Spawn (film)

Infobox_film
name = Spawn


producer = Clint Goldman
Jon Peters
writer = Alan B. McElroy (screenplay and screen story)
Mark A.Z. Dippé (screenwriter)
Todd McFarlane (comic book)
starring = John Leguizamo
Michael Jai White
Martin Sheen
Theresa Randle
Melinda Clarke
Miko Hughes
with Nicol Williamson
and D. B. Sweeney
director = Mark A.Z. Dippé
distributor = New Line Cinema
released = August 1, 1997
runtime = 92 min. (94 min. Director's Cut)
language = English
budget = $40,000,000
gross = $87,840,042
followed_by = "Spawn 2" (2008)
amg_id = 1:156903
imdb_id = 0120177

"Spawn" is a film adaptation of Todd McFarlane's creator-owned Image comic book of the same name. It was released in the United States on August 1, 1997. The film was directed and co-written by Mark Dippé (a former animator at Industrial Light and Magic) and executive produced by McFarlane and Alan Blomquist. The movie starred Michael Jai White as Al Simmons/Spawn, John Leguizamo as Al's demonic guide and antagonist Violator, veteran voice actor Frank Welker as the voice of Malebolgia, Melinda Clarke as the assassin Jessica Priest, Nicol Williamson as Al's mentor Cogliostro, Theresa Randle as Al's widow Wanda Blake, D.B. Sweeney as Wanda's husband Terry Fitzgerald, and Martin Sheen as Jason Wynn, Al's former government employer.

Cameos

At the government-hosted gala, a red-headed woman briefly walks by who is wearing earrings with the Spawn comic book logo. This cameo, albeit brief, is generally considered to be a nod to the angelic Spawn-hunter Angela. Despite her popularity in the comic series, she may have been absent from the film because of ongoing legal disputes between Spawn creator Todd McFarlane and Neil Gaiman, who was hired as a guest writer for Angela's debut issue, "Spawn" #9. Also, two detectives resembling Sam and Twitch arrest Jason Wynn towards the end of the film.

Difference from comic

Although the film was based on the comic book series, some details were changed for the theatrical version of Spawn. Terry Fitzgerald, Al Simmons's best friend, in his former life, was a black man in the comic, was played by D. B. Sweeney, a white man, in the film. McFarlane has explained that this was done by the studio to avoid having too many black leads and creating a perception the film was aimed at just a black target audience. Fact|date=February 2007. Also, in the comics Cyan is clearly Terry's daughter, introduced in the third issue as being roughly a year and a half. As Al was in hell five years it is impossible for him to be Cyan's father. In the movie is greatly implied that the reverse is true. Lastly the comic had Al striking Wanda, however the movie did not.

It is also revealed in the film that Jessica Priest, a white woman, was Al Simmons's murderer. In the comic book series, however, Al Simmon's murderer was originally Chapel, a black male character originally created by Rob Liefeld for the comic Youngblood. However, due to the eventual severing of professional ties between Liefeld and McFarlane, the story may have been altered for the purposes of the film. Chapel remained in the "Spawn" television series, which premiered on HBO months before the film was released. Additionally, it was later revealed in the comic book series, in a case of questionable retcon, that Jessica Priest was indeed Al Simmons's murderer after all. Also in the film, Simmons worked for an agency called A6, while in the comic book he worked for the CIA.

The nature of Spawn's powers and allies are also different. Cogliostro, for example, while revealed to be Cain in the comics, is here portrayed as an assassin for the church in the fifteenth century, who has forsaken most of his Spawn-based powers apart from a blade that comes from his right wrist and is his favored weapon in battle. Also, while Cogliostro does warn Spawn that he will die if his powers are drained, no reference is ever made to Spawn possessing a 'counter' like in the comics, which makes the precise limits of Spawn's powers unclear.

Reception

Roger Ebert praised the film, awarding it 3½ out of 4 stars, ending his review with, "As a visual experience, "Spawn" is unforgettable." [cite web | url = http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/19970801/REVIEWS/708010303/1023 | title = Spawn | date = August 1, 1997 | first = Roger | last = Ebert | publisher = Chicago Sun-Times | accessdate = 2007-07-28 ] However, on television, his co-host (at the time), Gene Siskel, said the film lost him a mere 2 minutes after its introduction. The two had a rather heated debate over the film on screen.

"Spawn" featured, for its time, impressive special effects courtesy of Industrial Light and Magic. Though it received mixed reviews, it was considered a modest box-office success, earning $54.9 million domestically, a little over $87 million worldwide.

DVD release

There are two versions of the film, the PG-13 version and the R-rated Director's Cut. HD DVD and Blu-ray Disc 10th Anniversary Collectors Edition versions were released in late 2007. cite web
title = HD DVD RELEASE SCHEDULE
publisher = High-Def Digest
url = http://hddvd.highdefdigest.com/releasedates.html
accessdate = 2007-03-21 ] cite web
title = BLU-RAY RELEASE SCHEDULE
publisher = High-Def Digest
url = http://bluray.highdefdigest.com/releasedates.html
accessdate = 2007-03-21 ]

DVD Easter Eggs

The Director's Cut DVD contains 2 easter eggs: a Marilyn Manson videocite web
title = Marilyn Manson Video
publisher = Easter Egg Archive
url = http://www.eeggs.com/items/16458.html
accessdate = 2007-07-17 ] and the Clown's backward linecite web
title = Clown's Backward Line
publisher = Easter Egg Archive
url = http://www.eeggs.com/items/21605.html
accessdate = 2007-07-17 ] .

Marilyn Manson video

The video title is "Long Hard Road Out of Hell" and is [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jinKMAuWFoQ here] on YouTube.

Play the "Special Features" side of the disc. Select the "More" option. Select the "Spawn Soundtrack" option. Press the "Right Arrow Key" and a Marilyn Manson graphic appears over the band names. Press Enter/OK to access the building with 3 doors. Choosing the middle door plays the video. The 2 outer doors show animations when either is chosen.

Clown's backward line

Access the building with 3 doors per the Marilyn Manson Video instructions above. Choose the right door 3 times and allow the animation to complete. Choosing the right door the 4th consecutive time plays the Clown's Backward Line, "?sdrater eht lla teg ew dna srewollof doog eht lla pu sgoh dog emoc woH"

equel

A sequel, tentatively titled simply "Spawn 2", has been in development hell since 1998. cite web
last = Head
first = Steve
title = Michael Jai White Gives IGN FilmForce the Latest on Spawn 2
publisher = IGN
date = 2001-03-12
url = http://movies.ign.com/articles/036/036880p1.html
accessdate = 2007-03-21] cite web
title = Spawn
publisher = Comics 2 Film
url = http://www.comics2film.com/ProjectFrame.php?f_id=103
accessdate = 2007-03-21] cite web
last = Campea
first = John
title = Spawn 2
publisher = The Movie Blog
date = 2006-02-27
url = http://www.themovieblog.com/archives/2006/02/spawn_2.html
accessdate = 2007-03-21 ] Michael Jai White confirmed himself to be a part of the project in 2001, as did producer Don Murphy,cite web
last = Stax
title = Spawn 2 Update
publisher = IGN
date = 2002-12-03
url = http://movies.ign.com/articles/379/379178p1.html
accessdate = 2007-03-21 ] cite web
last = Stax
title = Who Might Direct Transformers?
publisher = IGN
date = 2003-07-10
url = http://movies.ign.com/articles/428/428082p1.html
accessdate = 2007-03-21 ] though their current involvement has not been confirmed. McFarlane has stated that the film will be primarily centered around the detective characters Sam and Twitch, leaving Spawn without a speaking part.cite web
title = Spawn
publisher = Comics 2 Film
url = http://www.comics2film.com/ProjectFrame.php?f_id=103
accessdate = 2007-03-21 ] cite web
last = Campea
first = John
title = Spawn 2
publisher = The Movie Blog
date = 2006-02-27
url = http://www.themovieblog.com/archives/2006/02/spawn_2.html
accessdate = 2007-03-21 ] During a FanboyRadio.com interview, Todd McFarlane confirmed that the sequel is a franchise reboot - not a direct sequel - similar to "Batman Begins" and the 2004 version of "The Punisher". [cite web
url=http://fanboyradio.libsyn.com/index.php?post_id=161367
title=Fanboy Radio #357 - Todd McFarlane LIVE
date=13 December 2006
publisher=FanboyRadio.com
format=MP3
accessdate=2007-10-16] In 2007 plans were made for Todd McFarlane Funding to make a new Spawn movie, scheduled for release in 2008. [cite web
url=http://www.rottentomatoes.com/news/1648901/
first=Scott
last=Weinberg
date=June 4 2007
title=Todd McFarlane Funding a New "Spawn" Movie?
publisher=Rotten Tomatoes
accessdate=2007-10-16] The movie may simply be called Spawn, according to Home Media Magazine. Instead of a dark gritty approach, the film will focus more on the fantasy element of Spawn. [cite web
url=http://www.bloody-disgusting.com/news/8990
title=Todd McFarlane Begins Work on New 'Spawn' Film
date=May 31 2007
publisher=Bloody-Disgusting.com
accessdate=2007-10-16] While a guest on the Scott Ferrall show on Sirius radio, a caller asked if he had any plans to do the sequel. He said "It's coming out no matter what. Even if I have to produce, direct and finance it myself, it's going to come out."

oundtrack

Infobox Album | Name = Spawn: The Album
Type = Soundtrack
Artist = Various


Released = 29 July 1997
Recorded =
Genre = Various
Length =
Label = Sony
Producer = Various
Reviews =
*Allmusic Rating|2.5|5 [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:2gjleal34xd7 link]
*Entertainment Weekly (A) 08/08/1997
*Rolling Stone Rating|3|5 08/21/1997|

"Spawn: The Album" was released in July 1997 and brought together popular rock bands at the time including Metallica, Korn, Slayer, Marilyn Manson and Silverchair with well known DJs and electronic producers such as The Crystal Method, Roni Size, and Atari Teenage Riot. A similar concept was previously implemented on the rock/hip-hop fused "Judgement Night" soundtrack. The album debuted at #7 on the U.S. Billboard 200 and stayed in the chart for 25 weeks. The album is certified Gold for selling over 500,000 copies in America.Fact|date=August 2008

There are several limited editions of the soundtrack.Fact|date=August 2008 A US version featuring different cover artwork, an Australian version featuring yet another cover (with the same image as on "Spawn" #39) plus a bonus track "This Is Not A Dream (UK Mix)" by Apollo 440 & Morphine; and a Japanese version with identical cover as the Australian, including a bonus disc containing three remixes and the bonus track from Australian version. The McFarlane Collector's Club also made an LP release available to members featuring the standard album art and translucent red discs.

Track listing

# "(Can't You) Trip Like I Do" - Filter & The Crystal Method – 4:28
# "Long Hard Road Out of Hell" - Marilyn Manson & Sneaker Pimps – 4:21
# "Satan" - Orbital & Kirk Hammett/Metallica – 3:45
# "Kick the P.A." - Korn & The Dust Brothers – 3:21
# "Tiny Rubberband" - Butthole Surfers & Moby – 4:12
# "For Whom the Bell Tolls (The Irony of it All)" - Metallica & DJ Spooky – 4:39
# "Torn Apart" - Stabbing Westward & Wink – 4:53
# "Skin Up Pin Up" - Mansun & 808 State – 5:27
# "One Man Army" - The Prodigy & Tom Morello/Rage Against the Machine – 4:14
# "Spawn" - Silverchair & Vitro – 4:28
# "T-4 Strain" - Henry Rollins & Goldie – 5:19
# "Familiar" - Incubus & DJ Greyboy – 3:22
# "No Remorse (I Wanna Die)" - Slayer & Atari Teenage Riot – 4:16
# "A Plane Scraped Its Belly On A Sooty Yellow Moon" - Soul Coughing & Roni Size – 5:26;Bonus tracks
#

"This Is Not a Dream" (UK Mix) - Apollo 440/Morphine

References

External links

*imdb title|id=0120177|title=Spawn
*mojo title|id=spawn|title=Spawn
* [http://www.maxim.com/MaximEarnsGeekCredwithToddMcFarlane/video/39453.aspx Todd McFarlane wants to "Write, Produce AND Direct" Spawn 2] -- Maxim.com: JULY 2008