Comments on: The Bigger Picture: Creating a World http://popdose.com/creating-a-world/ your daily dose of pop culture Wed, 25 Nov 2009 13:58:20 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: MarlboroTestMonkey7 http://popdose.com/creating-a-world/comment-page-1/#comment-42647 MarlboroTestMonkey7 Mon, 05 Jan 2009 16:59:30 +0000 http://popdose.com/?p=9475#comment-42647 I feel that the Chicago setting worked wonderfully for the Batman movie, it pinned the realistic ambience to the plot.<br>I recommend Code 46 for the same reason (and the story -and music- as well). I feel that the Chicago setting worked wonderfully for the Batman movie, it pinned the realistic ambience to the plot.
I recommend Code 46 for the same reason (and the story -and music- as well).

]]> By: MarlboroTestMonkey7 http://popdose.com/creating-a-world/comment-page-1/#comment-12603 MarlboroTestMonkey7 Mon, 05 Jan 2009 15:59:30 +0000 http://popdose.com/?p=9475#comment-12603 I feel that the Chicago setting worked wonderfully for the Batman movie, it pinned the realistic ambience to the plot.<br>I recommend Code 46 for the same reason (and the story -and music- as well). I feel that the Chicago setting worked wonderfully for the Batman movie, it pinned the realistic ambience to the plot.
I recommend Code 46 for the same reason (and the story -and music- as well).

]]> By: Arend Anton http://popdose.com/creating-a-world/comment-page-1/#comment-12602 Arend Anton Mon, 05 Jan 2009 05:35:35 +0000 http://popdose.com/?p=9475#comment-12602 Thanks for the positive comments, all. My hope is that this column will spawn broad discussion, as well as viewing recommendations.<br><br>And Bob, I see your point. However, it took place in a consistent world nonetheless. Even when other filmmakers use Chicago as a setting, they are not just filming Chicago but a version of Chicago that only exists in that movie. That's the magic of film. Thanks for the positive comments, all. My hope is that this column will spawn broad discussion, as well as viewing recommendations.

And Bob, I see your point. However, it took place in a consistent world nonetheless. Even when other filmmakers use Chicago as a setting, they are not just filming Chicago but a version of Chicago that only exists in that movie. That's the magic of film.

]]> By: EightE1 http://popdose.com/creating-a-world/comment-page-1/#comment-12601 EightE1 Sat, 03 Jan 2009 17:12:44 +0000 http://popdose.com/?p=9475#comment-12601 Very cool piece. I am a big fan of Terry Gilliam's work, for some of the very reasons you give here. His world is very distinctive -- you always know when you've stepped into some realm of his creation. It's a shame he was denied the opportunity to take on the Harry Potter series -- that would have been damn near perfect.<br><br>Rob<br>EightE1 Very cool piece. I am a big fan of Terry Gilliam's work, for some of the very reasons you give here. His world is very distinctive — you always know when you've stepped into some realm of his creation. It's a shame he was denied the opportunity to take on the Harry Potter series — that would have been damn near perfect.

Rob
EightE1

]]> By: BobCashill http://popdose.com/creating-a-world/comment-page-1/#comment-12600 BobCashill Sat, 03 Jan 2009 16:26:36 +0000 http://popdose.com/?p=9475#comment-12600 Interesting, as one of my biggest problems with The Dark Knight (and to a lesser extent Batman Begins) is that Gotham City is basically Chicago, with a bit of Asian capitals thrown in. (What happened to the Kowloon-like ghetto from the BB?) Not that it had to be as stylized as the prior Batman pictures, but the flatness didn't support the fantasy. Interesting, as one of my biggest problems with The Dark Knight (and to a lesser extent Batman Begins) is that Gotham City is basically Chicago, with a bit of Asian capitals thrown in. (What happened to the Kowloon-like ghetto from the BB?) Not that it had to be as stylized as the prior Batman pictures, but the flatness didn't support the fantasy.

]]> By: DwDunphy http://popdose.com/creating-a-world/comment-page-1/#comment-12599 DwDunphy Sat, 03 Jan 2009 15:38:15 +0000 http://popdose.com/?p=9475#comment-12599 I think I'm gonna like your contributions, Arend.<br><br>Another thing that sinks a lot of movies lately is that there's a disregard for the intent of the source material. If it's an original script, it gets passed around and everyone who reads it latches onto something, a mood, a style, a point to be made, and that's what sells it. By the time the script is in production, that special something has been stripped out, glossed over or otherwise made a point of irony. You get another jeering, post-modern reaction rather than the homage that endeared everyone in the first place.<br><br>For anyone that bothered to see The Spirit in theaters this Christmas, they'd be surprised by the original source, Will Eisner's weekly Spirit comics from the late '30s through the '40s. The strips had a lot of comedy in them, they were at times dark and moody, but equally filled with humor. This was wartime after all. Eisner was shooting for a happy medium, even when his panels were wide and expansive (he had a tendency to draw small, so the cityscapes appeared huge and then give massive close-ups) his characters were charming. <br><br>So you'd think that would be perfect material, right? The mix is pre-leavened as it were. Instead, Frank Miller brings Sin City Part Deux, Samuel L. Jackson in another really bad idea of a career move, and I get to say again, for the millionth time, if it wasn't broken, why did they need to fix it? I think I'm gonna like your contributions, Arend.

Another thing that sinks a lot of movies lately is that there's a disregard for the intent of the source material. If it's an original script, it gets passed around and everyone who reads it latches onto something, a mood, a style, a point to be made, and that's what sells it. By the time the script is in production, that special something has been stripped out, glossed over or otherwise made a point of irony. You get another jeering, post-modern reaction rather than the homage that endeared everyone in the first place.

For anyone that bothered to see The Spirit in theaters this Christmas, they'd be surprised by the original source, Will Eisner's weekly Spirit comics from the late '30s through the '40s. The strips had a lot of comedy in them, they were at times dark and moody, but equally filled with humor. This was wartime after all. Eisner was shooting for a happy medium, even when his panels were wide and expansive (he had a tendency to draw small, so the cityscapes appeared huge and then give massive close-ups) his characters were charming.

So you'd think that would be perfect material, right? The mix is pre-leavened as it were. Instead, Frank Miller brings Sin City Part Deux, Samuel L. Jackson in another really bad idea of a career move, and I get to say again, for the millionth time, if it wasn't broken, why did they need to fix it?

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