How would YOU do a Spirit movie?

[Bubastis]

Now a lot's been said, done, and seen over the past year or so. Now before we start talking about who you would hire to write/direct or what you wouldn't do or start *****ing about Frank Miller, let's talk about how YOU would tell a story about the Spirit. Or would it even feature the Spirit as a primary character?

What would it look like? What would the city be like? What would the plot be? What would the score sound like? How would he dress?

 

[OctaviusINC]

Personally, I would just update Will Eisner's comics for the modern times, but since Darwyn Cook did it so beautifully I would use those as my main influence.

The CGI/animated route would be a lot of fun, but IMO it would be much more satisfying seeing a live action film. I would love The Spirit to mirror Dick Tracy in terms of style and presentation. It wouldn't be a happy go lucky rainbow type of story, but it also would't be extremely dark and violent. Somewhere in between. Like the Spider-man films. There's it's share of jokes AND seriousness.

I would also want the era to be sort of timeless. Kind of like Burton's or B:TAS's Gotham City. The 1940's fashion, cars, and architecture would be extremely relevant, but cellphones and computers COULD come into play.

As for a storyline, I'm not really good at those things. I think combinment of villains would be great ala Dick Tracy. Throw in The Pill, Octopus(FACELESS!), Cosack, Sand Saref. I would love to have El Morte, but I think his appearance would be better if there was a sequel. As for supporting characters you got to have Dolan and Ellen. Ebony would be perfect as the street wise taxi driving 13 year old that Cook made him. Silk Satin could make n appearance even.

If you really wanted to get "out there", maybe you could even make a Spirit film like Sin City, by that I mean have several short Spirit stories make up one big movie. Like how the criminals interact with each other in the comics. I also think it would be cool to have The Spirit movies have very interesting title sequences like the James Bond Films eventually leading up to "The Spirit" being spelled out in some creative way.

As for the Spirit himself, I'd love the look of Cook's Spirit. He's the same as Eisner's except his blue suit is more of a navy blue color. And the movie would have to live up to Eisner's old standby with plenty "Action! Mystery! Adventure!". I would adore a Spirit movie that was close to the Dick Tracy movie. It had heart. Keep the seriousness and humor and tone down the colors (I've noticed issues either have a cool palette or a warm palette depending on the mood). It could even work on a green screen back lot like Miller's film.

 

[Bubastis]

I really really like your idea of interconnecting stories. See, I'd like that but it'd have to have a theme. Something that connects it. Something that would excuse it for having the Spirit only play a supporting role in one of the stories. Maybe something like Pulp Fiction, where Denny would have the same equivalent of a leading role as Vincent does, playing the lead in most of the stories, occasionally only popping up in one of them (and then popping back down, in Vincent's case.)

It'd have to be in a very specifically designed town, something that didn't exclude the notion that it's basically interchangable with New York city, but without being as big and empirical and packed as New York.

Another thing is that it'd have to be clear that Denny isn't in a superhero suit, but rather a guy in a business suit who put on a mask and gloves one day and decided to fight crime with his two fists, his wits, and his lips.

As for the score I'd love to hear something between Terrence Blanchard's score for Inside Man, Jerry Goldsmith's score for The Shadow, and Michael Giacchino's score for The Incredibles, only a lot more noirish. The point I'm getting towards is the idea of updating it for modern times while still keeping not only the playful adventurous side but the realistic noir-ish side. The idea of hearing something like Blanchard's Keith Fraizer theme as Denny brushes off his jacket and tightens his tie as he walks out of an alley excites me.

Let's get some more feedback!

 

[spiderfan970]

Brad Bird and Darwyn Cooke co-directing a live action movie for the win. Cooke's 12 issues would have a big influence obviously.

 

[BestGirl]

Maybe something like Pulp Fiction, where Denny would have the same equivalent of a leading role as Vincent does, playing the lead in most of the stories, occasionally only popping up in one of them (and then popping back down, in Vincent's case.)

That would be very Eisner-ish.

 

[Octoberist]

I would put back Ebony (maybe naming something else like Eddie) and base him off on Darwyn Cooke's version of the character.

 

[CrimsonMist]

I would put back Ebony (maybe naming something else like Eddie) and base him off on Darwyn Cooke's version of the character.

I would just leave his name as Ebony. Otherwise, what's the point of including the character? You don't have to call him Ebony, though, as Darwyn Cooke had The Spirit refer to Ebony as "Eb".

But me, i'd go all-out Eisner Ebony. In reading a bunch of Eisner stories with Ebony in it(Young Dr. Ebony is great. If you can find it, i suggest tracking down issue 7 of the Warren B&W magazine: the All Ebony issue. Great stuff.), Ebony is probably the coolest character in the Spirit universe and the most heartfelt. He's funny and compassionate and dedicated and truly cares for Denny Colt. The Spirit can't get married without Ebony's permission. When the Spirit gets kidnapped, Ebony's prepared to kick some ass and chew bubblegum, whereupon he finds that he's all out of gum.

As much as i loved Cooke's take, i felt that he ignored alot of the things that made Ebony great in Eisner's stories. Sure he might be portrayed a tad insensitive, but i think it adds a bit of charm to the character as well. In Cooke's stories, Ebony is just a cool talking kid. Eisner's character is that awesome kid with the big imagination.

If i did a Spirit film, i'm not sure what it would be about, but all i know is that P'Gell, Silk Satin and even Sammy would be in it. it would probably be live action, though i'm tempted to make it CGI instead just so i can throw in Sammy EXACTLY the way he looks in Eisner's stories. He's so funny looking.

I'd probably go a bit "James Bond" with it, having The Octopus being the behind the scenes villain whose pulling the strings for something bigger, much like Blofeld. Mr. Carrion would probably be the main villain though. As i said, the women would be P'Gell and Silk Satin, as i think The Spirit has the best chemistry with them, and the stories with Silk just kick all kinds of ass. Ellen would be there too, of course.

and it would be kind of timeless, kinda like Batman: The Animated Series. Making it look and feel like the 40's, only modern invokes an atmosphere all in itself. The film would be colorful as well. I don't care what Eisner or Miller says: The Spirit in color is much better than the black & white versions. It would be fun, but serious. It would have an epic chase on railroad tracks, in the rain, during a storm. That's really all i can think of at the moment. Maybe when i come up with more, i'll post it.

And if i had to, for another film i'd do a straight adaptation of Cooke's take on "Sand Sarif", which, in my opinion, trumps Eisner's. It was probably one of the best comics i've ever read and packed a more emotional kick than Eisner's did. But that's just me.

 

[Bubastis]

Actually, I'd keep it fairly modern as long as it wouldn't be dated. Putting it in "Nevertime" is fine for other films, but it makes the story fairly irrelevant. The original Spirit comics were incredibly relevant to their own times, and a modern version should keep that in mind. That's part of what made the Darwyn Cooke run so good.

 

[CrimsonMist]

Actually, I'd keep it fairly modern as long as it wouldn't be dated. Putting it in "Nevertime" is fine for other films, but it makes the story fairly irrelevant. The original Spirit comics were incredibly relevant to their own times, and a modern version should keep that in mind. That's part of what made the Darwyn Cooke run so good.

Well it's not YOUR movie idea now is it?

I prefer the nevertime idea with The Spirit, because you can still make it contemporary without making it obvious and still keep it old school without making it obvious. The blending of these things makes for wonderful visuals, and despite it sucking, Frank Miller had the right idea. Make it timeless by mixing time periods.(it was then ruined when Miller pulled out those stupid futuristic, over the top weapons)

But i find myself disagreeing with Eisner alot every now and then. Whatever Eisner said to do, wound up being in Frank Miller's film. And i believe that someone could do everything Eisner said NOT to do and still be successful.

and i still feel that even though his run was good, the relationship between Ebony and The Spirit was really weak, and not as fun and touching as it was in Eisner's work.