- Sep 22, 2013
- 4,956
- 250
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After seeing War of the Worlds, I started asking, "Does Hollywood consciousness create a democratic hypochondria?"
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An American political cartoonist named Ali was using offbeat characterizations of mythological characters such as Medusa and new age comic book villains such as Carnage to pen stories about TrumpUSA falling into the pitfalls of capitalism corruption. Ali's sardonic stories caught the attention of a few movie producers who wanted to cast a story about a modern-day Thomas Nast (with Ali as Nast!). Ali would be required to pose as a 'radical cartoonist' (complete with a colourful vigilantism-oriented costume and work-mask or head-gear). Ali feared he was going to become a 'celebrity ghost-story.'
Ali's story was developed into a screenplay and suddenly Brett Ratner wanted to direct the film adaptation, titled Red Goblin: A Media Scare. Leo DiCaprio would portray a 'mad scientist' and terrorist named Stan while Adrien Grenier (star of The Devil Wears Prada) would portray Ali. Ratner met with comic book artists, Ali's PR-representatives, and media specialists at a new Center for the Cinematic Arts building in Los Angles (which was red in color incidentally). The 'team' decided that the film Red Goblin would be a new age 'War of the Worlds.'
All kinds of animation consultants were sought, since Ratner wanted Red Goblin to have a comic book feel and vibe. There were sketches of red tanks, red submarines, and red helicopters, and Ratner wondered if he should create a larger 'Red Army' invasion side-story for the film. After all, there were many capitalism-criticism overtones for the film (since Ali had become an overnight-celebrity with his child-like political cartoons critiquing modern capitalism in America).
As Ratner was completing production, Steven Spielberg wanted in on the project and he contacted his Hollywood friend/associate Tom Hanks (star of The Ladykillers) to see if he wanted in on the project too, and Hanks did. Hanks and Spielberg met with Ratner in L.A. in the summer of 2018 and discussed a potential duo-cameo in Red Goblin, during which they would comedically remark, "Capitalism and cinema are hallmarks of modern madness!"
Ali was asked to create a special child-like stick-figure 'doodle' of the fictional chemically-mutated terrorist-creature known as Red Goblin (which DiCaprio would portray in the film) for Ratner. Ali did so, and Ratner loved it; he thought Ali had captured the nice dimensions of Red Goblin's menacing but gnome-like appearance (perfect for a political critique about terrorism). The doodle would be featured in the film as a sarcastic statement about the proliferation of yellow-journalism (or 'fake-news') in modern media portals such as the Internet and radio. The purpose was to give the entire Red Goblin 'terrorism-aesthetic' a workable 'exorcist' feel.
Ali's doodle was also seen by Kevin Smith (longtime diplomat and artist and film-maker in the comic book 'universe') who commissioned one of his friends at Marvel Comics to come up with a special stand-alone issue featuring the Red Goblin to complement the release/marketing of Ratner's fun new film. Red Goblin was hopefully going to become the new 'Xenomorph' (the fictional predatory alien creature from the iconic American sci-fi horror-film franchise Alien, starring Sigourney Weaver and Guy Pearce).
At the movie premiere, Ratner had his staff distribute red plastic water-guns to kids waiting in line. It was summer after all. The water-guns would be carried into the movie theatre for the cinematic experience but not loaded/fired when ushers standing in the aisles would cue the audience to fake-shoot at the screen during key symbolic scenes in which TrumpUSA was being caricaturized for media fun. Ratner wanted the entire movie-going 'extravaganza' but Ali worried that the message of political criticism would be clouded by all this 'fanfare confetti.'
As box-office sales soared for Ratner's new film, other comics-filmmakers such as Sam Raimi were suddenly interested in creating red-colored comic book super-villains custom-made for their modernism-critical films about American frailty and political comedy. Deadpool: Red Army was one of these newly-planned films (about a red-colored vigilante tackling a Communist invasion in Cuba and Canada). Ali was interviewed by TIME magazine and told the interviewer, "It's great how comic book art introduces modern audiences to the nifty notion of 'radical action' (e.g., terrorism, piracy, corruption, sedition, etc.)."
A grand celebrity party was planned for fans and Hollywood actors involved or interested in Ratner's new film 'achievement.' Ali was there of course as was Tom Hanks, Spielberg, DiCaprio, Ratner himself, as well as actresses Anne Hathaway and Diane Lane and media-icons George Lucas and Madonna. U2 was invited to perform at the event, which was in L.A. of course. There were many attendees, and the drinks and music were memorable. However, something happened to shatter this 'commercial dream' --- something worthy of the grin of the Red Goblin himself perhaps.
GOD: Red Goblin is so darn eerie...
SATAN: Red Goblin is a blend of anarchy and mayhem.
GOD: Violence is the anathema of modern civilization.
SATAN: Terrorism has frightened everyone...
GOD: After 9/11, Americans have been paranoid about shock.
SATAN: The World Trade Center must once again be a beacon of security!
GOD: So what do you make of the incident at Ratner's movie party in L.A.?
SATAN: That random fanatic stormed into the venue with a giant exploding balloon of ketchup.
GOD: The fanatic (Thomas Hewitt) thought the whole political-cartoon cinema thing was B.S.
SATAN: Hewitt was arrested but not before he doused all the attendees with his ketchup.
GOD: The FBI are calling Hewitt the 'Condiment Psycho.'
SATAN: Ratner was shocked but in the end amused; though Ali still worried about art.
GOD: Ali's paranoid about the media's effect on individual liberties.
SATAN: That's expected for a 'visionary cartoonist.'
GOD: Ali's no Thomas Nast, but he's at least a Pee-Wee Herman or Len Wein!
SATAN: He's doing very well; it seems that political critique is in demand...
GOD: Maybe Nast is resurrecting for all this TrumpUSA banter.
SATAN: I wonder if Red Goblin will become as popular as the Xenomorph.
GOD: Only time will tell...
SATAN: Ya know, War of the Worlds reminded me of Rodney King.
GOD: Maybe Ratner's film will be considered a 'society blunder.'
SATAN: When pranks are confused for terrorism, Hollywood is demonized.
GOD: Isn't that why films like Carnage are so appealing?
====
====
An American political cartoonist named Ali was using offbeat characterizations of mythological characters such as Medusa and new age comic book villains such as Carnage to pen stories about TrumpUSA falling into the pitfalls of capitalism corruption. Ali's sardonic stories caught the attention of a few movie producers who wanted to cast a story about a modern-day Thomas Nast (with Ali as Nast!). Ali would be required to pose as a 'radical cartoonist' (complete with a colourful vigilantism-oriented costume and work-mask or head-gear). Ali feared he was going to become a 'celebrity ghost-story.'
Ali's story was developed into a screenplay and suddenly Brett Ratner wanted to direct the film adaptation, titled Red Goblin: A Media Scare. Leo DiCaprio would portray a 'mad scientist' and terrorist named Stan while Adrien Grenier (star of The Devil Wears Prada) would portray Ali. Ratner met with comic book artists, Ali's PR-representatives, and media specialists at a new Center for the Cinematic Arts building in Los Angles (which was red in color incidentally). The 'team' decided that the film Red Goblin would be a new age 'War of the Worlds.'
All kinds of animation consultants were sought, since Ratner wanted Red Goblin to have a comic book feel and vibe. There were sketches of red tanks, red submarines, and red helicopters, and Ratner wondered if he should create a larger 'Red Army' invasion side-story for the film. After all, there were many capitalism-criticism overtones for the film (since Ali had become an overnight-celebrity with his child-like political cartoons critiquing modern capitalism in America).
As Ratner was completing production, Steven Spielberg wanted in on the project and he contacted his Hollywood friend/associate Tom Hanks (star of The Ladykillers) to see if he wanted in on the project too, and Hanks did. Hanks and Spielberg met with Ratner in L.A. in the summer of 2018 and discussed a potential duo-cameo in Red Goblin, during which they would comedically remark, "Capitalism and cinema are hallmarks of modern madness!"
Ali was asked to create a special child-like stick-figure 'doodle' of the fictional chemically-mutated terrorist-creature known as Red Goblin (which DiCaprio would portray in the film) for Ratner. Ali did so, and Ratner loved it; he thought Ali had captured the nice dimensions of Red Goblin's menacing but gnome-like appearance (perfect for a political critique about terrorism). The doodle would be featured in the film as a sarcastic statement about the proliferation of yellow-journalism (or 'fake-news') in modern media portals such as the Internet and radio. The purpose was to give the entire Red Goblin 'terrorism-aesthetic' a workable 'exorcist' feel.
Ali's doodle was also seen by Kevin Smith (longtime diplomat and artist and film-maker in the comic book 'universe') who commissioned one of his friends at Marvel Comics to come up with a special stand-alone issue featuring the Red Goblin to complement the release/marketing of Ratner's fun new film. Red Goblin was hopefully going to become the new 'Xenomorph' (the fictional predatory alien creature from the iconic American sci-fi horror-film franchise Alien, starring Sigourney Weaver and Guy Pearce).
At the movie premiere, Ratner had his staff distribute red plastic water-guns to kids waiting in line. It was summer after all. The water-guns would be carried into the movie theatre for the cinematic experience but not loaded/fired when ushers standing in the aisles would cue the audience to fake-shoot at the screen during key symbolic scenes in which TrumpUSA was being caricaturized for media fun. Ratner wanted the entire movie-going 'extravaganza' but Ali worried that the message of political criticism would be clouded by all this 'fanfare confetti.'
As box-office sales soared for Ratner's new film, other comics-filmmakers such as Sam Raimi were suddenly interested in creating red-colored comic book super-villains custom-made for their modernism-critical films about American frailty and political comedy. Deadpool: Red Army was one of these newly-planned films (about a red-colored vigilante tackling a Communist invasion in Cuba and Canada). Ali was interviewed by TIME magazine and told the interviewer, "It's great how comic book art introduces modern audiences to the nifty notion of 'radical action' (e.g., terrorism, piracy, corruption, sedition, etc.)."
A grand celebrity party was planned for fans and Hollywood actors involved or interested in Ratner's new film 'achievement.' Ali was there of course as was Tom Hanks, Spielberg, DiCaprio, Ratner himself, as well as actresses Anne Hathaway and Diane Lane and media-icons George Lucas and Madonna. U2 was invited to perform at the event, which was in L.A. of course. There were many attendees, and the drinks and music were memorable. However, something happened to shatter this 'commercial dream' --- something worthy of the grin of the Red Goblin himself perhaps.
GOD: Red Goblin is so darn eerie...
SATAN: Red Goblin is a blend of anarchy and mayhem.
GOD: Violence is the anathema of modern civilization.
SATAN: Terrorism has frightened everyone...
GOD: After 9/11, Americans have been paranoid about shock.
SATAN: The World Trade Center must once again be a beacon of security!
GOD: So what do you make of the incident at Ratner's movie party in L.A.?
SATAN: That random fanatic stormed into the venue with a giant exploding balloon of ketchup.
GOD: The fanatic (Thomas Hewitt) thought the whole political-cartoon cinema thing was B.S.
SATAN: Hewitt was arrested but not before he doused all the attendees with his ketchup.
GOD: The FBI are calling Hewitt the 'Condiment Psycho.'
SATAN: Ratner was shocked but in the end amused; though Ali still worried about art.
GOD: Ali's paranoid about the media's effect on individual liberties.
SATAN: That's expected for a 'visionary cartoonist.'
GOD: Ali's no Thomas Nast, but he's at least a Pee-Wee Herman or Len Wein!
SATAN: He's doing very well; it seems that political critique is in demand...
GOD: Maybe Nast is resurrecting for all this TrumpUSA banter.
SATAN: I wonder if Red Goblin will become as popular as the Xenomorph.
GOD: Only time will tell...
SATAN: Ya know, War of the Worlds reminded me of Rodney King.
GOD: Maybe Ratner's film will be considered a 'society blunder.'
SATAN: When pranks are confused for terrorism, Hollywood is demonized.
GOD: Isn't that why films like Carnage are so appealing?
====
