Comments on: Zack Snyder On Adapting The Dark Knight Returns

By: Solomon

Solomon — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 17:18:14 +0000

I guess I was a little late for this debate. Either way, I think adapting The Dark Knight Returns to the big screen is an awesome idea. I respect Zack Snyder’s work, but after watching the dystopian masterpieces “Se7en” and “Fight Club” for like the 500th time the other day, I think the only person that can adequately portray Gotham City in 30 years is David Fincher (unless, of course, Ridley Scott brings back the “Blade Runner” glory days).

By: Ken J

Ken J — Sat, 28 Feb 2009 11:34:03 +0000

I thought you just can’t spell…

lol j/k

By: D-E-D-P-O-O-L

D-E-D-P-O-O-L — Sat, 28 Feb 2009 04:38:43 +0000

Yeah that makes sense to me, but I don’t think he had money to create that ‘style’ yet. In my opinion maybe he should take a break from the books for a while and prove to us how creative he can be without them. who knows, guess we have to wait and see.

and SK47 thanks for the name correction lol I really hope people get that joke and don’t just think i don’t know how to spell deadpool. that would make me sad.

By: greenknight333

greenknight333 — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 23:06:36 +0000

@ D-E-D-P-O-O-L

“first @ greenknight333…. i think that’s the definition of being his ’style’… and if your passionate about something why the hell not?! the man has talent!”

I agree he has talent for the comic to film translations especially using the art from the comics he is adapting but what will he do if he makes a film not based on something previously visually created before ..How will his style work then unless he recreates it in storyboard form or makes a “comic” of the material he is using? The two good films he has created were drawn by great artists in the comic book world and it is a lot easier to create something visually that has already been done by a great artist previously. I have seen Dawn of the Dead and it wasn’t great visually at all(actually it wasn’t a good film for that matter)…at least not as good as 300 or the clips I have seen from Watchmen from a visual standpoint…

Did that make any sense?

By: SK47

SK47 — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 18:31:05 +0000

sorry, that should be:
D-E-D-P-O-O-L

By: SK47

SK47 — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 18:30:04 +0000

D-E-A-D-P-O-O-L
I am with ya about using the term Graphic Novel to impress. Maybe I am just a tradionalist.
From now on, I am just going to refer to this medium as ‘books’. No comic or graphic novel or whatever, just only as books.

By: D-E-D-P-O-O-L

D-E-D-P-O-O-L — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 17:49:24 +0000

@ SK47
I think you’re right to an extent… especially now that more noobs are being exposed to what we have loved for years. …This reminds me of a story…

I went into a comic book store once (and being a well dressed girl) I was immediately approached by the new worker (probably thinking I was trying to buy something for my boyfriend or brother) and asked if I needed help finding anything, in which I responded with… I’m just looking at what comic to splurg my money on this week… and they responded. “well you know you’re in the graphic novel section and a graphic novel is…..”

I just stared at them… waved at the owner Jim who called me up to the front because he had a Deadpool poster waiting for me that he had saved… The original ‘helper’ looked dumbfounded…

… moral of the story is… don’t use the term graphic novel to impress… and don’t think attractive girls can’t like comic books… or graphic novels

By: SK47

SK47 — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 16:05:12 +0000

At Vic, I guess so.
After all, The Wire AKA the greatest show ever on television, is considered a visual novel.

By: huntthejest

huntthejest — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 15:47:29 +0000

Please use Bruce Campbell as Superman! If they make this within the next ten years, oh yeah. And Tom Selleck as Batman. And Clint Eastwood as Jim Gordon(you know you just pissed yourself).

By: Vic Holtreman

Vic Holtreman — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 15:35:18 +0000

@SK47

I think for some stories the term graphic novel is appropriate, even if they were originally published in individual comic book form. Watchmen is a very good example of this.

Heck, Time Magazine called it one of the 100 best novels ever written.

Vic

By: SK47

SK47 — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 14:49:34 +0000

Some stories do not need to by adapted. Like The Dark Knight Returns, it is too complex and has a lot of setups for it to be a complete film. If they were to do it justice, they would have to make a 4 hour epic-Che style, but again, not everything has to be translated on film. Honestly, I do not think TDKR can be.
300 was a good adaption because it is a simple story to tell. TDKR, and even Watchmen, the medium they are on fits perfectly. Why not take the idea of an older Batman returning as a concept and make an entirely new story down the road? Not a straight adaptation but something different using the same idea?

Lastly, can we stop using the term ‘Graphic Novel’? I hate it when it is used, it is Comics! These stories were out as individual comic books! Not put together into one item like what occurs today, which is a cop out IMHO. Is that such a taboo word to say? Comic? When I hear ‘Graphic Novel’ it is like I am in Starbucks having to listen to a bunch of posers drink their Serra Leonne grounded-hazelnut-low fat grande while wearing gaudy clothes discuss what happened on Gossip Girl the other night.

By: wes

wes — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 07:54:30 +0000

If they gave it to him now, it would take ten years to make it onto the screen.

By: Gary

Gary — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 01:01:34 +0000

I think we should see how Watchmen actuall turned out before we give Zack Snyder The Dark Knight Returns ,
but itsan intruiging idea.

By: D-E-D-P-O-O-L

D-E-D-P-O-O-L — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 00:11:00 +0000

first @ greenknight333…. i think that’s the definition of being his ‘style’… and if your passionate about something why the hell not?! the man has talent!

as for the article… man i hope its some where in the span of 10 years… it gives me time to build up my experience and be right there with Snyder working along side him ;D (another one of those life changing or at least great inspiration graphic novels for me)

Dream Big!!!

By: Ken J

Ken J — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 00:04:42 +0000

This is just a crazy wild guess, but I’m thinking the color palette will be decreased, there will be a lot of CG backdrops, contrast will be high, there will be a lot of slow motion, and blood and other reds will be the only vibrant color.

I don’t know, it’s probably just a shot in the dark…

By: greenknight333

greenknight333 — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 23:35:30 +0000

Is Synder a one trick pony.?.By that I mean doing the literal translations of these grahpic novels to the big screen as panel by panel transfer from the comics to scenes in a film..Can he show any more originality than this or is this going to be his style?