I saw this on wildsound-filmmaking-feedback-events.com this morning.



--FRANK MILLER TO BRING 'BUCK ROGERS' TO BIG SCREEN

Frank Miller and Odd Lot Entertainment, the creator and production company behind the upcoming comic-book adventure "The Spirit," are close to teaming again on the classic sci-fi property "Buck Rogers."

Odd Lot, the shingle run by Gigi Pritzker and Deborah Del Prete, is in negotiations to option the rights to "Rogers" from Nu Image/Millennium, which obtained those rights this year from the Dille Trust. Millennium is expected to get a credit on the movie but won't be involved in day-to-day production.

John Flint Dille, a friend of Miller's, operates the trust, which may have partly prompted rumors at the time of the Millennium acquisition that the comic auteur-turned-filmmaker might come aboard to direct. But Miller was not attached at the time; he only became involved when Odd Lot entered the picture.

Miller will write and direct his own big-screen take on the comic serial; while the creator has only begun to sketch ideas, it's expected to be a darker take, with many of Miller's signature visual elements and themes, such as corruption and redemption.

It's likely to be a priority project for Miller, though he has been mulling a "Sin City" sequel.--


I'm not completely sure how I feel about this... I think I'm one of the few people who didn't really like Sin City, and didn't care much for 300 either. I am wating for "The Spirit" (my personal favorite comic) to see what he does with that. Maybe a darker version of Buck Rogers could work. We'll see.

Well, it should definitely be interesting!

Does this mean Twiki will be a homicidal robot dressed as a Persian?

Does this mean Twiki will be a homicidal robot dressed as a Persian?

LOL! I don't care WHAT I've said about remakes or making decisions before a frame of film is shot, if Twiki is in it, I'll NEVER see another Frank Miller movie again! ;)

I'm not completely sure how I feel about this... I think I'm one of the few people who didn't really like Sin City, and didn't care much for 300 either. I am wating for "The Spirit" (my personal favorite comic) to see what he does with that. Maybe a darker version of Buck Rogers could work. We'll see.

Add me to that list. I'm already sick of that particular film "technique" and am much less interested in "The Spirit" than I might otherwise be precisely because of it.

If Miller skipped the black/white/red color scheme he seems to use in all his movies, maybe the Buck Rogers movie would be OK.

I do know that this look as shown in the Spirit trailers has totally put me off wanting to see The Spirit. I love the series, but all the comic coloring I've ever seen has Denny Colt wearing a blue suit, not black! And I like 'normal' colors for the sets and backgrounds as well, not the oddly stylized color scheme Miller uses.

It used to be called 'Will Eisner's The Spirit' but the movie looks like it should now be called 'Frank Miller's The Spirit in Sin City'.

You guys have already said it, but I want to say it, too.

Is this a good idea? Buck Rogers with that 300/Sincity/The Spirit
look?

I don't know what to think, yet.

Bring on Dr. Theopolis!

I suppose Frank Miller doesn't HAVE to make movies in that black, white and red style... but so far, I haven't seen anything to show he won't. It's possible that The Spirit won't be completely in that style... movie trailers aren't always the best source for what the final film will be like. But we'll see on Thursday.

Frank Miller made COMICS in black and white. Other people made the movies. I liked his stuff but wonder if he can direct. Twiki will probably be a 8 foot high homicidal maniac. Cooool.

Frank Miller so far has directed 1 1/2 movies. Isn't it a little premature to make any assumptions about his style?

It's possible that The Spirit won't be completely in that style... movie trailers aren't always the best source for what the final film will be like. But we'll see on Thursday.

For what it's worth, Miller has stated in interviews that the film actually has a more normal color palette, and that the black/white/red effect was done strictly for the trailers. Why they would do it that way is another question.

At least Wilma Deering will be hot!

http://www.virginmedia.com/microsites/movies/slideshow/top-ten-sexy-dances/img_3.jpg

woot!

You guys have already said it, but I want to say it, too.

Is this a good idea? Buck Rogers with that 300/Sincity/The Spirit
look?

I don't know what to think, yet.

Bring on Dr. Theopolis!

Personally, I"m sick of remakes. I want to see something new. It would be nice to see an original movie on something like Ringworld. So many hugo winning novels are just begging to be made into movies and miniseries. How many more remakes of buck rogers or flash gordon must we endure?

I would like to see a new, serious Buck, for a change.

One thing I can promise: the phrase "From the Director Who Brought You The Spirit" will never be used to advertise anything.

One thing I can promise: the phrase "From the Director Who Brought You The Spirit" will never be used to advertise anything.


Uh oh! Is it that bad?

Personally, I"m sick of remakes. I want to see something new.
With Frank Miller directing, I think we can assume that you will see something new.

How many more remakes of buck rogers or flash gordon must we endure?
How about until they get it right? Which, with the possible exception of the Filmation Flash Gordon series, they haven't yet.

Does anybody remember the old serials from the
1930's and 40's with the bullet-shaped rockets?

Do you think modern special effects could make
that design look good?

I always liked those ships.

To be honest, I'd love to see them do a very retro version of Buck Rogers, as in the original comic version, with him being preserved by a gas in the depths of a cave, anti-gravity jumping belts rather than rocket packs, and very different looking craft. While Buck Rogers was the first "Science fiction" newspaper comic, wasn't originally a "space" comic, but rather a "future" comic. They didn't go into space until the comic had been around for a while, and then they built a ship to go to the moon.

Even the original novella, Armageddon 2419 A.D. would make an interesting story.

I doubt they would do it this way, however. That retro look is something I like, but it wouldn't likely be considered financially feasible. The most recent (to my memory) retro styled science fiction movie, Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow did not fair well at the box office.

Does anybody remember the old serials from the
1930's and 40's with the bullet-shaped rockets?

Do you think modern special effects could make that design look good?

I always liked those ships.The 1980 Flash Gordon had spaceships, sets and costumes that were very faithful to Alex Raymond's original designs. Unfortunately the screenplay and direction made the picture an over-the-top camp fest. It's possible that retro design in filmed SF appeals mainly to the hardcore geek crowd. But, to today's younger audiences, the "futuristic" design esthetic of the 1930s and '40s may be so old, it's new.

Flesh Gordon was one of the first tapes I saw on my VCR. Now THAT'S a movie!!

If Miller skipped the black/white/red color scheme he seems to use in all his movies, maybe the Buck Rogers movie would be OK.

I do know that this look as shown in the Spirit trailers has totally put me off wanting to see The Spirit. I love the series, but all the comic coloring I've ever seen has Denny Colt wearing a blue suit, not black! And I like 'normal' colors for the sets and backgrounds as well, not the oddly stylized color scheme Miller uses.

It used to be called 'Will Eisner's The Spirit' but the movie looks like it should now be called 'Frank Miller's The Spirit in Sin City'.

Gotta agree. I was so jazzed to see the Spirit on the big screen...and then the director was announced...and images were released...and clips shown... and I find myself again wishing that they would do a screen version of "Will Eisner's The Spirit".
I'll probably see "Benjamin Button" instead...

Actually they did. Never made it past the TV Pilot but as I remember, it wasn't half bad - believe it or not.

http://i3.iofferphoto.com/img/item/602/811/26/w87FejR5vNunMTI.jpg

Yeah, I have a copy of that. It isn't bad, it isn't great, but it is interesting. Nana Visitor (from Deep Space Nine) plays Ellen Dolan. I enjoyed it... what can I say? Like so many of us on this group, I like cheese!

Zorro, I have a copy of it as well. What it is, IMHO, is an uninspired TV movie loosely based on a source that could make an incredibly exciting, visually stunning movie. There were a few glimpses, but budget and lackluster, uneven direction doomed it.

Zorro, I have a copy of it as well. What it is, IMHO, is an uninspired TV movie loosely based on a source that could make an incredibly exciting, visually stunning movie. There were a few glimpses, but budget and lackluster, uneven direction doomed it.

Chris - haven't seen it since it's one airing in '87. I guess it wasn't as awful as I expected it to be - thereby making a somewhat positive impression. Sort of like the David Hasselhoff "Nick Fury" movie - cheezy as all get out - but not heartburn-inducing.

I wish Sam Raimi had been given a shot at the Spirit. Preferably a young, hungry Sam Raimi. I think he "got" the Spirit.

The way I feel about this movie is the same way I felt about Speed Racer: it's probably worth seeing regardless of how the source material has been treated (or "interpreted" if you will), simply for the sake of the imagery thrown up on the screen.

And I didn't see Speed Racer either. :)

I wasn't going to see Speed Racer, but when I did, I absolutely loved it. It's an absolute over-the-top joy to behold.

I wasn't going to see Speed Racer, but when I did, I absolutely loved it. It's an absolute over-the-top joy to behold.

I liked Speed Racer a lot too, it was definately "updated", however it was completely true to the spirit and feel of the original animated series. And it was respectful to the source. I saw it on it's theatrical run with my son, I was surprised how universally negative the reviews and word of mouth were, especially by people that hadn't seen it but were basing their opinions on the trailer. That's one of the reason's I got an open mind about Abram's new Trek movie.

I haven't seen The Spirit, but a friend of mine whose opinions about movies I generally agree with has, and his opinions could best be summed up with "Frank Miller oughta stick to drawing and writing". I had actually planned to catch it over the Christmas weekend, I was a big fan of Eisner in my youth, but his opinion and some other reviews make me think I'll wait till the library has it on DVD.

Harlan Ellison had a Spirit script floating around for years that read like it would be a good movie.

I liked Speed Racer a lot too, it was definately "updated", however it was completely true to the spirit and feel of the original animated series.


With one important difference: Spridle and Chim-Chim in the movie didn't inspire loathing.

With one important difference: Spridle and Chim-Chim in the movie didn't inspire loathing.

Movie opinions are a subjective thing, my seven-year old thinks they are both comic genius's.

I'm still waiting for that 'Hardcastle & McCormick meets Simon & Simon' big screen re-boot. Yeah, like THAT'll happen...

Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm............

I had always thought Universal Media Studios held on to the Buck Rogers property with an iron grip.

And as for Frank Miller - Robocop 2 and Robocop 3. 'Nuff said! :freak:

I doubt they would do it this way, however. That retro look is something I like, but it wouldn't likely be considered financially feasible. The most recent (to my memory) retro styled science fiction movie, Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow did not fare well at the box office.

I think the worst thing about Sky Captain was the soft focus--drove me crazy (or was it really in focus and I need glasses?).

The next to worst thing was the airplane that could swim. That was beyond ridiculous--not that the rest of the movie was based in reality but it was a jarring thing that killed the suspension of disbelief for me.

OTHERWISE, I really liked the movie a lot. The retro stuff was beyond coolness. But then, I'm a retro-geek anyway.:thumbsup:

I think the worst thing about Sky Captain was the soft focus--drove me crazy (or was it really in focus and I need glasses?).

The next to worst thing was the airplane that could swim. That was beyond ridiculous--not that the rest of the movie was based in reality but it was a jarring thing that killed the suspension of disbelief for me.

OTHERWISE, I really liked the movie a lot. The retro stuff was beyond coolness. But then, I'm a retro-geek anyway.:thumbsup:

I felt the exact same on the focus and submersible airplane issues. I didn't mind a little soft focus, but the whole thing was 'generated' that way. It was 'cringe time' watching the aircraft 'convert'. For a ten year old, I thought it would be great. Unfortunately, they were all on their Playstations.

Yet I loved the movie and expected it to do so much better (yet another reason I'm not in the business). The props, robots, locations, etc. were beautifully rendered. I've noticed that its generated a cult-like following similar to what started with with Blade Runner. I don't often feel sympathy for the crowd that brings us movies but in this case I do feel that it must be tough to bring a film that isn't appreciated until 20 years later. DVD, NetFlix and streaming revenue almost never make up from the front-loaded theatrical revenue % generated.

I agree with you guys about "Sky Captain".
However, I liked the flat, floating trucks.

Sky Captain: Looked great. Put me to sleep.

Now, when I watched Sky Captain, I hung forward over the seatback and front of me and watched it like I was a 12 year old again. I know that there are a lot of reality gaps in this, but when you look at nearly all of the gadgets and gizmos, it requires complete suspension of disbelief. I think that this film did a terrific job capturing the look and feel of movie serials from the 30's and 40's and I enjoyed it as it was presented.

I love pretending....it's lots of fun!

Bryan

I also enjoyed Sky Captain. You take a movie like that for what it is, let your hair down and you just might enjoy it as pure escapism. It's not trying to be The Godfather.

I also enjoyed Sky Captain.As did I, but I did roll my eyes at the diving fighter plane. I was totally okay with the tiny elephant (I want one; that would be the coolest pet ever!), but the plane was over the top.

Qapla'

SSB

I was totally okay with the tiny elephant (I want one; that would be the coolest pet ever!), but the plane was over the top.

Qapla'

SSB

I didn't like the elephant because it seemed a BLATANT rip off of the book, Jurassic Park. In the novel only, Hammond used a cat-sized elephant to get investors excited about his genetic work.

Would anyone have thought the submersible fighter over the top if they had seen it in a comic book, or cartoon? Because that is what Sky Captain is, a live action cartoon/comic book. I could buy the submersible fighter, what I didn't like was the magical retracting propeller blades. I would have had it just use the propeller for underwater travel also, or had the blades fold down against the fuselage.

I like the movie, it is one of the ones I watch when I'm feeling down, and want to watch something fun.

David.

I didn't like the elephant because it seemed a BLATANT rip off of the book, Jurassic Park. In the novel only, Hammond used a cat-sized elephant to get investors excited about his genetic work.I kind of thought the one in Sky Captain was a reference to the one in the Jurassic Park novel, honestly. The movie was crawling with references to other films, so why not a novel as well?

Qapla'

SSB