alan moore Tagged Articles at Cinematical
Joel Silver Might Revive 'Swamp Thing' in 3D
Filed under: Sci-Fi & Fantasy », Warner Brothers », RumorMonger », Newsstand », Comic/Superhero/Geek »
Here's a project you can file under "That might be pretty cool, I guess" although I can certainly think of a thousand things that could go wrong with it. The scoop-hunters at Collider chatted with producer-of-a-thousand-projects Joel Silver, who let slip about someone he'd like to revive: Swamp Thing. "I'm developing a picture now that I'd like to do ... I'll hopefully do Swamp Thing, which is a movie we've had for a long time. We think that would be great to do in 3D." Silver later amended the comment to a "maybe" so it's not time to yell or scream too much, as it is just a whisper at this point. Forget the Wes Craven movie or its ill-advised sequel. If you hang around a comic shop long enough, you'll hear Swamp Thing discussed in hushed and revered tones. Once upon a time, he was merely a B-movie kind of hero, a plant man who fought evil and sought the murderers of his wife while trying to find a cure for his condition. Then DC handed him to Alan Moore with a "Yeah, do whatever you want, the book isn't selling" and Swamp Thing became a member of "the Green," a defender of the environment, and a member of the Parliament of Trees. In characteristic Moore style, the character became loaded with mythology, spiritualism, and history. Grant Morrison, Mark Millar, and Brian K. Vaughan have all expanded upon the character in the years since, and other DC characters were wrapped up in his leafy mythology, notably John Constantine, Poison Ivy, and Neil Gaiman's Black Orchid.
The Crazy World of Comic God Alan Moore
Filed under: Documentary », Independent », Fandom »
Speaking of comics, hey, there's this guy named Alan Moore who's written a few books you might have heard of. I doubt he will ever, ever put in an appearance at Comic-Con. He's notorious for being awesomely grumpy about the movie adaptations of his seminal works, like, say Watchmen. He didn't hold back in an phone interview with the Los Angeles Times last year. One of the more colorful things he said was, "Will the film even be coming out? There are these legal problems now, which I find wonderfully ironic. Perhaps it's been cursed from afar, from England. And I can tell you that I will also be spitting venom all over it for months to come."
The movie did come out to rather mixed reviews, although it's very doubtful Moore noticed or even gave a sh*t. (Watchmen artist Dave Gibbons was onhand at last year's Comic-Con to discuss the movie, however, which you read read more about here, courtesy of Elisabeth Rappe.
Other choice words from the genius behind Watchmen, V for Vendetta, From Hell, and other comics-turned-films that he equally loathed:
"I find film in its modern form to be quite bullying... It spoon-feeds us, which has the effect of watering down our collective cultural imagination. It is as if we are freshly hatched birds looking up with our mouths open waiting for Hollywood to feed us more regurgitated worms. The Watchmen film sounds like more regurgitated worms. I for one am sick of worms. Can't we get something else? Perhaps some takeout? Even Chinese worms would be a nice change."
He also didn't mince words about both the comic book industry and the movie industry.
Watchmen: Inspiring Idiocy Across the Country
Filed under: Action », New Releases », Warner Brothers », Fandom », Newsstand », Comic/Superhero/Geek », Fan Rant »
I know, I know -- we're on Watchmen overload this week, and the last thing you probably want to do is read anything else about the film. But I can't resist. You see, I finally discovered the reason Watchmen should never have been filmed, and left on bookshelves to be discovered by generations upon generations of readers ... the film reviews.
Or specifically, the really idiotic reviews. Like Anthony Lane's piece in The New Yorker, which has had fandom all riled up since yesterday. I think Lane has been waiting a long time for this moment, sharpening his knife in slow, delicious pleasure in order to plunge it into the heart of geekdom. Lane is proud of the fact that he didn't get it; in fact he relishes it. He "never quite worked out" whether the costumed heroes had superpowers or not, and he's puzzled as to why the film is serious when it's based on a comic book. " "Incoherent, overblown, and grimy with misogyny, Watchmen marks the final demolition of the comic strip, and it leaves you wondering: where did the comedy go?"
So what the book was one of Time Magazine's 100 Best Novels? Poo to that! It's a geek thing, worse because it's a smart geek thing, and only the most pathetic of individuals could enjoy it: "Watchmen, like V for Vendetta, harbors ambitions of political satire, and, to be fair, it should meet the needs of any leering nineteen-year-old who believes that America is ruled by the military-industrial complex, and whose deepest fear-deeper even than that of meeting a woman who requests intelligent conversation-is that the Warren Commission may have been right all along."
I'm not sure which is more amusing -- the thought of The Village Voice, Rolling Stone, and Time Magazine* being staffed entirely by anxious virgins or that implication Mr. Lane would like us to know he doesn't fear women of intelligence.
Or specifically, the really idiotic reviews. Like Anthony Lane's piece in The New Yorker, which has had fandom all riled up since yesterday. I think Lane has been waiting a long time for this moment, sharpening his knife in slow, delicious pleasure in order to plunge it into the heart of geekdom. Lane is proud of the fact that he didn't get it; in fact he relishes it. He "never quite worked out" whether the costumed heroes had superpowers or not, and he's puzzled as to why the film is serious when it's based on a comic book. " "Incoherent, overblown, and grimy with misogyny, Watchmen marks the final demolition of the comic strip, and it leaves you wondering: where did the comedy go?"
So what the book was one of Time Magazine's 100 Best Novels? Poo to that! It's a geek thing, worse because it's a smart geek thing, and only the most pathetic of individuals could enjoy it: "Watchmen, like V for Vendetta, harbors ambitions of political satire, and, to be fair, it should meet the needs of any leering nineteen-year-old who believes that America is ruled by the military-industrial complex, and whose deepest fear-deeper even than that of meeting a woman who requests intelligent conversation-is that the Warren Commission may have been right all along."
I'm not sure which is more amusing -- the thought of The Village Voice, Rolling Stone, and Time Magazine* being staffed entirely by anxious virgins or that implication Mr. Lane would like us to know he doesn't fear women of intelligence.
The 'Tales of the Black Freighter' Trailer!
Filed under: Action », Animation », Horror », Fandom », Home Entertainment », Movie Marketing », Comic/Superhero/Geek », Trailers and Clips »
Now that we're in danger of being buried in Watchmen television spots and viral marketing, it's getting to the point of overkill where it's no longer fun to see any of it -- you just want to see the movie already.
But this is fresh, at least in terms of the Watchmen universe. The MTV Splash Page has posted the trailer for the Tales of the Black Freighter, an animated extra that hits DVD shelves on March 24. It's a gruesome sidestory of the graphic novel that couldn't be fit into the theatrical release -- you can enjoy Watchmen without knowing anything about it, but it's just one of those many pieces of the novel that make it such a brilliant work.
The trailer doesn't reveal much, particularly to those unfamiliar with the story. It's mostly just showing off the animation and the rumbling narration of Gerard Butler. (I love how he's billed here "The Voice of Gerard Butler!" I'm hoping the blatant 300 homages are just for the sake of the trailer and Watchmen newcomers, and not reflective of the short film as a whole ... but otherwise, it looks (and sounds) pretty cool. I'm anxious to get my hands on a copy.
Fox Aims to Delay 'Watchmen' Release
Filed under: Action », Sci-Fi & Fantasy », Deals », Warner Brothers », Celebrities and Controversy », 20th Century Fox », Newsstand », Comic/Superhero/Geek »
Watchmen is not going to end 2008 on a high note. According to The Hollywood Reporter, a lawyer for 20th Century Fox has said that the studio will seek an order delaying the release of the film. Ever since Fox first filed its suit, Watchmen fans have been panicked that the film's legal woes would delay its March 6 release. Seriously, Fox, don't you just want some money? A nice chunk of money? Don't kick the Watchmen when they're down.Though the judge ruled in favor of Fox on Christmas, agreeing that Fox retained copyright on the film, he now plans to hold the trial as planned on January 20th. Warner Bros finally spoke out about the messy situation, via their lawyer, and said that he didn't know if the studio would appeal, but that trial was necessary, and a settlement was "unlikely."
So, despite that the scales of justice are tipped in Fox's favor, Warner Bros refuses to blink and agree to a payoff. Considering that Paramount already has the international distribution rights, they don't want to lose any more of the box office pie than they have to. Cue the theme to The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly, and we'll keep you updated as this case drags into 2009.
Question: At what point do nerdy fanboys begin bombarding 20th Century Fox with nasty hate mail?
Fox Wins Ruling in 'Watchmen' Case
Filed under: Sci-Fi & Fantasy », Deals », Mystery & Suspense », Warner Brothers », Celebrities and Controversy », 20th Century Fox », Newsstand », Comic/Superhero/Geek »
Yikes -- Warner Bros. obviously landed on Santa's naughty list this year. The New York Times reports that the judge has ruled in favor of Fox Studios. Sayeth the Honorable Judge Feess "Fox owns a copyright interest consisting of, at the very least, the right to distribute the Watchmen motion picture."This comes as quite a surprise since last we heard, the judge didn't have enough information to make a ruling, and was moving the trial to January 20th. Judge Feess indicated he would make a more detailed ruling soon.
Warner Bros. has declined to comment, and as of now, has not backed off the film's planned release date of March 6. I can hear you all crying (and I hope it's in your very best Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer voice) "There goes Watchmen, and there goes Christmas!" But it's highly doubtful Watchmen will lose its release date. There's no need to panic. Feess advised Fox and Warner Bros to look towards a settlement or appeal. "The parties may wish to turn their efforts from preparing for trial to negotiating a resolution of this dispute or positioning the case for review." So, expect a major payoff from Warner Bros. (and maybe those rumored Batman television show rights) to Fox in order that we'll still be at that March 6th show. And you thought a lump of coal was bad.
ComicCon 'Watchmen' Footage Available On iTunes!
Filed under: Action », Drama », Sci-Fi & Fantasy », Thrillers », Warner Brothers », Fandom », Newsstand », Movie Marketing », Comic/Superhero/Geek », Trailers and Clips »
Here's your Christmas present from Warner Bros -- the Watchmen footage from ComicCon that we raved about for so long. Since then, much of it was incorporated into the second trailer, but not as stylishly as it was presented here. (Everything is stylish when accompanied by Philip Glass' Koyaanisquatsi score, though.) But now you can finally see the Dan Dreiberg footage I raved about -- I love, love, love the shot of him pictured above ... almost as much as I love the sadistic gleam in the eye of the Comedian as he looks at Sally Jupiter. This footage is full of those little moments, and it's really a bit eerie to see every panel recreated so well. Only three and a half more months, people. Three and a half more months!
The footage is available as a free download on iTunes -- but Cinematical readers won't have to go through that much trouble, as I've embedded it below. Now our international readers won't be left out in the cold. Watch, geek out, and go buy a copy of the graphic novel for everyone on your Christmas list.
The footage is available as a free download on iTunes -- but Cinematical readers won't have to go through that much trouble, as I've embedded it below. Now our international readers won't be left out in the cold. Watch, geek out, and go buy a copy of the graphic novel for everyone on your Christmas list.
Watchmen Video Journal #9: The Easter Eggs
Filed under: Action », Classics », Sci-Fi & Fantasy », Mystery & Suspense », Warner Brothers », Newsstand », Movie Marketing », Comic/Superhero/Geek », Trailers and Clips »
It's the 6th of December, and that means a new Watchmen video diary. This is video #9, which actually freaks me out a little bit, because it seems like yesterday that I was posting the first one. Official trailers, posters, ComicCon panels were miles on the horizon, to say nothing of the film itself. Now, we only have three more to go before the movie will be in theaters. It's going to be over before you know it. You will wake up tomorrow and it'll be March 6th, and you will either have seen it at a midnight showing, or be anxiously waiting your turn.
Anyway, enough about the passage of time -- the 9th journal is online at Omelete, and you can access it by clicking on the link or the photo above. (If either stop working, you're going to have to practice your Portuguese to find it -- it's the little button labeled Videoblog Dir. De Arte.) This one is all about the Easter Eggs buried within the film, little visual nods and set embellishments that will make the graphic novel come to life. It feels a little like we've heard and seen it before, but much of the footage is new, like the close-up of the newsstand above. The surface detail continues to leave me stunned -- and yet, I am horrified Laurie must wear that hideous red smock outfit from the book. If anything was begging to be changed, it was that! Watch, enjoy, and comment.
Anyway, enough about the passage of time -- the 9th journal is online at Omelete, and you can access it by clicking on the link or the photo above. (If either stop working, you're going to have to practice your Portuguese to find it -- it's the little button labeled Videoblog Dir. De Arte.) This one is all about the Easter Eggs buried within the film, little visual nods and set embellishments that will make the graphic novel come to life. It feels a little like we've heard and seen it before, but much of the footage is new, like the close-up of the newsstand above. The surface detail continues to leave me stunned -- and yet, I am horrified Laurie must wear that hideous red smock outfit from the book. If anything was begging to be changed, it was that! Watch, enjoy, and comment.
The Girls of 'Watchmen' Kick Ass
Filed under: Action », Sci-Fi & Fantasy », Thrillers », Mystery & Suspense », Warner Brothers », Fandom », Newsstand », Movie Marketing », Comic/Superhero/Geek », Trailers and Clips »
It's the 6th of November, and that means we get a brand new Watchmen video. This one comes embedded courtesy of MySpace, and hopefully it will be working better by the time you read this, as I still haven't gotten to watch the whole thing without a glitch. No, the thorny question of "Did you change the ending?!" is not addressed ... come on, they do these too far in advance to cater to our whims. No, this one is all about the girls of Watchmen -- because despite the masculine sounding title, there's girls in this story, and they kick some major butt. Watch as Zack Snyder introduce you to Silk Spectre the First and Second, as played by Carla Gugino and Malin Akerman.
The girls aren't the only Watchmen characters you can meet this week -- be sure to pop onto the official site and be properly introduced to the Comedian. He's front and center, impossible to miss, and would make a charming addition to your desktop.
More Fuel to the 'Watchmen' Ending Fire
Filed under: Action », Sci-Fi & Fantasy », Mystery & Suspense », Warner Brothers », RumorMonger », Celebrities and Controversy », Fandom », Newsstand », Comic/Superhero/Geek »
Warning: This is another Watchmen post that contains heavy spoilers. Read further at your own risk. Last week, I reluctantly shared the news that Zack Snyder's adaptation of Watchmen may actually have done the unthinkable, and changed the ending. This went against all reports to the contrary, and wasn't exactly from the most reliable of sources. All such reports came from anonymous test screeners, were posted in oddball forums and IMDB, and yanked offline as quickly as they appeared. I think it's telling that no full-fledged reviews popped up on sites like Ain't It Cool News where, despite any NDR you sign, you can usually share your unvarnished thoughts.
Theories run rampant. Many wondered if Warner Bros was testing alternate endings. Some think it was a buzz generating prank -- Snyder did, after all, select that Smashing Pumpkins' song for the trailer with an eye to teasing the fans. But a song is a long way from filming an expensive alternate ending. Others think the anonymous reviews were faked by mean-spirited fans, or posted by studio plants.
It seems like that first theory might be true, after all. Rich Johnston of CBR's Lying in the Gutters column reports that Warners is testing out alternate endings. Apparently, there's more than one floating around, with "the multiple atomic detonations" version being one of many. The date, time, and place of the screening was deliberately leaked to fan outlets in order to lure in the faithful, and see what they thought of the switch-a-roo. Warner Bros is trying to gauge the fan reaction in order to see how far they can push us, with the idea that a squidless ending might be more appealing to the mainstream audience. However, the FX on the squid-alien have been created and he might just be appearing on a big screen near you.
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