PLANET GRIFFIN'S Next Top Ten Movies That Move On Paper: Comics Undreamed Of! Pt.16

PLANET GRIFFIN is not adverse to throwing in the odd curve once and awhile, and tonight shall serve as no exception. Let's take a trip back to 2005...

NUMBER 16:

KISS KISS BANG BANG

This movie is definitely a change of pace. Not only does this action-comedy mark the return to form of Robert Downey, Jr. (just before he donned the Marvel metal suit... Actually, the REASON he was chosen to don the suit... ), but the long-awaited return of 80's action writer SHANE BLACK who wrote and directed this little diddy--- and for those of you who actually doesn't know who Shane Black is, then you probably know some of his work... Writer/creator of the LETHAL WEAPON series and the infamous LONG KISS GOODNIGHT!

Harry Lockhart (Downey, Jr.) doubles as a clumsy thief who stumbles into the world of private investigations and the narrator of the film, trying to survive L.A. and a twisted murder mystery which allies him with a homosexual P.I. (Val Kilmer) and a struggling actress (Michelle Monaghan) who shares a past with Harry. Pulp-Noir mystery has never been funnier as the movie plays out in chapters and parallels the writings of Johnny Gossamer, a fictional pulp character/series mentioned in the film. From urinating on corpses to losing a finger to the hilarious attempts to save said finger later make for classic moments that you've gotta see to believe.

KISS KISS BANG BANG biggest draw above all else is in its dialogue--- sharp, smart, and whiplash quick:

Harry: You're a private investigator named 'Gay'Perry...?

Perry: ... Yeah...?

Harry: Still gay?

Perry: Oh no, I'm knee deep in pussy. I just liked the name so much, I can't get rid of it.
Genius, folks. I recommend this flick as a perfect example of metafiction and character development to any writer looking for a mystery that WILL keep you guessing and distracted by the comedy until you learn the answer. Robert Downey, Jr. proves that he's an actor who's destined for the A-List, and Shane Black is right behind him. Due to the movie's limited release, this film passed by alot of people, but it's cult of personality is beginning to make a second comeback on DVD ( I urge you to go out and cop one). This is PLANET GRIFFIN and the Next Top Ten.

Uncontrolled MAYHEM Coming Soon

My man SAMAX over at GHETTOMANGA, aka 'The Know' (I'm serious y'all--- this cat keeps the newsfeeds running harder than CNN!), has been keeping up with the upcoming Image release of MAYHEM, a new series by actor TYRESE 'He makes dey hearts beat' GIBSON.

Even though the book release isn't for two more days, many people began to think the release date had come and gone already considering how hard Tyrese has been marketing the title! Ty has managed to set a record for preordered sales; plugging the book on every radioshow, chatshow, and red carpet interview he attends, he showed up in San Diego with a massive fanfare to follow, selling out of thousands of Convention variant editions and building a hype for the book the way people hyped 'Snakes on a Plane' before its release--- but unlike the film, Tyrese actually has steak to sell the sizzle on! I mean, this guy is actually calling book stores, thanking them for their orders and pushing the courtesy issue!

What I'm digging on, and I agree with Samax highly on this, is that Tyrese is pulling in not only the comic fan, but the non-comic reader as well; bringing in more new people than what the Mainstream Publishers have failed to do. Catering to the core is fine, but in a medium that's shrinking, the Big boys cannot afford to keep overlooking that curious new public who may want to try what's offered. Of course, don't take my word for it... Go check out GHETTOMANGA (click my sidebar) and drop him a line. Tell'em PLANET GRIFFIN sent ya!

PLANET GRIFFIN'S Next Top Ten Movies That Move On Paper: Comics Undreamed Of! Pt. 15

"... Nike gymbag?... 60 bucks... Cell Phone?... 100 bucks... Semtex?... 500 bucks... Gettin' rid of a dirty scumbag cop...? F**kin' priceless!"

PLANET GRIFFIN comes rolling in with with personal favorite of mine on today's entry into the Next Top Ten. In 2006, Wayne Kramer introduced, what he calls, 'a throwback to the old 70's-80's crime thrillers where the bruises didn't wash away...' With that in mind, Ladies and Gentlemen...

NUMBER 15: RUNNING SCARED

Not in any way to be confused with the Peter Hyams comedy classic of 1986, this hard hitting fairy tale adaptation of 'Through The Looking Glass' is unlike any bedtime story you're likely to read. Unless you live in New Jersey, where this tale takes place. PAUL WALKER stars as Joey Gazelle, a low-rent runner for the Perrillo crime family. (A departure for an actor who's become synonymous with a 10 second car and Vin Diesel) Caught up in a drug deal gone viciously wrong (And I do mean vicious--- the opening blastoff of the film is a highlight in itself!), Joey is asked to dispose of a chrome snubnose by his underboss, played to great effect by JOHNNY MESSNER. Instead of following the order, Joey hides the piece away, only for it to be discovered by young Oleg, a disturbed kid whose father is part of the Russian mob... The movie rockets out the gate from the word go, where it begins with the ending and then replays the previous 18 hours leading up to a big event where you're still not sure how it'll play out until the credits roll!

RUNNING SCARED is definitely pure grindhouse gold, and deservedly so. The violence that punctuates the film is brutal, but not without its place in the story, which makes it all the more scarier. The title alone should stick in your mind as you watch the film--- the uneasiness that pervades the story makes it justified. As a comic, this one's a no-brainer... The elements involved could easily make for a Vertigo title; making for a creative teams wet dream! If I had a crack at this one, it would truly be over! This is PLANET GRIFFIN and the infamous Next Top Ten!

PLANET GRIFFIN'S Next Top Ten Movies That Move On Paper: Comics Undreamed Of! Pt.14

PLANET GRIFFIN, the alternative pop culture, continues its steady mobbin' towards the end of the Top Ten with a quick trip to 1994 where a hardened Italian hitman is introduced to the one thing that threatened to break him... A genuine friend.




NUMBER 14:

LEON THE PROFESSIONAL

Writer/Director LUC BESSON introduced the world to an action film that's not really an action film... It is, in all actuality, a character study. Recently re-released in it's original uncut goodness on DVD, LEON:THE PROFESSIONAL approached the hitman angle in a completely different direction in the form of Mathilda (introducing NATALIE PORTMAN in her first screen role), a disillusioned 13 year old girl whose family is murdered in a drug deal gone bad by DEA Agent Stansfield (played with loving malevolence by acting chameleon GARY OLDMAN). In her attempt to escape, she runs to the onlt person she can call an actual friend--- the Italian neighbor-next-door, LEON (the role that transformed then unknown french actor JEAN RENO into an international star overnight)... It's only a bizarre twist of fate that Mathilda learns what Leon's day job really is...

The controversy that surrounded this film is also the most heartwarming--- the relationship that forms between the two protagonists. (I mean, the emerging mix of emotions and hormones in the mind of a seriously troubled 13 yr. old clinging to notions of payback, as well as a hitman who's going through his own troubles of loneliness and lovesickness, did stick out first in the minds of many an audience member upon it's initial release...) After rewatching this great movie again, I'll admit the hook caught me again... And for the record, fellow NEXT 100 man JAY POTTS gets the big credit for pushing me to take a 2nd look at this movie for review, which I will say- 'I stand corrected in this listing'... But this story doesn't end there...

I LOVE revenge movies! Love'em! I hope one day they put'em in six pack cans! The only problem in translating revenge films to comics is that once the revenge is carried out, where else can you go?! Since we already know how Leon ends, it's hard to apply that translation without changing the outcome... Or coming up with a new angle. That angle is still being fought on as of this writing.

PLANET GRIFFIN now knows that Luc Besson has finished a FINAL draft of what many have argued as a long awaited sequel long overdue. (The debate has raged on since 1999) Natalie Portman herself has already recently raved about the idea of reprising her role and coming full circle, especially after seeing the possibilities ( see the above Mathilda pic)... Until then, the argument will have to go on a little bit longer.

PLANET GRIFFIN'S Next Top Ten Movies That Move On Paper: Comics Undreamed Of! Pt. 13

PLANET GRIFFIN continues the celluloid top ten with a flick that was considered by many to be the least favored of Bruce Willis' films when it was released theatrically, but the home video cults revered this flick as '...Pure grindhouse gold...' Ladies and Gentlemen... The year is 1996...



NUMBER 13:
LAST MAN STANDING


The ghost town of JERICHO, Texas of the 1920's is the last place you would expect to find two rival mob gangs ( The Italians led by Strozzi and the Irish led by the equally psychotic Doyle ) fighting for control of the bootlegger industry.
The underrated BRUCE DERN plays the town sheriff, who opts to remain neutral in this violent, and often bloody, war... Life in town maintains its brutal status quo until 'John Smith', the enigmatic gunfighter played by BRUCE WILLIS of course, comes to town and quickly realizes the profits that can be gained by playing both sides... That is, until Irish enforcer Hickey (played with relish by the immortal CHRISTOPHER WALKEN) arrives in Jericho...

Now, if any of this sounds familiar to any of you movie lovers out there, you're already aware of Akira Kurosawa's immortal classic YOJIMBO, which Writer/Director WALTER HILL translated for this film (incidentally, the very first adaptation was from SERGIO LEONE in the spaghetti western originator, A FISTFUL OF DOLLARS, but I digress...) The gunplay angle used in this film stemmed from Walter's frustration from critics saying that Hill '...attempts to reach the cinematic level of Action King JOHN WOO, only to fail and fall short of the goal again and again...'
After watching the film, you too can agree that Hill plays up the love-hate affair with Woo as Willis lets the double automatics fly harder than anything the actor's ever done onscreen! (Woo's response to Hill was FACE/OFF--- so endth that argument.)
I can see the exploits of John Smith done in a tactile edition. As a visionist, I can definitely see a colorful cast of characters coupled with big action, set against a bleak, dusty background where the elements seem to play a character all its own... And every bullet plays a central role as the big equalizer...

This is PLANET GRIFFIN, working the WEEKEND EDITION.

New Hurt From A Familiar Place: The World Of Hurt Brings It Back!

Hiya kiddies! The fine folks here at PLANET GRIFFIN, spotlighters of alternative pop culture, home of the NEXT 100, motivational speaker for the Grindhouse Goodfella, and soon-to-be-makers of MR. PROLONG (more on that one later...), bring you a special highlight from NEXT 100 man JAY POTTS, creator of the hard-hitting blaxploitation webcomic, THE WORLD OF HURT!

For those of you currently kicking rocks and not paying attention, the WoH has been tearing up the online pathways with his badass mutha, ISAIAH 'PASTOR' HURT, in the current ongoing storyline 'THE THRILLSEEKERS'; even drawing in notable players of the blaxploitation game like FRED WILLIAMSON (yes, I said it!) and lovers of that old school B+W goodness that only existed in 70's Marvel and the independent equivalents...

PLANET GRIFFIN is pleased to report that Jay has recently finished the latest storyline of the Hurt opus entitled THE BLACK FIST--- with a title like that, you just know there's gonna be all kinds of ass-whuppin' going on! --- as well as 'an intermission piece' designed to fit between the end of Thrillseekers and the beginning of Black Fist. Trust me, PLANET GRIFFIN already knows the skinny, and believe me, you're gonna like the way the new hurt feels!

To those who haven't had a taste of the 'Hurt Locker', check out the updated residents list of POINTE BLANC and then click THE WORLD OF HURT link on the PLANET GRIFFIN sidebar so you too can get your new hurt on!

PLANET GRIFFIN'S Next Top Ten Movies That Move On Paper: Comics Undreamed Of: Pt. 12

PLANET GRIFFIN returns with the curio-review series that showcases films that would make for interesting and excellent comics! Today, we take yet another trip into the Wayback machine back to 1971 for this one... When westerns were REAL westerns, and this little diddy ranks among the best of them, with a little added twist:


NUMBER 12:
RED SUN

East meets West in every possible sense of the word with this film starring Eastern hardman CHARLES BRONSON, French superstar ALAIN DELON, international Bond girl URSULA ANDRESS, and Japanese badass and Kurosawa paramour TOSHIRO MIFUNE... Directed by chinese director TERRENCE YOUNG, this film was among the first of its kind to utilize 'Smashgenre'--- combining the most popular American and Japanese genres to create a new and unique genre all on its own. Bronson stars as Link, a thief who's double-crossed by Gauche (Delon) during a train robbery... This particular train carries an envoy of Japanese dignitaries on there way to Washington. Mifune stars as Kuroda, a samurai ambassador/bodyguard who plans to deliver a golden samurai sword to the President as a gift from the Emperor of Japan... A sword that Gauche runs away with in the ensuing chaos. Kuroda must reclaim this sword within 3 days or commit hari-kiri in his failure. Link, on the other hand, has other ideas...


Red Sun is a Western/Revenge adventure story pitting two rivals against each other, while ultimately pairing together to go after the same man. This is definitely not your average buddy movie. The idea of a weird western adventure comic is a no-brainer, especially once you factor in the impact of the spaghetti western genre of America combined with the Samurai dynamic (the westerns of Japan) could easily make any creator's imagination run wild. I recommend this film highly to anyone who wants to understand the makings of a Smashgenre creation. Check out the trailer below, or if you have the time, watch the complete film on Youtube beginning with Part 1 below--- Enjoy! I did!

This smashgenre concept is brought to you by PLANET GRIFFIN.