Toy OTD: Bandai Talking "Big Guy" Figure (1999)

Frank Miller and Geoff Darrow sparked off a mini-franchise when they teamed up their versions of Gigantor (Tetsujin-nijūhachi-gō 鉄人28号) and Astro Boy (鉄腕 アトム, Tetsuwan Atomu) in their comic, The Big Guy and Rusty The Boy Robot. Even though they were only featured in short, sporadic comic book appearances, the concept spawned a short-lived animated television series, and a line of merchandise.

You really couldn't ask for a better toy of the Big Guy than this! It actually is pretty big - thirteen inches tall - and speaks four phrases (his eyes glowing red) when you push his chest button. I'm assuming that they're from the show: "Candygram!", "For the luvva Mike!", "Fire in the hole!", and "This is serious business!" I've never seen the program, so I can't tell you if it's the same voice actor or not.

One arm opens to reveal a pair of cannons, while the other can fire off from his arm, Shogun Warrior-style. The former can be tricky to close back up, and the latter has a hair trigger, but they're still cool features! He also comes with accessories: a ray pistol, his human pilot (though he always came across as autonomous and sentient in the comic), and a roughly-to-scale Rusty figure. I don't remember how much this figure originally cost, but it was affordable enough that it was a good deal for the money!

There are two talking versions of this toy - the 13" size that has four phrases, and a 6" model with just two (and no accessories). This'll make buying one online a little tricky, so make sure that you're getting the version you want when bidding on eBay!

Speaking of which, I can't find this toy for sale online. You'll have to set up a favorite search - Good luck!

Picture OTD

This is a great mash-up of Frank Miller writing and Adam West imagery. For more hilarious combinations, look here. Very funny!

Frank Miller's Spirit Movie, Remake OTD: The Lavender Hill Mob

VARIETY: Frank Miller to write, direct 'Spirit'
Eisner comic comes to bigscreen
By MICHAEL FLEMING
Posted: Tue., May 15, 2007, 8:00pm PT

Lionsgate has acquired domestic and U.K. distribution rights to "The Spirit," a live adaptation of the classic Will Eisner comicbook series. Frank Miller wrote the script and will direct.

Deal marks the start of a multipicture pact under which Lionsgate and Odd Lot Entertainment will co-finance and co-produce together. Odd Lot partners Gigi Pritzker and Deborah Del Prete are showing a finished script by Miller and will broker overseas territories during Cannes.

The Spirit is a man who fakes his own death so he can fight crime from the shadows of Central City. His nemesis is the Octopus, who kills those unlucky enough to see his face and is looking to wipe out the entire city. Miller, who first got behind the camera to co-direct "Sin City" with Robert Rodriguez, will make "The Spirit" his first solo helming effort. Miller created the graphic novels that were adapted into the films "Sin City" and "300," and the production start of "The Spirit" will be influenced by the start date of the "Sin City" sequel that Miller will make with Rodriguez.

"Will was a dear friend, a mentor, and translating his vision to the screen will be a labor of love," Miller said."The Spirit" will be produced by Pritzker and Del Prete, along with Lionsgate's Mike Paseornek and Batfilm's Michael Uslan. Benjamin Melniker will exec produce with Steve Maier, and Linda McDonough and F.J. DeSanto are co-producers.

Frank Miller's "vision is perfectly matched to that of Eisner," said Lionsgate Theatrical Films prexy Tom Ortenberg.

Odd Lot is also mobilizing a remake of "The Lavender Hill Mob" with director Dean Parisot, and "Sense and Sensibilidad," a Latino version of the Jane Austen classic to be directed by "Woman on Top" helmer Fina Torres.

Odd Lot Intl. is selling the film in Cannes.

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"Frank Miller's 'vision is perfectly matched to that of Eisner,' said Lionsgate Theatrical Films prexy Tom Ortenberg."

Well... no. No, I don't think so.

Not a good movie news day. "The Spirit" is finally being made into a film, but by the king of the teeth-knashers; and "The Lavender Hill Mob", one of the least-broken films I can think of, is being 'fixed'. Sigh.

Another Chilly Green-Stage Movie On The Way

VARIETY: WB nabs rights to 'Ronin'
White to direct live-action feature
By MICHAEL FLEMINGPosted: Tue., May 1, 2007, 1:35pm PT

After turning the Frank Miller graphic novel "300" into a hit, Warner Bros. has optioned the rights to Miller's "Ronin" to adapt into a live-action feature.

Sylvain White ("Stomp the Yard") will direct.

In the story, a ronin, or disgraced samurai warrior, bears the shame of allowing his master to be assassinated by a shape-shifting demon in 13th century Japan. When the master's sword is unearthed in mid-21st century New York, the ronin and the demon are brought to life and battle gangs of mutants and thugs to try to take possession of the mythical sword.

The graphic novel was published by DC Comics.

Pic will be produced by Gianni Nunnari and Nick Wechsler, with Craig Flores exec producing. Nunnari and Flores, who are partners in Hollywood Gang, were producers on "300." Miller will be an exec producer as well.

"Ronin" will be shot in a fashion similar to that employed for "300," in which blue- and green-screen lensing was done on a Montreal soundstage to create an ancient Greece battleground for a $65 million film. Costs are comparable for "Ronin," making the film a big step up for White, who graduated from directing videos to helming the film "Stomp the Yard" at a cost of around $14 million.

"Ronin" is "one of Frank Miller's earliest and best graphic novel creations, one that has long been a cult graphic novel," White told Daily Variety. "There is a classic good-evil struggle between the samurai and the demon."

While White has several development projects percolating, he said that "Ronin" is his top priority.

"This is the one I'd like to do next, because I'm so passionate about it," he said.

WMA is negotiating his deal.

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The upside of this news is that I didn't like the ending of the comic, and the green-stage technique is getting better, so there's room for improvement. The downside is that the director casting isn't very encouraging.

Latest 300 Trailer Rages, Thunders, Hacks Its Way Onto Internet

Another of Frank Miller's graphic novels is being adapted into a movie - this time, by director Zach Snyder. I have read the comic, and the trailer's certainly slick, but it seemed familiar for some other reason. Then I remembered - it looks like the first part of one of those Marine Corps 'tradition of greatness' recruitment commercials. You know, the ones that try through sheer cock-rock bad-assery to make you sign up before you realize you'll wind up on a chopper to Iraq.