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Here’s a link to the latest trailer for “The Spirit,” directed by Frank Miller.  It made my computer crash twice today (not at that link), so, view at your own risk? Maybe my computer was just confused.

This is Will Eisner through an incredibly heavy filter of Frank Miller; that trailer to me felt even more like “Sin City” than the previous, just with goofy humor running through it.

“The Spirit” certainly has folks talking, and, I’m obviously going to see it - I just don’t know what to think of it, yet.  I don’t think it’s the movie that Eisner would have made, and I don’t think it replaces reading the comics — I mean, does anybody get a sense of Gerhard Schnobble out of this thing at all? That’s more what “The Spirit” is, to me.

Thoughts? Where is everybody on this one?

- Matt Price

UGO.com has the latest posters and artwork from Frank Miller’s “The Spirit” film, set for a Christmas release.   I think that’s a cool looking poster, though I’m still thinking the film may be doomed to “interesting failure.”

I can’t remember who I’m stealing this from, but I heard someone say something along the lines of “Did we need an Adam West ‘Sin City’ film?’ in reference to “The Spirit,” and from what I’ve seen of it, that seems strangely appropos.  Still, you know I’m going to see it anyway.

– Matt Price

Director-Writer Frank Miller on the set of his film THE SPIRIT. (Lewis Jacobs)
 

SAN DIEGO — Fans in a packed-to-capacity Hall H at Comic-Con International were given a first look at three scenes from the upcoming “The Spirit.”  A new, longer trailer was also shown for the first time.

Director Frank Miller and several others connected with the film were on hand as more about the Will Eisner adaptation was revealed.   Miller described his longtime relationship with Eisner, who created the Spirit.

“Will and I never stopped debating the nature of comic books and how they work,” said Miller, who first came to prominence in the early 1980s as the writer-artist of the comic book “Daredevil.”  Miller later wrote and drew “Batman: The Dark Knight Returns,” “Sin City” and “300.”  He moved to film work on the movie adaptation of “Sin City,” where he was a co-director with Robert Rodriguez.  “The Spirit” is Miller’s first work as a solo director.

Miller said he debated “for about three seconds” before accepting “The Spirit,” which has put many of his other creative endeavors on hold.

“I realized if I didn’t do it, someone else would do it,” he said.

Though it’s held up other graphic novel projects, Miller said “The Spirit” has been very rewarding for him.

“I’ve had moments of creative euphoria that I’ve not had before,” he said.

The scenes shown explore The Spirit (Gabriel Macht), his relationship with Ellen Dolan (Sarah Paulson) and his battle with the Octopus (Samuel L. Jackson).  There’s also a scene featuring Sand Saref (Eva Mendes) underwater, in what Miller described as a new technique — the filmmakers shot the scene without using water.

– Matt Price

Bob “Mr. Media” talks to the producer of the upcoming “The Spirit” film, Michael Uslan. Uslan is also largely responsible for shepherding the 1989 “Batman” movie to the screen.

– Matt Price

From Entertainment Weekly, via Variety, comes word that Frank Miller’s adaptation of Will Eisner’s “The Spirit” is moving up to a Christmas 2008 release.  I’m assuming this means Lionsgate likes what they have in the film.

– Matt Price 

ComicMix picks up a story from Wired indicating that Creative Artists Agency picked up the rights to Eisner’s estate and will push for more movies based on those books, including A Contract With God.

Wired pushes it as a savvy business move, given the continued success of comic-book movies in the wake of Iron Man, and especially given the buzz around the Frank Miller-directed “The Spirit.”

Eisner obviously has some great work, though I don’t know if it’s the same audience, at all, as that for “Iron Man.” And I’m not sure you can improve on “A Contract With God” or “A Life Force” or “Invisible People” by making them into films — they’re nearly perfect as graphic novels!  But I suppose more people being exposed to and aware of Eisner’s work is a good end goal for all of this.

– Matt Price

Well, this is certain to annoy my wife, who is looking forward to “The Spirit” but can’t stand Eva Mendes, but here’s some new promotional art from the film.

On the positive side, Scarlett Johansson is also in it:

I figured after all the talk about it, I might as well embed the thing here.

Still feel good about this, overall. The more Milleresque aspects of it are growing on me. (Except maybe “She is my mother, she is my lover.” That just sounds creepy, even metaphorically.)

– Matt Price

Fantagraphics designer Jacob Covey doesn’t like the triptych poster promoting Frank Miller’s film adaptation of Will Eisner’s comic book “The Spirit” - and he shares his reasons why.

In any case, the point of a teaser poster is to post a single compelling image that leaves the viewer wondering what’s next. But here you get one part great primary poster image and two parts lazy extension of the main image. You get a vague red tie. Comics fans can love this trio of images but the fact is a lazy red tie isn’t going to hook anybody not already interested in this film. A lazy red tie isn’t even going to get people to waste their time wondering what the formless red mass on black might be. It’s not even interesting enough to be used in a Rorschach test.

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The Frank Miller-directed adaptation of Will Eisner’s “The Spirit” will reveal its teaser trailer at the upcoming New York Comicon.  The official site has been redesigned with a new look and a countdown to the teaser trailer. 

Gabriel Macht plays the Spirit, a rookie cop who seemingly returns from the dead to fight crime in Central City.  His archenemy, The Octopus, is played by Samuel L. Jackson. 

More info about Will Eisner and the Spirit character is available at www.willeisner.com.