Marvel Comics movies update

[Benjamin Grimm]

Wow... I hadn't noticed that.

[Guest The Second Spitter]

Valadius wrote: The rumor I heard was the opposite, that he was actively pushing for the Hulk to be the villain.

You may be correct -- my "source" was my sister who's a dolt when it comes to such things (Hi Sibling, if you're reading!). I think the Avengers movie would be much more interestingnif the Hulk was a baddie, because let's face it he's such a deus ex machina character to begin with. When you combine him with the other 3 or 4 then well, it's hard to see how they will lose.

As for the amount of hits on this thread, how about we get some sponsorship for the thread e.g. "Marvel Comics movie update presented by McFadden's Restaurant and Saloon".

[Benjamin Grimm]

The Hulk has had so many different incarnations in the comics. The Hulk who was in the original Avengers was more of a social misfit/Mr. Hyde kind of guy, not the mindless rampaging "Hulk smash" guy who came along later, and who the movie Hulk is more closely based on. It's really hard to imagine the movie version of the Hulk sitting around a big shiny conference room table with Thor, Captain America, Iron Man, and Hawkeye.

[Guest The Second Spitter]

I always preferred the incarnations of the Hulk where he was more morally ambiguous.

[Edgy MD]

The Avengers was always kind of insane to me.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

Benjamin Grimm wrote: The Hulk has had so many different incarnations in the comics. The Hulk who was in the original Avengers was more of a social misfit/Mr. Hyde kind of guy, not the mindless rampaging "Hulk smash" guy who came along later, and who the movie Hulk is more closely based on. It's really hard to imagine the movie version of the Hulk sitting around a big shiny conference room table with Thor, Captain America, Iron Man, and Hawkeye.

There are at least a couple of versions that did just that.

And the X-Men always seemed simultaneously a little more insane and a little more grounded to me... which was part of the appeal.

[Benjamin Grimm]

[Edgy MD]

When I say insane, that's what I'm talking about.

What are those benches made out of that they support those guys?

[Guest The Second Spitter]

Fictitiouselementium

[Valadius]

I'm concerned that the reason they chose Mark Ruffalo was because of his resemblance to Lou Ferrigno. That would be a bad thing.

[Benjamin Grimm]

This is a shot of Chris Evans' stunt double filming a scene as Captain America in England recently.

I'm trying not to read too much into this, but it's surprising how utterly lame it looks.

[dgwphotography]

Benjamin Grimm wrote: I'm trying not to read too much into this, but it's surprising how utterly lame it looks.

I have the same reaction seeing that. To be honest, I thought the idea of an Iron Man movie was lame, then I saw the trailer with Robert Downey, Jr., and thought, "wow".

[Valadius]

It's set during WWII, and they didn't want to go spandex. But I do think Chris Evans was not a good or particularly inspired choice.

[Benjamin Grimm]

Well, I wasn't looking for spandex. But I also wasn't expecting shlubby.

[TransMonk]

The Incredible Hulk is getting another re-boot on the small screen.

http://marquee.blogs.cnn.com/2010/10/15/abc-working-on-incredible-hulk-tv-series/?hpt=Sbin

ABC working on 'Incredible Hulk' TV series

Looks like Wonder Woman may have some competition when she makes her way back to the small screen. Following recent reports that the Amazing Amazon is returning to TV comes the news that ABC is working on a series about "The Incredible Hulk."

According to Deadline.com, the show starring the big green monster is one of several superhero-oriented shows that Marvel Television has pitched to ABC. No actors are yet attached to the live-action project about physicist Bruce Banner, who transforms into the Hulk when angry.

As comic book fans know, this isn't the first time the character has gotten the screen treatment.

Besides CBS's popular 1978-82 "Incredible Hulk" TV series featuring Bill Bixby and Lou Ferrigno, there have also been two "Hulk" films � a 2003 version starring Eric Bana and a 2008 reboot with Edward Norton in the title role. Mark Ruffalo will also go green for Marvel's upcoming "The Avengers" superhero-ensemble flick.

[Benjamin Grimm]

Hopefully this one won't take any inspiration at all from the original TV series, which left me profoundly disappointed.

[Edgy MD]

I agree it shouldn't be borrowed from too much, because you can't just bottle that sort of awesome and re-package it.

The Incredible Hulk TV show was seven degrees of awesome.

[Benjamin Grimm]

I think we disagree here. I hated that damn show.

[Edgy MD]

Well, it's only natural that the Thing and the Hulk probably have some hangups about each other and each other's shows.

[dgwphotography]

I have to go with edgy here - I thought the Hulk show was full of awesome.

What didn't you like about it, BG?

[Benjamin Grimm]

It wasn't at all what I was wanting/expecting from a Hulk show. The Hulk was just a goofy looking growling beast; he didn't have the personality of the character in the comics. He didn't really have any personality at all. Sure, it was cool when Bill Bixby (don't even get me started on David Banner) transformed and made some bully pay, but I would've liked something a lot more comic-booky.

To put it in Superman terms, I was hoping for something more like Smallville and ended up with The Adventures of Superman instead.

[Edgy MD]

Totally not analogous to The Adventures of Superman.

So totally not!

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

I don't know jack about the comix, but certainly David (Bruce) Banner suffered all kinds of emotional and psychological anguish and depression in the Hulk TV show. He was dislocated and on the run, and worried about what might happen all the time. A prime candidate for a heart attack, I'd say.

[Benjamin Grimm]

Edgy DC wrote: Totally not analogous to The Adventures of Superman. So totally not!

It is to me. Comic book character operating in the much more boring real world. It's kind of like if Dorothy stayed in Kansas for the whole film.

[Edgy MD]

Sheesh, even by your standard of not wanting realism to conflict with fantasy, it doesn't work. The Adventures of Superman had Mole Men, a Kryptonite-powered robot, Professor Pepperwinkle turning the world upside down, and stuff. I mean, it was cheap and awful but they worked in what fantasy they could on their budget.

Besides, comic books were full of gritty realism in the seventies. Ghost Rider was running into Jesus hippies and fighting drunk drivers, while Batman shipped Robin off to college and went solo crawling around in the shadows again.

I like that realism stuff in a hero show. It makes it more believeable that this freak character exists in my world --- or a world very much like mine... except for his freaky self.

Really, the show The Incredible Hulk was most like was The Fugitive.

[Benjamin Grimm]

Most episodes of Adventures of Superman were about common crooks who would shoot their guns at Superman's chest until they ran out of bullets, and then they'd throw the pistol at him. The episodes with Mole Men and the like were the exception, not the rule.

And yes, Incredible Hulk was like The Fugitive. And maybe if the show was called The Hot-Tempered Wanderer I wouldn't have been so disappointed in it. But I wanted the Hulk to be the Hulk! I wanted him leaping great distances. I wanted him saying "Hulk will smash puny humans!" I wanted the army going after him with big powered super machines. I wanted the Leader, and the Abomination, and all I got was a mopey Bill Bixby and a sleazy journalist.

I know that CBS wasn't looking to cater to the comic book fanatic; they were focusing on the general public. And given that the series lasted a bunch of seasons, I guess they succeeded. But they lost me pretty early on. I think I probably bailed before the end of the second season.

[Vic Sage]

dgwphotography wrote: I have to go with edgy here - I thought the Hulk show was full of awesome. What didn't you like about it, BG?

other than the fact that it sucked BHMC?
Mr. Grimm, stick to your guns. The barbarians are at the gates.

[Vic Sage]

i would love to see them do the "Mr. Fixit"-era Hulk, written by Peter David in the 80s. He's stuck in his HULK form as a grey, tough-talking Vegas strongarm gangster type... not as strong as his green version, but smart and mean. At least it would give the story a new spin than the standard "Jekyl-Hyde" parable, making it more of a noir.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

Vic Sage wrote: i would love to see them do the "Mr. Fixit"-era Hulk, written by Peter David in the 80s. He's stuck in his HULK form as a grey, tough-talking Vegas strongarm gangster type... not as strong as his green version, but smart and mean. At least it would give the story a new spin than the standard "Jekyl-Hyde" parable, making it more of a noir.

Also, brickhouse Marlo. Grrrow.

The "Banner Hulk"-- after he was "unified" by Doc Samson-- stuff from the nineties would also be a kick... basically, he's Banner, but with a dash of the grey Hulk's mean sense of humor and almost all of classic green's strength. Weird, hilariously deadpan stuff... also from Peter David.

Mostly, I remember the TV series as being that thing that made me jump behind the couch and cover my eyes. Really, we're talking "Kung Fu" with goofy FX, right?

[Edgy MD]

Plus it was awesome.