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The Geek Beat: Defining the Geek Genre
Filed under: The Geek Beat
When I was given the task of outlining the geek year ahead of us, I thought it was a relatively easy task. Watchmen, check. Wolverine, check. Star Trek, check. Hmmm, nothing in June, gratuitous Harry Potter reference for July, does G.I. Joe count because of the Marvel comics ... and so on. Erik Davis suggested Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, Avatar and Terminator: Salvation – I included the first two, then promptly fell asleep before adding the third. (I had been up all night. I live like a bat.)
Privately (and now publicly, ha ha) I wasn't sure G.I. Joe, Transformers 2, Terminator: Salvation or Avatar counted as geek films. But as one commenter astutely pointed out, "geek" isn't exactly an official genre, so who is to say what is a geek film and what isn't? Well, what better place to debate this than The Geek Beat – and what better time to define it than in the first installment of 2009?
To me, a geek film is something that mainstream audiences don't necessarily embrace, something they may even snigger at. That's why I restricted "geek films" to be movies based on (or accompanied by) graphic novels and comic books. (I also had to loosen the definition in order to pad it out a bit with selections like Sherlock Holmes and GI Joe because hey, there's not that many comic/superhero films this year.) But it's also why I included Star Trek, which falls out of comic territory, but invented geekdom. Trekkers/Trekkies flew the flag when no one else did. So did Star Wars fans and if there had been some kind of Star Wars film on the 2009 slate, I would have included it too.
Privately (and now publicly, ha ha) I wasn't sure G.I. Joe, Transformers 2, Terminator: Salvation or Avatar counted as geek films. But as one commenter astutely pointed out, "geek" isn't exactly an official genre, so who is to say what is a geek film and what isn't? Well, what better place to debate this than The Geek Beat – and what better time to define it than in the first installment of 2009?
To me, a geek film is something that mainstream audiences don't necessarily embrace, something they may even snigger at. That's why I restricted "geek films" to be movies based on (or accompanied by) graphic novels and comic books. (I also had to loosen the definition in order to pad it out a bit with selections like Sherlock Holmes and GI Joe because hey, there's not that many comic/superhero films this year.) But it's also why I included Star Trek, which falls out of comic territory, but invented geekdom. Trekkers/Trekkies flew the flag when no one else did. So did Star Wars fans and if there had been some kind of Star Wars film on the 2009 slate, I would have included it too.
The Geek Beat: The Spirit of the Age
Filed under: Fandom, The Geek Beat
There are some things you must do in the name of the Geek Beat – and for me, it was seeing The Spirit. I knew that it wouldn't be good. I've known that since ComicCon. But seeing as some of the first pieces I did here on Cinematical were on this film, I had to see the journey to the bitter, bloody end.
There's nothing to say about it, really. It was too earnest to ever be a camp classic, and it was too campy to appeal to anyone. The frustrating thing was that it had potential. There were some moments, moments I can't really pinpoint now, where I thought: "This could have been a cool movie." Then the Octopus melted a kitten while wearing a Nazi uniform, so you know, I might have just been hallucinating some sanity where there was none. But the consensus among my gang was that if it had been directed by anyone other than Frank Miller, it could have been pretty good.
There's nothing to say about it, really. It was too earnest to ever be a camp classic, and it was too campy to appeal to anyone. The frustrating thing was that it had potential. There were some moments, moments I can't really pinpoint now, where I thought: "This could have been a cool movie." Then the Octopus melted a kitten while wearing a Nazi uniform, so you know, I might have just been hallucinating some sanity where there was none. But the consensus among my gang was that if it had been directed by anyone other than Frank Miller, it could have been pretty good.
The Geek Beat: Holiday Heroes
Filed under: Fandom, Comic/Superhero/Geek, The Geek Beat
I thought the idea for this week's column would be relatively simple -- find holiday themed comic books, and argue as to why they should be made into movies. However, nothing is that easy, and I was hard pressed to come up with any that weren't saccharine or stupid. I even posed the question at my local comic shop, and we were all stumped. "The problem is," said one of our regulars, "they all have some kind of message, and that's stupid." So true, so true.
In the subsequent hours, I've managed to dig up a few that weren't too syrupy, and I present them as a gift to Hollywood. As the Marvel and DC Studios continue their tireless march toward our movie screens, I'm really thinking they need to get away from the Summer Blockbuster Extravaganza! and move into some seasonal fare, if only to give us some breathing room mentally and financially. I refuse to believe that a Christmas-themed story limits year round appeal -- if Die Hard, Lethal Weapon, Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, and Edward Scissorhands are enjoyable beyond December, why not some of our Marvel and DC friends? So roast some chestnuts, grab some eggnog, and drool over the thought of these pages on the big screen. It's a thin column by necessity, but I loaded it up with a few classy images, and I hope you consider it my Christmas card to you. I hope by the end, you can offer up your own holiday suggestions, or at least violently disagree with me as to whether our superhero movies should ever introduce snow, twinkle lights, and reindeer.
In the subsequent hours, I've managed to dig up a few that weren't too syrupy, and I present them as a gift to Hollywood. As the Marvel and DC Studios continue their tireless march toward our movie screens, I'm really thinking they need to get away from the Summer Blockbuster Extravaganza! and move into some seasonal fare, if only to give us some breathing room mentally and financially. I refuse to believe that a Christmas-themed story limits year round appeal -- if Die Hard, Lethal Weapon, Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, and Edward Scissorhands are enjoyable beyond December, why not some of our Marvel and DC friends? So roast some chestnuts, grab some eggnog, and drool over the thought of these pages on the big screen. It's a thin column by necessity, but I loaded it up with a few classy images, and I hope you consider it my Christmas card to you. I hope by the end, you can offer up your own holiday suggestions, or at least violently disagree with me as to whether our superhero movies should ever introduce snow, twinkle lights, and reindeer.
The Geek Beat: Rewriting Weapon X
Filed under: Fandom, Comic/Superhero/Geek, Remakes and Sequels, The Geek Beat
The Wolverine trailer has hit the net, and I am a really happy girl. I think it looks fan-freaking-tastic, the ponderous tone perfectly in tune with Wolverine's moody mantras. Yes, I'm biased. I adore the character so much that I can't ever get drunk at ComicCon for fear I'd wake up with him tattooed on my person. (Please don't ever let this happen, kindly onlookers) But I think overly enthusiastic fandom is a more pleasant thing than the overly critical kind, where I hate on the trailer for "betraying" the character somehow. However, what kind of nerd would I be if I didn't do that a little bit? There's plenty of stuff in that trailer to discuss, wonder about, and ultimately criticize because Oh My God, it departs from the Wolverine canon! Besides, I probably won't get to write another Wolverine column until summer 2009, so consider this a personal Christmas indulgence.
The one nagging issue I have with Wolverine is the scene that kicks off the trailer – Logan consciously choosing to participate in Weapon X, his feral name all picked out and ready to be stamped on his dog tags. I get why. It looks cooler onscreen than the truth, which would involve Logan being beaten to a pulp by anonymous government agents, drugged, hooked up to tubes and wires, and pumped full of adamantium. That was only the beginning of poor Logan's trials at the hands of sinister scientists, who implanted him with all kinds of weird sensors and chips to control his brain, kept conscious enough to feel everything, tortured him, and sent out into arctic weather to fight abused animals.
The Geek Beat: Sometimes I'd Like to Get My Hands on a Sequel
Filed under: Fandom, Comic/Superhero/Geek, Remakes and Sequels, The Geek Beat
Punisher: War Zone came, the weekend box office was tallied, and ... well, it looks like Frank Castle might not come back again. Do we want that? I don't.
In truth, I can't mount a very spirited defense of the film. I liked it all right, but I left feeling disappointed – something bound to happen after the orgasmic reactions from my esteemed colleagues all over the Internet. I went in expecting to be blown away by B-level madness, but instead felt kind of bored in the talky middle. I don't want to say something like "Leave the dialogue out of a Punisher movie!" because I'm not that shallow. Plus, Castle is a character with gravitas, he has to have some strong and silent moments. I just felt the film veered a little too wildly between camp and solemnity ... and I can't even say which of the two I wish War Zone should have been.
I can let most of my criticisms slide as petty, though -- my main complaint is that there just wasn't enough of the Punisher. I thought that Ray Stevenson was fantastic as Frank Castle, which is probably predictable given the way I heaped praise on the casting choice whenever I could. But he was perfect, putting it all in the eyes and weary posture, a stoic center to a lot of freaky moments.
In truth, I can't mount a very spirited defense of the film. I liked it all right, but I left feeling disappointed – something bound to happen after the orgasmic reactions from my esteemed colleagues all over the Internet. I went in expecting to be blown away by B-level madness, but instead felt kind of bored in the talky middle. I don't want to say something like "Leave the dialogue out of a Punisher movie!" because I'm not that shallow. Plus, Castle is a character with gravitas, he has to have some strong and silent moments. I just felt the film veered a little too wildly between camp and solemnity ... and I can't even say which of the two I wish War Zone should have been.
I can let most of my criticisms slide as petty, though -- my main complaint is that there just wasn't enough of the Punisher. I thought that Ray Stevenson was fantastic as Frank Castle, which is probably predictable given the way I heaped praise on the casting choice whenever I could. But he was perfect, putting it all in the eyes and weary posture, a stoic center to a lot of freaky moments.
The Geek Beat: What Shall We Do With the Justice League?
Filed under: Fandom, Comic/Superhero/Geek, The Geek Beat
It's official. Justice League is dead in the water. The last man standing, director George Miller, has dropped out and the film goes back Warner Bros archives -- something I imagine to be similar to the warehouse at the end of Raiders of the Lost Ark. Reportedly, Miller told an Australian television audience that Warner Bros wants "bigger stars" in the Justice League movie, and that he believes it will be recast. That's not at all surprising, considering the way the world is wetting their pants over Warner/DC's super competitors, The Avengers, which is probably going to be nothing but A-List. What studio wouldn't look at the line-up for Justice League Mortal, where no one compares to Robert Downey Jr., and say "Thanks, but no thanks."
Honestly, I don't know if there can ever be a Justice League movie. Correct me if I'm wrong (and I know you will) but what JLA fans want is exactly what Marvel is doing with The Avengers -- a bunch of solo character movies, establish the universe and the continuity, and then launch a superhero team extravaganza. They want good actors of the appropriate age, not a bunch of young and pretty things. They want it to be a solid effort, not something hastily thrown together for a late summer cash grab -- which is all Justice League Mortal seemed to be. (No offense to all involved, but hey, we're on the outside looking in here.)
Honestly, I don't know if there can ever be a Justice League movie. Correct me if I'm wrong (and I know you will) but what JLA fans want is exactly what Marvel is doing with The Avengers -- a bunch of solo character movies, establish the universe and the continuity, and then launch a superhero team extravaganza. They want good actors of the appropriate age, not a bunch of young and pretty things. They want it to be a solid effort, not something hastily thrown together for a late summer cash grab -- which is all Justice League Mortal seemed to be. (No offense to all involved, but hey, we're on the outside looking in here.)
The Geek Beat: To Boldly Go
Filed under: Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Paramount, Fandom, Remakes and Sequels, The Geek Beat
I think last week was one of the most passionate ones I've seen in my months of Geek Beatdom. We had competing frenzies, for one, as Twilight and Star Trek battled for news supremacy all across the Internet. It was fandom at its most defining. If aliens came down tomorrow and said "What is this fandom of which you speak?" and I only had ten minutes to explain it before they blew up the Earth, I'd just pull up our archives for the week of November 17th, 2008.
First, I have to say ... way to go, Trek fans. Society has labeled Trekkers/Trekkies the worst and weirdest of the lot. From my own experience, that's never been true. I hope the critics were watching the reaction to Trek because honestly, I saw a lot of intelligent and rational discussion on both sides of the fence. I've written a lot of stories on a lot of geeky topics, I expect to be flamed about 99% of the time, and my Trek guide was one that saw me bracing myself as I handed it over to our editors. I hadn't slept the three days prior to writing it, so I'm surprised it was coherent at all – but I was even more surprised by the pleasant reaction it garnered. (It was a stark contrast to a Twilight piece I did for our Moviefone friends. Yikes.)
For all the passion flying around Trek, I find myself in the rare position of having no opinion whatsoever. It doesn't thrill me, but it doesn't bore me, and I had so little expectation that it didn't disappoint me. In theory, I liked the idea of rebooting Trek, but it's a different thing altogether to see it in action. It doesn't feel right – and that has nothing to do with J.J. Abrams and the Enterprise crew he's assembled. I'm just not sure it should have been done at all.
First, I have to say ... way to go, Trek fans. Society has labeled Trekkers/Trekkies the worst and weirdest of the lot. From my own experience, that's never been true. I hope the critics were watching the reaction to Trek because honestly, I saw a lot of intelligent and rational discussion on both sides of the fence. I've written a lot of stories on a lot of geeky topics, I expect to be flamed about 99% of the time, and my Trek guide was one that saw me bracing myself as I handed it over to our editors. I hadn't slept the three days prior to writing it, so I'm surprised it was coherent at all – but I was even more surprised by the pleasant reaction it garnered. (It was a stark contrast to a Twilight piece I did for our Moviefone friends. Yikes.)
For all the passion flying around Trek, I find myself in the rare position of having no opinion whatsoever. It doesn't thrill me, but it doesn't bore me, and I had so little expectation that it didn't disappoint me. In theory, I liked the idea of rebooting Trek, but it's a different thing altogether to see it in action. It doesn't feel right – and that has nothing to do with J.J. Abrams and the Enterprise crew he's assembled. I'm just not sure it should have been done at all.
The Geek Beat: All the World is Waiting For You!
Filed under: Celebrities and Controversy, Fandom, Comic/Superhero/Geek, The Geek Beat
By necessity, I spend a lot of time on the Internet – and that time is quite narrowly focused on movie and comic book sites, with quick dashes to CNN or Jezebel to see what is going on outside of Warner Bros or Marvel. I'm constantly plugged in, Borg style, and the trailers, rumors, debunkings, rants, and reviews fly by in a rapid stream of information. I'm generally a month or two ahead of everyone I know in "real life," and I've gotten used to the fact that most of my friends and family are only just now hearing something about this weird Watchmen movie. Movie news just doesn't move the same way "out there."
Occasionally, though, a story will shatter through the space-time continuum and everyone will be chattering about it while its still on my radar. Last week, it was Beyonce as Wonder Woman. It was being argued over everywhere I went, and was still being hashed out at my gamer/comic hangout last night. The staying power of this story is not only impressive, it's refreshing for one reason – people really care about Wonder Woman. Men and women of all ages and levels of geekery were incredibly passionate about this story; they all had very definite opinions, and there was little debate. Beyonce shouldn't be Wonder Woman. End of story.
Occasionally, though, a story will shatter through the space-time continuum and everyone will be chattering about it while its still on my radar. Last week, it was Beyonce as Wonder Woman. It was being argued over everywhere I went, and was still being hashed out at my gamer/comic hangout last night. The staying power of this story is not only impressive, it's refreshing for one reason – people really care about Wonder Woman. Men and women of all ages and levels of geekery were incredibly passionate about this story; they all had very definite opinions, and there was little debate. Beyonce shouldn't be Wonder Woman. End of story.
The Geek Beat: Wes and Elisabeth Discuss 'Captain America'
Filed under: Action, Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Fandom, Comic/Superhero/Geek, The Geek Beat, War
Two weeks ago, Scott Weinberg and I sat down to discuss the DVD release of The Incredible Hulk. It proved to be a popular conversation starter among readers, and I had planned on doing it again the next time there was a big movie release to theaters or DVD. I don't want to abuse the format, and I hardly think everyone wants to just read my goofy AIM conversations. But with the news that First Avenger: Captain America finally had its director in Joe Johnston, I decided that the news was worthy of sitting down with the biggest Captain America fan I know, Wes Robinson. Robinson is the steady first mate of Enchanted Grounds, arguably my favorite place in Colorado. Robinson is one of the best Dungeon Masters in the state, pulls the coolest comics for me, is a maker of fine food and coffee, and an all around awesome guy.
What I think is particularly key about a conversation like this is how quickly it destroys the notion that devoted fans are impossible to please. We really are an enthusiastic and optimistic group of people, badly represented by a few rabid nuts with online access. Don't get me wrong -- I know they exist and I've written about them, but this notion that "the fans will hate it anyway, so who cares" really ignores the normal, happy-go-lucky fans that I know and write for. So, more than a goofy AIM conversation, think of this yet another effort to knock down that Berlin Wall of bad reputation. And I hope you enjoy, and pick up the conversation where it left off.
Wes: Captain America!!!
Elisabeth: Yeah! Let's talk Captain America!
Wes: Okay!
Elisabeth: So, what do you think of the choice of director?
Wes: Well I was a big fan of The Rocketeer ...I think he will be able to capture the feel of a period piece Cap movie for sure. I mean, that's really the only way to do the first Cap movie -- set in WWII. I am happy they chose someone who is familiar with doing period pieces. So overall, I am very optimistic about the choice.
Continued after the jump
What I think is particularly key about a conversation like this is how quickly it destroys the notion that devoted fans are impossible to please. We really are an enthusiastic and optimistic group of people, badly represented by a few rabid nuts with online access. Don't get me wrong -- I know they exist and I've written about them, but this notion that "the fans will hate it anyway, so who cares" really ignores the normal, happy-go-lucky fans that I know and write for. So, more than a goofy AIM conversation, think of this yet another effort to knock down that Berlin Wall of bad reputation. And I hope you enjoy, and pick up the conversation where it left off.
Wes: Captain America!!!
Elisabeth: Yeah! Let's talk Captain America!
Wes: Okay!
Elisabeth: So, what do you think of the choice of director?
Wes: Well I was a big fan of The Rocketeer ...I think he will be able to capture the feel of a period piece Cap movie for sure. I mean, that's really the only way to do the first Cap movie -- set in WWII. I am happy they chose someone who is familiar with doing period pieces. So overall, I am very optimistic about the choice.
Continued after the jump
The Geek Beat: Is it the Time of the Preacher?
Filed under: Fandom, Comic/Superhero/Geek, The Geek Beat
Well well, Reverend Jesse Custer. It looks like you might make it to the big screen after all. It's hard to get too optimistic, seeing as you've had directors, producers, and HBO dancing around you for years. In fact, no one I've talked to offline had heard of your new movie deal the way they'd heard about Tony Stark's – and when I told them that it really seemed to be happening this time, no one could muster up much enthusiasm. We're a beaten down congregation, Reverend. It will take some writers or some casting announcements to get us excited – and we may always wish you'd ended up at HBO.
I don't think you're impossible to adapt; you take a lot of digressions that I'm perfectly comfortable never seeing on screen. Your first major adventure versus Si the serial killer, for instance -- then again, without it, your horrible grandma doesn't come into play. Hmmm. Any chance Columbia's thinking about giving you a trilogy? Because not only could you digress into serial killers and hedonistic Hollywood parties to your heart's content, but it would be one heck of a franchise, and might give us The Saint of All Killers' spin-off we all want. (Can you convince them to animate it? Can you use the Word to get Clint Eastwood to narrate?)
I don't think you're impossible to adapt; you take a lot of digressions that I'm perfectly comfortable never seeing on screen. Your first major adventure versus Si the serial killer, for instance -- then again, without it, your horrible grandma doesn't come into play. Hmmm. Any chance Columbia's thinking about giving you a trilogy? Because not only could you digress into serial killers and hedonistic Hollywood parties to your heart's content, but it would be one heck of a franchise, and might give us The Saint of All Killers' spin-off we all want. (Can you convince them to animate it? Can you use the Word to get Clint Eastwood to narrate?)
