tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6937848248469121586.post198319080026474178..comments2023-12-24T19:38:00.242-08:00Comments on Mendelson's Memos: Who needs origins? 8 comic book films that just dove right in.Scott Mendelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08131426080984100749noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6937848248469121586.post-37974375668083294052012-07-27T04:56:31.263-07:002012-07-27T04:56:31.263-07:00I remember an article in Comics Scene where someon...I remember an article in Comics Scene where someone as early as 1994 had already picked up on this obsessive focus on origin stories. He actually criticized The Shadow for spending too much time on the origin, which seems odd. (He also criticized Greystoke, The Legend of the Lone Ranger and the Doc Savage film.)TPnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6937848248469121586.post-40918725758015789572012-07-16T10:29:31.941-07:002012-07-16T10:29:31.941-07:00Disagreements about Amazing Spidey aside, the fact...Disagreements about Amazing Spidey aside, the fact remains that Marc Webb basically sacrificed the story he actually wanted to tell (Peter learning about his parents) in order to tell the same damn origin story we saw ten years ago. The film he wanted to make could have just as easily taken place post-origin, after Spidey had been around for a few months and magically discovers his father's briefcase while helping Aunt May clean the house. That way we get a full movie about Peter's parents, a fully developed story for Dr. Conners, and more room for the Gwen/Peter romance subplot.Scott Mendelsonhttp://scottalanmendelson.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6937848248469121586.post-26807123580411812722012-07-13T13:58:09.314-07:002012-07-13T13:58:09.314-07:00Thanks for your words on Dick Tracy, Scott. I lov...Thanks for your words on Dick Tracy, Scott. I love, love Dick Tracy. Would so much like to see a Dick Tracy vs Flattop film...Leahnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6937848248469121586.post-75607766758264412872012-07-11T18:53:13.368-07:002012-07-11T18:53:13.368-07:00I like to call this the "Boba Fett syndrome&q...I like to call this the "Boba Fett syndrome". Fett was an awesome character that nobody knew anything about (Until the later crappy movies)and that's what made him awesome. I remember taking notice when even Vader talked to him with a kind of respect that he gave no one else. Leaving his past blank made you fill in the blanks which in turn made it impossible for the later movies to live up to. Although I give Lucas no credit due to the fact that in a interview when asked about the character he was totally clueless at his popularity and considered him a throw away character.Revgabenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6937848248469121586.post-13613313333367519642012-07-11T17:28:59.302-07:002012-07-11T17:28:59.302-07:00Yes, this is based on a radio serial, but I'm ...Yes, this is based on a radio serial, but I'm cheating just a little. I made a comment in a 'music of Batman' post the other day about how much the Batman Begins theme resembled Jerry Goldsmith's score to The Shadow. I was gifted with THIS link, which lays out the case that Batman Begins is basically a remake of The Shadow (which in turn has a very similar origin as Marvel's Dr. Strange). We can debate the merits of the apparent 'homage' (which I guess means that Iron Man is really a remake of The Shadow and not Batman Begins?)<br /><br />.........................................................................................................<br /><br />Thank you for using the link. The Shadow's oriental scholarship stood as long established prior to the 1994 film, established in the 1930's and 1940's. Regarding "The Man Who Falls" I checked with John Wells (Mikishawm) a researcher, and he noted that this introduced the idea of the trip to Tibet for that particular franchise.<br /><br />http://www.supermegamonkey.net/chronocomic/entries/supervillain_teamup_57.shtml<br /><br />Scroll down to the comments for a little more on this matter.PB210noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6937848248469121586.post-44815325629931300332012-07-11T15:58:02.373-07:002012-07-11T15:58:02.373-07:00I have to agree with Guido below that The Incredib...I have to agree with Guido below that <i>The Incredibles</i> is another property that doesn't bother with origins. It's a great point. And that movie is already too long for kids - an origin would make it WAY too long.<br /><br />Also, by the way, I LOVED <i>The Phantom</i> when I saw it in the theater. I DID, in fact, feel like I was getting away with something - although I was nine, not eight. I'm going to watch it tonight on Netflix, in honor of your review's suggestion.Davidnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6937848248469121586.post-13603873149761850812012-07-11T11:04:35.758-07:002012-07-11T11:04:35.758-07:00Even though I disagree with you on Amazing Spider-...Even though I disagree with you on Amazing Spider-Man (it might have been because I had low expectations, but I quite enjoyed it), and I liked the status quo it sets up in the end (especially regarding the relationship between Peter and Gwen), I agree that devoting half the movie was pretty unnecessary. I understand they wanted to distance this new film from the original trilogy, but the Incredible Hulk should have been a good example of how to handle it. They would have had the chance to flesh out Curt Connors story, and make it more affecting (It was kind of surprising to have Lizard as the villain and not even showing Billy!)<br /><br />I know you didn't mention this one because it's not a comic book property, but The Incredibles is another brilliant example of a superhero movie that doesn't bother with origins. We don't even learn the source of the heroes' powers, but why would we need to? Everyone understands the superhero archetype. An origin story can be really good if the story is inherently interesting, but so many times it just comes off as half a film (or a full film!) of exposition.Guido Rosasnoreply@blogger.com