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Post by henrythemorerecent on Feb 17, 2015 20:31:18 GMT -5
Had a conversation today about movie adaptations of comics that I thought were better than the source material. Was wondering what other things people thought were handled better in the film/TV versions or at least they enjoyed more?
All subjective opinion of course.
I mentioned this in the Kingsmen thread, but Mark Millar is a guy who I think has great ideas but often poor execution (for his creative owned books, I love his DC and Marvel books) and the script writers and directors bring more to his stories when they are adapted than he did. More heart at least anyway. Kick-Ass and Kingsmen were both much more fleshed out, fun and entertaining than the comics I thought (can't say much for Kick-Ass 2). And I know how drastic the change from comic to screen 'Wanted' was, but I think that its a lot of fun and the comic is just heartless and brutal.
Another one that I get frowned at for is V for Vendetta. I absoutely love that movie, but that book bores me half to death. I really enjoyed that the film added the mytery to the story and the viewer got to learn everything as the story went on. The book lays everything out on the table right from the beginning and its more about the 'Why?' than the 'What?". But I think the movie handles both well. Its funny because the V for Vendetta movie does exactly what the From Hell movie does in terms of structure and mystery in comparison to the source material, yet I love the From Hell book and am not a huge fan of the movie.
Another for me is Hellboy. That entire universe is one I've tried time and time again to get into since seeing the movie which I love so much, but I just don't like the comics. I attribute most of that to the fact I don't like Lovecraftian horror which the books focus heavily on while the films feel more Del Toro than Lovecraft.
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Post by sammiecassell on Feb 17, 2015 21:29:38 GMT -5
Good topic, I actually like the (I'm setting myself to get killed) From Hell adaption. Yea I know, it's Johnny Depp and Heather Graham but I'm not a Alan Moore fan & that book had soooo much information. It was nice to have it condensed some. Also, I loved Road to Perdition, that was a good GN but almost a great movie
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Post by Tony on Feb 17, 2015 23:15:26 GMT -5
Good topic, I actually like the (I'm setting myself to get killed) From Hell adaption. Yea I know, it's Johnny Depp and Heather Graham but I'm not a Alan Moore fan & that book had soooo much information. It was nice to have it condensed some. Also, I loved Road to Perdition, that was a good GN but almost a great movie I second both of those. I looooove Road to Perdition, and although I tend to like Alan Moore quite a bit, From Hell is one of his that's a miss, for me, yet i've always had a soft spot for the movie.
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Post by Bob Reyer on Feb 18, 2015 6:49:14 GMT -5
As a big fan of Jack the Ripper (typing that, I know how awful that sounds, but you know what I mean), I did enjoy Mr. Moore's attention to detail, but I'll throw myself under the same bus and say that I did enjoy the film version of "from Hell" quite a bit, although I'm not on board with the "Royal" theories on The Ripper's identity.
I've not read all of the comic book series, but from what I have, I think that "Kick Ass" (and only the first one) definitely qualifies for this thread! On screen, as "ultra" as the violence was, it was couched in such a loopy way that until the one "major" death, it had a Looney Tunes quality, where the book always struck me as far too grim.
How about "Men in Black"?
ps) Would "Mars Attacks" count, as its source material was "comic-booky" trading cards that became a comic? rrr
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Post by lennyreid on Feb 18, 2015 8:04:02 GMT -5
As a big fan of the Ripper Lore and Moore & Campbell's 'From Hell', the film was everything wrong with adaptation from source material to me. On the other hand it was a joyful romp but should not have even referenced From Hell.
- The movie condensed two complex characters in to one seriously uncomplicated character - Injected an element of the supernatural for nothing other than plot convenience - Introduced a love story which undermined the gulf in class and the attitudes towards prostitution and gender politics put forward in the story - Turned the story in to a 'Whodunnit?' type plot which the book throws out within a couple of pages because the Ripper is a cultural turning point bigger than any one person
Totally get the movies appeal but very hard to separate from the source for me.
Moore's work tends to get simplified to the point of being unrecognisable. Similarly, there is so much going on in 'V For Vendetta' that the movie misses entirely, that it just seems a missed opportunity. I'm not a guy that wants to see a panel-by-panel remake either, just a more intimate understanding of what the book is saying.
Look no further than League Of Extraordinary Gentlemen to show that Hollywood loves the elevator-pitch of an Alan Moore story but has no idea how to keep the substance.
This is a great topic. Very hard though.
I love both Hellboy mediums but the comics win out for me.
Oldboy? I haven't read the Manga but the movie is a Top 10 for me so it'd have to be a stunning book.
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Post by Bob Reyer on Feb 18, 2015 8:16:39 GMT -5
As a big fan of the Ripper Lore and Moore & Campbell's 'From Hell', the film was everything wrong with adaptation from source material to me. On the other hand it was a joyful romp but should not have even referenced From Hell. - The movie condensed two complex characters in to one seriously uncomplicated character - Injected an element of the supernatural for nothing other than plot convenience - Introduced a love story which undermined the gulf in class and the attitudes towards prostitution and gender politics put forward in the story - Turned the story in to a 'Whodunnit?' type plot which the book throws out within a couple of pages because the Ripper is a cultural turning point bigger than any one person Totally get the movies appeal but very hard to separate from the source for me. Moore's work tends to get simplified to the point of being unrecognisable. Similarly, there is so much going on in 'V For Vendetta' that the movie misses entirely, that it just seems a missed opportunity. I'm not a guy that wants to see a panel-by-panel remake either, just a more intimate understanding of what the book is saying. Look no further than League Of Extraordinary Gentlemen to show that Hollywood loves the elevator-pitch of an Alan Moore story but has no idea how to keep the substance. This is a great topic. Very hard though. I love both Hellboy mediums but the comics win out for me. Oldboy? I haven't read the Manga but the movie is a Top 10 for me so it'd have to be a stunning book. Lenny, I agree whole-heartedly about the slap-dash nature of so much of the movie "From Hell", but it is light years better than "League...", although that isn't saying much! (Way off topic, but there's a great film that touches on many of the same theories about The Ripper's identity called "Murder by Decree"; directed by Bob Clark, it adds Sherlock Holmes (as portrayed by Christopher Plummer) to the mix, and for me, stands as the best modern film usage of the Sir Arthur Conan Doyle character.)
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Post by lennyreid on Feb 18, 2015 8:26:29 GMT -5
Bob,
Murder By Decree is going on the queue, simply for that wonderful shot of the man in the billowy cloak running. Great cast.
I would also totally agree that From Hell is light years better than LOEG. I did like FH independent of the book, just to clarify. I would also love to be as even-handed about LOEG *sigh*.
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Post by sammiecassell on Feb 18, 2015 8:26:33 GMT -5
As a big fan of Jack the Ripper (typing that, I know how awful that sounds, but you know what I mean), I did enjoy Mr. Moore's attention to detail, but I'll throw myself under the same bus and say that I did enjoy the film version of "from Hell" quite a bit, although I'm not on board with the "Royal" theories on The Ripper's identity. I've not read all of the comic book series, but from what I have, I think that "Kick Ass" (and only the first one) definitely qualifies for this thread! On screen, as "ultra" as the violence was, it was couched in such a loopy way that until the one "major" death, it had a Looney Tunes quality, where the book always struck me as far too grim. How about "Men in Black"? ps) Would "Mars Attacks" count, as its source material was "comic-booky" trading cards that became a comic? rrr I also thought of M.I.B. But I haven't read the comic so I felt unqualified. & Mars Attacks is sooooooo much better than the books that followed lol
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Post by Bob Reyer on Feb 18, 2015 12:48:05 GMT -5
Bob, Murder By Decree is going on the queue, simply for that wonderful shot of the man in the billowy cloak running. Great cast. I would also totally agree that From Hell is light years better than LOEG. I did like FH independent of the book, just to clarify. I would also love to be as even-handed about LOEG *sigh*. Lenny, I'll predict that you'll get a great kick out of "Murder by Decree". Director Bob Clark has an interestingly varied film history, with "Children Shouldn't Play with Dead Things", "Porky's", and "A Christmas Story" on his resume!
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Post by henrythemorerecent on Feb 18, 2015 16:06:23 GMT -5
I've seen a few people mention LOEG.... And for fear of being laughed at, I really enjoy that movie. I absolutely love the books, and both are definitely worlds apart. But there's something about that movie that makes me still enjoy it. I put it in the same boat as The Rocketeer, The Shadow and The Phantom. League has the same feel to those, just a decade later. And the addition of Dorian Gray, especially Stuart Townsend, makes me wish that depiction of the character was in the books. The history between him and Mina Harker thats hinted at would be such an interesting one to explore.
Its funny though, I found out recently that Monica Belucci was meant to play Mina. That has kind of ruined the movie for me because it would have been so much better with her.
But yeah I see why that movie is so hated when compared to the source material, especially from Alan Moore's standards.
There can also be something said for adaptations that while not better than the source material, they can definitely add things. I think I love the Watchmen film as much as the book, and the Ultimate Cut (at just under 4 hours) I hope one day will be given the credit it deserves for being such a faithful adaptation. Sometimes almost frame for frame. But its the change in the ending that I'm referring to mostly. Its such a divisive change, but I love it much more than the comics ending.
I also recently re-watched the Dark Knight Returns animated film and that is my favourite book of all time, and that movie is so SO faithful. Granted it has the benefit of being made by DC creators without any Hollywood interference. But it did add 1 thing I wish was in the book. Its a little moment at the end (spoilers for a 30 year old comic)
when Jim Gordon and Clark are standing at Bruces grave, in the movie Jim asks Clark "Were you a friend?", Clark replies "I honestly couldn't say", and Jim says "Sounds about right". Batman in nutshell. Such a great moment, I re-read DKR last night and wished it was there.
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Post by lennyreid on Feb 19, 2015 8:43:50 GMT -5
henrythemorerecent Not to worry. Although users may disagree on here, I'm yet to see anyone being mocked for an opinion. Its great to know you can constructively agree or disagree on here without the worry that so often goes hand-in-hand with other forums. If I disagree I always try to add a positive in to a message to balance it out. That way it shows you've at least looked at it from the original posters viewpoint. I should probably give LOEG another watch with a fresh eye. I just have a lot of affection for Mina. Very few characters get to act as an analogue for an entire gender throughout history, and her resilience and leadership is played so naturally in the writing. I think when I saw what they did with the character - making her a vampire and not the lead - my heart sank a bit. Monica Bellucci would have been amazing but distractingly beautiful.
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bpp
Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D.
Posts: 74
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Post by bpp on Feb 19, 2015 12:31:14 GMT -5
Gantz / Gantz 1.5 / Another Gantz were good movies, can say I've much interest in the source material.
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zakunick
Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D.
Posts: 61
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Post by zakunick on Feb 19, 2015 20:11:09 GMT -5
I am kind of leaning towards the Watchmen movie being better than the book. Mostly because the Manhattan/Space Squid switch.
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Post by Simon on Feb 19, 2015 20:31:53 GMT -5
I am kind of leaning towards the Watchmen movie being better than the book. Mostly because the Manhattan/Space Squid switch. Yea I agree, the end of the Watchmen completely falls apart with the weird space squid thing to me. I am glad they got rid of it. The DC Animated Under the Red Hood is another one that I think works better than the comic even though,interestingly, they were both written by Judd Winick. Getting rid of Superman/boy prime's role in bringing back Jason makes the story so much easier to digest and a hell of a lot less confusing. It's interesting that with all these better than the source material films Alan Moore has come up so often.
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Post by wamphari on Feb 19, 2015 20:36:06 GMT -5
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (90's Cartoon) (yeah I know it probably doesn't hold up but I was a kid gimmie a break)
I feel like saying basically everything Mark Millar (though I haven't read as much of his work as I should so I'm totally open to arguements to the contrary) (PS: I liked Kick Ass 2, it's not amazing but on the continuum of bad comic movies it's nowhere near the bottom)
Dredd (I can't say enough about how awesome this movie was, I tried reading some judge dredd after and I just wanted more Karl Urban)
And now for the really controversial one: Captain America: The Winter Soldier. This isn't here because there is anything wrong with Ed Bruebaker (quite the contrary, really great writer) but because the movie was just so damned good.
The Spirit (Just kidding bob)
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