Ant-man

[jgsugden]

I figure it is time this movie had a separate thread.

We have a new director (Peyton Reed) - and one more rewrite underway (by Adam McKay).  I'm not too experienced with either guy's work.  It sounds like they had their work cut out for them - especially with the limited time frame until film release. 

[SurfD]

So, given the guy doing the script re-write, I am assuming this will end up being a fairly comedic oriented heist caper with a super-powers twist, instead of the somewhat serious heist caper the original one was supposed to be?

[jgsugden]

So, given the guy doing the script re-write, I am assuming this will end up being a fairly comedic oriented heist caper with a super-powers twist, instead of the somewhat serious heist caper the original one was supposed to be?

This has been described as a comedic script from the start - specifically, Wright called it an adventure story with comedic elements back at SD Comic Con in 2006.

[SurfD]

Well, to be fair you could also describe Oceans Eleven as a "Comic Heist Movie", but since it was more serious then comic in focus, while still having plenty of comedy in it, I wouldnt go that far.

I am getting the vibe that this was supposed to be something like Oceans, but with the super-powers angle.   The new script writer makes me think they are going to lean too far towards the comedy angle, and not in a good way (like Pink Panther comedy caperish).   I am expecting this to be Stupid Funny, not Smart Funny, but time will tell.

[Merusk]

 I am expecting this to be Stupid Funny, not Smart Funny...

So in other news Ryan Renoylds cast as Ant-Man? 

[Ironwood]

Oh God, Green Lantern was awful.

[Trippy]

Wasn't his fault though.

[01101010]

Reynolds is typecast in my mind as the smarmy douchebag college acquaintance. I just can't look at that actor with any other lens.

[jgsugden]

There is a lot about this movie that I think is a mistake - primarily casting a 70 year old as Hank Pym.  You're effectively limiting this character that is the center of a lot of Marvel history.  Yes, they can work around it, but it will always bug me that Ultron is not Pym's work, that Pym is not a peer of Stark, etc...

However, I am not worried about the direction they're heading with regards to the comic angle.  I trust both Wright's original instincts, and I trust that the revisions Feige and crew are requiring are aimed at making it fit within the MCU.  At this point, I have lower expectations for this film than I have had for any other Marvel film, but I still expect it to fit in the MCU - and that means not being silly.

[jgsugden]

Paul Rudd has had a hand in the rewrite of Ant-man it seems - which is something I like hearing.  Rudd is one of those actors that does best when he personalizes his material... and I like the interest in making this work long term.

http://www.aintitcool.com/node/69166

[Pennilenko]

Reynolds is typecast in my mind as the smarmy douchebag college acquaintance. I just can't look at that actor with any other lens.

That typecasting will make for a perfect Deadpool

[eldaec]

Iron Man is also a comedic adventure. I'm not expecting this to be any funnier than iron man.

Hudson Hawk with the second half replaced by heist themed explosions.

[jgsugden]

Iron Man is also a comedic adventure. I'm not expecting this to be any funnier than iron man.

Hudson Hawk with the second half replaced by heist themed explosions.

That was what we were hearing about the script before the rewrites.   I think one of the major goals of the rewrites was to make it 'more Marvel' with bigger action - at least that is what I get from reading between the lnes on interviews.  We'll see what we get.

[Lakov_Sanite]

Paul Rudd can do a lot with what on paper is a bland script, I doubt this will be less funny than iron man.

[Evildrider]

If only Edgar Wright had made Ant-Man in tone like Hot Fuzz.   

[eldaec]

I don't see them trying anything that ambitious with these films for the foreseeable future.

The furthest they'll go is a CA2 'felt a bit different for the first 30 minutes but actually exactly the same formula as the others' model.

[Lakov_Sanite]

GOTG was a huge risk from a character standpoint, antman should be more in line with iron man with a bit more of a lean to comedy.  The next big risk will be Dr Strange with the introduction of magic.

[jgsugden]

All I know is that I don't know enough.  There are enough warning signs to say this could be a disaster, and there are enough positive signs to say it could be excellent. 

In the end, I'm looking at Marvel's record so far and choosing to believe that this is going to be a film I enjoy, even if it is unlikely to be my favorite Marvel film.

[Lakov_Sanite]

I think is can be assumed that there is enough testing with marvel pre-release to know if the movie is good or not.  In fact it was a not so secret that there would be a GOTG2 already planned based on initial impressions before release.

So I think the real question is, would they flat out cancel a stinker rather than let it hurt the brand?

[Fordel]

I think that at this point, if it was clearly and truly awful, then yes they would kill it and just absorb that hit.

They're developing the kind of brand recognition usually reserved for like, Pixar.

[Evildrider]

Well Adam McKay is being courted to direct a Marvel movie again.  He's the one that was originally replacing Wright but had to back out due to other commitments.  He's alsonthe one that rewrote the script with Paul Rudd.  With that in mind it should give some hope for Ant-Man.

[Evildrider]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xInh3VhAWs8

First real trailer is up.  Actually looks pretty good to me so far. 

[sickrubik]

I had the entirely opposite reaction as you. Very dubious so far.

[Lakov_Sanite]

I had the entirely opposite reaction as you. Very dubious so far.

Same here.  I think the super hero fatigue is setting in because while I'm sure it will be a fun movie I just don't see what an ant man story can bring to the table that we haven't already seen.

[Comstar]

Not looking like a good movie. I got the impression it's going to be as good as the Green Lantern was.   

[Velorath]

Hard to tell one way or the other from this trailer. Rudd gets about a line and a half of dialogue. One shot of him shrinking and a couple shots of a flying ant. Everything else in the trailer could have been taken from just about any other movie. Maybe the special effects still need a lot of work, but in that case it might have been better not to put out a trailer yet, let alone hype it up twice with the 8 second teaser.

[Ironwood]

Rudd looks drugged the entire time.  Lily Evangaline Fail.  Which I didn't think possible.

We'll see.

[Tannhauser]

Not quite the home run the GOTG trailer was.  Guess I'm middle of the road.

[Margalis]

I was expecting it to be more overtly comedic rather than serious with quips.

[HaemishM]

I think the trailer is setting you up as a fake out. All serious serious serious... then "HUH?" Next trailer will likely be a bit more fun. I thought it looked good though. I especially like the costume.

[Shannow]

It's gotta get a few points for taking the piss out of its own name.

[schild]

I'm pretty happy Michael Douglas is doing his one-octave higher than normal Liberace voice.

[Maven]

I'm optimistic. I was surprised to see how in-shape Rudd was in that one shot, geez. Michael Douglas looks great with a beard. The effects seem like they'll be interesting, but we'll see how it plays out -- I don't expect it to be *bad*.

I think it's going to be funnier than it is letting on. Which, really, in today's movie climate, I don't think you could make a superhero movie where the character's weakness is a predilection for spousal abuse. I wonder if they'll even work that in.

[HaemishM]

Well, since Corey Stoll is going to be Yellowjacket, I'm pretty sure Ant-Man won't be smacking his bitch up. Hank Pym was the wife-beater as Yellowjacket, not Scott Lang.

[Mattemeo]

I wasn't blown away by the trailer but considering my interest in the film took a severe tumble the moment Edgar Wright left, it was better than I'd expected. It mostly reminded me of the current Flash TV series with a better FX budget, though. Let's hope they skimp on the melodrama.