Brandon Routh gets it

November 1st, 2008

IESB.net spoke to Brandon Routh about Superman being a darker character in the next Superman film and this is what he had to say:

“I don’t know, I don’t think the character necessarily has to be darker, I think he is kind of dark in a sense, emotional dark, in Superman Returns, and the movie as a whole was slightly dark, they could have had more prowess in it I suppose, and I think that’s one thing that can be done in the sequel, so I don’t know how much darker you want to make it necessarily. You make the stakes higher, you make the villain darker, I think that’s a way to do it. But I don’t think Superman himself needs to be darker. He definitely has to struggle, how does Superman be a part of the world? And does he have to make sacrifices to be a part of that world? To fit in and what purpose does he really play in the world? Those are all kind of dark places to explore. But, I don’t think Superman should ever be dark and brooding, that’s not is nature. And that’s now what people what to see. Like Brainiac or something like that, a situation when the villain is…”

Bravo Mr Routh gets it, now if only the powers that be would relise that The Dark Knight worked as a darker film simply because that is the essence of the Batman world and character.  To say that darker will work with other characters is simplistic at best, and downright stupid moneygrubbing mentality at its worst.  Oh Batman was dark and he made a lot of money, lets make everyone darker.

How about you just write the best story for the character and treat the film like you would one going for an Academy Award.  These are important iconic characters that have a place in fine film (of course lets not remember that film is a fun medium too).

But kudos to Brandon Routh.

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Third Bale Batman villain suggestion: Killer Croc?

August 11th, 2008

OK I have been racking my brain trying to work out who would be a really cool villain for the third Bale Batman movie and I keep drawing blanks, well not really but I keep dismissing the ones I’m coming up with.

There are rumours that Catwoman will be making an appearance, I don’t quite see her as a full fledged villain as she has always walked that very fine line and besides she is simply a jewel thief (no she doesn’t steal barefoot blond singers… ooooooh obscure).   At the very least she isn’t enough to really carry a film, not on her own, especially with what has come before.   I mean great character in Batman Returns but this is a whole different bat bag.

I thought maybe the Riddler given a make over and taken seriously but I’m not convinced.

The other villain I was thinking after watching the anime Gotham Knights is Killer Croc but given the big screen makeover, it would be really hard but maybe it’s doable, of course I worry it may just be a Penguin clone story from Batman Begins again.   Off-cast mutant kind of dude type of thing.

Of course again the story has to be impressive enough to top Dark Knight and I’m not sure that Killer Croc can do it.

Just not Bane, oh god I couldn’t take any more of that shit, Bane never impressed me as a villain and Batman and Robin sure as hell proved that he can really look like a tool on the big screen.

So who do you guys and girls think?   Let’s put some predictions out there and see how we go!

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Top Five better sequels

August 8th, 2008

Everyone says that a sequel is never quite as good as the original and for a lot of franchises I would agree.   But there are a growing number of sequels that are not only equalling but surpassing their predecessors.   This week’s top five takes a look at those sequels.   Unfortunately Speed 2 will not be on the list.

  1. Terminator 2 - I love the original film but T2 is so much better.   The first film is raw and gritty and ground breaking but the sequel is so much more well rounded and fun.   The film is simply more entertaining and watchable.   A valid point though is that it is only so good because it builds upon the groundwork set down by the original.   Sarah has grown and really is the pivotal character a problem faced by T3 with her absence.
  2. The Dark Knight - Another film that built upon the foundation of an excellent previous entry,   The Dark Knight isn’t bogged down in the origin story and therefore can really stretch the characters and story.   Again at the end of the day the film is just better.
  3. Empire Strikes Back - An easy choice, clearly the best of all the Star Wars films.   It was almost like the actors were just warming up in the first and are truly comfortable come the second.   Who doesn’t love Han shooting at Vader?   Or the epic ‘I am your father’ scene?
  4. Spider-Man 2 - Generally I dislike origin films anyway and as good as Spider-Man was the sequel is so much more well rounded, better villain, established hero, not too heavy, not too light… just right.
  5. Wrath of Khan - Compare it to the original theatrical release of Star Trek: The Motion Picture (the re-released Director’s Cut was much better) Star Trek 2 is light years ahead.   The pacing, the battles, the uniforms!! It was a much more personal story, the V’Ger storyline is just too huge and sweeping, we are never in any doubt that Kirk is going to kick the space cloud of boredom’s arse.   It’s just a matter of when.   In WoK there is real tension and of course not everybody makes it back safely.

Now I know there are those of you who are are howling about the omission of Aliens and The Godfather 2.   Just settle on down, I didn’t put them in because I consider them equals to their predecessors.   Alien and Godfather 1 are excellent films on par with their sequels.

So apart from those two what other sequels are better than the first?

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