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John Landis Directing William Gaines Biopic? Pinch Me!

Jett -Read before you post by Aloy	Feb 15th, 2008 06:50:28 AM
It's all there. The famous publisher of Mad magazine and the incredibly cool Tales From the Crypt
Come on Landis, put the band back together by DC Films	Feb 15th, 2008 06:56:38 AM
Be great to see this one-time filmmaking genius get his act together. All those 70's/80's crowd of Carpenter, Romero, Walter Hill, seem to have lost the plot - i'd love to see Carpenter back on form, showing the Ratners how to really make movies again.
Who the hell is Jett??!! by LordPorkington	Feb 15th, 2008 07:11:03 AM
Oh, he's the mook who just jumped into the Feedback to post something without actually bothering to read the article. Very smart...
Apologies to Jett... by LordPorkington	Feb 15th, 2008 07:12:57 AM
I didn't realise that you were an illiterate mook. Now I just pity you. I hope that makes you feel a little better sir.
Sweeeeeeeeeeetttttttttttttt!!!!! !!!! by HarryBlackPotter	Feb 15th, 2008 07:29:55 AM
Love EC comics. Love Landis.
I hereby declare... by LordPorkington	Feb 15th, 2008 07:32:47 AM
... that Jett is the manliest man who ever, errrrr, manned in Mandom? There. That should sort this whole ugly mess of a situation out. Problem solved.
Harry should play William M. Gains... by PROF IKAMONO	Feb 15th, 2008 07:34:42 AM
... and the film should be called "What, Me Worry?"
"Mr. Warmth" was a very good documentary... by tonagan	Feb 15th, 2008 08:19:25 AM
Even if you hate Don Rickles, it gives you a good sense of what Vegas was like back in the day.
I'm more interested in an M.C. Gainey biopic by ShiftyEyedDog2	Feb 15th, 2008 08:49:35 AM
Not that I'm particularly interested in Mr. Friendly. I just couldn't have less interest in THIS movie. ...and of all the (many many) scoops you've been out-scooped on, THIS is the on you consider a "fuck-up"??!?
DC Films by moviemaniac-7	Feb 15th, 2008 09:31:51 AM
I don't know if they lost the plot or just lost the ability to get funding for their movies... I'd love to see them all at work at their fullest. But this is good news. Landis doing a Gaines bio. Might work and should be hilarious. I hope.
without any disrespect to Gaines... by m2298	Feb 15th, 2008 09:46:25 AM
the film would have to stress founder Harvey Kurtzman, editor of MAD when it aws a comic book, as well as others like Al Feldstein. Probably a whole film on EC Comics in general and the censorship they (and other crime and horror publishers)led to would be more intersting.
He had a fascinating life by BenBraddock	Feb 15th, 2008 09:48:39 AM
Could be a good movie. No one will see it, but..
Gaines vs. Congress by TheContinentalOp	Feb 15th, 2008 09:49:38 AM
Ever see the footage of Gaines defending our right to enjoy gore and violence in art? It is positively moving. This man was the only publisher to stand up against the witch-hunting anti-comics movement while all the others caved and removed all of the adult content from their books. He's a goddamn hero. I don't normally like biopics, but if they limit themselves to the topic of Gaines vs. Censorship and throw in some Landis irreverance and some recreations of old EC stories, this should be a good one.
Who's playing Harvey Kurtzman? by Tacom	Feb 15th, 2008 09:53:35 AM
He better have a huge role in it.
EMO films? Will it be about sad poetry and black mascara? by ELGordo	Feb 15th, 2008 09:55:16 AM
No this sounds good. I've been waiting for a new Landis film for a long time.
Talk about your limited audience! by ShiftyEyedDog2	Feb 15th, 2008 10:03:34 AM
Who the F is William Gaines? No disrespect to whoever he is, or anyone who is into him, but this sounds like a flick whose box office can only be rivaled by such blockbusters as Crumb and American Splendor - maybe good flicks, but very few people actually cared to see 'em.
Will there be fantasy sequences by skimn	Feb 15th, 2008 10:11:05 AM
ala Dream On? Visions of Alfred E and the Cryptkeeper dancing in his head? I'll always love the Simpsons episode when Bart visits the Mad magazine office. Nice touch Matt G.
The real question is... by JustinSane	Feb 15th, 2008 10:25:34 AM
...will an issue of Tales From the Crypt have CGI pants in the trailer?
Sounds more along the lines of by skimn	Feb 15th, 2008 11:04:26 AM
The People Vs Larry Flynt..
Any helicopters in this movie? by batzilla	Feb 15th, 2008 11:23:21 AM
well...?
Michael Jackson's Thriller... by superduper3000	Feb 15th, 2008 11:46:38 AM
Hey, I just picked up the 25th anniversary of Thriller, which has Landis' hands all over the place (even the front cover...nice zombies). Anyone else think that was his best work? Seriously? Thriller rocked...I want my old-school Landis back!! http://tinyurl.com/ysm7hg
About time someone made a movie like this by wash	Feb 15th, 2008 11:48:20 AM
Don't fuck it up Landis.
Who will play Don Martin and Dave Berg? by Sith Angel	Feb 15th, 2008 12:05:53 PM

Landis, Carpenter, et al by ShiftyEyedDog2	Feb 15th, 2008 12:17:50 PM
Overrated directors. Their stuff is B-movie shlock at best, which does have its place for campy fun, but dont go trying to call them great filmmakers.
MAD went straight downhill when he died. by FleshMachine	Feb 15th, 2008 12:31:30 PM
used to be so great...have you seen an issue recently...ads, colour, crass (yes crass, MAD had a certain subtle class to it..it never, to my memory, printed the work "fart" for instance..and didnt need to...anything goes now.) BLECCH!
Shifty by Knuckleduster	Feb 15th, 2008 12:53:44 PM
I don't like you very much now.
Need a whole movie just for Nick Meglin by Mgmax	Feb 15th, 2008 12:56:57 PM
Potrzebie.
JOHN LANDIS IS A MURDERER!!! by Kid Idioteque	Feb 15th, 2008 01:14:13 PM
LOL, not really. I just wanted to sound like every second poster on his IMDB page. But seriously. He's not a good director. At all. RIP Vic Morrow.
Stan Lee by skimn	Feb 15th, 2008 01:23:48 PM
Who should play Stan Lee?? That guy on G4 who does "The Stan Lee Experience"..."So I've got Jack Kirby's wife bent over my desk, and I'm fucking her up the ass..."
Drew -- absent-minded, Professor? by TheRealRatigan	Feb 15th, 2008 01:35:25 PM
I can distinctly remember you making a post here where you asserted (and rightly) that Landis was responsible for what happened on his TWILIGHT ZONE set. Your unmistakable point was that John Landis has blood on his hands, and I'm not sure you didn't use those words exactly. And you said so for the record. And with your unabashed endorsement of the artist, not just his work, you conveniently leave that behind you. More significantly, you consciously allow Landis to leave it behind him, a luxury that he doesn't deserve.
Eek. by Tourist	Feb 15th, 2008 01:51:54 PM
Landis' involvement, HBO, sounds like a telemovie. I think American Splendour was at some point too, so thats not a problem. Back in the day, I think Landis could have nailed this, but not anymore. Its too much like a real film. I really dont think this will be anything worth watching.
MAD died when it accepted advertising... by christian66	Feb 15th, 2008 01:59:37 PM
MAD taught me how to not trust advertising. Once it went color with ads, it became ball-less and resorted to the kind of gross jokes that only moronic Americans love. "Hee fart jokes!"
Yes. by SebastianHaff	Feb 15th, 2008 01:59:59 PM
This is awesome. Simple as that.
John Landis IS genre filmmaking by rune_spell	Feb 15th, 2008 02:11:07 PM
I'm sick of everyone defaming Landis. Who cares if someone died on his set, no offense to those who died, but the bigger point is...shit happens. Landis is one of the greatest genre filmmakers ever. And he's seen more and knows more about movies then almost all of the armchair film critics on here bashing him. If anyone's ever bothered to read an in-depth interview with him, such as the one in the movie issue of Twilight Zone Magazine, you'd find out he loves movies more than almost anyone, more than Harry, more than you. The bottom line is, Landis is great, EC Comics are some of the best ever all-around, therefore this movie could be great. To all those who just don't get it, go watch one of your crappy pseudo-indie flicks like Rocket Science or Squid and the Whale. Now that's schlock! The bad kind. Want to see some good intentional schlock, well...watch SCHLOCK! by who else? John MF'n Landis.
Walter Hill by palimpsest	Feb 15th, 2008 02:16:04 PM
HARD TIMES, THE DRIVER, THE WARRIORS, THE LONG RIDERS, SOUTHERN COMFORT, 48 HOURS, EXTREME PREJUDICE...those, my friends are manly movies made by and for manly men. Plus he got an awesome performance out of Mickey Rourke in JOHNNY HANDSOME. That's it. Tonight it's a double bill of SOUTHERN COMFORT and EXTREME PREJUDICE. Powers Boothe for President in 2012.
Oh yeah... by Tourist	Feb 15th, 2008 02:23:22 PM
...Didn't Moriarty say he wouldn't watch a Landis film again or something along those lines? Forgive and forget I suppose.
HELL YES by Theta	Feb 15th, 2008 02:31:41 PM
OK, yeah, I think I have a stiffy right now. Done right this could be amazing, especially considering the Gaines family history and the absolute clusterfuck that was the HUAC hearings and the creation of the Comics Code.
i couldn`t care by Mr.Flange	Feb 15th, 2008 02:39:45 PM
fucking less!!
rune_spell by Knuckleduster	Feb 15th, 2008 02:40:31 PM
I completely agree. Except for the bit where you badmouth The Squid And The Whale (it's a pretty awesome movie, in my opinion). But, yeah, Landis' movies have influenced just about every genre filmmaker alive. The man deserves more respect. And Three Amigos rules!
When was the last time Landis made a good film? by Rev. Slappy	Feb 15th, 2008 02:42:57 PM
Reagan was president, right? Beverly Hills Cop III is one of the worst movies of all time. I think it would be more exciting news if Landis retired.
AND Walter Hill by skimn	Feb 15th, 2008 03:37:43 PM
directed AMC's Emmy winning Broken Trail with the great Robert Duvall. Never saw it but it looked like a great old scholl western.
Perfect fit by slone13	Feb 15th, 2008 03:45:54 PM
Joe Dante would have been good, too.
Hold on...Fuck off by Musicballs	Feb 15th, 2008 04:08:32 PM

MUCH more interesting would be a Lee/Kirby movie by CarmillaVonDoom	Feb 15th, 2008 04:25:08 PM
Get Jason Lee to play Stan Lee; not too sure who to cast as THE KING
Jim Henson was a dick by thegreatwhatzit	Feb 15th, 2008 04:47:53 PM
Yes, he was a genius and Henson deserves every laudatory review that he earned. A true renascent man. But he was a dick. My former girlfriend, who was (literally) breathless about meeting with Henson, negotiated a couple of 10-minute windows for a rendezvous. And the guy was mean-spirited, really cruising on ego. I was disappointed but she's still shattered. In regard to the Landis movie, check-out the hardcover book, "The Mad World of William M. Gaines" (1972). Gaines' life had a bit of ANIMAL HOUSE hubris, what with censorship, et al. I think Landis can pull if off...
Fuck Flynt by thegreatwhatzit	Feb 15th, 2008 04:57:46 PM
Yeah, like ED WOOD, the Gaines film will not be a blockbuster (the movie can be shot on the cheap). But, similar to ED WOOD, it will likely develop more than cult adulation. And Gaines was much more of a pioneering influence than that asshole, Larry Flynt. Gaines fought from the gut, he was impassioned about eroding the whole "Seduction of the Innocent" facade. Flynt fought for the pocketbook, he loves the limelight. Fuck Flynt.
Sounds interesting, loved Gaines' work by bswise	Feb 15th, 2008 05:19:31 PM
Just as long as it's not like your typical Hollywood biopic, what with their hardscrabble childhood incidents, misunderstanding first wives and girlfriends, ridiculous celebrity cameos, and soooo many montages collapsing soooo much time. I'M TALKIN' TO YOU SCORCESE, MANGOLD, HACKFORD, etc., etc., etc....
Somebody tell Landis to cast Seth Rogan immediately. by Matango!	Feb 15th, 2008 05:27:46 PM
I mean now, dangit!
Could be absolutely amazing if handled the right way ... by KnightShift	Feb 15th, 2008 06:25:22 PM
I've seen the footage of Gaines before Congress too, and you would not believe that this is the same man behind MAD Magazine. Gaines on the stand was positively eloquent and steadfast. Yeah this could easily turn into a rehash of The People vs Larry Flynt if the whole movie focuses on that aspect of Gaines' career but I hope they cover more ground, especially how hard he went to bat for MAD against Warner Bros after they had taken over ownership. Long story short: after the Warner execs saw how crazy the MAD staff was and how tight-knit they were with Gaines, they pretty much let Gaines do whatever the heck he wanted with his magazine. This movie NEEDS the scene where the MAD writers and artists sing "F--- You Bill" to the tune of "Over There"!
An EPIC storyline.. by Odkin	Feb 15th, 2008 10:14:08 PM
Loser kid whose industry founder father dies in accident. Kid inherits failing crappy Educational Comics business. Hooks up with Feldstein, who helps save it with horror and SF. Kurtzman lurking in backround playing 5th wheel, whining that he doesn't make enough money on his low-sales war books. Gaines offhandedly says "start a humor mag". Mad takes off while the rest of business crashes in witchhunt. Everything dies but Mad. In despair, Gaines forced to lay-off Feldstein, who brought him his former riches, while keeping Kurtzman because of Mad. Kurtzman, kicking Gaines while he's down, demands 51% of Mad. Gaines fires him, and bring backs Feldstein. Success again! Mad now rockets to enormous success! Kurtzman reduced to low-grade porno.
Does this mean... by Tal111	Feb 15th, 2008 11:30:00 PM
that the Vic Morrow story directed by Landis gets pushed back even farther?
Matango may be right by James Westfall	Feb 15th, 2008 11:57:53 PM
Seth Rogen might be able to pull this role off. Good call.
Land is directs: COMBAT! THE MOVIE by Uncapie	Feb 16th, 2008 12:56:19 AM
Vic Morrow's head on an M-1 tank! "Aw-right! Move out!"
Vic Morrow by Seth Gecko	Feb 16th, 2008 01:27:06 AM
Google it. See Landis' contribution to on set mortalities. Vic Morrow was decapitated by a chopper blade on the set of the Twilight zone movie. Shocking and sad. The actual death is on you tube. It is shocking beyond words.
Vic Morrow by Seth Gecko	Feb 16th, 2008 01:32:25 AM
And no, for the record I couldn't and would never watch the footage of his death. The description I read in the court case was enough. Jennifer Jason Leigh is Vic Morrow's daughter for the record.
This'll Be Great by Evil Chicken	Feb 16th, 2008 06:53:35 AM
Much love, Mr. Landis, much love. This will be a great story and good history lesson. An entire mode of telling stories was almost completely annihilated. How could you not love the EC reprints? Nice.
I`d rather by Mr.Flange	Feb 16th, 2008 07:02:58 AM
watch dave lee travis play macbeth
Biopics by skimn	Feb 16th, 2008 01:21:24 PM
The HBO Peter Sellers with Geoffrey Rush was pretty sweet...
I went as by GhostDad	Feb 16th, 2008 07:29:23 PM
Vic Morrow for halloween. I was decapitated and had two decapitated child size dolls. My friend went as Landis.. all he did was put blood on his hands and scream about how it won't come off. Seriously, F Landis.
ALSO by GhostDad	Feb 16th, 2008 07:37:35 PM
Landis came in to speak to classes at NYU when Iw as there and we were instructed not to ask him about the Twilight Zone movie. Then he showed footage from Blues Brothers 2000 and talked about how it was ruined by the studio.
Last by Pariah74	Feb 17th, 2008 01:00:31 AM
Yeah, I'm last you fuck. Fuck you, you fucking fucked fuck.
No you ain't. Cuz, you know why? by Matango!	Feb 17th, 2008 09:05:33 AM
Seth Rogan.
You know how I know you're gay? by Pariah74	Feb 17th, 2008 11:53:39 AM
Cus of your face!
Yours reminds me of someone... Who was it now... Oh Yeah! by Matango!	Feb 17th, 2008 02:49:34 PM
Seth Rogan. Gayer, though.
I doubt Don Martin is still bitter by m2298	Feb 17th, 2008 04:00:57 PM
he died in 2000.

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John Landis Directing William Gaines Biopic? Pinch Me!

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