"Don't Insult My Intelligence": Fantasy Vs. Stupidity

[Iron Maiden]

Oh, I am glad someone bumped this thread. I always love your "food for thought" threads. If only the suits in Hollywood thought about things like this.

I have only been popping in and out for a while but I have to say there were a lot of good points brought up here..

1.) How much is "too much" slapstick comedy?

As some one mentioned before... no more "Dalmation coving the eyes" moments. That belongs in a cartoon. The best humor works in context of the character relationships and I think everyone agrees that the interplay between Johnny and Ben worked the best. And Victor Von Doom does not wisecrack. Cynical, yes. But no more "Marco Polo" lines. What they could do is say that the exposure to the cloud particles in the transformation chamber has heightened his innate genius but also effected his sanity. Not so that he is stark raving foaming at the mouth mad but something more subtle. Is it just me or does anyone else remember one of the early versions of a trailer where Reed is saying something like "he's gone mad and only we can stop him"?


2.) Do you believe this sequel should have more of the same comedic elements from the first film? Or should it be understated in favor of a more serious approach?

For me, more of the same would be to keep up the pranking with Johnny and Ben. That is true to the spirit of the comics. Ben and Reed need to interact more also... there are a lot of scenes in the FF with Ben poking fun at Reed's seriousness. But no more cute scenes with dogs or rescuing kittens from trees. Ben's ackwardness in dealing with his new found fans was funny... all he could think of to say was "Don't do Drugs" to those cowering little tykes.

In fact, I like that the film deals with the day to day reality of being a superhero like Spider-Man does. I feel the same way about the comics... I sort of dropped out of the "woe is us" X-Men titles because of the persecution angle that powers most of the stories.


3.) What is your opinion of how the Ben/Debbie situation was handled?

Same as everyone else... I don't see why they left it in at all since the meat of it was hacked out.


4.) Do you have any concerns about how the personal relationships/ dynamics will be handled in this sequel?

I have to echo the concern about Sue getting into yet another triangle with the Silver Surfer in the same movie that has her getting married. Does anyone know the sequence of events? Does the marriage at least take place at the end of the movie, to tie things up in a neat bow like the engagement did in the first? A bit cliche but then Stan and Jack liked happy endings a lot of the time.

Even if that is the case, I have to agree with Cal that it robs Alicia of the importance of her role in the history of the Surfer. I really wondered why they hired an actress of Kerry Washington's calibre and then took away key screen time and left her with very little to do. I hope that situation doesn't repeat itself.

I would hope that all mention of the Reed/Victor/Sue triangle just goes away altogether. Doom's focus should just be on getting these fledgling heroes out of his way on his campaign to rule the world, his mad ambition being an offshoot of how the cosmic particles effect his mind. The intellectual rivalry between Victor and Reed must come to the forefront.
..

 

[Lightning Strykez!]

And Victor Von Doom does not wisecrack.

Amen! That was the greatest disservice to his character. It came across so hokey!

 

[fantastic fifth]

Double amen!

 

[BETA3]

1.) How much is "too much" slapstick comedy?
too much is when it is used in a film like the ff series, which should be concidered an action adventure and not a comedy. sure slapstick should be injected once in a while to keep it from being to intence,remember there are younger audiences out there, but the over all movie should focus on the action and the adventure and the realist interaction between the characters in their unique situation with breaks in tension.

2.) Do you believe this sequel should have more of the same comedic elements from the first film? Or should it be understated in favor of a more serious approach?

I believe that it should be kept as real as possible and as we know this film is going to involve an alien that is coming to eat the planet which is no laughing matter even for the jokingest of clowns (johnny storm) the fact that they are about to be killed along with the whole planet. for this second film a more serious approach is the realistic route. but along the way of telling this story comedic elements is vital in not making the picture a dark and depressing one. just know when it's needed, and how much to inject in the right spots

What is your opinion of how the Ben/Debbie situation was handled?

the whole ben and debbie storyline in my opinion was put there to give ben a really good reason to hate himself and a way to interduce how he ends up meeting and feeling the way he feels for his new girlfriend alicia masters. the question is not really how the ben/debbie thing was handled because as far as i'm concerned debbie was showing her true colors, she was a cold broad for lack of a better word only a cool broad would do what she did to ben which convinces me that she was with him because of his famed nasa accomplichment and recognition. the real question should be how did the ben/alicia romance develop, we're talking about a relationship that has many kinks that have to be worked out in order for them to end up as boyfriend and girlfriend as they were portrayed at the end of the film.