Comments on: The Not-So-Marvelous http://www.showbits.net/2007/02/07/the-not-so-marvelous/ A blog of news, reviews, commentary, and quirks from Hollywood and Broadway, with a focus on quirky, geeky stuff like Star Wars, Star Trek, and superheroes. Fri, 30 Dec 2011 00:35:30 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: peterw http://www.showbits.net/2007/02/07/the-not-so-marvelous/#comment-144 peterw Sat, 17 Feb 2007 13:16:00 +0000 http://www.showbits.net/2007/02/07/the-not-so-marvelous/#comment-144 Well, I've just come home from seeing <em>Ghost Rider</em>. Not having ever read the comic book, I had no real idea what to expect. (But I really wanted to see it if only to spot the location shots around my home town of Melbourne.) I've got to say that I really enjoyed the movie. I've never been much into the horror genre, but although it flirted with crossing the line, it retained a comic book feel that kept it all "fun". Having said that, as with most of the comic book movies, don't expect too much from the plot. Just sit back and enjoy the experience! BTW, I thought the special effects were pretty good too -- CGI means character "transformations" are pretty seamless these days. Well, I've just come home from seeing Ghost Rider. Not having ever read the comic book, I had no real idea what to expect. (But I really wanted to see it if only to spot the location shots around my home town of Melbourne.)

I've got to say that I really enjoyed the movie. I've never been much into the horror genre, but although it flirted with crossing the line, it retained a comic book feel that kept it all "fun".

Having said that, as with most of the comic book movies, don't expect too much from the plot. Just sit back and enjoy the experience!

BTW, I thought the special effects were pretty good too — CGI means character "transformations" are pretty seamless these days.

]]> By: GeneD http://www.showbits.net/2007/02/07/the-not-so-marvelous/#comment-128 GeneD Mon, 12 Feb 2007 13:29:24 +0000 http://www.showbits.net/2007/02/07/the-not-so-marvelous/#comment-128 True, the superhero movies I mentioned as personal favorites also happened to have mass-market appeal, partly because the protagonists were already known in pop culture. Yes, many secondary comic book adaptations fail because film makers talk down to their audience or because a low-budget flick featuring a second-string character has been cranked out in an effort to make money off the latest wave in popularity. True, the superhero movies I mentioned as personal favorites also happened to have mass-market appeal, partly because the protagonists were already known in pop culture. Yes, many secondary comic book adaptations fail because film makers talk down to their audience or because a low-budget flick featuring a second-string character has been cranked out in an effort to make money off the latest wave in popularity.

]]> By: Ken Gagne http://www.showbits.net/2007/02/07/the-not-so-marvelous/#comment-126 Ken Gagne Mon, 12 Feb 2007 00:37:22 +0000 http://www.showbits.net/2007/02/07/the-not-so-marvelous/#comment-126 I agree that those films had mass-market appeal. But why is that? Because the characters are well-known? When directing minor characters, do directors decide, "Nobody but geeks know who these guys are, so let's make a movie that appeals to just them"? I agree that those films had mass-market appeal. But why is that? Because the characters are well-known? When directing minor characters, do directors decide, "Nobody but geeks know who these guys are, so let's make a movie that appeals to just them"?

]]> By: sheppy http://www.showbits.net/2007/02/07/the-not-so-marvelous/#comment-123 sheppy Thu, 08 Feb 2007 15:58:52 +0000 http://www.showbits.net/2007/02/07/the-not-so-marvelous/#comment-123 I've never been a comic book reader, but there have been some actually good films based on them, especially the last handful of years. I'll agree with Gene: <em>Batman Begins</em>, <em>Superman Returns</em>, and <em>Spider-Man 2</em> were all good. I liked the first <em>Spider-Man</em> as well. I also enjoyed the first two <em>X-Men</em> movies. The third I didn't care for particularly. I've never been a comic book reader, but there have been some actually good films based on them, especially the last handful of years. I'll agree with Gene: Batman Begins, Superman Returns, and Spider-Man 2 were all good. I liked the first Spider-Man as well.

I also enjoyed the first two X-Men movies. The third I didn't care for particularly.

]]> By: GeneD http://www.showbits.net/2007/02/07/the-not-so-marvelous/#comment-122 GeneD Thu, 08 Feb 2007 14:06:10 +0000 http://www.showbits.net/2007/02/07/the-not-so-marvelous/#comment-122 On the one hand, I agree that movies based on comic book superheroes should be held to the same standards of quality as other films. On the other hand, as a genre fan, I try to keep in mind the dearth of well-done adaptations and that translating stories and characters from one medium to another is tricky. Plus, there are always guilty pleasures, such as the campy 1960s Adam West <em>Batman</em> or <em>Stripperella</em>. I liked second-tier flicks such as <em>Constantine</em>, <em>Fantastic Four</em>, and <em>Hellboy</em>, and I'm looking forward to <em>Ghost Rider</em>, <em>Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles</em>, and eventually <em>Wonder Woman</em>. However, I would only recommend or defend to non-superhero fans movies such as <em>Batman Begins</em>, <em>Superman Returns</em>, or <em>Spider-Man 2</em>. On the one hand, I agree that movies based on comic book superheroes should be held to the same standards of quality as other films.

On the other hand, as a genre fan, I try to keep in mind the dearth of well-done adaptations and that translating stories and characters from one medium to another is tricky.

Plus, there are always guilty pleasures, such as the campy 1960s Adam West Batman or Stripperella.

I liked second-tier flicks such as Constantine, Fantastic Four, and Hellboy, and I'm looking forward to Ghost Rider, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and eventually Wonder Woman.

However, I would only recommend or defend to non-superhero fans movies such as Batman Begins, Superman Returns, or Spider-Man 2.

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