NEW full TRAILER!!!

[CFE]

The film, visually, doesn't look nearly as bad as previous posters would have you believe. It's different...sure it obviously has traces of "Sin City" because works of art carry from one to another. Griping about the visual style being too close to "Sin City" is like saying the dialogue is too close in its bad-ass-ness to "300" or "Dark Knight Returns."

When it comes to art, I always felt it was fairly common for an artist to carry on aspects and stylings from piece to piece...as their signature.

I mean Tim Burton has a signature, and yet you never hear people complaining about a current Burton film looking too much like an older Burton film.

Miller has a way with lighting, dialogue and attitude that carries from "300" to "Sin City" to "Daredevil," "Dark Knight," "Ronin" and everything in between. So if Frank is on the job, I'm dumbfounded as to why people were expecting anything else for "Spirit."

"Frank Miller" isn't so much a man as he is an aesthetic.

So when he's given the task of bringing "The Spirit" to life...there's already a big indication in what the atmosphere, the tone and the general attitude about the work will be...

Then people turn and say they're disappointed? I mean...what did you expect?

CFE

 

[IDrawDeadPeople]

The film, visually, doesn't look nearly as bad as previous posters would have you believe. It's different...sure it obviously has traces of "Sin City" because works of art carry from one to another. Griping about the visual style being too close to "Sin City" is like saying the dialogue is too close in its bad-ass-ness to "300" or "Dark Knight Returns."

When it comes to art, I always felt it was fairly common for an artist to carry on aspects and stylings from piece to piece...as their signature.

I mean Tim Burton has a signature, and yet you never hear people complaining about a current Burton film looking too much like an older Burton film.

Miller has a way with lighting, dialogue and attitude that carries from "300" to "Sin City" to "Daredevil," "Dark Knight," "Ronin" and everything in between. So if Frank is on the job, I'm dumbfounded as to why people were expecting anything else for "Spirit."

"Frank Miller" isn't so much a man as he is an aesthetic.

So when he's given the task of bringing "The Spirit" to life...there's already a big indication in what the atmosphere, the tone and the general attitude about the work will be...

Then people turn and say they're disappointed? I mean...what did you expect?

CFE

Ironically, based on his past offerings, we expected nothing less than what he's appearing to be delivering... which as Eisner fans is every reason to be slightly (or massively) disappointed.

Maybe... just maybe... Eisner's fanbase deserve to get something out of a friggin SPIRIT film, too...?

... and not just have it be a Miller-fest for Miller's fans...?

I know that's asking a bit much from a writer who writes a specific way and cannot seem to deviate from it... or from his devotees, who cannot ever look at anything regarding the man or his work objectively in the least...

And... those of us who actually do like Miller EXPECT Miller to look and sound like Miller...

However, since it IS (hypothetically) a film based on Eisner's work... maybe... just maybe... those of us who actually believe Eisner's style has more to offer to a film about Eisner's work might just have wanted to see and hear Will Eisner more than we see and hear Frank Miller.

I know... it's rocket science.

 

[CFE]

A 100% direct adaptation will always be boring. There's nothing new, nothing interesting...If you're really that hot and bothered, you'd be better off staying home and reading the comics.

I don't think just because it's Eisner he should stay more faithful. You should be as faithful as possible with anyones material, and I think Miller's doing just that...you can stay faithful and still make changes.

I think he's keeping the bare essence of the character of "The Spirit" intact while doing his own thing with it, which is really what this entire business of taking comics and translating them to film is all about.

Besides, take a look back at the comics. The story changed continually, but certain themes remained constant: the love between the Spirit and Ellen; the Octopus...the noir, the femme fatales...and *gasp* it's all there in the movie.

CFE

 

[IDrawDeadPeople]

I agree that a 100% word for word, panel for panel adaptation is a waste of EVERYONE'S time... make it a continuation or furthering of the overall characters' story...

And I'm on board with a LOT of the changes... and admit it... there are a LOT of changes...

But, the superpowers are the opposite of the essence of the character. Denny took a beating because it was in his character to do so... not because he COULD take a beating.

The sex powers thing is the same... unnecessary.

There is a lot to have to accept as an Eisner fan... and when Eisner fans are trying to come to terms with it... it helps to not have Miller's Hitler Youth constantly barraging us with "Miller is God! His changes are perfect! It's even better now! etc."

I'm hoping this movie turns out to be amazing... and not just as a 'visually stunning' film.

Or as a Frank Miller film.

I'd like it to also be amazing as a Will Eisner's The Spirit film.

Apparently, listening to diehard Miller fans, that's simply too much to ask.

 

[CFE]

Just to make note, you do realize I'm neither a hardcore fanatic of Miller or "The Spirit" for that matter. I appreciate both very much, and look forward to their union with great enthusiasm.

I just wanna be clear that I wasn't attempting to be pro-Miller in my initial post...just pointing out that with Miller in the director's chair, there's an impression about the outcome of the film stylistically and visually that's already in place...so the amount of negative shock the current material is getting is just a tad ridiculous as if people didn't know what kind of visual liberties Miller was going to take.

That said, I can certainly see where you're coming from.

But the only thing I have to disagree with is when people say Eisner is turning in his grave. Sure when it comes down to it he wasn't big on his material being made into a film...but at the very least I think he would've understood what Miller's doing and have a genuine respect for it.

Sort of like "Hellboy," in that the films belong to Del Toro while the comics are Mignola's true baby...

It's the same here, I feel.

CFE

 

[mego joe]

I just think it's the wrong approach to the character. You should't have to like Frank Miller's stuff to like a SPirit film. While both Eisner and Miller have similarities they also have fundamental differences and to have to see the Spirit through Miller's eyes does not do Eisner nor the Spirit justice.

 

[JDym]

The film, visually, doesn't look nearly as bad as previous posters would have you believe. It's different...sure it obviously has traces of "Sin City" because works of art carry from one to another. Griping about the visual style being too close to "Sin City" is like saying the dialogue is too close in its bad-ass-ness to "300" or "Dark Knight Returns."

No, no, no, no. Wrong. It's not even the titles thats the problem in your argument, but more of what your attempting to compare.

 

[That-Guy]

I finally saw the trailer for this last night. It looks... ridiculous, IMO. Samuel L. Jackson looks like he's going through a mid-life crisis or something. The Spirit's mask looks so cheap (gee, how could anyone figure out his identity) and the Sin City/300-style cinematography looks like it should be left to more-skilled directors (Rodriguez, Snyder). Not that those guys were geniuses, mind you, but what they put together looked a hell of a lot better than what I saw in this preview.

 

[rogue trooper]

The Spirit's mask looks so cheap (gee, how could anyone figure out his identity)

....are you even familiar with the comics? The Spirit's mask is supposed to look silly.

 

[Bubastis]

A 100% direct adaptation will always be boring. There's nothing new, nothing interesting...If you're really that hot and bothered, you'd be better off staying home and reading the comics.

Um

I heard those turned out okay.

 

[rogue trooper]

...yes, but sometimes it can also be for the worse, like these..

....these films pretty much stayed true to their source visually and story wise, but they didn't connect with modern viewers(there are ofcourse other reasons on each). They definately needed a more substantial updating, being the very retro characters that they are. That's why I can appreciate Frank Miller's take on such a retro/ pulpish character like The Spirit.


....that being said, I do shutter to think what Seth Rogen might do with The Green Hornet.

 

[That-Guy]

....are you even familiar with the comics? The Spirit's mask is supposed to look silly.

To be fair, a domino mask wouldn't really conceal anyone's identity, but still, I don't find the comic book design for the Spirit to be silly. All you would have to do to make the movie mask look better would be decrease the size of the eyeholes but as it stands, it looks like he's wearing a pair of donuts on his face.

 

[I SEE SPIDEY]

Unless it's budget was huge at the time...

http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=dicktracy.htm

...Dick Tracy looks like a hit to me.

Anywho I saw this trailer again after seeing TDK again with my sister. I think that the trailer is worse the second time around.

 

[rogue trooper]

....it didn't live up to the expectations as Tim Burton's Batman did. But more importantly, Will Eisner considered the film a failure. It tried to be too much like the comic by having too much of a 30's retro feel and thought that made the film irrelevant and just simply a superficial pleasure. The film lacked quite a bit of creative application. This is why I don't think Eisner would have wanted The Spirit film to be done that way.


Anyway, the people whom I have shown the trailer to, who don't know who The Spirit is, have all thought the film looks interesting and fun.

 

[Ziggyman]

....it didn't live up to the expectations as Tim Burton's Batman did. But more importantly, Will Eisner considered the film a failure. It tried to be too much like the comic by having too much of a 30's retro feel and thought that made the film irrelevant and just simply a superficial pleasure. The film lacked quite a bit of creative application. This is why I don't think Eisner would have wanted The Spirit film to be done that way.


Anyway, the people whom I have shown the trailer to, who don't know who The Spirit is, have all thought the film looks interesting and fun.

Same here trooper!...I don't really know The Spirit and others who I have shown including myself...Seem to like it so far...t:

 

[mego joe]

....it didn't live up to the expectations as Tim Burton's Batman did. But more importantly, Will Eisner considered the film a failure. It tried to be too much like the comic by having too much of a 30's retro feel and thought that made the film irrelevant and just simply a superficial pleasure. The film lacked quite a bit of creative application. This is why I don't think Eisner would have wanted The Spirit film to be done that way.


Anyway, the people whom I have shown the trailer to, who don't know who The Spirit is, have all thought the film looks interesting and fun.

That's because they don't know any better.

 

[Ziggyman]

That's because they don't know any better.

Then let them not know any better...!

Average movie goers will watch this film...If you don't want to...Stay at home...To the haters in general...

 

[rogue trooper]

Then let them not know any better...!

Average movie goers will watch this film...If you don't want to...Stay at home...To the haters in general...

Well put.

 

[Ziggyman]

Well put.

Thanks trooper...Haven't seen you in awhile...

 

[rogue trooper]

Thanks trooper...Haven't seen you in awhile...

Oh, I've been here. It's just that it has been slow in The Spirit forums lately. Heh.

 

[mego joe]

Then let them not know any better...!

And deprive them of the knowledge of Eisner's genius? I say no way.

Average movie goers will watch this film...If you don't want to...Stay at home...To the haters in general...

Many of us will, I'm sure. You've seen one Frank Miller film you've seen em all...

 

[Ziggyman]

I'm just saying that you don't need to know the comics or character to watch the film...

 

[mego joe]

I'm just saying that you don't need to know the comics or character to watch the film...

Certainly not. But what I'm saying is that Miller's approach seems wrong for the character if you know Eisner's work on the Spirit. I want Eisner, not Miller. To me the trailer looks too much like Miller and not enough like Eisner. And that's a problem. Miller's mark on this film should be subtle and understated instead of in your face obvious. It shouldn't even be balanced. You should walk out of the theater going, "Wow, that was a great Spirit movie, you could hardly tell Miller wrote and directed it. It really captured the essence of Eisner's work."

From what I've seen it's just another recapitulation of the same things Miller uses in 90% of his work, while using simple basic aspects of Eisner's creations.

I shouldn't have to like Frank Miller's stuff to like a Spirit movie. That's not fair to Eisner or his characters.

 

[rogue trooper]

And deprive them of the knowledge of Eisner's genius? I say no way.

Deprived or not deprived, the average Joe doesn't have time to read comics or is not interested in reading them. Look at "V For Vendetta". The success of that film was made by people who have no idea who Alan Moore is or that it is based on a graphic novel, of which the film missed to incorporate quite a bit of important stuff from. A friend of mine just loves that film. He really loved the message, him being a very liberal and hippie type of guy. I've told him that as great as he finds the film to be, the graphic novel is even better. I've told him that I have it, and yet, with a five day- a week- full time job and a kid, he has not asked me for it to read it.

 

[rogue trooper]

You should walk out of the theater going, "Wow, that was a great Spirit movie, you could hardly tell Miller wrote and directed it. It really captured the essence of Eisner's work."

...and "you" just might. You never know.