Live Action Movie Discussion Thread

[Furu]

I can't see this being anything but good news for the franchise. Hell, look at Transformers. It's a hot property again because of a blockbuster movie. This will only help in the long run.

Transformers is now inexplicably linked to an awful shit-fisted 'action' movie that was apparently about robots fighting each other, but included way too many retarded humans. The Transformers movie from '86 - that was a Transformers movie; this new one is shit. Utter, fucking, shit. I defy anyone to say that the new movie has any redeeming qualities. Any. I dare you.

I...liked it?

[desirecampbell]

I...liked it?

Really? What about it did you like? Was it the terrible cinematography? The nauseating camera movements? The robot-form redesigns that made previously beefy-robots look like they're made out of tinfoil? Was it that the core mechanic of the series (giant robots fighting each other, shouting one-liners) was shoved aside in favour of 'more screen time and lines for people'? You know how many humans were in the entire series (that didn't get immediately killed or saved)? Two. Spike, and his son.

I'm not saying they couldn't have changed some things about the series when making the movie. Hell, I was assuming they wouldn't get into the size changing aspect of some of the Transformers - but this 'hey let's ignore everything that made Transformers awesome and completely rewrite the plot' shit makes me sick.

It wasn't a good Transformers movie - it wasn't even a good action movie. I would have preferred a fucking Gobots movie.





And this is exactly what I'm afraid of for the DBZ movie. That they'll use the names and the fact that the characters fight each other and completely fuck up everything. I hated the Xmen and Spider-man movies, but at least they were good action movies - Transformers didn't even have that.

[Furu]

I'm not going to say you aren't wrong on any of your arguments, but in spite of those flaws, I was entertained, which is what I want out of a movie.

The fact that you also didn't like Spider-Man or X-Men just says to me that our taste in films isn't anywhere in the same neighborhood, which comes down to the fact that for the most part quality is an entirely subjective thing.

[desirecampbell]

The fact that you also didn't like Spider-Man or X-Men just says to me that our taste in films isn't anywhere in the same neighborhood, which comes down to the fact that for the most part quality is an entirely subjective thing.

I'm not saying you can't like the movies - as I said, the Xmen and Spider-man movies were good movies in and of themselves - I'm just saying that they were bad movies for that property. Spiderman changed damn near everything about Parker's interpersonal relationships (which is important to his character development - not my opinion, that's a fact) and was full of stiff, bad acting. Xmen, shit, they took the names and powers and changed everything else. When I say 'Magneto' do you think of afrail old man? Yeah, that pisses me the fuck off.

I could go on and on about it - but suffice it to say that if these, well known and respected comic properties could be fucked up so badly and accepted so readily, Dragonball has no goddamn hope.

[Dragon Ball Daisuki]

Transformers, I think, is a good comparison point, for the minimum of what we can expect from this film (I'm not saying there WILL be a'maximum' but let's keep the hope alive, mmkay?)

At its core, Transformers is, well... giant robots punching eachother in the face. There's just no getting around it. And I'm fine with that. But to pretend its anything other than that is asinine and in fact, plain silly. Now admittedly, I was drawn in by the human element. It was just such an unexpected dynamic. So we start off with this strong lead with Shia Lebeouff, and... sort of... forget about him, midway through the movie? And attempt to pick up the pieces at the end. In my opinion, if you're not going to flesh these things out properly, please, don't waste our time. Don't try for a second masquerading this film around town as a human interest story. It isn't.

And there was that... um. That epileptic "spy robot" the Decepticons were using? God. This is exactly the sort of goofy jack-ass that belongs in a damn Star Wars movie; intended to provide comic relief, but ultimately fated for our eternal aggravation. Seriously. It could have been Jar Jar Binks in those scenes and I wouldn't have blinked.

Ultimately however, I really enjoyed this movie. And if Dragon Ball amounts to this sort of visual epic, I'll be more than satisfied. It won't hit me the same way as say, the Matrix, Lord of the Rings or the first Spider-Man film, but I think it will have enough good influences that it could be a pretty solid epic, like Tranformers, even if it is a piece of corporate shit.

Personally, I'd like to see them apply a slight fantasy element to it, a la Lord of the Rings. King Kong showed me it could be done with different kinds of stories. I'd love to see some DBZ-style battles shot that way. Like, instead of individual fights, perhaps some four-on-four fights? Like our heroes fighting the Ginyu Tokusentai simultaneously, rather than one at a time.

But it'll be a wonder to behold, if nothing else.

[Super Sonic]

I loved the Transformers movie. I also have to say that just because something's true to its inspiration doesn't always equal greatness. Remember that aside from a few new dramatic elements, Mortal Kombat : Annihilation was pretty darn true to Ultimate MK3's plot.

[Thanos6]

And re: "old man Magneto," dude, he was in a Nazi concentration camp. He HAS to be old. What works with Erik Lehnsherr is what works with, believe it or not, Freeza; the weak-looking exterior hides massive power.

[LSSJ4]

I think my heart stopped beating after this.

I am incredibly terrified for how this is going to turn out.

[Death-T]

I...liked it?

Really? What about it did you like? Was it the terrible cinematography? The nauseating camera movements? The robot-form redesigns that made previously beefy-robots look like they're made out of tinfoil? Was it that the core mechanic of the series (giant robots fighting each other, shouting one-liners) was shoved aside in favour of 'more screen time and lines for people'? You know how many humans were in the entire series (that didn't get immediately killed or saved)? Two. Spike, and his son.

I'm not saying they couldn't have changed some things about the series when making the movie. Hell, I was assuming they wouldn't get into the size changing aspect of some of the Transformers - but this 'hey let's ignore everything that made Transformers awesome and completely rewrite the plot' shit makes me sick.

It wasn't a good Transformers movie - it wasn't even a good action movie. I would have preferred a fucking Gobots movie.





And this is exactly what I'm afraid of for the DBZ movie. That they'll use the names and the fact that the characters fight each other and completely fuck up everything. I hated the Xmen and Spider-man movies, but at least they were good action movies - Transformers didn't even have that.

Holy fucking crap. I'm not a fan of the anime,and I can understand how you would feel about the movie. But even so,you are overcritical to an amazingly disturbing extent.

In all honesty,I thought the movie was awesome. And you don't have to freak out just because someone does like the movie. As the vast majority of the people who've seen it do.

[Duo]

I can recall no point in time in which I thought this was a good idea. What is there to gain from it?

Ugh, I don't know. I could take it from the various Marvel universes and what-not because I'm not attached to them like I am Dragonball. It's like sending your kid into experimental surgery. It might help him a lot, but there's a chance he'll dang near die.

[desirecampbell]

And re: "old man Magneto," dude, he was in a Nazi concentration camp. He HAS to be old. What works with Erik Lehnsherr is what works with, believe it or not, Freeza; the weak-looking exterior hides massive power.

I take it you've never, ever, read an Xmen comic. Magneteo is old - not feeble. Magneteo is a great villain because he's not just master of magnetism, he's also fucking ripped. In X2 (and again in X3) they take away his powers and he becomes helpless - that's not Magneteo, goddamnit. He can go toe to toe with the best of them.

Holy fucking crap. I'm not a fan of the anime,and I can understand how you would feel about the movie. But even so,you are overcritical to an amazingly disturbing extent.

In all honesty,I thought the movie was awesome. And you don't have to freak out just because someone does like the movie. As the vast majority of the people who've seen it do.

I'm not saying you can't like Transformers (I'm saying you've got to have low standards, but hey, I'm okay with people who like the Orange Box too), I'm just saying that it was a sub-par movie in and of itself, and completely undeserving of the property it used as it's only pull for movie goers.

I'm not overly critical, I just want an adaptation to remain true to at least the core of the plot. That's all. I'm just hoping for 'hey let's not change anything for no goddamn reason'. That's all. Magneteo isn't a frail old man. Peter Parker gives up being Spider-man after his girlfriend dies and the rest of his family and friends are mortally threatened - not merely inconvenienced.



From what we've seen of recent comic book movies, we can expect huge, pointless changes to be made. That's all I'm trying to say.

[Super Sonic]

You're aware everyone's ripped in comics right? Also it was trauma about is powers being taken away, and he was normal that made him helpless.

And also, comic movies have from 40 years of things to take from. They can't use everything. Especially since some things are from controversial things and pointless retcons. Or do you actually want to see a movie adaptation of the Clone Saga. It's like how the DCAU didn't have Bane break Batman's back. No one complained there.

Also producers can ignore overcritical fans for one reason: money. Similar with some dubs. For example, heard a few guys didn't like the first Pokemon movie because some things were changed from the Japanese. Now if you were a Warner Brothers executive, which would be more important to you: Some guys 5-8+ years older than your movie's main audience/demographic are mad because it wasn't like it was in Japan, or $80 million?

[desirecampbell]

I think you misunderstand me. I'm not saying that the Execs will listen to my rantings about the movie - I'm saying they won't.

And the fact that western comics get fucked over by themselves regularly makes the recent movies easier to swallow, but that doesn't mean I still like it, or that the changes instituted aren't pointless and detrimental to the story.

I would love it if the recent movies simply didn't "use everything" from the comics. Taking things out, cutting out minimally important things is fine. DCAU didn't have Bane break Batman's back, fine. It's aimed at kids, and I can accept that (I'd rather it had been kept in, but I can accept it). Magneto is sad because his powers were taken away? Fuck what? There are stories about him losing his powers - he's not depressed, he's pissed, and he still kicks ass because he's not a scrawny bastard.

[ssgOverlord]

I must say, this is a triple-edged sword. One side is that it will totally flop and be a horrible movie. The second side is that it'll be a mass hit, a good movie, and revive the franchise through something not a video game or an orange box set. The final side is that it'll be a great movie but the overall masses won't care and it'll be nothing more than an obscure movie in the collections of longtime fans.

I'm excited to see how plays out. Who knows, it could also be another Super Mario Bros./Korean DB movie and be so horrible that becomes a comedy.

[Kendamu]

Holy fucking crap. I'm not a fan of the anime...

Anime? Transformers is American, dude. That's why we got the good intro music.

[Thanos6]

I take it you've never, ever, read an Xmen comic.

*glances over at his literally THOUSANDS of comics, over 90% of which come from Marvel*

You're right, OBVIOUSLY I have no idea what I'm talking about.

[dchan316]

Hmmm...Curious, but scared mostly. I think it would end up being both fun and action packed if someone like Stephen Chow does it. Well, I guess we'll have to wait and see.

[desirecampbell]

I take it you've never, ever, read an Xmen comic.

*glances over at his literally THOUSANDS of comics, over 90% of which come from Marvel*
You're right, OBVIOUSLY I have no idea what I'm talking about.

And you still contend that Magneto should have been frail because he's old?

[Thanos6]

I'm saying that a powerless Magneto who reacts as the one in the movies did is not blatantly out-of-character. It's not like he curled up into a ball and started weeping.

(My favorite Magneto moment? In the late 80's when he fights the Red Skull)

[Steven Perry]

Hey, the movie could be one of those adventure/fantasy types, where they spend the whole time searching for the Dragon Balls; a legacy told to them through stories when they were kids. Or, it could be a dark and dirty Terminator-esque style movie (with elements from The Matrix) where the androids destroy the Earth and everyone Trunks loves. That would work- a really good opportunity for some emotional stuff. I can imagine a good scene where the twisted Dr. Gero creates the androids (like in one of those vessels that the Tyrant is created in, in Resident Evil). Oh yes, a sexy and sadistic android-killer (#18) like the one in Terminator 3. If they're gonna do this, they'll have to forget about Piccolo being linked to the Dragon balls- he dies in Trunks' future, and if he does, the title will mislead newcomers because the story will have nothing to do with the Dragon balls.

And this is exactly what I'm afraid of for the DBZ movie. That they'll use the names and the fact that the characters fight each other and completely fuck up everything.

Yeah, you're right there. But hey, why do we want everything to be so similar to the manga's core plot? We've already experienced Dragonball's story many times; we need something fresh and new. A completely new story would be good.