Captain America. Started production on this flim in Oct of 1987. With a good cast and a $40 million buget. After filming about 1/2 of the begining and a small part of the ending only 3 1/2 weeks into production, investors pulled all the money out from under us. the film shut down. In April of 1990 Marvel fronted $3 million to finish the project. Matt Salinger was called back in, a handfull of shots was filmed. Less then 1/2 of the movie was filmed as it was written. (And some fight scenes are still missing.) Menahem's boys glue it together.
Posted: 11 Feb 2010 19:20
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Yep...that's a pretty good analysis.
But you know, I have to say, I think within the context of this film, the idea that "It didn't work" isn't a for gone conclusion.
Certainly, it wasn't successful, but a film with no marketing budget, little to no theatrical release, and basicly limping across the finish line isn't going to be successful.
That doesn't mean that the film itself didn't work.
I personally enjoyed Matt Salinger's interpretation of the Character. I felt the creative license in the story was within the scope of an acceptable adaptation, and that they did their best to remain true to concept and intent of the story.
It's effects were midrange, but not horrible, and its story was internally logical and reasonably dramatic.
It was no Burton's Batman, but I don't think it was ment to be. It was a decent comicbook movie, certainly better than the stuff Marvel had licensed in the 80's. That's a short stick I know...but still the only measure we had until the X-Men came out.
Truth be told if you compare Time Burton's Batman to the modern interpretations I think you'll find those a little lacking as well, but at the time, given what the precident was, it was amazing.
Captain America, was pretty good.
Posted: 12 Feb 2010 00:42
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According to what I read (Comic Scene, Wizard, other mags), Canon pictures made Ninja movies in the 80s (Anyone remember American Ninja? Starred that guy in that tv series Cobra? They made 4 pictures, ... my guilty pleasure), they funded Superman4, Quest for peace (Which I saw a preview at the 86 Star Wars convention in LA and thought it was going to be a hit), and Supe4 tanked. Canon lost money, went bankrupt, shut down, and people in Canon went on to form 21 Century. From Canon, they got the rights to make the Spiderman and Captain America movies, Albert Pyun (Who just made the Sword and the Sorceror or that movie with that barbarian with a 3 bladed sword that fired blades, MAN, I certainly watch BAD movies), signed on to do Spidey. But when Canon shut down, he jumped onto to Cap -- Yes, Cap took the bullet for Spidey -- money that Marvel raised to make the Captain America musical, that never got to broadway. I'm not kidding, check the 85-87 comics and you can find an AD with John Romita Sr drawing of Cap dancing and asking if any children wants to perform in this stage production (That sounded inappropriate).
So, List of Cap's failed accomplishments:
Captain America 1947 serial
Captain America 1979+80 tv pilots
Captain America Broadway play
Captain America 1990 movie
Captain America 1997 cartoon series
Can be seen as lots of people trying to make a success out of Cap.
Posted: 12 Feb 2010 01:08
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The Cap serial came out in 1944 and was re-released as "The Return of Captain America" in the early 1950s.
Both TV movies came out in 1979 in the USA.
What 1997 cartoon? He had one in the 1960s and then has been a guest star ever since in Spider-man in the early 80s and mid-90s, the X-Men and Avengers from the 90s, and now the Super Hero Squad. __________________
I have to agree with Atomic, I have no knowledge of this series.
I REALLY wish they would make a Cap animeted series now though. I bet they could really make it work, probably more so then the upcoming movie to be honest with you.
Posted: 12 Feb 2010 03:22
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I think there is a good chance we'll get one when the movie comes out. That does seem to be the pattern. __________________
That Cap cartoon series was supposed to air on FOX. It was set for their Saturday morning line-up back in the late 90's. I remember reading a story about it in Wizard magazine back then, just before it was going to start. It was set in WW2 with Bucky. Saban, who produced the Power Rangers, was involved with the project. I think it never made the small screen because that was around the time Marvel was having financial problems.
You can check out the promo on You Tube.
"Captain America cartoon promo"
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sd7VinvTfiw
Posted: 12 Feb 2010 09:11
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I'll be damn! Ya learn something new every day.
Normally, I'd say if it is just in development, it doesn't count since EVERYTHING is optioned out there. But they had a promo ready. Cool.
I think when the movie comes out, good or bad, we are going to see a flood of Cap stuff from movie merchandise to Cap books or reprinted trades (look at Iron Man in PREVIEWS now with the sequel due out). We'll get Cap on birthday cards and supplies and, yes, a cartoon. Save your money, Cap fans!!! __________________
Thanks Philly Avenger. I thought I had to post that Wizard magazine article on the Cap movie.
Posted: 13 Feb 2010 03:09
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I think a chief element in the Captain America movie that didn't work was the fact that they were afraid to use the costume. I remember reading that they were, for a brief time, considering not having the costume in the film.
Other than that, they didn't have character development AT ALL.
But, as Matches pointed out, it wasn't terrible. I'd give it a solid B-, I think. __________________
Quote: "Captain America cartoon promo"
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sd7VinvTfiw
Damn that was awesome! To think we were this close from having a Captain America animated series.
I LOVED the 90's X-Men animated series, as well as the 90's Spider-Man animated series.
Too bad this didn't get made!
Posted: 24 Feb 2010 17:11 Last Edited By: PHILIP WATERS
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In the frist round tables, In about Sept of 1986 the studio wanted Schwarzenegger or Lundgren. Marvel wanted to use an unknown american actor. Salinger's name came up over & over . We all wanted to make a Superman 2 type film. Nobody wants to make a bad Movie ( I LOVE Captain america, but is kinda bad.) And this movie was not low budget( Not at first). Ronny Cox was a star, Robo cop, Total recall, Beverly hill cop 1&2 ect. Ned Beatty Superman 1&2 ect. Darren McGavin (We see him each year at Christmas) Christmas story ect. Melinda Dillion Christmas Story, Close Encounter of the Third kind ect. + Michael Nouir, Scott Paulin, Wayde Peston ect. ect. And not to mention the cost of takin all the cast and crew to Yugoslavia, hotel ect. The top makeup people. the 40s set ups. and on and on . I get mad sometimes people say that low butget movie. Oh well That's life. Thanks PW
