Go Ahead… Give Frank Miller 'Buck Rogers'

Maybe if he ruins that we will forget about him

By: Brad Brevet
Published: Friday, December 19th 2008 at 12:30 AM

You know those reviews you've been reading about The Spirit? Well, I won't say they are lying as Frank Miller chose the exact wrong way to present his first feature film showing he may have learned how to make a movie on a green screen by watching Robert Rodriguez during the filming of Sin City, but beyond that he must have been drunk the rest of the time. Now word comes in not related to Miller's rumblings that Sin City 2 may get underway in 2009 for a rumored 2010 release but instead that he may be taking up a feature film adaptation of the late 1920s and early '30s comic serial "Buck Rogers".

My personal experience with Buck involved the NBC TV series in the '80s which I watched a lot of, but can't remember much of it now to save my life and don't particularly care, especially with Miller's name attached. The priority to make good movies is no longer important. The line in the Hollywood Reporter article carrying the announcement saying "it's expected to be a darker take, with many of Miller's signature visual elements and themes, such as corruption and redemption" is all I need to hear to be bored to tears already.

Personally it seems Miller was surprised at how audiences would react to his visual style on the big screen. Sin City was a hit to the tune of $74 million on a $40 million budget. Miller seemed to look at that and think, "Shit, I can do that…" and out he shat The Spirit, fresh with toilet scene, mutton chops and all… a.k.a. a disaster.

Perhaps he has something up his sleeve that I don't see coming. I hope he does. I never wish for a bad movie, but this guy just doesn't impress me when it comes to films. Adapting his work has proved to be entertaining, but I am not sure I want his fingers all over the entire production ever again.