Comments on: Dick Tracy on Blu-ray

By: Win Dick Tracy on Blu-ray » DVDs Worth Watching

Win Dick Tracy on Blu-ray » DVDs Worth Watching — Fri, 18 Jan 2013 13:23:15 +0000

[...] an extra copy of Dick Tracy on Blu-ray, and I’m giving it away [...]

By: argo plummer

argo plummer — Wed, 02 Jan 2013 18:29:17 +0000

I didn’t know that about Junior (did they just call him “The Kid” in the movie?)–I was never a huge Tracy reader, but didn’t have memories of seeing a kid character before.

I agree that the adaptation was pretty easy to find, but I remember seeing the other issues as well. I have no doubt they are harder to find today and maybe my memory is playing tricks on me.

By: Jim Kosmicki

Jim Kosmicki — Wed, 02 Jan 2013 13:04:08 +0000

Junior was not an addition of the filmmakers – he was part of the comic strip for decades. I believe he eventually married Moon Maid (i know, i know, the weird part of the strip’s history).

as for the rarity, the actual adaptation was around – I remember seeing copies discounted at a Walmart or Toys’R'Us store a year or so after the movie hype died down. But the two issues preceding the adaptation (and the trade paperback) were much more scarce in these parts. I believe that most comic store owners did not buy into the Dick Tracy hype – Gladstone had some nice comic book versions of the comic strip available at the time that died on the vine too.

By: Argo Plummer

Argo Plummer — Wed, 02 Jan 2013 01:51:47 +0000

I remember seeing the movie in the theaters during my senior year of high school. It was the summer after the first Batman came out if I remember correctly. I thought it was OK. I do own the Madonna album / soundtrack and still enjoy it. Never been a big Warren Beatty fan and didn’t enjoy the sticking of a “cute kid” into the story.

It’s also odd to think of the adaptation by Kyle Baker as being rare. I worked at a comic store in Dallas for a few years during college and we couldn’t get rid of them–they were always in our bargain section. Don’t know why–maybe the owner ordered way too many. I never bought it, because I am not the biggest Kyle Baker fan–I know, heresy, but though I have come to appreciate somewhat, back then I couldn’t stand his art.

Still nice to see these films becomming available.

By: Johanna

Johanna — Tue, 01 Jan 2013 20:28:03 +0000

That’s ok, it gave me something to contribute to the discussion. :) I should see if KC has those — I’m always eager to see more Baker work.

By: Jim Kosmicki

Jim Kosmicki — Tue, 01 Jan 2013 20:08:26 +0000

I was thinking Wein for the official adaptation, but couldn’t remember on the other two. And as you could tell, i was too lazy to think of actually looking it up! I do remember that all three were solidly done, with great Baker art and solid stories.

By: Johanna

Johanna — Tue, 01 Jan 2013 15:12:32 +0000

Comics.org lists the writer as John Moore for issues 1 and 2 and Len Wein for issue 3.

By: Jim Kosmicki

Jim Kosmicki — Tue, 01 Jan 2013 13:58:26 +0000

Disney Comics did a really, really nice comic book tie-in by Kyle Baker. it was three “bookshelf” issues (or “Dark Knight” format if you’re old-school), with the third being an adaptation of the film. So the first two issues were original story setting up the film. The art was by Kyle Baker and gorgeous. I cannot remember if he also wrote the books (I think the official movie adaptation issue had a specific writer attached). Almost nobody knew this was out at the time, so very few people seem to have ever heard of it. There was also a trade paperback version that’s even harder to find.

IIRC (my copies of both versions are in storage somewhere), Beatty was very particular about his image (and Baker’s style is rather unique) so they found one version of Beatty/Tracy that he approved and used it for Tracy’s face in most(all?) of the panels. It took a book with a specific artistic style, adapting a film with a specific visual style, and added another layer on top. I need to dig through my boxes and find this book again…

By: Johanna

Johanna — Tue, 01 Jan 2013 12:14:00 +0000

David, I was envisioning a sing-along version of this, like they do with Sound of Music, but the songs aren’t given enough running time. You can, however, sing along to Popeye, an incredibly faithful comic movie.

James, Madonna still looks great in this movie, and those dresses are still marvels of engineering in how they stay on.

By: James Schee

James Schee — Tue, 01 Jan 2013 03:42:35 +0000

Wow, I’ve seen this movie only once, in theater at the age of 15 when it came out. I had no idea who or what Dick Tracy was, I just thought Madonna was really good looking at the time. lol

It was so bizarre, if I’d had a cellphone back then I probably would have called my parents to come get me as there were times I was just dumbfounded at the movie. One of these days I need to see it again, just to see if it was that bad, or was I just missing things.

By: David Oakes

David Oakes — Tue, 01 Jan 2013 03:20:32 +0000

But can you sing along to the Avengers or Dark Knight?

(Iron Man, of course, being the exception that proves the rule.)