There are days when I’m glad I’m not an old man. Most days, I guess. Not that I don’t relish the idea of living long enough to be considered an old man, I’m just not in any hurry. But with the news that Frank Miller (far left) — after sullying The Spirit — wants to turn his eye towards a Buck Rogers flick, I’m doubly glad. Because, much like The Spirit, I don’t have any real fond childhood memories of Buck Rogers — unless you count Erin Gray’s spandex-clad Wilma Deering (or Gil Gerard as Buck, pictured). Buck Rogers isn’t my Star Wars, it isn’t a formative pop-cultural landmark.
But for people who grew up reading the great newspaper comic strips, or listening to the radio show, or watching the serials…my condolences. Your childhood is about to have a piece of it Spirited away.
(Not that you couldn’t update Buck Rogers; comic book writer/novelist Warren Ellis is doing something sorta similar with his Ignition City.)
What do you think? Are there some things that should just be left well enough alone? Who would you rather see get Buck Rogers off the ground?
More Frank Miller:
Frank Miller: A ‘Spirit’-ed Q&A
Review: Frank Miller’s ‘Batman: The Dark Knight Returns’
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Frank Miller is a pop culture hitman who darkens every character he’s loosed upon. His played up the grim’n'gritty aspects of Batman at the expense of the character’s inherent heroism. Early reviews indicate The Spirit is certainly not “Will Eisner’s Spirit.” I, too, am not a Buck Rogers fan. But with Miller a the helm, who can’t predict what we’re gonna get? Violent space opera on a green screen, scantily clad space babes and no soul. Put this guy out to pasture. He has nothing new or interesting to say. He’s all superficial edginess with no heart or substance.
As a movie, I don’t think this will do well, but as a weekly series with a Battlestar Galactica style update, remake and reboot, this could be really really good. I hated the original BSG and absolutely love Ronald Moore & David Eick’s remake (along with the short lived Bionic Woman remake). I really liked BR in the 25th Century, and would probably like a remake even more if put in the right hands.
Buck is the first and best man of the future 80 years and running. This is the gold standard for Sci-Fi heroes. Look at the original designs! Have you seen those figures on http://gohero.com? It is a strong enough property to withstand multiple versions – Including a new film. Frank will make it interesting.
Buck is the first and best man of the future 80 years and running. This is the gold standard for Sci-Fi heroes. Look at the original designs! Have you seen those figures on http://gohero.com? It is a strong enough property to withstand multiple versions – Including a new film. Frank will make it interesting.
I dont have any memories of Buck Rogers either.
Closest thing I have is ‘Uncle Buck’!
http://www.hideNsneek.com
The problem is that Miller is darker than Rodriquez but not as dark than Burton. If I recall, Buck Rogers was not intened to be dark. I can see McG pulling this off.
*as not than. Sorry.
In every incarnation of Buck Rogers to date, Buck has lived in a bright, four-color world (except for the movie serials, which would have been had they been able to afford it). I guess that’s about to end. But hey, it worked out great for Flash Gordon on Sci-Fi (or not).
Miller is a great Artist and we owe him alot for saving Batman from the comic junkyard.Burton?dark what a joke(more like a Gothic Geek).I haven’t seen Spirit, but this talented new director will pump new blood into Hollywood’s cold, near dead body. Buck Rogers is like Tarzan and Dracula. There is no defined actor or style, just variations. Buck Rogers was the overall guide for Lucas on Star Wars. I hope any update is better than Galactica was…
Considering what the CW has done to Clark Kent on Smallville, the hero who is now a lacking in morals or concern for his friends who chases nasty girls and takes advantage of people when he feels like it, yeah, I think some things should be left alone.
Darken Buck Rogers? The only thing dark about Buck Rogers was outer space. I watched it every week as a kid. Clean Good-vs-Bad. They could make a whole script based on Space Rockers. Maybe cast Metallica.
Now that’s a groove.
Aah Friday…
I say if Frank has an idea for a “Buck Rogers” movie, then it must be a pretty d*mn good one!
My only hope is that he doesn’t try to make it “edgy” (gawd I hate that word) like J.J. Abraham is doing with the new Star Trek.
i don’t jive with frank miller, but i think there’s a slim chance ‘the spirit’ may work, because ‘the spirit’ (the comic) is mostly a tragedy about what desperate people do, or the horrors people commit that don’t make sense, and frank miller’s worldview is gung-ho on that stuff from the work of his i’ve seen/read. but, like someone commented, i think we can be pretty sure denny cole will not be a good man in miller’s ’spirit’; i don’t think miller thinks such people exist. like how his jim gordon was someone with a dirty record, who may have committed committed atrocities in ‘nam and who actually ended up cheating on barbara…while she was pregnant with jim jr. necessary to the narrative? we could argue that all day, but i say no, and that miller just doesn’t accept the existence of heroes.
“Are there some things that should just be left well enought alone”???
Are you f*cking kidding me? If that could actually be acomplished, the morons that run Hollywood wouldn’t have a job to do because any concept of original thoughts and ideas no longer exists with them. With them, it’s recycle as much previous material as possible and try to convince the common moviegoing public that it IS original!
Just as Spielberg turned the sci-fi adventure movie on its ear (and in so doing created the necessary “summer blockbuster” with lots of spfx – be damn’d creativity!), so Frank Miller with the graphic DARK NIGHT RETURNS issued in
the “dark n’ gritty” atmosphere that has permeated (obliterated?) most cinematic comic book movies. Frank’s a visionary – but, alas! a Visionary on that chariot who’s ceased to listen to the warnings in his ear about hubris. SIN CITY (the film) worked because it was the perfect realization of Miller’s noir art. Will Eisner’s
THE SPIRIT, on the other hand, is one of a kind: each Sunday story was complete. Their moods varied
from violent through thoughtful, ironic, comical even. In this film, it almost seems as if Frank is trying to remake DAREDEVIL as he thinks it ought to have been filmed. Yes! There really isn’t anything Hollywood can’t touch today; BUT there
are some things that remain inviolate and shouldn’t be changed or sullied.
What would Will say?
Jon Favreau should direct, Jerry Bruckheimer or Ridley Scott should produce and Josh Hutchinson should star as young Buck Rogers. Just let that marinate on your brain for a minute!