Miscellaneous update for 4/27
Sorry for the lack of activity. Long couple of days, long story. Let's play catch-up:
THE WATCHTOWERS ARE BURNING
AICN went old school last weekend and BROKE a major news item. To wit: Darren Aronofsky ("Pi," "Requiem for a Dream") is apparently ready to take up the job which many a director before him has deemed insurmountable: A film adaptation of Alan Moore's acclaimed comic book novel, "Watchmen."
AICN's "Moriarty" tells the tale (which has since been confirmed) here:
http://www.aintitcoolnews.com/display.cgi?id=17410
If you're unfamiliar with "Watchmen," GET FAMILIAR with it. Seriously. I don't care if you've never cracked a funnybook in your life; "Watchmen" is one of the must-read books of the 20th Century. Never read it? That's a situation that must be rectified, trust me. Get down to you're local bookstore (it's collected in novel form, so most regular booksellers carry it) and pick up a copy. You'll thank me.
That out of the way, my first reaction? I'll believe there's a "Watchmen" movie when I'm done watching it. This has been one of the great-unfilmables of the book world since it was published, and even with directorial attachment it's still a HUGE likelihood that this will prove an insurmountable task yet again. Don't mean to rain on anyone's parade with the pessimism, but keep this in mind: It took over thirty years for someone to even ATTEMPT a film of "Lord of The Rings," and it took half-a-CENTURY for a GOOD one to be made.
Second reaction: ANYONE who can make a film of this book that even halfway works is a craftsman of supreme talent. Those of you who've read it understand. "Watchmen" is a deep, complex, multi-layered work that tells not only a story through comic panels; but also through news-clippings, character-interviews and even seemingly-unconnected paralell stories being READ BY the characters, and NONE of it is "fat": EVERYTHING has something to do with something else. It's Moore's ultimate thesis on the concept of costumed superheroes, and it's PACKED. It's also largely devoid of "superheroic" action, it's mostly dialogue and conversation among characters. Most of it's "fights" are quick affairs over in a few blows, and what "major" action setpieces there are are tossed off as one-panel splashes usually during monologues.
It's also bleak, bloody and dark as anything you'll ever read. Without giving too much away, the book's ultimate "gotcha!" would've have been called "too much of a downer" by 90% of studio heads five years ago, today I can't imagine a producer who would get within five feet of it. Read it and you'll understand, just trust me. If this was written into an original screenplay rather than an adaptation, it never would've made it into the 2nd draft. The suits are TERRIFIED of this aspect of the story, and for once they aren't just being paranoid: Public outcry could potentially by the worst ever seen over a major film.
That said, I'm damn curious what the filmmakers come up with here. Aronofsky is primed for a breakout with his rescued pet-project, "The Fountain," and if it works this is BIG material. Good luck.
IT'S DEAD, JIM
As the "Star Wars" franchise struggles through those last agonizing steps toward it's final merciful death after nearly 10 years of sadistic torture by it's creator (or "Episode III" as those of you still in denial are still calling it,) lets not forget that the OTHER big spacefaring franchise is standing on shaky legs as well: "Star TREK" is in deep Tribble. The "Next Generation" movies never caught on with the public-at-large, "Deep Space Nine's" setup doesn't really lend itself to features and the last TWO TV series have been critical, commercial and audience failures.
So leave it to "Trek" producer Rick Berman to give the fanbase a big scare when it's down.
For years, Trek fans have lived under the dark cloud of fear that the producers would look in the direction of the "Starfleet Academy" concept in order to craft an unholy crossbreed: A "teenage youth-drama" in the Star Trek universe. Now, it looks as though that nightmare may come true.
IESB.com has more:
http://www.iesb.net/movies/movie42504.htm
Yup, a "prequel trilogy" set in the "Starfleet Academy" vein. Joy.
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