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Building on the success of Sandman on Netflix, today’s edition brings together nominations for movies and series inspired by comics. You’ll see that streaming can go well beyond the Avengers and the Justice League…
One of the most iconic comics (or graphic novels) among aficionados, Neil Gaiman’s “Sandman” has finally won a liveaction tenepisode series format version of Netflix.
Gaiman himself had seen other of his characters on screen long before that, such as in American Gods or Watchmen.
The comic universe has long been explored by Hollywood and goes far beyond the heroes of Avengers or Justice League. Check the list below.
American gods
“American Gods” was conceived as a novel by Neil Gaiman, but the story was also adapted into a comic book published by Dark Horse Comics. Mixing fantasy with a touch of mythology, the plot revolves around the character Shadow Moon (Ricky Whittle), a man who has just been released from prison who has lost his wife, and Mr Wednesday (Ian McShane) as security guard . He gradually discovers that his boss is one of the Old Gods who is gathering powers on Earth to fight against the New Gods, represented by feelings such as celebrity worship, greed, sex and drugs. Read the series review below Sheet.
Available on Prime Video (3 seasons, 26 episodes)
The American Antihero
A jazz, book, and comic book lover, Harvey Pekar is a grumpy hospital officer. In 1976, he finally manages to publish American Splendor magazine, which portrays his own everyday life, and becomes an underground celebrity. Pekar himself tells of his adventures in this film adaptation, with Paul Giamatti in the leading role. The film was nominated for an Oscar for screenplay and won the Un Certain Regard Award at Cannes. Read the film review below sheet.
Available on HBO Max (101 mins)
constantine
John Constantine (Keanu Reeves) can see demons and send them back where they came from. However, as a young man he attempted suicide, which means that according to the rules of the fiction, if he dies he too goes to hell. So her trajectory intersects with that of a police officer (Rachel Weisz) whose sensitive twin sister fell off a building. The lonely and sarcastic demon hunter is from the comic book “Hellblazer” published by DC’s Vertigo imprint. In addition to this hit film, the character won an NBC series that was canceled after one season and is available in the same streaming. Read the film review below Sheet.
Available on HBO Max (Movie, 121 min; Series, 13 episodes)
way to perdition
After winning an Oscar for his debut film, American Beauty, Sam Mendes made this fine crime thriller set in Prohibitionera America, starring Tom Hanks as Michael Sullivan, a coldblooded assassin working for gangster John Rooney ( Paul Newman). However, Sullivan’s teenage son witnesses a crime committed by the kingpin’s son (Daniel Craig before 007). To protect the young man, Sullivan traverses the country, confronts the mob and tries to escape from a professional hitman (Jude Law) hired to eliminate the duo. The film is based on the graphic novel by Max Allan Collins. Read the film review below Sheet.
Available on Star+ (117 mins)
The Extraordinary League
Long before Marvel’s Avengers hit theaters, this early 20thcentury film brought adventurer Allan Quatermain (Sean Connery), Captain Nemo (Naseeruddin Shah), Dorian Gray (Stuart Townsend), vampire Mina Harker (Peta Wilson), DR. Jekyll/Mr. Hyde (Jason Fleming) and Tom Sawyer (Shane West). Oh, and there was The Invisible Man (Tony Curran). The gang bands together to stop a villain trying to cause World War I. The film is based on the Alan Moore comic, as is V for Vendetta.
Available on Star+ (110 mins)
signs of violence
One of David Cronenberg’s most awardwinning films is an adaptation of the graphic novel A History of Violence by John Wagner. In the film, the quiet cafe owner responds to a robbery and becomes a celebrity in the small town where he lives with his family. At the same time, he attracts the attention of a group of gangsters who dispute his identity. The cast includes Viggo Mortensen, Maria Bello, Ed Harris and a guest appearance by William Hurt. Read the film review below Sheet.
Available on HBO Max (95 mins)
paper girl (new)
Already mentioned in the latest issue of the newsletter, the new series is based on the awardwinning comic of the same name. The action is performed by a quartet of 1980sera teenagers who, as I said, may remind a lot of people of “Stranger Things”. But there are good differences. In case you don’t remember the synopsis, I’ll refresh your memory: A quartet of newspaper delivery girls in Cleveland in 1988 meet the first day after Halloween. After an incident involving some boys, they find the sky has turned pink and while trying to get home, they end up in the future where a war involving time travel is being waged.
Available on Prime Video (8 episodes)
sandman (new)
One of the most iconic graphic novels in the world, and especially in Brazil, Neil Gaiman’s “Sandman” finally gets a liveaction version in this Netflix series. The plot revolves around the character Dream (Tom Sturrigde), who has been imprisoned for more than a century following a dark magic ritual. When he finally escapes, he attempts to reclaim his kingdom. Read more about the launch here.
Available on Netflix (1 season, 10 episodes)
the young
A group of superheroes known as the Seven work for a heromoney company. However, they slip and are guarded by another squad, the Boys, who try to keep the heroes in line. The highlight of the Watch group is the leader Billy (Karl Urban), who hates the heroes and blames one of them for his wife’s disappearance. Although author Garth Ennis has worked with both DC and Marvel, he launched The Boys with the independent WildStorm.
Available on Prime Video (3 seasons, 24 episodes)
The Umbrella Academy
The starting point of this successful series is a comic by Gerard Way (singer of the band My Chemical Brothers) from 2007, which was published by Dark Horse. In the premise of the story, 43 women who were not pregnant give birth on October 1, 1989. An eccentric billionaire manages to adopt seven of them and found the Umbrella Academy. All children develop powers except for Vanya, number 7. In the present, the adoptive siblings are separated after past trauma, but reunite for their father’s wake. Then Number 5 reappears, with the ability to travel in space and time, with the news that the world will end in eight days. Gerard Way also appears in the credits as a coproducer.
Available on Netflix (3 seasons, 30 episodes)
v for vendetta
Inspired by Alan Moore’s comic book of the same name, which was released on DC’s Vertigo label, the film is written by the Wachowski sisters, the same duo from The Matrix. The dystopian plot shows England under a totalitarian regime. In this scenario, the masked V appears, a vigilante who uses terrorist tactics to expose the government and unite society in the quest for freedom. On his journey, he asks young Evey (Natalie Portman) for help. According to legend, Moore never wanted to see the film. Read the film review below Sheet.
Available on HBO Max (132 mins)
Guardian
After successfully adapting the film version of 300 (Frank Miller’s comics), Zack Snyder was given the green light to direct the ambitious Watchmen, based on the graphic novel by Alan Moore (him again). The action takes place in an alternate reality in 1985 where Richard Nixon is still President and the Cold War remains cold. In this scenario, Rorschach discovers a plan to eliminate the superheroes, who are already practically inactive. HBO also produced a series set in the present, still using the alternate reality, 34 years after the events of the original comic.
Available on HBO Max (Movie, 163 min; Series, 10 episodes)
what’s new
The Devil’s Cauldron
Set in 1941, in the quiet fictional town of Peyton Place (the film’s original title), the residents’ apparent calm hides mysteries, including cases of rape, abuse, and betrayal. The 1957 film, which is streaming now, earned Lana Turner her only Oscar nomination. It was also one of the inspirations for David Lynch and Mark Frost to create the Twin Peaks universe.
Available on Star+ (157 mins)
Total disaster: Woodstock 99
As the title suggests, the documentary recreates the disaster that 30 years after the original became the 1999 Woodstock Megafestival, which was attended by the likes of Sheryl Crow, Limp Bizkit, Korn, Bush and Red Hot Chili Peppers. The event, which began as a gathering of 250,000 people, is slowly falling apart, with structural flaws, little security, abusive prices, easy access to drugs and abusive behavior towards women, with rights to report rape cases after the event. In three episodes (one for each day of the show), the series shows how the bomb was set up before it exploded.
Available on Netflix (3 episodes)
The Predator: The Hunt
The original 1987 film of the series introduced us to the character the alien, not Schwarzenegger’s military brute. The 1990 sequel ended by showcasing the wide range of opportunities the franchise could offer. After a string of bad movies comes The Hunt, this writer’s best movie in the series. The film takes us back to the 18th century when a Comanche warrior realizes the existence of the predatory aliens surrounding her tribe, while also discovering the existence of even more ferocious colonists.
Available on Star+ (100 mins)
Tip for free
screams and whispers
With cancer advanced, Agnes is being cared for at her home in the country by her two sisters, both of whom are going through their personal crises. In practice, the only one who offers real support to Agnes is Anna, the devoted maid. The 1972 Swedish film, one of Ingmar Bergman’s classics, won an Oscar for cinematography.
Available free of charge until October 11 at www.sescsp.org.br/sescdigital