View Full Version : Does the lead actor in a comicbook movie have to have been a fan of that comicbook?
I SEE SPIDEY
06-19-2006, 01:12 PM
Or comic books in general? I ask this because I see some people on these boards say that they like it when the person is a fan.
Does it really matter as long as they "get the job done"? I say that it doesn't.
What says you?
Chris Wallace
06-20-2006, 01:37 PM
Absolutely not. I say what matters is their aattitude toward the material, w/respect to how they're going to play the role. As long as they don't half-@$$ it or come off like "This is so beneath me", then no. I would prefer that they read up on the comics prior to filming, if only to familiarize themselves with the character a little bit-which a lot of them do anyway. Being a fan doesn't hurt, either, as was the caser w/Michael Chiklis. But then again, a lot of people hated Ben Affleck in "Daredevil" & he was always into the comic.
Kevin Roegele
06-20-2006, 06:40 PM
Or comic books in general? I ask this because I see some people on these boards say that they like it when the person is a fan.
Does it really matter as long as they "get the job done"? I say that it doesn't.
What says you?
Thing about these boards is, they're mainly about movies, but most of the posters are comicbook fans.
jusblaze21
06-21-2006, 01:49 AM
No.
Abaddon
06-21-2006, 01:50 AM
Not really,but he or she has to get the character.
Chris Wallace
06-21-2006, 08:23 AM
i dont hurt...
:confused:
Mrh7448
06-21-2006, 02:08 PM
It doesn't hurt but I think the acting ability has to be there to pull it off. Guys like Patrick Stewart and Ian Mckellan I really can't see them sitting and reading a bunch of X-men comics before the movie, but they still did the job. I heard Singer didn't want Jackman reading the comics either and he made an excellent Wolverine.
On the otherside you have Affleck who, despite being a DD fan, did a poor job. He just doesn't have the strength as an actor to pull it off.
Abaddon
06-21-2006, 02:09 PM
Matt Damon wouldve made a better Daredevil.:o
Chris Wallace
06-21-2006, 02:47 PM
Like I said, a lot of people didn't like Ben Affleck as DD; I did. I don't know if Matt would've done better. But movies are made from novels & plays all the time & I doubt the actors have all read the books.
Shuley
06-21-2006, 02:49 PM
On the otherside you have Affleck who, despite being a DD fan, did a poor job. He just doesn't have the strength as an actor to pull it off.
Affleck was fine,he does a good job for the movies he makes.I think he's a bit underrated at times.He's not the next Marlon Brando but he's ok,he's decent.
Chris Wallace
06-21-2006, 02:59 PM
On the otherside you have Affleck who, despite being a DD fan, did a poor job. He just doesn't have the strength as an actor to pull it off.
Affleck was fine,he does a good job for the movies he makes.I think he's a bit underrated at times.He's not the next Marlon Brando but he's ok,he's decent.
Ah-Marlon Brando; he's who I use as a perfect example of how an actor shouldn't approach a project, no matter what it's based on.
Did you know that he refused to learn his lines? He read them off baby Kal-El's diaper while filming. Notice he was the only person in the movie who couldn't pronounce "Krypton"? I've even read that he suggested not having him appear onscreen. And his whole performance carried a vibe of "This is so beneath me." I know I'm not the only one who's observed this. But we don't say anything b/c it's the great Marlon Brando, acting in the great Superman. That is how not to act in a comic book movie.
blind_fury
06-21-2006, 03:21 PM
It helps if the director is fan like Robert Rodriguez was of Sin City. But all an actor needs is talent (Christopher Reeve, Jack Nicholson).
Chris Wallace
06-21-2006, 03:22 PM
I guess it would also help if the creator of the comic was the assistant director.
y2jversion1
06-21-2006, 03:24 PM
Not really a fan, but they should take the time to learn about & totally understand the different aspects of the character. Research should be done IMO.
Chris Wallace
06-21-2006, 03:30 PM
More often than not, they do I think. Nowadays, anyway.
Kevin Roegele
06-21-2006, 04:02 PM
I guess it would also help if the creator of the comic was the assistant director.
Absolutely not. Look what happened with Spawn, for a start...
Chris Wallace
06-21-2006, 04:17 PM
If i had a high regard for Todd McFarlane as a writer or artist, I'd be inclined to agree with you.
Mrh7448
06-21-2006, 04:31 PM
On the otherside you have Affleck who, despite being a DD fan, did a poor job. He just doesn't have the strength as an actor to pull it off.
Affleck was fine,he does a good job for the movies he makes.I think he's a bit underrated at times.He's not the next Marlon Brando but he's ok,he's decent.
I agree for some of the roles he takes he does a decent enough job, but for DD he just didn't pull it off, he didn't seem believable in the role. Not that it was entirely his fault, it was generally a bad movie, despite being somewhat enjoyable.
Chris Wallace
06-21-2006, 04:48 PM
It helps if the director is fan like Robert Rodriguez was of Sin City. But all an actor needs is talent (Christopher Reeve, Jack Nicholson).
Talent, an understanding of the material, & a respect for the material and its fans.
ang_hulk
06-22-2006, 01:09 AM
Sure but if there a fan they might be a fan of somthing somone else isnt,for instance what if they like daredevil only because of his weapons so in the scenes were he isnt using them he doesnt put the same effort into the scenes were he is.What if they like a more gritty captain america? what if they are golden age fans?.I dont think it hurts but at times I know it doesnt help.
Chris Wallace
06-22-2006, 11:06 AM
That reminds me of an argument someone raised in defense of Joel Schumacher; that he is a Batman fan, but a fan of the lighter, 40's & 50's era, not the gritty version we all know & love. But you're right. I mean we as fans all love different aspects of a character. Some think the red & gold suit is the best look Spider-Man as had yet. Some want Wolverine back in his brown costume. Others prefer the Dan Ketch Ghost Rider over Johnny Blaze. There are Hulk fans who think the TV show captured his essence beautifully & the movie failed miserably. In one comic Batman kills & in another he doesn't. Sometimes Daredevil's a ninja & other times he's just a highly skilled athlete. Since there's no way to please everyone & comic book fans are the hardest demographic to please, the focus needs to be put on making a quality film, faithful to the heart of the source material & not hung up on these minor details & fanboy whims.
cjhill_14
06-23-2006, 02:02 AM
well ben aflic was afan if daredevil and poeple dont like that movie,and hally barry mostliky didnt read many x-men books wend she was a kid.
Chris Wallace
06-23-2006, 08:24 AM
We covered that.
blind_fury
06-23-2006, 08:52 AM
Talent, an understanding of the material, & a respect for the material and its fans.
Well all you really need is a respectful director with a vision and talented actors.
Chris Wallace
06-23-2006, 09:04 AM
Only problem there is you could get another half-@$$ed performance like theone I described from Brando.
November Rain
06-23-2006, 09:11 AM
Or comic books in general? I ask this because I see some people on these boards say that they like it when the person is a fan.
Does it really matter as long as they "get the job done"? I say that it doesn't.
What says you?it's not the actor's responsibility, rather the director's and the writer's i believe...
Super_Ludacris
06-23-2006, 09:14 AM
Hell nah they dont need to be at all. In fact in some ways its better, because fans will always have a different perspective of how the character or story should be (hence why they ***** so much online and in comic book stores) whereas a vertran or method actor can approach the material as a challenge and build on it fresh so just as the character is coming into realisation of his powers or mantlepiece as hero/villian he has that same fresh perspective as the actor himself and comes to terms with new things.
Chris Wallace
06-23-2006, 12:00 PM
Hell nah they dont need to be at all. In fact in some ways its better, because fans will always have a different perspective of how the character or story should be (hence why they ***** so much online and in comic book stores) whereas a vertran or method actor can approach the material as a challenge and build on it fresh so just as the character is coming into realisation of his powers or mantlepiece as hero/villian he has that same fresh perspective as the actor himself and comes to terms with new things.
Yup. I remember reading a quote from Kelsey Grammer, in which he said he did research Beast in the comics, took it all in, & then threw it out.
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