RANTS & RAVINGS ABOUT HORROR - “Disney’s ALIEN Franchise Coming Soon!”

“Disney’s ALIEN Franchise Coming Soon!”

One of the most disturbing aspects of Disney’s acquisition of the 20^th Century Fox assets is that they will now control what happens to the ALIEN and PREDATOR franchises.  The family oriented company has in its control two of the best horror-sci-fi franchises ever made in these two iconic cinematic monsters and yet I can’t help fearing the worst.  My fears have just been realized when Disney announced new versions of both franchises and for the purpose of this article I will only take a look at the Alien franchise mostly because Predator, in my opinion, can work either as a PG-13 or R franchise.

 

The Alien films have all been pretty much individual film-maker endeavors from Ridley Scott (Alien, Prometheus, Alien: Covenant), David Fincher (Alien 3), James Cameron (Aliens), Jean-Pierre Jeunet (Alien: Resurrection), Paul WS. Anderson (Alien Vs Predator), and The Brothers Strause (Alien Vs Predator: Requiem).   Despite the mixed audience and critical response between each of the films, they are a singular vision of the director with the exception of Scott who is the only one to do more than one film.

 

Disney, on the other hand, is a company that produces film by committee so that they can appeal to all audiences.  They want their films to be all inclusive and homogenized and to not offend anyone.  So, in reality they don’t want creative filmmakers, they want filmmakers who understand their brand and can continue that brand.  This is most evident in the franchises surrounding their MCU and Star Wars universes which are homogenized and indistinguishable from one another.   These are all PG-13 films that focus on action and adventure and not horror or gore.  The Alien Xenomorph is not like the kaiju from Pacific Rim; these monsters hide in darkness, have acid for blood, and kill everything – violently. 

 

In Anderson’s Alien Vs Predator the horror is toned down for the action and adventure aspects that he is best known for and even though the film was financially successful fans of the franchise felt a little let down, so with the sequel Requiem, The Brothers Strause decided to craft a slasher film with monsters.  Anderson’s film was Rated PG-13 while The Brothers Strause sequel was Rated R and thought to be a return to form but a slasher film is also what audiences didn’t expect from the franchise.  This film did not sit well with anyone.

 

I mention this because at this point 20^th Century Fox had no idea what to do with the franchise as they couldn’t craft a film for all audiences (Alien Vs Predator) nor a film for the fans (Alien Vs Predator: Requiem).  The franchise has been through many different creative hands so why not let the director who started it all come back!

 

Scott’s vision with the franchise was to craft a story that went back to the beginning and in 2012 after a five year gap Prometheus was released to a divided audience that  were disappointed by the film that lacked Xenomorphs and had logic problems.  Scott tried to rectify this with Alien: Covenant but by the time this sequel saw release audiences were no longer interested.  It’s hard to determine what general audiences want from an Alien film especially since the films have had such mixed results, which is not a problem the comic books from Dark Horse Comics have ever had.

 

Two years after Cameron’s Aliens became a Box Office sensation, Dark Horse Comics purchased the rights and created the first mini-series that would help put their company on the map (along with Predator, Star Wars, Terminator, RoboCop, etc. a lot of film franchises).  This original series was a direct sequel to the film and would bring back popular characters from the films (the character of Ripley would eventually return in the third series Earth War which would conclude the storyline of these film characters).  The most astounding thing about the comic book franchise is the fact that over the last 30+ years the franchise has been kept fresh and interesting and almost at a non-stop pace.  Subsequent series would see the Xenomorphs cross into the DC universe and battle Superman, Batman, and W.I.L.D. Cats as well as battle such iconic figures as Judge Dredd, Hellboy, and Vampirella, to name just a few.  Cross-overs with both the Predators and Prometheus franchises happened on a regular basis but within those thirty years the franchise has remained fresh because of the many different characters and stories that were possible.

 

Dark Horse never had a loss for ideas, so why have the films?

 

One of my fears with Disney is that they will take the franchise and craft something more in line with their MCU and Star Wars franchises.  As the Dark Horse Comics have proven, there is a way to integrate all the different franchises into a “shared” universe (which will make Disney happy) but it couldn’t happen unless you could find a way to make it darker and Rated R (to make the fans happy).  Borrowing from the Dark Horse huge history of storylines would be the best way but since I’m sure Disney will yank their license with the characters (like they did with Star Wars) is soon coming if it already hasn’t happened (I’ve heard that Marvel is now doing a series which I’ll have to see how that all comes about).  It’s not too far off to see the Xenomorphs show up in a MCU television series since they already know aliens of all types exist (so why not just add the Xenomorphs?).

 

I can’t really see Disney making an R Rated film that will be in line with the original franchise.  What I do see is a remake or reboot to fit the Disney mandate which is not something I’d be interested in.  I’ve been a huge fan of the films and comic books since the Cameron film so I’m not looking forward to seeing anything Disney has planned either for the films or comic books.  I can only see it as a complete disaster, but then again I can’t say that all the films in the current franchise have been all that successful but at least they had a vision from their respective directors.

 

Only time will tell what will become of the Xenomorphs under the guidance of the Disney machine and unfortunately if I want to see another film come to fruition that is the only version I’ll be able to see.

RANTS & RAVINGS ABOUT HORROR - “A Look at the Fall of the Terminator Franchise”

I’ve been a fan of the Terminator franchise since the original film The Terminator (1984).  It was a refreshing look at a post-apocalyptic world ruled by robots that took place in the modern world.  Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991) improved upon the original film and expanded the mythology.  What I love about the films is not just the amazing action sequences but the suspense and thriller aspects as well as the fact that each film was aiming to show audiences things they had never seen before both in terms of story and action.  Neither film was predictable and both were exciting even though the original film had more elements of a horror film verses the more action oriented sequel. 

We’ll stop here a moment to take a look at where the franchise went from there which was in the four-color comic book realm with the amazing series The Terminator from NOW Comics published from ’88 to ’90 which told stories about new characters in John Conner’s resistance movement.  NOW Comics also produced the fondly remembered series The Burning Earth before relinquishing the rights to Dark Horse Comics.  Dark Horse Comics produced comics from ’90 to present day giving stories both using characters from the films and branching out to new stories and expanding the mythology from the films unlike the NOW Comics stories which existed for the most part in their own alternate universe.   The comics saw the Terminators battle everyone from Superman, Robocop, Aliens & Predators, and various other characters from other universes.  Other comics from other publishers include Marvel who produced the comic adaptation for the film Terminator 2 while Malibu and Dynamite Comics published sequel comics to the second film.  Beckett Comics did the comics based on the third film Rise of the Machines while IDW Publishing did comics based on the forth film Salvation.  As can be seen, the rights for the films ended up getting split among multiple publishers while the main rights stayed with Dark Horse the longest.

I mention the comics as they are the place where the most freedom for the franchise can be seen.  The stories expand past the main characters of the original film to present a whole world of characters that contribute to the resistance as well as the different types of Terminators developed by Skynet.  This is something that subsequent films have failed to do.

Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines (2003) is, in my opinion, the worst of all the films.  There was nothing in that film that was new to the story or added to the mythology in a major way.  They created a new Terminator which they foreshadowed the way in which she would be killed half way through the film.  The main characters were less interesting and as typical the story revolves around John Conner.  These elements are not as interesting considering that the previous two films had gone a long way in telling all of this info already.  The action sequences are not as innovative and very little suspense is had, which is surprising considering how much suspense and great action sequences director Jonathon Mostow had in his previous films Breakdown (1997) and U-571 (2000).

The forth film Terminator: Salvation (2009) is the first to actually be set in a post-apocalyptic world of the future but it still relies on telling the story of John Conner.  This film introduces a new hybrid human/Terminator in Marcus Wright which many thought odd considering that he was built before the regular Terminators.  I used to agree with this, but the film showcased a lot of different generations of Terminators and (finally) showed the future in all its devastation.  I really enjoyed this film as it wanted to establish more of the mythology while expanding the parameters of what a Terminator film could be.  This film was designed to jump start a new franchise but its lukewarm response killed that idea.

The most recent film Terminator: Genysis (2015) was another attempt to jump start the franchise once again by re-writing events that had come before in previous films and focusing on Sarah Conner (the protagonist of the original film) and Kyle Reese (Sarah’s savior of the original film and father of John Conner).  By re-writing and changing events from the previous films this film was designed as a way to start the franchise over from the beginning (similar to the rebooted Star Trek franchise).  Although there are some interesting concepts to be had in the film it is hampered by poor acting and too many comedic elements designed to appeal to a younger audience.  This is not a good film but not nearly as bad as Rise of the Machines.  This film also received a lukewarm response and the sequel has been shelved for the time being.  I’m sure that there will be another film soon and it will probably try to re-start the franchise again but in my opinion, the only way for this franchise to survive (again) is to just start from a new vantage point with new characters.

For me, it is a shame that the studios are so afraid to try something new with the films and just tell a new and compelling story within the same world.  I may not have liked the film Jurassic World (2015) but there is no denying that they took a chance ditching all the characters from the original trilogy for something new. 

What made me stop and take a look at the Terminator franchise is that I just finished reading the Terminator: Salvation – The Final Battle (volumes 1 & 2) which is the sequel to the film.  Considering that the original idea was to craft a new franchise from the film, this story is the closest audiences are going to see what a sequel could have been.  Written by J. Michael Straczynski with artwork by Pete Woods this is a massive twelve part story that explains how the character of Marcus Wright was created and for what purpose including an all new villain that threatens Skynet and the Resistance forcing them into an alliance.  Straczynski manages to make sense of all the elements of the film while also crafting the battle to end all battles.  This is a smart and creative story which jumps time periods but has a whole set of new characters to compliment the John Connor story.  Anyone who enjoyed the Salvation film will enjoy the way it is finished in this story.  In fact, this is one of the best Terminator stories thus far crafted for the comics’ medium.  The Final Battle proves that there is enough story left in the world of the Terminator if writers (and by extension the Studio) are willing to take chances.

Regardless of whenever the next Terminator film arrives there will always be comics (and novels) that extend the franchise.  The world of the Terminator is rich with so many possibilities that it would be a shame if we fans didn’t have these options.

Film Review: TERMINATOR: GENYSIS (2015)

First, I’d like to say that I’m a Terminator fan.  I’ve seen all the films and I’ve read all the comics and I know what could be a great Terminator film if someone (the Studio) was brave enough to take real chances and utilize some of the story elements from the various Terminator comics.  Unfortunately, Terminator: Genysis (2015) just isn’t it.  In an age when Studios pander to what they think will make a profitable film rather than what will actually be something new and exciting for audiences we get this new rebooted film that first wants to erase and rewrite everything that came before in the previous four films while still trying to appeal to the same audience that enjoyed those earlier films. 

The film stars Arnold Schwarzenegger as another T-800 Terminator sent back to protect Sarah Connors (Emilia Clarke) when she was a child.  We don’t know who sent him back but this new Terminator nicknamed “Pops” by Sarah has been training and protecting Sarah as she grows until the day in 1984 when Kyle Reese (Jai Courtney) is originally sent back to protect an innocent (and older) Sarah (from the original first film) from the Terminator.  Unfortunately, Kyle is a little late as it is she who has to save him.  Then they discover that the timeline has changed (again) and that they are on a new mission to finally stop Skynet from coming into existence in the future through a new technological advancement that will link technology all over the world (in a more advanced version of the Internet) called Genysis.

The concept of the film isn’t that bad considering the many unanswered questions in the film (presumably for the future installments of this new proposed trilogy) but what really hampers the film is the fact that the love story between Sarah Connor and Kyle Reese never comes off as genuine probably because Clarke and Courtney have very little onscreen chemistry and all their interactions seem forced.  Another thing is that Pops is made the comic relief in the film (probably to appeal to a younger audience) and none of this fits into the film despite Schwarzenegger doing the best he can with the role.

The film is written by Laeta Kalogridis and Patrick Lussier and directed by Alan Taylor.  Taylor does a serviceable job with the material but all of the action sequences lack the style of James Cameron’s original two films or even McG’s Salvation (2009) and Jonathan Mostow’s Rise of the Machines (2003).  The final result is a “paint-by-numbers” action film that relies on too many of the previous films’ story elements while also trying to abandon some.

What needed to happen is a film that didn’t feel the need to tell a story with Sarah or John Connor or the need to change history.  What audiences need is a new story with new characters to follow and not the tired “old guard”.  I have very little optimism for any future entries in this new proposed trilogy because if they don’t make some real changes they will be just as uninteresting and flaccid as this one was.

"Rants & Ravings About Horror" - Week 25: "ALIEN 5 - WHY!?!"

Week 25: "ALIEN 5 - WHY!?!"
I want to be excited about another ALIEN film but the idea that yet another franchise is getting a reboot in the form of Neil Bloomkamp's ALIEN 5 which takes place after James Cameron's ALIENS just doesn't sit well with me.  Personally I think that the Ellen Ripley story is over.  It is done and everyone needs to move on.  There are a million different stories out there to tell that have nothing to do with the Ellen Ripley character.  Dark Horse Comics has made it its life's mission to present fans with new and creative stories and yet the stories are so dumb out of ideas they decided it was a good idea to go back and do it again with the same characters.  Bloomkamp has so far had an amazing career with original sci-fi ideas from DISTRICT 9 (2009) to ELYSIUM (2013) to CHAPPIE (2015) so why waste his time going back to a well tapped out of story.

Ripley's story was done in ALIEN 3 and despite the stylistic change which ALIEN RESURRECTION bringing Ripley back as a clone wasn't exactly a great idea.

After having read a different version of the events after the movie ALIENS in the original 3 Dark Horse comics (ALIENS/ALIENS II/ALIENS: EARTH WAR) Dark Horse had the great idea to split off into a multitude of different ideas because the possibilities are endless.  One of those ideas was the ALIEN Vs. PREDATOR comic books not to mention the long running ALIENS: COLONIAL MARINES.

In the current climate of Hollywood's let's just bring back all our dead franchises (see JURASSIC WORLD, MAD MAX: FURY ROAD, TEXAS CHAINSAW 3D, THE X-FILES, TWIN PEAKS, STAR WARS, STAR TREK, FULL HOUSE, the list is now endless) why are we really wasting our time.  Despite the lukewarm reception of ELYSIUM and CHAPPIE there is no denying that BloomKamp is a director with a unique vision and that's what the sci-fi genre really needs.  What it doesn't need is yet another "reboot" of something that doesn't need a reboot or start over again.

Like I said, I want to be excited about ALIEN 5 but I have absolutely no interest whatsoever.  I'd rather just wait for PROMETHEUS 2 which despite all its many confusing ideas wanted to tell something new and fresh in the same world yet not try to "reboot" anything (which is actually slightly debatable considering how the comics did the origin of the Xenomorphs verses how director Ridley Scott decided to ignore the comics and do his own thing).

I'll always remain an ALIEN fan and I'll continue to read Dark Horse's comics which are superior in every way to the films (just pick up the 4-Part graphic novel series "FIRE & STONE" cross-over series between ALIENS/PROMETHEUS/ALIEN VS. PREDATOR/PREDATORS as Dark Horse tries to link the Prometheus films to the comic book world).

Here's a little something for you fans looking forward to Bloomkamp's "vision":

http://www.scified.com/site/alien5/neill-blomkamp-releases-new-alien-5-concept-art-says-production-is-going-very-well

Book Review: “The Rough Guide to Sci-Fi Movies” by John Scalzi

If you are a fan of sci-fi (or at least someone who likes it even a little) than John Scalzi’s book “The Rough Guide to Sci-Fi Movies” is a massive collection of info dedicated to the history and current state of the genre through film from all across the globe.  I’ve seen a lot of sci-fi films but this book educated me on the genre and informed me of tons of films I either had never seen or heard of.  The “Rough Guides” book series (which also includes books on the horror, comedy, and gangster film genres) are books that provide readers with not only an overview of the genre and its start but also lists hundreds of films in the genre from all over the world and provide hundreds of pictures and posters and media for many of the films discussed.

Scalzi’s book starts with a chapter entitled “The Origins: Science Fiction Literature” before delving into sci-fi films in their infancy (i.e. Le voyage dans la lune -1902) to films of the modern age (i.e. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind – 2004) and everything in between.  The book is not just a discussion on films but icons of the genre from director George Lucas and James Cameron to animator and writer Osamu Tezuka (creator of Astro Boy, among many others) and composer John Williams (Star Wars and E.T.).  This book manages to cram a lot of info into its lean 325 pages

One of my favorite parts of the book comes towards the end when Scalzi spends many pages delving into the contributions of sci-fi from other countries all over the world which informed me of films I wasn’t familiar with.  There is also a major section which includes sc-fi’s contribution to other mediums such as television, video games, magazines and websites.

The book is very easy to navigate as it is broken into easy to find chapters and there is even an expansive index for those just looking to know about a particular film.  This is a book that every sci-fi fan should include in their library as it will always be an invaluable resource.