Video, Film, and Television

A World Of Elseworlds

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We're in an age of remakes, sequels, and one-offs based on existing properties, mostly Superheroes.  I hear talk of an "originless" Fantastic Four film, and if you're a fan of DC comics I've seen a lot of direct-to-video films.  None of these involve the usual origins stories as their known to their target audience.  Many of them don't exactly involve a continuity of much kinds except well-known tropes and character backgrounds.

Years ago DC comics started doing things called "Elseworlds" – books of alternate ideas, histories, pasts, and futures of various characters.  These Elseworlds series mixed familiar and unfamiliar elements, and for my money, were often fascinating.  Batman as a priest fighting a corrupt theocracy?  A sword-and-sorcery Justice League?  Sign me up.

I think some of our beloved figures are entering an age of "mild" Elseworlds.

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What The World Needs Now Is Thor

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What the world needs now is a hunky Asgardian beating the crap out of people with a hammer.

Ok, actually this is what Superhero films and the superhero genre need.  After seeing the previews for the Thor movie, I'm not only enthused about it, I think the film has the chance to get Superhero movies out of a rut.

There have been many Superhero films over the last few decades.  Many have been quite good and artistic, often with excellent actors.  Chistopher Reeve's Superman was excellent (and a fun film).  Nolan's Batman was dark and noirish and well-done.  The Rami Spiderman films were pretty good (early on at least) and had excellent casting – I'd in fact say Alfred Molina's Doctor Octopus was amazing.  There's a lot of good stuff out there.

It's just it always seems to be the same stuff, over and over.

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The Last Failbender

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OK, let me put it simply:

  1. The Last Airbender film sounds like a dismal mess.
  2. I haven't seen it, so my commentary is based more on the reactions I've seen and what I think they mean.
  3. Whenever I do see it, I somehow doubt even if I enjoy it, it'll change much of #2.

So, let us ask, progeek and profan-wise, what the incredibly bad reviews and dismal reception for the Last Airbender film mean for future media endeavors.  This is a big enough flop, that I think it bears analysis.

So let's break this down into things I'm sure about and think are possible, and are unsure about.

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