Mimicking DC characters (i.e. there is a Superman type charcter, a Batman type character, a Lex Luther type, a Joker type, etc, etc), it’s a world where all the super villains banded together to strike on the world’s super heroes. The war took place in 1986 and lasted a few years. After the battle, the super villains erased the world’s memory of any super heroes (or super villains for that matter) ever existing (they are only known in comic books, fitting). The super villains run the world behind the scenes doing whatever they want whenever they want.

Fast forward to modern day, our main character Wesley becomes aware of this hidden world when his father (a super villain that disappeared from Wesley’s life at early age) is assassinated. Wesley discovers that he has inherited his father’s role as the notorious super villain, “The Killer.” Wesley also learns he has his father’s super human ability; deadly accuracy with guns of any kind similar to DC’s Deadshot (i.e. he can shoot the wings off a fly, literally). Wesley is trained to be a cold-blooded killer in which readers grow to loathe him as he progresses; he kills, steals, and even rapes on his journey to super villainy.

Most of this world’s super heroes are deceased while the few that remain have had their memories erased along with the rest of the world. The Superman character is confined to a wheel chair while the Batman and Robin type characters believe they are actors playing their super hero counterparts on a campy TV show.

The comic is very much for mature readers. There is cursing, gore, and brief nudity. You know it’s for mature readers when the Bizarro type character is named “F#ckwit” and the Clayface type character is named “S#ithead.” On another interesting note, the main character of Wesley is drawn to look like rapper “Eminem” while Halle Berry’s and Tommy Lee Jones’ likeness are also found in this comic book.

So, Universal Pictures is making a movie based on this comic book, but instead of super villains running the world, it’s a group of leather wearing assassins (whom have magical powers). I guess the studio’s felt the original plot would be too geeky and/or confusing; I agree to some extent. It will star Angelina Jolie, Morgan Freeman, and new comer British actor James McAvoy as Wesley.

It should be enjoyable because it’s a sci-fi/fantasy Matrix-type action thriller; although it might be crap because, well, we’ve seen this movie before for most part. I believe if this movie get’s an R rating, we could get the same feel as the graphic novel. I believe the story of Wesley’s journey will probably be similar, but I doubt he’ll be as bad (evil) as his comic book counterpart.

The movie opens March 28th, 2008. I’ll keep you posted as more develops (i.e. I am waiting for that first trailer); in the mean time, check out “Wanted” the graphic novel before it is redone to look like its movie counterpart.

That stated; comic book enthusiasts expect a lot from the films that adapt their beloved comic books into live action major motion pictures. I hear and read lots about how as long as they get the feel or theme right, fans are satisfied. Bull crap! The true fans want to see the good smack downs just as much as the theme or feel.

Few movies have nailed it. When I mean “it,” I mean the pulse pounding scenes I see the comic versions are presenting. Why haven’t they nailed “it” yet? In the past the scenes and shots displayed in the comic books are probably too expensive to translate it over OR they just can’t figure it out.

But what constitutes a good fight scene in general within a movie? Outside of comic book movies, tons of movies have them, but how come few comic book movies have them? A good fight scene, in my mind, has (a) believable weight and physics, (b) hard and heavy hits, and (c) having the reaction of the audiences yelling out “damn, did you see that?” Or a simple “Wow!”

First (A) believable weight and physics: not that it has to be a real looking fight, but that it has to look believable, is what I am asking. A guy jumping around like Spider-man looks fun, but if you can see that it is a fake CGI figure, then it is ruined. A super hero like Spider-man should be able to move like he does, but when stops short after from jumping across the room to upper punching a villain, we should witness two things: we should see his knee and body hitting the ground with tremendous force (knees pounding to the point any normal man’s joint would burst from the impact) and then the actual hit to the villain should display a clear punch (let’s say) to his jaw breaking or at least deforming his jaw in a way that let’s us know Spider-man actually made a powerful smack to the bad guy. Wire works can’t really do it because you can tell he’s being pulled around and CGI can’t always do it right because, well, it looks fake a lot of times.

Second (B) hard and heavy hits: as explained above with the example of Spider-man hitting the villain, it not only has to be believable, but it looks like it has to hurt and the person receiving the blow should react in way a powerful hit like that should deliver. I think movie makers should create life-sized rag dolls resembling a normal human, stand them up, and have a person swing a sledge hammer at the doll’s head to see the effect a true super hero punch would deliver.

Finally (C) the wow factor: simplistic explanation and expectations. If we actually say wow, damn, or holy s#it during the film, movie makers got it right.

So, after all of that, my pick for top 5 best fight scenes within a comic book adapted feature film are (in ranking order):

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5) The Lord of the Rings: This series won 17 Oscars (according to one report I saw), among 30 nominations. So I would feel remiss for not having it on the list somewhere. However, did this series change your life even just a little bit? Oh sure, all of us weigh a lot less in the wallet having shelled out tickets for the theater and then again for each of the DVDs and maybe even the extended editions, but how many times have you seen all three? For me, it’s hard to find three and a half hours at a time to see even one of them, so the movies have a tendency to collect dust.

Since this series is so new we’ll have to wait to see its long term effect on our culture, which isn’t the case for the remaining entries on this list.

What I learned from these movies: A) What exactly a hobbit looks like, hairy feet in all. B) It is possible to have disgustingly long toe nails and still be appealing. Yay! There is hope for me after all!

4) Alien: “In Space, No One Can Hear You Scream.” What can I say? The first and second were the best. Remember Bill Paxton’s nervous Marine? “That’s it, man! Game over man!” What bliss. Or Ripley’s line… I’m paraphrasing here… “Get away from her you large female puppy dog!”

Each movie in this growing series has brought new terrors to those of us who love them so. Remember Face Huggers? The Chest Bursters? What about the Dog Alien? Or the all out battle between the Aliens and the Predators in the most recent movie, AvP?
Even Alien3, considered by many to be the weakest of them all has a lot going for it. It was directed by David Fincher (Seven, The Game), for one thing. It’s actually quite a good movie and worth another look.

I would easily say that Alien and Aliens are modern classics in every sense of the word. With an alien designed by H.R. Giger and Sigourney Weaver in her panties, how could anyone go wrong?

What I learned from these movies: A) When an alien is very quickly picking off people one by one, NEVER EVER, EVER GO ANYWHERE ALONE. B) Read A again to yourself, and then aloud. Repeat. C) If slime starts dripping on you, it’s best not to whimper quietly. You’ll most likely be eaten. Instead, run very quickly away. Unfortunately, you’ll probably still be eaten. However, as everyone knows fast food is bad for you, the alien might think twice about it.

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Since this ended up being such a long blog, I thought I would break it up. Today are numbers 10 through 6.

What do you think? There are plenty more great movies out there, many of which I have completely forgotten about or simply didn’t have enough room for. Leave a comment below. I’d love to hear what you think!

10 Star Trek: I would have to say that this set of movies consists of some of the best, and also some of the worst movies I’ve seen. It’s true: the even movies are much stronger than the odd movies. The worst, by far are the first and fifth movies. I think the Geneva conventions would frown upon anyone showing those two pieces of drek to prisoners of war.

The even movies are generally the best. Of course, The Wrath of Kahn is a favorite among most Trekies. However, my favorites are the Voyage Home (IV), and The Undiscovered County (VI).

The even movies aren’t all top tier, however. I would have to say the lowest of the low points was the set-up and subsequent death of Data, which occurred in the most recent film, an even numbered entry. Ho Hum… talk about a yawner.
Oh, and of course pretty much all of the aforementioned Star Trek V. Boy, that one sure was a dog turd.

I still remember the special thrill I felt when I saw a trailer for a new Star Trek movie. Even the trailers were often better than the movies they preceded.

What I learned from these movies: A) When faced with a task at work, always overestimate wildly the time it will take to finish it. B) “I always set my phaser to stun,” really isn’t all that good of a pickup line.

9) Pirates of The Caribbean: OK, I admit it. I am a sucker for silly spectacle. While I was really disappointed in the Third movie, I definitely would like to see it again, if only for the dream sequence. These movies have a lot of things going for them, and mostly those things have the faces of dead presidents on them. Yes, I am talking about boatloads, and I mean boatloads of money, which is what this trilogy made. And while yes, this trilogy was ultimately an empty one, it started a lot of stars on their way upward, and cemented Johnny Depp as being one weird, talented dude. Not bad for a concept that got its start as a ride.

There is even word of not one, but several more Pirates movies on the way. Avast!

What I learned from these movies: A) Never ever trust a pirate. Duh! B) Never make deals with the East India Trading Company. C) Pirates generally have one or more of the following: sharp knives, haunted gold, rotten teeth, and killer body odor.

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Occupation: Adventurer
Legal Status: U.S. citizen with a criminal record
Marital Status: Single
Identity: Secret
Known relatives: Sylvia Kovacs (mother, deceased)

Background: Kovacs grew up with his mother, a prostitute, living a life of neglect and frequent beating.

At age 10, after assaulting two boys, blinding one with a cigarette, Kovacs was send to Charltons Home for Problematic Children. At 16 Kovacs left the home and started working at a clothing-manufacturer.

One day in 1962 a special order came in. A dress made from heat sensitive liquid between two layers of latex. The costumer thought the dress was ugly and did not want it. Kovacs liked the moving black and white, and saved it for later use.

Two years later the costumer was found dead. She was raped, tortured and killed in front of her house. Almost 40 people heard the screams and some even saw what happened but no one called the police. Kovacs then understood how people hid behind facades. Ashamed he went home and made a face from the fabric that he had taken.

Kovacs continued as costumed adventurer, even after the anti-hero-law, prohibiting vigilantes, until his death.

Powers: Kovacs has no powers except for those of a well-trained man.

First Appearance: DC Comics Watchmen (vol. 1) #1 (1986)
Creators: Alan Moore, Dave Gibbons

Occupation: Adventurer, scientist employed by US military.
Legal Status: U.S. citizen with no criminal record
Marital Status: Single
Identity: Publicly known

Background: Jonathan was the son of a watchmaker. When Jonathans father saw the bombing of Hiroshima in a newspaper he decided that repairing clocks was obsolete. The future was in nuclear physics. He therefore stopped his son’s education in clocks and made him study physics.

In 1958 Jonathan had a Ph.D. in physics. He started at the research center at Gila Flats in may 1959.

In august 1959, when retrieving a watch for his girlfriend Janey Slater, he was accidentally trapped in the test chamber at the lab. In the test chamber they removed the nature field, dissolving Jonathan. During November 1959 the particles that was Jonathan slowly reassembled ending on November 22nd.

Jonathan was given the name Dr. Manhattan, after the Manhattan Project. In the following years Dr. Manhattan worked as crime fighter, as Pentagon thought it would be good for his image.

In 1971 president Nixon asked Dr. Manhattan to enter the Vietnam war. Dr. Manhattan won the war for Nixon in two months.

Powers: Jonathan controls material on atomic level. This includes moving particles by teleportation.

First Appearance: DC Comics Watchmen (vol. 1) #1 (1986)
Creators: Alan Moore, Dave Gibbons

Legal Status: U.S. citizen with no criminal record
Marital Status: Single
Identity: Publicly known
Known relatives: Sally Jupiter (mother)
Edward Morgan Blake (father)
Larry Schexnayder (stepfather)

Background: Being the daughter of Sally Jupiter the original Silk Spectre, Laurie was raised to follow in her mother’s footsteps. Laurie started as the Silk Spectre at age 16.

Powers: Laurie has no super-human powers, but is trained in hand-to-hand combat.

First Appearance: DC Comics Watchmen (vol. 1) #1 (1986)
Creators: Alan Moore, Dave Gibbons

Occupation: Adventurer, CEO of the Veidt Empire.
Legal Status: U.S. citizen with no criminal record
Marital Status: Single
Identity: Publicly known

Background: Adrian was a highly intelligent child. So intelligent that it made people suspicious of him. He therefore learned to hide his intelligence. At age 16 his parents died, leaving him enough money to be financially independent.

Adrian’s idol was Alexander of Macedonia, who conquered most of the world before dying at age 33. Adrian decided to follow in his footsteps, taking the journey from Turkey around the world ending in Alexandria.

On the night before going back to America Adrian went out in the desert where he ate a lump of hashish. In a vision he saw the greatness of the pharaohs, and decided to recreate the greatness of the empire. Adrian took the name Ozymandias, the Greek name for Ramses II, and went into war against the evil that inhibit mankind.

Powers: Peak human physical condition on the border to super-human. Known as the smartest man in the world.

First Appearance: DC Comics Watchmen (vol. 1) #1 (1986)
Creators: Alan Moore, Dave Gibbons

Occupation: Former adventurer and policeman in New York Police Department.
Legal Status: U.S. citizen with no criminal record
Marital Status: Single
Identity: Publicly known
Group affiliation: The Minutemen
Base of Operations: New York

Background: When Hollis read about the Hooded Avenger in the paper, he decided that he would be the next masked adventurer. The name he got from his colleagues calling him Nightowl because he studied and trained all night instead of going out for a beer. Mason decided he liked the name and created a suit to match. The Nightowl had his debut early 1939, a year after he graduated from the police academy.

Powers: Hollis had no special powers but was in peak physical condition.

First Appearance: DC Comics Watchmen (vol. 1) #1 (1986)
Creators: Alan Moore, Dave Gibbons

Occupation: Adventurer, employed by US military
Legal Status: U.S. citizen with no criminal record
Marital Status: Single
Identity: Secret
Known relatives: Laurie Jupeczyk (daughter)
Group affiliation: The Minutemen

Background: Only very little was revealed about Blake. He was a member of the Minutemen. During the Vietnam war Blake fought with the US army, participating in the burning and slaughtering. When the anti-superhero law was resolved Blake continued working for the government.

Powers: Blake has the powers and abilities of an adult male in top physical shape.

First Appearance: DC Comics Watchmen (vol. 1) #1 (1986)
Creators: Alan Moore, Dave Gibbons