The last article I wrote was about 4 projects that were independent from DC and Marvel that are in the works. While I was writing that, I couldn't help but remember some films that have already been made but could use some fresh air. In addition it just so happens that these characters are all pulp characters from the 1940's, so it just screamed "WRITE ME!" So now, I am.
The Shadow
Before comic book super heroes were a thing, we had Pulp heroes. Characters who were the focus of novellas and radio shows back in the day. Eventually they too would make it into comic books, but this is how it began. Among the most known of these pulp characters, however, was The Shadow, a dark figure who lurked in the corrupt corners of New York to expunge the weeds of crime from the city. He had the power to cloud men's minds so as they could see nothing of him but his shadow. Equipped with two .45 handguns, a slouch cap, scarf, and cloak, The Shadow brought terror to the criminal underbelly of New York. The Shadow became big as a radio show and each night he'd sign off with that chilling catch phrase:
The Shadow Knows!The Shadow has served as the basis for more than a few comic book heroes (namely Batman whom he is in a crossover with right now), and so it was no surprise that in 1994 they made a movie starring Alec Baldwin as The Shadow. There is just one problem, it was not a great movie.
Now I am going to be completely honest. I love the 1994 version of The Shadow. I grew up watching it with my dad, and it was one of my favorites that I would re watch over and over again. Even today I love watching the film, however, being that I am better able to appreciate what goes into a good movie at this point in my life, I can admit that overall it misses the mark. Now that being said, it did show some immense promise. The design (everything from Costume to Set) was incredible and provided that atmosphere of the Depression very well, the effects were WAY ahead of it's time and how they show The Shadow's movement while invisible is amazing, Alec Baldwin provides a haunting performance as The Shadow (like in all seriousness his voice was perfect for the role and his Shadow laugh still gives me goosebumps), and the score is just beautiful. However, none of these things can save the film from a less than great plot, and some truly awful acting at times (which is especially sad when you take in account that the supporting cast includes both Sir Ian Mckellen and Tim Curry). All that being said, this movie will always hold a special place in my heart, and at the very least is worth watching to see the EPIC bridge fight that opens the film that I have posted below.
The question is that as far as re adapting, how will you go about doing that? For The Shadow, I feel you should go back to its routes. Originally, The Shadow was a serialized radio show done by Orson Welles, so I think that it should return to a serialized format. With the rise of Netflix or premium networks like HBO and Starz, I think that doing a high budget show of The Shadow is probably the best bet. Also as a fan I can't help but think that Michael Fassbender would be perfect as Lamont Cranston (the alias of the Shadow) and that Eva Green would make an outstanding Margo Lane (The Shadow's closest confidante).
The Phantom
A ship is set upon by pirates, and a boy watches his father cut down by the captain of a notorious group known as the Singh Brotherhood. As the ship is burning the boy jumps off board and washes up ashore on the shores of Bengalla. He is found by a local tribe and is brought in and shown their ways. When he grows to adulthood he takes up the mantle of The Phantom, The ghost who walks. It becomes a tradition he passes down, defending Bengalla and a blood feud with the Singh brotherhood. Kit Walker is the phantom, and he defends the jungles of Bengalla just as his fore-bearers did. He operates out of the skull cave and is accompanied by his companions Bullet (a white stead) and Devil (a wolf).
The Phantom started off as a newspaper strip comic, and has had many different comic book iterations. He also just so happened to be the first comic character to have a skin tight costume, and was also the first to be shown in a mask with no pupils. In the 90's there was very clearly a pulp nostalgia, as they made a movie of The Phantom back in 1996 starring Billy Zane as Kit Walker. This movie, which again I grew up with and have immense nostalgia for, had similar problems as the 1994 The Shadow did. Despite excellent set designs, effects, and costume design, the film just isn't particular good. There is a lot of lackluster acting (although Billy Zane does an outstanding job in my opinion as do Patrick McGoohan as The Phantom's deceased father, and Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa was brilliant as the villain: The Great Kabai Singh), and the plot is a bit lackluster.
Now, The Phantom did have a TV show remake here a few years back, but it was god awful and I choose to ignore it's existence, however, I honestly feel the Phantom can totally be done as a movie and it would be strongest to do it that way. Firstly, I feel Billy Zane was perfect for the role in the first place, and as it seems like he hasn't aged at all in 20 years, he could totally pull it off for another go around. If I were to do a Phantom film I would probably avoid it being an origin film. I mean you can do the whole number on why he's the phantom at the beginning, however, I think that The Phantom would be stronger if he had been the Ghost who walks for a while (granted he has the advantage of generations of intimidation factor, but still). I think that the movie should either see the change over of a Phantom to the next generation by the film's conclusion, OR have it be him being the LAST Phantom. A while back in 2010, there was a comic written called The Last Phantom which I think would actually be perfect. It starts off with the Singh brotherhood orchestrating the murder of Kit's wife and son, and attempting an assassination on Kit himself. Kit of course escapes and takes up the mantle of The Phantom again after a long hiatus. It's a final showdown between the two, and I think it would make an AWESOME movie (ultimately another good reason for Billy Zane to keep on playing it because he can be that older Phantom now).
The Rocketeer
The Rocketeer is probably the only movie on this list that was actually a pretty decent movie to begin with. Released in 1991 it's based off of a 1980's comic that was an homage to the pulp hero genre. It follows Cliff Secord, a stunt pilot in the 1930's, who finds this mysterious jet pack that allows him to fly, and of course he uses it to fight crime and Nazis!
Now Disney already plans on doing a remake/ sequel of The Rocketeer, and they plan on having a black female lead and have it take place 6 years after the events of the original. Not exactly sure how I feel about that, but I mean it's certainly an interesting concept. That would put her in the late 40's so a black girl becoming a super hero means she would be dealing with both misogyny and racism. However, there is certainly a part of me that wants it to just keep the focus of the original comic. This absurd period piece concept that is fun,whimsical and results in watching some Nazis get their skulls knocked in.
Well this has been another edition of Comic Relief! so we will see you again sometime soon!
No comments:
Post a Comment