In episode #59, our hosts can’t help but gush over Jeff Wadlow’s Kick-Ass 2: the music, the character depth, the similarity to the original comic and, of course, the creatively kick-ass kills.
Adaptation #59: You Too Can Be Kick-Ass
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Category Archives: Comic/Graphic Novel
Adaptation #55: The Not Actually Mortal Wolverine
In their discussion of James Mangold’s The Wolverine, Ryan and Kendyl compare the storyline to the Marvel comics, judge model-turned-actresses and anticipate what this installment (and the end credits scene) will mean for future X-Men films.
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For more comic book or action films, check out our episodes on Man of Steel, Star Trek, Iron Man, Resident Evil, The Dark Knight Rises, and The Avengers.
Adaptation #49: Alien of Steel
In discussing Zach Snyder’s film Man of Steel, the hosts touch on the decidedly darker tone, how this Superman will fit into the future Justice League movie and how the characters compare to their previous incarnations.
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For more superhero adaptation discussions check out our episodes on The Avengers, The Amazing Spider-Man, The Dark Knight Rises and Iron Man 3.
Adaptation #44: Iron Man Suit Up!
While mooning over Tony Stark and admiring Pepper’s bad-assery, the hosts discuss their favorite moments of Shane Black’s Iron Man 3. Going through the various story arcs, they compare the film to Marvel canon with the help of Adaptation’s resident Iron Man expert and the 2010 Extremis mini-series.
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Zack Snyder’s ‘Man of Steel’ Trailer Teases an Origin for Superman
Following the example of the recently wrapped up Batman series, the new trailer for Man of Steel gives us a little darker image of the iconic Superman. This was foreshadowed back in July with the release of the poster which showed a shadow-covered Henry Cavill sporting a suit seemingly made of chain-mail. Check out the teaser below:
With producer Christopher Nolan receiving a story writing credit for the film, alongside David S. Goyer as screenwriter, the team working on the film is sure to make it something special. And with General Zod credited as the villain for Zack Snyder’s new adaptation, it might be following Nolan’s formula even closer by providing an origin story for the Justice-League-bound superhero.
Though the trailer only gives us a look at front-man Henry Cavill, the film will also star Amy Adams, Russell Crowe, Kevin Costner, Laurence Fishburne, and Diane Lane. It is set to release June 14, 2013.
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Adaptation #14: Joseph Gordon Levitt Rises (Literally)
Kendyl, Jess and Ryan get together to discuss their reactions to The Dark Knight Rises: the surprises, the predictions and the debatable satisfaction received from THAT ENDING. Also, they get a little too distracted by the logistics of that bomb and how much can actually be accomplished in 11 minutes.
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Adaptation #13: M. Night, You Used Your Power Irresponsibly
In episode #13, the hosts gush over The Amazing Spider-man, verbally flog M. Knight Shyamalamadingdong’s The Last Airbender and then profess their love to the television version.
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Superman in Chainmail!?
The newest image of Superman released for Comic Con has done a good job of drumming up some excitement for Zack Snyder’s rendition of the comic book superhero: Man of Steel. The shadow covering Henry Cavill’s face directs attention immediately to the Superman costume which looks a bit like chainmail to this observer, somewhat playing upon the steel part of this super-man. Many observers seem to enjoy the return to a more classical style of insignia design as well.
If the old adage “The suit makes the man” holds true, Superman will truly soar and Man of Steel will manage to cash in.
David Letterman Might Have Spoiled ‘The Dark Knight Rises’
But no worries, this article is spoiler free.
According to Film Drunk, last night while Letterman was interviewing Anne Hathaway, his excitement over the new installment in Christopher Nolan’s franchise caused him to say something that spoiled a big plot point in the film. There is debate as to whether the statement was simply a joke, but many think it was a genuine slip.
The Film Drunk article is also spoiler free, but it includes the video of the slip, so if you want to see for yourself head over and watch. I personally, want to remain spoiler free, so I can’t comment on whether Letterman’s statement seemed like a joke, although I admit it is very tempting.
Are you going to watch?
Tell us in the comments, but please leave any spoilers out of your answer.
Click here for more Batman / Dark Knight news.
A True Asgardian Switch: Zachary Levi to Play Fandral in Thor 2
Aside
If anyone’s been listening to the buzz surrounding the next Marvel adaptation, Thor 2 has officially confirmed rumors that Chuck’s Zachary Levi will be replacing Josh Dallas as Fandral, one of the Asgardian adventurers fighting alongside Thor. Continue reading
The Dark Knight Rises: New Clips From the Film and Interviews with the Cast
The press train for Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight Rises is giving away new footage and information faster and faster these days in anticipation of the July 20 release.
There have been quite a few interviews going around with the people who worked on the film. Over at ABC News, Nolan talked about the trilogy as a whole, the vision of the series he set out to make and his feelings about leaving it behind. For a lengthier interview, you can check out the entire press conference that followed the first screening which received a standing ovation from critics. It includes the entire cast, director and screenwriters where they talk about their characters, the original creation of Batman and what he represents as a hero. It is well worth the 35 minutes it takes to listen to. Access Hollywood also has an interview with Nolan where he talks about Bane as a villain, choosing the actor to play him and what he represents in the series.
Clips from the upcoming film have also been released on talk shows as the cast goes on the promoting circuit. The first shows Gordon and Blake discussing Batman, the second Bruce and Lucius getting a look at a new vehicle for Batman, and the last shows Selina Kyle and Bruce dancing while she justified her lifestyle:
Clip #1
Clip #2
Clip #3
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The Dark Knight Rises: Cast Interviews, Featurettes and Standing Ovations
With the release date for The Dark Knight Rises closing in, the powers that be are giving out tons of new tid-bits to amp up the anticipation. Although after the news broke that the first screening inspired a standing ovation from critics, I’m not sure it’s possible to be more excited.
But while we endure the next 10 days of waiting, we can tide ourselves over with 13 minutes of new footage in this featurette from The Movie Box:
And if that’s not enough for you, there’s always Jake Hamilton’s interviews with all the big names in the cast and Christopher Nolan:
(via Hypable)
As you may have guessed considering my previous articles about the possible direction of the film, I was particularly interested in learning more about the John Blake character played by Joseph Gordon-Levitt. A rookie cop under Commissioner Gordon, he’s described as a seemingly lone optimist in a city of lost hope. I like the idea the he is a reincarnation of Commissioner Gordon the younger years, but I wonder if all the speculation around his character is for naught.
We do know, however, that the ending has been a closely guarded secret and for that to be necessary, there must be something unexpected coming our way. Can July 20th get here faster please?
What piece of new information rekindled your excitment for the film? Leave your answers in the comments!
This Week in Marvel: An Ant, A Fly, Guardians and Big Hero 6
Speculations have been flying about Marvel’s plan to extend their film universe and this past week a few articles have brought to light some of the things they have in store. Though most of the official announcements won’t be made until Comic-Con next week, here’s what we know so far:
First up is Guardians of the Galaxy, due to release in 2014. The Guardians are 31st century heroes that defend our galaxy against various threats. The most exciting part about this development is the potential for crossover with the Avengers. The Guardians film story line is going to lead into that of the second Avengers film due out in 2015. For those of you that stayed in the theater long enough to see the cameo in the credits of the last Avengers movie, the character Thanos will be involved in the Guardians storyline.
Another Avengers tie-in that just wrapped on a test reel is that of founding Avengers member Hank Pym. Pym is a scientist that developed a serum to make himself tiny, dubbing him Ant-Man. This project has been tabled in the past, and the test reel is just the first step in getting it back on track, however with the success that Marvel has been having this year, it’s not a surprise that they are picking it back up. Director Edgar Wright shot the reel last month, but has other projects to complete before the plans for Ant-Man can be fully realized. Maybe this will contribute to an Avengers 3 storyline…
Disney is also getting in on the Marvel action. Earlier this week, Disney confirmed that they are working on an animated film based on Big Hero 6. While the Avengers are based in America, Big Hero 6 fight for the Japanese government. There’s not too much information on this project yet, but it just goes to show that Marvel are reaching deeper into their vault of characters for inspiration.
The last bit of news is on an indie film that was recently put into motion by Alan Brewer and Steven Goldman, the Human Fly. Based on a real stunt man, the character boasts a steel skeleton and performs stunts for charity. This is not a project that Marvel will be involved in, however. And really, who can blame them? They’ve got quite enough on their plates as it is.
I have to hand it to the Marvel planning team, they really know what they’re doing. If that hadn’t been obvious before with all the credit cameos they strategically throw into the end of their movies, it is becoming even more so now that we can see the plan forming for the next three years worth of Marvel films.
What Marvel project are you most looking forward to? Leave your answers in the comments!
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Marc Webb Uses Great Power to Take on Great Responsibility With The Amazing Spider-Man; New Behind-the-Scenes Videos
With less than a week left before the July 3rd premiere of Marc Webb’s The Amazing Spider-Man, the hype and hysteria caused by the Marvel web-slinger is being continually fueled by new sneak peeks and teaser information about the film itself. Most recently, they released two 7-minute videos of behind-the-scene footage, in which the directors and cast discuss the characters, the effects, the story, and much more!
So, where to start?
DC Comics are coming full force to combat Marvel’s movie takeover!
Over the past month there’s been a lot of buzz circling Warner Bros. and DC Comics, and their upcoming plans to turn several DC properties into films. One of those projects was rumored to be directed by Men in Black III’s Barry Sonnenfeld — an adaptation of the comic The Metal Men.
Unless you are a DC comic fanatic or aficionado, you might not be very aware of The Metal Men – though, they did briefly made a cameo in comic-book form on Mad Men.
The premise, however, is one that seems very familiar and easily adaptable for today’s audiences. I even thought I might have seen a bit when I was a kid, but I couldn’t put my finger on if I actually had.
Essentially the story follows a group of artificially intelligent robots created by a scientist, Doctor Magnus, with each one taking on a different chemical element. There’s Gold, Lead, Mercury, Tin and Platinum, and they all have personalities relative to their element as well as having a power similar to it.
Even though The Metal Men have stayed pretty obscure over the years, they have had a few reboots.
After their first appearance in their own comics in the 1960s and 1970s, they got a bit of a change in the 1990s version where the Metal Men are human personalities and intellects that are transferred into blank robots via a lab accident instead of being artificial intelligence. Doctor Magnus is still the creator, but his family, co-workers and apparently a pizza-delivery man named Jack – are the personalities.
In the 2000s they reappeared in the Infinite Crisis series as well as the Superman/Batman series where they gain another female character, the sarcastic Copper, and also fall under Brainiac’s control for a short time. Also, there was a storyline where Doctor Magnus’s brother tries to avert a catastrophic future event by turning the Metal Men into evil, radioactive versions of themselves called the Death Metal Men.
Check out the Metal Men with Batman in Batman: The Brave and the Bold.
Over the years the Metal Men have been seen fighting alongside Batman, Superman and the Justice League. Not to say that we will ever see the Metal Men in a Justice League film, but if they become a success, who knows, right? –As long as those darn Wonder Twins don’t show up!
It is hard to say, at this moment, what way they will go with this amazingly undiscovered team, but as Warner Bros had said originally when rumors circled that they were working on “an adaptation of a “secret ’60s comic book”. We can assume they may stay true to the original story – but when it comes to Hollywood, who knows. Still, I like all the versions of The Metal Men to be excited for the film. It really could be a monster franchise for Warners if they get it right.
Do you think this will be the next big series franchise?
Follow Up: Will Gordon-Levitt Be the Transition Between the Dark Knight and a ‘Justice League’ Worthy Batman?
Last week I implied that Joseph Gordon-Levitt’s character in The Dark Knight Rises, John Blake, is a the way that filmmakers are trying to side-step the Robin character while still including some of his storyline. My argument was based on the fact that John Blake is a completely made-up character with a name similar to Tim Drake and he is not only being played by an extremely big actor, but is also featured heavily in the trailer.
One thing that I failed to mention, however, is the fact that the villain featured in the film, Bane, is the same one that breaks Batman’s back in Knightfall, forcing Jean-Paul Valley to put on the bat suit. It makes sense then, that John Blake would be a kind of mixture between Tim Drake and Jean-Paul, especially given the footage we see in the trailer, making it seem like Bane does get the better of Batman. And I’m not the only one who thinks so.
‘Dredd’ (2012) Trailer Released
The character of Judge Dredd was created in 1977 for 2000 AD, a British science fiction anthology. Creators John Wagner and Carlos Ezquerra placed him in a futuristic world where ‘judges’ were given all the powers to judge, sentence and execute law breakers.
In 1995 the extremely popular comics were turned into a movie directed by Danny Cannon. With a story by screenwriters William Wisher Jr and Steven E. de Souza, the film’s critical reception was lacking in enthusiasm, despite a cast that included Sylvester Stallone as Judd Dredd accompanied by Armand Assante, Diane Lane and Rob Schneider.
This year, director Pete Travis is giving Dredd new life. Earlier this week, the trailer for the upcoming film debuted:
Will Joseph Gordon-Levitt Put on the Bat Suit in ‘The Dark Knight Rises?’
Rumor has it that he will. Over at BleedingCool.com, Brendon Connelly admits he’s been getting many email tips claiming that they have inside sources or have gotten a sneak peek. But, as he can’t prove it, he’s chalking it up to speculation. On the other hand, with the new trailer (below) released on the 19th, he is willing to admit that it makes sense.
I’m willing to take it a step further. Gordon-Levitt is credited with the role of John Blake in ‘The Dark Knight Rises’ and he seems to be a prominent part of the trailer. However, a quick search on the DC Comics Database found only one mention of a John Blake, that of Adam Blake’s (Captain Comet) deceased father. However, the name does sound a bit like Tim Drake, Batman’s third Robin. It’s a leap, I know, but stay with me.
Will Beall to Write Script for ‘Justice League’ Film
All right DC comic fans, it’s time to get excited!
While everyone has been keeping their eyes on The Avengers, behind the scenes Warner Bros and DC Comics have been planning on getting Justice League back on track, (finally, I might say).
Warner Bros was planning a Justice League film back in 2007/2008, with a strange and intriguing cast that included Armie Hammer as Batman, Megan Dale as Wonder Woman and Adam Brody as the Flash. But with the writers’ strike and a few other issues, WB was forced to pull the plug.
Adaptation #10: Joss Whedon is a God… Among Men
In the 10th episode of Adaptation (hurray for double digits!), the hosts gather to discuss Joss Whedon’s The Avengers based on the Marvel comics and Tim Burton’s Dark Shadows based on the 1966 cult soap opera.
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For more comic adaptation discussion, check out our episodes on The Amazing Spider-man, The Dark Knight Rises, and Iron Man 3!
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