FilmFlicking

Emperor Morphetine · Oscar Winner Joined: 29 Jan 2008 Posts: 1781

Hi guys!

I'm working on a project for a 'Researching Film & Media' module on my degree on comic book film adaptations and how fans and casual cinemagoers react to them. I'd be really grateful if you'd like to answer some questions for it.

Many thanks!

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The Dark Side is a pathway to many abilities, some considered to be..unnatural.

Emperor Morphetine · Oscar Winner Joined: 29 Jan 2008 Posts: 1781

Here are the questions...

Do you go to see a comic book adaptation because-

A. You are a fan of the original source material and are curious to see how it has been adapted.
B. You are interested in a particular star/director attached to the project.
C. Marketing campaigns (trailers etc) have attracted you to it.

If you answered A to the previous question-

How did the last comic book adaptation you saw compare to the original source? Did you feel it was competent or not?

Did you enjoy it?

Please could you state why you liked/did not like it.

If you answered B or C to the above question-

Did you feel that a lack of knowledge of the original comic held you back in any way?

Has viewing the film adaptation attracted you to learn more about the world of the comics?

Were/are you in any way involved in comic book fan culture in any way?

As a result, do you have any prior expectations of cinematic adaptations?

Thank you for your time, I value any feedback you can give!
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The Dark Side is a pathway to many abilities, some considered to be..unnatural.

Catnapper · Site Joined: 30 Jul 2007 Posts: 6149

Even though I used to buy Marvel and DC comics when I was little I wouldn't say I see a movie purely because of that, so option A is out! Option B applies to Superman Returns and Batman Begins cause I wanted to see Brandon Routh and Christian Bale in those parts........but I think option C applies more to me. So in that case.......

I already had knowledge of them so I can understand a fair amount of what's going on.

Viewing the adaptations rekindled my interest in comics.........I've recently bought Ghost Rider, Super Girl and The Incredible Hulk comics.

I'm not involved in comic book fan culture.

I don't have any prior expectations apart from hoping the films are good and they don't drastically alter the characters!

Emperor Morphetine · Oscar Winner Joined: 29 Jan 2008 Posts: 1781

Many thanks Cat!
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The Dark Side is a pathway to many abilities, some considered to be..unnatural.

Lucifer_666 · Site Joined: 27 Jul 2007 Posts: 9560

Even though there has been past films that the other two options have applied I think its generally option A when it comes to most comic book adaptations for me

The Last one I think I saw was Spiderman 3 and I have to say I thought it compared pretty much to the comics I used to read...of course there are differences but I was expecting that so it didn't ruin anything in the experience for me....actually the film in many ways and all Spidey films have certain scenes that you could almost freeze frame and match them to old comic drawings...I like that element of them.

One of the main differences in the film is how Venom comes about in the first place...he was a product of the Comic book series Secret Wars which I religiously followed and connected with Spidey there on an alien world....now this project unfortunately will never come about so the film had to alter this and instead have Venom come on a meteorite....which was a bit lazy of an idea but I suppose it sufficed.

I think the biggest complaint or downside in any of these comicbook films that most readers will point to is the lack of a 'think bubble' .... now don't get me wrong I don't expect big bubbles appearing with words on screen but in the comic books it did give the reader a far greater insight into the thinking of characters both evil and good...I also think it greatly helps with Spidey because in almost every end fight his mask has to be ripped in order to show Tobey's emotions

I do slightly get annoyed at this...but not enough that I don't enjopy the movie
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Emperor Morphetine · Oscar Winner Joined: 29 Jan 2008 Posts: 1781

That's a very interesting point actually- One of the main things I'm aiming to find out is whether or not comic book fans feel 'alienated' by changes made in the process of adapting it for the screen. The fact that people realise that some artisitc licence is needed at times is quite encouraging, as it means that one of my hypotheses for my research assignment has been proved wrong to an extent already (and welcomingly).

It's also interesting to note that in some ways it seems that the line between fantasy and reality in comic book adaptations could be blurred further- although at what cost, if any?
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The Dark Side is a pathway to many abilities, some considered to be..unnatural.

Lucifer_666 · Site Joined: 27 Jul 2007 Posts: 9560

Well I'd imagine Morphy for every one comic book fan like me more open to necessary change when transferring to the big screen there is two or three who would be annoyed at the artistic differences so perhaps its not so much your hypothesis thats wrong but the fact that I'm just a contradiction

Can I ask too mate what you mean by your last observation on the line between fantasy and reality??
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Emperor Morphetine · Oscar Winner Joined: 29 Jan 2008 Posts: 1781

Well, in this case I'm trying to say that while comic book films are obviously based in fantasy, there is a reality to them, and the 'thought bubble' idea would blur the distinction between the two.
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The Dark Side is a pathway to many abilities, some considered to be..unnatural.

Lucifer_666 · Site Joined: 27 Jul 2007 Posts: 9560

Ahhhhh I'm with you bud.... Yeah well as much as I think it may bring a more all round portrayal of a comicbook to the screen I don't think it would work in many Superhero films then again look at 'Sin City' which utilise lots of thinking narrations and words on screen and it was very successful...so you never know Morphy

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Emperor Morphetine · Oscar Winner Joined: 29 Jan 2008 Posts: 1781

Ah yes, I'd forgotten about that one actually! I've been meaning to watch it for a while, out of wanting to see it but haven't got around to it.
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The Dark Side is a pathway to many abilities, some considered to be..unnatural.