Taking aim on Targets

Perhaps you don't know about the 1968 film Targets. It was the true directorial debut of Peter Bogdanovich... and it's possible you don't know who he is either, since although he's still making movies, he hasn't been a big name since the 1970s.

Targets was a low budget film from Roger Corman's stable and when Corman gave the assignment to Bogdanovich, the infamous B-movie king didn't expect too much out of it. However, Bogdanovich had an interesting idea for the film and the support of Boris Karloff.

Targets tells two stories which collide in the climax; the first is the story of aging horror film star Byron Orlok (Karloff), a one-time cinema great who now appears in cheap movies; the second is the story of Bobby Thompson, a Vietnam War veteran who snaps one day and goes on a killing spree. The stories cross paths at a drive-in where what Orlok intends to be his final film is making its debut.

The second half of Targets is where the film becomes tense, where Bobby's rampage begins. It's an immensely terrifying premise because Bobby is shooting people in a dark drive-in while they sit in their cars; the sound of his rifle is drowned out by the motion picture itself.

As great as the premise for Targets is, it could have been simply an exploitative B-movie, but Bogdanovich was young, hungry, and eager to show what he could do behind a camera; the film is full of interesting photography which keeps the visuals from seeming flat. One of Bogdanovich's tricks to avoid expensive bullet effects is to zoom-in when people are shot, which gives the impression of the bullets striking targets without actually having to spend the money on make-up.

When I first came across this picture on cable I was mesmerized; despite being a Karloff fan, I knew nothing about it and the climax - when Orlok faces off against Bobby - was absolutely riveting. I'm petty enough to wish this was Karloff's last picture, but of course he went on to make a few more cheap-o horror flicks; at least Targets gave him one last great picture before the end.

I rewatched Targets to celebrate Halloween this year and it holds up. Check it out if you can.

Creator credits for Daredevil season 3

Hey, do you like Frank Miller & David Mazzuchelli's 'Born Again'? Great. Interested in a filmed adaptation of the story? Fine, fine. How about stretching it into 13 episodes, adding Bullseye in a manner mostly reminiscent of other half-baked villains like Typhoid Mary in the most recent Iron Fist season and mostly fumbling every single moment which made 'Born Again' so great?

The Marvel Netflix shows are dying, and I can't say I'll miss them very much.

Frank Miller: creator of Elektra, Matt's lover, an assassin dressed in red (Daredevil #168, 1981); of Bullseye going insane (Daredevil #169, 1981); of Wilson Fisk's name; of Wilson Fisk as Daredevil's primary enemy (Daredevil #170, 1981); of Stick, Matt's mentor (Daredevil #176, 1981); of Bullseye using the name 'Benjamin Poindexter'; of Elektra dying; of Daredevil breaking Bullseye's back (Daredevil #181, 1982); of Matt distraught over Elektra's death (Daredevil #182, 1982); co-creator of Josie's Bar, a dive bar in Hell's Kitchen tended by the titular Josie (Daredevil #160, 1979); of Jack Murdock's name; of Hell's Kitchen as Matt Murdock's childhood borough; of Urich becoming an ally of Daredevil (Daredevil #164); of Melvin Potter's name; of Melvin's lady friend Betsy; of Melvin's mental problems (Daredevil #166, 1980); of Wilson Fisk controlling the police and using the authorities to wreck Matt Murdock's life and target his allies; of Fisk learning Matt Murdock is Daredevil; of Karen Page having a drug problem; of Karen inadvertently giving away Murdock's secrets to the Kingpin (Daredevil #227, 1986); of Murdock wearing stubble in both of his identities; of Murdock being isolated from his friends and suffering from hallucinations when he tries to fight the Kingpin; of Fisk trying to kill Murdock by sealing him inside a yellow taxi cab driven into the river; of Fisk stunned when Murdock's body isn't found in the taxi; of Felix Manning, one of the Kingpin's top operatives (Daredevil #228, 1986); of Sister Maggie, a nun who cares for Daredevil in a church shelter; of Matt Murdock being believed dead (Daredevil #229, 1986); of Sister Maggie tending to Matt after he was first blinded; of Matt Murdock's mother being Sister Maggie; of the Kingpin threatening Betsy in order to get Melvin Potter to make a duplicate Daredevil costume (Daredevil #230, 1986); of the Kingpin sending a psychotic man out in a Daredevil costume to discredit Matt Murdock; of Murdock fighting the impostor (Daredevil #231, 1986); of Murdock wearing black costume while operating as anonymous vigilante (Daredevil: The Man Without Fear #2, 1993);

Stan Lee: co-creator of the Kingpin of Crime, a mob boss dressed in white who organizes the disparate underworld elements under his leadership from the heart of Manhattan (Amazing Spider-Man #50, 1967); of the Kingpin's wife, Vanessa Fisk (Amazing Spider-Man #69, 1969); of Matt Murdock, a lawyer who also fights crime as Daredevil by using his superhuman sensory powers; Murdock blinded as a child while saving a man from a truck carrying radioactive waste; billy club as Daredevil's primary weapon; Murdock as son of the boxer Battling Murdock, who rasied him alone and wanted him to gain a superior education; the elder Murdock dying after crossing a crooked boxing promoter and refusing to lose a fixed fight; Fogwell's Gym as Murdock's training place; Murdock partnered with his college friend Franklin "Foggy" Nelson at Nelson & Murdock law firm; Karen Page as Murdock & Nelson's secretary and object of affection to both men (Daredevil #1, 1964); of Daredevil's ability to detect lies (Daredevil #3, 1964); of Daredevil's red costume; of Daredevil's gimmick billy club (Daredevil #7, 1965); of Gladiator, a costume designer who makes a Daredevil costume and fights Daredevil with a saw weapon, wear's a yellow shirt with a 'V' (Daredevil #18, 1966); of Foggy Nelson running for district attorney (Daredevil #36, 1968)

David Mazzucchelli: co-creator of Wilson Fisk controlling the police and using the authorities to wreck Matt Murdock's life and target his allies; of Fisk learning Matt Murdock is Daredevil; of Karen Page having a drug problem; of Karen inadvertently giving away Murdock's secrets to the Kingpin (Daredevil #227, 1986); of Murdock wearing stubble in both of his identities; of Murdock being isolated from his friends and suffering from hallucinations when he tries to fight the Kingpin; of Fisk trying to kill Murdock by sealing him inside a yellow taxi cab driven into the river; of Fisk stunned when Murdock's body isn't found in the taxi; of Felix Manning, one of the Kingpin's top operatives (Daredevil #228, 1986); of Sister Maggie, a nun who cares for Daredevil in a church shelter; of Matt Murdock being believed dead (Daredevil #229, 1986); of Sister Maggie tending to Matt after he was first blinded; of Matt Murdock's mother being Sister Maggie; of the Kingpin threatening Betsy in order to get Melvin Potter to make a duplicate Daredevil costume (Daredevil #230, 1986); of the Kingpin sending a psychotic man out in a Daredevil costume to discredit Matt Murdock; of Murdock fighting the impostor (Daredevil #231, 1986)

Bill Everett: co-creator of Matt Murdock, a lawyer who also fights crime as Daredevil by using his superhuman sensory powers; Murdock blinded as a child while saving a man from a truck carrying radioactive waste; billy club as Daredevil's primary weapon; Murdock as son of the boxer Battling Murdock, who rasied him alone and wanted him to gain a superior education; the elder Murdock dying after crossing a crooked boxing promoter and refusing to lose a fixed fight; Fogwell's Gym as Murdock's training place; Murdock partnered with his college friend Franklin "Foggy" Nelson at Nelson & Murdock law firm; Karen Page as Murdock & Nelson's secretary and object of affection to both men (Daredevil #1, 1964)

Gene Colan: co-creator of Gladiator, a costume designer who makes a Daredevil costume and fights Daredevil with a saw weapon, wear's a yellow shirt with a 'V' (Daredevil #18, 1966); of Foggy Nelson running for district attorney (Daredevil #36, 1968); of Paxton Page, Karen Page's father (Daredevil #56, 1969); of Karen Page learning Matt Murdock is Daredevil (Daredevil #57, 1969); of Blake Tower, New York district attorney frequently embroiled in Nelson & Murdock's affairs (Daredevil #124, 1975); of Ben Urich, an aging reporter with a relentless dedication to the truth (Daredevil #153, 1978)

Roger McKenzie: co-creator of Ben Urich, an aging reporter with a relentless dedication to the truth (Daredevil #153, 1978); of Josie's Bar, a dive bar in Hell's Kitchen tended by the titular Josie (Daredevil #160, 1979); of Jack Murdock's name; of Hell's Kitchen as Matt Murdock's childhood borough; of Urich becoming an ally of Daredevil (Daredevil #164); of Melvin Potter's name; of Melvin's lady friend Betsy; of Melvin's mental problems (Daredevil #166, 1980)

Marv Wolfman: co-creator of Blake Tower, New York district attorney frequently embroiled in Nelson & Murdock's affairs (Daredevil #124, 1975); of Bullseye, an expert assassin who can turn any object into a lethal weapon, battles Daredevil; Bullseye as former baseball player; of Bullseye with a target on his forehead (Daredevil #131, 1976)

John Romita, Jr.: co-creator of Matt Murdock going to regular confession (Daredevil #267, 1989); of Murdock wearing black costume while operating as anonymous vigilante (Daredevil: The Man Without Fear #2, 1993); of Rosalie Carbone, an Italian mob princess (Punisher: War Zone #2, 1992)

John Romita: co-creator of the Kingpin of Crime, a mob boss dressed in white who organizes the disparate underworld elements under his leadership from the heart of Manhattan (Amazing Spider-Man #50, 1967); of the Kingpin's wife, Vanessa Fisk (Amazing Spider-Man #69, 1969)

Bob Brown: co-creator of Matt Murdock's Catholicism (Daredevil #119, 1975); of Bullseye, an expert assassin who can turn any object into a lethal weapon, battles Daredevil; Bullseye as former baseball player; of Bullseye with a target on his forehead (Daredevil #131, 1976)

Dennis O'Neil: co-creator of Dr. Oyama, a physician who tends to Bullseye's broken back (Daredevil #196, 1983); of Bullseye's back being reinforced with metal by Dr. Oyama (Daredevil #198, 1983)

Kevin Smith: co-creator of Matt Murdock wearing red-tinted sunglasses (Daredevil #1, 1998); of Bullseye fighting Daredevil in a church, trying to kill Karen Page with a billy club (Daredevil #5, 1999)

Joe Quesada: co-creator of Matt Murdock wearing red-tinted sunglasses (Daredevil #1, 1998); of Bullseye fighting Daredevil in a church, trying to kill Karen Page with a billy club (Daredevil #5, 1999)

Brian Michael Bendis: co-creator of Jessica Jones, a superhuman private investigator (Alias #1, 2001); of the FBI investigating Matt Murdock and Daredevil's connection (Daredevil #31, 2002)

Lee Weeks: co-creator of Bullseye disguising himself as Daredevil (Daredevil #288, 1991); of Daredevil bringing down Fisk's criminal empire (Daredevil #300, 1992)

Roy Thomas: co-creator of Paxton Page, Karen Page's father (Daredevil #56, 1969); of Karen Page learning Matt Murdock is Daredevil (Daredevil #57, 1969)

Ann Nocenti: co-creator of Matt Murdock going to regular confession (Daredevil #267, 1989); of Bullseye disguising himself as Daredevil (Daredevil #288, 1991)

D.G. Chichester: co-creator of Daredevil bringing down Fisk's criminal empire (Daredevil #300, 1992); of Daredevil wearing body armor (Daredevil #322, 1993)

Len Wein: co-creator of Blake Tower, New York district attorney frequently embroiled in Nelson & Murdock's affairs (Daredevil #124, 1975)

Steve Englehart: co-creator of Ben Donovan, an African-American lawyer who works for criminals (Hero for Hire #14, 1973)

Billy Graham: co-creator of Ben Donovan, an African-American lawyer who works for criminals (Hero for Hire #14, 1973)

Larry Hama: co-creator of Dr. Oyama, a physician who tends to Bullseye's broken back (Daredevil #196, 1983)

William Johnson: co-creator of Bullseye's back being reinforced with metal by Dr. Oyama (Daredevil #198, 1983)

Tom DeFalco: co-creator of the Kingpin continuing his criminal activities from his cell (Spider-Girl #1, 1998)

Alex Maleev: co-creator of the FBI investigating Matt Murdock and Daredevil's connection (Daredevil #31, 2002)

Jeff Christiansen: creator of Penelope Page's name (Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A to Z #3, 2006)

Ron Frenz: co-creator of the Kingpin continuing his criminal activities from his cell (Spider-Girl #1, 1998)

Michael Lark: co-creator of Matt Murdock being caught inside a prison during a riot (Daredevil #86, 2006)

Wally Wood: co-creator of Daredevil's red costume; of Daredevil's gimmick billy club (Daredevil #7, 1965)

Marc Guggenheim: co-creator of Brett Mahoney, a police detective (Marvel Comics Presents #1, 2007)

Chuck Dixon: co-creator of Rosalie Carbone, an Italian mob princess (Punisher: War Zone #2, 1992)

Ed Brubaker: co-creator of Matt Murdock being caught inside a prison during a riot (Daredevil #86, 2006)

Dave Wilkins: co-creator of Brett Mahoney, a police detective (Marvel Comics Presents #1, 2007)

Michael Gaydos: co-creator of Jessica Jones, a superhuman private investigator (Alias #1, 2001)

Jim Shooter: co-creator of Hell's Kitchen as locale patroled by Daredevil (Daredevil #148, 1977)

J.M. DeMatteis: co-creator of Foggy Nelson learning Murdock is Daredevil (Daredevil #347, 1995)

Gil Kane: co-creator of Hell's Kitchen as locale patroled by Daredevil (Daredevil #148, 1977)

Ron Wagner: co-creator of Foggy Nelson learning Murdock is Daredevil (Daredevil #347, 1995)

Joe Orlando: co-creator of Daredevil's ability to detect lies (Daredevil #3, 1964)

Scott McDaniel: co-creator of Daredevil wearing body armor (Daredevil #322, 1993)

Tony Isabella: co-creator of Matt Murdock's Catholicism (Daredevil #119, 1975)

Richard Starkings: creator of Daredevil logo (Daredevil #1, 1998)

My Incredulity Concerning Avatar

From time to time I've mentioned that I enjoy the 2009 film Avatar. It's definitely not fashionable to admit it, considering the plethora of online articles I see which are incredulous that the film was the #1 box office success of all time. I've heard the criticisms and don't much care for them; I like the film and watch it about once per year.

Where the sequels are concerned, I'm a little skeptical - it's unproven whether the concept of the film can sustain itself over multiple pictures. Maybe it won't - maybe Avatar II: Na'vi Boogaloo will be the franchise-killing flameout much of the internet would like it to be - but then again, maybe it will work. I'm skeptical but optimistic.

This, on the other hand...

Next January, Dark Horse Comics will begin publishing the mini-series Avatar: Tsu'tey's Path, celebrating Avatar's 10th anniversary. Incredibly, Avatar II has been filmed but isn't scheduled to debut until 2020! You could see this comic book as an effort by the filmmakers to keep the Avatar property in people's consciousness, but...

...Look, I don't see myself buying this comic - no offense to the creators involved, but I don't typically buy comic books which are adaptations from another medium. If you put 10 people who like Avatar in a room and asked them, "Who's Tsu'tey?" I think you'd be lucky if half of them remembered: "Oh yeah, the guy who lost his girlfriend, mantle of leadership and life within a week all thanks to Jake Sully."

This is a prequel to Avatar telling what Tsu'tey was up to prior to the first film. If this had been released around 2009-2010 that would be a pretty good hook for your typically-inconsequential Dark Horse film tie-in product, but 10 years out? At this stage, who is interested in a prequel about one of the film's second-tier characters? This would be like Dark Horse putting out an Aliens prequel in 1996 which told us Hudson's very interesting backstory (please don't tell me if Dark Horse did this).

On some level, I feel like the primary reason this comic book exists is because Dark Horse has been steadily losing the licenses which used to be their bread and butter (Star Wars, Conan) and are flailing about for something which has a built-in following.