Make your Superhero movies good, Warner Bros.

I spent the evening watching "Last Man Standing" and discussing movies(in particular comic movies) with KT and Doyle, which was fun.  "Last Man Standing" is a highly underrated Walter Hill film....it's just spectacularly well done, especially for a Western based on "Yojimbo"(a movie about Samurais...look it up).  I'd forgotten how badass that movie was, and how much Doyle loves to be contrarian(this time out, he came out in favor of Organised Mobs, saying they were basically heroes).  But it was good fun.

However it got me thinking about comic books(which isn't all that hard, even though it's been awhile since I've bothered looking into them) and movies based on them, which was then reinforced by the science fiction website io9.com, which featured an article suggesting the much aligned and trouble-plagued "Justice League of America" film(which was going to feature twenty-somethings in the roles of the iconic seven JLAers, and probably would have sucked extremely huge balls) was probably not going to happen due to the fact that Warner Bro's studios were rethinking the whole superhero thing since last summer- mainly because of the millions and millions of dollars pulled down by "Iron Man" and, more speficially, "The Dark Knight"(which, like all DC Comics character's based movies, is a WB property).

It seems that maybe, just maybe, WB might actually want to follow the example of Marvel Studios ambitious plan to make an "Avengers" film, after releasing films based on all the characters involved- namely the already released "Iron Man" and "The Incredible Hulk", and the still-in-production films "Thor"(to be directed by Kenneth "I played Hamlet even though I was thirty years too old for the role" Branaugh), "Ant-Man"(which Edgar Wright, director of "Shawn of the Dead" is still attached to Direct, and a second draft the screenplay is in the works) and "The First Avenger:Captain America"(which is set to be directed by Joe Johnston(director of "Hidalgo" and "Jurassic Park III" as well as "The Rocketeer" and "Honey, I shrunk the Kids") and is currently being scripted).

If they do take that route, it would be interesting...."Green Lantern" is already being put together, and there's talk of a Superman reboot.  Wonder Woman has been knocked around for years and might be getting somewhere(again, due to the whole "Dark Knight" thing), and Ryan Reynolds still wants to play The Flash.  The problem is Batman.

Now, I don't think the Batman we've seen in Christopher Nolan's "Dark Knight" franchise is in any way fit to be a part of a "JLA" movie.  He might be good at the role, but the character isn't meant to be standing next to Superman- there's way too much reality in Nolan's franchise.  But I think it could easily be circumvented, if you wanted Batman in your JLA film....which, to be honest, you really should.

My solution: Another Batman film.  One more superhero-y, and less realistic.  One not bogged down in deep, dark psycho-analysis.  Re-cast Batman, select a new Director, and do a second franchise.  Let Nolan's work stand alone, and have a superhero Batman film.  That way, you have a Batman to tie into a high-superhero concept movie like JLA.  You probably don't need a film for Aquaman or Martian Manhunter(though you could do a film for Aquaman if you focused it on Aquaman coming to Man's World and then doing battle with super-pirate/poacher-type Black Manta(probably renamed for the purposes of film).  You'd have to make it about ecological concerns and the like, and probably some political stuff, or you'd end up with "Waterworld"(nothing is free in waterworld) and nobody needs another "Waterworld"), but you just include them in the final JLA film anyway(and please cast Michael Dorn from "Star Trek:The Next Generation" to play Martian Manhunter).

Here's what I'd go with for casting(well, for new stuff):
Superman-Brandon Routh(I'm not the biggest fan of his work, but he's already recognisable and can still work)
Batman-David Boreanaz(TV's Angel- he already played a character similar to Bats, and has the brooding pathos and cool physical combat skills)
Wonder Woman- Morena Baccarin("Firefly" and "Serenity"- seriously, watch them and you'll see it)
Flash- Ryan Reynolds(why not?  He wants to do it and would work very well)
Green Lantern- Whoever they cast for it...I'm not sure who I'd pick because, well, I don't even know which GL they want to use.
Martian Manhunter- Michael Dorn
Aquaman- Who cares?(if you did a solo film, you'd need somebody good...but I honestly can't think of who I'd want to doom to being Aquaman.  Maybe just cast the kid who played him on "Smallville")

Yes, I know....I just totally geeked the fuck out on you.  But it was on my mind.

They put the Christmas Tree up today at work, and have started to play the obnoxious Christmas Music over the lobby sound system, which plays sixteen hours a day.  Luckily, I don't have to deal with it on my overnights, but my Wednesday evening shift is going to get a whole lot tougher.  The lobby looks strange with the tree in it, probably because it makes the lobby look bigger.....plus, the shades are drawn so the outside world can see it, and therefore I can see the outside world...which is sort of depressing. 

I'm not a huge fan of the holidays.  Have I mentioned that?  I probably should have.

My depression has been somewhat eleviated momentarily by my reading of "Of Human Bondage", which is rapidly becoming a favorite book.  There's something about that story and it's main character that resonates with me.  It sounds silly, but it makes me feel like I'm not so alone....more along the ideas that there are other people who feel this way, and that it's natural.  There are some passages that really struck me hard, a lot of them about being solitary and different...it's basically a road map to modern intellectualism and how it tends to seperate people from the pack and makes them feel alone.  It's really a spectacular book.  Along with my reading, the visit from Doyle was fun and sort of broke me briefly from my internal feelings of misery....watching Walter Hill films will do that, too.

Tomorrow at least I know I have beer when I get out of work.  But Thursday....well, I might need something to do, so if someone wants to have me over to watch a movie and/or drink alcohol or something, keep me in mind.  I have next to nothing for funding, however.  I'm not even sure I'm going to make it out to Plague friday due to the suffering of my wallet, but we'll see what happens.  Perhaps Mi Madre might help me out with a loan, or my surrogate work-based Mom Anne might loan me some cash after the weekend for food so I can spend the last few bucks I have on some beers amongst Friday night friends. But who knows....it's all money I'd have to pay back.

Things will probably continue to look brighter as time goes on.  Chances are when this real solid bout of poverty ends(a week from Friday when I get a paycheck that won't immedietly be swallowed by rent), I'll feel better.  Plus, KT has an interview on Monday, so hopefully I'll be able to meditate on my own soon in my own place, which will probably help center me somewhat, or at least allow me a place for quiet solitude to work my issues out.  I could use some alone time that isn't work, I do know that.  And maybe luck will continue to change and I'll find a new/second job and make more money, and life will become better in the long run.

Or maybe I'll be able to suck it up, and deal with my life the way it is.

I guess we'll have to wait and see.

But....here's hoping things look up.