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[Mongrel]

Interview with the writer for the new Cowboy Bebop flick:

AV: It's been reported that the staff who made the anime-- the studio Sunrise --is going to remain involved in the film. Do you know at this point if this will include significant involvement in the script?

PC: Yes, they're very much involved.  I met with all of them in Tokyo in December - at a long meeting with Keanu in the room.  I thought there was an immediate rapport between all of us, particularly Shinchiro Watanabe and Keanu.  I asked questions, presented scenarios, and they were very specific about their vision for the series, and how it might convert to a live-action film.  They've continued to be in touch since then; and last month I received a very detailed letter, which I've consulted regularly.  I'm close to finishing an early draft, and I believe they'll be very happy with it.  Not only does the script stay extremely true to the show -- I also know that Erwin and Fox are already discussing production designers that can reproduce the "look" of Cowboy Bebop as closely as possible.  They'll be reading the script soon... so my fingers are crossed.

It's a pretty short interview, but I came out of it way more hopeful for this thing than I was after hearing Keanu freaking Reeves was going to play Spike. Keeping my fingers crossed on this one.

Frankly, I'm getting sick of this justification (not saying you're making that justification Kabbage). Being really dedicated to getting the 'look' of a series is not even remotely enough to make up for Keanu my-middle-name-is-freaking Reeves. This attitude has crippled - and will continue to cripple - video game, comic book, anime, and any other 'nerd genre' movie adaptations.

They could use a pile of goddamned cardboard boxes for props and fly around in a Swordfish II made of aluminium cans so long as they had good actors and a good script.

[Mothra]

I never minded him in the Matrix trilogy, honestly, or in Constantine. I think if the script's decent enough, and Keanu can pull of something a little less grim and serious than usual, he'll be alright as Spike. Obviously, I'd rather someone else, but it's hardly a movie-killer.

[Mongrel]

I'm guessing you were never forced to watch "A Walk In The Clouds", so I'll forgive you your little misconception.

I forget who said it, but the best line I heard about the boy's acting was "He great... just so long as he gets a role that requires him to play a dumbass surfer-type. So basically any role in which he plays himself".

[Brentai]

Here's the problem.  Without getting into my personal opinion of Reeves... have you ever seen him attempt to dance?  He's stiff as a board and has absolutely no rhythm.

And he's playing Spike Spiegel.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C7v7TTa5gc0

On the other hand, he does know kung fu.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EmEPXXJ4sKw

[Mongrel]

But he doesn't know drunken boxing.

Anyway.... Keanu Reeves playing Spike is no different than a retarded fanboy playing Spike. Just because you think it would be so fucking cool to play Spike Spiegel, doesn't mean you'll actually be any good at it.

[LaserBeing]

I'm pretty fucking sick of this prevailing attitude that something isn't "legitimate" until Hollywood has cranked out a shitty live action adaptation and filled it with overpaid celebrities.

Of course I suppose the real reason is simply that the Hollywood machine is so creatively bankrupt and cowardly that the only way they can even sustain themselves is to constantly leech off other successful properties. Go figure.

[Mongrel]

I'm pretty fucking sick of this prevailing attitude that something isn't "legitimate" until Hollywood has cranked out a shitty live action adaptation and filled it with overpaid celebrities.

 

[Koah]

Of course I suppose the real reason is simply that the Hollywood machine is so creatively bankrupt and cowardly that the only way they can even sustain themselves is to constantly leech off other successful properties. Go figure.

I like how you phrased that.  It's almost as if you expect a bunch of companies in the business of entertainment to be interested in something besides making as much money as possible, the safest way possible.

...

Actually, that sounds really assholish on my part.  But when you're dealing with investments that routinely go over a hundred million dollars and may not always give you quite the returns you want, a little caution and pragmatism go a long way.  There is no moral imperative to produce something new and interesting; if making a movie based on an established, popular franchise is a sure thing (or as close as one gets, at least), then so be it.

[Mongrel]

Of course I suppose the real reason is simply that the Hollywood machine is so creatively bankrupt and cowardly that the only way they can even sustain themselves is to constantly leech off other successful properties. Go figure.

I like how you phrased that.  It's almost as if you expect a bunch of companies in the business of entertainment to be interested in something besides making as much money as possible, the safest way possible.

...

Actually, that sounds really assholish on my part.  But when you're dealing with investments that routinely go over a hundred million dollars and may not always give you quite the returns you want, a little caution and pragmatism go a long way.  There is no moral imperative to produce something new and interesting; if making a movie based on an established, popular franchise is a sure thing (or as close as one gets, at least), then so be it.

Problem: Some companies - such as say... Pixar - routinely have much higher profits and huge gross, because they makes beautiful things people enjoy watching.

Mediocrity is not always the sure winner when it comes to art.

[Bongo Bill]

Yeah, but greatness is hard to pull off reliably.

Anyway, I still think Reeves might be able to pull off a decent Spike. My opinion probably doesn't count, though, as I'm one of those people who can forgive any kind of bad acting as long as there's a good script.

[Koah]

Mediocrity is not always the sure winner when it comes to art.

I never said it was.

[Mongrel]

Yeah, but greatness is hard to pull off reliably.

No offense Bill, but that's one of the worst excuses I've ever heard.

[Brentai]

I feel like I've already commented on this.  How did it go?

If you're complaining that there's not enough this-or-that at this point then you're clearly just going to complain, period.

Hmm... close, but I remember putting it a bit more succint-

Shut up Iron Mongrel.

Ah!  There we go.

[Mongrel]

'Mr. Brentai, I beg your pardon, sir! Iron_Mongrel has asked for more!'

There was a general start. Horror was depicted on every countenance.

[patito]

I... I kind of like Keanu as an actor, so I guess I'll be over here enjoying the Cowboy Bebop live action movie.

[Disposable Ninja]

On a purely physical level, Keanu actually works, I think. He's tall, lanky, fit. All he really needs to do is get a funky 'fro and some red contacts and he's in the good. A better fit than Avatar starring the kids from Laguna Beach, at the very least.

[Bongo Bill]

Yeah, but greatness is hard to pull off reliably.

No offense Bill, but that's one of the worst excuses I've ever heard.

There's no formula for it, I mean. Creators who can carry good ideas to completion in a way that does them justice are rare and we do not know how to duplicate the effects of their mysterious talent. By the time you know whether the audience will love something, it's too late to do anything about it. It's not an excuse, it's just a fact.

[Niku]

So yeah, I know I'm slowpoking on One Piece, but that's just how I roll with the series.  Anyway, I'm in the midst of Thriller Bark now, and of course, every time the Strawhats find a new crew member you know what's coming up eventually.  The tragic backstory.  The episode or two where you find out what motivates the motherfucker who's dreaming bigger than the biggest that leaves you a weeping pile of heartbreak.  But that wasn't the case with this new bloke.  You got snippets of his story, and it was all there in a "gee that sucks" kind of way, but it never hit the same way that the rest of the crew's stories did.

And then Eiichiro Oda broke me with a single word.  [spoiler]Laboon.[/spoiler]  You motherfucker.

[Doom]

Thriller Bark is one of the best arcs, which is important because it has to follow up motherfuckin' Cipher Pol 9.

[Disposable Ninja]

Yeah, that was about where I stopped watching. Not because I wasn't interested anymore, I just couldn't find any non-idiot subs.

And. Yeah. [spoiler]laboon[/spoiler]. That's right up there with [spoiler]eight-year-old Robin sobbingly laughing Derashi-shi-shi[/spoiler]. And I suspect [spoiler]Luffy thanking Bon Clay[/spoiler] is going to be every bit as tear-jerking.