Category: Crime

Batman: Year One – Feature Length Animation

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One of my all-time favorite graphic novels is Batman: Year One by Frank Miller and David Mazzucchelli. I was pleased to read in The Hollywood Reporter today that a feature length animated adaptation is in the works with Bruce Timm on board to executive produce.  Timm indicates that the production will closely follow the graphic novels story and look when he says:

“The source material is surprisingly cinematic; it’s a pretty straight forward literal retelling… Mazzucchelli’s artwork is beautifully composed and we were able to refer to the comic for about 80 percent of the camera setups.”

Ben McKenzie will provide the voice for Batman/Bruce Wayne and Bryan “Breaking Bad” Cranston will do the same for Liet. James Gordon.  You can read more about the production here and here.

Thomas Jane Joins Stallone in “Headshot”

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JoBlo broke the news today that Thomas Jane is set to join Sylvester Stallone in “Headshot.” Walter Hill is set to direct the adaptation of the crime comic published as “Bullet to the Head.” Stallone plays a hitman and Jane a NYC detective who are brought together after a series of murders.  According to Jane…

  • He’s a hitman, I’m a cop, and we’re just opposite in every ******* way, and we need each other to get this job done. And of course I’m like, ‘As soon as this job’s over, I’m going to take you to jail, you know, you’re a killer.’

Lee Marvin, Mel Gibson & Jason Statham

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Variety reported today that…

  • Jason Statham is in negotiations to star in the thriller “Parker” with Taylor Hackford directing… based on the book series by Donald Westlake [aka RIchard Stark], [and] revolves around a thief who, though at times is forced to be a killer, still lives by a code of honor that includes never stealing money from people who need it. His word is his bond, and if he is crossed he will strike back relentlessly.

It’s no secret that I’m a huge fan of Richard Stark’s Parker novels as well as the graphic adaptations by Darwyn Cooke.   I also enjoyed Lee [“Point Blank”] Marvin and Mel [“Payback”] Gibson in movies based on the Parker character.  I have little doubt that Taylor Hackford directing Jason Statham will be welcome additions to the Parker legacy.

Breaking Bad is So Good

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If you don’t watch Breaking Bad on AMC, you’re missing out on one of the best shows currently running.  Seriously.  I’m surprised I don’t hear more people talking Breaking Bad up.  It’s that good.  If you don’t know about it, don’t feel bad.  I only recently discovered Breaking Bad and now I’m hooked.   AMC is about to start running the series again from the start, so this would be a great time to jump on board or at least give it a try.

Saul Goodman [pictured above] is a sleazy lawyer on the show, but he’s  not the main character.  Saul is just one of the many great characters.  Saul’s card might make you think that Breaking Bad is a comedy, but it’s not.  Sure, there are some funny moments, but Breaking Bad ain’t no sitcom.  It is one of the best shows on currently on tv.

Cooke, Stark, Parker: A Better Martini

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Earlier today I posted about Hunter: The Martini Edition which will combine The Hunter and The Outfit into an oversized 9×13 package with 65 pages of additional material [344 total page count]  for a very reasonable $75.00 price tag.  At Wondercon, today, the cover of the edition [shown above] was previewed.  In addition, Scott Dunbier, the editor of the project said that Hunter: The Martini Edition will…

“contain both of the graphic novels that Darwyn did — both of them were pretty widely acclaimed. It’ll have a number of illustrations, sketchbook material, a lot of cool little extras. One of the best is, it’ll actually have an original eight-page story that will only be available in this Martini Edition.”

Now, more than ever I think that IDW should print up an edition of extras for those of us who have supported the books from the start.

[Via CBR.com]

Cooke, Stark, Parker & The Martini Edition

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If you missed out on Darwyn Cooke’s two best-selling, award-winning adaptations of Richard Parker’s Stark novels, you’re in luck.  This July, IDW is publishing them together in a deluxe format they’re calling Parker: The Martini Edition. The new edition will combine The Hunter and The Outfit into an oversized 9×13 package with 65 pages of additional material running the total page count to 344.  It is set to retail at $75.00.

While I’m happy that the books are doing well enough to warrant the special treatment, it bugs me that fans who bought the original editions from the start will miss out on the bonus materials.  I understand that in order to make the “special edition” special, bonus materials are needed.  I guess it’s a catch-22, but wouldn’t it be nice if IDW published a “bonus materials only” special for folks who had supported the books from the start?  They could even do it in the same format as The Man with the Getaway Face and I’d love it.  Plus it would be another revenue source to help support the production of the next Cooke/Stark Parker graphic novel.

Sly Stallone Scores a Headshot

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  • Way back in October of 2008, I posted about a French crime comic called “Headshot” that had been optioned by Warner Bros.  “Headshot” was about a hitman and cop who, when their partners are killed, form an uneasy alliance to get revenge on the powers that set them up.  At that time, I said that I’d love to see an American edition of the comic and that I’d keep an eye out on the progress of the movie.
  • Today I’m happy to report that “Headshot” is moving forward with Sylvester Stallone playing one of the hitmen and Wayne “Running Scared” Kramer set to direct.
  • Here’s how /Film describes “Headshot”… In the film, Stallone’s character “teams with a young NYPD detective in a high-stakes investigation that leads from the dingy back alleys of New Orleans all the way to the power corridors of Washington, D.C. The unlikely duo, brought together by two vicious murders, take on all who stand in their way, and are willing to sacrifice everything to exact revenge.”
  • IM Global [the company making “Headshot”] CEO Stuart Ford said… “Headshot is exactly the type of fast-paced, universally themed project that suits our business model. Sylvester Stallone is an international icon and we’re really excited to be in business with him.”
  • “Headshot” is set to being filming in May and I couldn’t be happier.

Stallone Not Capone

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Since some of you may not be regular readers of my StalloneZone site, I thought I’d share this cool Stallone poster here too.

I found this overseas movie poster for “Capone” and really liked the art. Of course the poster design is pretty deceptive in that Sly doesn’t star or even play Capone in the movie. Most SZoners know that Sly had a small, but important role as Frank Nitti. Ben Gazara played Capone. Did you notice that Sly was even given top billing in the poster credits?

Oh well, that doesn’t change the fact that it’s still a pretty cool poster.

Blood Out Welcomed In

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I’ve never heard a word about “Blood Out” until I say the poster above.  Odds are it’ll be a “drive-in” movie or what folks today would call straight-to-dvd.  Still, there’s nothing wrong with an action-packed B movie and that’s exactly what “Blood Out” looks to be.  So, yeah, I’ll give it a shot when I get the chance. [Via IMPAwards]

Justified / Walking Dead: Bring ‘Em Home

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If you’re a fan of Justified, then you may be interested in a the great bargain that Amazon is offering on Season One.  The complete first season on blu-ray is only 21.99 [56% off the retail price] and the regular dvd for the complete first season is just 19.99.

While we’re on the subject of excellent tv shows which are coming to dvd, let’s not forget that The Walking Dead: Season 1 dvd drops on March 8th.  Since season 2 won’t start until the fall, there’s a strong possibility that “Dead Heads” are going to want to pick up this one to ease their wait.

Who is Jake Ellis?

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I don’t read many comic books these days, but one I am really looking forward to is, Who is Jake Ellis.  Written by Nathan Edmondson and with art by Tonci Zonjic, this comic series looks to be not only a change of pace, but a lot of fun. Here’s how Josh Wigler at CBR.com describes, Who is Jake Ellis?…

  • “The story centers on Jon Moore, a highly sought-after espionage expert working in the European underground. Unknown to his clients — to anyone, for that matter — is the fact that he’s assisted by Jake Ellis, a seemingly all-knowing entity that nobody can see. Nobody, that is, except for Jon himself. The high-octane comic book series spans five issues and multiple European locations, providing fans with a reading experience that sits comfortably alongside the tensest thrillers the spy genre has to offer.”

And speaking of CBR.com, they are running the first eight pages of issue one with commentary by Nathan Edmondson and Tonci Zonjic.  Who is Jake Ellis? #1 is available at comic shops now.