Favorite "obscure" director taking over huge franchise?
#1
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Favorite "obscure" director taking over huge franchise?
so i am talking about all these directors that have come from relative obscurity to directing huge franchises. Chris Nolan (The Dark Knight Trilogy), Sam Raimi (Spider-Man), Peter Jackson (LotR), James Gunn (GotG), Bryan Singer (X-Men), John Favreau (Iron Man), etc...
for me:
it's a toss up bc i loved Iron Man so much and have seen it numerous times, but The Fellowship of the Rings was pure movie making majesty...
going with Peter Jackson.
for me:
it's a toss up bc i loved Iron Man so much and have seen it numerous times, but The Fellowship of the Rings was pure movie making majesty...
going with Peter Jackson.
#3
DVD Talk Legend
Re: Favorite "obscure" director taking over huge franchise?
I wouldn't have considered Nolan, Raimi, or Jackson obscure before they did their bigger franchises. They weren't big names but they all had quite a few films to their credit just nothing blockbuster worthy.
#5
Re: Favorite "obscure" director taking over huge franchise?
Bryan Singer had already done The Usual Suspects & Apt Pupil. John Favreau was known as an actor and had directed Made, Elf & Zathura.
#7
DVD Talk Legend
Re: Favorite "obscure" director taking over huge franchise?
Yeah I just picked a few examples that I knew had a decent filmography built up that I was familiar with prior to doing something bigger. Not denying Singer or Favreau were established.
#8
DVD Talk God
Re: Favorite "obscure" director taking over huge franchise?
Noam Murro directing 300: Rise of an Empire.
I think he's pretty obscure, but IMO did an awesome job.
I think he's pretty obscure, but IMO did an awesome job.
#9
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Re: Favorite "obscure" director taking over huge franchise?
you guys know what i mean. relative obscurity or they have never directed bigger budgeted affair like they went on to do. Joss Whedon is another i would put in this category. sure he was established in tv and did Serenity, but then given the reigns of The Avengers is like a windfall for him and eventually us...
#11
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#12
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Re: Favorite "obscure" director taking over huge franchise?
Nolan really just had Memento and Insomnia (and Following, I guess) under his belt when he signed onto Batman. Back then, I thought that was an incredible move. I expected a Richard Donner or someone like that.
And I guess Bryan Singer was the same way with X-Men. The Usual Suspects was a pillar movie for us movie dorks in the 90's.
Now, I'm kind of getting used to that method. And I like it. It feels like studios are getting away from detached, terrible choices and getting into to know and understand film culture. I'm not sure who's driving it. But it seems to be working. The culture of the 80's and 90's was all business and no interest or understanding in finding out what makes a movie good - just what can sell tickets. Now there seem to be a trend of attempting to make a "good" AND "profitable" movie.
And I guess Bryan Singer was the same way with X-Men. The Usual Suspects was a pillar movie for us movie dorks in the 90's.
Now, I'm kind of getting used to that method. And I like it. It feels like studios are getting away from detached, terrible choices and getting into to know and understand film culture. I'm not sure who's driving it. But it seems to be working. The culture of the 80's and 90's was all business and no interest or understanding in finding out what makes a movie good - just what can sell tickets. Now there seem to be a trend of attempting to make a "good" AND "profitable" movie.
#15
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Re: Favorite "obscure" director taking over huge franchise?
I can't believe no one has mentioned David Yates taking over the Harry Potter franchise with Order of the Phoenix and all the remaining films. Huge franchise. He had done TV movies and miniseries almost exclusively before that. When he was given the job, everyone was asking "who?"
I think he did an amazing job with the last four movies, particularly Order of the Phoenix, which was the hardest book to adapt.
I think he did an amazing job with the last four movies, particularly Order of the Phoenix, which was the hardest book to adapt.
Last edited by sherm42; 07-25-14 at 02:53 PM.
#17
DVD Talk Legend
Re: Favorite "obscure" director taking over huge franchise?
you guys know what i mean. relative obscurity or they have never directed bigger budgeted affair like they went on to do. Joss Whedon is another i would put in this category. sure he was established in tv and did Serenity, but then given the reigns of The Avengers is like a windfall for him and eventually us...
#19
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#20
Re: Favorite "obscure" director taking over huge franchise?
Lexi Alexander: PUNISHER WAR ZONE
#21
DVD Talk Legend
#25
DVD Talk Hero
Re: Favorite "obscure" director taking over huge franchise?
That's a good point. My psyche has never been able to break into the film-festival-indie-unrecognized scene. But I know there's a whole scene of people out there who dig that stuff. Most notable directors have a few credits are their IMDB that you are completely unaware of.