'Sub-Mariner' Script Review

Based on the script by David Self (Jan 2004)


Summary:

A visually-stunning Superhero movie, that delivers a great deal of action, but fails to connect on an emotional level. The unsurprising story is filled with cookie-cutter characters and flat dialogue.

What's it about?

The rebellious orphan Narmor struggles to proctect the City of Atlantis from the evil duke Kraang, who captured a submarine and plans to take over the throne of Atlantis, after he finds out that he turns into the a superhuman/amphibian-hybrid when he dives deep enough

Plot Summary:

In the first scene Japanese fishermen find a baby in one of their nets and decide to leave at the doorsteps of the american base. The baby grows up, not loved by his surrogate father and failing in every aspect of life. In an rebellious act, Namor leaves the base aboard an airplane headed to save a sunken submarine. Leader of the rescue team is Jane, a strong-headed, but sensible woman. The fall in love, of course. 

On the first deep-sea deployment, Jane's equipment goes haywire and Namor goes after her to save her. When his suit implodes and Namor is exposed to the sea, he transforms into superhuman/fish. But before he can save Jane, both are captured by Duke Kraang and brought to Atlantis . The superpowered Namor can escape with Jane, but back on the ship nobody believes their story. The generals, who have seen what Namor turned into, want to dissect him, so Namor has to escapes again, this time going back to Atlantis. There he is enslaved, but nonetheless gets the chance to save the Emperor of Atlantis, Thakkoris. 

We find out that Kraang plans a war on humankind and wants to betray the Emperor. He secretly built a massive army in a huge vulcanic underground city and starts and attack on the City of Atlantis. Kraang is supported by the sonar of the submarine he captured, which proves to be deadly for all kind of fish and amphibians. All the while Namor discovers that he is the grandson of Thakkoris and now that Atlantis is his real home, he fights Kraang and saves the city.

The Project:

Marvel's Namor is one of the first superheroes, debuting in 1939. In 2006 Universal Pictures signed Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines director Jonathan Mostow to rewrite and direct Marvel Studios' Sub-Mariner (Superherohype.com). In 2008 Jason Statham was in talks to take the role of Namor (Beyondhollywood.com). In 2011 he makes a little cameo in Captain America: The First Avenger, but yet has to star in his own movie.

Remarks:

- The Love Story: Jane and Nix confess their affection for one another very early in the script - and it never plays any role at all! He does nothing to get back to her and seems to have forgotten her completely by the time he turns out to be the heir of Atlantis.Both lovers come from different worlds and can never be together, but that doesn't mean, that there can't be any lovestory. The recent Thor mastered the star-crossed lovers approach and it gave the whole movie more gravitas.

- The Visuals: the rich and amazing environment in this script are truly fantastic. The deep undersea world depicted in this script would have had a huge appeal to any movie lover. But the movie would have a huge price tag. For example, in the big finale an army of Shark Legions fight against Squid Riders, all the while huge maelstroms on the water surface suck down the human armada - only 200+ mil could bring this world to the silver screen.

Blake Snyder's Save the Cat! - Movie Category:Comic Super Hero

(1) a power the hero is imbued with - Nix transforms into Namor underwater: Check!

(2) a "Nemesis", an equally powerful bad guy - Kraang: Check!

(3) a "curse" or Achilles heel - out of water Nix is normal human: Check!

(4) The mascot or sidekick - No!

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ZergNet

'Wonder Woman' - Script Review

Based on the script by Laeta Kalogridis (August 2004)

Summary:

The script tries it's hardest, but ultimately fails. The final goal is only revealed after 85 pages of the script and before that the script wanders through the story without any aim.

What's it about?

The demi-godess Diana has to stop her vicious father Ares from obtaining an ancient artifact, that could plunge the whole world into an eternal war.

Plot Summary:

In an aerial dogfight american jet-pilot Steven Trevor opens a portal to the mythical island of the Amazons. He is found by Diana, who then has to fight the 4 champions of the island, in order to save Steven from execution. Together they return to our world, because Diana is really curious about the other side. In our world Diana slowly starts to gain superpowers and has to use them to save Steven from being kidnapped by Ares. From now on Diana wears a nomal dress and after a futile bar brawl, Diana explains that Ares needs Steven to open the portal for him, in order to steal the artifact hidden on Diana's island. So instead of hiding Steven, he and Diana decide to go into the base of Ares, where the antagonist - unsuprisingly - overwhelms Diana and kidnaps Steven. So, after Steven opened the portal for him, Ares attacks the island. It is a fight high-tech armory and tanks against spears and bows, but in the end the Amazons win (yeah, really!) and Ares is confined for all eternity. Diana and Steven finally kiss. The End.

The Project:

First Joel Silver wanted to adapt the DC Comic in 2001. Four years later, Joss Whedon was brought in to write and direct the feature film, but left the project again in 2007. In 2010 Warner Bros. stated that the film is still underway, with a release slated for 2013. David S. Goyer is rumored to write and direct the new film.

Remarks:

As I said in the opening paragraph, the script seems to be without any specific goal. That the threat of Ares is revealed two-thirds through the film makes everything seem without purpose. So the script concentrates on making jokes about Wonder Woman running around in her iconic costume. After meeting Steven the demi-godess Diana is turned into a little schoolgirl making big eyes at Steven and getting fits of jealousy whenever another girl is around. I don't think that making you central character act so stupid is very wise - and to be honst, I find this kind of sexist. Diana is a strong and independent woman - she is the daughter of a god! - but totally loses herself over a man? The love story should be handled differently.

Blake Snyder's Save the Cat! - Movie Category: ?

To, be honest, I am really not sure. The script turns Steven Trevor into the main protagonist and Wonder Woman is only the superpowered love-interest. Hm, perhaps you can help me out?

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- Tristan 

ZergNet

'Black Widow' - Script Review

Based on the script by David Hayter (2004) 

Summary:
Uninspiring and bland describe the Black Widow Script best. It is a by-the-numbers superhero story without deviating from the formula.

What's it about:
An orphan girl becomes unwillingly part of a sovjet military program and gains special powers. She can flee, but has to return to Russia to take out her former captors. 

Plot:

After losing her parents to a fire, Natasha is cared for by Ivan. He is an soldier at at the Red Room, a secret military project of the Sovjet Union, run by Sergei. On page 14 she is forced to undergo a procedure called "Ligature Tensility Augmentation", making her faster and stronger than a normal person. When the Sovjet Union crumbles down and the program has to be ended, Sergei goes rogue and kills everyone, who is not on his side, including Ivan. Natasha can flee to New York, but still russian spies follow her every steo, trying to kill her. After 5 years of hiding in New York she finds out, that there is a $10,000,000 bounty on her head and she decides to return to Russia to take out Sergei. After a lot hof hassle, she arrives at the Red Room, finding out Ivan has survived only to be killed 7 pages later. Inside the facility she discovers a group if young girls all trained to be 'Little Widows', Natasha frees them and together they destroy the whole complex. Safely back in New York the CIA ask Natasha to work for them. 

The Project:

In 2004 Hayter wrote 'Black Widow', but Marvel shelved it after many action-movies with female leads started and bombed ('Tomb Raider 2', 'Aeon Flux', 'Ultraviolet').

Recently talks started to revive the project, apparently due to Scarlett Johannson's appearance as Black Widow in 'Iron Man 2' and the upcoming 'The Avengers'.

Stealing from other superheroes?

While reading the script I was surprised by the amount of things adapted from other, better known Superheroes:
-Natasha is an orphan: I know it is a staple of the comic book hero. But could we at least try something new?
- The secret military project: Just like ProjectX turning Logan into Wolverine, an evil military project transforms an unwilling Natasha into the Black Widow.
- Belt with exploding disk: The Black Widow suit sports a belt equipped with exploding golden disks, which feels totally out of this world. Batman had a similar belt with such gimmicks (before 'Batman Begins')
- Shooting filaments from her wrists: Another feature of her suit is the capability to shoot filament from her writst, yeah, exactly like Spiderman. Just like the spider she uses it to swing down buildings or fighting enemies.

- This is more than a simple homage anymore, this lazy and blatant uncreative script writing!
 

Blake Snyder's Save the Cat! - Movie Category: Superhero
(1) a power the hero is imbued with - Check!
(2) a "Nemesis", an equally powerful bad guy - hm, Sergei is not as strong her, making the match-up not as tense.
(3) a "curse" or Achilles heel -she lost her parents and her is now is hunted by ruthless killers, unable to live a normal live.
(4) The mascot or sidekick - Nada! Nothing! So the script uses Voice Over the whole movie to relay Natashas feelings and give explanation to the viewer. Not so elegant.

As always: the comment section below works without registration, just choose "Comment as Anonymous" - I am looking forward to your discussion.
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- Tristan