Variety reported this week that Platinum Studios’ comic Cowboys & Aliens is headed for the movies in a deal with DreamWorks and Universal Pictures along with Imagine
partners Brian Grazer and Ron Howard. I didn’t actually think that the comic of Cowboys & Aliens worked that well (just not a very good story, poor characterization and the wrong tone) but the concept is killer and conceivably in the right hands could be a fun popcorn kind of movie.
It’s been awhile since I first wrote about this back in May 2003, and it’s no longer such a stretch to imagine a webcomic translated to a movie.
It’s an interesting concept for a movie, and Dreamworks has a pretty good record. I dunno, they might just do it right.
We have to remember a lot of “blockbusters” wind up stinking, or being just a two-star deal. A lot of it deals with promotion. If there’s an advertising blitz, it has a better chance of success. Look at Snakes on a Plane. (God, I’m sorry to bring this up again.) It was a stinker, but it was all over the web and had a cult following before it even hit the theaters. Transformers looks questionable, but how many of us here aren’t going to see it? There’s a commercial for that one almost every commercial break.
It’s a different, and interesting concept. If they advertise it enough, it’s got a shot at being a hit.
Don't hesitate to procrastinate.
It certainly isn’t the first thing I think of when I think “blockbuster summer films” but with the right cast and director it could be interesting. To be honest though, I’d rather watch the cowboys vs. werewolves thing. :p
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