Film News: Batman Begins, Elektra, Spider-Man 3

6/10/2004

Some miscellaneous small buzzbits that individually don't warrant a post but collectively warrant...about a quarter of a post, so here you are:

Batman Begins: Seems like everything lately has been a little bit all-filler-no-killer these days on the Batman rumor front. A big deal was made over one of the film producers accidentally leaking that the Batmobile has jumpjets...except, you know, there's like no film in the history of time and space that has had such a well-mainuplated isinformation and controlled leakage guerilla PR system in place. If we get news, you can bet it's either false, false and planted by the production, or true and planted by the production. So, when he mentions jumpjets like it's a spilled secret, translate that to read that he leaked a tidbit to get fans drooling and speculating. And, as IronLung pointed out, the reported '40 feet' of launch it is supposed to get is probably implied to be a vector thrust off of a jump maneuver, not a VTOL hop as was once reported. And does the working vehicle really do these things? Depends on whether or not you are willing to believe they built 10 of them, because film productions use multiple versions of vehicles for different shots and uses. So if one actually does have a fucking jet in the back, be sure it's not the one tooling around "emptied of jet fuel" on the showroom floor. And then kick yourself for buying into that little tidbit in the first place.



Also, photos of Gary oldman posing in a London tunnel in a smart dark suit and soulpatch, with scarf and hat, were released and everyone reported them to be pics of him as Detective (future Commissioner) Gordon. As much as I'd like to believe, and continue to hope, that they'd give him such a smart style fo the character...those aren't photos from Batman Begins, but rather another small UK production he's been filming. He also professed in n article for the Sunday Herald Sun that he was aiming to play positive roles instead of his usual menagerie of thugs, eccentric villains and generally freaky people. Let's hope not.



Lastly, Moviehole has been standing behind a rumor that Steve Buscemi has been approached for the role of the Joker in a planned sequel. I have two problems with this: I think there's plenty of opportunity to continue telling interesting Batman stories without rehashing the same villains. And if they DO revise the Joker, as I said in my Wrongrobot's Fantasy Casting: Batman (link in the upper left) I would like to see them write him perfectly straight. A somber looking, really freaky mad scary criminal sadistic badass, who tells very wry, ironic, sarcastic statements with a totally straight face while torturing, dismembering, etc so he gets the reputation as the 'Joker.' As for look, I visualize shooting him in dark suits and overcoats, with a shock of dark hair, and waxy, unhealthy pale skin, so now clown make-up, although definitely pale. He could in a really creepy scene actually break into a giant Joker grin...but just as a visual reference to our perception of the character, not a literal part of his look. That's Wrongrobot's view on that.



Elektra: Apparently, Bob 'the Beast' Sapp is playing Stone, an "evil assassin whose physique is made of stone." I understand that he traded his NFL gear for a martial art Gi uniform, and turned himself into some sort of Ultimate Fighting Champion type guy (K-1.)



So maybe this is a good choice, seeing as how Ray Park has brought so much believability to his action stuff as Toad, Darth Maul, etc.

Spider-Man 3: Supposedly the studio is hot and bothered about setting in stone the villain(s0 for Spider-Man 3, but Sam Raimi is playing coy. Take this rumor at face value, because I haven't heard anything to confirm Raimi is even contractually on-board for another sequel. But the proposed villains haven't been sitting well with him, apparently. He found nothing intriguing about the Venom character, and the obvious Osborne Hobgoblin connection, while a viable threat and possible future character, seems redundant to Raimi. I totally agree. This robot would propose:


A Sinister Six gang-up!


[not this particular S6, which includes Mephisto, Sandman and the Vulture...and is made of action figures]

The Lizard: We already have established Conners as having fired Parker from his lab in the script to the first film, and this would be a great opportunity to introduce a muscular, lean, long-tailed Lizard in some great action sequences.

The Rhino: super CGI textured skin, big-ass horn, and lots of exploding building foundations and structural block walls!

The Scorpion: Fast, mean, violent tail action, plus, a ribbed costume for his pleasure.

Elektro: As seen in Ultimate Six particularly, with incredibly powerful electrical control, and no costume.

Kraven: again, the Ultimate Six version- a media reality TV star with a monstrous side, hunting Spider-Man across the rooftops of Manhattan.

And how do you set up a super-villain team in a film like this? Set up bait, and when Spidey comes in to rescue whoever, let's say Gwen Stacy this time around, each of the attackers can wail on him one at a time, and as he gets away, the next one attacks and so on, until finally he's at the bait, rescuing her, and the reveal is Osborne standing there in control, as the Sinister Six surround him from behind, in a concerted effort. THAT would be a kick-ass movie.

Only one problem: we need female villains or participants. That means either introducing the Black Cat as a friend/foe, or changing the sex on someone above. Anyway, that's Wrongrobot's take on that. Stay tuned for a Wrongrobot Fantasy Casting for a film of this nature!


0 comments

self is: wrongrobot #

Comments: Post a Comment