Hollywood officially out of ideas
 

Anyone who says this is not the case has officially been pimp slapped to the curb.

It came from the ’80s: ‘Manimal’ to get big screen treatment
By Mike Krumboltz

Who says a TV show has to be well received in order to get the big screen treatment? Certainly not the folks at Sony Animation, who, according to The Hollywood Reporter, recently secured the cinematic rights to the short-lived and critically mauled '80s relic "Manimal."

Mani-what? "Manimal" (which would make for an awesome Burt Reynolds-endorsed cologne) was an action-drama that revolved around a dashing doctor (sadly not Burt Reynolds) who transformed into different animals (but mostly a panther) to help the police fight crime. Proving that even the American public has its limits, the show was canceled after just eight episodes.

But it seems that the concept of a man turning into beasts and birds to chase crooks was just too good for Hollywood to ignore. And even though Sony Animation grabbed the rights, the film (if it does see the light of day) will be live action with a healthy dose of CGI. Maybe something like "The Smurfs" only not so highbrow.
Embracing the "so bad it's good" past of "Manimal" will go a long way with the show's fans. And yes, they do exist. The Web is full of folks who look back fondly (really!) on the shape-shifting adventures of Dr. Jonathan Chase (played by Simon MacCorkindale). One commenter from TV.com puts it this way, "As a show about a man plus animal = manimal, it succeeds brilliantly." Another writes on IMDb, "I remember when this show came on and I thought it was the greatest thing. Yes, some of it seemed very hokey, but it was a lot of fun."

Others are notably less kind. "I want those 60 minutes of my life back. What was I thinking? I was 12, so my only excuse was that I wasn't thinking when I decided to watch the pilot for this steaming pile of drek," is a typical user review. Ditto for: "Its (sp) an ugly trainwreck of a show."

While "Manimal" lasted just two months on the air, other TV shows have gotten the ax far quicker. The much-hyped "Playboy Club" was killed after just three episodes. "The Paul Reiser Show" made it on the air just twice. And "Emily's Reasons Why Not," starring Heather Graham, lasted just one episode. Seven more and Emily could have had her own movie — just ask Manimal.

http://movies.yahoo.com/blogs/movie-...232725599.html

Howard the Duck 2 starring Peyton Manning?

they aren't out of ideas. The corporate suit dumbasses control everything and they aren't willing to try anything that nobody has heard of. Immediate money over any sort of integrity. I bet that many potentially great films have been thrown in the garbage in favor of bullshit like this.

You know how many ideas they can get from books still? Gazillion fahillion

:banghead: :cuss: :banghead: :cuss: :banghead: :cuss: :banghead:

Okay, here we go, then.

Manimal could have been good, but they didn't develop it well. The writing was derivative and it was hampered by a really stingy budget - they only had enough budget to make two animal-transformation scenes (hawk and panther) and so they reused them over and over. For any other animal (I remember a bull, once), they had it happen off-screen, which screamed "cheap". People got tired of that, fast.

It also had Melody Anderson, who was pretty, but couldn't act to save her life.

It also has a cult following - Jay Leno had (or maybe still has) a Manimal mug on his desk - and could be a decent movie with some budget and good writing behind it.

uhhhmmmm....
http://vintagestock.myvideostore.com...tock&id=132268

Texas Chainsaw Massacre 3D.

Ok, so a doctor who has a hobby as a private detective that can transmute into different animals is actually a good idea?

It's no zanier than a reclusive billionaire who dressed up like a bat, and jumps from rooftop to rooftop fighting crime, or a benevolent, bulletproof, flying alien who can achieve Total Disguise by putting on a pair of glasses.

Really. Those examples are in a comic book universe with other people who are equally as strange. Any evidence that others in the Manimal universe have strange powers?

We are talking about one of the worst rated shows of all-time.

. . . that ran for eight episodes. It didn't really have enough time to develop a full 'world' around it. Plus, most comic book movies and TV series of that time ended up fighting thugs and mobsters more than anything. And, I've admitted the show was shit; my point is the concept has merit.

It also has some notoriety, which movie makers love. To wit: I'm betting more people here recognize its name than they do, say, Night Man or Mann and Machine.

I remember that show. It was horrible.

Its because on average, movies based on other source material with built in audience awareness make more money than original ideas.

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What's next? The big screen adaptation of Greatest American Hero?

Perhaps Small Wonder? Maybe an indie crossover of Too Close for Comfort and Airwolf?

Can we please stop this obsession with 80's trash culture?!?!