Ghost Rider - What the hell?

wELCOME cONSUMER · Post by **wELCOME cONSUMER** » Sun Feb 18, 2007 11:51 am

^ I absolutely agree with 100% of what you said.

The Punisher 2, which has been on and off for a while, will be one of only a handful of Marvel movies that is rated R. They admitted that it will be darker than the first and a lot bloodier. Now, if they would just make it!

When I remember Blade, it's funny to think it was a trilogy where only part 2 was good. Part 1 was only decent, especially when compared to part 2 and 3 was just unforgivably bad. Not just anyone can or should be allowed to direct comic movies. The director really should have a better grasp of the material and understand how comic panels are glorified story boards. Use em, people!

Ghost Rider was directed by the same man who directed Daredevil. Now, the director's cut of Daredevil is fantastic and has garnered a bit of a following. For some reason, several important character developing moments were removed from the theatrical release. The director said he learned his lesson from the Daredevil experience, which is why he didn't even bother to make Ghost Rider dark or engaging. There was absolutely no character development in Rider for this reason. These "made for families" movies don't bother with the essentials. It's sad really.

Don't judge Daredevil till you watch that director's cut. There's tons of scenes lifted directly from the comic. And for some reason, people have a problem with Ben Affleck's stubble. I don't like Ben either, but he played Matt fine. Daredevil originally looked like a bum, facial hair and all. So I don't see what the big dealio is.

Keropi · Post by **Keropi** » Sun Feb 18, 2007 7:49 pm

Yeah, it's very hard for me to imagine a live action Captain America movie working in today's day and age. I mean I like the guy and all, but he's more like an old, fashioned superhero. There's a lot of reasons why it wouldn't work and I can understand them.

But just out of curiousity, how many of these directors were fans of the original source? Directors who were fans of original sources tend to have somewhat better track record at adapting movies from what I've seen.

Although you also have those weird "fans of the original source who liked it for reasons different from most of the other fans." If you get one of those directors then they might decide to remake the story in their own image. My eyebrow goes up when I encounter those directors.

You can get a good movie produced from a director who isn't familiar at all with the source material, but I think it's more of a gamble in terms of how the movie will turn out. You have to wisely choose your director.

wELCOME cONSUMER · Post by **wELCOME cONSUMER** » Sun Feb 18, 2007 8:08 pm

Bryan Singer was not a fan of X-Men or knew much about Superman (other than enjoying the Christoper Reeve films) and he managed to make very good versions of both. Sometimes you need to reimagine the comic when adapting it to film because, as you say about Captain A, some things just don't translate. Some of the original concepts in a comic are hokey, lame or just plain stupid. When making it into a film, liberties have to be taken, so I never care when a director deviates from the source material. The Hulk movie did big time, instead it borrowed greatly from the live action TV series. Similar to Superman, many of the common aspects of the story that everyone is familiar with originated from the TV series and not the original comic. People tend to remember things wrong tho and assume otherwise. As long as the director captures the spirit of the character and the movie is actually good, then I don't mind.

Captain America would absolutely work if it were done like Saving Private Ryan. Take the WW2 version of Captain America and go from there.

Some of the later explanations for Captain A's look is subscribed to his being an inspiration to other soldiers on the field. Seeing an American flag would embolden them in the heat of battle.

All of the movie versions of comics have revised the costumes and color schemes of the characters. The colors are either darkened, like Superman and Daredevil, or the colors are done away with, like X-Men or Bullseye.

Almost any comic property would work as a movie if done right. Changes have to be made for it to work. I loved V for Vendetta because it modernized a lot of the story. I know Alan Moore hated it, but so what? We're no longer living in the Cold War days.

The problem with comic movies is that they make money. So studios try to make them for families, which brings in more money but sacrifices the quality of the work. It's possible to make a good PG or PG-13 movie but few directors know how, for some reason. Of course, I prefer rated R because anything goes. But there's no reason to hold back on witty dialogue and a solid plot just because it's PG-13.

blueheaven · Post by **blueheaven** » Sun Feb 18, 2007 8:28 pm

I agree that Captain America would probably only succeed if it were kept in the 1930's. The only way they could get him over in today's world is if they dropped his costume and shield. Patriotism has been given such a lashing due to zealots in this country that he would be seen as a joke if he sported the red white and blue.

ZombieBunny · Post by **ZombieBunny** » Mon Feb 19, 2007 3:07 am

blueheaven wrote: The only way they could get him over in today's world is if they dropped his costume and shield. Patriotism has been given such a lashing due to zealots in this country that he would be seen as a joke if he sported the red white and blue.

Which is a joke in its self....

Nelia · Post by **Nelia** » Wed Feb 21, 2007 9:39 am

I have to admit, I saw Ghost Rider and sat there and blinked.

What killed me was Blackheart - ... Isn't Blackheart supposed to be all... Rawrmonster, not looking like a prissy goth boy?

Cage tried. He did, which made me kind of feel sorry for him. My boyfriend is seriously into comics (my cel addiction is as great as his comic addiction @_@) and was kind of pumped about the Ghost Rider movie, but it was hard for me to take a flaming skull with cheesy one liners and flipping-off-cops gestures. I mean, it was kind of cute/funny, but if they were trying to make the movie cool/actiony/manly, they failed miserably.

I could have done without Blackheart being a prissy goth boy and the bad guys dying by the head explodey stare of death1!!1 The final battle was disappointing, too.

*_* *cough* But yeah, it was rather bad. Perhaps Marvel is going more for quantity of comic movies, rather than quality? (Punisher= good, Fantastic Four = bad, Spiderman = okay/pretty good, Hulk = bad, Daredevil = okay, Elektra = bad, as oppose to DC's Batman Begins = good, and Superman = good.)

Speaking of DC movies, Joss Whedon (who brought us Firefly/Serenity that we know and love) got dropped from the Wonder Woman project because of 'conflicts of plot interest' sort of thing. Which makes baby Jesus cry. Whedon's great, and if they didn't like his ideas, they're going in a whoooole different direction. ._.'

Not Sir Phobos · Post by **Not Sir Phobos** » Wed Feb 21, 2007 10:43 am

Keropi wrote:Yeah, it's very hard for me to imagine a live action Captain America movie working in today's day and age. I mean I like the guy and all, but he's more like an old, fashioned superhero. There's a lot of reasons why it wouldn't work and I can understand them.

I implore you to read the Ultimates.

Captain America would work. And he's a badass.

Spoiler:

Oh yeah, and they made the hulk horny

RoboFlonne · Post by **RoboFlonne** » Wed Feb 21, 2007 12:08 pm

What is Captain America's super powers?

I think he's really strong and has a boomerang shield? I can't remember what else?

Cloud · Post by **Cloud** » Wed Feb 21, 2007 12:08 pm

That's okay. Maybe you will think of it later.

Not Sir Phobos · Post by **Not Sir Phobos** » Wed Feb 21, 2007 2:36 pm

RoboFlonne wrote:What is Captain America's super powers?

I think he's really strong and has a boomerang shield? I can't remember what else?

His sense of honor and patriotism

RoboFlonne · Post by **RoboFlonne** » Wed Feb 21, 2007 3:07 pm

Not Sir Phobos wrote:
RoboFlonne wrote:What is Captain America's super powers?

I think he's really strong and has a boomerang shield? I can't remember what else?
His sense of honor and patriotism

Well let's make a movie! I guess he's alot like Batman. And those movies were successful.

wELCOME cONSUMER · Post by **wELCOME cONSUMER** » Wed Feb 21, 2007 7:45 pm

Not Sir Phobos wrote:
Keropi wrote:Yeah, it's very hard for me to imagine a live action Captain America movie working in today's day and age. I mean I like the guy and all, but he's more like an old, fashioned superhero. There's a lot of reasons why it wouldn't work and I can understand them.
I implore you to read the Ultimates.

Captain America would work. And he's a badass.

Spoiler:
Oh yeah, and they made the hulk horny

That is a bad ass comic. The animated movie is pretty cool too (they changed only a couple things, due to censorship).

Captain America is Guts from Berserk, except he has both eyes.

Cap won't give up, won't surrender, he's strong, fast, determined and smart as hell. Just tone down the colors of his costume (make it look like Superman's in Superman Returns) and he would work in a modern setting. And remove that damn "A" from his forehead, do we really need to be reminded of who he is? So silly.

Captain is also the best character to use in the Marvel Ultimate Alliance video game. That shield does a lot of damage and bounces off the walls for days.

RoboFlonne · Post by **RoboFlonne** » Wed Feb 21, 2007 8:00 pm

Maybe Governor Arnold might be a good Captain America?

Then he could run for president and win!

wELCOME cONSUMER · Post by **wELCOME cONSUMER** » Wed Feb 21, 2007 11:11 pm

RoboFlonne wrote:Then he could run for president and win!

He's not a natural born citizen.

Cloud · Post by **Cloud** » Wed Feb 21, 2007 11:11 pm

Are you natural born citizen?