Comics2Film

I just don't understand how a man whose career is based around writing comics about Marvel characters can say that writing a Superman Movie is his only real ambition.

Shouldn't writing great comics be his ambition? Shouldn't creating new characters and new stories be his ambition, you know, as a storyteller?

It's so pathetic that one of the top selling writers in comics would rather write movies. It's even more sad that one of Marvel's top writers would rather be writing DC movies.

Actually, I've always said that comic writers should be writing these movies, since they know the characters a lot better than some Hollywood executive.

I say we should give Millar a shot, since he wants to do an orgininal Superman movie, as long as he stays true to the character.

And personally, that's what I want, an orgininal Superman movie. Superman Returns was very confusing to some comic fans and most general movie goers. And it rode on Donner's coat tails.

But if Millar is going to do this, then he must stay true to the Superman character. Too many people want to see a dark Superman and that isn't who he is.

In fact, I even wrote a column about how many people consider Superman to be unbelievable.

timesobserver.blogspot.com/2005/01/originally-published-on-july-6-2004-html

timesobserver.blogspot.com/2005/01/originally-
published-on-july-6-2004.html

Sorry about that. Just cut and paste them together in the address bar.

There is a good reason Superman will NOT appear in a Nolan Batman movie...
He IS too unbelievable!
The thing I NEVER got was the fltying, and this goes back to my childhood, I just didn't get how he flew, this is why he JUMPED in the original comic, i mean he can float, sure, but where does the forward thrust come from?
Can he manipulate the atoms in the air, or something?

Who cares how he flies... the thing is, he does. He's Superman!

Comic book writers "should" be involved but just with the story, save the rest for a screenwriter or use source material. It needs collaboration, hence why Dark Knight was so successful.

Besides, if Millar is suddenly the Superman expert and best writer, there are way better Superman writers than him. Come on, seriously.

And to a comment above, you're right, he is selling out. I don't buy anything he's selling.

Lastly, give Singer a CHANCE!!!! X-Men was just okay, right, nothing spectacular? X2 was insane with action... and I think Man of Steel could be that film.

Here's an idea: A superman movie that doesn't bore me to tears and actually has action scenes. If he gives an action packed Superman, it could be worth it.

I've been a Superman film ever since I watched the original in the theater as a kid. Now, those were not all action-packed, but at least they didn't bore the audience... it was just we as an audience had not been exposed to the action and special effects of the present-day comic book movies. So why would Brian Singer take us all the way back to the type of Superman we grew up with, splashed with new effects? Perhaps he got a bit too carried-away with the fact he didn't want Christopher Reeve's wife and family to be offended. Who knows? The point is you have the technology to create a bigger and "badder" Superman movie where you can actually have him doing all these things and it looks believable too. So why not use that technology to it's fullest? I think all of us left the theater asking ourselves that same question.

If Millar can give us that type of movie I say go for it. I'm sure WB can build enough hype to sell plenty of tickets. Right Speed-Racer fans?

I was bored to tears with Superman Returns, I'd love to see something different. I'm also sick to death of Lex Luthor.

Savage, seriously. Lets do a quick assesment. When it comes to realistic, Batman wins. When it comes to drama, THE ENTIRE marvel universe wins. But when it comes to the greatest fictional hero that has ever existed? Its Superman, hands down.
And to screw up the greatest hero that has ever existed is alright in comics. Someone else will fix it later. But in movies? There might be a total of a dozen Superman movies EVER that make it to the big screen. Who wouldn't want to be a part of that?
Oh, and grs9769? Lex Luthor rocks if written with long term agendas, to bad you can't do that in a two hour movie. Lex dying to be reborn in another body pretending to be his own good brother who dates supergirl when actually is plotting against multiple supermen? Thats a great Lex Luthor. =) But such a long term plan can only happen in the comics =(
But yes, Lex in the movies has, in general, not been that cool.
A brainiac story has got to be next. Or something similar. Something that makes Supes question if he himself is causing the villians to come to earth or if he is earths protector. And if its both, is it worth it?

I'm sure a lot of screenwriters are frustrated comic writers and vice versa, so why is it a big deal if a comic writer gets into writing a screenplay? WHY does it matter if Millar has only worked at Marvel (so far)? Artists and writers go back and forth between comic companies all the time. Screenwriting is a formula just like writing comics is. As long as it's a good movie, that's all that should matter.

I don't think Supes has as many cool and colourful villains as Bats does, but he IS an icon, and DC's most recognizable name. Heck, he's THE most recognizable name amongst super-heroes.

It both frustrates and annoys me that DC has let the super-hero trend almost pass them by. If I were a stockholder in DC/Time-Warner I'd be furious at the ridiulous petty little legal hassles that tie up DC's characters. Just THINK of the hundreds of millions of dollars being lost each year that DC sits around with their legal thumbs up their @$$es instead making movies and TV shows based on their characters and milking this trend (which, sadly, can't last forever). WHY aren't there movies being made (already made) based on Wonder Woman, Green Lantern, Flash, The JLA, etc.? We're always told it has to do with who owns the rights, but when hundreds of millions of dollars are at stake, it seems that those problems could be handled rather quickly with the proper financial motivation. Heck, if the legal hassles are too much for the "big guns" then pull out the lesser knowns like the Legion of Super-Heroes, and Suicide Squad. Green Arrows just a guy with a bow and arrow, and he's incredibly popular on "Smallville".

Okay, stepping down off my soapbox now. LOL

I think Batman should bitch slap Superman and tell him to come out of the closet.
It's cool that were treating Superman as one of the most popular icons and probably closer to a religious extent. Which is wrong I might say. Even though (Marvel) Thor could kick his ass.
But how in the hell can soooo many people screw up a movie based on a comic book character that is basically written out for you. Is it really that hard to come up with an action story for a Superman movie that they can skip the foreplay and just hit it. What Superman needs is an experienced action director and not a sentimental I cry during sunsets she-male.
I may be really wrong for saying some this stuff. So my bad.

But I'm freakin tired of being let down and having to cough
hard earned cash for something that I could have watched on WeT.V. Allot of people might hate these directors Michael Bay, Louis Leterrier, James Cameron and Roland Emmerich but I'd rather watch one of their movies over another Bryan "feelme" Singer. At least you know what you?re getting into and won't be disappointed by the action. Yeah story might lack you also know how that worked out last time.

Just because Millar writes for Marvel doesn't mean he hasn't been a superman fan his whole life and has always wanted to write something "offical" with him, be it a comic or a movie. His career (so far) has been all marvel but you take the jobs you can get.

Cine-Tarium... Superman can fly because you're a douche bag and ask stupid questions.

BearBot ~ You should step up on your soapbox more often. What you had to say hit on a lot of key points. Got me thinking.....I as a Fanboy, am interested in SUPERHEROES....Big, small, black, white, green, tall, short...regardless of the ability/skill/power, I am entertained by the FULL collective comic genre and ALL that it has to offer. I have been reading comics and enjoying the multitude of creativity for over 30 yrs. If these companies, and their employees like writers, producers and artists, who have a lifetime of story telling at their disposal cannot find above average material for big-screen movies, then there is a bigger problem in the world than our economy. I am sick and tired of these regurgitated stories even in the comics, where once there was such creativity and talent that kept us satisfied.
I think Mark Miller is a VERY creative writer, producer, director, and a little dark for me, but given his qualities, I think he could work out a great Superman storyline. There is no big deal with who he has worked with, it's the work he IS capable of doing that we as fans should realize. The comparison of Mr. Miller and Mr. Singer are vast, at least to me. Somewhere in the middle would be a great storyline/adventure/fun movie. I would think Mr. Miller would be a stronger agent in making a Superman movie. Just my opinion. I have been disappointed with Mr. Singer and his "attempts" at working/changing the superhero genre. ALL WE AS FANS WANT IS THE CREATIVITY OF THE BEST COMICS ON THE SCREEN!! How impossible can that really be? I know of novices who would shame some of these "professionals" in the idea area and creativity arena. I have enough memory AND LOVE, of some tens of thousands of comics in my collection, that given the opportunity, EVEN I, could assemble a storyline myself that would be FUNdamental. Lets let the cream rise to the top. I would believe that there are better candidates for a Superman movie than Mr. miller, certainly. Lets just hope that some of the "top dogs" can figure out who they are. Why not an internet based questionnaire or survey or even an TV/email contest based system, asked of the community, to see who WE think would be best for the job? Whatever happened to that line of thinking? HEY DC/TIME-WARNER...GET ON THE BALL!!!

I have to address this: As far as SUPERman flying; If one cannot enjoy the basic science fiction that permeates the WHOLE genre of comics, then what are you reading them for? Do you even enjoy them? Where is the child in you that should be giddy at just the thought of a man flying. SHEEEEEEESH.
Anyway......just one mans opinion.
I have just recently found this site, and enjoy the intelligence and writings of almost everyone, and will continue to do so. I feel that comic fans are some of the most intelligent and fun people in the world (pat on the back goes here). It's nice to interact with you folks.

Excelsior,
Jaymes

P.S. BIG laughs with VIOlater...What a rip!

Why does Superman fly?

Because the writers and editors want him too.

All joking aside, cine-tarium is just pinting out the fact that Superman flying doesn't make any logical sense. That's okay. Superman isn't a logical character, he's a fantasy character, and there's really no science (or even pseudoscience) to explain what he does. You just have to kind of go with the explanation.

"He's the last son of the planet Krypton, with powers and abilities far beyond those of mortal men, under the light of a yellow sun".... Okay. The fact that he's an alien from another planet that looks exactly like a human being doesn't make any sense either, but he's not that type of character. In truth, they're all fantasy, but I grew up reading Marvel, and it's a lot easier for me to grasp a hero who gets his powers from a radioactive spider, or a person that was born with a weird mutation, than Superman and some of the other heroes in the DCU. To each their own. Though he's not everyones cup of tea, I'll concede that Superman is a good, fun character.

I'd definitely like to see a different take on the Superman movie franchise. The plotlines with Superman, Lois and her son just seemed weird, and out of place. And some of Superman actions were just plain freaky (Peeping Tom anyone?), but I'm not convinced that it's going to happen so soon. I think Singer's going to get another shot. I'd definitely like to see Millar's take though, because I know the respect for the character, and the Superman mythology, is there.

To all those who claim Millar's "selling out", don't hate, seriously...There's nothing wrong with a guy having aspirations, and if he makes money realizing his boyhood dream, more power to him. I do think that 'revamping Superman for the screen' as a lifetime goal is problematic. i think it'd be cooler to create 'the next Superman'. But that's me....

-Bishop