MovieChat Forums > The Spirit (2008) Discussion > So what did fans of the comic think of i...

So what did fans of the comic think of it when it came out?

posted 15 years ago by Bill_Buchanan
15 replies | jump to latest

Just curious...I've recently picked up Darwyn Cooke's first volume of The Spirit (I know, I know, I should have bought Eisner's if I wanted to read the true Spirit, but i saw Cooke's at my store and couldn't resist) Anyway, I really like the character, the feel of it..the exact opposite of what I thought about the movie (the ultimate all style, no substance film IMO)

Did any fan of The Spirit (the comic and character) actually come away liking this movie? Did anyone like what they did with Octopus? this isn't me flaming the film, i'm just intrigued as to whether it was a reaction similar to that of mine when I first saw Batman & Robin (i was only 11, but i knew it had to be the worst incarnation of my favourite comic book character ever to be put on screen)

i'm the best at what i do...but what i do isn't very nice

[–] idcook 15 years ago

Been awhile since I saw it. Something inside wants to rail about everything that’s wrong with this film when compared to the original.

To avoid going totally nuts I’ll simply say they couldn’t have done worse. It’s a terrible mess that ruins the character of the originals in every imaginable way.

Mind you, I like Frank Miller in his own work, but he shouldn’t have slathered his signature style so heavily onto The Spirit.

I can’t imagine WHY he saw The Octopus as a ridiculously foppish clown. >ugh<

“Your thinking is untidy, like most so-called thinking today.” (Murder, My Sweet)

[–] Darwinskid 15 years ago

Most fans, if not all fans, I've met all said they hated the film to pieces. I can see why.

"More human than human here!"

[–] goremaster 15 years ago

Worst adaptation of a comic book ever. Elektra is a masterpiece compared to The Spirit.

I really don't know why Frank Miller destroyed The Spirit in every possible way. It's "Superhero Movie" meets "Sin City".

[–] Darwinskid 15 years ago

Don't bring up superhero movie, it actually had more thought put into it.

"More human than human here!"

[–] funkyfry 15 years ago

I think this movie is actually bad enough that it might be comparable to "Supergirl." And Sam Jackson's performance in this movie might go down in history right up there with Faye Dunaway's performance in "Supergirl." I would say "Catwoman" was even better than this movie, because at least some of its intentional humor ended up being funny even if the basic concept of the movie failed to gain traction. "The Spirit" is more like "Supergirl" or "Superman 3" because it tries to be funny but fails even at that. And bad comedy is the worst thing there is as far as I'm concerned. When you're watching a bad drama or a bad sci-fi movie or just a bad straight-up superhero movie, you can watch the movie and laugh at the unintentional humor. But with a bad comedy, there's no place to run, nowhere to hide. You actually feel embarassed for the performers.

Did I not love him, Cooch? MY OWN FLESH I DIDN'T LOVE BETTER!!! But he had to say 'Nooooooooo'

[–] rnlee999 15 years ago

Yeah, I hated it. And I first read the comics as a kid in the seventies.

And yes, it's up there or down there with Supergirl and Meteor Man and the Corman Fantastic Four. And Batman and Robin, even.

[–] Wallabee_Champ 15 years ago

"I would say "Catwoman" was even better than this movie, because at least some of its intentional humor ended up being funny even if the basic concept of the movie failed to gain traction. "

That is the most accurate review I've read yet. Well done!

[–] Jigsaw737 14 years ago

bad comedy is the worst thing there is as far as I'm concerned. When you're watching a bad drama or a bad sci-fi movie or just a bad straight-up superhero movie, you can watch the movie and laugh at the unintentional humor. But with a bad comedy, there's no place to run, nowhere to hide. You actually feel embarassed for the performers.

Hehe, very well put!

--------------------------------------------------------
~No matter where you go, there you are~

[–] jtfriday2000 15 years ago

LOL. Did he say the Spirit makes Elektra look like a masterpiece?

Everything is free:
http://www.machobravo.com/board/

[–] popeyethousand 14 years ago

I have kept a hundred or so Spirit Comics from my teenage years (he was one of my all time favorites!!). I couldn't have been more excited when I heard they were making a movie, then I started seeing production stills... ugh. By the time the trailer came out I had no interest at all(not sure how anyone could have gone to see it after the trailer). It had such potential. The comic was great, the characters so rich, so many old stories to draw from. To this day I still haven't seen the movie & probably never will

[–] ahaygood 15 years ago

I haven't actually read the comic, but I can imagine the people who did and loved it hating this movie. I thought it was great. Its flipping hilariously well done. It's is quite interesting that someone who so meticulously brought Sin City to life would make such a light hearted parody (lampooning, really) of this comic. With no attachment to the source material I thought it was great.

[–] 15 years ago

[deleted]

[–] grendelkhan 14 years ago

The problem here is that the film had little to do with the comic, other than names. At first, fans were hopeful, because Miller was heavily influenced by Eisner and referenced the Sand Serrif story heavily in Elektra's debut. However, he did not have the same outlook or writing style as Eisner and it's easy to see that he is not on the same page as Eisner. Eisner's stories have far more humanity to them. His characters are often losers, but you have sympathy for them and the get their moments in the sun. Miller seems to have a much darker view of humanity, at least partly inspired by his love of crime fiction. Eisner played things more for laughs and pathos, while Miller goes more for shock and thrills.

With that said, Darwyn Cooke probably has a better handle on the actual stories than Miller. Miller was inspired more by technical details from Eisner, and Bernard Kriegstan, who worked for EC. I would have preferred someone like Brad Bird tackle the Spirit. He is a fan of the material and knows how to tell a story on screen. An animated version could have been great. Even with live action, I think Bird would have been better able to work with actors, based on dealing with voice actors.

"Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside of a dog, it's too dark to read."-Groucho

[–] huw-21 8 years ago

As a professional cartoonist/illustrator who was at least partly inspired to go into that line of work by the Spirit comics, this travesty of a film almost made me physically ill. How anyone could ruin such superb source material is beyond me.

[–] [deleted] 6 years ago

As an adaptation of the comic book, this movie was an absolute travesty.

Considered as a standalone movie that has absolutely nothing to do with the comic, I guess it's okay.