G for Geek

Every so often I wonder if I've gone over the geek edge; obsessing over Lost, 24, Kevin Smith movies, comic books etc. However during the year there are usually a few moments where I realize I'm actually quite reasonable. Often these moments occur when a comic book movie comes out. I realize that I couldn't care less if the Batmobile in Batman Begins looks nothing like previous incarnations or that Magneto's helmet doesn't have that right amount of points on it the X Men 3 trailer.

This weeks revelation came when I was reading articles about V for Vendetta. If I had a dime for every web post or blog where someone is railing against the description of V for Vendetta as a comic book film I'd have a hefty sum. Apparently the geek community is upset that V for Vendetta is being referred to as "adapted from a comic book" and not a graphic novel, in the mainstream press. Now I've used both terms and in truth V was published as a graphic novel but what's the big deal here people. A graphic novel uses the comic book format but in a longer format. Furthermore many graphic novels are mearly collections of issues gathered into one long volume. (Note to self apparently these are now called trade paperbacks.) More to the point, Joe and Jane Moviegoer could care less. If anything referring to V as a graphic novel could actually turn people off. Comic book is a known quality that means action, adventure and lots of pows and zoinks. V took the #1 spot at the box office this weekend and is well on its way to being a commercial success. Maybe hardcore geeks should spend less time railing against the media for inconsiquential shit like this and more time supporting quality films that bring classic stories from the page to the screen.