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Miniatures Adventure => Pulp => Topic started by: supervike on 13 October 2010, 08:02:33 PM

Title: The Spirit...
Post by: supervike on 13 October 2010, 08:02:33 PM
So, I'm a bit behind the times.  I've got a few old Will Eisner Spirit books, mostly because I love the art style, and remember when this film hit the theaters.

It's relatively short run, and bad reviews have made me steer clear of it, but I finally succombed and watched the film last week.

I have to say I was pleasantly surprised.  I expected a terrible mess of a film, and found that it was enjoyable.

Sure, it was corny at times, the diaglog cringeworthy, but I liked the look of it, the characters were fun, and it was filled with 'my style' of pulpy goodness.  While not capturing the spirit (AHEM) exactly of the comic, it still had some very enjoyable scenes. 

Has my movie judgement been so far skewed by viewing b-cinema that I can no longer accurately judge a good movie from a bad?

Well, I like it, with no apologies.  Anybody else with me?
Title: Re: The Spirit...
Post by: LeadAsbestos on 13 October 2010, 08:13:26 PM
So, bad reviews, a terrible mess of a film, corny, cringeworthy, not capturing the spirit of the comic, b-cinema, bad?

 Anybody else with me?

Couldn't agree more! :D
Title: Re: The Spirit...
Post by: Dr.Falkenhayn on 13 October 2010, 08:20:00 PM


Has my movie judgement been so far skewed by viewing b-cinema that I can no longer accurately judge a good movie from a bad?

thats what i asked myself after watching Resident Evil Afterlife,was not that bad,but iam pretty unsure too  :D

The Spirit has a nice Pulp Flair,no Doubt only the Story is a bit boring... :?
Title: Re: The Spirit...
Post by: Remington on 13 October 2010, 08:36:22 PM
The Spirit was one of the few films I never managed to watch all the way through. And my tolerance level is quite high. At some point - it might have been when they started chucking sinks at each other and the dialogue became absolutely ridiculous - I just decided to have a look at the Eva Mendes scenes and turn it off!  :D

Sigh... Eva Mendes....   ;D
Title: Re: The Spirit...
Post by: supervike on 13 October 2010, 08:40:44 PM
Couldn't agree more! :D

LOL...with your quoting ability, one might think you work for the media....
Title: Re: The Spirit...
Post by: matakishi on 13 October 2010, 09:49:22 PM
I managed 20 minutes.
Utter shit :(
The Eisner/Miller interviews showed Miller had no idea about the Spirit or Eisner, the film proved it. Miller writes/makes crap films, this was his crappest.
I have the pilot for the 80s tv show, it wasn't great but it was way better than this.

I could go on but I find it embarrassing to be this pissed off about a film.
Title: Re: The Spirit...
Post by: P_Clapham on 13 October 2010, 10:50:16 PM
I never saw it, doubt I will.  My mentor Chris Couch at UMass Amherst worked closely with Will. I became acquainted with him through his course on Eisner and the Spirit.  Through that class I picked up a deep appreciation for Eisner, in the complex themes and issues he tackled in his comics.  The Spirit lead to me picking up A Contract With God, the Plot and few others.  All very mature and thought provoking graphic novels.

After seeing the previews and Samuel Jackson as the Octopus, well kind of killed any if all interest in the movie.  This was brought up more than once in the class, Miller is kind of a dick.  He's very talented, and I loved Sin City and 300.  When it comes to other people's intellectual properties he's pretty nasty.  Some folks will like the movie, which is fine.  I've got stuff I enjoy, that other folks would take an issue with.  However after eating, drinking and breathing Will Eisner for a full semester, I can't bring myself to watch the movie.
Title: Re: The Spirit...
Post by: magokiron on 14 October 2010, 01:19:33 AM
Hi supervike.

It's ok if you liked the movie, but I guess you haven't read the ORIGINAL COMIC.

Will eisner's THE SPIRIT is one of the fundations of the graphic narrative, and has some of the VERY BEST plots and "camera shots" of all the industry, and several of Eisner techniques used with THE SPIRIT are unsurpassed to this days.

The movie didn't reflect anything of Eisner's greatness, changed the basic structure of the characters and the way they relate to each other, and managed to bury one of the most iconic and beloved (at least to us old chaps) charactes of comic's history.

What a shame.

Pretty much ANY other director may have made a better job, if only after reading 2 or 3 THE SPIRIT comics. And note that each one is only EIGHT PAGES LONG.

But then, that's just my opinion.

Best wishes.
Title: Re: The Spirit...
Post by: Tars Tarkas on 14 October 2010, 05:55:00 PM
Never read the comic but I thought the film was entertaining and all the ladies were extremely watchable!
Title: Re: The Spirit...
Post by: LeadAsbestos on 14 October 2010, 10:43:58 PM
If the chicks are the primary measure, and the film secondary, I'd go w/ Catherine Zeta-Jones in The Phantom! :o ;D :-*
The movie is pretty good too!
Title: Re: The Spirit...
Post by: Tars Tarkas on 18 October 2010, 08:37:13 PM
Yes, I am with you 100% on the Phantom and CZJ!   (The female lead was pretty tepid by comparison.)
Title: Re: The Spirit...
Post by: undead_jon on 19 October 2010, 10:25:52 AM
Being a fan of the TV show Castle (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Castle_%28TV_series%29) I decided to watch it when I found out Stana Katic was in it.

I didn't think it was that bad, though someone should have told Mr Jackson to turn it down a bit.  Personally I like the flashback stuff the best and thought Sarah Paulson and Stana were the best things in it (again, slightly bias, I've been a fan of Sarah Paulson's since American Gothic).

All in all not great, but not as bad as I'd expected.

J
Title: Re: The Spirit...
Post by: n815e on 20 October 2010, 03:55:46 PM
No egg on my face.  Not a glob.

Such an awful movie, it would have been fantastic if they just put in the Eva Mendes scenes, no dialoge and left it at that.
Title: Re: The Spirit...
Post by: white knight on 20 October 2010, 04:03:30 PM
I'm going to shock people, but Eva Mendez doesn't do it for me in movies. If anything, she's an added annoyance.
Title: Re: The Spirit...
Post by: LeadAsbestos on 20 October 2010, 04:50:55 PM
I'm going to shock people, but Eva Mendez doesn't do it for me in movies. If anything, she's an added annoyance.

Agreed! In real life, if she was asking if she could take a shower at my place... :o

But as a movie bombshell, no.
 Even Scarlett couldn't make me watch that stinker of a movie again...
Title: Re: The Spirit...
Post by: white knight on 20 October 2010, 05:17:16 PM
Agreed! In real life, if she was asking if she could take a shower at my place... :o

Yeah, ok.  8)
Title: Re: The Spirit...
Post by: abelp01 on 23 October 2010, 03:02:25 PM
This thread got me thinkin': Anyone make a figure that can be used for the Spirit? A non-Spririt figure? Ebony? Ellen and her Dad?
Title: Re: The Spirit...
Post by: P_Clapham on 25 October 2010, 08:22:03 PM
I'd say just about any man in a suit and fedora.  The mask could just painted on.  The early spirit looked like regular bloke, it's only the later comics that Eisner experiments with a more cartoonly look.

This thread got me thinkin': Anyone make a figure that can be used for the Spirit? A non-Spririt figure? Ebony? Ellen and her Dad?
Title: Re: The Spirit...
Post by: abelp01 on 25 October 2010, 10:42:42 PM
I'd say just about any man in a suit and fedora.  The mask could just painted on.  The early spirit looked like regular bloke, it's only the later comics that Eisner experiments with a more cartoonly look.


Yes, but who makes a similar figure? Does Copplestone have one in his "Gangsters" range anyone can recommend? Or elsewhere?
Title: Re: The Spirit...
Post by: revford on 26 October 2010, 12:07:41 AM
Rattrap's The Gargoyle would look the part, with a mask added.

http://www.brigadegames.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=BGAHSL&Product_Code=RT-PHM45A014&Category_Code=RT
Title: Re: The Spirit...
Post by: pierrebi on 26 October 2010, 08:47:32 AM
This thread got me thinkin': Anyone make a figure that can be used for the Spirit? A non-Spririt figure? Ebony? Ellen and her Dad?
(http://www.pulpfigures.com/catalog/pgj1.jpg)
Title: Re: The Spirit...
Post by: abelp01 on 26 October 2010, 01:17:43 PM
Hmmmm...but could I take off the cape? Is it a separate piece?
Title: Re: The Spirit...
Post by: Heldrak on 26 October 2010, 03:17:35 PM
While The Spirit is indeed "a regular bloke", finding a good figure to represent him on the tabletop is a tougher proposition than it sounds. None of the figures from the Pulp Figures "Agents of Justice" pack really work for me. The Spirit never uses a gun, so you need an empty-handed 1940s business-suited male figure in an action pose.

(http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u219/Heldrak/Forum%20Saves/9549_400x600.jpg)

I keep thinking that there ought to be something in the Heroclix range, but I'm not familiar enough with the various releases to say.
Title: Re: The Spirit...
Post by: Steve F on 26 October 2010, 05:22:59 PM
I keep thinking that there ought to be something in the Heroclix range, but I'm not familiar enough with the various releases to say.

Jack Cole, creator of Plastic Man, briefly did a Spirit knock-off called Midnight.  DC used to use Midnight when they needed a Spirit-proxy (before acquiring he rights to the lad himself).  If there is a Heroclix figure of Midnight, that should be perfect, though you may have to remove his monkey side-kick if that's been sculpted on.
Title: Re: The Spirit...
Post by: goon3423 on 26 October 2010, 05:52:42 PM
You know this is so easy of a base type of figure that you would think that somebody would make this... there are some very basic types that are really hard to find (see my Django thread in Old West  lol).
Title: Re: The Spirit...
Post by: wellender on 26 October 2010, 06:25:49 PM
The closest you are going to get with a Heroclix at the moment is the Question I think.

(http://www.farinatoysandcards.com/new/catalog/images/heroclix/HDOR_035.jpg)

From the Origins release.
Title: Re: The Spirit...
Post by: Ray Earle on 26 October 2010, 06:33:13 PM
I knocked up this version of the spirit a while ago;

(http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii10/RayEarle/P1000431.jpg)

(http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii10/RayEarle/P1000429.jpg)

It's a figure from the 'men in black' pack from Copplestone with a fedora added and the gun removed. I also sculpted a mask on, but you could just as easily paint it on.  :D
Title: Re: The Spirit...
Post by: Heldrak on 26 October 2010, 06:34:05 PM
Jack Cole, creator of Plastic Man, briefly did a Spirit knock-off called Midnight.  DC used to use Midnight when they needed a Spirit-proxy (before acquiring he rights to the lad himself).  If there is a Heroclix figure of Midnight, that should be perfect, though you may have to remove his monkey side-kick if that's been sculpted on.

Good call, Steve. I was thinking the same thing. Unfortunately, I don't think there is a Heroclix Midnight figure (the only thing that comes up is Dr. Midnight- The Golden Age guy with the owl).

The Heroclix Question is a good suggestion, although of course one would have to sculpt him a face... ::)

The Arkham Asylum Question is probably a better choice than the Origins Question, though (the Origins Question is wearing a vest).

Title: Re: The Spirit...
Post by: wellender on 26 October 2010, 06:42:17 PM
Good call, Steve. I was thinking the same thing. Unfortunately, I don't think there is a Heroclix Midnight figure (the only thing that comes up is Dr. Midnight- The Golden Age guy with the owl).

The Heroclix Question is a good suggestion, although of course one would have to sculpt him a face... ::)


You'd also have to get rid of the trenchcoat.  There is not a Heroclix of Midnight.  Maybe when DC 75th comes out, but I doubt it.

Ray Earle, that is an awesome conversion for the Spirit.  Nice work!
Title: Re: The Spirit...
Post by: goon3423 on 26 October 2010, 09:04:43 PM
I knocked up this version of the spirit a while ago;

(http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii10/RayEarle/P1000431.jpg)

(http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii10/RayEarle/P1000429.jpg)

It's a figure from the 'men in black' pack from Copplestone with a fedora added and the gun removed. I also sculpted a mask on, but you could just as easily paint it on.  :D
Very nice work! Dont know why you can't buy one (well, I know why you cant buy that one...)
Title: Re: The Spirit...
Post by: Remington on 27 October 2010, 09:54:44 PM
I'm going to shock people, but Eva Mendez doesn't do it for me in movies. If anything, she's an added annoyance.

BLASPHEEEEMER!!!!  >:(

 ;D


Title: Re: The Spirit...
Post by: Heldrak on 12 March 2011, 10:53:04 PM
Converted up my own version of The Spirit here:

http://leadadventureforum.com/index.php?topic=27123.0

(Still not a patch on Ray Earle's excellent conversion, though... ;)).