SUNDAY 21st

ILYA'S FIRST COMIC BOOK CONVENTION

Ilya Salkind will be attending his first convention -- the event is "The Comic Book Marketplace", New York, on the 27th February 2010. I spoke to him yesterday and he was excited as a fresher at his first alcohol-fuelled party, and if he enjoys it he'll be attending a few more. He said that he wanted to touch base with the fans, because he's never really connected with comic book fans on a personable level. Ilya is very approachable, so if you're in the area, don't hesitate to pop down. He'll tell you some wonderful stories and perform his Marlon Brando impression.

Full details here: http://www.nycbm.com

IN OTHER NEWS...

Peter Murton (production designer on 2 and 3) passed away recently at the age of 86. We pass on our condolences to his family. His bio is here: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0615465/

I've finished my first Superman 2 Donner v Lester article - it examines the two openings. I think it makes for some interesting reading. I'll publish it very soon.

SATURDAY 13th

A NEW ERA FOR SUPERMAN

With the news that Christopher Nolan maybe playing Godfather to the new Superman film, I think this is the perfect opportunity to jettison all links to the Donnerverse and begin a new era for Superman on the big screen. As much as I love the Salkind films, it's the very thing that clouds judgment on how to proceed, stifling creativity because we fear what we may lose. A few years ago I couldn't imagine not having a Superman film without the legendary music, for example, or a Batman film without Elfman's music, but you know what? There's nothing to fear, all the things we love about those films will ALWAYS be there, at the touch of a button, but attached to those films. Look at Casino Royale, a fresh take on James Bond, but the one element that nagged me was that Judi Dench - a brilliant actress, by the way - was still "M" and that leads me to the main question, should Brandon Routh return? I say no, when I mean new start, everything created in the film world has to go, even John Williams's legendary music. Sure, it's a tough ask to create a theme that everyone can hum but the risk is part of the fun - it's how we progress, I mean, why did anyone bother after Mozart? The musical language is infinite, that's why. A new James Bond theme could have been composed - hell freezes over - and I know everyone would have gone mad, but if it was just as good, who knows? Of course, if nothing suitable took its place, then that theme is there waiting.

So what should stay? The main elements from the comic books but open them up to possibilities. The mythological aspects have been done, but there is a lot to explore with these characters, make them more personable, get inside their heads, find out what really makes them tick. Bryan Singer's Superman Returns looked at alienation, and that's a good place to start. I've never read a Superman comic book but I know that there is catalogue of villains waiting to be tapped. There's sixty years of comic book material to pour over.

Now, Christopher Nolan is the studio's number one guy at the moment, what he wants he'll get, seriously, he is walking on water. I just hope Superman 1 and 2 are not crammed in one film, and that was my main caveat with The Dark Knight - too much story for one film. I'm sure Warner Bros. executives know what they want but can't articulate their ideas verbally - Nolan is the bridge between the top brass and the director. Let's hope for a common vision.