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Wizard World - A look at FANTASTIC FOUR

You convinced? by hauptman	Mar 20th, 2005 12:12:12 AM
I'm not, but I hope it's good
The best Fantastic Four news... by pulpculture	Mar 20th, 2005 12:18:44 AM
is that Marvel's best writer, Dan Slott ("She-Hulk") is writing a new THing solo ongoing series, set to debut later this year.
Must be said. by one-with-gun	Mar 20th, 2005 12:35:56 AM
Plant! ;)
FORTH... by Drworm2002	Mar 20th, 2005 12:36:52 AM
...fantastic
Why would anyone want to make Wonder Woman? by jimmy_009	Mar 20th, 2005 12:48:30 AM
The whole concept is cheesy beyond belief. She has a lasso that makes people tell the truth. Good god that's dumb.
Wasnt Wizard World by Dmann	Mar 20th, 2005 12:50:53 AM
A COMIC BOOK CONVENTION???? Did i miss something? Is it just movies now?
Wonder Woman dumb? WONDER WOMAN DUMB!? by Ribbons	Mar 20th, 2005 01:08:48 AM
Well, jimmy_009, if an Amazonian wearing a star-spangled jumpsuit is dumb, if an invisible biplane is dumb, then I suppose Wonder Woman is dumb. But I, for one...oh wait.
What a year for Alba. Next up: The instant arthouse smash INTO T by quantum_ken	Mar 20th, 2005 01:11:13 AM

BATMAN COMMERCIAL FOOTAGE ONLINE HERE by The Only Woj	Mar 20th, 2005 01:18:55 AM
http://www.protocolbat.s19.net / There are 4 different versions of a new commercial that you may be able to see by going through surveys here http://www.gozingsurveys.com/s urvey_site/index.asp? if it asks you about how often you go to see movies, then you're set, otherwise close it and pick the next 'live' survey if it's offered. you can keep bsing email addresses (since you never have to confirm if you bs your demographic info) ... I was able to see all 4 ... you get to see some Oldman in action in one (only about 3 seconds) ... but there is some great stuff ... Batman in the hallway with bats ... in the cave with bats all around him ... lots of Scarecrow ... especially the one with him on the horse and the horse breathing fire.
This really? isn"t anything? new by Dataset	Mar 20th, 2005 01:19:07 AM
?is it?
Those question marks aren?t annoying at all.... by Grando	Mar 20th, 2005 02:58:06 AM
And Wonder Woman is the most boring super hero in history.
????! ????, ???????. by Barrymore	Mar 20th, 2005 03:50:53 AM
?????. ...??? ? ?? ?? ? ??????, ?? ?????? ??? ??? ???? ???? ?? ??? ????, ?????? ?? ??? ????!
"I hope you guys get to see it in some form." by Archduke_Chocula	Mar 20th, 2005 04:26:17 AM
Well unless Cthulhu destroys every theatre in the world I don't think we have a problem there.
worstplantevereverver!!! by all	Mar 20th, 2005 04:44:36 AM
wow. no respect.
Check out Trina Robbins' take on Wonder Woman back in the '90s by truthseekr1488	Mar 20th, 2005 08:01:22 AM
She did a short run of the comic book series and gave it a sort of retro-1930s, art deco look with a decidedly feminist slant (fwiw). I don't know how that might translate to film but it was the best WW ever and the only time I collected the comic. www.trinarobbins.com or www.wonderwomanmuseum.com (Yes, it's real!)
low hopes... by jccalhoun	Mar 20th, 2005 09:40:15 AM
If this doesn't make Daredevil look like Shakespeare, I'll eat my hat. As far as Wonder Woman, here in Bloomington, IN there is a public access version of of Wonder Woman starring all drag queens that is pure camp joy.
Well, if it's bad, at least we have The Incredibles... by supreme nothing	Mar 20th, 2005 10:21:54 AM
The Silver Age Fantastic Four are easily one of my absolute most beloved comic icons. It pains me to think this might be an awful movie. But watching my DVD of The Incredibles affirms to me that somebody captured exactly what I wanted a Fantastic Four movie to be, so I'll be grateful for that... Maybe Marvel should aproach PIXAR, hmmmmm....
.....FF, Wonder Woman by Mr Chuff	Mar 20th, 2005 10:22:31 AM
WANK - all of it.
I'll expand... by Mr Chuff	Mar 20th, 2005 10:25:04 AM
My previous post was a little short and didnt explain a lot so... FF looks like its going to be bad. Bad in a kind of "thats the end of comic book movies" kinda way. Wonder Woman? Okay I used to watch it when I was a nipper but how can they make it A) Interesting B) Not camp as tits and C)... well, how CAN they make it??
Someone explain why you'd take a chick as hot as Jessica Alba... by Batutta	Mar 20th, 2005 11:26:02 AM
...AND MAKE HER INVISIBLE!!!
WizardWorld is... by NeoAngelus	Mar 20th, 2005 01:23:41 PM
...really more of a comics and pop culture convention. It's not 100% exclusive to comics. I went to WizardWorld Chicago in 2001. They had videogames, TV and movie stuff going on. Not to mention a signing with WWE's Al Snow, TV's Michael Rosenbaum and a bunch of other people. It's really fun. I can't wait for Boston's first one this year!
Superherohype.com is saying that Man-Wolf and Venom are the next by screenplaywriter	Mar 20th, 2005 01:45:09 PM
Venom was expected due to the fan basis he has and also using the trend of having Spider-Man's greatest foes face him it'll be an awesome sequel. But why Man-Wolf? Is it because John Jameson played a role in the last movie and plays a role in this one because of his discovery of the symboite? I personally would've loved to seen The Lizard and Venom, or Venom and Carnage onscreen and then leave the movie with a cliffhanger where as soon as Pete and M.J. are about to say "I Do" at their wedding, Harry comes gliding in, pumpkin bombs flying everywhere blowing up pews, frightening guests, just a mass panic, and he says like some line like, "I'm back!" or "She doesn't!" or "Hello Spider-Man..." I think that would be cool. And the fourth movie should have The Vulture and Rhino, or a Sandman and Hydroman team-up, or just go back to a single villian and have Kraven the Hunter.
Tom Cruise and Spielberg's message to the fans by AssEyes	Mar 20th, 2005 02:53:32 PM
If anyone was there, what did they say? It's awesome that they'd respect the fans like that.
Are they going to make Wondar Woman a man? by Nice Marmot	Mar 20th, 2005 03:28:58 PM

Nice Marmot, "Are they going to make Wondar Woman a man?" by Immortal_Fish	Mar 20th, 2005 06:51:46 PM
Why not? Worthington will be.
The Reason Why FF will suck... by jasper Stillwell	Mar 20th, 2005 08:03:47 PM
Because when I think of all those Kirby, (and even Buscema), strips from the 60s and 70s they had an individual look and sense of framing that, from what I have seen of this film so far, will go nowhere near to invoking. I have yet to understand why Tim Story has been chosen for this. His track record maybe sound in a crowd-pleasing commercial sense but I see from him no sense of real vision or any attempt to impose a unique, individual sensibility on this. Which this film so dearly needs. The film will look, move, feel, designed, edited and will generally conform to what a 'superhero movie' is supposed to look like...rather than taking all those wonderful Kirby character perspectives, out-of-control machinery designs and so on and then making the Fantstic Four stand out from every other comic book adaption. That to me is a missed opportunity and confirms that really they should have just had the guts to set the thing in 1965 and really set the film apart. The fun you could have with 60s soundtrack choices, cultural in-jokes etc would also add to the look and feel of the piece...mind you...anyone else here really looking forward to a Sub-Mariner film? Really? Also Kraven and Lizard for Spiderman 3...Venom is too big a leap in terms of credibility at this stage.
...oh and... by jasper Stillwell	Mar 20th, 2005 08:07:38 PM
If the FF gets that far I'd like a Negative Zone/Annihilus sequel...save Galactus for later...but then this kind of sound decision making is probably why I'm not running a major studio.
Jasper, "I have yet to understand why Tim Story has been chosen by Immortal_Fish	Mar 20th, 2005 08:44:53 PM
Great post. Love it when folks inspire dialog instead of hate on the TB. Too much of that. Anyhow, Story's record has been good fodder IMHO. Given Barbershop, he "gets" the family dynamic sorely needed in a FF flick -- opposing personas that all align to rise above a common conflict. I don't care that he's black and Barbershop was riddled with 'urban' roots. Synergy is still there. What bothers me the most are the apologists that claim the Thing is still spot on -- that he's lumpy is in-line with Kirby's original telling. Hnmh. Just like Doom's organic skin, i guess.
11 years to get the script right?!! by Ivan_Mtl	Mar 20th, 2005 08:52:20 PM
Avi Arad said... "it took 11 years to get effects technology where it needed to be for the film, plus that amount of time to get the script right." Uh... excuse me, but everything I have seen and read about this film indicates to me that they certainly did NOT get the script right. This is a Fantastic Four film in name only. The script that was written for the Roger Cormnan version was MUCH more faithful in spirit to its source material. If this is the best that they can do after 11 years, I would be willing to wait another 11 to actually get it right.
What they said by Lukecash	Mar 20th, 2005 09:40:25 PM
I was there.. it was pretty nice what they said. First of all Spielberg said they were glad that they had a chance to show this to comic fans, as they would appreciate what they were trying to do with this movie. Tome said that our type of people are the backbone of what they do. They were being very nice. Nothing big. If I hadn't seen Spielberge act like such a geek on the doccumentraries on Raiders DVD, I would have thought he was thinking "I'm kissing geek ass."
Batman was the hit of the con by Lukecash	Mar 20th, 2005 09:47:44 PM
What they showed of the Batman reel was good. First of all, while we have seen some of the images before... they actually showed more of the "context" of what the scenes takes place. They showed HOW big of influence that Thomas Wayne was on his son. Thomas Wayne actually talks to Bruce about fear...and why people act the way they do with fear. It showed WHY Wayne left Gotham... it showed WHY he would wear the suit. It showed Ras as goul.. THEy showed the SUIT in action... and it lOOKS great! The batmobile trully rocks. And the Scarecrow... well the scarcrow was very nicely done. They showed some of his fear gas on Batman.
Too bad FF didn't have the balls to do something different by Gheorghe Zamfir	Mar 20th, 2005 10:25:29 PM
I remember the first draft of the script, way back, before Peyton Reed even (who I thought would have been perfect to direct FF), the script was described as kind of a superhero Hard Days Night, that just sounds interesting, at least more so than the standard superhero entry this flick is looking like it will be.
I wish people would stop with the Tim Story bashing. by The Founder	Mar 20th, 2005 10:30:28 PM
This film will suck because of Marvel more then anyone else. marvel is the ones who know how this film should be, marvel is the one who let FOX micromanage this film where it won't have any since of awe, marvel is the one who whored out their properties to make big bucks, Marvel is the one to blame above all else. I've said this time and time before that Story was a small director who the FOX broght in to direct a film under their orders and direction, and not his. It's FOX who wants a certain fomula, it's FOX who want this film to copy other comic films. Believe they have a checklist of do's and don't based off of previous comic films. it's FOX's micro maneging that will be the reason this film will more then likly not have any imagination, awesome visuals, and originality. Both FOX and Marvel know this, it's why they panicked over that lil Bridge sequence from WOTW that aired during the Superbowl that made them move the FF.
I say... by InZodWeTrust	Mar 20th, 2005 10:47:01 PM
It will be good, and there'll be more positive reaction/reviews than negative. It'll be X-Men -Lite and it'll bring in all its bank off of the merchandise. I wonder if it'll last into Christmas...
They're gonna do an edgy, hip-hop, urban take. "RuPaul is . . . by HanFiredFirst	Mar 20th, 2005 11:42:46 PM
And it'll be set in the '70s to capitalize on that retro thing which is about five years old by now.
Hats off to both japerstillwell AND The Founder by Ribbons	Mar 21st, 2005 02:06:36 AM
Although I don't necessarily know what the fate of this movie will be, I do get the sense that Story has no specific visual sensibility. I accept that Marvel courted him for his knack for characterization within ensemble pieces, but his lack of technical proficiency, coupled with the confession that he delegated a lot of action scenes to the second unit directors (veterans of, surprise surprise, 'X2'), means he probably surrendered the general look of the FF Universe to Fox lackeys before, as is their wont, they shipped him off to Canada. Of course, Bryan Singer was probably hired for similiar reasons and he didn't really get much control over the direction of the X-Men franchise until the second film, but 'Fantastic Four' is on very shaky ground and might not even earn itself a sequel without crew members losing jobs and even if it were to succeed, I doubt (maybe fear) that Story would do anything differently than he has this go 'round. While he is very good at establishing characters and probaby directing actors in that regard, you could say it's his specialty: his role as a storyteller is probably limited to that particular capacity, and he could care less what the script is (this is, after all, the man who directed 'Taxi,' also for Fox), who the production designer, composer, or editors are; I'm also wondering whether or not Bryan Singer's remarks in the latest issue of "Wizard" aren't veiled criticisms of Fox's policy towards superhero moviemaking ("they just sort of shove a technician in there"). I'm beginning to think that the success of 'X-Men' and (to me anyway) 'From Hell' was a mistake; otherwise Fox's track record is pretty dismal. Even if a pleasant surprise, it's probably in the cards for 'Fantastic Four' to look, feel, and be dismissed as something assembled by commitee, and justifiably so. The best thing I can say, I suppose, is that if ever any one superhero property required a strong ensemble director to succeed, it's 'Fantastic Four.' Unfortunately, it could have used a lot more than that. Then again, this is all preemptive. I have no idea whether any of these shortcomings in Story's approach to filmmaking will even be a severe problem. Fingers crossed, but we'll see. If we're going to second guess a man, at least we're learning to do it for legitimate reasons and not because he directed "that black movie" or "he's popular with the kiddies" or some inane shit like that. By the way, who says he's popular with the kiddies? We're all a bunch of cantankerous coots, it seems. Anyway, I feel like I've been writing for days, so I'm gonna take off now and probably regret this in the morning. Peace.
"First was Amityville Horror, but thanks to L.A. traffic I mis by SalvatoreGravano	Mar 21st, 2005 07:17:46 AM
You lucky man, you! Did you at least thank the Los Angeles traffic?
Isn't it cool that comics are cool? by Cerebud	Mar 21st, 2005 09:40:01 AM
How great is it that Spielberg and Cruise filmed a greeting for the Wizard World audience? I remember how cool it was that some REAL HOLLYWOOD TYPES filmed a greeting a few years ago to promote their flick MYSTERYMEN. Remember that? Ben Stiller and Jeneane Garafolo, etc filmed something. Now everyone in Hollywood is aware of how cool comics are. My younger self is in awe everytime I hear cool famous people talking about how great it is to be in a Frank Miller Sin City movie or something. I love it.
Avi Arad paraphrasing George Lucas in regards to the special fx by Monkey_King	Mar 21st, 2005 09:48:21 AM
how original. Next he'll be quotes as saying he wants to make multi-level films for Marvel fans and take credit for directing 'Howard the Duck.'
Setting the FF film in the 1960s would have been brilliant! by Voice O. Reason	Mar 21st, 2005 09:59:39 AM
Or, at least, it would have made the film unique. As it stands, too many people will compare this movie to everyone's favorite FF rip-off, "the Incredibles".
Kate Beckinsale as Wonder Woman by Big Jim	Mar 21st, 2005 10:39:35 AM
As for the FF, I too would love to see the Galactus/Silver Surfer story. However, that probably won't happen in an FF movie. I believe the Silver Surfer character is already contracted to some production company. We've all heard the rumours of Vin Diesel as the Surfer. Anyway, those with the FF characters probably don't have access to the Silver Surfer so if they use Galactus it will be without Norin Radd. Same reason why there will probably never be a live-action Justice League movie (with Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman), or live-action Avengers (unless they don't use Cap & Iron Man). Too many different production companies with the film rights to only one or two characters. And why make one movie with 3 great characters when you can make 3 movies and make 3 times as much money?
Hats off to all above! by jasper Stillwell	Mar 21st, 2005 10:50:46 AM
Yeah, agreed I have no personal beef with Story per se and wish him the best of luck (I just pray he gives us the FF film we've all been waiting for...) . In fact I recall all the Singer-bashing before (and after) X-Men becuase he didn't give us another rehash of the very-quickly-dated-Matrix-stly e aesthetic in terms of visuals etc. Keeping it direct and Classical in approach means we'll be talking about those films in positive terms in years to come. This peice does need strong character dynamics but also it has as a gift in having one of the strongest sets of visual ideas within the Marvel universe. Just seems such a shame to bypass all of that. But as regards the committee-style filmmaking, agreed also...a real hindrance to creative expression and individuality in mainstream cinema but I was pleased to see that Raimi managed to check Ditko, Romita etc in both Spiedrman films and create a 'feel' for those films becuase he's a strong enough visionary to implement them. And yes, the 'Hard Day's Night' idea sounded just about right for this as a first movie and I hope some of that will remain...hang on...I'm banging on a bit here...I need to see some daylight!
Tim Story by Bob Parr	Mar 21st, 2005 12:22:08 PM
I never understood the hate and venom aimed at Tim Story. I don't see how the films of Peyton Reed would make him a better choice (Bring It On?) for the FF movie. I have said before that it is very possible that Story made the best possible movie from the Taxi script and a studio that thought casting Jimmy Fallon as a cop was a good idea. My prediction is not that the movie will suck, just that it will probably be average. Another example of studios developing something to death.
So, when are the Marvel movie characters going to start crossing by Htown	Mar 21st, 2005 02:47:31 PM
As we all know, that's always been one of the best things about Marvel - the shared universe. How long until we get a movie that admits the Marvel characters exist in the same universe? Or has it already happened in a moment I missed? What would be a suitable worldwide threat from the comics to bring them all into the fight?
The cross-over universe will happen when pigs fly or when the Ki by screenplaywriter	Mar 21st, 2005 03:23:18 PM
I mean I personally don't mind if Michael Clark Duncan is the Kingpin or not, but Raimi said he would've loved to have had the Kingpin in one of the Spider-Man movies, but because FOX owns the character rights it won't be possible until contract disputes are settled. Gotta love the film business.
The Marvel characters WON'T cross-over. by ZeroCorpse	Mar 21st, 2005 05:57:05 PM
The problem is that the rights are tied up in a dozen different places. Spidey is Sony, X-Men is FOX, etc. There's no legal room to do it.
One Marvel crossover WILL happen if they have anything to say ab by Ribbons	Mar 21st, 2005 07:00:53 PM
Silver Surfer and Fantastic Four. It's not a coincidence that both properties are docked at Fox.
"Kate Beckinsale as Wonder Woman" by Voice O. Reason	Mar 21st, 2005 08:31:49 PM
I can totally see that.
Well I saw the Footage of FF from ShoWest, and it looked pretty by The Founder	Mar 22nd, 2005 02:57:43 AM
but i doubt it. Look This is a committee driven film period, and story was brought on board to just direct. The thought of sticking technical people in places they don't belong is asinine. The director's overall vision and stamp should be on a film and not a horde of creative people. What you get is a film that has no one sense of creativity or style. It's all over the place. Now that may not always be a bad thing, cause sometimesa think tank of different ideas can work well together, well just have to see if it works with the F4. I think F4 needs a director who will place his stamp on it. I'm not surprised to hear that a lot of people from x2 is working on this film, and some of the action sequences are being handed to others to tackle instead of a new director like Story. I also call it Hollywwod trying to squeeze out the big name directors in order to save money and stifle creative control, while some black suit execs put their input in on the creative side of film making where it has no business being. At anyrate the ShoWest footage looks damn good, and while Alba is still not Sue, she's appears to have the part down. I can't say if the F4 will be good, but I'm not going to lie, I'll be there to check it out.
I just watched the Incredibles DVD by cookylamoo	Mar 24th, 2005 04:24:51 PM
And I would have liked to have heard Brad Bird defend ripping off his characters from the Fantastic Four. I mean sure, you could say that stretching and super-strength are pretty generic, but creating force friends and turning invisble pretty much point to one specific character. And he gave the torch's powers to the baby. Brad, you're just a big fat thief.

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Wizard World - A look at FANTASTIC FOUR

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