But, most comics you get from Marvel aren't available through subscription. I even called Marvel directly, telling them I'd like to buy every comic they put out each month, but wanted some type of subscription deal. They told me to check out milehigh.com and the like. Plus, I can't get all my variants through subscription...and, I can't make sure I get the best possible copy available, like at my shop.
I am morbidly curious how this telephone conversation ended up.
"I'm sorry, sir, but something like that is not doable. I know some fine websites for you to try for--"
"Dude, I am literally offering Marvel a wad of money every month with no middle man. Wouldn't this be a neat idea to try?"
"Huh?"
"Just, work with me. Being inventive, working around what has been done, for money that someone wants to throw at you."
"I am error."
"*sigh*"
Wow. Scott Pilgrim did awful at the box office this weekend, even with all the raves from critics. I think the cheesy, campy trailer turned off most people from wanting to see it. Whenever it showed, I never heard anyone say, "I gotta see that."
On a side note, I rewatched "Unbreakable" this week. Man, that's a good superhero film that gets overlooked when people talk about great superhero movies. I remember when it came out, a lot of people were disappointed. They wanted more of The Sixth Sense, and they found the idea of superheros kind of juvenile. Makes me wonder if it would have been more appreciated today, now that so many comics get made into movies.
At least "SCOTT PILGRIM VS. THE WORLD" finished in the Top 5 box office. To be fair, it chose to come out the same week as a macho man Sly Stallone action flick, and on the heels of Julia Roberts' latest chick flick. The inability to beat out the fifth week of "INCEPTION" is a bit harsh, though. The director did actually express interest in a sequel, but that seems unlikely.
It will also be about the 10th dud that Chris Evans has been in, a disturbing sign as he's the guy who has to get rears in seats for Captain America. At least Robert Downy Jr. was an acclaimed actor before his crash with substances and return in Iron Man; Evans at best is a midcard actor who hasn't had too many major film successes now tasked with carrying a major superhero franchise. He's enthused about it, but I'm curious how well it will work.
The trailers came off oddly to me. I got the sense of an arrested development teenage romance adventure that was throwing all sorts of glittery effects at me while offering me nothing I haven't seen in other movies (just smushing all of them into ONE movie). There is one trailer where Ramona's (or Scott's) lady ex is chewing out her wardrobe and Scott goes, "You used to be SO NICE!" and makes a face that can only be described as what a chipmunk looks like when it is trying to be angry. I genuinely wasn't sure if the reaction from me was intended to be a chuckle, or a gasp at Scott losing his temper, or what.
It didn't help that the actor who was chosen to star as Pilgrim has seemed to play a similar role in several other movies, at least in trailers. I can understand the studio didn't want to cast someone who might overwhelm the character with "his" own mojo, such as when Nick Cage plays anyone. On the other hand, they cast Cena for type, and he can't carry a movie alone yet. I also got an air of smugness from some of the trailers, like it was trying to be hipper than it's audience. As once said in an episode of SEINFELD, "smugness isn't attractive."
It's possible that the film is wonderful and this is merely a horrible error in editing trailers. That's not uncommon. Sometimes a film comes out and a studio has no idea what to make of it or how to market it - "BIG TROUBLE IN LITTLE CHINA" suffered this in the 80's. But it still doesn't help. I still have no interest in the property, and if I did, I'd read it in comic form, not rent the movie. If I decided to bite on Pilgrim, why not go for the source? It'd be cheaper to catch up on that than WALKING DEAD, that's for sure.
As for "UNBREAKABLE", to me that was M. Night Shamalayan's last good movie; afterward it has been all downhill. As if whatever magical pact with Satan to create "THE SIXTH SENSE" wore off very quickly, or he used too much of the elixir for his first film, and by his later ones he has nothing but residue left. I was surprised that it ended up being about a comic book hero coming to life (in a way) and it was perhaps a little ahead of it's time. It wasn't flawless, though; David Dunn's ability to manifest strength when he needs it is handled almost in too subtle a way, so you almost never are aware of it beyond for one flashback. I mean, being able to bench, heavens, almost 300 lbs for no reason is something that can provoke more eye rolls than gasps. It tried to handle the subject matter without turning it into an action movie. It also had one of those teary doe-eyed kids in movies that I think many audiences tire of. I can imagine the director going, "Alright, son, for this scene I need you to cry, and for this I need you to stare into the camera with big eyes, and for that I need you to stare into the camera with big eyes and cry." It seems kids in movies are either big eyed, quiet criers or obnoxious self aware wisecracking demon spawn. Some people are asking for a sequel, but I doubt it would work. Leave it be.
