The Indestructible Man
- Richard Brindisi
The comicbook industry is in dire need of revitalization. Our man
Rich is here to tell you why and what could be done about it.
X-Men!
Hey there comic fans! Richard Brindisi -- a.k.a. The Indestructible Man
-- coming to you again from comic land. I've been on hiatus producing The New York Comic and Fantasy Creator's
Convention, in New York City. My partners, Ed and Joe, told me to get up off my ass and get back to work or they'd
get Stan Lee to replace me. So, to save face - and my job - let's get ready to rumble!
Originally, I wanted to use this month's column to speak about all the exciting things that took place at the New
York Comic Con, but decided to save that for next month. Instead, I'd like to devote this piece to the person who
revitalized the comic book fan inside me, with the hope that the same will happen for the thousands of comic fans
throughout the world. His effort might be
the catalyst needed to bring a new influx of fans to the comic industry. The person I'm talking about is Bryan
Singer, the director of the new motion picture X-MEN.
"I was skeptical about Marvel's ability to
do anything right in the film format. ...until i saw X-MEN"
I've never had the pleasure of meeting Bryan, but my partner, Joe Mauceri, has told me a lot about him. I had faith
that Marvel finally signed a director worth his salt to helm their number one franchise, especially having watched
Bryan's great motion pictures "The Usual Suspects" and "Apt Pupil." After witnessing such tragedies
as "The Fantastic Four" and "Captain America," I was skeptical about Marvel's ability to do
anything right in the film format. Recently, it all changed when I was invited to an advance screening of X-MEN.
This is not a film review, but a celebration of what, I believe, Bryan and crew accomplished. For a detailed review,
check out Joe Mauceri's comments in the film review section.
Not since the first "Superman" movie, with Christopher Reeve, or "The Crow," starring Brandon
Lee, has there been a more loyal movie adaptation of a comic series. The rapid pacing and scene changing, evident
from the start, made me feel I was actually seeing a comic book come to life.
When Hugh Jackman as Wolverine first appears on the screen - bashing brutes twice his size in a steel cage match
with the clanging of his adamantium joints ringing after each punch - I thought I had died and reached comic heaven.
Witnessing the first battle between Wolverine and Sabretooth in a frozen Northern wilderness and the rescue by
Cyclops and Storm made me want to scream 'Holy Shit' at the top of my lungs. A funny thing, this all happens in
the first five minutes of the movie. I won't disclose any more of the film because I want you to have same thrills
I had. In fact, I can't wait to see it again. My point - is everybody listening? - X-MEN is the prototype for comic
book film adaptations of the new century. I have been a fan of the X-Men comic series, and many others, since I
was a child. The care Bryan and crew took to transfer all of the glory from the comic series to the big screen
is extremely evident.
I know many fans out there are going to disagree with me on which motion picture is truer to its source material,
so let me try to explain my point. My favorite character is Batman. In the first Batman movie, with Michael Keaton,
Tim Burton succeeded in bringing Batman back to his roots. They portrayed him as the dark knight avenger ready
to swoop down on the unjust to protect the innocent. It was a far cry from the Adam West TV series of the sixties.
For its time the series was loyal to the comics, believe it or not. I consider the first forty-five minutes of
the Burton film to be four stars. However, Tim lost me. When the movie became The Joker's story, Batman utilized
practically no detective skills and even threatened to kill The Joker toward the end. Rule number one: Batman does
not kill! Just ask Paul Dini, the driving force behind The Batman/Superman Adventures. Those are probably the most
loyal comic adaptations. There were other flaws with the first Batman, including the portrayal of Commissioner
Gordon. Also, lets not forget the music by Prince - a must for any Batman movie! I believe the third movie, "Batman
Forever" is truest to its source material, except for the portrayal of Two-Face. I give Mr. Burton the credit
for the film since he produced it. At the time I thought the credit should go to Joel Schumacher, but my opinion
changed when I saw the fourth movie, "Batman and Robin." That's another story. In X-MEN, Bryan succeeded
in utilizing many of the elements that made the comic the hit it is.
As I mentioned before, my goal here is not to review the film but to sound the trumpet for a movie that has its
share of obstacles to overcome. The X-Men are not as well known to the masses as compared to the likes of Superman
and Batman. The reason is that the latter two characters have been featured in celluloid for almost sixty-years,
and are recognized by people all over the world. Your Grandfather will know who Batman is, but ask him if he knows
who the X-Men are. Other hurdles are the subject matter, and a cast consisting of fine but usually supporting actors,
the competition at the box office, films critics' failure to embrace these types of movies and many other things.
I pray X-MEN becomes the blockbuster that it deserves to be, despite the past track record of fine comic adaptations,
such as "The Rocketeer" and "The Phantom." Not only will it insure X-MEN sequels, it will set
the stage for other comic books make it to the big screen.
Bryan, you've put together an impressive piece of work and made this old fan boy a happy camper. Oh one other thing.
Someone might have to get Joel Schumacher's head out of the sand.
Other Indestructible
Man Columns:
You Can't Beat Superman - 10/28/00
True Conventions - 9/28/00
X-Men! - 8/28/00
State of the Industry
- 7/28/00
