I’ve got a lot of respect for Bryan as a director. I really do. Going way back to “Usual Suspects”, Singer has a unique vision as a storyteller. He, more than many other mainstream filmmakers out there likes to tell his tales through the characters.
The “X-Men” films (1 & 2) were extremely well done in terms of bringing you into that universe. He hit on not only the action, but the characterization and social commentary so integral to the X-Men universe.
Then came “Superman Returns”, his first attempt at a reboot. And while audiences didn’t flock to the blockbuster in droves, it was hailed almost universally by critics (this amateur one as well) as a beautiful rendition of America’s most beloved super hero.
But now, the rumor mill is churning with reports that Bryan Singer is looking to reboot two properties.
The first is a silver screen “Battlestar Galactica”. Now, that tingling you’re feeling in the back of your mind isn’t just your cyborg implant letting you know you have a new Tweet. Yes indeed, he wants to do a new version of BSG less than 2 years after the end of the TV show.
“Great!” you might be thinking. “He’s gonna bring back the whole cast and take the series into new adventures!!!”
Umm, no. He’s going to take the “ragtag fugitive fleet” concept and totally remake it.
Isn’t there some statute of limitations that prohibits reboots from being made for at least 10 years following its predecessor, itself a reboot? Bryan, do you really want to redo a property that was captured so well and loved by so many on television for four seasons?
Second rumor mill item, just emerging this morning, is that Singer wants to reboot the John Boorman classic, “Excalibur”. No, he doesn’t want to just do a King Arthur movie, which would be a public domain plot source. No, he has acquired the rights to do the Boorman version of the story.
Now, “Excalibur” is movie candy to a geek like me. It’s not a perfect film, don’t get me wrong. However, it’s one of those movies that moved onto my radar as a young impressionable 12 year old, the formative years. Knights, magic, flashes of green and silver, and even some *gasp*….nudity.
You look back upon such films with fondness, remembering being amazed and captivated. Transported back to that time when you believed.
And maybe this is what Bryan Singer feels too. And he wants to recapture that mood for a new audience to appreciate.
My advice to Bryan (I’m sure he’s a regular visitor to Media Viewer), stick with Excalibur. Allow the BSG embers to cool just a bit.
If you really want to make a sci-fi space epic, why not come up with an original idea? Or, hell, throw your hat into the “Halo” ring (wow, that was a pun FOR THE AGES!!!). There are some great stories out there yet to be told that you don’t have retell one from 10 minutes ago!
Hey, I’ll write you a story if you like. Just leave my BSG alone! :)
