An article in today's SJ-R Newspaper where I was interviewed

 

 Courtesy of the State Journal-Register (Springfield, Illinois)

 

This article appeared today in my local newspaper – the State Journal-Register in Springfield, Illinois.

The reporter, Nick Rogers, was asking me about my opinions on this summer’s films that were all comic book based. Here were a few of my answers above in the article (you can also follow the link to the sj-r.com website.

While I knew he would pick and choose from the answers I gave him, I did give him my opinion on several more aspects that I knew would be cut and edited for space for the article.

Here were my unedited answers:

Q: Other than the usual built-in bankable aspects of these Adaptations, do you see any other reason why there are so many of late?

As a movie watcher, I think Hollywood has been guilty the past several years of eliminating original screenplay films and are banking the majority of movies now on adaptations, remakes, sequels and films derived from existing properties that include a large portion of action-packed comic book based films. When they can make a film that is based on a well known property, they’re banking on a built in audience to bring in the big bucks. With the success of past films in this genre, they’re banking on a formula that has had more hits than misses as of late. I also think that the people who have finally ascended to positions of power in Hollywood that green light these types of films are huge comicbook fans themselves. Combine the development of CGI technology that will bring these comic tales to life that they read, a bankable summer blockbuster formula, anddecades of built-in storylines and character development to draw inspiration from just makes this genre an appealing prospect to bring to the big screen. It’s what they know and think is going to work.

There is a warning to all this… Hollywood keeps dipping back into the wellover and over with these comic book-based films. The well may dry upeventually as it now looks to 2nd and 3rd tier characters that the average Joe has never heard of. I read yesterday in bewilderment that there is even an Ant-Man film in pre-production. I couldn’t believe it. When and where do you stop?

Warner Brothers owns DC Comics and wants to exploit their library of titles in their stable. On the other hand, Marvel Comics is going to license everything, including Ant-Man, because their coffers are paid for by these licensed films and the products that derive from their intellectual properties. They’re going to try and license as many of their characters as they can to see they get a piece of the box office dollar –though there is going to be an over-saturation of these type of movies at some point and a backlash.

The impact that this is having on the actual comic books themselves isthat they are almost purely becoming fodder for film deals and back-end bonuses to collect into trade paperbacks so that they sell as graphic novels in bookstores. The monthly periodical is in peril. I’m amazed at even how many independent comic book companies are intently going after acquiring those film deals in order to have the next “Men In Black”success story.

Q: Also, which ones are you looking forward to and which ones are you skeptical about?

Even with the over-saturation, I actually think this summer’s offering ofcomic book based films is going to largely be successful in both box office draw and critical acclaim for a change.

Outside of INDIANA JONES AND THE KINGDOM OF THE CRYSTAL SKULL, the film I ’m most anticipating this summer is IRON MAN. Here is a second tier character that the producers are taking a gamble with. While we comic book fans love and know the character, not all of America knows him like Superman, Batman or Spider-Man.

Robert Downey, Jr. is going to own this role as Tony Stark aka Iron Man. He is a complex character that we’ll see change throughout the film because of his ordeals while retaining his humor and edge. The kid in all of us is going to love seeing him in those armored suits. The special effects I’ve seen with Iron Man in action are mind-blowing and I believe some of the undertones of this film with politics, our culture and the war will make this a bit more relevant. I hope this one lives up to the hype of the trailers most of all.

There is already a sense of foreboding in THE DARK KNIGHT with the recent death of Heath Ledger who stars as the Joker. It will be strange to watch his posthumous performance where he stated shortly before his death that portraying this homicidal character was very demanding on his mind. There will be an eerie allure that probably hasn’t been felt by this generation since Brandon Lee died while making THE CROW.

Even though we’re focusing our talk about Ledger, we cannot forget that perhaps Christian Bale is perhaps the best cast actor today that could play Batman. His performance in BATMAN BEGINS had him owning the role too, unlike Brandon Routh in SUPERMAN RETURNS as the Man of Steel. I suspect that this Batman sequel will be another successful film in the series.

Now, the comic book geekboy in me is really looking forward to HELLBOY II:THE GOLDEN ARMY. I greatly enjoyed the first film with Ron Perlman starring as Mike Mignola’s monster fighter and paranormal detective that happens to be a “good” demon. I’ve perhaps have read every publication the character has been in since the character debuted in 1993 and this series has perfectly captured the look, feel, action and humor of the series. It probably won’t be as box-office successful as the other comic book based films this summer, but I think it’ll be better than the first Hellboy movie. Comic fans will enjoy this film.

It is commonly held just by about everyone that Ang Lee’s HULK film was a disaster. I believe that Ed Norton is going to redeem this franchise as he has been perfectly cast to play the Hulk’s alter ego as Dr. David Bruce Banner. We’re going to see INCREDIBLE HULK that is more like the television series and 1970’s comic. The first film was accused of being“too cerebral” in most reviews. My own son asks me to fast-forward to the“Hulk smash” good parts on the DVD. I have high hopes that this new film will keep the attention span of all ages watching it and will excite.

Of all the films that I’m most skeptical about this summer is actually SPEED RACER. I’m sure the visuals will be exciting, but I believe the casting and storyline will spinout. I’ve got a feeling that we’ve seen the best we’ll see in the trailers. I’m sure it has potential to be a boxoffice success dollar-wise with all the marketing that has gone into it, but in the end it’ll be forgettable I suspect and won’t find critical acclaim from the pop culture geeks who once maybe watched the cartoons in re-runs 20 or 30 years ago.