This paper will argue for a new direction in comic book films. I suggest a film series that covers the life span of Wolverine before his introduction to the X-Men.
First to start with a critique of the X-men films. I would like to begin with a congratulations to Bryan Singer and his writing team for their films on the X-Men. It is no easy task to combine a bunch of superheroes on one team and Singer's achievement is significant to comic book fans. A few criticisms I have from X-Men and X2: X-Men United is that the spoken accents of the characters were too Americanized. This is seen with Storm who in comic book lore is half American, but lived in Africa most of her life was displayed by Halle Berry with a weak African accent and then erased all together by the second film. The same can be said of Colossus who has an American accent when the character is Russian. Another criticism is the overbearing focus on Wolverine. I understand the technique that the writers were utilizing by using Wolverine as a somewhat audience proxy to be able to learn about Xavier's mansion and his X-Men. I enjoy the banter between Wolverine and Cyclops and a somewhat display of Cyclops' leadership skills. The mystery of Wolverine's past captured the audience's interest, but I was disappointed on how Wolverine's impulsive behavior was not met with a greater force from Cyclops. Wolverine is my favorite character, but if Cyclops had a stronger appearance it may have displayed some more tension. For the most part the first two films were well done. The third film led by Brett Ratner is a completely other story. I wasn't too impressed by this film for it tried to introduce too many characters toward the end of the film trilogy. The talents of Ellen Page, Hugh Jackman, Halle Berry, Shawn Ashmore, Patrick Stewart, Anna Paquin, and James Marsden were all wasted to an extent. I did like some elements of the plot with the "Cure" incentive for mutants and Rogue's dilemma on becoming normal so she could be with her boyfriend. I enjoyed the Kitty Pryde love triangle that seemed to tear at Rogue even further. Again with too many characters introduced Colossus isn't really developed as a prominent figure in the storyline, but just as someone who can throw Wolverine across a football field. I did like the inclusion of his artistic talents, but I would have liked to see the true comic book romance of Colossus and Kitty Pryde. (It could have been a love triangle between Iceman, Kitty Pryde, and Colossus in which Bobby Drake eventually realizes that Rogue is his true love and not the younger Kitty Pryde. Colossus could show his sensitive side to Kitty Pryde during her heartache for Bobby and those two could have gotten together.) This would have broadened Colossus's role and would have added romantic tension that would have sparked some more interest into the film. I also did not like how Cyclops became a weakened and broken man who just gets killed in the beginning of the film. I am sorry James Marsden, you were an awesome Cyclops and it is terrible that your character ended that way. The good things about this film I would have to say is the powerful emotions behind Professor X's death and the epic killing of the Phoenix by Wolverine ( a powerful scene that haunts him in the film, "The Wolverine") plus the wonderful casting of Kelsey Grammar as the Beast. He would truly still be an awesome Hank McCoy.
Now onto the X-Men Origins: Wolverine film. Director Gavin Hood really seemed to just reinvent the wheel with this film. Sabretooth as Wolverine's brother? I am a true fan of Joe Quesada's Origin comic. They even showed an origin of Sabretooth just recently with him originating in the American South. (Not in Canada) Another continuity concern (Why would James Howlett of Alberta, Canada be fighting in the American Civil War?) This makes no sense at all and marks a reason why I prefer Quesada's story over any other based on Wolverine's origin. The other elements to the film that made it terrible were the surrounding characters such as William Stryker. Why? Oh for heaven's sake is William Stryker there and not Dr. Cornelius. I was pretty upset by this change for the older comics had Dr. Cornelius as the mastermind behind Weapon X. I did enjoy the performance of Hugh Jackman who is Wolverine incarnate! A fine performer and great action hero. I loved the introduction of Gambit, but felt that his character didn't mean anything toward the end. Plus Silverfox and Emma Frost as sisters? Cyclops too! I don't know by the end it all seemed to fall apart. I did not appreciate the use of Will I Am as Wraith. He's not a superb actor, but if you were to put him in there don't give him a weak role. I felt that Kevin Durand as the Blob was mostly a character for some exposition and a comical boxing match. Deadpool was a joke, but Ryan Reynolds was perfect casting. Plus thank the comic book gods for the recent Deadpool film. Ryan Reynolds got what he deserves, a superhero film that is funny, well written and true to his character.
The film series I suggest to be made is with live motion capture animation for two distinctive purposes.
1. So that the viewer feels as if they are immersed within the comic.
2. So that the heights and the weights of the characters are true to their comic book profiles.
I believe with the developing technology of Peter Jackson's WETA studio and ILM's studio will be able to do this effectively. One film to consider is the Adventures of Tin Tin in which I am still stunned by the animation and emotion that can be obtained from the characters.
The story of the films will span over the course of human history from the late 19th century into the 1970s. In my suggestion I have taken into account the great works of Joe Quesada, Chris Claremont, and many other writers and their tales of Wolverine and combined their vision into one chronology before Wolverine joins the X-Men. The films would have an instilled drama as well as superhero action. Comic books are dramatic pieces and can be used to produce amazing films.
The first film can be called Wolverine: James Howlett. This film would cover the entire Origin comic about James growing up with his two friends and how the rage of Thomas Logan drives them apart. I was incredibly drawn to this book right after I first read it. It is a fantastic read and very well written.
Rose would be the love interest in this film as it covers his life from 1889 - 1906. Rose would be a year or two older than James Howlett. There can be more added to the back story of the Howlett family and the loss of their first son John Jr. The which makes her around 19 years old when Smitty proposes to her. I felt that 1889 would fit well with the year difference between James and his older brother John Jr. who died when James would be eight. I understand that the writers in Marvel were not particularly enthused by Quesada's story, but I feel it's amongst the most plausible scenarios for Wolverine and to show why he seems to have a natural attraction to Jean Grey who is in most respects physically similar to Rose. (red hair, attractive, slender) It also gives the reader a sense of James' humility and affection for those he loves which can seem to get lost amongst the macho mumbo jumbo of the 1990s comics and other writings.
The second film I suggest would be titled Wolverine: Logan. He has no previous memory of his life before the quarry in British Columbia, but continues on into the Canadian wilderness with his wolf pack. This film covers his life from 1906-1950. Silverfox would be the love interest in this film. The only thing that is different is that instead of the love story happening throughout the whole film it only occurs within the first half hour to 45 minutes. This film will encompass both World Wars and show Wolverine's connection to Captain America. The wars roughen him up as he forms a brotherhood with a few soldiers who inevitable die in combat hardening Wolverine's emotions. (The man is surrounded by death!) The film would end with him landing in Madripoor becoming recruited by Landau, Luckman, and Lake for espionage work. He goes and tries to take down some bad guys, but then starts to realize that he wants a life away from the violence. He later finds out that Landau, Luckman, and Lake are a front for the CIA and that he has to work with two other agents to complete a mission. (After stating that this will be his last mission.) In 1947, they meet and use codenames with Logan using Skunk Bear which was a name that his wife, Silverfox affectionaly called him in the beginning of the film. They take down the enemy and recover at a hospital where the female agent finds out she's pregnant. It is later revealed that the agents were Richard and Mary Parker (Peter Parker's parents). Logan says he wants to find a place where the trees only sway to the breeze and not to the temper of a grenade. It is revealed at the end that he finds solitude in Japan.
The third film I suggest would be titled Wolverine: Weapon X. This film covers his life from 1950 - 1975. This part of the journey would show his relationship with Mariko Yashida. The love story again only lasts until half way through the film at the time of her death and Logan's decision to join the CIA once again. He now teams up with Victor Creed codenamed: Sabretooth and takes down some bad guys. He then returns to Canada and teams up with Alpha Flight, a ragtag group of mutants who live in Canada. From there he is discovered and asked to join the Weapon X program. He joins alongside three others (Sabretooth, Agent Zero, and Silverfox). They undergo a memory change process in which their memories are altered. They decide to delete Wolverine's entire memories of Silverfox and notice that he has repressed memories that even with their technology he can't look into. Weapon X is completed and he's sent to take out the Incredible Hulk who is terrorizing the Canadian wilderness. He confronts the Hulk and gets his butt whooped in other words. He continues to fight until the Hulk escapes and the Wolverine is contacted telepathically by Professor X and they meet at a military base in Quebec. He then joins the X-Men.
This kind of trilogy appears as a large project (maybe even too large), but the thing is if the story isn't good enough to show how he grows from being a passionate young boy into the feral beast of the Wolverine.
No comments:
Post a Comment