a solid commitment, LeBeouf reportedly said he was "interested" in the role. We'll discuss whether that will work or not another time. Anyway, 2010 is the suggested timetable for release but it can't get here soon enough for me.
3. DEATH:
THE HIGH COST OF LIVING - I know this may be sacrilege but I was not a
huge fan of the entire run of writer Neil Gaiman's SANDMAN, but the
"Prelude and Nocturnes" stories blew my wig off. And sure, I caught a
goth girl crush, like many others, when he dropped his mini-series
DEATH: THE HIGH COST OF LIVING starring recurring Sandman character
"Death." This project had a series of early conflicting reports about
whether or not it would hit the screens. Gaiman is reportedly gearing
up to direct and with the help of Guillermo del Toro (HELLBOY 2: THE
GOLDEN ARMY) as producer the film's potential cool factor jumps
considerably.
4. RED SONJA - Based from another Robert E. Howard (Conan the Barbarian) creation, RED SONJA, a sword-wielding woman warrior portrayed once upon a time by Brigitte Nielsen in a movie 23 years ago, has had a reinvigoration via the Dynamite Entertainment Comics line. The character is staring in a bushel of comics that make significant sales thanks to fans of scanty-clad redhead warrior babes. (I've, um, bought my share of issues.) The cool part?
It will be produced by Robert
Rodriguez (The Grindhouse Presents: Planet Terror), directed by Douglas
Aarniokoski (Highlander: Endgame) and starring none other than Rose
McGowan, who rocked it in Planet Terror.
5. THULSA DOOM - In that same Hyborian vein, actor Djimon Hounsou has signed on with Dynamite Entertainment to star in and produce a feature film about the bad a$$ sorcerer. This character was central to the comics world of Red Sonja. And for those who wonder if the character has any screen legs... remember James Earl Jones took on the role in the 1982 film CONAN THE BARBARIAN starring the Governator. I don't have much more on this yet as this news surfaced sometime before or during Comic-Con. Can Djimon make this villain into an anti-hero? I think so, check out his turn as Midnite in the movie CONSTANTINE. Didn't you want Papa Midnite to get his own film? I did.
6. MAGDALENA - From TOP COW, the kids who brought us WANTED, the MAGDALENA is about a woman named Patience (To be played by Jenna Dewan) who is from a line of warriors descended from Mary Magdalene. She has to get with the program and come to grips with her origins because she's got a world to save from a "supernatural threat." There are some religious overtones that may make for an interesting public reception for this film -- if those concepts survive the movie development process (DAVINCI CODE, anyone?). Of course, that all depends on how the story is told. With Gale Anne Hurd (TERMINATOR, NEAR DARK) attached to produce and Luke Goss (Prince Nuada from HELLBOY 2) in this I am intrigued. And yeah, I know, this character may look a little like the traditional superhero but don't get it twisted, she's not.
7. GAMEKEEPER - The main character in this tale is an expert of animal behavior who takes that knowledge city side to find his son's killer. It's a comic concept created by Guy Ritchie (SNATCH) and Variety reports the filmmaker will lend his kinetic directing style to his story. The comic is written by Andy Diggle who made Vertigo Comics' THE LOSERS so much fun it should have been illegal. That comic was so hot in fact...
8. THE LOSERS - Director Peter Berg (THE KINGDOM, HANCOCK) is expected to tell the story of this special operations squad cut loose by their masters and left to perish. After that it's big payback and the crew go on a series of violent, extreme and outright entertaining adventures. Ultimately, they go through anyone and everything to get to the ones responsible for selling them out. OK, Berg's summer film HANCOCK had a hot and cold reception despite some good moments and THE KIN
GDOM was
underrated in my opinion. For the tone of this story think of the
action and humor of Berg's THE RUNDOWN and you've got a good match for
THE LOSERS here. Didn't see that one? Get your Netflix in order.
9. THE GOON - Gang wars, zombies and a criminal boss who has taken up the station of a ruthless boss he killed? Yeah, it's more fun than Sopranos with a paranormal angle. One of my good friends is helping me play catch up on this series and I like what I see so far with artist and writer Eric Powell's THE GOON. And for the film fans I read that David Fincher (SEVEN, ZODIAC) is taking this story to the screen via computer animation.
10. THE HANDS OF SHANG-CHI - Yeah, this guy has teamed up with superheroes but so what? That's how bad this character is and those who were fans of Shang Chi know what I'm talking about. All I had to hear when this was announced was 1.) Kung Fu, 2.) It's directed by Yuen Wo Ping who stunt coordinated The Matrix and 3.) KUNG FU!
That's a handful of items and by no means complete and subject to the whims of the movie industry. I hope to add to this list and update it with some help.
4. RED SONJA - Based from another Robert E. Howard (Conan the Barbarian) creation, RED SONJA, a sword-wielding woman warrior portrayed once upon a time by Brigitte Nielsen in a movie 23 years ago, has had a reinvigoration via the Dynamite Entertainment Comics line. The character is staring in a bushel of comics that make significant sales thanks to fans of scanty-clad redhead warrior babes. (I've, um, bought my share of issues.) The cool part?
It will be produced by Robert
Rodriguez (The Grindhouse Presents: Planet Terror), directed by Douglas
Aarniokoski (Highlander: Endgame) and starring none other than Rose
McGowan, who rocked it in Planet Terror.5. THULSA DOOM - In that same Hyborian vein, actor Djimon Hounsou has signed on with Dynamite Entertainment to star in and produce a feature film about the bad a$$ sorcerer. This character was central to the comics world of Red Sonja. And for those who wonder if the character has any screen legs... remember James Earl Jones took on the role in the 1982 film CONAN THE BARBARIAN starring the Governator. I don't have much more on this yet as this news surfaced sometime before or during Comic-Con. Can Djimon make this villain into an anti-hero? I think so, check out his turn as Midnite in the movie CONSTANTINE. Didn't you want Papa Midnite to get his own film? I did.
6. MAGDALENA - From TOP COW, the kids who brought us WANTED, the MAGDALENA is about a woman named Patience (To be played by Jenna Dewan) who is from a line of warriors descended from Mary Magdalene. She has to get with the program and come to grips with her origins because she's got a world to save from a "supernatural threat." There are some religious overtones that may make for an interesting public reception for this film -- if those concepts survive the movie development process (DAVINCI CODE, anyone?). Of course, that all depends on how the story is told. With Gale Anne Hurd (TERMINATOR, NEAR DARK) attached to produce and Luke Goss (Prince Nuada from HELLBOY 2) in this I am intrigued. And yeah, I know, this character may look a little like the traditional superhero but don't get it twisted, she's not.
7. GAMEKEEPER - The main character in this tale is an expert of animal behavior who takes that knowledge city side to find his son's killer. It's a comic concept created by Guy Ritchie (SNATCH) and Variety reports the filmmaker will lend his kinetic directing style to his story. The comic is written by Andy Diggle who made Vertigo Comics' THE LOSERS so much fun it should have been illegal. That comic was so hot in fact...
8. THE LOSERS - Director Peter Berg (THE KINGDOM, HANCOCK) is expected to tell the story of this special operations squad cut loose by their masters and left to perish. After that it's big payback and the crew go on a series of violent, extreme and outright entertaining adventures. Ultimately, they go through anyone and everything to get to the ones responsible for selling them out. OK, Berg's summer film HANCOCK had a hot and cold reception despite some good moments and THE KIN
GDOM was
underrated in my opinion. For the tone of this story think of the
action and humor of Berg's THE RUNDOWN and you've got a good match for
THE LOSERS here. Didn't see that one? Get your Netflix in order.9. THE GOON - Gang wars, zombies and a criminal boss who has taken up the station of a ruthless boss he killed? Yeah, it's more fun than Sopranos with a paranormal angle. One of my good friends is helping me play catch up on this series and I like what I see so far with artist and writer Eric Powell's THE GOON. And for the film fans I read that David Fincher (SEVEN, ZODIAC) is taking this story to the screen via computer animation.
10. THE HANDS OF SHANG-CHI - Yeah, this guy has teamed up with superheroes but so what? That's how bad this character is and those who were fans of Shang Chi know what I'm talking about. All I had to hear when this was announced was 1.) Kung Fu, 2.) It's directed by Yuen Wo Ping who stunt coordinated The Matrix and 3.) KUNG FU!
That's a handful of items and by no means complete and subject to the whims of the movie industry. I hope to add to this list and update it with some help.
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