I have mixed feelings about this. Live action “Scooby Doo” and all, plus the involvement of Brett Ratner, the man who screws up the Jackie Chan fight scenes in “Rush Hour.” What’s wrong with doing just the animated feature instead of trying to double up?
Nobody wants to take things slow. Rush rush rush!
Now granted the movie is at best 2 years away but still, allow Jack to grow by himself for at least a little while. Fill in the unknowns in his life and discover more emotions.
Plus I agree, what’s the big whoop if it’s live action? Ooh you can dress somebody up like Jack and have him run around! Well I can dress up my cousin and have him run around for me? So what?
I love Samurai Jack and I just have one thing to say to this idea.
Noooooooooo!!!
This is gonna turn out just like the live-action Tick. Some things don’t really translate to live-action.
(P.S. Big fan of Samurai Jack and the animated Tick.)
I’ve only seen Jack once but I can’t say I’m pleased with the idea of it going to live action. That type of sho … they put just as much work into the art, style and feeling of the show as anything else, and I don’t think it’ll do well at all “real”.
AICN reported that there is both a live-action and animated movie in the works, with Tartakovsky writing both.
I agree, I can’t see anyone (especially Ratner) doing a good job on a live-action version. So much of the uniqueness and beauty is in the highly-stylized animation. I think a 20 minute TV format is the best place for Jack.
Oh well, it’ll be in production hell for a long time and may never see the light of day.
Well, animation curmudgeon Amid Amidi has a post up on Animation Blast which sums up my feelings pretty well.
[ul]Probably the most ironic part of this whole deal is that SAMURAI JACK was one of the few cartoon TV series that was built ground up for animation. By adapting the project into live-action, its most distinct and appealing qualities - the stylized design and art direction - are obliterated in favor of generic live-action treatment. On the positive side, unlike the vast majority of cartoon-to-live action adaptations, this film isn’t a cheesy attempt to cash in on nostalgia (i.e. the film below) so at least there’s some potential [however slight it may be] for a quality film.
Animation Blast >>> (Click on News and look for the November postings)[/ul]
Interestingly enough, Genny Tartakovsky thinks Ratner’s “sensibilities are completely in line with the feel of SAMURAI JACK.” I’d disagree, but all I do is watch the show.