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Entertainment Mailbag, Dec. 1-15, 2008

Dec. 8-31, 2008

'The Dark Knight'

From Brandon Stehl:

I do hope the DC can find another hero and make another praiseworthy movie so they can finally catch up with Marvel. Let's look at DC's Justice League: Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Green Lantern, the Flash, Martian Manhunter and Hawkgirl/Hawkman. Most of these heroes would have to have a three-hour flick in order to get to know them, have an epic battle and win the public. Superman is almost a lost cause with only one great film out of five, with another possibly on the way. Batman is already in the works. Wonder Woman in a solo movie is almost doomed to end up like Catwoman and, in my opinion, should be avoided at all costs.

Green Lantern is one of those heroes whose origin is very complex and would take at least two movies to explain Hal Jordan, Sinestro and the Lantern Corps. Martian Manhunter is the same way. Two movies would have to be made and, with no disrespect, would probably be very boring. Besides, I don't know if I could sit through a movie watching a hero who is afraid of fire. That leaves us with the Flash and Hawkgirl. The Flash needs more heroes around him to keep up his heroic, wisecracking personality. A solo movie wouldn't work for this guy. Hawkgirl, or Hawkman for that matter, just doesn't seem like a wise choice for a superhero movie.

After the main members of the Justice League, DC still has many more heroes -- and villains. Who do I want to see make it to the big screen? Give Slade a chance. However, please don't make it like "Punisher: War Zone." Slade has a complex origin: falling in love, taking a chance on his son's life and being betrayed by members of his family at various times throughout the comics. A Slade movie could even have a Teen Titans throw-in, but with the Titans not being the main point, a "Fantastic Four" doozie could be dodged.

From Leigh Smith:

I say that the best thing they can do is try to stay away from the "Superhero" heroes. By that I mean the heroes with either alien or mutant-based powers. All the people that I talk to say they most enjoy the stories of the human heroes and the struggles that they deal with in life. The last two Batman movies did just that, portraying Bruce Wayne as a person and the challenges that he has to deal with, including his struggle to fight these mounting enemies and stay true to his rule of no killing. Maybe he could end up killing a street thug, and we could see the torment that brings to him while fighting, say, the Riddler or Catwoman. Some might say that he dealt with the death thing in "Dark Knight," but I disagree. While he felt it was his fault that Rachel died, it wasn't a death at his hands.

Another great choice for Batman would be Black Mask. He was the child of friends of the Waynes, though they actually hated the Waynes and were disgusted by their hypocrisy. Black Mask can get into the head of Bruce, because he knew him when they were kids.

Basically, I believe that the greatness of the newer movies is by emphasizing the humanity in the characters. People can relate to a man or woman who does what needs to be done. It is harder to relate to someone who is pretty much in every way superior and more fantasy-based.

From Anthony G.:

As a long-time comic fan and avid movie buff, I agree with most of your sentiments and I enjoyed your article. "The Dark Knight" surely raised the bar (right where it needed to be). The recent Superman/Spider-Man franchises were a total bust, and a Justice League movie would be horrible. I actually liked the revamped Incredible Hulk and look very forward to the Avengers (if it happens) -- though I did write a 116-page screenplay for Captain America while I was in Iraq and have no idea who/how to send it in ... I digress ... (or lament?)

I would like to see the Dark Knight move into darker waters with some sinister villains and even tie together some other loose ends, such as Talia. As long as they stay away from Robin (in any form) and keep Bale and Nolan, I'm happy. Clayface could be done very well if they choose the older versions. I hope never to see Penguin or Riddler on the screen again.

Superman should be an older, barrel-chested, square-jawed, corn-fed, good old American man and not a model devoid of acting skills. Bring in Brainiac or Bizarro or ... anything!

I would love to see the Big Red Cheese himself make an appearance on the big screen -- well since the 1941 serial (and, yes, I do own it).

Wonder Woman would be great but poses a huge fan problem. Who do you pick? How do you make sure the story isn't sappy? Do you set it in World War II?

Green Lantern (yes, Hal Jordan) would be a great visual feast, and the character is interesting enough as long as they do not bring in the rest of the corps!

I would love to see a JSA movie with characters such as Hourman, Dr Midnite, Hawkman, Wildcat, Powergirl and Dr Fate, and [to] set it in [a] period would be an added bonus.

My all-time dream would have to be the Invaders (Cap, Bucky, Torch and Submariner -- Toro optional!) followed closely by the Liberty Legion -- but it will never happen as the characters are all second stringers (at best).

Thanks again for an article written by someone who actually has read a comic book and appreciates the franchise.

From Todd L. Rivard, Farmington Hills, Mich.:

Marvel has hundreds of characters they could turn into movies: Vision the android, Scarlet Witch, Powerman and Iron Fist, Union Jack, Black Panther ... on and on and on. Hope they turn all of these characters into movies some day.

From John Casey:

OK, how about Superman meets multiverse Supermen. The multiverse is breaking down due to an experiment gone badly. No earthly villain in this one, but the multiverse could come to an end if things aren't set right, and half of the Supermen are bad to the bone. Kill a couple of Supermen off -- good and bad alike -- and in the end, the remainder realize they all need to work together to save their own worlds. Just a thought.

From Kerry L. Barnes, Hayana, India:

I would like to see a movie made of the cosmic king "The Silver Surfer." Not on Earth though, but an adventure of battles in outer space on his way home -- only to find out that his planet was destroyed by Galactus -- then returns to Earth to visit Sue Richards.

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