Will Eisner's The Spirit

[phantomstranger]

Frank Miller to Helm The Spirit
Source: The Hollywood Reporter
July 18, 2006


Ahead of the public announcement at Comic-Con in San Diego on Saturday, The Hollywood Reporter has revealed that Frank Miller will adapt and direct The Spirit, created by Will Eisner and one of the most influential comics of all time.

Odd Lot Entertainment's Deborah Del Prete and Gigi Pritzker will co-finance and produce. Also producing is Batfilm Productions' Michael Uslan. Batfilm co-founder Benjamin Melniker will executive produce. Odd Lot's Linda McDonough and Batfilm's FJ DeSanto will co-produce.

Uslan said Miller was the ideal choice for the project. "What makes Frank's involvement with 'The Spirit' particularly poignant was his special relationship with Will Eisner, captured last year in the book 'Eisner-Miller,' " he said. "You have two of the medium's greatest storytellers of sequential art and cinematic comics discussing the compelling and controversial art form."

[Magneto_X]

He's barely a shadow of his former self these days and doesn't have enough experience directing to do the Spirit justice.

Christopher Nolan, Kerry Conran or David Fincher would be better suited to it.

[Typo Lad]

You eman you don't want to see The Spirit's new sidekick, an updated Ebony?

She'd be a hooker, of course.

[meethraa]

David Fincher's second feature film was Se7en, so I'm not worried about Miller's lack of experience.

Besides, directing is not exactly rocket science, and the man knows a thing or two about camera placing.

[StoneGold]

He's barely a shadow of his former self these days and doesn't have enough experience directing to do the Spirit justice.


Or, it could be that since becoming a director, he just hasn't had the same energy for comics he used to. Sin City rocked about as much as ASBARTBW didn't.

[kalorama]

David Fincher's second feature film was Se7en, so I'm not worried about Miller's lack of experience.

Besides, directing is not exactly rocket science, and the man knows a thing or two about camera placing.

Directing a film requires a lot more expertise than just knowing how to compose a picture.

[meethraa]

Directing a film requires a lot more expertise than just knowing how to compose a picture.
I didn't say it doesn't, I just pointed out that he's very good at doing something that takes some people many years and several films to figure out.

But you know, I don't think that the expertise required to direct a film goes that far beyond simply visualizing a sequence and competently transmitting it to others.

And since no one here really knows exactly what expertise Miller possesses at this point, I wouldn't be so quick so dismiss him just because his latest comic wasn't what most people expected.

[kalorama]

I didn't say it doesn't, I just pointed out that he's very good at doing something that takes some people many years and several films to figure out.

But you know, I don't think that the expertise required to direct a film goes that far beyond simply visualizing a sequence and competently transmitting it to others.

And since no one here really knows exactly what expertise Miller possesses at this point, I wouldn't be so quick so dismiss him just because his latest comic wasn't what most people expected.

I never said anything about his latest comic (which I don't even read).

And we do know that the only film experience he possesses was directing some scenes for Sin City under Robert Rodriguez's supervision. We know this because he said so during many of the interviews promoting the film. He also said one of the reasons he hadn't tried directing before (and he said he' had opportunities) was because he (and this is a quote) he "doesn't play well with others." That can be a problem for a film director.

Directing a film requires one to be able to manage and coordinate the work of a large crew, manage time and resources, communicate ideas to people who work in a variety of different disciplines (including many in which the director may not be conversant), etc. It's not the kind of experience one can just improvise on the fly.

Miller is a comics autuer who's used to doing everything his own way and havin near total creative freedom in his medium. Very few film directors get that, and no first-timers. Aside from his technical skill, how will he (a guy who never compromises in his comics work) deal with the many (many) compromises (creative and otherwise) that are required in order to get a movie made?

These aren't insignificant questions.

[StoneGold]

Frank Miller isn't a first time director. Spirit will be the third film he's credited with directing, after the first two Sin City films.

[kalorama]

It will be the first film full length feature film he's directed when he's doing the entire thing himself, not under the watchful eye of an experienced veteran. It'll be the first time he's primarily responsible for the films outcome, where he's responsible for meeting the schedule, staying under budget, and managing the work of the entire crew.

[Magneto_X]

Miller didn't direct Sin City by himself. He had help with it.

And the sequel hasn't even started shooting yet.

[StoneGold]

Miller didn't direct Sin City by himself. He had help with it.

And the sequel hasn't even started shooting yet.
Yes, but it will shoot before the Spirit does.

[meethraa]

I never said anything about his latest comic (which I don't even read).
I didn't mean you specifically, but when people refer to him as "barely a shadow of his former self these days" as one of the main reasons for him not being a good choice, I can't help but to think that the latest comic has something to do with it, you know?

And we do know that the only film experience he possesses was directing some scenes for Sin City under Robert Rodriguez's supervision. We know this because he said so during many of the interviews promoting the film. He also said one of the reasons he hadn't tried directing before (and he said he' had opportunities) was because he (and this is a quote) he "doesn't play well with others." That can be a problem for a film director.
We were talking about exactly, not exaclty the same thing as experience, which by the way I think he quite enough by now to properly direct any film, especially since I disagree with you on this:
Directing a film requires one to be able to manage and coordinate the work of a large crew
Unless you have at least a 1st assistant director, who'll be more than happy to earn his salary and do that for you.
manage time and resources
Again, 1st and 2nd assistant directors will do that, not Miller.
communicate ideas to people who work in a variety of different disciplines (including many in which the director may not be conversant)

The man is not exactly autistic. I'm sure he can communicate his ideas just as well as anyone else. Heck, if Woody Allen can do it...
It's not the kind of experience one can just improvise on the fly.
That's what most first time filmmakers do. Some, maybe most of them, produced their best work that way.
Miller is a comics autuer who's used to doing everything his own way and havin near total creative freedom in his medium. Very few film directors get that, and no first-timers.
Not true, but that's beside the point.
Aside from his technical skill, how will he (a guy who never compromises in his comics work) deal with the many (many) compromises (creative and otherwise) that are required in order to get a movie made?
The same way any other third time director would, I assume.
I was going to just post a list of excellent second and third films from all sorts or directors, but that would unnecessary and possibly annoying, you get my point.
These aren't insignificant questions.
Not insignificant, but more academic than anything else. I certainly don't think that any of it is enough to dismiss the guy because:
1) He's very good at his craft, and I do think his craft is directly related to conceptual work on film.
2) He has directed a film which I personally think highly of and which I'd place miles above anything else Rodriguez has made.
3) Again, many directors with only one film under their belt end up producing brilliant work on their second time around, and I have no reason to think Miller would be any different.

In fact, I'm more interested in watching a film by Miller than THE SPIRIT, so I really don't care that much if he directs that or anything else, I just don't think the man deserves to lose a paying job because of the popularity (or lack of it) of his latest Batman. (And no, that's not what you said, but I'm sure that's the main reason why comics fans in general would have a problem with him).

[StoneGold]

As for Miller getting his way, you don't think Uslan of all people knows that already?

[kalorama]

The same way any other third time director would, I assume.
I was going to just post a list of excellent second and third films from all sorts or directors, but that would unnecessary and possibly annoying, you get my point.

Yes and I think it has no bearing. Frank Miller has never directed a large budgeted feature film before. Period. End of story.

As for all the stuff about assistant directors ... there's a reason they're called "assistant" directors; the primary directoir still has to oversee their work and, by extension, the work of the people the assistants oversee. Ultimately, everything that happens is the director's job/responsibility. Miller has never had that responsibility

1) He's very good at his craft, and I do think his craft is directly related to conceptual work on film.

His craft is making comics, not movies. Other than the fact that both have words and pictures, they have almost nothing in common from a procedural/production standpoint. They're two completely different worlds that require different skill sets.

2) He has directed a film which I personally think highly of and which I'd place miles above anything else Rodriguez has made.
He directed a couple of scenes in a film with Robert Rodriquez and Quentin Tarantino standing at his elbow. Not the same thing as being the primary driving force behind a large budgeted feature film.

3) Again, many directors with only one film under their belt end up producing brilliant work on their second time around

Except he doesn't have one film under his belt. He has a couple of film scenes under his and Rober Rodriguez's belts. And lots of director crap out turds on their second time around. What other directors (who, for the most part, had significant prior experience/training in film) did has no bearing on Miller. Miller has no real track record as a director.

[Ontir]

IIRC, he and Eisner were friends. He's written several films, and co-directed at least one. All-Star Batman & Robin the Boy Wonder aside, I love his work, and this is going to be closer to Sin City, than Batman, so I'm expecting good things! :D

[Shellhead]

Kalorama, you're absolutely right. It's time for everybody to completely freak out, pull fire alarms, and tear our hair out by the roots. Or, as a possible alternative, we could all wait and see how The Spirit turns out.

[Slam_Bradley]

Or, as a possible alternative, we could all wait and see how The Spirit turns out.


Please turn in your fanboy card at the comics counter.

Such rationality is completely uncalled for.

[kalorama]

Kalorama, you're absolutely right. It's time for everybody to completely freak out, pull fire alarms, and tear our hair out by the roots. Or, as a possible alternative, we could all wait and see how The Spirit turns out.

Yeah, that's insightful. Thanks for sharing.

I'm certainly not freaking out. Whether you choose to is up to you and has nothing to do with me.

I'm simply expressing an opinion. Disagree? Feel free to state why. Have nothing to offer in the way of opinion but feel the need to vent weak sarcasm? No thanks, I've already got a supplier.

[meethraa]

Yes and I think it has no bearing. Frank Miller has never directed a large budgeted feature film before. Period. End of story.
He directed a film shot entirely on gree screen. Big budget or not (and I have no reason to believe that THE SPIRIT will be one cent more expensive than Sin City), Miller will probably have a much easier job this time around.
As for all the stuff about assistant directors ... there's a reason they're called "assistant" directors; the primary directoir still has to oversee their work and, by extension, the work of the people the assistants oversee.
That's not true at all, sorry. Their work is to organize the work on set and to pass the director's ideas across to the people in charge of each team. The director doesn't have to look over their shoulders all the time.... it's pretty much the other way around.
Ultimately, everything that happens is the director's job/responsibility. Miller has never had that responsibility
The chief of production (not sure how you call it in the US) has that responsability, not the director. If Miller has a clear idea of what he want's to see on the screen (and I'm sure he does) than he's golden.

Of course things are never that simple, but since we're oversimplifying here...
His craft is making comics, not movies. Other than the fact that both have words and pictures, they have almost nothing in common from a procedural/production standpoint. They're two completely different worlds that require different skill sets.
If you've seen Sin City, reagardless of whether you liked it or not, you know that's not the case. Someone with Miller's eye for framing a scene and setting a mood has a very good set of mental tools to use on a film set. Which is why the film was basically shot the way he visualized it for the comic.
He directed a couple of scenes in a film with Robert Rodriquez and Quentin Tarantino standing at his elbow. Not the same thing as being the primary driving force behind a large budgeted feature film.
Not true. He co-directed the whole thing. Tarantino was on set for a single scene and Rodriguez has stated more than once that Miller held his own just fine with the cast and crew.
Except he doesn't have one film under his belt. He has a couple of film scenes under his and Rober Rodriguez's belts.
Again, he co-directed the whole thing. Like one of the Coens or one of the Wachowskis.
And lots of director crap out turds on their second time around. What other directors (who, for the most part, had significant prior experience/training in film) did has no bearing on Miller. Miller has no real track record as a director.
He has just as much of a track record as most first time film directors. He wrote screenplays, has been on film sets for more than fifteen years, and can do a good working storyboard better than anyone I can think of.

[kalorama]

What film sets has he been on for 15 years? He's written one other movie besides Sin City, and that was Robocop 2 (which was substantially rewritten after he submitted it, which most likely means he wasn't on the set when it was made).

He may have been on the set for the entire making of Sin City, but the production was under Rodriquzez's control. Miller was not the one behind the camera giving orders to the actors in every scene.

[meethraa]

What film sets has he been on for 15 years? He's written one other movie besides Sin City, and that was Robocop 2 (which was substanially rewritten after he submitted it, which most likely means he wasn't on the set when it was made).
He was on set for that one... and Daredevil. At least.
You learn stuff by being on set.

[meethraa]

He may have been on the set for the entire making of Sin City, but the production was under Rodriquzez's control. Miller was not the one behind the camera giving orders to the actors in every scene.
They were both in control. Rodriguez has said that Miller was the one doing most of the actors' directing.

[StoneGold]

They were both in control. Rodriguez has said that Miller was the one doing most of the actors' directing.
According to the commentary, Rodriguez was really more of a cinematographer and producer than a director on the film.


Now when are we going to stop bitching about Miller, and start bitching about who is going to play Denny Colt?

[Ontir]

I'm not terribly familiar with the Spirit so forgive me for asking, but Denny Colt is the title character, right?

If that's who we're talking about, I'd throw Balthazar Getty or Michael C Hall in the hat.

[kalorama]

He was on set for that one... and Daredevil. At least.
You learn stuff by being on set.

You learn things by being on set and being involved in the process. He had nothing to do with the actual production of Daredevil.

[StoneGold]

Just for reference.

http://www.stuttgarter-nachrichten.de/media_fast/626/Eisner_Spirit_1g.jpg

http://www.austinbooks.com/images/DCArchiveWESpirit17.jpg

http://www.silverbulletcomicbooks.com/news/images/0501/eisner.gif

[Expletive Deleted]

IIRC, he and Eisner were friends.I haven't bought it yet, but I've heard EISNER/MILLER (http://www.darkhorse.com/profile/profile.php?sku=11-757) is very good.

[kalorama]

According to the commentary, Rodriguez was really more of a cinematographer and producer than a director on the film.

Whatever title he claimed for himself, Rodriguez was the one shepharding the fim through the process. He was the one in control of the process.

I'm not saying Miller is doomed to fail. But given (A) his extremely limited experience in the film business and (B) the less that compelling results of his previous works, I'd much rather see someone with a better resume handle the gig.

Now when are we going to stop bitching about Miller, and start bitching about who is going to play Denny Colt?

As soon as you make an argument that actually holds water, and manage to do it without resorting to cheapshot insults.

[foxfire]

"Do you know who I am? I'm the goddamn Spirit! Do you know who created me, punk?" :D

[StoneGold]

As soon as you make an argument that actually holds water, and manage to do it without resorting to cheapshot insults.
The arguments we've made all hold water, the problem is you keep pissing in the water because you want to say the movie is going to suck from nothing more than the press release. Odds are, given the nature of the Spirit comics, this is going to be Sin City in color, with less titties. The only way you can capture Eisner on film is to green screen it. Which Miller has experience in.

And you know what? He's had a lot more experience working in this genre than, say, Bryan Singer did before working on X-Men.

And speaking of cheapshot insults, did I mention you? Quote you? No? Goddamn egotist. World doesn't revolve around you.

[Captain_Video]

Just when I had grown entirely sick of comic book movies....

This to me sounds like a great idea, I cant see Frank Miller compromising in the face of a studio in an adaptation of "The Spirit" this is his biggest inspiration, pretty much the comic that inspired his whole style, or what his style would evolve into.

Should a "Spirit" movie be made ?

It has it's own look and feel to it, it certainly would not be like any other comic book movie that has been released thus far, except for Sin City perhaps ( which I still enjoy watching ).

I would be quite surprised if he ballsed it up, but then, this is modern day Hollywood where ballsing things up is an art form.

Go on Frank kick some arse.

[StoneGold]

Should a "Spirit" movie be made ?


See, that's a better question. The best Spirit stories usually were almost Spirit-free.

[Ryan K]

Damn. That is AWESOME news.

[Movie-Brat]

Frank Miller directing Spirit? Awesome.

[kalorama]

Odds are, given the nature of the Spirit comics, this is going to be Sin City in color, with less titties.

And ... you say that as if it's a good thing?

The only way you can capture Eisner on film is to green screen it. Which Miller has experience in.

Well, that's just nonsense. The Spirit is, at its heart, a film noir crime story. They were making great film noir crime stories in Hollywood for almost half a century before people starting using CGI tecnology just to show people scratching their noses. The last thing the Spirit needs is a bunch of CGI.

And you know what? He's had a lot more experience working in this genre than, say, Bryan Singer did before working on X-Men.

Film is not a genre. It's a medium. And Miller has a paltry amount of experience in the medium of film.

And speaking of cheapshot insults, did I mention you? Quote you? No? Goddamn egotist. World doesn't revolve around you.

LOL! How soon they forget ...

Kalorama, you're absolutely right. It's time for everybody to completely freak out, pull fire alarms, and tear our hair out by the roots.

Sniff, sniff ... smells like cheap shot to me.

And it doesn't matter to whom they're directed, they're not needed. Make your point and keep it on the point.

[Kirayoshi]

I'll withhold my bitching until I have more evidence to back it up. Miller, when he's good, is incredible. When he's not, well--

Do they have a script yet? If not, I'd get Brad Bird to help write it. He was actually my first choice to direct. His experience is mainly with animation but he's a good screenwriter. Plus he's an avid Spirit fan(he included Spirit references in both Iron Giant and The Incredibles), so he'd do justice to the character.

Just don't cast Brad Pitt or Ben Affleck as the Spirit. That's all I ask.

[Ontir]

I loved Mr. Incredible getting out of the elevator in his mask, with the Spirit's suit and tie!

Since it got lost further down the thread, I'm going to re-post my suggestions of Balthazar Getty or Michael C Hall as "the Spirit!"

[Gargus]

Actually frank miller hasnt directed anything, he co-directed. Even if you watch bonus material on the sin city dvd set he would duck behind the camera and look or say he wanted something in a different spot and then get out of roberts way. But really how hard was it for him to shoot it? He did almost frame by frame setups from his comics, its not that hard to direct something when your re-creating still drawing shot for shot. You put things in the same place as in the comic and put the camera in same place as you drew the pob in the comic.

Im not saying thats he will suck but it does take a certain somebody to be able to direct well as you have to worry about lighting, color tones, camera placement, camera movement, actor placement and other stuff. Directing isnt just pointing a camera and filming.

Im sure most everyone here has kill bill on dvd, if so then go watch it and pay attention and notice how things are shown and where the camera is. Hell that long shot at the start in the house of the blue leaves was awesome. That is some of the best camera work in recent history. Raiders of the lost ark is another great one also. But Im not comparing miller to QT as thats like comparing shit and steak for dinner, Im just saying thats a great example for noticing camera work.

-------------
On the comment of david fincher (one of my top 10 favorite directors) yes se7en was his second movie but he is gifted with a camera. Not to mention he had also done many music videos and commercials before se7evn (including the infamous smoking baby for american cancer society). But his abilities still werent what they are today. Panic room and fight club from a camera standpoint are vastly superior to se7en. So he had more experince than just one movie.

[Shellhead]

Sniff, sniff ... smells like cheap shot to me.

And it doesn't matter to whom they're directed, they're not needed. Make your point and keep it on the point.

Check again, the freakout cheapshot was mine, not StoneGold's. And I think it made my point very succinctly.

EDIT: Check post #17 of this thread.

[Ontir]

I[']m not saying thats he will suck but it does take a certain somebody to be able to direct well as you have to worry about lighting, color tones, camera placement, camera movement, actor placement and other stuff. Directing isnt just pointing a camera and filming.

Actually, that's why you have a DP, and all the ACs, not to mention Grip/Electric, and the PAs. Sure, knowledge of these things is always helpful, and certainly ideal, but you'd be amazed how many really good films are made by people who know nothing about any of it. It's often been said that when Harold Ramis began directing, he didn't know which end of the camera to look through.

[gunsofnavarone]

there's an official spirit film site for Will Eisner's The Spirit directed by Frank Miller.

http://www.thespiritforum.net/board/index.php

[Kirk G]

So how do you feel about casting Bruce Campbell as The SPirit in a movie version?

[Jamie]

So how do you feel about casting Bruce Campbell as The SPirit in a movie version?

I think he might be a bit too old now to pull it off.

[Thorlief]

so basically, The spirit will feature a buff guy killing other guys, pissed at the universe and dying at the end.

this is no good news for me, expecially because I just finished reading Eisner's and Moore's "The Spirit"

[ultramandingo]

........when i first saw sin city i was thinking they should do a spirit movie like this - NOT they should let frank miller do a spirit movie like this - they should let brad bird do a spirit movie like this

[CosmonautCowboy]

I'm waiting to see how it turns out, but I tend to lean towards being a little worried, because I don't like Sin City in either of its forms.

Check this video out, it's in interview with Frank Miller in which he says he wants to "bring alive what I believe was Eisner's intent, rather than what he actually did."

http://link.brightcove.com/services/player/bcpid958992171?bctid=1078630438

Draw your own conclusions.

[Thorlief]

my conclusion: Miller is the usual overrated arrogant full of himself hack.

[Michael P]

........when i first saw sin city i was thinking they should do a spirit movie like this - NOT they should let frank miller do a spirit movie like this - they should let brad bird do a spirit movie like this

If Bird did a Spirit movie, it wouldn't *be* like that.

[CBR News]

CBR's Andy Khouri filed this in-depth report from Central City, where he visited with writer/director Frank Miller, producer Deborah Del Prete and actor Gabriel Macht on the neon green set of "Will Eisner's The Spirit."

http://www.comicbookresources.com/news/newsitem.cgi?id=12394

[The Batman]

Great read. Everything sounds right, Miller's head and heart seem to be in the right place, and I think if anyone can carry on Eisner's vision it's Miller - let's just hope it all works out.

Wonder when we'll finally see a shot of the Spirit?

[Thorlief]

I have a bad feeling about this, but this is a discussion for another day

[ultramandingo]

... i know im going to be disapointed but -

http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg106/ultramandingo/spirit.jpg

Scarlett Johansson ... Silken Floss

Eva Mendes ... Sand Saref

Samuel L. Jackson ... The Octopus (!?!?)

Jaime King ... Lorelei Rox

Paz Vega ... Plaster of Paris

but no ebony (!!!!!) or p'gell

[mattx110]

... i know im going to be disapointed but -



Scarlett Johansson ... Silken Floss

Eva Mendes ... Sand Saref

Samuel L. Jackson ... The Octopus (!?!?)

Jaime King ... Lorelei Rox

Paz Vega ... Plaster of Paris

but no ebony (!!!!!) or p'gell
"it can be very depressing when you start to feel like the only things that get made are adaptations of comic books..." - Joel Coen


I'm sorry, but after the Chabon news, this is the funniest thing I've read all day.

[ultramandingo]

....a coen brorthers "the spirit" would be genius - like "the hudsucker proxy" with domino masks

[Shellhead]

My main concern about this movie is that it seems like everything that Frank Miller has ever worked on was set in Sin City. Daredevil? check. Batman? they called it Gotham, but it could easily have been Sin City. Ronin? check. The Goddamn Batman from ASBAR? definitely. Now, I'm not actually familiar with the Spirit. I've seen some pictures, but was completely disgusted with the way Ebony was depicted. But if the Spirit is the kind of character that can easily fit into Sin City, then I expect that Frank Miller will at least do his usual good work.

[andy khouri]

Courtesy of Lionsgate, CBR brings you all-new, never-before-seen images from The Spirit, the new Frank Miller film based on the classic comic book by Will Eisner.

http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=15957

[pendragon]

Yup, Miller screwed it up

Eisner is turning over in his grave

[davechisholm]

good lord...this looks terrible...
*tries best not to judge book by its cover*

[ZT4]

...It's...in...Sin City lettering...styl...

...Oh hell.

[the goddamn batman]

Yup, Miller screwed it up


You saw the movie already?

[ultramandingo]

........whats with showing the octopuses puss ? never knowing what he looked like was his whole shtick . me no like

[Ontir]

Looks good!

[The Xenos]

Funny that the character that you never saw in the book.. is the first one you see an image for from the movie. That doesn't bode well.

[Velvis]

Miller does a lot of things well, but one thing he doesn't do well is lightheartedness. I'm afraid the humor element is going to be entirely missing.

And now we see the Octopus's face. He might as well be the Kingpin if you do that.

And if the movie is a hit, the changes will be reflected in the comics, as is the usual practice these days. The tail will wag the dog.

The irony is that Miller and Eisner were friends and mutual admirers. Miller always professed to have Eisner as an influenced. I'd have expected more recognition and understanding of what Eisner was doing and an attempt for replicate it, rather than to Miller-ize it.

[Tobias March]

The irony is that Miller and Eisner were friends and mutual admirers. Miller always professed to have Eisner as an influenced. I'd have expected more recognition and understanding of what Eisner was doing and an attempt for replicate it, rather than to Miller-ize it.

Well maybe not if he sees himself as the natural successor to Eisner.

[lboinyamouf4sho]

it does say "potential" posters, maybe the advertising people think making it look like sin city will bring in a bigger audience. might not be millers fault.

[Toku King]

I don't think it's that bad. The only part I see annoying is that you get to see the Octopus right off the bat. His mystery was what made it all exciting. And who says there is no light hearted element? Have you guys seen the film yet?

[The Xenos]

I don't know how I missed these photos before.
http://kungfurodeo.com/2008/04/10/the-spirit-set-photos/

So... The Spirit.. wears black? Unless somehow they change it in post, I don’t get it. He might as well be The Green Hornet.

I know Eisner and Miller were friends. There’s a book that’s a transcript of the two talking to each other and it’s brilliant. I’m torn. Because this looks like an awesome Frank Miller movie. It just doesn’t sound like anything I know of Eisner’s character. This is clearly Miller’s tale om the Spirit. Personally, I’d rather seen something less.. well.. Miller. Couldn’t they had just done Sin City 2 and let some other fan like Cooke’s version or even Brad Bird take on Eisner.

[Toku King]

To me, many of those pictures looked silly, if not ridiculous, so maybe they are going down a light hearted route.
But black? Why did they need to make him a Zorro/Batman hybrid?

[DonC]

I don't know how I missed these photos before.
http://kungfurodeo.com/2008/04/10/the-spirit-set-photos/

Damn. This'll fill some seats.

http://kungfurodeo.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/04/Spirit8.jpg

So... The Spirit.. wears black? Unless somehow they change it in post, I don’t get it. He might as well be The Green Hornet.

It's possible. I remember seeing set photos where Junior was painted blue so that they could change him to yellow in post-production. But I don't see how they can change black to dark blue.

But, really, does it matter? As long as they get the character right, I can live with black instead of blue.

[The Xenos]

Damn. This'll fill some seats.
http://kungfurodeo.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/04/Spirit8.jpg


Jakita (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jakita_Wagner).. is that you? Damn. Now I want a Planetary movie. Or any Ellis movie. When is the world gonna give Ellis free reign on a film?

[jade_nova]

How much directing has Miller done? I thought he only directed a little bit of Sin City. I can't imagine him directing an entire movie.

[Agent Helix]

Damn. This'll fill some seats.

http://kungfurodeo.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/04/Spirit8.jpg



It's possible. I remember seeing set photos where Junior was painted blue so that they could change him to yellow in post-production. But I don't see how they can change black to dark blue.

But, really, does it matter? As long as they get the character right, I can live with black instead of blue.

I asked the same question of a friend that works in effects, and he said it makes no sense to have him wearing black on the greenscreen, so it's likely that he's just wearing black in the movie.

[ultramandingo]

How much directing has Miller done? I thought he only directed a little bit of Sin City. I can't imagine him directing an entire movie.

......... i thought he did robocop 3 ( ?)

[Justin D.]

I asked the same question of a friend that works in effects, and he said it makes no sense to have him wearing black on the greenscreen, so it's likely that he's just wearing black in the movie.

Tell your friend he's wrong.

http://www.comicbookresources.com/images/solicits/dccomics/200807/dcdirect/TheSpirit_DeluxeFig.jpg

That comes from DC's solicits for July. Good god, there's not one picture from this movie that makes me look forward to it in the least. Ok, the pictures of Scarlet Johansen are nice, but they don't make me look forward to the movie. I really did hope they would make Spirit's suit blue when they added the other special effects, and it is something I may be a stickler about. Speaking of green screen special effects, The Spirit is one movie where I thought they wouldn't play as heavily as they do in others. We're going to get all style, with little substance.

[the goddamn batman]

......... i thought he did robocop 3 ( ?)

He wrote the screenplays for Robocop 2 and 3, but he didn't direct either. Not as far as I know.


As for the black suit: He wears black in the movie. It's that simple. They're not going to color correct it to blue. You woudn't do that.

The reason they use the green/blue screens (and other neon colors as in Sin City) is that those colors are so far off of everything else that it's easy to select them for removal/adjustment without effecting any other colors. If they tried to change the blacks, it'd just be a complete mess.

[ultramandingo]

............... denny colt - man hole inspector - reminds me of of a friend of my girlfriends who loved the starwars prequells - of courses she never bothered to see the originals

[Agent Helix]

Tell your friend he's wrong.



How is him saying "He's probably wearing black in the movie" disproved by a picture of an action figure from the movie where the Spirit is wearing all black, exactly?

[DonC]

I think Justin misread your post.

[Justin D.]

How is him saying "He's probably wearing black in the movie" disproved by a picture of an action figure from the movie where the Spirit is wearing all black, exactly?

I think Justin misread your post.

Indeed, I did. I thought you said it made no sense for him to be wearing black on the greenscreen, so they'd likely change it to blue later. When I go back to reread what you said, it still confuses me a bit, but I think I get you. Anyway, The Spirit's going to wear black, not blue.

[Paradox]

Because, y'know, black is edgier and hipper, things the Spirit is renowned for. :rolleyes:

I think Will would be crawling out his grave to get Frank, if he could stop spinning.

[Slam_Bradley]

Because, y'know, black is edgier and hipper, things the Spirit is renowned for. :rolleyes:

I think Will would be crawling out his grave to get Frank, if he could stop spinning.


This may have something to do with the fact that blue doesn't work well on green-screen.

And in the universal scheme of things a change from a blue to a black suit is pretty minor.

[Paradox]

True, it's minor. I'll probably be more annoyed by a WHOLE LOT MORE than that. Heck, black suit annoyance will probably be completely washed away by a bunch of other stuff.

[Stressfactor]

This may have something to do with the fact that blue doesn't work well on green-screen.

And in the universal scheme of things a change from a blue to a black suit is pretty minor.

The thing is.. WHY do they have to create a movie with all this green screen work A-la "Sin City"? I mean, I understand why they did it for Sin City and it was a novel experiment when the (underrated) "Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow" did it but why does "The Spirit" have to do it?

I'm afraid I, too, think that Frank Miller is going to miss quite a bit of the original strip's whimsy. Besides all of that, one of the keys to Eisner's best Spirit stories was not so much the Spirit as all the other characters around him.

[The Xenos]

They really need to change the title of this movie to Frank Miller's The Spirit. Frank, Frank, Frank. I love ya, Frank, but you really need to check your ego. This is your version, not Eisner's. It looks fun, but it's not Eisner's original version. Be honest.

[Toku King]

Is Ebony White gonna be in the film?

[DonC]

The thing is.. WHY do they have to create a movie with all this green screen work A-la "Sin City"? I mean, I understand why they did it for Sin City and it was a novel experiment when the (underrated) "Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow" did it but why does "The Spirit" have to do it?



I think it's supposed to be cheaper. Plus Sin City had a very "comic book" feel to it. I'm sure that's what Miller's going for.

[DWEarhart]

http://img257.imageshack.us/img257/1811/spiritteaserbigwh1.jpg

[GRANT!]

......... i thought he did robocop 3 ( ?)

He just wrote the screenplay. Or least an early draft.

[Toku King]

I repeat: Is Ebony White gonna be in the film?

[The Xenos]

Ebony White is a definate NO. Miller said it flat out.

[DWEarhart]

He just wrote the screenplay. Or least an early draft.

2 & 3. He appeared in part 2.

[Toku King]

Ebony White is a definate NO. Miller said it flat out.

Damn. I actually liked his character a lot.

[banana91]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kEv7z9GeHdk



What do you guys think?

I'm not really sure here. It looks like a good movie but it doesnt seem anything like anything Eisner would do. So I'm not sure how I feel about it.

[The Xenos]

Well, Miller certainly is turning The Spirit into one badass mothaxxxxer. At least from that voice over. Maybe a little too literally.

Hell, this looks more like a Sin City movie than Eisner's Spirit. This is definatley more Miller's film. Which is very interesting in itself. Yet I feel bad that Eisner's touch is getting lost in translation. What worries me most is that Miller seems to be in denial of his own influence on the film.

Still, it does look interesting.

Maybe we can get someone down the road to so a more colorful, figuratively and literally, version of The Spirit. Maybe animated by known fans and animators Brad Bird or Darwyn Cooke?

[Arsh]

Dunno if this has been mentioned, but...

Teaser Trailer is up: http://www.filmschoolrejects.com/news/frank-millers-the-spirit-movie-trailer-screams.php

I think it looks pretty cool.

[Christopher Cross Is God]

Well, Miller certainly is turning The Spirit into one badass mothaxxxxer. At least from that voice over.

Hell, this looks more like a Sin City movie than Eisner's Spirit. This is definatley more Miller's film. Which is very interesting in itself. Yet I feel bad that Eisner's touch is getting lost in translation. What worries me most is that Miller seems to be in denial of his own influence on the film.

Still, it does look interesting.

Maybe we can get someone down the road to so a more colorful, figuratively and literally, version of The Spirit. Maybe animated by known fans and animators Brad Bird or Darwyn Cooke?


Agreed......It looks more like Sin City than Will Eisner's The Spirit, especially visually, judging by the trailer.

I hope some of the elements of Eisner's work are retained so it's not too much of a deviation from the actual comic.

[the goddamn batman]

It looks terrible.:frown:

[The Xenos]

Well, Miller certainly is turning The Spirit into one badass mothaxxxxer. At least from that voice over. Maybe a little too literally.

Hell, this looks more like a Sin City movie than Eisner's Spirit. This is definatley more Miller's film. Which is very interesting in itself. Yet I feel bad that Eisner's touch is getting lost in translation. What worries me most is that Miller seems to be in denial of his own influence on the film.

Still, it does look interesting.

Maybe we can get someone down the road to so a more colorful, figuratively and literally, version of The Spirit. Maybe animated by known fans and animators Brad Bird or Darwyn Cooke?

[Alex]

I kinda wish it was The Question, and i personaly didn't get the Sin City vibe from any of the spirit books i read.
But i also didn't read them and think "Hey, they should turn this into a movie" so i can't really judge anything.

[Jettison]

Looks/sounds like Sin City.....never read The Spirit, but it certainly seems like MILLER's Spirit.....the wire-work flipping looks wonky as hell.....but I am sure it will be entertaining.....maybe I shouldn't read the book before I watch the movie, so I won't be disapointed.

[ultramandingo]

.....yeah - think im gona skip this one - youd think a " fan " like miller would stick with the original concept rather than try and make it " cool " - ka - ching $$$


Maybe we can get someone down the road to so a more colorful, figuratively and literally, version of The Spirit. Maybe animated by known fans and animators Brad Bird or Darwyn Cooke?

....... now your talking

[The Xenos]

I really don't mind seeing Miller's take on The Spirit. In fact that kills me. I really wanna see Frank Miller's take on the Spirit, be it in comic form or film form. This looks pretty awesome.

I just can't stand that people are going to think that this is THE take on The Spirit.

I'd rather see Miller go make The Dark Knight Strikes Again for Warners or Elektra Assassin. In fact, someone call Robert Rodriguez and have him and Frank make Elektra Assassin so we can forget about those horrible other films.

[the goddamn batman]

If you watch the trailer on mtv.com there's a breif interview with Miller tha follows. He talks about how he wanted to bring the Spirit 'forward' because that's what Eisner would have done. And had he stayed true to the original Eisner would have risen from the grave to kill Frank.

Keep in mind that these two were good friends and chances are that Miller knows what Eisner would have appreciated more than any of us.

That said, I don't think that moving The Spirit to Sin CIty is exactly what I'd call 'forward'.

I still think the visual style is cool. The red tie? Love the red tie. But yeah, can't really say it's Eisner's Spirit. But then, I didn't really expect that.

[the goddamn batman]

I'd rather see Miller go make The Dark Knight Strikes Again for Warners or Elektra Assassin. In fact, someone call Robert Rodriguez and have him and Frank make Elektra Assassin so we can forget about those horrible other films.

I'd much rather see an animated Elektra Assassin movie.

What ever happened to animation?

[Stressfactor]

It's.... interesting. It's almost got a schizophrenic aspect to it. The bits of the Spirit jumping on the wires and sliding down the roofs look a little cheesy but they ARE what Eisner used to have the Spirit do frequently in the comics so on that score it IS Eisner and it IS comic booky. BUT if this is the kind of stuff that will be in the movie I don't know how well the audience will take to it. It seems that the more overtly comic booky a movie is the less an audience likes it (go figure).

On the other hand, as much as the movement in Eisner, the dialog really, really, REALLY sounds like Miller. Now that may just be the trailer influence and the movie may split the difference but I don't think there is any way we're not going to see Miller's influence on the dialog. Also, the color scheme seems far more Miller's influence than Eisner.

I may wait for this one to come out on DVD....

I would, however, like to also vote for an animated Spirit movie with a script directly adapted from one of Eisner's stories and animation art based off of Darwyn Cooke's style.

[Kirayoshi]

They remembered the 3-D logo, which is good. And having Spirit standing on his own logo is very Eisner. So far this isn't tripping my "this is gonna suck" alarms. We shall see.

Hopefully they'll get a full soundtrack on the next trailer. I think they lifted the theme from Brian DePalma's The Untouchables for the trailer.

[kalorama]

Looks about like what I expected, which is to say not very good. I was sick of the whole "virtual movie set" thing halfway through my first viewing of Sin City.

[BoosterBronze]

They really need to change the title of this movie to Frank Miller's The Spirit. Frank, Frank, Frank. I love ya, Frank, but you really need to check your ego. This is your version, not Eisner's. It looks fun, but it's not Eisner's original version. Be honest.

Does every creator in any media who works with another creators character need to do this? The name before the title would seem more ego driven.

Grant Morrison's Superman?

Sam Raimi's Spider-Man?

I dunno. I don't get it.

[mattx110]

Does every creator in any media who works with another creators character need to do this? The name before the title would seem more ego driven.

Grant Morrison's Superman?

Sam Raimi's Spider-Man?

I dunno. I don't get it.
Stan Lee Presents Sam Raimi's Spiderman 4!


Way better title.

[jade_nova]

Can't Frank Miller make anything that isn't dark and gritty? I thought the Spirit was a somewhat lighthearted character.

[SnowTrooper]

I've never read any of The Spirit comic books but I thought the trailer was awesome and I'm pumped for this movie now.

[Paradox]

I think I'll give this one a pass. It doesn't seem in...well, the spirit of The Spirit.

[rick]

It really doesn't look very good at all, at least if you are looking for a Spirit movie.

Bet they have him wearing socks.

[Toku King]

I don't understand why they can't just make it in regular color and in an actual city.

[Paradox]

Because he's...


FRANK MILLER!

[Ilash]

Just saw the teaser and... bleuh.

It really looks like all my fears about what a Frank Miller Spirit film would look like were right on the money. I haven't actually read any of Eisner's original stuff yet but based on what I've seen from Darwyn Cooke's run and a series from a few years ago where a bunch of different A-level talent worked on the character, this looks completely wrong.

[Movie-Brat]

No offense but I don't think audiences today would buy a colorful version of The Spirit.

And in my opinion, the movie looks awesome.

[Slam_Bradley]

I didn't see enough there to begin to make an informed decision.

[Joey Deadcat]

I didn't see enough there to begin to make an informed decision.

Same here. I'm gonna hold off 'til the film comes out to make any judgment. Though, I'm sure just before the film is released Reelz and the E! programs will be showing more clips.

BTW, I found the use of Ennio Morricone's "Strength Of The Righteous" [in the trailer] kinda curious.

[rick]

No offense but I don't think audiences today would buy a colorful version of The Spirit.

And in my opinion, the movie looks awesome.


Why wouldn't audiences accept a "colorful" version of the Spirit?

[mattx110]

I didn't see enough there to begin to make an informed decision.
Hahahaaahahaha... But seriously? What aspect of the 30 seconds did you find horrible, atrocious, or whorish?


PS: I'm joking. It's just weird when people go "Well, it would be nice to see more before passing any judgement."

[Movie-Brat]

Why wouldn't audiences accept a "colorful" version of the Spirit?

Because it would just look stupid and it would turn off the casual viewer who would like films along the lines of Batman Begins, Spider-Man, V for Vendetta or even Sin City.

[Pól Rua]

If you watch the trailer on mtv.com there's a breif interview with Miller tha follows. He talks about how he wanted to bring the Spirit 'forward' because that's what Eisner would have done.
No. This is NOT what Eisner would have done. Because as he had pointed out many, many times. Eisner was done with The Spirit. He'd said all he needed to say and done all he wanted to do with the character.

I still think the visual style is cool. The red tie? Love the red tie. But yeah, can't really say it's Eisner's Spirit. But then, I didn't really expect that.
Yup. Looks nice. Doesn't look like The Spirit.
I'd love to have that trailer interrupted by some shmoe in a blue suit wandering in, tipping his hat back with his thumb and saying, with a wry smile, "Are you supposed to be me? Cheez-Louise, buddy. Lighten up. An' I live in a cemetary fer chrissakes!"
And then hop in a cab and drive off, leaving Mr. 'She is My Mother. She is My Lover. I'm The Goddamn Spirit' in a cloud'a dust.

Looks like it could be a movie.
Doesn't look even a little bit like The Spirit.

[Pól Rua]

Because it would just look stupid and it would turn off the casual viewer who would like films along the lines of Batman Begins, Spider-Man, V for Vendetta or even Sin City.

Because we're morons who can only accept something when it's exactly the same as something we've already seen.

Man, I'd love to see Joel and Ethan Coen do a Spirit movie.

At least they'd realize that audiences aren't morons who require their entertainment pureed so they don't chip their delicate teeth on any crunchy or interesting bits.

[Movie-Brat]

Because we're morons who can only accept something when it's exactly the same as something we've already seen.

Man, I'd love to see Joel and Ethan Coen do a Spirit movie.

At least they'd realize that audiences aren't morons who require their entertainment pureed so they don't chip their delicate teeth on any crunchy or interesting bits.

It's just that people like superhero movies that are dark. Then again, audience's tastes can vary but it only depends on what they want to see.

[Pól Rua]

It's just that people like superhero movies that are dark. Then again, audience's tastes can vary but it only depends on what they want to see.

Basically, we're only prepared to accept films that slavishly follow an almost 10 year old formula set by Tim Burton with 'Batman'. It's a bogus limitation that we've placed on ourselves because Hollywood studios are terrified of doing something that hasn't worked a million times before.

It's not that people like superhero movies that are dark, it's just that people can justify liking a superhero movie if they can tell their friends, "Oh no, it's not a kids' movie. It's all dark 'n' shit."

Bogus.

[Movie-Brat]

Look. The thing is, an adaptation of The Spirit taking it's cartoony style would just look incredibly stupid and cheesy.

[Pól Rua]

Look. The thing is, an adaptation of The Spirit taking it's cartoony style would just look incredibly stupid and cheesy.

Heaven knows, a cartoony light-hearted superhero movie would NEVER work.
http://www.the-reel-mccoy.com/movies/2004/images/TheIncredibles_poster.jpg

[Stressfactor]

*Ahem*...... "The Mask". Granted, it strayed pretty far from the original comic book source material from Dark Horse. But it was billed as comic book movie and a superhero movie and it was light and bright and funny and it did well at the box office.

So no, there really isn't a reason a superhero movie can't be a bit humourous... as long as the script is smart, the humor is genuine, and the lead actor has the right comedic touch.

[Movie-Brat]

The problem is how would it look on screen. Quite frankly, after looking at various images of the original comics, I'm pleased with what Frank Miller is going for.

[Pól Rua]

The problem is how would it look on screen. Quite frankly, after looking at various images of the original comics, I'm pleased with what Frank Miller is going for.

I've got no problem with 'what Frank Miller is going for'. I liked Sky Captain. I like the idea of a 30's-style masked crimethumper.
I just get irked with him calling it 'The Spirit'.

And to be honest, seriously, you can't dispute that Will Eisner had an incredible dramatic style. But what we need here is something like Bruce Campbell as Briscoe County, jr, NOT another hard-boiled, raw-knuckled teeth-gritter monosyllabically grunting his way across a bleak urban dystopia. Been there. Done that. Bored now.

[Movie-Brat]

I've got no problem with 'what Frank Miller is going for'. I liked Sky Captain. I like the idea of a 30's-style masked crimethumper.
I just get irked with him calling it 'The Spirit'.

And to be honest, seriously, you can't dispute that Will Eisner had an incredible dramatic style. But what we need here is something like Bruce Campbell as Briscoe County, jr, NOT another hard-boiled, raw-knuckled teeth-gritter monosyllabically grunting his way across a bleak urban dystopia. Been there. Done that. Bored now.

I like Eisner's style, I just think it would look bad in a live action film. And besides, people dig hard-boiled, raw-knuckled dudes. People root for those kind of guys.

[Pól Rua]

I like Eisner's style, I just think it would look bad in a live action film. And besides, people dig hard-boiled, raw-knuckled dudes. People root for those kind of guys.

People DO dig hard-boiled cats, but Denny Colt belongs to that other school, you know, the lovable wiseass who takes a beating but keeps going.

And frankly, I think Eisner's style would look dynamite on screen.

Unfortunately, I can't see us coming to an accord on this one. I mean, don't get me wrong, I like the Anton Furst look as much as anyone, but it irks me that Hollywood ain't even gonna TRY in this case, and just defaults back to the tried-and-true.

[Movie-Brat]

People DO dig hard-boiled cats, but Denny Colt belongs to that other school, you know, the lovable wiseass who takes a beating but keeps going.

And frankly, I think Eisner's style would look dynamite on screen.

Unfortunately, I can't see us coming to an accord on this one. I mean, don't get me wrong, I like the Anton Furst look as much as anyone, but it irks me that Hollywood ain't even gonna TRY in this case, and just defaults back to the tried-and-true.

But audiences like badass dudes nowadays. And besides, maybe it's time that The Spirit got a huge makeover.

[Pól Rua]

But audiences like badass dudes nowadays. And besides, maybe it's time that The Spirit got a huge makeover.

So the solution is to make a movie that's the same as all the other movies?
I may be just an old fuddy-duddy but damn the sheer homogeneity of Hollywood's output irks the bejeezus outta me.

[Pól Rua]

BTW, I found the use of Ennio Morricone's "Strength Of The Righteous" [in the trailer] kinda curious.

Well it IS a damn fine piece of music.

[Movie-Brat]

So the solution is to make a movie that's the same as all the other movies?
I may be just an old fuddy-duddy but damn the sheer homogeneity of Hollywood's output irks the bejeezus outta me.

Same as other movies? What was seen in the trailer is just the style and the tone. That doesn't mean anything.

[Pól Rua]

Same as other movies? What was seen in the trailer is just the style and the tone. That doesn't mean anything.

Yeah, but it's the same style and tone as pretty much every superhero film since 1989.

[Movie-Brat]

Yeah, but it's the same style and tone as pretty much every superhero film since 1989.

So? That's a good thing, that way superhero movies aren't portrayed as a joke. But unfortunately WB had to fuck that up with Batman & Robin.

[Paradox]

Brat, I have to say your view is as narrow as that of the people making films these days. And that makes me make the saddy face. :frown:

[Paul McEnery]

So? That's a good thing, that way superhero movies aren't portrayed as a joke. But unfortunately WB had to fuck that up with Batman & Robin.

Because Daredevil wasn't a joke.

And Fantastic Four.

And...

I'm in for Iron Man, but only because it's Robert Downey, and it's Ellis's Iron Man.

[Michael P]

Because Daredevil wasn't a joke.

And Fantastic Four.

And...

I'm in for Iron Man, but only because it's Robert Downey, and it's Ellis's Iron Man.

Don't forget Ang Lee's Hulk.

And Ghost Rider.

[Slam_Bradley]

People DO dig hard-boiled cats, but Denny Colt belongs to that other school, you know, the lovable wiseass who takes a beating but keeps going.


This isn't entirely accurate though, Pol. Eisner's Spirit played with genres pretty extensively over the years. While it was most often fairly light-hearted action-adventure there were quite a few stories that were pretty straight-forward crime, along with noir, horror, love stories, comedy and just about every available permutation of those genres. There were plenty of Spirit stories without a whole lot of chuckles. Maybe they weren't the norm, but they were still part of Eisner's take on the character.


Now, I'm not saying that this film will be good or bad (I'm not a good net fanboy in that way). But I'm not going to condemn it on 30 seconds of a teaser.

[Phil Clark]

Look. The thing is, an adaptation of The Spirit taking it's cartoony style would just look incredibly stupid and cheesy.

And that would be the point. The Spirit was cheesy.

[Stressfactor]

This isn't entirely accurate though, Pol. Eisner's Spirit played with genres pretty extensively over the years. While it was most often fairly light-hearted action-adventure there were quite a few stories that were pretty straight-forward crime, along with noir, horror, love stories, comedy and just about every available permutation of those genres. There were plenty of Spirit stories without a whole lot of chuckles. Maybe they weren't the norm, but they were still part of Eisner's take on the character.


Now, I'm not saying that this film will be good or bad (I'm not a good net fanboy in that way). But I'm not going to condemn it on 30 seconds of a teaser.

The thing I think a lot of people are forgetting is that Eisner's original Sprit stories were featured in the Sunday newspaper strip section. Despite the violence of them they really were meant to be read by everyone from six to sixty. In an effort to make comic books in general more acceptible to mainstream culture creators started hawking the more "adult" aspects of the comics and thinking that "sophisticated" and "adult" had to go hand in hand. Eisner's stuff was proof that something didn't have to be "adult" to be "sophisticated". If you want a modern example, read Mike Bullock's "Lions, Tigers, and Bears" vol. 1 and vol. 2 -- both are wonderful stories with a lot of understated sophistication and yet adults and kids can read and enjoy them equally.

I'm just afraid that Miller, in an effort to hold to the line of "serious"/"adult" = "sophisticated" will miss the fact that that the original Spirit stories were meant for ALL AGES.

What I'm asking myself is -- will this be a movie that I could take my nine year-old nephew to and have us both have a good time in the end? Because, to me, THAT is what the Spirit is all about.

[Bodach]

Does the spirit have any powers? What his origin supposed to be? I hear the movie won't show that part.

[Libaax]

I think its a shame its not being the done in tone of The Spirit comic as you guys say . I havent read any Spirit comic but i believe you guys say it didnt look as the trailer shows.

It looks more like Sin City 2. Dont get me wrong, i almost only care about this movie cause i like the visual style i saw in Sin City movie version.

Its just lame how FM talks so highly of Eisner than takes The Spirit and makes him into The Spirit of Sin City.....

[Movie-Brat]

Its just lame how FM talks so highly of Eisner than takes The Spirit and makes him into The Spirit of Sin City.....

It's directed by Frank Miller. No offense guys but what did you expect? Also, why are you guys treating him as if he already ruined The Spirit? The movie's not even out yet.

[Toku King]

And that would be the point. The Spirit was cheesy.

Pretty much. The Spirit was all in good fun. He wasn't some dark and violent vigilante.
It's like giving Spider-Man Batman's gritty style.

[kalorama]

And that would be the point. The Spirit was cheesy.

I don't know about that. He certainly wasn't dark and gritty. But cheesy? Not really.

A better description is down-to-earth. One of the constants in the Spirit seemed to be that no matter how outrageous or fantastic the story it all seemed to be ground in a real world foundation that focused on character more than action (even the stories during the period Wally Wood was ghosting and the Spirit was having adventures in space). Eisner seemed to be making a concerted effort to make The Spirit's world seem mundane and everyday normal. The whole virtual movie set CGI background approach seems to fly in the face of that, as it's appearance is almost self-consciously artificial and unreal.

[The Xenos]

What I'm asking myself is -- will this be a movie that I could take my nine year-old nephew to and have us both have a good time in the end? Because, to me, THAT is what the Spirit is all about.

Does your nine year old nephew enjoy watching movies about whores? Frank Miller likes whores (http://www.shortpacked.com/d/20060207.html). Whores. Whores. Whores. Whores. Whores. Whores. Whores. Whores. Whores. Whores. Whores. Whores. Whores. Whores. Whores. Whores. Whores. Whores. Whores. Whores. Whores. Whores. Whores. Whores. Whores. Whores. Whores. Whores.

[KenK]

It's directed by Frank Miller. No offense guys but what did you expect? Also, why are you guys treating him as if he already ruined The Spirit? The movie's not even out yet.

**Hands Movie-Brat a copy of "How To Be A Pre-Judgmental Fanboy" by Snooty McFicklestein** :biggrin:

[Movie-Brat]

**Hands Movie-Brat a copy of "How To Be A Pre-Judgmental Fanboy" by Snooty McFicklestein** :biggrin:

Like I would want to read that. I mean come on, these sort of complaints are like what happened with Michael Bay's Transformers.

[Slam_Bradley]

Like I would want to read that. I mean come on, these sort of complaints are like what happened with Michael Bay's Transformers.


Exactly. All those complaints didn't begin to touch the surface of how truly terrible a movie it was.

[Movie-Brat]

Exactly. All those complaints didn't begin to touch the surface of how truly terrible a movie it was.

How? Transformers wasn't that bad. What were you guys expecting from that movie? Something out of James Cameron?

[kalorama]

Exactly. All those complaints didn't begin to touch the surface of how truly terrible a movie it was.

As someone who (A) didn't know or care about the Transformers and (B) thinks Michael Bay is a hack (an occasionally entertaining hack, mind you), I saw Transformers on DVD after getting an unexpected recommendation from a friend (who was the last person I thought would see/like something like that). She said it was "the best movie about a war between giant alien robots she'd seen in a long time." Spot on. It delivered what it advertised. Nothing more or less. As an added bonus, after years of turning out movies where the characters talked and acted like automatons, a movie in which the main characters actually were automatons was right in his wheelhouse.

[Movie-Brat]

As someone who (A) didn't know or care about the Transformers and (B) thinks Michael Bay is a hack (an occasionally entertaining hack, mind you), I saw Transformers on DVD after getting an unexpected recommendation from a friend (who was the last person I thought would see/like something like that). She said it was "the best movie about a war between giant alien robots she'd seen in a long time." Spot on. It delivered what it advertised. Nothing more or less. As an added bonus, after years of turning out movies where the characters talked and acted like automatons, a movie in which the main characters actually were automatons was right in his wheelhouse.

See? All those complaints were for nothing. Transformers ended being one of the more awesome movies of 2007.

[TomServoFan]

Frank MIller makes pure gold in cinema and comics.

[Libaax]

It's directed by Frank Miller. No offense guys but what did you expect? Also, why are you guys treating him as if he already ruined The Spirit? The movie's not even out yet.

I didnt say he ruined it. I actually look forward to it.

Yeah its directed by FM, doesnt have to a SC movie cause of that.

[kalorama]

See? All those complaints were for nothing. Transformers ended being one of the more awesome movies of 2007.

Uh ... no. It ended up being a brainless summer popcorn confection devoid of any substance or thought. In other words, like most of Bay's movies, only actually entertaining.

[Pól Rua]

This isn't entirely accurate though, Pol. Eisner's Spirit played with genres pretty extensively over the years. While it was most often fairly light-hearted action-adventure there were quite a few stories that were pretty straight-forward crime, along with noir, horror, love stories, comedy and just about every available permutation of those genres. There were plenty of Spirit stories without a whole lot of chuckles. Maybe they weren't the norm, but they were still part of Eisner's take on the character.


Now, I'm not saying that this film will be good or bad (I'm not a good net fanboy in that way). But I'm not going to condemn it on 30 seconds of a teaser.

Absolutely, one of the great things about Eisner's Spirit is that it refused to be restricted to one genre. In fact, the ability to do cross genre stories was one of the reasons The Spirit was created the way he was, rather than going the more colourful superhero route.
That said, Denny Colt was very rarely portrayed, even in the darker, more straightforward crime stories, as a gritted-teeth, monosyllabic tough guy.

[Pól Rua]

It's directed by Frank Miller. No offense guys but what did you expect? Also, why are you guys treating him as if he already ruined The Spirit? The movie's not even out yet.

Well, I expected someone who claims to respect Will Eisner so damn much and has had extensive conversations with the man to come up with something more in line with his vision.
When the hell did Frank Miller stop being a talented creator and become such a damn one-trick pony?

It's Sin City, Frank. I've seen it. What ELSE ya got?

[Pól Rua]

How? Transformers wasn't that bad. What were you guys expecting from that movie? Something out of James Cameron?

I was EXPECTING a piece of shit. I usually get it.

Seriously, what I want out of a movie is a story.
That's all.

What I usually get is a sequence of 'kewl-azz set pieces and explosions' strung together like beads on a necklace. No coherency, no narrative structure, or if there is, its the same tiresome, pre-chewed easily digestible on we ALWAYS get.
Just a story.
Apparently, audiences don't want stories these days. They want explosions, and quotable lines, an hour and a half of two-second sound bites.

And Christ, if I could've hammered Shia LeBoeuf's characters skull flat with a tire iron I would've. What an objectionable shit.

[Pól Rua]

Does the spirit have any powers? What his origin supposed to be? I hear the movie won't show that part.

The Spirit doesn't have any powers. He's basically a nonpowered guy with a domino mask and a blue suit who punches criminals. He's smart, tough and quick-witted.
As for an origin story, well, as private eye, Denny Colt, he fought a mad scientist named Doctor Cobra, was knocked unconscious and doused in chemicals that put him in a death-like coma. When he came out of it, everyone assumed he was dead, so he decided to stay dead, as assume his new identity to strike at criminals.
That's about it, really.

[meethraa]

It doesn't matter what's actually in the script, the film was obviously always going to be marketed as something in the vein of Sin City, even if the similarities are purely cosmetic (and even that is not entirely fair to say at this point).

[Paradox]

Pól Rua gives the answer:

Well, I expected someone who claims to respect Will Eisner so damn much and has had extensive conversations with the man to come up with something more in line with his vision.
When the hell did Frank Miller stop being a talented creator and become such a damn one-trick pony?

It's Sin City, Frank. I've seen it. What ELSE ya got?

Wot the munkee said.

Look, I'm not saying it's going to be a terrible movie. But I've read the Spirit, and from what we've seen so far, this ain't the Spirit. And therefore, I'm not going to be paying anyone any money to see this, unless something comes about to change my opinion.

[The Xenos]

And Christ, if I could've hammered Shia LeBoeuf's characters skull flat with a tire iron I would've. What an objectionable shit.

Well then I'm suyre you're gonna love him in the new Indiana Jones, Y the Last Man, Neil Gaiman's Death, and a ton of other things I love. :frown: What did I ever do to you, Shia? :mad:

[BoosterBronze]

Well, I expected someone who claims to respect Will Eisner so damn much and has had extensive conversations with the man to come up with something more in line with his vision.


Maybe this IS in line with Eisner's vision? Maybe Eisner did say 'A bright blue suit does look kinda silly, but printing colors back then werent really that good.' and maybe he said, 'Of all the things The Spirit does, the most pivotal things are the sliding on wires parts.'

[Paradox]

Anything's possible.

I doubt it, though.

[BoosterBronze]

Anything's possible.

I doubt it, though.

So what is the most pivotal part of The Spirit that's missing here? I'v never read him, but if the most compelling thing about him is his suit color, then he doesn't seem like much of a character.

[Paradox]

For me it's not about a pivotal part, it's about overall "feel".

[elise]

I don't see this posted yet...

http://movies.yahoo.com/movie/1809838857/video/8831867/

If you ask me, it looks awful.

[kalorama]

Dreadfully awful.

For a guy who made such a big deal out of how his relationship with Eisner helped him understand how the Spirit needed to be portrayed he appears to have made a movie that looks like the work of a guy who's never read a single Spirit comic in his life.

[The Joker]

This looks like it should peak the interest of the movie going public who enjoyed Sin City. Not sure what Spirit fans will get out of this.

[Dr. Banner]

Geez, after all this time maybe, finally, somebody will start to believe me when I say that Frank Miller is a Grade "A" hack.

What a lousy trailer.

[SnowTrooper]

I liked the teaser trailer alot more. I had never even heard of The Spirit before the teaser, I'll go and see this movie, it could be entertaining.

[jesse_custer]

As I said in another thread, I'm mainly interested to see how Miller handles his first movie without another director.

[Justin D.]

What gets me about Frank Miller directing and writing The Spirit is his defense of the style of the film. From the movie's blog:

"The Spirit is, with every effort I give it, not a rusty, dusty old monument to the work of my beloved Mentor, so much as it is an extension of what i know to have been Eisner's central intent: to create something new, witty, and exploratory. That's what he did. That's what I'm doing."

In creating something new for The Spirit, he decides to fall back on similar styles he used before? He goes on to say it's not Sin City and is in full color. Having black and white emphasized is not the only comparable thing to Sin City. Like I said before, if there was ever a movie that should've relied on real sets and stunts without use of much CGI, it's The Spirit.

[Naetnalta]

Eisner was a master of innovative storytelling in comics. Miller has always been a master of cliche. He brought aspects of manga into his work, made all his stuff grim 'n gritty, and has lived off that for years. I'm not surprised he's bastardized Eisner's work, but it's still sad that non-comic book fans will miss out on Eisner's brilliance. At least he's not alive to see this happen.

[kalorama]

Like I said before, if there was ever a movie that should've relied on real sets and stunts without use of much CGI, it's The Spirit.

Yep.

The other thing that struck me was the decided lack of anything resembling humor in the trailer.

[Toku King]

I just saw the trailer, and holy shit does it look bad. Everything that made the Spirit unique is gone, not to mention unintentionally stupid.
That's very disappointing.

[Toku King]

As for an origin story, well, as private eye, Denny Colt, he fought a mad scientist named Doctor Cobra, was knocked unconscious and doused in chemicals that put him in a death-like coma. When he came out of it, everyone assumed he was dead, so he decided to stay dead, as assume his new identity to strike at criminals.
That's about it, really.

I've always loved that origin.

[meethraa]

Horrible, terrible, dreadfull, awfull, disgusting!
Definitely the worst comic book adaptation in the history of mankind!
Frank Miller is the worst conceivable kind of criminal!
The Spirit is the single greatest achievement in storytelling and Miller is raping it and destroying every possibility for readers to ever enjoy it again!
My eyes may be hurting from this atrocity of a trailer, but my heart is bleeding much deeper! This film being made is worst than Eisner dying!

[Naetnalta]

Horrible, terrible, dreadfull, awfull, disgusting!
Definitely the worst comic book adaptation in the history of mankind!
Frank Miller is the worst conceivable kind of criminal!
The Spirit is the single greatest achievement in storytelling and Miller is raping it and destroying every possibility for readers to ever enjoy it again!
My eyes may be hurting from this atrocity of a trailer, but my heart is bleeding much deeper! This film being made is worst than Eisner dying!
I don't think it will be the worst comic book adaptation. "The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen" was based on an Alan Moore book, for example, so you know the quality difference is huge. Heck, wasn't the Swamp Thing movie made during Alan Moore's revision of the character? Even "Spawn" was a poor adaptation, considering Moore, Neil Gaiman, and Frank Miller each wrote issues of the series. Eisner's work is similarly difficult to match in quality. It's a great undertaking to adapt something with high expectations. The real sin is that Frank Miller is one of the most famous creators in comics today, and he's turning this into a mess, not some Hollywood guy who doesn't care about comics.

[Toku King]

I don't think it will be the worst comic book adaptation. "The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen" was based on an Alan Moore book, for example, so you know the quality difference is huge. Heck, wasn't the Swamp Thing movie made during Alan Moore's revision of the character? Even "Spawn" was a poor adaptation, considering Moore, Neil Gaiman, and Frank Miller each wrote issues of the series.

I actually liked LOEG, "Swamp Thing" was a really fun movie, and "Spawn" wasn't too horrible.
Besides, you forget gems like "Steel" and "Catwoman".

[Toku King]

Horrible, terrible, dreadfull, awfull, disgusting!
Definitely the worst comic book adaptation in the history of mankind!
Frank Miller is the worst conceivable kind of criminal!
The Spirit is the single greatest achievement in storytelling and Miller is raping it and destroying every possibility for readers to ever enjoy it again!
My eyes may be hurting from this atrocity of a trailer, but my heart is bleeding much deeper! This film being made is worst than Eisner dying!

So I take it that you've seen the movie, then.

[Naetnalta]

I actually liked LOEG, "Swamp Thing" was a really fun movie, and "Spawn" wasn't too horrible.
Besides, you forget gems like "Steel" and "Catwoman".
Steel and Catwoman comics haven't won any Eisner awards or anything. That's the difference. I'm talking about acclaimed comics being adapted into humdrum movies. Not that Spawn is a great comic book, but Todd tried really hard to get good people to work on it for him. You can make a Youngblood movie that's a steaming pile of crap, and it wouldn't be a step down from the source material.

[Paradox]

meethraa goes too far:

Horrible, terrible, dreadfull, awfull, disgusting!
Definitely the worst comic book adaptation in the history of mankind!
Frank Miller is the worst conceivable kind of criminal!
The Spirit is the single greatest achievement in storytelling and Miller is raping it and destroying every possibility for readers to ever enjoy it again!
My eyes may be hurting from this atrocity of a trailer, but my heart is bleeding much deeper! This film being made is worst than Eisner dying!

Hey, I'm not fond of it either, meeth, but ridiculous hyperbole's only gonna get you labeled a nutbar (see: Half the fans of Nolan's Dark Knight).

[Toku King]

Not that Spawn is a great comic book

WHA?!?! Spawn was amazing in the Todd years!

[Toku King]

Jackson seems to have lost his pride considering some of the outfits and makeup he's been wearing for this movie.

[Paradox]

elise shows me more:

I don't see this posted yet...

http://movies.yahoo.com/movie/1809838857/video/8831867/

If you ask me, it looks awful.

Other than the names, I don't see one thing in there that resembles the Spirit I've read.

And what's with the principle's delivery? I certainly can't say I ever thought of Denny using that standard "husky bad ass" voice. Lame, lame, lame...and cliche. And not even the right one.

[Toku King]

Other than the names, I don't see one thing in there that resembles the Spirit I've read.

That's exactly what I thought.

[The Xenos]

I'm weired out. I'm already seeing movie posters around bus stops and around the city. It isn't out until December and they're already hyping it? Maybe to get attention during summer, but it seems way early.

Plus, I gotta say, the new trailer doesn't make things look any better to me. Still looks like Frank Miller's Goddamn Spirit.

[Naetnalta]

WHA?!?! Spawn was amazing in the Todd years!
Because he got writers like Moore, Gaiman, and Miller to write for him. But I think Capullo's art was nicer.

[meethraa]

I don't think it will be the worst comic book adaptation. "The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen" was based on an Alan Moore book, for example, so you know the quality difference is huge. Heck, wasn't the Swamp Thing movie made during Alan Moore's revision of the character? Even "Spawn" was a poor adaptation, considering Moore, Neil Gaiman, and Frank Miller each wrote issues of the series. Eisner's work is similarly difficult to match in quality. It's a great undertaking to adapt something with high expectations. The real sin is that Frank Miller is one of the most famous creators in comics today, and he's turning this into a mess, not some Hollywood guy who doesn't care about comics.
Hey, I've actually SEEN LoEG, Swamp Thing and Spawn, so commenting on those would be completely out of place in the "Miller is Killing Art" thread,

[Toku King]

Because he got writers like Moore, Gaiman, and Miller to write for him.

How does that change how amazing it started?

But I think Capullo's art was nicer.

I respectfully disagree.

[Dr. Banner]

After I watched the trailer again I figured out the sound I heard was Will Eisner spinning in his grave trying to get Frank Miller to stop raping his corpse.


Pure hack work from comics' number one hack Frank Miller.

[The Xenos]

I don't think Miller's a hack. Overrated, maybe. Fallen from grace, possibly. Gone off the deep end, quite likley. Yet hack wouldn't be quite the word.

[kalorama]

http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=17313


Actress Jaime King is quoted at Sci Fi Wire dispelling the idea that this film is "Sin City" redux. "I have a feeling people are going to be like, 'Oh, it's so much like Sin City,'" King said. "But what people don't understand is that [Miller's] films mimic exactly what's in his comic books. So it's very [much] like 300/Sin City in a way, but it's even more different than that. It's just different than anything you've ever seen. It's definitely Frank Miller."

Thus confirming people's fears.

[Toku King]

He's telling us stuff we already know.

[Jake V]

http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=17313



Thus confirming people's fears.

Hey guess what, Jamie. The Spirit isn't Miller's comic.

[Darrell D.]

Jesus. What did Eisner ever do to Miller to deserve THIS abomination?
Could someone tell Frank that his horrible Sin City comics really have nothing to do with The Spirit? 'My city screams..'
The Spirit, written by Micky Spillane.

[Toku King]

'My city screams..'

More like 'My fans scream..'

[The Batman]

The NYTimes has got a quick write-up about comicon that spends a fair bit of time talking about Miller's Spirit panel and the reaction of fans to the movie.

Read it here (http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/26/movies/26comi.html?_r=2&oref=slogin&oref=slogin).

[Toku King]

The NYTimes has got a quick write-up about comicon that spends a fair bit of time talking about Miller's Spirit panel and the reaction of fans to the movie.

Read it here (http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/26/movies/26comi.html?_r=2&oref=slogin&oref=slogin).

R rated scenes? Since when the hell was the Spirit comic over anything PG?

[Superbeast]

This looks like it might actually be worse than The Shadow. It's unnecessarily glossy.

[The Xenos]

from that article
Brad Bird, who directed both “Ratatouille” and “The Incredibles” for Pixar Animation Studios, worked for years on his own version of “The Spirit” after leaving the California Institute of the Arts. Mr. Bird has said in the past that he thought the project best suited to hand-drawn animation, an approach very far from the live-action, computer-assisted, star-driven approach taken by Mr. Miller.
Arrrrrrrrgh. If only! I knew Bird was a fan. I didn't know that he was actually making any plans.

[Toku King]

This looks like it might actually be worse than The Shadow. It's unnecessarily glossy.

I liked "The Shadow".

[regnak]

I liked "The Shadow".

So did I, even own the DVD.

[hugh45]

The NYTimes has got a quick write-up about comicon that spends a fair bit of time talking about Miller's Spirit panel and the reaction of fans to the movie.

Read it here (http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/26/movies/26comi.html?_r=2&oref=slogin&oref=slogin).

So's, who's the guy in the pic suppose to be? Carrot Top w/his face taken off?
:tongue:

[The Batman]

Not scary enough to be Carrot Top. Not by half.

http://img387.imageshack.us/img387/9558/carrottop3ir.jpg

http://www.hollywoodrag.com/images/uploads/carrot_top_buff3.jpg

[ultramandingo]

Arrrrrrrrgh. If only! I knew Bird was a fan. I didn't know that he was actually making any plans.

.............. bird even had spirit comics in "the iron giant "
dc should do a "gotham knights " type dvd with bird , timm , cooke , tartakovsky ect interpreting eisner classic stories to atone of this mess

[CBR News]

Actor Samuel L. Jackson? Check. Director Frank Miller? Check. Producer
Deborah Del Prete? Check. Find out what they have to say about the upcoming
feature film, "The Spirit.

http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=17632

[Dr. Chaos]

Actually as someone whos never read The Spirit, looks pretty neat to me.

Like Sin City, it looks like it's going to be alot of intriguing visuals/imagery and mostly wooden acting (as if they're reading their lines directly out of the comic book) with an interesting story beat here or there.

Loved the guy they got to play The Spirit's voice by the way.

I'd be curious to hear what the comic Spirit fans think of Gabriel Macht so far.

[The Xenos]

dc should do a "gotham knights " type dvd with bird , timm , cooke , tartakovsky ect interpreting eisner classic stories to atone of this mess Except that DC doesn't own the Spirit. That's rather a major point. Eisner's estate still controls the rights. Right? Though such a project would be amazing, I don't know if Miller wants to see any other interpretations of Eisner's The Spirit other than his own baby.

[Stressfactor]

I'd be curious to hear what the comic Spirit fans think of Gabriel Macht so far.

Well, it's hard to tell having seen so little..... For me, personally.... Macht seems to have the right build and his physical movements seem pretty in tune with Will Eisner's original (that scene on the telephone wires is almost straight out of the comics).

His voice would PROBABLY be okay.... if he were reciting Eisner's dialogue instead of Miller's. Although Macht's voice is kind of low and for me, personally, I always heard the Spirit's voice in my dead as a tenor... not too high pitched mind you but more like... say, Tim Daly. BUT I wouldn't hold that against an actor. There are very few characters where the voice pitch really matters that much -- Hellboy is one though. You gotta have a pure bass for Hellboy... which is why Ron Perelman was perfect.

[ultramandingo]

Except that DC doesn't own the Spirit. That's rather a major point. Eisner's estate still controls the rights. Right? Though such a project would be amazing, I don't know if Miller wants to see any other interpretations of Eisner's The Spirit other than his own baby.

........... gah ! like when dr dr seuss died and his wife let mike myers , jim carry and oppie rape his corpse - stupid estates

.

[kalorama]

Except that DC doesn't own the Spirit. That's rather a major point. Eisner's estate still controls the rights. Right? Though such a project would be amazing, I don't know if Miller wants to see any other interpretations of Eisner's The Spirit other than his own baby.

Doesn't matter what Miller wants. He has no say in the matter. He has no more ownership rights to the Spirit than DC does.

[Frank]

You know I don't care if The Spirit movie is very Frank Miller-lite because it's a style that was enjoyable in the Sin City flick but more importantly I would never accept a straight Spirit movie to begin with. A dude with a small mask is not the greatest lure to pay 12 bucks + drive to go watch a movie.

[The Xenos]

Doesn't matter what Miller wants. He has no say in the matter. He has no more ownership rights to the Spirit than DC does............ gah ! like when dr dr seuss died and his wife let mike myers , jim carry and oppie rape his corpse - stupid estates
Well the difference being that Frank knew Will as well as his wife and family from what I've read. Plus I rather trust whoever the creator left his estate to over some company like DC / AOL Time Warner. I'm sure sometimes things go wrong, but this seems pretty on the up and up and straight forward here. Now whether Miller is making a mistake himself after taking this responsibility, I think that's the only thing to question.

[kalorama]

Well the difference being that Frank knew Will as well as his wife and family from what I've read.

True, but irrelevant. His personal relationship with Eisner doesn't give him any control over the Spirit property. If whomever is administering the rights decides to approve an animated series or anything else, Miller has nothing to say about it, regardless of his personal feelings. Well, he can say anything he wants about it, he just can't actually do anything about it.

[The Batman]

If it's the Eisner family that's got a say in what happens and Frank is close to them then he could, theoretically, do something about it.

[kalorama]

Nothing that really matters. He could talk to them.But they're under no obligation to listen to or pay attention to him. The point is, he has no power or control over the property and if the people who do decide to do something with it he disagrees with, he can't do any more to make them stop than you or I could.

[The Batman]

Control? No. Influence? Quite possibly. How much that could ever really amount to is debatable, but it is more than either you or I would have.

[kalorama]

Control? No. Influence? Quite possibly.

Speculation with no actual basis in fact. He could "quite possibly" be able to hypnotize the executor of Eisner's estate into doing his bidding. The point remains, he has no legally enforceable decision making power that would allow him to block any use of the charter he didn't like.

[The Batman]

Speculation with no actual basis in fact. He could "quite possibly" be able to hypnotize the executor of Eisner's estate into doing his bidding. The point remains, he has no legally enforceable decision making power that would allow him to block any use of the charter he didn't like.

Right . . . I thought that speculation bit would've been put across by the words "quite possibly."

[Dr. Chaos]

After seeing the clip CBR just linked to of a fight between Octopus and Spirit..

Yeah...I definitely have to go see this now.

Even if it's for all the wrong reasons.

[The Batman]

Yeah, the Miller fan in me and the Spirit fan in me are beating each other up something fierce over this one.

[Dr. Chaos]

All-Star Spirit (which is my pet name now for this film), It's like choclate and Peanut butter.

You shouldn't like how they taste together but you kind of do.

[DonC]

So this is a comedy now?

[kalorama]

Right . . . I thought that speculation bit would've been put across by the words "quite possibly."

Yep. What wasn't put across was why you thought it meant anything of value with regard to the question of actual fact concerning whether Miller has any actual rights to or control over what's done with the property which was, if memory serves, the actual topic of conversation.

[ultramandingo]

Yeah, the Miller fan in me and the Spirit fan in me are beating each other up something fierce over this one.

.......... the spirit fan in me tied up my miller fan and made him actually read the fucking spirit - my miller fan apologized and started crying

[yamiangie]

Ok after seening two of the clips on youtube the movie now does seem to be somewhat in tune with the comic. Is it just me or do you get the feeling that this movie is going to be bipolar?

[kalorama]

So this is a comedy now?

Wait, that was supposed to be funny?

Ok after seening two of the clips on youtube the movie now does seem to be somewhat in tune with the comic. Is it just me or do you get the feeling that this movie is going to be bipolar?

I think the only pole here is the one Miller's using on Spirit fans while they're bent over sobbing in grief.

[The Batman]

Yep. What wasn't put across was why you thought it meant anything of value with regard to the question of actual fact concerning whether Miller has any actual rights to or control over what's done with the property which was, if memory serves, the actual topic of conversation.


Nah, that one's pretty obvious too kal. I said what I said because I didn't think we should be so quickly dismissing out of hand any influence Miller has on what happens with the Spirit. He might not have legal control, but he's still the face of the Spirit's big screen debut and he's apparently a close friend of the family and that just might count for something.

[Dr. Chaos]

Is it just me or do you get the feeling that this movie is going to be bipolar?
It's hard to say.

If I hazard to guess, I would say yes.

I read alot of All Star Batman & Robin so I'm kind of desensitized to stuff like this, theres no mistaking this is the same Frank Miller that writes The "goddamn" Batman after watching that scene.

[kalorama]

Nah, that one's pretty obvious too kal. I said what I said because I didn't think we should be so quickly dismissing out of hand any influence Miller has on what happens with the Spirit. He might not have legal control, but he's still the face of the Spirit's big screen debut and he's apparently a close friend of the family and that just might count for something.

Or it might not. You can append "might" to any contingency and claim it's "possible." But that was never the point. We don't know, for a fact, who actually has decision making control over the character (al;though we know it's not Frank Miller) or if said person (or persons) has any relationship with Miller (or even knows him). So implying (as The Xenos did) that there couldn't be a Spirit animated feature because Miller would oppose it isn't based on anything of substance.

[The Batman]

Right, it might not be the case. I don't think I've said otherwise and I've been pretty upfront that this is speculation and speculation, by its very nature, usually runs the risk of potentially being wrong. Still, given how little actual facts we've got I'm not sure how you can so quickly dismiss the thought that Miller might have some influence over this property as something so far out in left field that it can be described as "any contingency."

But if you want to be so utterly legalistic about this, and it seems that you do, then yeah, Frank Miller has no influence on the Spirit whatsoever. He's just the guy that was close friends with the Eisner family and has been given the task of introducing the character to the whole wide world with a multi-million dollar movie.

[The Batman]

Ok after seening two of the clips on youtube the movie now does seem to be somewhat in tune with the comic. Is it just me or do you get the feeling that this movie is going to be bipolar?

Maybe.

Probably.

I didn't get the same feeling from that leaked clip that I did from the trailer.

[Paradox]

Me, either.

It found completely new ways to annoy me.

[Jared]

I read alot of All Star Batman & Robin so I'm kind of desensitized to stuff like this, theres no mistaking this is the same Frank Miller that writes The "goddamn" Batman after watching that scene.

Jeez, that line gets so much crap, I just don't get it. I read that issue, and thought it was hilarious. It's not part of the main Batman canon (whatever the hell that is, these days). It's Miller spoofing Batman and his own style. Wasn't it? I'm not being sarcastic, it is a deliberate parody, right? It has to be.

As for this project, I have no familiarity with The Spirit, but I think Miller and the property might have been best served if he'd decided to make do Sin City 2 as his directing debut. Surely that's something he can't possibly interpret wrong, and he probably learned all he needs to know from working with Rodriugez, who's too busy making his mistress into Red Sonja.

[Paradox]

Jared shouldn't be so sure:

Jeez, that line gets so much crap, I just don't get it. I read that issue, and thought it was hilarious. It's not part of the main Batman canon (whatever the hell that is, these days). It's Miller spoofing Batman and his own style. Wasn't it? I'm not being sarcastic, it is a deliberate parody, right? It has to be.

It really doesn't have to be. It's not a parody book, and it's certainly a line I would believe Miller using in all seriousness.

And it's not about the line. The line is short-hand for all things Miller (the bad over the top parts, anyway).

[Rod G]

At the risk of going off-topic here :


Has anyone a "Spirit" tv movie starring Sam "Flash Gordon" Jones in the title role?

Would you say THAT film is truer to the Spirit comic than Miller's film?

[Slam_Bradley]

At the risk of going off-topic here :


Has anyone a "Spirit" tv movie starring Sam "Flash Gordon" Jones in the title role?

Would you say THAT film is truer to the Spirit comic than Miller's film?


How could anyone possibly say, since nobody has seen Miller's film yet?

[Frank]

Again, I just don't see how people rushing to the cinemas to see a 1940s character with a domino mask. At least Miller gives it that additional flair that make it different enough(at least visualy) to make it intriguing for the masses.

[kalorama]

The movie may attract people who liked Sin City and are up for seeing more of the same (which this appears to be). But it's not like Sin City was a towering hit. I have a hard time imagining (based on what we've seen so far) that this movie will be very successful at attracting either fans of the character (and admittedly niche group) or (more significantly) a more general movie-going audience.

[jesse_custer]

I just watched that shit fight, and I hope someone castrates Frank Miller, the vicious bastard.

[Slam_Bradley]

The movie may attract people who liked Sin City and are up for seeing more of the same (which this appears to be). But it's not like Sin City was a towering hit. I have a hard time imagining (based on what we've seen so far) that this movie will be very successful at attracting either fans of the character (and admittedly niche group) or (more significantly) a more general movie-going audience.


The general movie-going audience is the only important part. Fans of the character wouldn't fill a good-sized multiplex.