Wanted, Lost in Adaptation ~ Dominic Noble

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A review of how much the 2008 film "Wanted" has in common with the comic books it based on.
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[@snoopsq.527]

Comic: *Everyone is horrible* Movie: *Everything Is Stupid* Take your pick

[@SuperKiobi13]

Prefer stupid fun over annoying cynisism

[@jonsmith9838]

@@SuperKiobi13 yea the comic could get a little edge lordy...but on the other hand hey thats the comic. Why Adapt it if your going to go that far against the theme. unless your going to do it in a some what satirical way like starship troopers

[@skyslasher2297]

Stupid

[@jaqjynx]

Would pick horrible over stupid. At least that can be interesting.

[@snoopsq.527]

I find a loom that gives off binary code BEFORE that was even a thing vastly less believable than super villains manipulating reality for there own selfish gain.

[@ilexdiapason]

Ah, yes, the loom was revealing names in binary code. One thousand years before ASCII conversion was invented. Wonderful.

[@Feasco]

As far as *you* know

[@ChaosTherum]

It's not unthinkable that they could have done some ascii conversion or had their own version of that. Binary has been a concept for an extremely long time so it might be possible.

[@Rocketboy1313]

@@ChaosTherum It is really not possible. This did not and would and could not happen. That explanation for things is nonsense. They would have been better off reading god damn chicken bones.

[@aryan.mathur191]

@@ChaosTherum But ASCII (or any version of it) is entirely arbitrary. We have ascribed random values to binary. the numbers don't actually mean anything. 65 can be 'A' just as easily as 103. Why would 'fate' follow some arbitrary system of designation? How does fate KNOW this system of designation? Has it updated to ASCII or is this specific system followed by the assassins even in the modern day? How did Middle Eastern traders understand English characters and names before English even existed? Binary has been a concept, but assigning values to it has always been entirely arbitrary.

[@peppermillers8361]

It could be that sloan or someone else made it up just as an excuse to kill people.

[@lmnisop5516]

One thing that really confused me about the loom spitting out names is how do they know which John Smith they're supposed to kill. Does it also spit out the birthdate and address of the particular one?

[@SeanGatchell]

Yes it does.

[@manicpixiefangirl4189]

At least in Person of Interest they were smart enough to use social security numbers instead. Man I miss the Reese and Finch bro team.

[@westernbambino5410]

@@manicpixiefangirl4189 what if the target is international?

[@Devilsblood]

Don't question a plot device that never made sense to begin with. The loom idea is dumb in general.

[@nicholashurst780]

The Loom™ invented social security numbers in 1000 CE

[@magitek09]

Wait. There's no afterlife but there was a second comming of Jesus?!

[@wererat2000]

Let's not try to bring logic into this.

[@captainweekend5276]

Well, the guy who "discovered" there's no afterlife isn't exactly the sort of person who'd go to heaven...

[@funkyweapon1981]

@@captainweekend5276 Rictus was originally a devout Christian. He would've gotten in.

[@GinHindew110]

is an ironic thing, Mister Rictus was a devoted christian because he wanted to get into heaven and not because of devotion to god, but the evil of it is that knowing about an eternal paradise corrupts the faith in a god as the reward becomes more important than the one giving it, sounds like a master movement by the devil

[@g.strobl4458]

Well, my question would be: if some guy named Jesus (not an uncommon name at a certain time) came only twice, why does anyone give a fig?

[@PhoenixHealing]

How in the Biscuit-Biting-Barbara-Streisand-Hell did they go from super heroes and super villains being real and managing the world to a magic weaving machine with Person of Interest level abilities????

[@Dragiare]

Questions we'll never know until a sequel crawls from the grave.

[@themanonthewallgammairradi8763]

@@Dragiare Nooooooooooo!

[@Posiman]

Have you seen any other Timur Bekmambetov film? (Note: He also produced and directed Abraham Lincoln: The Vampire Hunter). I mean... the man is clearly insane...

[@Joecbg100]

I think the studio was scared of super hero stuff but thought making em triggers or hitmen would be less dumb but the magic weaving loom is so dead on stupid

[@JimmyC1994]

I reckon they had some other script in a filing cabinet somewhere and then they just added a few names from the comic and changed the title

[@quinnsinclair7028]

Okay the idea that Adam West was a terrifying Batman who was punished when supervillains rewrote reality into a parody of himself is pure gold. The rest sounds like good concept, poor execution but that idea is amazing.

[@jodhod1498]

Not poor execution. Guy knew exactly what he wanted and made it precisely like that. There was no lack of skill here Just what he wanted suuuuucked the life out of you and made ypou feel grim and dirty

[@quinnsinclair7028]

jod hod The fact that he made exactly what he intended doesn’t change the fact that the execution was severely lacking in finesse compared to the concept. That he didn’t want it to be better than it was doesn’t mean the idea couldn’t have been better than he presented it.

[@jodhod1498]

@@quinnsinclair7028 What you would consider finesse, he might consider holding back. At his level, I think it's a matter of taste and stomach, rather than any technical prowess. There is no one who can do what he can do, no one who can take his style. He wants to make you discomforted, he's made you discomforted. Blaming him for that is like blaming texas chainsaw massacre for not being 'Psycho'

[@quinnsinclair7028]

jod hod I’m not blaming him for anything. He clearly likes this style. It’s not to my taste but if that’s what he likes and he can make a profit of it, good for him. The problem overall is that the story is lame. The premise, the setting is glorious. The story told with that setting is at best dull. I mean if he wants to be offensive then that’s his prerogative but even an offensive story can be deep. Can address for insightful questions. This setting is loaded to the brim with that potential yet the story told doesn’t do anything with it. It’s a missed opportunity for something better.

[@jodhod1498]

@@quinnsinclair7028 deep and insightful? I don't think he believes in that. I get the idea he's not into high ideals and those thing. That we're in this life for ourselves, that it's a cruel horrible world and there is no bright light to cling to. We have to be horrible to live and horrible things will happen to us if we don't. Dreaming of sunshine is a lie that'll just get you hurt.

[@TokeBoisen]

It doesn't absolve all the other nonsense, but the projectile shedding parts of itself mid-flight is a real thing called Sabot rounds. In essence the loss of mass facilitated by the shedding of shell or other parts of the projectile means the remainder travels further and faster (conversation of kinetic energy). It's used for sniper rifles, anti-tank ammunition and high-powered anti-armor rounds.

[@LibraGamesUnlimited]

Wouldn't it be more effective to just skip all that and make it lighter in the first place? I know nothing about this sort of thing, just seems it would.

[@jtinkerton2547]

@@LibraGamesUnlimited Perhaps by lowering the size of the round you're also lowering the amount of gunpowder in it, and with that, you're lowering the initial velocity at which the round leaves the barrel of the gun. Meaning this way you get to have a bigger initial bang and give the bullet even more distance by dropping the weight mid-flight. So you get to have your lead and eat it too, in a way.

[@LibraGamesUnlimited]

@@jtinkerton2547 Okay. I have no idea.

[@bthsr7113]

Sabot rounds are a useful thing, but that wasn't a proper sabot round. This... was just dumb. A sabot round would be like a .22 bullet in a .50 BMG casing. The idea is that most of the contents are propellant, not unnecessary mass that is discarded anyway.

[@mattburnham6501]

losing weight would allow wind and other impediments to cause loss of accuracy. sabots allow finned projectiles to be fired from a bore or barrel that would not otherwise allow it.

[@sophie3869]

As someone who actually has a condition that causes my heart to beat super fast (up to 185bpm) and massive adrenaline dumps, I can confirm that it doesn’t let me do any of the shit it lets this guy do. While it gives me insane reflexes and lets me stay calm under pressure (because my whole life my brain’s been like “your about to die” I’m used to it) it’s mostly really inconvenient, exhausting, and painful.

[@nelisezpasce]

You just activated the maternal instincts in anyone willing to comfort you

[@CharlesGouraudgaming]

When I heard Mark Millar's name, I felt like I knew exactly what we were in for... and I wasn't too wrong. That said, Kick Ass or Kingsmen would be interesting for future episodes.

[@goodgamesir1750]

Yes. All of Mark Millar's books that are adapted in film are usually in name only.

[@elijahfordsidioticvarietys8770]

When I heard Mark Miller’s name, I thought he was talking about the rapper.

[@TheKawaiiSlartibartfast]

He did Civil War, right?

[@TheAnonyomusGuy]

The Kawaii Slartibartfast I think he did some of the books but he didn't do all of them

[@Terminalsanity]

Wanted is probably Millar's most intentionally hateful book I mean it literally ends with the main character bragging about raping the readers in the rear without them knowing or being able to do anything about it. Yikes is an understatement.

[@kolonarulez5222]

You mean to tell me a psychic loom spelling out names was a movie original idea and not some comic book shenanigans?

[@SpoopySquid]

Makes you realise just how batshit the source must be that a super-computing sewing machine is the logical improvement

[@PatheticApathetic]

SpoopySquid that wasn’t a “logical improvement” at all

[@deviantartguy0]

Lord Parbr I It was an improvement for sure.

[@Visplight]

@@SpoopySquid The comics weren't batshit though - just dumb. Basically comics are real and the main character gets to go be a grimdark comic book villain - really anything was going to be an improvement.

[@morganyoung3557]

SpoopySquid the problem with the comics wasn’t that it was batshit, but that it was trying to be so dark and edgy that it ended up being really boring.

[@Despair505]

So it's like The Boys, but with villains and without an actual point to make.

[@csblakeley]

It's the Boys but if Garth Ennis was using his writing in place of therapy.

[@jacobwillis7596]

I mean the tv show has a point...comic tho...

[@Posiman]

The Boys only have a point in the TV show, the comic is very similar to Wanted: violence, rape, slurs and awful people doing awful things because the author wanted to be edgy as fuck...

[@somerandomname3124]

@@Posiman Which is a shame, a lot of these 2000's comics are good but clearly flawed in their writing a lot of the time.

[@thabisogodi2936]

I've always felt the point was kind of like a very blunt version of Joker, the limits a regular person can stretch to with the right motivation and situation.

[@rosef8253]

"Did a magic coffee maker tip you off about it" That was hilarious .

[@Karategirl5947]

I actually laughed out loud at that

[@HugoGojibiter]

Honestly I can’t help but love this movie because of the crazy illogical action scenes. The bullet curving is kinda awesome

[@chrisplissken4626]

Yep it's my guilty pleasure I seen This movie a million times lol it's just so original xD bending bullets jumping off buildings and the humor in the atm machine xD it's just gold

[@Dickinabox]

Danny Elfmans score sells it for me.

[@AndJusticeforAll567]

...also Angelina Jolie. That was the selling point for me.

[@jaykay5811]

This movie is my Equilibrium. It’s dumb as rocks but I love how Timur does action and how much the script sticks to it’s absolutely ludicrous bullet curving action. Would be great as an anime adaptation.

[@jlcdavenport6268]

I couldn't get into Equilibrium. It's basically 1984/BNW but lets the protagonist solve what's meant to be an intractable societal problem by just shooting his way through it. It's like if you read 1984 and thought it needed a superhero MC to fix things. Kind'a dumb.

[@jaykay5811]

Jlc Davenport yeah if we wanna pick it apart most Sci-fi action doesn’t hold up on the sci-fi end. Also Equilibrium is preachy while this is just dumb fun.

[@mercenaryknight5419]

This is far better than Equilibrium, it is pure comic-cook styled awesomeness.

[@chrisleebowers]

It's way better than Equilibrium. If you can accept magic curving bullets, the sequences are brilliant. Equilibrium's "gun kata" was nonsense - he just waved his arms around in wushu form movements and bad guys just happened to be where he was shooting. Based on "statistics?" You could beat him by simply taking up an intelligent position, then taking two steps to your left. Storywise, Wanted's core concept was bonkers, but there was a solid story about the intoxicating corruption of power without accountability and finding his father. Equilibrium was a lazy knockoff/mashup of other, better classic dystopian stories. It's THX-1138/Guy Montag vs Big Brother from 1984.

[@user-hs5vb6kc9o]

​@@jlcdavenport6268 5 years late to this, but... "Gun Fu"

[@Jiren261]

Adaptions of Mark Millar's work are the rare times where the adaption is better than the source. He has Brilliant ideas but his writing of those ideas leaves a lot to be desired.

[@dubbingsync]

So you didn’t think Kingsman was better than the book?

[@morganyoung3557]

I agree, Captain America: Civil War and the Kick-Ass movies are a lot better than the comic counterparts.

[@Ameno-Sagiri25]

Wanted is very similar to a comic named the boys where both of the sources were very violent with very edgy imagery and wording with both having adaptations better than the source with the boys tv show being the best out of the 2 adaptations.

[@ComicCrossing]

@@dubbingsync 100% yes. Most of Millars work is edgelord trash

[@Mobysimo]

@@ComicCrossing Or it's Trouble. But the less said about that....... Thing the better

[@jamesanderson-xi3jh]

Wanted is definitely a guilty pleasure of mine, it’s great to just turn your brain off and watch

[@Thraim.]

Maybe it's because I thought I would hate every second of it when I entered the cinema (I was invited by I friend, so I bit the proverbial bullet) but I actually enjoyed Wanted as a brainless action romp.

[@tobygraus6538]

I just love how angry you are about the Loom. I have the flu (not the gastric kind, the respiratory kind) and that entire section I was hacking up a lung from laughing so hard

[@starbird3939]

Ama Graus i hope you are feeling better! :( I get those a lot too (although one time, I couldn’t stomach any food)

[@SCarr8813]

Both film and movie ended in such a way that left me going, "That's it?" I read the whole graphic novel and was fascinated by the premise while entirely disappointed with the result. I agree completely that eventually it just became one extreme comment or sight gag after another. The movie just... Completely changed what it wanted to be

[@jordandehart6905]

I kept waiting for the superheroes to finally come and restore balance in the comic. That just seemed like the logical ending...

[@travisbewley7084]

@@jordandehart6905 No way. That would have been completely out of place. That would have been like RoboCop taking down the big corporation at the end. The point is that evil won. I think the comics whole point is two fold. One is that comic book villians are weird because often they are sanitized and if people really did have a comic book villians power and motives they would be horrific. The second point of the comic I think is that the most corrupting thing is a lack of consequences.

[@sharkofjoy]

Both the film and the movie?

[@hollowlighter572]

Reminds me of brightburn were the movie ends i was like that's it? nothing bigger then that? I knew the badguy would win but why not have his victory be more badass?

[@theninjamaster67]

@@travisbewley7084 i feel like the superheroes coming back could still fit in that cynical world if the superheroes just showed up and murdered all the bad guys in a sort of "cleansing the world of evil for the greater good" kinda way showing that the heroes aren't all good and would ultimately just murder the shit out of all the villains if they got to the point of doing something that evil maybe even doing the same thing the villains did but the opposite making a world kinda like the one in the giver devoid of any crime but also any individuality or freedom. ultimately though even with a better ending i don't think something so mean spirited even deserves to go off on a good note it just deserves to be edgy bullshit like it was the whole time.

[@jalix9574]

Now, I haven't read that Wanted comic, but it definitely sounds like R-rated despicable me. A world with villains but no heroes? Just like despicable me.

[@powerist209]

Except Despicable Me’s main character is quite likable and genuinely treat his minions well.

[@jamainegardner4193]

@@powerist209 and in the sequel you find out there IS a hero group that kinda completely outstrips Gru.

[@nancyjay790]

I truly love the "My goodness, the Dom, I can't do that" blurbs. They're like Marvel movie after credits scenes.

[@GoatAndDog]

Once again it's a book and I have never heard of so *yay learning*

[@PianoProfessor]

Don't worry, you'll always be The Dom to me

[@cassyblack3346]

Knew about this one. Mark Millar adaptations are interesting. They feel like they just take the bare bones to make a concept (mostly) more interesting. For an eventual episode I'd suggest Stardust by Neil Gaiman.

[@jodhod1498]

Yes! This so much.

[@AlteredNova04]

Agreed, the idea of a superhero world where the villains won but they still have keep their dominance a secret because they're afraid of parallel universe heroes finding out about them, and the inevitable villain infighting that would result from that, is brilliant. I would love to see a remake of this movie/comic now that openly silly comic movies are acceptable (although probably toning down the over-the-top gross shock horror aspect.)

[@sebastianrosa7935]

His concepts aren't bad, but he's just so annoying with how much he's tries to shock you. I mean Oldboy is a movie with a lot of shocking stuff in it, but that stuff still serves an actual purpose.

[@troin3925]

Cassy Black I’d like to do the same thing with The Unfunnies. It’s a reprehensible comic and while I haven’t read it, just reading people’s reviews, TV Tropes and Google Images make me feel dirty. It’s his most infamous and hated comic and for good reason. But, it has some interesting ideas that are unfortunately ruined by all the edginess. I would keep the basics, tone down the graphic content (the pedophilia for instance would be completely removed), remove certain subplots while giving other characters more roles, have a very slow descent from being a family friendly film to a Sausage Party-esque raunchy comedy to a psychological horror film with 4th wall breaking elements, anxiety induced insanity similar to _mother!_ or Unedited Footage of a Bear and live action imagery suddenly appearing in the animated world for creepy effect. I even have an idea for a trailer that’s essentially similar to the original trailer for Sausage Party where it at first looks like a kids film but then suddenly hits you with R-rated raunch, but I would take things a step further by having the trailer suddenly be like Don’t Hug Me, I’m Scared 1 where some rave music turns into a loud screeching sound and the imagery and atmosphere goes from being humorously edgy to straight up dark and horrific (including random inclusions of live action imagery), with quick cuts.

[@jadenbryant9283]

@@troin3925 or at the very least make the pedophilia crime the character is framed for and did not actually commit pedophilia

[@TheAbstruseOne]

That assessment of the comic matches pretty much mine. Mark Millar doesn't seem to understand that you can be shocking or edgy without being mean-spirited. And he's part of an entire generation of writers (both in and out of comics) who don't seem to realize that.

[@francescajoseph5250]

Anyone else here because they love the way he breaks down everything into easier parts than teachers

[@edisonlima4647]

Dear lord, so much edge! Blergh. Thanks for helping us... dodge this bullet. Ok, ok, I'll leave.

[@Rocketboy1313]

Your thoughts are very much in line with my own... Up to and including the, "Adam West really was Batman" being among the top jokes/details in the comic. I guess I was more comfortable with the stupid amounts of weirdness like the magic wax and the stylish guns, but agree with the magic loom and bullshit adrenaline powers. The Adrenaline especially, if you are going to have super powers, just have super powers, don't try to explain it, the explanations to make things more "grounded" are always bad.

[@jamesatkinsonja]

It's odd, but just saying the characters are superheros/villains would make the audience buy it a lot more which sounds counter-intuitive.

[@yehiasaber3732]

I knew nothing of the comic novel , and now that i do .... My God Am I Glad it is an " In Name Only " Adaptation

[@JKPancake]

I can 100% understand not liking the film. I can look past the dumb and have a fun over the top time. But I'm not going to argue it is anything really good. The comic sounds like an interesting fun concept but would probably work better with a dark comedy tone rather than an edgy to be edgy tone

[@tiborcsendes5269]

The worlds backstory in the comic was interesting, but the rest is...so annoying and feel like it was a work of a hormon-driven teenage boy.

[@caprice28]

@@tiborcsendes5269 Thank you.

[@travisbewley7084]

Actually the comic is generally played for dark deadpan humor. Like the professor essentially saying he beat Superman analog with a kryptonite condom. Or at the end with the main characters contemplating being done with killing only to have the page turn let you know he was just joking and he wants to go see what all his money looks like in a big pile. It's mostly farce, and I think some people misread the tone, like a lot of Millar work. Just like how Millar's Ultimates is just seen as a more right wing shock version of Avengers when it's actually more of a critique of Bush erra interventionalisim. Some people can't read subtext apparently

[@caprice28]

@@travisbewley7084 What does sub text have to do with main character being a mass murderer and a rapist. Or having a villian made completely out of shit. You would have to have the mind of a 12 year old edge lord to enjoy that garbage. But i guess some people lack any real taste.

[@caprice28]

@@fbritannia Yeah. Ultimates was good. Until Loeb shat all over it.

[@chowyee5049]

Night Watch is actually adapted from a pretty good book. It's the only Russian fantasy book I have ever read.

[@ZekeAxel]

I'm sure he nows. And props to you. As a Russian, I am surprised it made the rounds like that.

[@PuppetDungeon]

Book series actually. They're actually pretty popular in the US. The films are quite a bit different, and I'd love to see an episode on the films. (Yes, they made Day Watch as well)

[@MrMeldonius]

You should try more book from this series and from that author in general. Most of them are very good

[@chowyee5049]

@@MrMeldonius I have. I finished Sixth Watch last year.

[@nancyjay790]

I believe there is a large difference between the first book and its adapted film, which had an even larger impact on the second adaptation.

[@catrionapritchard4679]

I think the most offensive thing about the whole book for me is the ending. Not just the 'I am raping the reader' thing which is...so many kinds of utterly wrong even putting aside the distastefulness of rape as a plot device, but the way it pretends to be offering condemnation. It's just- Millar wrote a book full of consequence-free ultraviolence and hatefulness for his own pleasure and profit, only to turn around and morally condemn the readers who for some reason dragged themselves through this steaming, festering pile of ordure to the end for...reading the hateful garbage that he wrote for the aforementioned pleasure/profit? This is just a power fantasy, and one that glamorises everything it claims to decry. Which would be bad in and of itself, but, hey, Garth Ennis's entire body of work exists, so it's hardly a new problem. But it's the hypocrisy of pretending to be a deconstruction with anything deeper to offer that annoys me when...no, this is just another cheap, lazy power fantasy, which reveals nothing about the human condition except that the author is a tool. Even the Adam West thing, which would be a pretty neat story hook for a better comic, is rendered unbearable by the way it's presented - as a mean-spirited jibe. (Please, some better author, take the concept of 'superhero world rewritten, Batman-figure is now Adam West' and turn it into a better story than this one. Adam-West-Bats trying to put the universe back to rights and finding a balance between the darkness of who he was and the light-and-campy that he is now would be a *delight* to read)

[@PsychoholicSlag83]

Wesley is a bad guy, like alk the other characters. What the ending is telling you is that your life sucks because we live in the reality where the bad guys won

[@catrionapritchard4679]

@@PsychoholicSlag83And yet that doesn't make the writing any better. I am not inspired to think deeply about my life by this comic. I am inspired to roll my eyes at it because the shock value overrides any 'message' it was supposed to carry.

[@FearlessCrusader100]

Okay, so the bullet shedding layers mid flight is actually a thing, although it looks nearly nothing like this. Its called a flachette, and the bullet is designed to shed layers and impart nearly all of their momentum into the smaller round. The issue is the longest rsnge you are going to se literally anyone shooting ever is about 2 miles, not because of adrenaline, but because of mathematics and ballistic coefficients. The kind of gun that would be able to shoot as far as wanted shows would be essentially a 40mm cannon, but that is an anti tank weapon, and shoots a bullet the size of a small flashlight.

[@corvusalbus7276]

You know "Night watch"? I really liked the books and was so annoyed, concerning some aspects even angered, by the movies and all they changed. I'd love to see an episode on the two adaptations that came out.

[@ZekeAxel]

FYI: Later books in the series (Last Watch) actually references the movie as events the characters dreamt of, with one of them mentioning that dreams are other realities in the multiverse. Also yeah, the concept of the Twilight is barely touched upon in Night Watch and is an integral part of the books.

[@lookmethecat]

I was saved by the fact my dad had watched the movie and warned me. The books are still perfectly preserved in my mind.

[@allSortsOfBB]

The movie did get me into the books. And I still like the movie. I think when you go to a movie to see the book 'realized' it can be disappointing, but when you read a book afterward you can make sense of the changes that were made. I had a similar experience with the Sci-fi channel Dune miniseries. And like Star said, they did poke a bit of fun at the movies in the following books.

[@ryuj7693]

so true, such a shame we didn't get a faithful film version. especially for the second book

[@harlanhardway5955]

I liked both the books and the movies. I'd love a comparison Episode though too!!

[@aaronbourque5494]

WANTED isn't even the worst Millar got up to. But then he does stuff like Starlight that shows he IS capable of really good, non-nihilistic stories...

[@maxpayne2323]

Bullets shedding is a cool on a visual stand point. Can also be used to "change" the trajectory mid-flight!

[@malicewonder8345]

1:00 "A guy with a very Russian name" - It's not Russian, it is a Turkic (specifically Kazakh) root with a Russian ending. Call it a post-Soviet surname.

[@Carewolf]

That is still very Russian (reference to the country) even if not Russian (reference to the language).

[@RIDDICK0911]

@@Carewolf that makes no fucking sense...

[@g.strobl4458]

@@RIDDICK0911, you may not be able to see it, but it does make a lot of sense.

[@RIDDICK0911]

@@g.strobl4458 I am Russian and it doesn't make even a teeny-weeny bit of sense to me. Feel free to explain why it does tho.

[@g.strobl4458]

@@RIDDICK0911, I'll do my best. A Kazakh-based name with a Russian ending seems to represent part of Russian history, and so is "very Russian" in the meaning of "typical of the country" (or at least typical of clichés of Russia), even if it is not "very Russian" in the meaning of "typical of the Russian language". I hope I did the intent of @Carewolf justice. :)

[@kaiwilliams141]

I think it's interesting to have someone who isnt a massive comic fan review comic book adaptations. I think the alternate perspective adds something to the episode.

[@DarthArachnious]

I understand dropping "The Dom". But you couldn't do anything with the surname Noble and a british accent?

[@ConnorNotyerbidness]

Id of changed the channel name to Lost In Adaptation since its what hes most known for after all.

[@film-freak9509]

Ser Dominic the noble

[@DarthArachnious]

@@film-freak9509 GOT reference. Nice.

[@DarthArachnious]

@@ConnorNotyerbidness but that's not a cheeky handle.

[@astrinymris9953]

I thought it was a tribute to Doctor Who companion Donna Noble, brilliantly portrayed by Catherine Tate.

[@1987MartinT]

The film sounds fine. Even the sillier elements. Silly can work in the same way gritty can work. You just have to do it right. I like the idea of the comic. A story from the view of supervillains who defeated all the superheroes and secretly rule the world. I could do without all the awfulness though. I'd like to see a more faithful adaptation but without all the Mark Millarisms.

[@elizabethcox2905]

Thank you for the trigger warning before moving onto the book. I really appreaciate that you take the time to warn veiwers and take triggers seriously. This is where I leave but thank you again. You're awesome.

[@fictionjunkie360]

Could you do a LiA for Stardust? Pitch: book by Neil Gaiman Movie starring Michelle Pfeiffer, Robert Deniro, and Claire Danes. Falling stars, murderous witches, sky pirates, winning a throne through fratricide. All narrated by Ian McKellan.

[@cheezemonkeyeater]

"He flies face first out the window, soars over to the other building and kills his attackers, in party by making a bullet fly around a corner." *Whispers: Whaaaaaat theeeeeeee fuuuuuuuuuuck? *Later gets to hear about the comic *whispers: oooooooooh, my goooooooooooooooooood . . .

[@sirvelociraptor2590]

Thanks Joe Rogan

[@lauralowe7834]

Please tell me that when you asked Linkara about this he said “oh look, it’s miller time”.

[@mikethegrunty5968]

The thing about Millar, at least for me, is that the adaptation of his work is almost ALWAYS better than the original comic series.

[@najhoant]

I think Millar even approved of changes made to the Kick-Ass movie

[@mariod1547]

@@najhoant I haven't read the book but which changes does he favor?

[@der_benson4478]

I thought I was the only one thinking along those lines ^^°°...

[@mikethegrunty5968]

Der_Benson I had a very similar conversation with the guy at my local comic shop, and it seems that a lot of people have that opinion.

[@najhoant]

@@mariod1547 That I know of specifically, Big Daddy's backstory in the movie is vastly different from the comic. The details are a massive spoiler, but Millar said that sticking to the comic version would have ruined the movie

[@perw12345]

Did you read the Night Watch novel, and do you plan on doing a LIA on it? I loved every second of it, it is one of the most grounded, realistic portrayals of underground society fantasy I have ever read.

[@1987MartinT]

I've considered reading it. Should I watch the movie or just read the books?

[@gellasztomania1643]

@@1987MartinT Both. The books are better in exploring the setting and the moral and philosophical issues around the whole concept. The movies are quite fun, if you are either drunk or just really like batshit insane movies :D

[@MsMeshletheplatypus]

Do you think you'll do a Lost in Adaptation for the Umbrella Academy?

[@calliepickering2480]

@cak01vej It's based on a comic, which was written by the lead singer of My Chemical Romance.

[@ciamciaramcia99]

@@calliepickering2480 Former! lead singer of MCR.

[@der_benson4478]

@@calliepickering2480 ...whose comic writing career got inconveniently stalled by the unexpected success off his little side project XD also: I got the reference in your name and I approve ^^ long live the coolest knight of the sword! "There is no try!!"

[@rimurutempest4945]

I wasn’t expecting that Night Watch reference, now I must humbly request you do a Lost in Adaptation of Night Watch. That was the only book in our library that wasn’t a boring educational book or hardy boys and nancy drew so I really loved that book.

[@emilysstomachgastroparesis3466]

I absolutely love your channel! It's given me new genres to try since my husband and I are sheltering in place. I used to drive my friends crazy when we would go see a movie and they knew I had read the book. :)

[@tenkenroo]

I actually like the movie more than the comic. Mark millar writes like angsty 13 year old teenager.

[@changvasejarik62]

The Wolf except when he writes Superman oddly enough.

[@KidSnivy69]

Ironically Superman is the only character he never writes cynically

[@AntediluvianRomance]

Hey, so you can do Night Watch then! They must have translated it for the movie, right? XD

[@p4rt_t1me_g0d]

And Day Watch!

[@darkservantofheaven]

I think the Fraternity could have been dope if it were in the John Wick universe....I mean John Wick is already deadly....but imagine if Dude could curve bullets!

[@wjzav1971]

So basically, John Wick is Wanted if the main character wanted to stay out of the Fraternity? Also, interesting to consider: Given how the High Table seems to be a conglomerate of powerful criminal organizations with a sheer endless supply of top tier assassins that can kill anyone and that form their own parallel society with their own laws, currency, judges, administration and support jobs like gunsmiths and doctors, it makes you wonder if they secretly run the world and this is maybe akin to the comic Wanted where the bad guys run the world but nobody knows it.

[@der_benson4478]

9/10 Should have mentioned that the whole "superheroes from other dimensions will Eff us up if we don't lay low" was a rather obvious (IMHO) hint at DC'sJustice league and the crisis on two worlds story line (which was adapted into a very good animated movie btw). forgiveable for you, but DAMN YOUUU LINKARAAAA!!!! Also: they didn't kill ALL the superheroes. They changed some/most into normal people when changing reality. There was a rather amusing comment at some point about the villain visiting his former ach nemesis, who now works at a diner, every so often for gloating reasons.

[@bogunicorn]

I found the editing style so off-putting that I couldn't finish the film. Which is really saying something, considering how much I enjoy James McAvoy and Angelina Jolie in pretty much anything else. Even the hot people couldn't keep me around. Millar's extreme shock value style makes me SO uncomfortable, kudos for getting through it for the sake of this review.

[@atinity6749]

What shock value, really? Dom didn't mention anything specific, even tho he said he would... What was the trigger warning for? I am very sensitive and sometimes quite emotional even tho I enjoy dark humor. But still, this sounds like basic anti-hero stuff, nothing too disturbing.

[@caitlinrobinson6812]

@@atinity6749 killing innocent people. Talking about sexual assault. A lot.

[@CroobieLetter]

HI Dom, so good to have you back, you really deserved a break after reviewing a book where the best part is was how well it burned.

[@oldschool3424]

The Wanted graphic novel reads like a child discovering swear words for the first time and thinking they’re the most marvellous thing on the face of the planet

[@endlessness]

I don’t mind watching ads when it’s on your channel, Mr. Man. I always feel really good about it.

[@taniapinedaapodaca5369]

Mark Millar's name lives perpetually in my list of "authors" to avoid. He seems to churn awful comic over awful comic with the intention to have bought the movie rides and get the money of "edgy" teenagers meanwhile. somehow he seems to get decent to great artists regurlarly and I don't understan why.

[@repulser93]

Not all his work. Red Son, Superior, and most of the first two Ultimates series are pretty good.

[@yggdrasil3]

I'd also recommend Empress.

[@SiRenfield]

Yeah I think most people can agree that at best he’s pretty hit or miss, mainly he needs an editor to leash him a little

[@nicholasfarrell5981]

So, like Garth Ennis?

[@OcarinaSapphr-]

Will you do that new comic adaption- I think it's called 'The Boys' - pretty, pretty please?

[@pharaohavalon8566]

Glad I found your channel your voice is actually refreshing thanks for the video keep it up

[@TheOnlyToblin]

Honestly, the "Fuck you" after the keyboard slap is a nice touch.

[@silvercheetah92]

You should do Crazy Rich Asians the movie changed a lot from the book

[@skyslasher2297]

18:44 wait I thought the comic established there’s no afterlife in this universe but Jesus made his second coming meaning that there is an afterlife so which it Millar

[@merlinmeurer5339]

The new presentation style is very nice so far :D keep uo the great work!

[@idratherbereading5766]

I loved how many questions and anger you had about the Loom, amazing review!

[@johnkirby8939]

As Linkara would say, "It's Millar time!"

[@Carewolf]

That's about Frank Miller.

[@johnkirby8939]

@@Carewolf usually it is. Linkara has also reviewed comics by Millar, using the " Miller Time" joke with a different spelling, hence "Millar Time".

[@KoM]

The only good thing about the comic is JG Jones’ incredible art.

[@chrisplissken4626]

I had no clue it had a graphic novel,I'm gonna look for it lol

[@natthevamp1]

another great episode. thanks!

[@funcoolfunfun]

I'm curious if City of Ember is on your current schedule. I've both read the book and seen the film , but only a bit of either has stuck with me. But from what I do remember, the film was pretty accurate.

[@DoctorInk20]

*Mark Millar:* The patron saint of profusely angry 14 year old boys. *Old Man Logan* was a fun, dumb, post-apocalyptic romp, mind. Think Mad Max, but with lots of crazy comic book stuff lying around in the wasteland. So... Fallout... but with Marvel stuff. Also, if you think Millar is bad, wait until you have to review *'The Boys' by Garth Ennis.* Sweet Threepwood's beard, I do not envy you.

[@JohnnyElRed]

Come to think of it, all British authors that have come to be popular in the realm of independent comics really have a knack for shock value. Warren Ellis, Alan Moore... The list goes on.

[@InoMercy]

@@JohnnyElRed True, but at the very least Warren Ellis tempers his shock value edginess with likable characters, good natured humor, and a general sense of hope. At least from what I've seen of his work. (Which admittedly is just Empowered and Castlevania) And Alan Moore...Is Alan fucking Moore. It doesn't matter how dark or disturbing his work is, it's going to be a masterpiece.

[@InoMercy]

So apparently I confused Warren Ellis with Adam Warren, the actual creator of Empowered. So the only thing from Warren Ellis I know for sure I've seen is Castlevania. Feel free to ignore my previous statement.

[@Firegen1]

@@JohnnyElRed That makes me sad as British comic fan as not only can we do better than that but our dark humour is classically more subtle. IE Blackadder. When I see comic artists who lose that charm I feel like a disappointed aunt.

[@travisbewley7084]

The anti Millar crowd always annoys me a bit. The reductionist nature of it tottaly ignores a lot of Millar's strengths. Ultimates 1 & 2 were some of my favorite books. Captain America and Iron Man had flaws. Not just flaws for shock value, but ones that were their to overcome and become better people for. CA at the end of vol 2 is a better person who has learned.

[@sadpacman3290]

AH! A Night Watch shout-out! The books the movies are based/inspired by are cool too!

[@mmem4264]

Fox's last shot was my favorite part of the movie, it just made so much sense.

[@Qwex1992]

The reason Night Watch does not suck is that Sergei Lukyanenko (the author of the novel it is based on) worked on the screenplay.

[@annabanana7659]

You'll always be The Dom and I, a loyal Sub xD

[@owenslaughter9438]

From what I have head and seen of the comic it's a story about super villains being super villains. So I can't be too upset at the fact in the comic that people do horrific things, like make this movie, BOOM MIC DROP!

[@tuckapenguin681]

Wonderful work as always Dom

[@mattthenerd9283]

Obligatory comment to help Dom overcome the dreaded algorithm.

[@rippersspot]

I actually met Lorna Scott who plays the Boss in the movie. She used to be friends with my godfather.

[@robinpullman1488]

Fascinating concepts and you described them well!

[@skirk248]

I love this guys work. It's like reading a 4chan based comic

[@marcusreading3783]

Hey Dom, did you know that Night Watch was an adaptation? Its based on a novel by the same name that I vaguly remember reading in secondary school and seem to remember it being pretty good. I dont suppose you'd be interested in doing them?

[@corvusalbus7276]

I read the series and "Night Watch" itself probably four times alone. I really liked it, which is why I was so annoyed by the movie, because of the changes they made to both story and characters. It's also only an adaptation of the first part of the novel, if I remember correctly.

[@jonsnor4313]

Night watch has a really good backstory but the second book and the first ending changes things. But the mythology in both is better than this trainwreck with good worldbuilding and anton getting stronger and stronger while staying the lovely looser he is.

[@nancyjay790]

Pretty sure Mr Smith knows. And I'm not just blinded by his accent, as I'm married to a British man and know that despite a lovely accent, he can still talk idiocy. But I do believe Mr Smith has had several book-movie links pointed out even when he isn't aware from his experience. Toodles.

[@RIlianP]

A that film, I remember that the cars in the film rapidly deteriorated fro some sports car at the beginning to Lada at the end, and the director is from Kazakhstan.

[@JW-dg9gf]

Best and favorite way to ingest this story

[@kylelotz9189]

I actually read Nightwatch back when I was in high school and loved it. Had no idea they made a movie. Thank you for the info.

[@TheShadowofDormin]

I am so hyped on this video even though I never saw the movie, I get some of Mark Millar's criticism but I loved this comic book because it was the first time I realized it was like a movie where stories weren't held down by the conventions of normal writing or movie formulas and I can't wait till comic book movies reach that point, they did with Gaurdians of the Galaxy but other then that I don't think many more movies came close to the real reason why people love comics because thy are still stuck in the 60's-80's and we want the freedom of the 2000's onward. It also is a gate way drug that make people unconventional stories like SAGA, Sex Criminals, Fable and even the new Ms Marvel and Doctor Strange and you can even see his extreme influence in The Umbrella Academy

[@Elsenoromniano]

The Umbrella Academy really, really drinks more into the well of Grant Morrison Doom patrol and even Stan Lee´s Fantastic 4 than anything Millar has created.

[@ramirezthesilvite]

Saaaay... *Checks pocket watch* .... It's Millar Time!

[@bakomusha]

Wrong guy.

[@ramirezthesilvite]

@@bakomusha if you mean Linkara, Dom did say he asked Linkara about it, if you mean Mark Millar, Linkara has used that joke on his comics too.

[@Donttrustthatburger5144]

Watching these out of order means I get to see baby Noble making stellar points about how this movie is ridiculous

[@moonlightnmagic9135]

Australia doesn’t need a super villain, every creature here is just waiting for the chance to get you.

[@kingmuizz708]

NGL I love the idea of bending bullets mid-air to get a awesome kill. If only John wick could develop this ability....

[@troikas3353]

He prefers pencils.

[@berengustav7714]

"Is it possible to learn this power?"

[@residentgrigo4701]

The comic´s art is beyond good. The story, on the other hand, is worse than the film version. Neither take truly works but both had the potential for greatness. Millar´s comic work up to and including Civil War (just treat it as Ultimates 3) is often good if needlessly edgy but he totally lost it when he started to write one mini-series after another to pitch to Hollywood. Wanted was arguably the first. This shift in career gave me the first Kick Ass film so I won´t complain too much but Millar truly had the potential to be one of the greats if he honed his craft further instead of totally selling out. I wonder if those Netflix shows are actually coming... He also fucked over my darling Grant Morrison. Urgh. There is some insight to be had in looking at his other adaptations but all his main faults have already been discovered. Outside of his tendency to leave a noticeably high amount of his comics barely finished or absolutely unfinished. He even started a toxic and copyright infringing Youngblood reboot with Rob Liefeld of all people that never got a 2nd (!) issues. Lol. PS: Look up the original ending to the still unfinished American Jesus. You will be left speechless.

[@EssexEx]

Can you please tell me what the original ending was? I don't know how to find it and I like the comic. Was it the one where the Jesus turns out to be the antichrist instead?

[@zumza2001]

i really love this show!!!

[@A-man1998]

I loved the comic!

[@simonorourke4465]

I liked this movie when it came out but haven't seen it since, that being said I can't believe that the movie invented the whole magic loom thing. I have never read the comic although I did know it existed. The loom always seemed insane to me but I always thought that it came from the comic, it just seemed like such a mad idea that I thought that the only reason they left it in was because it was from the comic. After seeing this video I believe I would much rather see the world of the comic brought to life. The concept of the world being run by five families of super villains who have secretly changed reality in order to take total control seems much more interesting than a magic binary future seeing loom.

[@Megatron_95]

I remember that I watched a televised version of the film Wanted. And I think fell asleep when 30 minutes passed by in the film

[@katemock8260]

Sweet! I've seen the film and read the book; and I've been hoping you'd do a review of them. Looking forward to the video!

[@maesterzen1046]

your voice is sounding much better, hope you're healing well

[@astrinymris9953]

This looks like a great fandom for spitefic. Or it would if more people had seen/read *either* version.

[@DiarraHarris]

It just seems to me left to his own devices Mark Millar work is never as good as the film adaptations of his work.

[@changvasejarik62]

Diarra Harris as Linkara said Millar is at his best when kept on a leash. Or at the very least better when he’s playing comics straight instead of deconstructing.

[@thedorkone1516]

Probably something to do with the way editors rarely tell Millar "no" these days.

[@taylorcarmen5336]

Dom knows what ablism is. This makes me very happy.

[@KainGerc]

I don't know, I at least thought the comic was waaaay more interesting than the movie. And hey, Millar doesn't always do uber edgy comics and sometimes does more subdued stuff, for example Old Man Logan which the 'Logan' film was partly based on. Though even in that comic the Super-Villains took over the earth and Logan is basically the only super-hero left. (if you don't count old blind Hawkeye)