Comics in Movies and Beyond: The Sequeling

Golden Yak

Wanna keep this going, cuz I just found out about:

http://www.comicsalliance.com/2013/01/28/ant-man-dr-strange-marvel-phase-three-movies/

Knew about Ant Man, but Doc Strange? Nifty.

Also, rage at this:
http://www.newsarama.com/tv/young-justice-green-lantern-canceled.html

But phase three eases some of the pain.

Ultimate Inferno wrote:

There was a Rhino in the ASM game, He was a literal rhino who became a Man-Rhino thing and got semi intelligence.

Though I can see the def appeal of Rhino for a movie, since really he's probably one the easier "Known Foes" that they can change to suit their whims.

I get them making Rhino a animal-powered mutant like the Lizard. Between Lizard and Spider-Man's powers, plus looming Osborn as the villain, they're probably gonna tie all the enemies Spidey faces together as coming from this one source. The lesser villains all get their powers from a serum that grants the evolved abilities of various animals, while Osborn (if they go the Ultimate Green Goblin route) gets the evolved abilities of himself.

Undead Scottsman

Just like to point out Fiege said they were "toying-with and developing" Dr. Strange, not that it's been confirmed for anything.

Kyougu

X-Men: Days of Future Past is either going to be amazing or a train wreck. I don't think there's going to be a middle ground.

Zonugal

Why can't it be an amazing train wreck?

Harry Dresden

Kyougu wrote: »

X-Men: Days of Future Past is either going to be amazing or a train wreck. I don't think there's going to be a middle ground.

It should be fine. Singer never lets me down on X-men. It's only super-heroes that he's a fan of that he messes up re: Superman. That said, the bar's been raised by Whedon's Avengers and Vaughn's First Class.

Rans

RIP Green Lantern show. I liked it, anyway. Though now that it is cancelled I can look forward to buying the full season at a reduced price at some point on iTunes or Blu Ray.

Fakefaux

As much as I love Dr. Strange, I kinda wonder what the plot for his movie might be. The logical starting villain is Baron Mordo, but he's another kinda boring "the hero but evil" villains. And while Dr. Strange's origin story is a good one, it's also very similar to Tony Stark's, and Strange in general is a lot more interesting as a fully fledged wizard then he is as a novice.

I suppose Clea would be the love interest.

Guek

I feel like I'm the only person who went back and rewatched first class and liked it considerably less than the initial viewing :-/

That said, if Days of Future Past is as good as First Class, I'll still be pretty happy.

Harry Dresden

Fakefaux wrote: »

As much as I love Dr. Strange, I kinda wonder what the plot for his movie might be. The logical starting villain is Baron Mordo, but he's another kinda boring "the hero but evil" villains. And while Dr. Strange's origin story is a good one, it's also very similar to Tony Stark's, and Strange in general is a lot more interesting as a fully fledged wizard then he is as a novice.

I suppose Clea would be the love interest.

The first movie should be easy. It's the sequels that are hard. But I only know the basics of Dr. Strange series, I'm sure there enough material to make a good trilogy.

Fakefaux

Harry Dresden wrote: »

The first movie should be easy. It's the sequels that are hard. But I only know the basics of Dr. Strange series, I'm sure there enough material to make a good trilogy.

Oh, the sequel should be easy for Dr. Strange, there's a particular classic story arc, The Shuma Gorath saga, that would be perfect for it. No, I'm actually more concerned about the first Strange movie. There's a lot of weird ground to cover and powers to define, and I'm not sure what the solution to some of the questions I outlined above are. And I didn't even mention the question of Wong.

Harry Dresden

Fakefaux wrote: »

Harry Dresden wrote: »

The first movie should be easy. It's the sequels that are hard. But I only know the basics of Dr. Strange series, I'm sure there enough material to make a good trilogy.

Oh, the sequel should be easy for Dr. Strange, there's a particular classic story arc, The Shuma Gorath saga, that would be perfect for it.

Haven't read that.

No, I'm actually more concerned about the first Strange movie. There's a lot of weird ground to cover and powers to define, and I'm not sure what the solution to some of the questions I outlined above are.

I disagree. His origin is simple to show and reveal magic along the way. The Ancient One teaching Strange and Mordo the basics should be enough to get the audience caught up on how it works. Baldwin's The Shadow did this perfectly.

And I didn't even mention the question of Wong.

They can change Wong to have a logical reason to be there. He doesn't need to be his butler.

Guek

Wong should inexplicably be Short Round from temple of doom.

"We got trouble, Doc-ta Strange!"

Centipede Damascus

Apparently the new issue of Empire has David S. Goyer, the screenwriter of Man of Steel, saying this about his approach to writing the film:

http://www.aintitcool.com/node/60611

"We're approaching Superman as if it weren't a comic book movie as if it were real.... I adore the Donner films. Absolutely adore them. It just struck me that there was an idealist quality to them that may or may not work with today's audience. It just struck me that if Superman really existed in the world, first of all this story would be a story about first contact. He's an alien. You can easily imagine a scenario in which we'd be doing a film like E.T., as opposed to him running around in tights. If the world found out he existed, it would be the biggest thing that ever happened in human history."

Golden Yak

Centipede Damascus wrote: »

"We're approaching Superman as if it weren't a comic book"

But... but that's why we liked him in the first place... that's why he's crazy popular...

Centipede Damascus

He says, as if "comic books" were a singular genre with consistent quality of execution that is entirely different from a "realistic" kind of story.

Bullio

Heads up for people going out to buy The Dark Knight Returns part 2 and don't own part 1 yet, you can get both on Blu-ray for $19 at Best Buy. There's a manufacturer coupon on pt 2 that saves $5 on pt 1 when you buy both in the same purchase, and upgrade and save (turn in DVDs for $5 coupons on Blu-rays over $10) is still running and stacks with the mfr coupon. But be cautious as pt 1 rang up for me at $21.99 despite having a sticker price of $16.99. So try to find a copy with a sticker on it just in case so that you can get the price adjusted if necessary. Total was $19.14 after tax.

BlankZoe

To anyone who doesn't know what they should do for Dr. Strange, go read Dr. Strange Season One. It is the perfect Dr. Strange movie pitch.

nightmarenny

Harry Dresden wrote: »

Kyougu wrote: »

X-Men: Days of Future Past is either going to be amazing or a train wreck. I don't think there's going to be a middle ground.

It should be fine. Singer never lets me down on X-men. It's only super-heroes that he's a fan of that he messes up re: Superman. That said, the bar's been raised by Whedon's Avengers and Vaughn's First Class.

My hatred of X-men 1 and 2 are well known by this point.

I am worried.

Fakefaux

Blankzilla wrote: »

To anyone who doesn't know what they should do for Dr. Strange, go read Dr. Strange Season One. It is the perfect Dr. Strange movie pitch.

I don't know that I'd particularly agree. For one, it ends before he's actually graduated from The Ancient One's tutelage. It's a fun story, don't get me wrong, but it's not the origin story of Dr. Strange; it's just an adventure he happened to have during his training.

Still, turning Wong into one of his peers is a logical way to introduce the character.

BlankZoe

I'd rather have it end that way.

Have Strange be on the verge of becoming the Sorcerer Supreme and make it clear he is the Ancient One's chosen successor, and then have him be thrust into the role in a sequel.

Centipede Damascus

I just had a thought, if they want to unify things in the MCU, they should have the Ancient One be from K'un L'un.

Undead Scottsman

Weren't people complaining about origin stories a year ago? I figured they'd just skip most of that stuff, or maybe do it in flashbacks. As much as I like his origin story, I'd rather see him spending most of the movie doing cool magic stuff instead of learning how to do cool magic stuff.

Edit: hmmm.. I'm being watched.

Harry Dresden

Undead Scottsman wrote: »

Weren't people complaining about origin stories a year ago? I figured they'd just skip most of that stuff, or maybe do it in flashbacks. As much as I like his origin story, I'd rather see him spending most of the movie doing cool magic stuff instead of learning how to do cool magic stuff.

That's acceptable.

Edit: hmmm.. I'm being watched.

Geth likes you. :winky:

TexiKen

What about Ultimate Strange, make him magician guy heir to the name?

WiseManTobes

I like when they cover the origin in the background of the opening credits ( like Norton Hulk)

Undead Scottsman

Norton hulk managed to do that because the hulk had a movie five years prior, and was steadily ingrained into pop culture because of the 70's TV show. Still, that was an amazing opening. The editing and music ruled.

Fn fact: The late Senator Ted Stevens of Alaska (Aka the "series of tubes" guy) was a big Hulk fan.

Antimatter

RDJ talks about Iron Man 3 and other stuff

Fakefaux

One way they could do it would be to start with Strange as an already established sorcerer, but the Ancient One has a premonition of some great evil from the past, and sends Wong to go help Dr. Strange through it. Strange isn't a very trusting man, and Wong finds him difficult to befriend, but bit by bit he discovers the doctor's backstory, learns about his accident, his training by the Ancient One, his rivalry with Mordo, and so on. Over the course of the movie, Wong and Strange befriend each other and become a team, and unmask the threat (the return of Mordo, obviously, in cahoots with Dormammu) and defeat it.

Crimsondude

I thought Wong was more than just his butler, but also his protector since Strange spends so much time meditating on astral quests and whatnot — learning, adventuring, fighting Evil — so Wong's the guy who protects Strange from everything else, including low-grade magical threats.

/shrug

I think it would be perfectly acceptable to do the first one like Batman Begins. Strange studying magic can't seem to be inevitable after his accident, but once he does meet the Ancient One you can montage the shit out of his training because magic!. Then in the second and third acts he's confronted with his challenge and eventual victory. End credit visit by Nick Fury and/or Tony Stark (being snarky as shit about magic despite being friends with a god).

Centipede Damascus

I think a cool way to bypass the origin story would be doing something like the story in The Doctor Is Out, where an audience surrogate character finds themselves in the middle of a magical problem, and Doctor Strange shows up to save them. Maybe have them be a character like Wiccan or Nico.

Dritz

Hey I like origin stories! Just no more Batman, Superman, or Spiderman ones.

Centipede Damascus wrote: »

Apparently the new issue of Empire has David S. Goyer, the screenwriter of Man of Steel, saying this about his approach to writing the film:

http://www.aintitcool.com/node/60611

"We're approaching Superman as if it weren't a comic book movie as if it were real.... I adore the Donner films. Absolutely adore them. It just struck me that there was an idealist quality to them that may or may not work with today's audience. It just struck me that if Superman really existed in the world, first of all this story would be a story about first contact. He's an alien. You can easily imagine a scenario in which we'd be doing a film like E.T., as opposed to him running around in tights. If the world found out he existed, it would be the biggest thing that ever happened in human history."

I don't mind that quote. It starts off giving some assurance that this won't be another rip off of the Donner films which can only be a good thing. It's a bit dismissive of the idealist qualities of Superman but I think he is more referencing the idealist world Superman lived in during the Donner films rather than Superman himself.

The world's reaction to Superman and maybe not being super psyched about him doesn't sound like a terrible idea. Plus the trailer has been out for awhile and we kinda already knew this information and it seemed to play out well in the trailer. Of course trailers can't be trusted but I'll give the story a chance.

Crimsondude

Superman Returns was allegedly based on the Donner films. The Donner films are not necessarily the problem.

Fakefaux

Crimsondude wrote: »

Strange studying magic can't seem to be inevitable after his accident, but once he does meet the Ancient One you can montage the shit out of his training because magic!.

They will have to spend some time beyond just a montage on his training. Strange's powers are extensive, and for the action to have much tension it'll be important for the audience to know what he is and isn't capable of.

BlankZoe

I think Dr. Strange has an origin that is totally worth telling. And if they aren't going the "have him guest star in Thor 2" route, having him start off as a sorcerer might be a mistake. Strange's growth from selfish ass to less selfish but still suave and smarmy sorcerer in training in Season One was fantastic. Admittedly they would have to make sure he is distinct from RDJ.

Crimsondude

I'd like to see him have a couple "oh crap!" moments in Act Two when he tries to do magic and can't for some reason. That seems to me like a better way to establish limits concretely.

And, yeah, I don't think it'll be hard to distinguish Stephen from Tony because let's face it, Stark is going to be immediately dismissive and cavalier about all of the magical rules and inter-dimensional agreements that Strange has to follow/defend/enforce/etc. Dr. Strange also makes sense to be involved through SHIELD. After some major run-ins with gods and having to rely in part on gods, the U.S. government is going to want some non-proprietary defense systems, i.e. the human Sorceror Supreme.

Ooh ooh ooh. Wong is a magician himself, no? It makes sense that Strange can't exactly by SHIELD's Assistant Director of Magic and Supernatural Activities because of some inter-dimensional compact or duty as the Sorceror Supreme. But Wong could be, so when he's not hanging out with Strange he's the boss over the government's magicians, psychics, and various occult researchers and specialists.

Goddamn it. Someone get me an agent. I have this movie written in my head.

BlankZoe

I meant more in attitude than skill set.

They are both ladies men with rocking facial hair who are highly intelligent and kinda smarmy.

Crimsondude

Gotcha.

Strange has silver streaks in his hair.

Or they can just replace him with Dr. Voodoo.

Zonugal

What about if they structured it like Batman Begins? If they are going to be having him in Thor 2 (presumably as a sorcerer) than having his own film be set-up between flashbacks and the current crisis might work.

BlankZoe

At this point he probably isn't in Thor 2.

Harry Dresden

Crimsondude wrote: »

Superman Returns was allegedly based on the Donner films. The Donner films are not necessarily the problem.

The franchise needs to move past the Donner movies. That isn't all Superman's mythology should be defined by.

cshadow42

I dunno...I don't think a Dr. Strange movie would work. Its too hard to convey his limitations when he has 'magic powers'. I mean, I got Harry Potter and how his magic was limited in the movies. He was a student and still learning. But Dr. Strange, in order to be a bad-ass, has to have clear limitations that I've never seen him have.