Showing posts with label mike mignola. Show all posts
Showing posts with label mike mignola. Show all posts
Friday, 14 June 2024
Thursday, 12 November 2020
Sunday, 27 July 2014
Monday, 21 July 2014
Tuesday, 13 May 2014
Sunday, 4 November 2012
Thursday, 21 August 2008
Excitement! Hecklad Imminent!
Seeing Guillermo Del Toro's latest in a few short hours. I am giddy! It helps that the movie is based on my current favourite on-going comic - the adventures of Anung un Rama, The World Destroyer, The Beast of the Apocalypse, Big Red, Hellboy!
Friday, 4 July 2008
A Job Hell Done!
Eh?
Eh!
I'm wasted on you guys.
Here's another of those Hellboy vs pop culture teasers. Thanks for the heads up Brad!
Check how happy Big Red is when he thinks he's met kindred souls!
Wednesday, 2 July 2008
Wednesday, 7 May 2008
They Lingered There...
More summer film spam.
WALL-E 1
A cute little slave robot potters around a rubbish (garbage, not qualitative) planet tidying up. Riveting! By the looks of it, Wall-E will be a environmental parable about mankind's destructive legacy. I'll wager there's some unrequited love in there too. Wall-E himself looks like a mechanical ET by way of Short Circuit's Johnny 5, all squashed up and super deformed (Japan, beware) for toy markets. Thankfully, it's against Pixar law for their films to be sub-par. It's rumoured that both Cars and Ratatouille stunk up the place in their original forms before substantial delays and superstar directors were drafted in to salvage the projects. The most exciting news about Wall-E is the involvement of sound design superman Ben Burtt - he designed basically any noise you hear in any of the Star Wars films. Mr Burtt is recording 'voices' for the robots, these will no doubt be all manner of interesting blips and clicks. I am not being sarcastic. I find that exciting.
Speed Racer 1
The big action offering from the now resolutely gender non-specific Wachowskis. No doubt only vaguely based on Tatsuo Yoshida's (also responsible for Gatchaman / Battle of the Planets and Casshan) manga Mach GoGoGo, instead formed from a collective nostalgic bubble thought about the late 60s (limited) animation series. Judging by the trailers, Speed Racer is a madcap Spy Kids 3 alike with visual overtones suggestive of Mario Bava's Danger: Diabolik and Mariho Maeda's kaleidoscope Count of Monte Cristo animated series: Gankutsuou. Phew! Add a heaped tablespoon of candy-colour Hot Wheels loop de loops, and a Chimp (oh yes), and you might be somewhere close to how excited I am. Hopefully the sleeper "awesome!" film of the summer. The Wachowskis demonstrated a firm understanding of car crash clap prompts in Matrix 2, successfully apeing and extending ideas from the Godfathers of sci-fi car crashin': Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior and Terminator 2. No-one else I know is even slightly interested. I shall go on my own if need be!
Hulk 2
Ang Lee's film wasn't quite good enough apparently. Oh well I thoroughly enjoyed it. Edward Norton heads up this instead-of-quel, which again seems patterned towards nostalgia - the first trailer was dripping with boring "remember how much you loved this when you were 5!" visual cues from the Bill Bixby TV series. As is routine with his projects, Norton has his grubby mitts all over this, not only acting but script re-writing too (probably bullied the director to death as well). Norton's presence is undoubtedly a positive though, without him this re-boot of Jack Kirby and Stan Lee's Hyde monster would seem all-sop to the TV series. Disappointingly though Hulk's birth through medicinal Gamma radiation application is retained, rather than the original comics caught-in-an-atomic-explosion womb. Hulk himself looks darker and nastier than Ang Lee's chubby child muscler - Norton Hulk is patterned after an in-house design I can't ascribe a particular artist too, that was popular in the 80s. He looks mean. Shame the big bad Abomination looks like you typical crude video game bruiser (Gears of War's Berserker most especially). Notron's Banner is wire thin and sporting a goatee, he looks like your typical seething neurosis driven Steve Ditko render. Norton would've made an excellent Dr Strange. We have missed out.
Hellboy 2
After the fun but uninspiring first stab at Mignola's baby, Guillermo Del Toro returns with a hidden nation clash that looks much more in keeping with his oeuvre. It's Ron Pearlman vs all manner of supernatural children of the earth. Take that elves! Departing rapidly from the comic series' plotlines is probably for the best, not because the comics are in any way anything other than superb, rather it allows Del Toro to flex his own considerable imagination gland without having to reign himself in to fit a prescribed narrative. The undernation teased in the trailers is the Fairy kingdom of Del Toro's Pan's Labyrinth in all but name, it'd be pulp perfect to see the big red beast of the apocalypse vandal his way through, dropping quips and chumps left and right.
WALL-E 1
A cute little slave robot potters around a rubbish (garbage, not qualitative) planet tidying up. Riveting! By the looks of it, Wall-E will be a environmental parable about mankind's destructive legacy. I'll wager there's some unrequited love in there too. Wall-E himself looks like a mechanical ET by way of Short Circuit's Johnny 5, all squashed up and super deformed (Japan, beware) for toy markets. Thankfully, it's against Pixar law for their films to be sub-par. It's rumoured that both Cars and Ratatouille stunk up the place in their original forms before substantial delays and superstar directors were drafted in to salvage the projects. The most exciting news about Wall-E is the involvement of sound design superman Ben Burtt - he designed basically any noise you hear in any of the Star Wars films. Mr Burtt is recording 'voices' for the robots, these will no doubt be all manner of interesting blips and clicks. I am not being sarcastic. I find that exciting.
Speed Racer 1
The big action offering from the now resolutely gender non-specific Wachowskis. No doubt only vaguely based on Tatsuo Yoshida's (also responsible for Gatchaman / Battle of the Planets and Casshan) manga Mach GoGoGo, instead formed from a collective nostalgic bubble thought about the late 60s (limited) animation series. Judging by the trailers, Speed Racer is a madcap Spy Kids 3 alike with visual overtones suggestive of Mario Bava's Danger: Diabolik and Mariho Maeda's kaleidoscope Count of Monte Cristo animated series: Gankutsuou. Phew! Add a heaped tablespoon of candy-colour Hot Wheels loop de loops, and a Chimp (oh yes), and you might be somewhere close to how excited I am. Hopefully the sleeper "awesome!" film of the summer. The Wachowskis demonstrated a firm understanding of car crash clap prompts in Matrix 2, successfully apeing and extending ideas from the Godfathers of sci-fi car crashin': Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior and Terminator 2. No-one else I know is even slightly interested. I shall go on my own if need be!
Hulk 2
Ang Lee's film wasn't quite good enough apparently. Oh well I thoroughly enjoyed it. Edward Norton heads up this instead-of-quel, which again seems patterned towards nostalgia - the first trailer was dripping with boring "remember how much you loved this when you were 5!" visual cues from the Bill Bixby TV series. As is routine with his projects, Norton has his grubby mitts all over this, not only acting but script re-writing too (probably bullied the director to death as well). Norton's presence is undoubtedly a positive though, without him this re-boot of Jack Kirby and Stan Lee's Hyde monster would seem all-sop to the TV series. Disappointingly though Hulk's birth through medicinal Gamma radiation application is retained, rather than the original comics caught-in-an-atomic-explosion womb. Hulk himself looks darker and nastier than Ang Lee's chubby child muscler - Norton Hulk is patterned after an in-house design I can't ascribe a particular artist too, that was popular in the 80s. He looks mean. Shame the big bad Abomination looks like you typical crude video game bruiser (Gears of War's Berserker most especially). Notron's Banner is wire thin and sporting a goatee, he looks like your typical seething neurosis driven Steve Ditko render. Norton would've made an excellent Dr Strange. We have missed out.
Hellboy 2
After the fun but uninspiring first stab at Mignola's baby, Guillermo Del Toro returns with a hidden nation clash that looks much more in keeping with his oeuvre. It's Ron Pearlman vs all manner of supernatural children of the earth. Take that elves! Departing rapidly from the comic series' plotlines is probably for the best, not because the comics are in any way anything other than superb, rather it allows Del Toro to flex his own considerable imagination gland without having to reign himself in to fit a prescribed narrative. The undernation teased in the trailers is the Fairy kingdom of Del Toro's Pan's Labyrinth in all but name, it'd be pulp perfect to see the big red beast of the apocalypse vandal his way through, dropping quips and chumps left and right.
The Summer Films Came Blowing In...
As promised, here's a snidey little rundown on the Summer Blockbusters. Many have been omitted for issues of being not-interesting.
Iron Man 1
Already seen this, that's how late this piece is. No doubt I'll write something soon. No matter how many films come out this summer, I can't see Iron Man being trumped for sequel baiting. There are allusions to future threats, side-kick team-ups (or even a spin-off), a separate film starring a cameoing Sam Jackson, and an all Marvel imprint battle royale. Phew! Marvel really know how to flirt. After years of being dicked around in development hell they've opted out and are self-financing (with a Paramount distribution deal). Good for them. Who needs Hollywood script hacks diluting half century old characters, because Poppa Studio can't get an angle on them ("I'm worried because it's not exactly like something that made money last week!"). Who knows? Ten years down the line we could have two or three solo Marvel flicks a year, with a huge cross-over event for the summer. We'll be burnt out fans the world over as heroes routinely die and return dressed in black with a sports metal cob-on. Hooray! We might even get a decent Punisher film out of this. Incredible Hulk's going to have to work hard to out theoretical sequel this.
Indiana Jones 4
Crystal Skull! Looks like your classic grey alien head on the poster doesn't it? Cosmic phenomena in an occult series seems a bit iffy. We should be well set-up for this, and Mike Mignola pulls it off routinely (and with considerable panache) in his Hellboy series, but still I am troubled. Either way it looks like Mr Lucas is further plundering 70s mythicism tropes for financial gain. Good for you George! Harrison Ford looks suitably stumpy and cranky, and he tells off Ray Winstone in the trailer! If you've any sense you're wishing pixie hard for an 18 certificate so Big Ray can go Nil By Mouth on the dastardly evil-empire threat - this time portrayed by the Soviets and Cate Blanchett. I have to admit, with this new sci-fi leaning I was hoping for some gone-to-ground Nazis operating out of Argentina with techno-cosmic super weapons. Oh well. Transformers Twat Shia LeBeouf is along for the ride, and looks to be doing a Dad-disappointing impression of a young Marlon Brando. It's pretty cool to see Indy concerned with an explicitly American (or Mesoamerican if you want to get right, or even faked rather recently by European master forger if you want to get current opinion extra-super-right) artifact for a change, the continent is long accused of having no history when it patently has loads, just none involving the current landlords.
Doomsday 1
Neil Marshall's latest appears to be a loving tribute to Mad Max 2 post-apocalyptia and Escape From New York suicide missions. Starring former Lara-Croft-for-trade-shows, and Ali G alumni Rhona Mitra, it would be very easy to get snotty about the Scotland set Doomsday. The trailers have been pretty uninspiring so far, looking more like an 80s Italian schlock flick crossed with Channel 5's Kiwi schedule-filler kids programme: The Tribe. Doomsday sank without a trace at the US box-office in March, a fact that means basically nothing. I like Mr Marshall though, his last film The Descent (when viewed with the UK / Unrated ending) was a tense, claustrophobic nasty. He has repeatedly demonstrated a knack for creeping, choking tension and a propensity to opt for a practical effect wherever possible - reason enough to have faith. How many decent horror films have been stopped dead the second they unveil a shiny CG shitpiece? Loads! Anyway, if this love-letter to John Carpenter turns out a bit wobbly, I'm sure he'll bounce right back. Hopefully with Conan. I'd love another decent Conan film. I deserve it.
Batman 6 (or 7 if you include Adam West's efforts)
In an environment primarily concerned with getting people breathing heavy for sequels, (Batman) The Dark Knight is a bit of an anomaly. The Dark Knight looks quite happy to tear everything apart and leave nothing for the money Jackals. Director Christopher Nolan is well quoted as saying he took part in the sequel mainly because he didn't want anyone else ruining his Joker tease at the end of Begins (from Frank Miller's Batman: Year One, with a touch more sizzle), not to mention the passing of an above-the-title actor and the disturbed city-in-meltdown narrative direction. Gadzooks! You ain't coming out of this one cheery. The Dark Knight looks positively apocalyptic - the latest trailer hinting at multiple main character deaths / mutilations. There's also the tease that the climax will be a three-way broken-man clash. Everybody loses! According to free-roaming Internet plot quotes Christian Bale's Bruce Wayne wants out too - in a move similar to 1993's animated movie (masterpiece) Batman: Mask of the Phantasm, Wayne is beginning to mourn the life he never had, and is pinning his happiness hopes on getting a relationship going with his (currently taken) childhood sweetheart. If Nolan et al can wring even even half Phantasm's heroic misery out, we're on to a fucking winner. The real life death of Heath Ledger, who plays agitator No.1: The Joker (hopefully with not even a hint of backstory implied), hangs heavy over this sequel. It's a role that he quite apparently put everything he had into. The evidence is mounting, the trailer footage and that IMAX six minute flash point to an outstanding portrait of super-psychosis. Mr Ledger's Joker is an uber Droog. Excitable ghouls are already predicting an Oscar. There's word that test-screenings are finding his performance deeply uncomfortable / disturbing. Good. Can't wait!
A few more to follow.
Iron Man 1
Already seen this, that's how late this piece is. No doubt I'll write something soon. No matter how many films come out this summer, I can't see Iron Man being trumped for sequel baiting. There are allusions to future threats, side-kick team-ups (or even a spin-off), a separate film starring a cameoing Sam Jackson, and an all Marvel imprint battle royale. Phew! Marvel really know how to flirt. After years of being dicked around in development hell they've opted out and are self-financing (with a Paramount distribution deal). Good for them. Who needs Hollywood script hacks diluting half century old characters, because Poppa Studio can't get an angle on them ("I'm worried because it's not exactly like something that made money last week!"). Who knows? Ten years down the line we could have two or three solo Marvel flicks a year, with a huge cross-over event for the summer. We'll be burnt out fans the world over as heroes routinely die and return dressed in black with a sports metal cob-on. Hooray! We might even get a decent Punisher film out of this. Incredible Hulk's going to have to work hard to out theoretical sequel this.
Indiana Jones 4
Crystal Skull! Looks like your classic grey alien head on the poster doesn't it? Cosmic phenomena in an occult series seems a bit iffy. We should be well set-up for this, and Mike Mignola pulls it off routinely (and with considerable panache) in his Hellboy series, but still I am troubled. Either way it looks like Mr Lucas is further plundering 70s mythicism tropes for financial gain. Good for you George! Harrison Ford looks suitably stumpy and cranky, and he tells off Ray Winstone in the trailer! If you've any sense you're wishing pixie hard for an 18 certificate so Big Ray can go Nil By Mouth on the dastardly evil-empire threat - this time portrayed by the Soviets and Cate Blanchett. I have to admit, with this new sci-fi leaning I was hoping for some gone-to-ground Nazis operating out of Argentina with techno-cosmic super weapons. Oh well. Transformers Twat Shia LeBeouf is along for the ride, and looks to be doing a Dad-disappointing impression of a young Marlon Brando. It's pretty cool to see Indy concerned with an explicitly American (or Mesoamerican if you want to get right, or even faked rather recently by European master forger if you want to get current opinion extra-super-right) artifact for a change, the continent is long accused of having no history when it patently has loads, just none involving the current landlords.
Doomsday 1
Neil Marshall's latest appears to be a loving tribute to Mad Max 2 post-apocalyptia and Escape From New York suicide missions. Starring former Lara-Croft-for-trade-shows, and Ali G alumni Rhona Mitra, it would be very easy to get snotty about the Scotland set Doomsday. The trailers have been pretty uninspiring so far, looking more like an 80s Italian schlock flick crossed with Channel 5's Kiwi schedule-filler kids programme: The Tribe. Doomsday sank without a trace at the US box-office in March, a fact that means basically nothing. I like Mr Marshall though, his last film The Descent (when viewed with the UK / Unrated ending) was a tense, claustrophobic nasty. He has repeatedly demonstrated a knack for creeping, choking tension and a propensity to opt for a practical effect wherever possible - reason enough to have faith. How many decent horror films have been stopped dead the second they unveil a shiny CG shitpiece? Loads! Anyway, if this love-letter to John Carpenter turns out a bit wobbly, I'm sure he'll bounce right back. Hopefully with Conan. I'd love another decent Conan film. I deserve it.
Batman 6 (or 7 if you include Adam West's efforts)
In an environment primarily concerned with getting people breathing heavy for sequels, (Batman) The Dark Knight is a bit of an anomaly. The Dark Knight looks quite happy to tear everything apart and leave nothing for the money Jackals. Director Christopher Nolan is well quoted as saying he took part in the sequel mainly because he didn't want anyone else ruining his Joker tease at the end of Begins (from Frank Miller's Batman: Year One, with a touch more sizzle), not to mention the passing of an above-the-title actor and the disturbed city-in-meltdown narrative direction. Gadzooks! You ain't coming out of this one cheery. The Dark Knight looks positively apocalyptic - the latest trailer hinting at multiple main character deaths / mutilations. There's also the tease that the climax will be a three-way broken-man clash. Everybody loses! According to free-roaming Internet plot quotes Christian Bale's Bruce Wayne wants out too - in a move similar to 1993's animated movie (masterpiece) Batman: Mask of the Phantasm, Wayne is beginning to mourn the life he never had, and is pinning his happiness hopes on getting a relationship going with his (currently taken) childhood sweetheart. If Nolan et al can wring even even half Phantasm's heroic misery out, we're on to a fucking winner. The real life death of Heath Ledger, who plays agitator No.1: The Joker (hopefully with not even a hint of backstory implied), hangs heavy over this sequel. It's a role that he quite apparently put everything he had into. The evidence is mounting, the trailer footage and that IMAX six minute flash point to an outstanding portrait of super-psychosis. Mr Ledger's Joker is an uber Droog. Excitable ghouls are already predicting an Oscar. There's word that test-screenings are finding his performance deeply uncomfortable / disturbing. Good. Can't wait!
A few more to follow.
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