Metal Mask Mayhem

February 26, 2005 2:58 PM

Dr. Doom, super-villain and monarch of Latveria, is about to make his big screen debut, in a slightly altered form, in the new Fantastic Four movie. This is hoped to be a comeback for his career, which has been slow over the past decade forcing him to take up part time jobs as an economist, computer science professor, and two different rap artists.
posted by CaptMcalister (37 comments total)

Fantastic Four movie?

I'm sorry, but the late Lawrence Tierney was the only man fit to play The Thing.
posted by jonmc at 3:04 PM on February 26, 2005

Doom actually doesn't look that far off from the comic.

MF Doom's mask is scarier, though. And his flow: Fresher.

For all those with questions regarding why the movie trailer looks crappy, look for answers here.
posted by dougunderscorenelso at 3:21 PM on February 26, 2005

I think it's more like fifty different rap artists. He's certaintly in the running with Will Oldham and the late Ol' Dirty Bastard for Artist with the Most Excessive Use of Aliases.
posted by BigPicnic at 3:31 PM on February 26, 2005

Curse you, Captain McAlister. You've told me nothing I didn't already know! Hooray for the Doom FPP, though. I love the good Doctor. Now, if you'll excuse me, I've been toying with the idea of excavating my old Doom 2099 backissues and reading them again.

Thanks!
posted by Eideteker at 3:34 PM on February 26, 2005

i guess this is as good a time as any to link the excellent madvillain music video for all caps.
posted by joedan at 3:40 PM on February 26, 2005

MF!
V. Vaughn, the traveling Vaudeville Villain /
Who don't give a flying fuck who ain't not feeling him /
Watch what ya' dealing him: ace, king, death card /
Strong-arm the wrong man, pardon the left, god


I am pretty stoked for the FF movie. I should know better. Every spring, I look at the Summer release schedule, and am rife with anticipation. Evey year, I am dissapointed. This time though, it's gonna be different. I know it.
*crosses fingers
posted by Quartermass at 3:40 PM on February 26, 2005

Quartermass: he only came to save the game, like a memory card.
posted by dougunderscorenelso at 3:49 PM on February 26, 2005

*looks at Quartermass, laughs*
posted by graventy at 3:50 PM on February 26, 2005

I've never been terribly impressed by Dr. Doom, but he does have one redeeming quality: he undoubtedly influenced the design of Baron Ünderbheit of the Venture Bros. Go Team Venture! I hear rumors on the internets of a green light for Season 2!
posted by Galvatron at 4:01 PM on February 26, 2005

It might be a bit hard to restart his career, seeing as how he died last year. Though that has never stopped any other character from coming back, the events of "Unthinkable" and all the things he was involved in prior to that mean he probably won't be back for a while.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I've been toying with the idea of excavating my old Doom 2099 backissues and reading them again.
I loved that series. Warren Ellis nailed Doom's personality perfectly.
posted by Sangermaine at 4:15 PM on February 26, 2005

Baron Ünderbheit is pretty clearly a Doom parody. If you want an example of a character for which Doctor Doom "influenced the design", try Darth Vader.
posted by Axaxaxas Mlö at 4:20 PM on February 26, 2005

*looks at Quartermass, laughs*

What are you laughing at? My fresh skillz, or the fact that I admitted to being duped into believing in the hype machine?

Most of us do. No matter what, the FF movie is going to make huge bank. Even if it sucks. Even if they just released the Corman version. It will make a billion dollars. Why is that?
posted by Quartermass at 4:28 PM on February 26, 2005

Axax, if you want to get into a pedantry-pissing match, I'm pretty sure that "X is a parody of Y" implies "Y influenced the design of X" in all cases. All of which does nothing but distract from the main point: if the Baron and the Doctor got into a fight, I think we all know who comes out on top with lower jaw still fully intact.
posted by Galvatron at 4:37 PM on February 26, 2005

There's been a discussion that crops up on the Web from time to time (sorry, can't find any links) that an FF movie would work best as a period piece, set in the mod 60s.

I tend to agree, though the trailer doesn't suck as badly as I expected it to, IMO. I'm still wondering how they're gonna make someone named "Mister Fantastic" seem cool...
posted by hifiparasol at 4:38 PM on February 26, 2005

Just to drop into fanboy mode for a bit, Jessica Alba while quite easy on the eyes, makes a terrible Sue Storm, and the Thing looks like absolute crap.
posted by signal at 4:47 PM on February 26, 2005

Galvatron, your logic is correct of course. It's true that "Star Wars" did influence the design of "Spaceballs". I just find the understatement sounds a little odd. No offense (or pissing challenge) intended.
posted by Axaxaxas Mlö at 4:56 PM on February 26, 2005

Just to drop into fanboy mode for a bit, Jessica Alba while quite easy on the eyes, makes a terrible Sue Storm, and the Thing looks like absolute crap.
As a fellow fanboy, I must respectfully disagree. While I think Alba is gorgeous, she really is not right as Sue Storm. I'm not sure who would be better, but she doesn't seem to match her comic depiction well.
posted by Sangermaine at 5:00 PM on February 26, 2005

I'm kinda with you there signal I don't think the film looks that good...yet.
Spiderman turned out well.
The Hulk I thought (as a Hulk fan - mostly Peter David era) was a travesty, except for nifty bits.

I don't know that there are enough people in hollywood who 'get it'. At least on the money guy end. But they know they've got tons of locked in fans, are they trying to appeal to idiots?

Those people will see whatever's in the theater.
posted by Smedleyman at 5:02 PM on February 26, 2005

Fair enough, Axax.

Sangermaine, I think you misread signal. I have to agree on the poor casting of Alba as Sue Storm. I choose to overlook it in favor of her upcoming role in Sin City. Yowza. Looks like a great cast all around.
posted by Galvatron at 5:08 PM on February 26, 2005

Personally, I don't think Dr. Doom has ever had a higher moment than during his brief stint as a critic reviewing the Hostess Snack Cake comics over here.
posted by jonson at 5:08 PM on February 26, 2005

I think it's more like fifty different rap artists. He's certaintly in the running with Will Oldham and the late Ol' Dirty Bastard for Artist with the Most Excessive Use of Aliases.

Think you might have missed the point there, BigPicnic. The issue isn't how many aliases Zev Love X has had over the years; it is that both he and Kool Keith have recorded under variations of the "Doom" monicker.
posted by nthdegx at 5:09 PM on February 26, 2005

Jessica Alba as Sue is just... well... teh suck. Baaaaad casting... Say it with me. Elisha Cuthbert.

The movie's origins seem to be closer to the revamp in Marvel's Ultimate series, particularly Dr. Doom's.

And the Thing just hurts. He should have been CGI like the rock creature in GalaxyQuest, but that would be 'spensive.

Harry Knowles actually hit on a good idea that the movie would been fun as a slightly campy period piece set in the early sixties with the same production vibe as Down With Love.
posted by keswick at 5:19 PM on February 26, 2005

signal:
Just to drop into fanboy mode for a bit, Jessica Alba while quite easy on the eyes, makes a terrible Sue Storm...

Sangermaine:
As a fellow fanboy, I must respectfully disagree. While I think Alba is gorgeous, she really is not right as Sue Storm. I'm not sure who would be better, but she doesn't seem to match her comic depiction well.

Are you guys disagreeing, or saying almost the exact same thing in almost the exact words? I feel like I'm taking crazy pills.

Anyway, it's absurd to criticize the actress playing Sue Storm when the director is the guy who directed Barbershop and Taxi.
posted by Doug at 6:10 PM on February 26, 2005

Well, it amazed me that while everyone was talking about the bad casting, no one seemed to remark that Reed Richards struck me as a bit, ummmm, young...

Jessica Alba strikes me as a bit, well, hipper than Sue Storm ever was.

And pass over those crazy pills, please.
posted by Samizdata at 6:29 PM on February 26, 2005

Since the days of The Commish, I always thought Michael Chiklis had the gruff but lovable chops to portray The Thing. I just never thought he'd have the muscle to pull it off. After working on The Shield, apparently he's accomplished that. So for me, seeing him get a chance at playing The Thing is a dream come true. I can't imagine anyone else doing it. I just wish they'd found better people to make him look the part. I kept looking for the zipper. Damn shame.

The rest of the casting, and pretty much the whole look of the show from the trailer, seems like a retread of the Roger Corman disaster. Hollywood learns nothing.
posted by ZachsMind at 8:07 PM on February 26, 2005

Heh. Yes, we are both saying the same thing, as I apparently misread his comment.

Well, it amazed me that while everyone was talking about the bad casting, no one seemed to remark that Reed Richards struck me as a bit, ummmm, young...
Yeah, I thought so too. Have they ever said how old Sue and Reed were? I always got the impression that Reed was much older than Sue.
posted by Sangermaine at 8:27 PM on February 26, 2005

Ron Perlman, with a good NY accent, could've done justice to the Thing as well as he did to Hellboy...

Comicbook superhero films always disappoint me, with the exception of the ultra-camp '60s Batman film, as inexplicable (or not) as that may be (and Hellboy, good fun, practically a collaboration between Mignola and a Lovecraft-juiced del Toro). No one gets it right.

Grin, :-). Buy your plush Cthulhus now before the price goes up.
posted by Shane at 8:55 PM on February 26, 2005

What are you laughing at?

I laugh at the hope that the movie will be good. Only two good franchises have come from comic book movies - Spiderman and X-Men, and they aren't as good as people think they are. Every other comic book movie has sucked.

Electra/Daredevil? Bad bad bad.
Constantine? Bad.

I pray for Sin City, because that is the coolest looking of the next batch.
posted by graventy at 9:32 PM on February 26, 2005

Sin City looks very cool, but seems to to be biting off an awful lot for 2 hours, how many characters?

Comic books have spawned several good films like Ghost World, MIB, Batman, The Mask, maybe even Tank Girl.
posted by CaptMcalister at 9:48 PM on February 26, 2005

This is the greatest FPP ever. Only a fool like Richards would see otherwise.

I <3 Victor Von Doom
posted by Dreamghost at 11:12 PM on February 26, 2005

Harry Knowles actually hit on a good idea that the movie would been fun as a slightly campy period piece set in the early sixties with the same production vibe as Down With Love.

Peyton Reed, the director of both Down With Love and Bring It On (as well as some UCB episodes), was actually attached to FF at an early point.

But then they ditched him for the Barbershop guy.

*sniff*
posted by Sticherbeast at 11:35 PM on February 26, 2005

From the article text : He's not wearing a mask; his metal skin is a side effect from the cosmic ray exposure.
From looking at the big picture going with the article: That is TOTALLY a mask. You can see pink skin around his eyes.
posted by kaemaril at 11:45 PM on February 26, 2005

See, what they should have done is had Daniel Dumile play Doom in the movie...and then credited Doom as "himself."
posted by thecaddy at 11:17 AM on February 27, 2005

I enjoyed the recent Punisher in a b-movie kind of way graventy. But yes, daredevil was shite.

It is amazing to think of the billions and billions of dollars that have been generated by the imagination of Stan Lee.
posted by vronsky at 12:59 PM on February 27, 2005

those interested in what MF Doom would sound like over a crazy latin-style beat can go over to ninjatune's site and listen to the song that plays on the main page.

whoa, this beat is simply retarded, yo
sounds like it came from the late ricky ricardo show
posted by joedan at 3:39 PM on February 27, 2005

While I think Alba is gorgeous, she really is not right as Sue Storm. I'm not sure who would be better, but she doesn't seem to match her comic depiction well.

Naomi Watts would have been PERFECT as Sue Storm!!
posted by black8 at 5:31 PM on February 27, 2005

Yeah, I thought so too. Have they ever said how old Sue and Reed were? I always got the impression that Reed was much older than Sue.

Age is so flexible in comics. But in 1961, Reed and Ben were WW II veterans. I don't know when this bit was invented, but according to this page, Reed fell in love with Sue when he was in college, and she was (ulp) 12.
posted by Zed_Lopez at 12:41 PM on February 28, 2005