Episode 32. GHOST WORLD (2001)

After a long two month hiatus, Dru and Dave are back with a new series on indie comics turned indie films, beginning with Terry Zwigoff's Ghost World. The cynical buddies are joined by an older record collector, David Emery, who threatens to tear their friendship apart. Will it be Dave or Dru who ends the episode by taking the bus out of town? Tune into this episode to find out!

Episode breakdown:

0:00 - 13:30: Intro banter (Videodrome and The Rocketeer remakes, Dru's trip abroad)
13:30 - 15:43: Ghost World trailer
15:43 - 1:26:19: Main discussion: Ghost World (with guest David Emery)
1:29:19 - 1:32:34: Closing remarks (and a word from our sponsor)

Today's episode features music by Wire and Light.

Addenda:

Follow our guest on Twitter @joelcrary. Read his film criticism at www.joelcrary.com and download his albums - for free! - at www.wireandlight.ca. His latest album, Riot, includes the song "Enid," which we used for our theme music this week. You can find the video for the song above. 

We are sponsored this week by Beneath, a horror film by Mike McMurran. You can help make an independent film happen by donating to their Indiegogo page. Please support them!

  

Send all feedback to twentyfourpanels@gmail.com. Stay up to date with our blogs at 24panelspersecond.blogspot.com and 24panels.tumblr.com. Follow Dave on Twitter @24panels and Dru @violetbooth. Like us on Facebook. And don't forget to subscribe (and review us) in iTunes!

Next time on 24 Panels: American Splendor...

One Episode at a Time: The Secret Origins of the Comic Book Film

[Check it out: The following is a revised version of a paper I gave at the 2011 Carleton Communication Graduate Caucus on Neglected Media.]

Given the resounding critical and financial success of 2012's superhero films - The Avengers, The Amazing Spider-Man, and The Dark Night Rises - it's safe to say that films based on comic books have reached the point of ubiquity, and have firmly solidified the genre as a staple of contemporary American cinema. However, in the exploration of the comic book film, scholars and critics all but ignore one of the most important developments in not only the genre, but film history itself: the motion picture serial. These serials, immensely popular during their time, have not been adequately explored in critical or academic discourse. Likewise, comic book serials are at best relegated to simply a footnote, but are more often ignored or dismissed. Nevertheless, these film serial adaptations of comics have heavily influenced groundbreaking television shows like Adventures of Superman (1952-1958) and Batman (1966-1968), as well as on the modern incarnation of the comic book film. Though the 1941 serial Adventures of Captain Marvel marks the true origin of the comic book film, my focus primarily on arguably the two of the most popular comic book characters and recognizable cultural icons: Superman and Batman.

Preview Post: GHOST WORLD

Yes folks, the wait is almost over! 24 Panels is about to return, and this time Dru and Dave are joined by David Emery as they move away from the mainstream and take a look at the 2001 cult comedy Ghost World!

Five Predictions for X-MEN: DAYS OF FUTURE PAST

Ever since the title was announced, X-Men fandom has been abuzz about the fact that Days of Future Past - one of the most iconic and memorable X-Men storylines ever published – will be making its way to the big screen as the sequel to Matthew Vaughn’s X-Men: First Class (2011).

Originally published in issues 141 and 142 of The Uncanny X-Men, the story follows the attempts of a future version of Kitty Pryde to try and prevent a dystopian future from coming to pass in which the Sentinels – massive robots built to round up and destroy mutant kind – police mutants and have left America a crumbling hellhole. Sending her mind back into the body of her younger self, Kitty seeks to stop the assassination of Senator Robert Kelly by the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants, the event which triggers the government into putting the Sentinels into action.

Of course, given the manner in which the X-Men comics have been adapted to screen thus far, a straightforward retelling of the comic is unlikely. As such, here are five predictions for just how the story will be adapted to screen, and what role it might serve in the future of the film series.

Superhero Cinema and the 1980s Comeback Kids!

It has been one heck of a summer for comic book cinema, with three films released which have succeeded both creatively and financially. However, there appears to be one trend that no one has noticed so far: the appearance of former 1980s greats in small roles which give them a big darn hero moments. Indeed, both C. Thomas Howell and Matthew Modine have been given chances to shine in The Amazing Spider-Man and The Dark Knight Rises respectfully, and it has managed to get me thinking about other 1980s greats who need to pop up in future comic book blockbusters, and where they might best fit in. 

So, in no particular order, here are ten greats we need to see back on the big screen soon.

The Future of Batman on Film: Dru's Take

Dave has already suggested five great approaches that WB might take in continuing the Batman film franchise post-Nolan/Bale, and I have a few more that I want to throw out there as well! We all know in our hearts that they aren't going to do anything brave or bold with the franchise, and will elect to play it as safe as possible (probably tying the reboot into a Justice League movie, following Marvel's lead). But we can dream, right? So without further ado, go ahead and hit the jump for five more suggestions and ideas for the further filmed adventures featuring our favourite cowled caped crusader (and be warned that the final proposal contains MAJOR SPOILERS for The Dark Knight Rises)...

So What is the Future for Batman on Film?

The Dark Knight may be rising, but he isn’t ending, that’s for sure.

While Nolan has provided a definitive ending to his series of Batman films, the character is too popular and profitable for Warner Brothers to stop producing further films after Nolan has finished. The question of course is just how they plan to carry on after The Dark Knight Rises. A Justice League film seems like a safe bet for introducing a new Batman, but it is far from a done deal, and that film could easily fall apart like George Miller’s prior attempt at the League film did a number of years back. As such, you can bet studio executives will have a number of contingency plans in place for bringing back the Caped Crusader.

Hit the jump for five possible approaches to kick-start a new series of Batman films. Whether executives choose to go with a variation on one of these ideas or another one entirely is anyone’s guess, but these should provide some food for thought.