Which would you prefer?
A remake with a completely new cast? Or a sequel with the same cast, set in 1963?
The North Remembers
I'd never even considered an actual sequel (and I'm guessing neither has Disney). I think there's something to be said for an older Cliff Seacord having to dust off the jetpack for a Cold War era adventure, but there's just something magical about that late 30s setting. If Hollywood does indeed remake it, they'd better keep it a period movie.
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A journey into the realm of the obscure: http://saturdayshowcase.blogspot.com/
I think the idea of a sequel could possibly work. But I agree that the character just feels more at home in the 30's.
If Hollywood does indeed remake it, they'd better keep it a period movie.
Hollywood can make some pretty dumb decisions sometimes, but in this case I think they'd probably know better. They were smart enough to keep Captain America's origin set in WWII, and even hired Joe Johnston to boot. If Disney were to remake The Rocketeer I expect it would still be a period piece and maybe even have Johnston back in the director's chair. My only hope would be that they add a bit more character to Cliff and Jenny/Betty. If I have one complaint about the movie, it's that those characters were kinda generic and bland, and only really worked due to great casting. But I'd like to see a bit more of Cliff's arrogant flyboy streak, and Jenny/Betty more faithful to her sexpot pinup girl origins.
The North Remembers share
I agree %100 about Betty/Jenny and Cliff. I certainly don't want to see them veer too far away from the fun adventure serials tone and turn this into The Dark Knight with a jetpack, but I'd like to see it be a little less wholesome on the edges. As much as I love the original, it feels a bit sanitized.
I'd like to see Cliff be slightly less gee-whiz, though still likeable, and I definitely want to see Jenny revert back to Betty and her pinup origins.
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A journey into the realm of the obscure: http://saturdayshowcase.blogspot.com/
I certainly don't want to see them veer too far away from the fun adventure serials tone and turn this into The Dark Knight with a jetpack
I couldn't agree more. TDK is my favorite comic book movie, but I sure as hell don't want to see every comic book character adapted like that. Otherwise, what's even the point of using other characters? The Rocketeer is definitely one that should be adventurous and fun. Though it could still be those things while having a bit more edge to it than the movie did.
I don't think I'd want them to adapt Cliff's character directly from the comics. I though he came off as impossible to root for in those, he was such a selfish ass. But I think there is a good middle-ground they could strike. Something a little bit like Tony Stark, maybe. In the sense that he is kind of selfish and arrogant, but mostly on a superficial level. He remains likable because he clearly is a good-hearted person, who absolutely will make the sacrifice play if it comes down to it. Let Cliff bask in the glory and thrill of being the Rocketeer, while secretly motivated by the belief that the government and/or Hughes would squander the rocket-pack on war or profit, where as he can use it to genuinely help people.
I'd be fine if they directly adapted Betty from the comics, though. Especially in terms of wardrobe.
The North Remembers share
Tony Stark is actually the model that came to mind for me as well. Not as sharp-tongued and eccentric, but with the same type of swagger and a hint of self-centeredness. In the Disney movie, it's not like Cliff's first thought upon finding the rocket was "Hey, we can go fight Nazis!". It was more "Hey, we can go make a few bucks!". But was there ever even the slightest doubt that he would do the right thing in the end? As a result, there's really not much of an arc there.
I don't think I'd want them to adapt Cliff's character directly from the comics. I though he came off as impossible to root for in those, he was such a selfish ass. But I think there is a good middle-ground they could strike. Something a little bit like Tony Stark, maybe. In the sense that he is kind of selfish and arrogant, but mostly on a superficial level. He remains likable because he clearly is a good-hearted person, who absolutely will make the sacrifice play if it comes down to it. Let Cliff bask in the glory and thrill of being the Rocketeer, while secretly motivated by the belief that the government and/or Hughes would squander the rocket-pack on war or profit, where as he can use it to genuinely help people.
All spot-on.
I'd be fine if they directly adapted Betty from the comics, though. Especially in terms of wardrobe.
I'll second that!
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So, if they were to reboot the series how would you want the rocket pack to look? Would you prefer they kept something similar to the movie design? Or would you like to see something a little closer to the comic design? Personally, having grown up watching the movie, that design seems a little more iconic to the character in my eyes. And the comic version looks a little less realistic and seems kinda tiny. I think I'd like to see a double-exhaust design similar to the movie, but still tweaked and changed a bit to give it it's own aesthetic.
The North Remembers
I really like the Art Deco aesthetic of the movie version, but in this day and age you just know they'd likely overthink the design--"How would this work in the real world?"--so what we'd get would sacrifice aesthetic for functionality. Had Star Wars been made in this day and age, they would've spent hundreds of hours trying to figure out how a lightsaber would work. That's fine for hard sci-fi, but for something like this, just make it look cool.
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A journey into the realm of the obscure: http://saturdayshowcase.blogspot.com/
I don't think that making things look functional is inherently a bad thing. Personally, I think half the fun of comic book movies is trying to find the balance between making the costumes and props look as close to the comics as possible while still looking like something functional that could actually exist in real life.
Either way, I don't think it's something to be worried about in this case. The movie version of the rocket pack was far more functional and realistic looking than the tiny purple cylinder drawn in the comics. And the collection I bought even has some interesting concepts Dave Stevens did himself of a more realistic, functional rocket pack than his original design. Realistically, a rocket would need a fairly clean encasement to cover up it's inner workings, so making the rocket pack look "functional" wouldn't really involve adding a bunch of ugly tubes and pumps all over the thing.
I was more interested in whether or not you thought they should stick with the double-exhaust look of the movie, or go with a single-exhaust design more like the comics.
Here's what the pack looks like in the comics:
http://i277.photobucket.com/albums/kk42/SteenkinBadgers/the%20Rocketee r/Untitled-4.jpg
The North Remembers
I see. Well, in that case, I'd say absolutely stick with the double-exhaust look. The single jet look is very evocative of the ones used in the various serials on which The Rocketeer is based, but it looks too wimpy.
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A journey into the realm of the obscure: http://saturdayshowcase.blogspot.com/