Frank Miller's Sin City-fication of The Spirit for the big screen seems to be rolling right along, and in what passes for the usual with Miller, the latest movie poster isn't very subtle about it.
On his production blog, Miller has gone on about how his movie is going to be an updated extension of what he knows was Spirit creator Will Eisner's intent. Well, guess what? I may not have been mentored by the comic book legend, but I'm pretty sure he never intended to portray all women as hard-edged hookers. Or just, y'know, slutty.
Don't get me wrong — I'm all for the beautiful women. Hell, the more, the better. But Eisner's stories were never about the awesome-cool bad-ass from Monochrome City and his loyal army of whores; they were about people being people just like anyone else, for better or worse.
I don't think Frank Miller — or anyone else — should just mindlessly ape Eisner's style, or even sensibility. But don't strip-mine someone else's well-established work just to stroke your own ego (or whatever) and leech it of all the things that made it popular and unique in the first place. Especially if you're going to do it in a way that panders to the worst stereotypes about the comic book community at large.
Hey, you hear that? That's the sound of all the goodwill comics (and their fans) got from Iron Man being flushed down the toilet.
Monday, June 16, 2008
Prediction: The Spirit is gonna blow
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6 comments:
where's the blue? in any of the posters or previews? BLUE, frank! there are sooo many more colors than red and black!
Supposedly the movie is in full-color (in spite of what the marketing would have you believe), and The Spirit's suit was originally blue.
But according to Miller, the blue suit looked too goofy so he went with black because it "brings back his essential mystery, his Zorro-like sexiness."
Personally, I think Miller just thinks black looks wicked-cool, and since this version of The Spirit is apparently just a Mary Sue — well, he's gonna wear black.
He also tries to spin some BS about how in the old days of cheap newsprint everything that was supposed to be black was printed in blue, so you see, Eisner would've WANTED to have the character wear black! Miller knows because he's a direct conduit for what Eisner MEANT to do! Also, he's wicked-cool!
Bleagh.
I don't know, Maxo, thinly veiled references to Scarlet Johannson performing fellatio seem like a pretty good way to build good will to me. (Better than letting her sing Tom Waits songs, at least)
Damn. Once again, you make a powerful argument, Kyle.
By the way, I was thinking of you when I wrote that post title! (Wait - that came out weird. Gah, you know what I mean!) Writing headlines was always one of the fun parts of the job.
yeah, i'm, er, up for any concept involving SJ and acts down south.
but not involving Frank Miller.
I think ol' Frank sees the world through whore-colored glasses.
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