March 10th, 2009
A more detailed response to Hollywood's remakes
Forgot to post this awhile ago...
Part of this is a response to a discussion about a question, the rest is some of my own thoughts
A response to a Cowboy Bebop Question:
"No, as far as I know only Keanu Reeves was signed to play the part of Spike;
no one else has been announced after searching around.
I read that the movie was going to be storied around the first episode of Bebop
so IMO, this movie will be about 2 bounty hunters in space, most likely 2 big stars and so there wont be any Faye, Ed or Vicious, this is all my speculation though.
So if you want another big named star to promote your movie that can somewhat fill the role of Jet, i cant think of any other besides Laurence Fishbourne.
Even though the 2 played in a movie before, i would like to see this happen again + Sunrise is "closely" working with the producers so they might actually pull this off."
I must rant now read no further if you don't want to XD
I found some more interesting stuff though that might interest other people.
When trying to find more stuff on the Bebop L-A, I kept stumbling on other upcoming Hollywood anime-remakes so i had to keep going til i found them all :D
Some of the stuff you probably already heard of but I, myself, found some new stuff (note this is all Hollywood remakes).
Ok text wall incoming
When it comes to Hollywood remakes, usually its been about books, comics, etc.
More recently, they've gone into the field of games like Hitman or Max Payne
But these remakes/live-actions were misses and box-office bombs? Not sure but I still won't watch them now cause of how badly rated they are
Now they've come to the next popular form of media, anime
There have already been some that have been release like Speedracer which didn't do so well did it? And then there's Transformers, if you want to call it an anime adaptation, that was a blockbuster success.
Here's a list of some upcoming adaptations, most of which are confirmed:
Cowboy Bebop
Looks like Keanu Reeves is set to star in this movie that is in development by 20th Century Fox. The story may revolve around Cowboy Bebop's first episode "Asteroid Blues." The film will probably be released in 2011.
This is my most anticipated movie on this list, since I am a huge Cowboy Bebop fan. I've talked about this a little in my quote up there so I've said mainly what I wanted to say.
If they do cast more than 2 bounty hunters of Spike and Jet, I'm sure they can get a Welsh Corgi but I'm wondering about Ed and Faye. I just wish this won't turn into a trainwreck.
Dragonball: Evolution
Of course you've heard of the ever popular Dragonball: Evolution as its now called, already seems pretty bad from trailers and I'm not alone in this opinion. Fox who is doing this movie, is also making Cowboy Bebop, so that makes me shiver if the Dragonball adaptation is anything like it (unless Dragonball turns out to be good)
I probably won't like it but like most of us, I will probably watch it just to see how it really is. Most likely I will just turn off my brain for this movie.
Battle Angel
Oh look, another Fox film, they like going this route huh? Battle Angel is an a live-action adaptation of the manga series Battle Angel Alita that also spawned a 2 episode OVA. James Cameron is directing and producing this movie which will be covering the first 3 volumes of the manga.
I think this will be a good film since many of Cameron's works are very good. Maybe after watching it I will go out and look for the OVA
Astro Boy
This isn't really new material, or maybe it is but Astro Boy is a remake of the.. well.. Astro Boy. It will be a computer-animated 3-D film from Imagi Animation Studio set to release in 2009.
Gatchaman
Apparently this same animation studio is doing a CGI film on this series. I know this series as G-Force from my younger days.
If you've seen TNMT, then you know what to expect. Well, TNMT wasn't all that bad, it was a lil more grown-up than I thought it would be and the CGI wasn't bad. Still, it was mainly geared for younger audiences and I'll expect these 2 films to be on a "kiddy" side as well. Hopefully, they will be good, we'll have to see.
Ghost in the Shell
This isn't the newest of news, but it's the most anticipated movie on this list for me. DreamWorks is in the saddle for the 3D live-action adaptation of this classic with the help of a Mr. Steven Spielberg.
This production sounds already great and might have a big-budget, maybe. Spielburg's works are pretty good but I only hope that the 3D in this movie will not look anything like the lastest Indy Jones movie: stupid and somewhat irrelevant (gophers? really??). Other than that, I expect it to do well... hopefully.
Robotech
Well, this isn't old news but if you haven't heard, Robotech, a popular mecha-alien series, is now being produced into a live-action film. The Spider-man, Tobey Maguire, is producing the film with his production company Maguire Entertainment. Looks like its also going to be a Warner Bros. studio production, so we'll see what they do.
I could see myself watching this movie; but in all honesty, it could just be another action flick, humans vs some alien race, just involving mecha this time. How true it can stay to the anime will be determined once I see it on the big screen.
Akira
This is probably one of the big movies you've heard making the big screen. Yes.. another Warner Brothers production with Leonardo DiCaprio's production company, Appian Way.
Ninja Scroll
See above. Looks like these two big names in anime may receive some big Hollywood backup. But will any of these help serve justice to these great anime franchises?
Instead of doing anime series, WB is going to make the live-action version of anime films. Maybe now they can actually watch the films to see what they are. Looking forward to all the WB movies adaptations, just hoping they aren't too much of a let down.
Witchblade
Another one that seems a little old, but its somewhat new to me. I never knew that the Witchblade anime was based off the American comic but since it is an anime I'll talk about it. Top Cow and a bunch of other companies are set to produce this film which is set to release maybe in 2009/2010.
Ok, I always heard of the Witchblade anime by GONZO, but never occurred to me that it was adapted from an American comic book series. I may have saw some of the TV series that ran, and now I know that I heard of it but it never interested me.
I have never seen the anime version and I probably won't anytime soon so I couldn't care less now if it is completely different then the anime so "Hollywood it up" all you want since its already an American product. I'll probably still watch it but won't be expecting much and could be a low production film.
Death Note
Found this off somewhere, "Shock Till You Drop reports that frequent adaptors of Asian cinema Vertigo (The Departed) are working on a Hollywood adaptation of Death Note, produced by Doug Davison and written by Vlas and Charles Parlapanides."
I haven't seen any of the Death Note Live Action films yet so I can't say much. It will be interesting to see who they cast for the leading parts of Light Yagami and L. Too early to tell.
Most of the die-hard anime fans are probably saying that these adaptations, also including others and not just the anime ones, usually never work on the big screen, but at least they are getting consideration. You could see the anime version before the live action films or you can just watch the live action ones without knowing the anime, it's you're choice. I suggest watching the anime version first to fully appreciate it then comparing the Hollywood version to the original and maybe talk about like me :).
With all that said, there will be plenty of films for us anime fans to expect greatness or to cringe at. This could be a big boost for the anime industry that has not seen huge popularity in the US markets and introduce potentially new anime fans to the genre or it can leave the American public to continue its stereotypical view of anime and also leave a bad taste in existing anime fans' mouths, who knows. One thing for sure, most of us will be heading to the movies. So sit back, bring an open mindset and a positive attitude, and enjoy the movies.
Part of this is a response to a discussion about a question, the rest is some of my own thoughts
A response to a Cowboy Bebop Question:
"No, as far as I know only Keanu Reeves was signed to play the part of Spike;
no one else has been announced after searching around.
I read that the movie was going to be storied around the first episode of Bebop
so IMO, this movie will be about 2 bounty hunters in space, most likely 2 big stars and so there wont be any Faye, Ed or Vicious, this is all my speculation though.
So if you want another big named star to promote your movie that can somewhat fill the role of Jet, i cant think of any other besides Laurence Fishbourne.
Even though the 2 played in a movie before, i would like to see this happen again + Sunrise is "closely" working with the producers so they might actually pull this off."
I must rant now read no further if you don't want to XD
I found some more interesting stuff though that might interest other people.
When trying to find more stuff on the Bebop L-A, I kept stumbling on other upcoming Hollywood anime-remakes so i had to keep going til i found them all :D
Some of the stuff you probably already heard of but I, myself, found some new stuff (note this is all Hollywood remakes).
Ok text wall incoming
When it comes to Hollywood remakes, usually its been about books, comics, etc.
More recently, they've gone into the field of games like Hitman or Max Payne
But these remakes/live-actions were misses and box-office bombs? Not sure but I still won't watch them now cause of how badly rated they are
Now they've come to the next popular form of media, anime
There have already been some that have been release like Speedracer which didn't do so well did it? And then there's Transformers, if you want to call it an anime adaptation, that was a blockbuster success.
Here's a list of some upcoming adaptations, most of which are confirmed:
Cowboy Bebop
Looks like Keanu Reeves is set to star in this movie that is in development by 20th Century Fox. The story may revolve around Cowboy Bebop's first episode "Asteroid Blues." The film will probably be released in 2011.
This is my most anticipated movie on this list, since I am a huge Cowboy Bebop fan. I've talked about this a little in my quote up there so I've said mainly what I wanted to say.
If they do cast more than 2 bounty hunters of Spike and Jet, I'm sure they can get a Welsh Corgi but I'm wondering about Ed and Faye. I just wish this won't turn into a trainwreck.
Dragonball: Evolution
Of course you've heard of the ever popular Dragonball: Evolution as its now called, already seems pretty bad from trailers and I'm not alone in this opinion. Fox who is doing this movie, is also making Cowboy Bebop, so that makes me shiver if the Dragonball adaptation is anything like it (unless Dragonball turns out to be good)
I probably won't like it but like most of us, I will probably watch it just to see how it really is. Most likely I will just turn off my brain for this movie.
Battle Angel
Oh look, another Fox film, they like going this route huh? Battle Angel is an a live-action adaptation of the manga series Battle Angel Alita that also spawned a 2 episode OVA. James Cameron is directing and producing this movie which will be covering the first 3 volumes of the manga.
I think this will be a good film since many of Cameron's works are very good. Maybe after watching it I will go out and look for the OVA
Astro Boy
This isn't really new material, or maybe it is but Astro Boy is a remake of the.. well.. Astro Boy. It will be a computer-animated 3-D film from Imagi Animation Studio set to release in 2009.
Gatchaman
Apparently this same animation studio is doing a CGI film on this series. I know this series as G-Force from my younger days.
If you've seen TNMT, then you know what to expect. Well, TNMT wasn't all that bad, it was a lil more grown-up than I thought it would be and the CGI wasn't bad. Still, it was mainly geared for younger audiences and I'll expect these 2 films to be on a "kiddy" side as well. Hopefully, they will be good, we'll have to see.
Ghost in the Shell
This isn't the newest of news, but it's the most anticipated movie on this list for me. DreamWorks is in the saddle for the 3D live-action adaptation of this classic with the help of a Mr. Steven Spielberg.
This production sounds already great and might have a big-budget, maybe. Spielburg's works are pretty good but I only hope that the 3D in this movie will not look anything like the lastest Indy Jones movie: stupid and somewhat irrelevant (gophers? really??). Other than that, I expect it to do well... hopefully.
Robotech
Well, this isn't old news but if you haven't heard, Robotech, a popular mecha-alien series, is now being produced into a live-action film. The Spider-man, Tobey Maguire, is producing the film with his production company Maguire Entertainment. Looks like its also going to be a Warner Bros. studio production, so we'll see what they do.
I could see myself watching this movie; but in all honesty, it could just be another action flick, humans vs some alien race, just involving mecha this time. How true it can stay to the anime will be determined once I see it on the big screen.
Akira
This is probably one of the big movies you've heard making the big screen. Yes.. another Warner Brothers production with Leonardo DiCaprio's production company, Appian Way.
Ninja Scroll
See above. Looks like these two big names in anime may receive some big Hollywood backup. But will any of these help serve justice to these great anime franchises?
Instead of doing anime series, WB is going to make the live-action version of anime films. Maybe now they can actually watch the films to see what they are. Looking forward to all the WB movies adaptations, just hoping they aren't too much of a let down.
Witchblade
Another one that seems a little old, but its somewhat new to me. I never knew that the Witchblade anime was based off the American comic but since it is an anime I'll talk about it. Top Cow and a bunch of other companies are set to produce this film which is set to release maybe in 2009/2010.
Ok, I always heard of the Witchblade anime by GONZO, but never occurred to me that it was adapted from an American comic book series. I may have saw some of the TV series that ran, and now I know that I heard of it but it never interested me.
I have never seen the anime version and I probably won't anytime soon so I couldn't care less now if it is completely different then the anime so "Hollywood it up" all you want since its already an American product. I'll probably still watch it but won't be expecting much and could be a low production film.
Death Note
Found this off somewhere, "Shock Till You Drop reports that frequent adaptors of Asian cinema Vertigo (The Departed) are working on a Hollywood adaptation of Death Note, produced by Doug Davison and written by Vlas and Charles Parlapanides."
I haven't seen any of the Death Note Live Action films yet so I can't say much. It will be interesting to see who they cast for the leading parts of Light Yagami and L. Too early to tell.
Most of the die-hard anime fans are probably saying that these adaptations, also including others and not just the anime ones, usually never work on the big screen, but at least they are getting consideration. You could see the anime version before the live action films or you can just watch the live action ones without knowing the anime, it's you're choice. I suggest watching the anime version first to fully appreciate it then comparing the Hollywood version to the original and maybe talk about like me :).
With all that said, there will be plenty of films for us anime fans to expect greatness or to cringe at. This could be a big boost for the anime industry that has not seen huge popularity in the US markets and introduce potentially new anime fans to the genre or it can leave the American public to continue its stereotypical view of anime and also leave a bad taste in existing anime fans' mouths, who knows. One thing for sure, most of us will be heading to the movies. So sit back, bring an open mindset and a positive attitude, and enjoy the movies.
Posted by shoxk | Mar 10, 2009 4:01 PM | 0 comments
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