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Tom Ronca - 2006-03-12 12:45:01
For that matter, why wasn't 'MirrorMask' at least given a nomination for 'Best Visual Effects' at this year's Academy Awards? I guess in certain categories it just doesn't pay to be outside the mainstream. If you enjoyed 'MM', Neil Gaiman (writer of the screenplay) has at least four other scripts in pre-production right now; and if you can't wait for those, check out his 'Sandman' series of Graphic Novels -- it's the most mature piece of writing you'll find in a comic book (that I've encountered, at least).
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Paula - 2006-03-12 12:48:48
Tom, I suspected you'd be all over this movie, but I think I already knew that you were a Neil G. fan.
I read bits and pieces of Sandman when I worked at my various comic stores, but not the whole thing end-to-end. Wasn't there s'posed to be a movie?
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Tom Ronca - 2006-03-12 14:35:50
It has been optioned -- but no one has been able to make an entirely suitable adaptation, including Gaiman himself. The story's rather meandering and convoluted (necessarily so, in my opinion), and involves a number of characters from the rest of the 'DC Universe', further complicating rights and licensing issues. While they always seemed out of place in Gaiman's story, these characters do (on occasion) play an important part in it; they'd be difficult to omit. So maybe better left unadapted for the screen. Besides, as written, it works much better as a serial drama -- but it would probably be the most expensive TV show ever made if attempted in that medium.
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Bob - 2006-03-12 16:35:51
Now y'all got me wondering what intelligent comic geeks (as opposed to any out there who could get into "Chasing Amy") thought of the short-lived, non-animated TV version of "The Tick" (which I loved, before seeing and loving the original, comic-book version). The question being, did seeing the printed version first make the acted one somehow objectionable? (Assuming that you two did?)
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Flasshe - 2006-03-12 18:29:10
Hey, weird, we both blogged about the MirrorMask DVD on the same day (actually, mine was last night, but close enough). What a beautiful movie. Count me in as a Gaiman/Sandman aficionado. I've read the whole saga and definitely think it's a comic book highwater mark.
I liked both the animated and non-animated TV versions of The Tick, but have never read the comics.
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Tom Ronca - 2006-03-12 23:56:48
My first exposure to 'The Tick' was the animated, which I still think of as b eing quite good. The live-action 'Tick' had some inspired casting (who be better than Patrick Warburton in the title role?), but seemed hampered by a small budget -- I remember an entire episode that seemed to consist of the main characters on a rooftop, describing what Apocalypse Cow was up to -- I think the fact that we never actually got to see the cow (or what he was up to) was part of the joke; but that's a joke that would wear thin pretty quickly had the show continued.
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Tom G. - 2006-03-13 01:33:53
It's also cute that Chrissie has never, ever changed her eyeliner.
Neither has Bob Dylan! Totally agree with you about The Pretenders. That original lineup was perfection. I never liked superhero comic books and still don't, but the live action Tick was great.
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Paula - 2006-03-13 10:10:34
Never saw the live action Tick--loved the comic book, which I will forever associate with that tag team of terror Ronca & Bonforte.
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jon - 2006-03-21 13:13:40
Count me as a fan of the live-action Tick, which has been handily compiled into a 2 DVD set. My kids like it too. As far as "mature comic writing", I wonder what Mr. Ronca thought of Identity Crisis. (Thumbs up from me, but I know nothing about comics.)
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