Sonic the Hedgehog Live-Action/CGI Movie Targeting 2020 Release Date

[Papenbrook]

Originally Posted by The Deadman

Don't bother. This movie could get 100% ratings across the board and they'd hate it.

Um, ... no it won't.

Jeff Fowler, the film's director, has NEVER directed any movie before the Sonic Movie™. In other words, this is his OFFICIAL debut.

( Apparently, they had since left production - before Paramount even bought the rights! So, I apologize for my harshness/rudeness, Mr. Robichaux and Mr. Susser. May you both have better days, and may you both land on your feet! )

The writing of the screenplay authors, Patrick Casey, Josh Miller, and Oren Uziel, contains a hodgepodge of mediocrity, inferiority, and obscurity. Mr. Uziel in particular wrote only ONE good film, and his writing wasn't even the reason it was good. (He wasn't the only one who wrote that film.)

Now, you see where my issues lie? Can you now see why I'm disappointed?

God, this is Sonic Forces™ all ... over ... again!

[Sumac]

Why the post above makes me feel like I am looking at the drug induced art?

All that is missing is some childish drawing of sun. Or something to that effect.

[Papenbrook]

I have just viewed this photo again.

Spoiler:

It's ... simply depressing.

Spoiler:

The gang's all here. Heh heh .....

[TurtleTitan97]

So are you just keep doing this Chicken Little routine of expressing doom over every minor thing until we get a trailer or what?

Because this point, your posts feel like spam and I'd actually like to see REAL content and not you whining over vests and set photos.

[Papenbrook]

You're right.

I'm sorry for my outbursts.

It's just that ... Sonic happens to be my favorite franchise. So, you could just imagine how I'm feeling about all of this.

I don't wanna see Sonikku like this.

[Leo656]

Sonic fans certainly are an... interesting bunch.

It's odd, I guess, that despite owning and beating most of the games, owning several DVD sets, and having several hundred of the comic books, I rarely self-describe as a "Sonic Fan".

...But then I'm reminded of the general behavior of Sonic fans, and I don't think it's odd anymore.

I'm a little sad that this movie most likely won't be good, but as I've explained elsewhere, I never, ever expected a live-action Sonic movie would be. So I just kind of sigh and shake my head. "Live-action Sonic" isn't something anyone ever should have attempted in the first place. It's not "impossible" to pull off, just... well, mostly. Any sane person can see that the whole Sonic deal is, by definition, a "cartoon". Nothing about the Sonic-verse at all, from character designs to story to tone, can be translated into live-action without becoming a bad joke. Any live-action project can ONLY end up appealing to the least-demanding of young children, with everyone else left asking "Who is this even FOR?"

Just a bad idea, brought to life by those who feel that absolutely everything "needs" a live-action film. The truth is, no, things like this that are 90% doomed to fail from conception definitely do NOT need to be brought to life in such a fashion.

But it was never gonna be good to begin with, so... whatever. Over it.

[Wildcat]

Regardless of how this turns out the Sonic-verse is great for turning live action. Story wise there’s more than enough to use.

Just because we’re used to seeing the characters in cartoon form does not mean any “real life” design can not be suitable. They’re not stick figures.

The same could be said about the TMNT but that’s been proven wrong.

[Leo656]

TMNT is a story built on drama, tragedy, and pathos, that was later watered down into cartoon format in order to sell toys to children.

Sonic the Hedgehog was created in a boardroom, via focus group, specifically to sell toys to children.

TMNT is essentially a story about outcasts trying to survive in a world that doesn't want them, and exploring what "family" means when there's nobody else like you.

Sonic is about a mad scientist who thinks he's either part robot or part egg, depending on who's holding the pen, and a main character who tries to fight toxic pollution by Running Fast, and collecting magical trinkets so he can Run Faster Some More.

They're only similar on the superficial "talking animals" level, everything else is entirely different. For one thing, we've at least seen (all of ONE time) that TMNT can work in live action without being a complete joke, if you focus on what it's actually about - "family", "outcasts", "cycle of violence", etc. Jury's still out on whether that works for Sonic as well. I say, "No, not at all, that's nuts."

I like Sonic a lot for what it is, but what it is, is a cartoon for young kids, and even the very best of the games, cartoons, and comics are NOT as great as some people claim they are/were. The depth and dramatic tension simply aren't there. "Eggman"? Magic rings and Emeralds? "Gotta go FASTER"? It's silly. It's for kids, all of it, every last bit. And that's Perfectly Fine, but there's almost certainly no "elevating the material" that can ever, EVER produce a Sonic film on par with the 1990 TMNT film.

The best any Sonic live-action movie could ever be, would be akin to one of the Chipmunks movies. And that looks almost exactly like what it's turning out to be. And that's to be expected, because again, you can't retrofit a Happy Meal Toy into goddamn Lord of the Rings, no matter how hard you try. It wasn't MADE for that. You can't turn it INTO that.

Like, for example, I love Speed Racer and I love the live action film. I say it all the time. I love the movie; still not sure it should have been made. I'M glad it exists, and it's exactly what it should have been, but most people seem to hate it, which has me thinking that maybe it just doesn't work. It's exactly "live action anime" and entirely faithful to the cartoon, but... maybe live-action anime isn't a thing people should try and do at all? It never, ever seems to work. COULD someone do a Speed Racer movie that's like, I'unno, in the vein of Tarantino's "Death Proof"? Sure, and that might be fun, but they absolutely couldn't do it without getting so far away from the cartoon that it just wouldn't be "Speed Racer" anymore. And that's not something I would want, either.

You can't make a "real" movie about Sonic without changing absolutely everything it was designed to be - which is a CARTOON. It's not comparable to TMNT because TMNT was originally designed to be something entirely different than what the cartoons bastardized it into, and the movie went back to that source material. Sonic's source material simply isn't solid enough to support anything but a kids' movie, and frankly, not a very good one.

Some things simply don't translate very well outside of their medium. That should be fine, except that some people really do feel like every idea deserves a budget and a release date, and that's not true. You CAN do anything, sure, but there's wisdom in knowing what NOT to do, as well.

Sonic can work as a good animated film, either traditional hand-drawn or CGI, and you can make it without treating it like a full-blown comedy or a farce, but you just can't present those characters, and that story, in live action as anything but a joke. The whole thing just completely crumbles in the translation. Movies have an entirely different level of "reality" and verisimilitude than games and animation do; what works for one doesn't work universally. You cant force it to.

This one looks like the Woody Woodpecker movie. That's as good as anyone can do with this material, and that's not very good at all. Again, I Like Sonic A Lot, but I'm very realistic about what works and what doesn't as far as trying to adapt it. Someone turning a decent video game series into a bad live-action film does the property NO favors whatsoever.

Video games shouldn't be made into movies. Cartoons shouldn't be made into movies. These things just don't work in translation. Not everything should be a movie. That's fine. There's no wisdom, grace, or dignity in trying to hammer the square peg into the round hole, just to say "We did it, I guess." With all the credibility problems the Sonic brand has suffered through over the last 15+ years, this not only feels completely unnecessary, it feels like they'd have to be completely oblivious to even attempt it.

I'm seriously wondering how many game-to-film or cartoon-to-film adaptations have to fail spectacularly, before people collectively admit that they just don't work, and stop insisting that they can? They "can" in the sense that, once every 30 years, you get "Mortal Kombat". The rest of the time - 99.999999% of the time - you get "Mortal Kombat: Annihilation". WHY do we insist that this stuff "works" when it doesn't? WHY do we want more Bad Movies, just because we like A Thing a lot?

It's ludicrous. Again, I'm not mad that a movie that could only turn out bad, looks like it's turning out very bad. I'm mad that people even want to try, when the Success/Failure Ratio is like 1:500. "But it can work!" Except no, it can't, and it doesn't. It Doesn't Work. It's been proven and re-proven. The "cartoon/video game into live action" formula Does NOT work. One or two examples that turned out "acceptable" doesn't change the broader point one bit.

Count me as one the Sonic fans who likes the character enough to NEVER want to suffer through stuff like this. Never asked for it, never wanted it, don't want it now, don't want it ever. It's not necessary, and it isn't gonna work.

The best we can hope for is that it doesn't actively cause more harm to a franchise that has already taken a serious beating in recent years.

[Wildcat]

Just because Sonic was made for kids or to compete with Mario does not somehow make him or his universe inferior. He’s still a heroic character that defends the world and his friends/family from evil. It’s the same difference to me.

I know you could say Mario should fit that same mold then, maybe, but I think Sonic is a little more on the serious side. Nothing against Mario though. I’d love a true Sonic and Mario crossover.

Anyway it’s really unfair to label Sonic as “too kiddy” to be thought of as a legitimate series. Especially on a TMNT board. Even before the Fred Wolf cartoon I’m sure some would have thought talking turtles transformed by ooze who learned martial arts was too kiddy.

Isn’t that the battle that most superheros or cartoons have fought to disprove? It’s totally unfair.

Sure video game movies are not known to be great but that’s not the characters fault. It’s whoever made the movies.

[Leo656]

Super-heroes are simply an updated retelling of the classic myths about ancient gods and titans of yore, which have been told and re-told for thousands of years. Their stories are fantastical but carry much greater depth. Anyone who can't see past the capes is myopic. They're not "kids stuff" fundamentally.

Comparatively, Sonic is a chili-dog obsessed rodent who can run fast, and Mario is a plumber who jumps on turtles.

Objectively, there's a world of difference between those things. And yes, they are "too kiddy" to translate into live action. They weren't created to exist in that space. They don't work in that space. They shouldn't be forced into that space. Once again, TMNT only worked as a live action film - and only worked ONE TIME as a live action film - because the film ignored most of the cartoon elements and focused almost entirely on the comics, which DID have verisimilitude , drama, and depth. As soon as they decided to make "live action cartoons" with the second one, the whole thing turned to junk and never recovered. You're actually proving MY point with your example.

It IS the material's fault. You can't just inject things like "drama" and "pathos" into stories where those things don't exist. And a live-action story without drama and pathos is a farce.

Sonic would be a very acceptable animated feature. A live action movie is a recipe for disaster, and the results should prove quite poor from the looks of it. It was true in 1993, and it's true today. It was a Bad Idea from conception. Not a single thing about Sonic gives any indication whatsoever that it would "work" outside of animation and video games.

Again, I've played 99% of the games, own about 90% of the DVDs, and have every Archie comic except for the last couple of years where I'm missing a few. Since I'm apparently a Big Fan... maybe you can tell me WHY I'm utterly convinced that this franchise needs to "stay in its lane"? What am I missing? I've seen all the material there is - and I enjoy it - but I STRONGLY maintain that it doesn't have the depth to support a live action project in any way, shape, or form.

It's not that I'm just a grouch, so what is it, then? One fan to another, could it be that maybe I'm just a little bit more objective than you are in realizing that certain things I like a lot only have very narrow chances for "crossover" appeal?

Even if I'm right - and I'm pretty sure I am - there's nothing wrong with that. Not everything that was designed as One Thing works when it's turned into Something Else.

I like Sonic. I'd continue to like it just as much without yet another pitiful live-action "adaptation" in a sea full of them. Better games with better stories than goddamn SONIC have tanked when they were forced to conform into these types of "experiments". If Mortal Kombat, Resident Evil, Assassin's Creed and Tomb Raider couldn't hack it - and they absolutely did NOT "hack it" - then something as "fluffy" and superficial as Sonic can't work in that medium, either. Mathematically, it doesn't work. Those stories HAD compelling elements and characters that didn't just appeal to children, and they still were all pretty lousy when they were chopped up into live action fare. It wasn't the filmmakers' fault completely; it's that these kinds of things DON'T TRANSLATE outside of their medium.

There's very little about Sonic that has any substance whatsoever, not enough to carry a live action film. I say that as a fan. I'm sorry we disagree, but there's not anything there to appeal to anyone except very young kids; everyone else is going to be sitting there in the theater grinding their teeth and rolling their eyes. Watch and see. And when it's over, everyone is going to regret this thing being made. Everyone.

Something like the Ratchet & Clank movie would have been a much, much, MUCH better idea to pursue. It might have actually turned out good, for one thing. The "rules" and restrictions for making a live action film just don't mesh with things like Sonic that are entirely cotton candy. It is what it is.

[Wildcat]

It’s so weird to see you say you’ve played most of the games, seen the shows and read the comic (you’ve certainly read more than me) but still relegate him to kiddy fare.

I know for sure from the ones I have the comics added depth, drama and pathos. They even managed to fit in the game universe with its tie-ins.

Even the games have added more depth. Not very heavy but it’s apparent. The personalities and overall themes are there. Even if they’re kinda cliche at times or simplified for younger audiences.

I didn’t mean Mario should be viewed as a superhero. That’s obviously different but I was talking about a game crossover.

However I think Sonic fits the term superhero very well because he/his universe is more serious. It’s not a fantasy world. It’s his planet or Earth that’s threatened to be enslaved. Plus all the supernatural elements.

[Sumac]

Originally Posted by Leo656

Video games shouldn't be made into movies. Cartoons shouldn't be made into movies.

LOL.
Just because most directors and writers incapable of handling such material well, doesn't mean that it can not be done.
You once again prove that you are lacking imagination and ability to think outside of the box.

[Leo656]

Some things don't play well in live action. History bears that as fact more often than not. Do the math.

[Papenbrook]

In all honesty, the moment that they revealed Sonic's design ( Hell, maybe even earlier than that ) was the moment that I knew it was going to suck, badly.

The behind-the-scenes photos only made things worse for me (and apparently, for ninety percent of others).

I'm sorry about intruding on someone's optimism circus, but I just have zero faith in this- at all.

[Leo656]

Originally Posted by Papenbrook

I'm sorry about intruding on someone's optimism circus, but I just have zero faith in this- at all.

I will use "Optimism Circus" in regular conversation from now on. But I will never, ever give you credit for it because nobody will ever take your word over mine.

Just FYI.

[Voltron]

Now I'm wondering what a pessimism circus would look like.

[Vegita-San]

Originally Posted by Voltron

Now I'm wondering what a pessimism circus would look like.

just look at the gloom and doom star wars fandom has become, thanks to the fact that it's tanking minute by minute due to bad mismanagement.

[Papenbrook]

Oh my God, this is even worse than I thought!

EDIT: Oh God, we're getting even CLOSER!!!

[Leo656]

I hope the Gangsta's Paradise thing is real. That really needs to be real. Every single thing just needs to be the complete wrong thing. That's great.

[Sumac]

Originally Posted by Leo656

Some things don't play well in live action. History bears that as fact more often than not. Do the math.

Math tells us that there were some successful adaptations of games and cartoons.
So...math is not on your side.

Originally Posted by Papenbrook

Oh my God, this is even worse than I thought!

EDIT: Oh God, we're getting even CLOSER!!!

This post desperately needs more unicorns, sparks and more MORE colorful fonts.