Bad News for Comic Book Movies
The most promising release in the recent flood of comics-turned-movies may be on hold, thanks to a lawsuit. The Watchmen, which I haven't finished yet (I got distracted by Wanted, which is awesome, unlike the movie. Angelina Jolie total blew our chances to watch an awesome (and black) female superhero named Fox) is basically supposed to be the best comic book ever. Serious anti-hero action. The threat comes from a pissing match between Fox and Warner Bros., not the comic's author, Alan Moore. Lame!
5:32 pm
It's nice to see someone besides myself upset over Wanted's casting. Even though the script and direction was pretentious, it would have been nice to see Halle Berry, whom the character was modeled after, playing that badass role. Blame the Catwoman flick?
4:48 pm
The Watchmen trailer REALLY shouldn't work as well as it does, because tonally it's been set to "BADASS" -- what with all the slo-mo explosions and fighty-fighting and, um, walking purposefully through fire, and whatnot.
Thing is: the comic doesn't trade on any of that sort of adolescent/nihilistic "Wolverine would tear your shit UP" hooey. In fact, it's pretty much a bemused, coolly critical response to precisely that attitude. Owlman, for example -- seen in the trailer getting his snarly Fists of Fury on -- is a lovable schlub, as written.
But I take heart in the fact that the producers seem to have gotten one vitally important aspect right. Ozymandias -- the dude in the headband and egregiously Schumacher-y muscle/nipple suit -- looks fucking ridiculous. Just like that character should.