The Big Picture: San Diego Comic-Con 2013

[Nghtgnt]

Dear Everyone,

If you are going to pre-judge the Robocop film, instead of basing your opinions on how Robocop looks you might want to do some background research on the director, Jose Padilha, and more specifically actually go out and find a subtitled version of Tropa de Elite [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0861739/?ref_=sr_1] (Elite Squad). If ever there was a right person to helm a remake of this franchise, Padilha is it.

I'm disappointed in you Bob.

 

[scw55]

Can I ask why Comic Con get exclusive trailers?

There's a lot of anger from Doctor Who fans that Comic Con got an exclusive trailer for the 50th anniversary episode. I am annoyed myself. But I want to understand why Comic Con get exclusive trailers. Sure Comic Con benefit from having an exclusivity. But why do Fantasy Media makers invest time and people-power producing these exclusive trailers?
In what way did The Doctor Who team (and other such groups) benefit from this?

 

[Mr. Q]

Kinda makes me wish Escapist would spring for Moviebob to take part of Comic Con just to get their residential geek expert on the ground floor of this annual event. Everyone should attend Comic Con at least once in their lifetime imo.

Superman/Batman: Sounds cool on paper but, after the mess of Man of Steel, I'm not feeling hopeful for any future DC Comic movies. This just feels like WB and DC going back to what worked before without learning from their mistakes or retooling the staff that are making these films. Plus the Flash getting a movie before Wonder Woman further proves their ineptitude. The only way DC Comic movies will get better, imo, is that an actual team is brought together to do this right. Jim Lee, Dan Didio, and Geoff Johns do not fucking cut it. DC should have kept Bruce Timm and Paul Dini as part of the brain trust but not doing so because WB felt they were only good for cartoons only shows what kind of witless monkeys we're dealing with. I wanna be proven wrong but both parties need to get their shit together like yesterday.

Godzilla: I'm feeling more hopeful for this since they look to be sticking closer to the Godzilla cannon but its too early to say. Fingers crossed on this version being a hell of a lot better than the Roland Emmerich abomination.

Robocop reboot: Yeah, this looks to be a stinker on epic levels. I'm not 100% dead set against reboots but you have got to stop and ask yourself "Does this need to be told again?" Judging from the photos and previews, it looks like that question was never asked.

Amazing Spider-Man 2: I'm trying to be hopeful for this sequel but I've got my doubts. Not just the Mr. Freeze looking Electro but the news that its got him plus Rhino and possibly the death of Gwen Stacy. I'm starting to feel like this is becoming Spider-Man 3 where they're trying to cram 10 pounds of stuff in a 2 pound bag. I may be wrong but we shall see.

World of Warcraft movie: Damn! Was not expecting that. Gotta agree with Bob that it sucks Zelda has yet to make it to the big screen. Hey, Nintendo! Take what happened with the Super Mario Bros. movie and DO THE FUCKING OPPOSITE! Get someone who respects the property and can translate it properly. It can be done!

Futurama/Simpsons crossover: Shame that this series got the ax once again. But I am interested on the crossover between the two worlds of Springfield and New New York.

Simpsons/Family Guy crossover: OK, that's a bit bizarre but I'm open to it. Just hope Seth McFarlane's humor doesn't overrun the entire thing.

Marvel Studios: You know what? At this point, Marvel/Disney is pretty much the 600 pound gorilla of Comic Con - does whatever the fuck it wants. I'm stoked to see the upcoming Thor and Captain America sequels. I'm wondering how Guardians of the Galaxy will turn out. This is a major play by Marvel on so many levels. We've got James Gunn writing/directing a big budget sci-fi comedy of a popular but untested property where two of its main characters is a living tree and an alien raccoon. That's ballsy!

As for the reveal of Ultron being the main baddie for Avengers 2 (Thanos looks to be part of Guardians of the Galaxy), I am deeply surprised by this reveal but rather pissed about it. Mostly because its not going to involve its creator Hank Pym aka Ant Man. I know that he's getting his movie in phase 3 and people are rationalizing that having a biologist who can also create an evil A.I. is a stretch but it still burns my ass that neither Hank Pym or Janet Van Dyne are going to be a part of Avengers. Honestly, I'd let X-Men: Days of Futures Part have Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver. I want my Ant Man/Giant Man and Wasp be part of Earth's Mightiest Heroes on the big screen. Is that asking for too much from Marvel?

Either way, I'm gonna be busy in the years to come.

BTW, Bob. You need to sit down and do a Big Picture episode on Ultron and other Marvel Universe baddies hitting the big screen like yesterday.

 

[GamemasterAnthony]

As for Justice League, let's just be honest about this: Wonder Woman is HARD to cast. Furthermore, things can change

This right here. I cannot agree any more than humanly possible. Especially if you consider what MovieBob said previously about said Woman of Wonder. (Not spoiling. Go see for yourself. He did a Big Picture on this as well. See for yourself. [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/videos/view/the-big-picture/2628-All-The-World-Is-Waiting])

CAPTCHA: very nice

Why thank you, Captcha! Though, personally, I cannot take any credit...

 

[Merklyn236]

Marvel continues to run victory laps, and DC continues to wonder why taking a huge crap on its own characters can't get the same kind of returns (though MoS did make a ton of cash....still trying to figure that out). And the Flash? Seriously? I'll flag Marvel for not having given a full movie over to a female comic book character's solo outing, but at least they have done worthwhile efforts with many of their female characters (Peggy Carter, Black Widow [despite her awkward outing in IM2]). I'm saying it now: If Marvel, who does NOT (IMHO) have a female character on the level of Wonder Woman puts out a successful female-character film before DC does a Wonder Woman solo film - DC will owe it's entire fanbase an apology for lack of effort.

How can remake a film that is based on so much violence, satirical or not, like RoboCop and PG-13 it without effing it up? Simply put - you can't. Bombs away.

 

[Riobux]

Marvel is risky Bob? Guardians Of The Galaxy, a film that looks like a Dreamworks production is risky? Damn it Bob, you're losing me. I haven't face palmed this rapidly since I used to read anything by Shamus Young.

Yes Bob, I'm still reeling from you calling Pacific Rim original and that everyone needs to see it because there was a chance in hell of it bombing.

 

[daibakuha]

Marvel is risky Bob? Guardians Of The Galaxy, a film that looks like a Dreamworks production is risky? Damn it Bob, you're losing me. I haven't face palmed this rapidly since I used to read anything by Shamus Young.

Yes Bob, I'm still reeling from you calling Pacific Rim original and that everyone needs to see it because there was a chance in hell of it bombing.

Are you kidding? It's a 5th tier superhero comic adaptation, directed by a guy who's last two films bombed, starring a 4th tier comedy actor from a show that almost nobody watches. Not to mention it's completely different then what they've previously established.

All of these things are good, but don't kid yourself, this is a risk. A big one.

 

[Ken_J]

So, they are saving Thanos for The Avengers 3? I'm cool with that.

Apparently he is in Guardians of the Galaxy

 

[Goliath100]

I've genuinely never understood Wonder Woman's role as one of the big three other than to be the token girl.

That is because nobody else does either.

 

[Scarim Coral]

Sorry Bob but answer me this, how the hell do you think Warner Bros would/ could of handling at making Wonder Woman as a live action film? Since they couldn't nail down the live TV series, I just don't think they could of done Wonder Woman justice by bringing her to the big screen just yet. Sure you can say about Thor but yet again they would of avoid trying to copies the way Thor was made. So overall I welcome The Flash as the replacement for Wonder Woman.

Also while I have no problem with Robocop new design but I know it will suck for the PG-13 rating, come on! Robocop films were rated 18!!!

 

[RJ Dalton]

"Change creative team? Thoughtfully consider the direction you're taking the series? etc. etc.?" I saw the joke coming there from the moment it started. Hollywood doesn't do anything thoughtful.

 

[RTK1576]

Let's see:

- Superman/Batman: I really don't know anymore. It could be an improvement over Man of Steel. Then again, it might end up being more of the same (which, for the record, is NOT what I'd like to see).

And personally, there need's to be a Wonder Woman movie. It's time somebody had the balls to do it (and I can't tell if that line was ironic or not).

- The new Robocop looks like a rejected suit of armor from the Mass Effect series. This does not bode well.

- Godzilla: I hope this is good, but it's hard to see it topping Pacific Rim in terms of satisfying action. It'll probably make more money though, due to name recognition.

- Amazing Spiderman 2: I don't have the animosity for the first one you do, Bob, but then the movie didn't make much of an impression on me. I expect the same result from the sequel.

- World of Warcraft as a movie... I honestly don't care. If it's good, it's good, but I honestly don't care.

- AHHHHHHHH! FUTURAMA! I'm still in mourning.

- Marvel still looking good. Any bets on how much influence Mass Effect will have on Guardians of the Galaxy?

- Ultron... not unexpected, but I'm curious why they decided to push off Thanos until later.

 

[Strain42]

Don't forget that supposedly Fox announced it was doing and X-Force movie.

They haven't said which X-Force, but I'm really hoping for the recent Uncanny Team (Wolverine, Archangel, Psylocke, Deadpool, Fantomex, and possibly Nightcrawler)

I'll admit right now that Guardians of the Galaxy is the Marvel movie I'm MOST looking forward to.

 

[pottyaboutpotter1]

Superman/Batman: As someone who loved Man Of Steel, I am really looking forward to this. And Warner Bros isn't counting Man of Steel a failure like you are. To them it's a huge success.

Robocop: PG-13 doesn't really spell doom. You'd be surprised how much you can get away with in a PG-13 nowadays. Plus they are opening themselves up to the biggest possible audience in what is essentially a huge risk. And Bob, you need to level your expectations. Looking at a movie and going "That movie is going to be terrible. I just know it is." will gurantee you won't like it, see; The Amazing Spider-Man and The Lone Ranger.

Godzilla: Looks okay. I may check this out.

Amazing Spider-Man 2: I loved the first one so I am really looking forward to this.

Futurama: Well, I'd rather it end now than keep going and end up like Simpsons.

Futurama/Simpsons: Has the potential to be great.

Simpsons/Family Guy: Considering I've always said Family Guy is a cruder rip off of Simpsons so hopefully they will get called out in this.

Marvel: What can I say? Everything they've announced and showed has got me super excited for all of their movies.

 

[Redd the Sock]

I've genuinely never understood Wonder Woman's role as one of the big three other than to be the token girl. Her whole backstory is borderline (more directly) sexist albeit against males, her "lasso of truth" and bullet proof bracelets and the invisible plane have all struck me as particularly silly. Her powers have also WILDLY varied over time so that I'm not really sure what her current powers are, even with the help of wikipedia. DC is one of the best examples of a universe with poor female characters, most of whom are just copies of already existing male heroes. I'm not sure who I'd place in that top teir position though, and maybe that's why DC is stuck with one of the only unique female heroines to stick the test of time (name recognition) who also has comparable powers to the a-listers. The same goes for non-white heroes where they can't be bothered to make a new hero so much as just slap the same white hero's costume on them and give them a different name. Shame on them.

So yeah, I can see Flash getting there first (teehee). Here's to hoping that DC gets their act together. I mean, I can maybe see Power Girl but she's literally a female kryptonian. At least they didn't call her Supergirl/Superwoman and slap on the same costume (this time). Zatanna? I don't know, they've really done themselves a dis-service by making wonder woman one of the only viable distinct female heroes. Compare to Marvel who has at least a few legitimate options they can put in there who are unique and sometimes quite powerful (Invisible Woman, Jean Grey/Pheonix, Jubilee(joking), Storm, and a few more. There aren't many, female characters have trouble selling comics so they have trouble existing. But DC is really far behind here.

In fairness to this practice, it's not like comic companies never tried to break out new characters,but they tended to flub and flub hard. Hence, yeah, we don't get a new Muslim original hero, we get a new Muslim Green Lantern.

DC in particular has survived a lot of it's life on its iconography to the point where the comics don't matter. Wonder Woman is an ideal that probably rarely even lived up to the feminist icon she's painted as (how many years was she the JSA's secretary), but it really doesn't matter. She's an icon that's been around for consistently 70 years. Of course that icon status works against her. We get Flash because you can screw it up a bit without too much flack. Wonder Woman would be gone over with fine toothed comb, and the directer and studio execs flayed alive for anything that didn't live up to that feminist ideal she gets painted as.

 

[Steve the Pocket]

DC in particular has survived a lot of it's life on its iconography to the point where the comics don't matter. Wonder Woman is an ideal that probably rarely even lived up to the feminist icon she's painted as (how many years was she the JSA's secretary), but it really doesn't matter. She's an icon that's been around for consistently 70 years. Of course that icon status works against her. We get Flash because you can screw it up a bit without too much flack. Wonder Woman would be gone over with fine toothed comb, and the directer and studio execs flayed alive for anything that didn't live up to that feminist ideal she gets painted as.

Which she invariably will, because ask ten people what the "feminist ideal" is and you'll get eleven different answers.

 

[Redd the Sock]

DC in particular has survived a lot of it's life on its iconography to the point where the comics don't matter. Wonder Woman is an ideal that probably rarely even lived up to the feminist icon she's painted as (how many years was she the JSA's secretary), but it really doesn't matter. She's an icon that's been around for consistently 70 years. Of course that icon status works against her. We get Flash because you can screw it up a bit without too much flack. Wonder Woman would be gone over with fine toothed comb, and the directer and studio execs flayed alive for anything that didn't live up to that feminist ideal she gets painted as.

Which she invariably will, because ask ten people what the "feminist ideal" is and you'll get eleven different answers.

No argument. Just getting it out there before too much finger wagging happens at DC when they have every reason to be hesitant about the idea.

 

[TheRightToArmBears]

You know, however sketchy everything else coming out of Comic-con is sounding, Marvel doing cool things keeps me happy
(generally being what I care about the most). Super fucking excited for the next Cap' movie, it's going to be fucking awesome to see more of him adjusting to the character and Chris Evans is great in the role. What's more is that we're getting more Black Widow, and Robert Redford is in it as well. How about that? I could not give two fucks about Robocop when we're getting this.

 

[Lightknight]

I've genuinely never understood Wonder Woman's role as one of the big three other than to be the token girl.

That is because nobody else does either.

This generally appears the be the problem. She is unappealing as a hero.

In fairness to this practice, it's not like comic companies never tried to break out new characters,but they tended to flub and flub hard. Hence, yeah, we don't get a new Muslim original hero, we get a new Muslim Green Lantern.

Well, it's a little easier for Marvel to introduce new IPs as members of a team since they're largely team-based (Avengers, X-men, Fantastic Four, etc). DC is largely comprised of the Justice League and not a lot else. The thing is, they haven't really even leveraged the Justice League to add new female characters. They have used it to strengthen weaker characters in the universe but not to create them. I mean, Red Tornado was created that way but I can't think of others.

DC in particular has survived a lot of it's life on its iconography to the point where the comics don't matter. Wonder Woman is an ideal that probably rarely even lived up to the feminist icon she's painted as (how many years was she the JSA's secretary), but it really doesn't matter. She's an icon that's been around for consistently 70 years. Of course that icon status works against her. We get Flash because you can screw it up a bit without too much flack. Wonder Woman would be gone over with fine toothed comb, and the directer and studio execs flayed alive for anything that didn't live up to that feminist ideal she gets painted as.

Her being an icon doesn't help when you get into the specifics of her. Her peripherals are, frankly, dumb. From her sharp boomerang golden tiara to her bullet proof bracelets. Her association with the Amazons who murder men and are incredibly sexist puts her in a different category than just a feminist. It potentially goes to all out sexist albeit against men. I mean, I can imagine her being rewritten somehow, but as it stands, she's one of the lamest or most boring characters I've seen in that universe. Even several of the rip-off females (the ones who are just assigned the male counterpart's powers/outfit rather than being unique) are far more interesting than her.

It irked me to no end to see him put Flash down as just a guy that runs fast.

Yes, potentially one of the most powerful beings in the DC universe. Quite interesting that he'd be dismissed so easily. Anything from time travel to passing objects through otherwise impassible solids (imagine the flash putting a krytonite gem in superman's heart). The super fast additionally applies to thinking in such a way that not only allows advanced calculations, but also makes them resistant to mind control/reading.

 

[theultimateend]

Still no Batman Beyond?
..God DAMNIT.

(Yes, I am going to continue to ***** and moan about this. I don't give a crap about Wonder Woman or Superman or Justice League. Give me Batman Beyond).

I'm finishing up the complete series of Batman Beyond (I even legit bought the box set to do so) and man oh man.

I'd actually go Day 1 to see a Batman Beyond film.

For me I also want a Batman film that features Hamil as the joker. It would be an older Batman and an older Joker (since Hamil is getting older) and perhaps could be the death of Joker.

Would be fantastic.

It irked me to no end to see him put Flash down as just a guy that runs fast.

Yes, potentially one of the most powerful beings in the DC universe. Quite interesting that he'd be dismissed so easily. Anything from time travel to passing objects through otherwise impassible solids (imagine the flash putting a krytonite gem in superman's heart). The super fast additionally applies to thinking in such a way that not only allows advanced calculations, but also makes them resistant to mind control/reading.

Yeah I figured he was just getting angry because Flash has a penis.

I really like Wonder Woman and would love to have a movie with her in it. But I also really like the Flash and am giddy to see them trying again with him.

Shit they could do a Lady Flash if that would make Bob stop bitching.

I'd have no qualms. I figure some folks would but there have been 3 flash (that I know of) thus far...nothing wrong with a 4th.