ROTTEN TOMATOES: Plot Details (and a Distributor) for Frank Miller's "The Spirit"

Plot Details (and a Distributor) for Frank Miller's "The Spirit"

by Scott Weinberg | May 17, 2007

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Looks like Frank Miller will be making his solo directorial debut on an adaptation of Will Eisner's comic book "The Spirit." Lionsgate recently signed on to co-finance / distribute, plus we now have a pretty nifty plot synopsis.

Like most of you, I know practically nothing about "The Spirit," but with Miller at the helm, I'm already interested. The project holds a special place in Miller's heart, as Eisner was a long-time friend and mentor. So obviously this will be something to see once it hits the screens.

Here's the closest we've got to an official synopsis: "Adapated from the legendary Will Eisner's graphic novels, The Spirit tells the visceral, action-packed story of a man who fakes his own death and fights crime from the shadows of Central City. The Octopus -- who kills anyone unfortunate enough to see his face -- has a different mission: he's going to wipe out the entire city. The Spirit tracks this cold-hearted killer from Central City's rundown warehouses, to the damp catacombs, to the windswept waterfront ... all the while facing a bevy of beautiful women who either want to seduce, love or kill our masked crusader. In the vein of Batman Begins and Sin City, The Spirit takes us on a sinister, gut-wrenching ride of a hero who is born, murdered and born again."

Bring it on!

Source: IGN Movies

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(1-9 of 9 posts) | Reply

frogleg writes:
on May 17 2007 06:06 AM

This is particularly interesting, because Miller's had his work handled badly in the past (although I think that had more to do with people messing up his screenplays, rather than his graphic novels).
But now that he's the adaptor instead of the adaptee, I'll be interested in seeing if he approaches it differently than most directors.

(Reply to this)

tycox writes:
on May 17 2007 08:35 AM

[b]FRANK MILLER IS THE ONLY GOD I'LL EVER WORSHIP!!![/b]
I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE IT!!! Now he just needs to get ahold of directing Ronin so that dumbass who's doing it at the moment doesn't screw it.

(Reply to this)

Holly Jolly writes:
on May 17 2007 09:06 AM

In reply to this comment (#865741)
I agree, this will be very interesting.

(Reply to this)

blank blank writes:
on May 17 2007 09:32 AM

well frogleg, robocop was a long time ago, im sure miller has learned alot since then, with both movies and how hollywood works. also, after sin city and 300, frank miller can tell all the execs and directors to go to hell and he can make whatever he wants... except i have no idea why he's letting that stomp the yard hack direct ronin, the studio must have miller by the short and curlies on that one...

however, as much as i love miller and his work, i hope he gives us something new this time. i realize the spirit is eisner not miller, but i dont want this to be sin city-esque. i'd rather have miller direct ronin, which would be a mindblowingly original film.

(Reply to this)

dagreenman18 writes:
on May 17 2007 12:13 PM

.........wow. this is going to be........... so fucking awesome.

(Reply to this)

unbreakable_samurai writes:
on May 17 2007 12:17 PM

Sounds pretty damn sweet to me, hopefully he gets some sweet actresses cast in this. And way to go Lionsgate, smart move picking this one up.

(Reply to this)

SplendidIsolation writes:
on May 17 2007 12:42 PM

It`s good that we haven`t lost Lionsgate.

For a moment there I thought it would just be Delta Farce and *cringe* Bratz from now on.

(Reply to this)

Neclord writes:
on May 17 2007 01:34 PM

I've never read a "Spirit" book in my life, but the teaser poster for the film didn't really resemble the covers and pages I've seen...and I didn't really like that. Of course, that's just a poster.

I thought Sin City was okay. Nice to look at but not really involving. I hope Miller can infuse a bit more depth into this.

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steeleye writes:
on Sep 20 2007 08:35 AM

"In the vein of Batman Begins and Sin City, The Spirit takes us on a sinister, gut-wrenching ride of a hero who is born, murdered and born again."

I'm afraid that this is going to suck dead moose through a straw.

Neither "Batman Begins" (which was slightly better than the Adam West TV series) nor "Sin City" is appropriate as a reference for a film of "The Spirit".

If Miller attempts to give "The Spirit" the same sort of grim-n-gritty re-imaging he gave "Daredevil" and "Batman" in the comics, change that "moose" reference" to "Elephant".

Manymany years ago Harlan Ellison and William Friedkin (i think) were involved in an attempt to film "The Spirit" - i once heard Ellison describe their planned opening sequence, and it would be perfect.

Before one views this film, one really ought to check out the source material in the "Spirit Archive" books - especially from about 1946 on, the real glory days of the feature.

I doubt that DC owns "The Spirit" - i would expect a licensing deal, since Eisner was very careful with his properties and rights all his life. That being as it may, the current DC title is close and enjoyble, but doesn't really thrill me - the best non-Eisner-scripted "Spirit" stories ever done were in "The New Adventures of The Spirit", published by the sadly-defunct Kitchen Sink - particularly Alan Moore's brilliant "Last Night I Dreamed of Dr Cobra" in issue #3.

I'll watch this film. I anticipate that i might even enjoy it. But i can say with confidence in advance that i'm likely to find a lot of problems in it.

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