Every time I see ads for “Underworld,” I keep thinking it’s for “Birds of Prey.” Am I the only one?
PAD
75 comments on “IS IT JUST ME?”
With regard to the ad images for BIRDS OF PREY and UNDERWORLD that others have linked to:
IMO, yes, undoubtedly they’re similar. But I doubt the one is a conscious rip-off of the other. After all, the basic design element–protagonist standing on a skyscraper gargoyle–is hardly original to either; both almost surely draw from earlier inspiration.
After all, not only has Batman (to take an example from our comics hobby) been depicted similarly throughout the years, but some would proably find those posters’ poses similar to scenes from “Wings of Desire” or other cinematic examples.
Really, Person-Standing-Precariously-on-a-Skyscraper is almost as common an image concept as are all them comic covers that homage Michelangelo’s Pieta…
Well, I see this poster and hear about this film, and I keep thinking about a classic episode of “The Real Ghostbusters, entitled “Nobody Comes to Lupusville.” In this story, written by JMS during his memorable run as creative force behind that show, it’s mainly vampires vs. vampires with the Ghostbusters caught in the middle. The episode title, though, hints at the twist ending. JMS did the vamps vs. werewolves thing in two minutes, and probably did it better than “Underworld” does.
I had a good giggle over those lawsuit similarities. My favorite notes that in both properties, the werewolves fight with teeth and claws.
From what I’ve seen, this kind of thing is common in lawsuits. Throw everything up against that wall, and see what sticks. The defense then objects to everything. Basically, pile up as much paperwork as possible, and hope your opponent misses something.
Not to be overly anal, but it’s NEXT WEEK’s issue of TV Guide that makes the BOP/Underworld comparison. The issue for next week hit newstands today though.
The contrast against the full moon is nice,
Also, if you look closely, there’s a little werewolf silhouette on the moon.
Count me among those who immediately thought of the BoP ad when I saw the Underworld ad.
Then I thought how the whole “brooding on a black protrusion on a dark’n’stormy night” was a reference to Neal Adams’ run on “Brave & Bold” as I believe that he was the one to come with the idea of having Batman on that sculpture…
I guess i was the only one to think of that episode of the real ghostbusters animated series with the town of vamps and the town of werewolves…and the crossbreading chaos that resulted.
Every time I see the preview, I go through a moment of confusion where I mix it up with Tad William’s sci-fi series, “Otherland”. Other than the vague synonym in the final syllable, I don’t think they have anything in common.
I thought it looked way too much like Birds of Prey. I even thought that another network was bringing the show back until I saw it was for a movie.
When I saw the trailer, I thought first of Birds of Prey, then I thought “separated at birth.”
Who will win the lawsuit? Who would you rather be killed by, Hitler or Stalin?
I hope they both lose. White Wolf’s horror games have been on the decline for about two years, and they’re closing their live-action “Camarilla,” mostly because the LARP players were breaking the rules by killing the other players like crazy. (And causing such havoc that convention hotels were banning the game.) Hence the lawsuit; White Wolf needs the money.
And not only was Sony stupid for not offering some kind of pittance to White Wolf (which even Glen Larsen was smart enough to do for his failed Vamp TV series) but they tried to make the ads look as much like a “Crow” sequel as possible.
I hope the movie fails, and that Sony uses the poor box office for an excuse to only pay White Wolf a couple of bucks. Serves ’em both right.
Yep, I thought the same thing. In fact, I thought the two promo posters were almost identical. But upon closer examination they bear only a passing resembelance to each other. Y’know girl in black standing on a gargoyle overlooking dark city.
Here in the UK, the Underworld ad was the cover image of The Sunday Times newspaper’s TV guide supplement.
When I glanced at that magazine from a far for the first time, I immediately thought that it meant a UK TV channel was going to be showing the “Birds of Prey” series.
Immediately following on from that thought, I realised that that was implausible, as there was no way such a thing would warrant a front cover placement in this magazine of all things.
And sure enough, upon closer inspection it was the ad for “Underworld” and was on the cover due to a featured interview with Kate Beckinsale inside its pages.
Neil Gaiman was asked if he thinks Harry Potter was ripped off from The Books of Magic. He responded by paraphrasing Terry Pratchett: The fantasy genre is like a big pot of stew. When you write fantasy, you ladel a few elements out of the pot, and you ladel a few back in.
That said, Underworld doesn’t look particularly promising, or original.
–Daniel M.
Birds of prey was OK but you really can’t have a show based in Gotham City and not have Batman show up. I mean really Alfred Pennyworth is a recurring character but no Batman. No wonder the show got canceled.
…And now we’re going to get a new Flash series from the WB, starring a Flash without a costume, set where? Gotham City.
Bet there’s no Batman in that one, either…
Neil Gaiman was asked if he thinks Harry Potter was ripped off from The Books of Magic. He responded by paraphrasing Terry Pratchett: The fantasy genre is like a big pot of stew. When you write fantasy, you ladel a few elements out of the pot, and you ladel a few back in.
Oh, that was just lovely.
Now I too can open a fantasy novel with a bunch of geeks role-playing. But who’d buy it? *impudent grin*
Actually, Nytwyng, there is a new Vampire game coming, a sequel to the game you’re talking about, one made with the Half-Life engine.
Hmm, and Activision is doing it?
Maybe they’re the ones that told White Wolf to sue, seeing as how they’re rather amusingly taking on Viacom over Star Trek.
Either way, White Wolf is acting like they invented the subgenre, and that they hold the rights to say what gets created and what doesn’t.
The court battle will be silly, with White Wolf likely spending some money for pathetic advertising in the long run.
I thought World of Darkness too.
PAD,
You’re not the only one. See next weeks TV Guide (“Friends” cover) for verification of your theory.
Actually, Tolkien’s estate would probably have a better case against Gygax over the original version of D&D.
There’s a reason they’re called “halflings” and not “hobbits” after the “white-box” edition.
White Wolf eat your heart out (and drop your frivilous complaint while you’re at it).
Underworld is a fun movie. 🙂
The thing that really bugs me about this is the director ( don’t know his name off hand) is supposed to be a big comics geek, yet doesn’t see the similarities.
And no, the Adams Batman pose and the Workers on girders doesn’t look any thing like these posters.
If they hadn’t only come out about a year apart from one another no one would have noticed.
Re: The White Wolf lawsuit:
This one was my favorite:
“90. In the World of Darkness, wood does not kill vampires. In Underworld, the werewolves do not use wood to kill vampires, nor mention it as an option.”
In fairness, I sympathize with White Wolf. They may not have invented the majority of their material, but they did bring a great number of sources together and form them into something workable, if not enjoyable, and even though they’re ending the World of Darkness soon, it sort of steals their thunder to make a big budget vampire and werewolf movie without involving them. Also, involving them could have brought WoD Werewolves into the movie, and I’ve been waiting for nigh-upon a decade for them to get something, be it a video game, movie, or even a halfway decent cartoon. Aside from those arty one-shot comic books last year, Werewolf the Apocalypse has gotten none of the recognition it deserves.
I am an avid fan of White Wolf’s games, and have been a Storyteller for both Werewolf and Vampire for two years… It doesn’t mean that I will support them on all counts, however, I do believe they have a case. I believe it is entirely possible that the makers of Underworld may have borrowed, at least in part, from V:TM and W:TA. Having read WW’s complaints, I see a few points that are too similar to the games to not have been borrowed from them. I think that if the writers did indeed use WW’s ideas, they need to be smart and admit it, at least give WW some credit and some money. If they didn’t, then it sure seems like they did, because a lot of people (including myself) at first thought that Underworld was produced by WW or (in my case) based on the WoD. Perhaps it’s that there were not enough entirely unique concepts in the film to make it dissimilar enough to the WoD. (I haven’t seen it, but I’ve been informed by a friend who has that it does seem a lot like they took directly from WW, and I’ve read the synopsis.)
Anyway. That’s just my two cents. I’ll shut up now. o.o
The problem this leads to is, of course, is should White Wolf go back and sue every other movie involving vampires and/or werewolves since the company was founded?
Because they’re bound to find similarities whereever they look.
• 
With regard to the ad images for BIRDS OF PREY and UNDERWORLD that others have linked to:
IMO, yes, undoubtedly they’re similar. But I doubt the one is a conscious rip-off of the other. After all, the basic design element–protagonist standing on a skyscraper gargoyle–is hardly original to either; both almost surely draw from earlier inspiration.
After all, not only has Batman (to take an example from our comics hobby) been depicted similarly throughout the years, but some would proably find those posters’ poses similar to scenes from “Wings of Desire” or other cinematic examples.
Heck, on some level, all similar depcitions almost surely draw some measure of inspiration from the classic 1940s photograph of workmen atop a Chrysler Buidling gargoyle: http://artwork.barewalls.com/product/artwork.exe?ArtworkID=109101
Really, Person-Standing-Precariously-on-a-Skyscraper is almost as common an image concept as are all them comic covers that homage Michelangelo’s Pieta…
Well, I see this poster and hear about this film, and I keep thinking about a classic episode of “The Real Ghostbusters, entitled “Nobody Comes to Lupusville.” In this story, written by JMS during his memorable run as creative force behind that show, it’s mainly vampires vs. vampires with the Ghostbusters caught in the middle. The episode title, though, hints at the twist ending. JMS did the vamps vs. werewolves thing in two minutes, and probably did it better than “Underworld” does.
I had a good giggle over those lawsuit similarities. My favorite notes that in both properties, the werewolves fight with teeth and claws.
From what I’ve seen, this kind of thing is common in lawsuits. Throw everything up against that wall, and see what sticks. The defense then objects to everything. Basically, pile up as much paperwork as possible, and hope your opponent misses something.
Not to be overly anal, but it’s NEXT WEEK’s issue of TV Guide that makes the BOP/Underworld comparison. The issue for next week hit newstands today though.
The contrast against the full moon is nice,
Also, if you look closely, there’s a little werewolf silhouette on the moon.
Count me among those who immediately thought of the BoP ad when I saw the Underworld ad.
Then I thought how the whole “brooding on a black protrusion on a dark’n’stormy night” was a reference to Neal Adams’ run on “Brave & Bold” as I believe that he was the one to come with the idea of having Batman on that sculpture…
I guess i was the only one to think of that episode of the real ghostbusters animated series with the town of vamps and the town of werewolves…and the crossbreading chaos that resulted.
Every time I see the preview, I go through a moment of confusion where I mix it up with Tad William’s sci-fi series, “Otherland”. Other than the vague synonym in the final syllable, I don’t think they have anything in common.
I thought it looked way too much like Birds of Prey. I even thought that another network was bringing the show back until I saw it was for a movie.
When I saw the trailer, I thought first of Birds of Prey, then I thought “separated at birth.”
Who will win the lawsuit? Who would you rather be killed by, Hitler or Stalin?
I hope they both lose. White Wolf’s horror games have been on the decline for about two years, and they’re closing their live-action “Camarilla,” mostly because the LARP players were breaking the rules by killing the other players like crazy. (And causing such havoc that convention hotels were banning the game.) Hence the lawsuit; White Wolf needs the money.
And not only was Sony stupid for not offering some kind of pittance to White Wolf (which even Glen Larsen was smart enough to do for his failed Vamp TV series) but they tried to make the ads look as much like a “Crow” sequel as possible.
I hope the movie fails, and that Sony uses the poor box office for an excuse to only pay White Wolf a couple of bucks. Serves ’em both right.
Yep, I thought the same thing. In fact, I thought the two promo posters were almost identical. But upon closer examination they bear only a passing resembelance to each other. Y’know girl in black standing on a gargoyle overlooking dark city.
Here in the UK, the Underworld ad was the cover image of The Sunday Times newspaper’s TV guide supplement.
When I glanced at that magazine from a far for the first time, I immediately thought that it meant a UK TV channel was going to be showing the “Birds of Prey” series.
Immediately following on from that thought, I realised that that was implausible, as there was no way such a thing would warrant a front cover placement in this magazine of all things.
And sure enough, upon closer inspection it was the ad for “Underworld” and was on the cover due to a featured interview with Kate Beckinsale inside its pages.
Neil Gaiman was asked if he thinks Harry Potter was ripped off from The Books of Magic. He responded by paraphrasing Terry Pratchett: The fantasy genre is like a big pot of stew. When you write fantasy, you ladel a few elements out of the pot, and you ladel a few back in.
That said, Underworld doesn’t look particularly promising, or original.
–Daniel M.
Birds of prey was OK but you really can’t have a show based in Gotham City and not have Batman show up. I mean really Alfred Pennyworth is a recurring character but no Batman. No wonder the show got canceled.
…And now we’re going to get a new Flash series from the WB, starring a Flash without a costume, set where? Gotham City.
Bet there’s no Batman in that one, either…
Neil Gaiman was asked if he thinks Harry Potter was ripped off from The Books of Magic. He responded by paraphrasing Terry Pratchett: The fantasy genre is like a big pot of stew. When you write fantasy, you ladel a few elements out of the pot, and you ladel a few back in.
Oh, that was just lovely.
Now I too can open a fantasy novel with a bunch of geeks role-playing. But who’d buy it? *impudent grin*
Actually, Nytwyng, there is a new Vampire game coming, a sequel to the game you’re talking about, one made with the Half-Life engine.
Hmm, and Activision is doing it?
Maybe they’re the ones that told White Wolf to sue, seeing as how they’re rather amusingly taking on Viacom over Star Trek.
Either way, White Wolf is acting like they invented the subgenre, and that they hold the rights to say what gets created and what doesn’t.
The court battle will be silly, with White Wolf likely spending some money for pathetic advertising in the long run.
I thought World of Darkness too.
PAD,
You’re not the only one. See next weeks TV Guide (“Friends” cover) for verification of your theory.
Actually, Tolkien’s estate would probably have a better case against Gygax over the original version of D&D.
There’s a reason they’re called “halflings” and not “hobbits” after the “white-box” edition.
White Wolf eat your heart out (and drop your frivilous complaint while you’re at it).
Underworld is a fun movie. 🙂
The thing that really bugs me about this is the director ( don’t know his name off hand) is supposed to be a big comics geek, yet doesn’t see the similarities.
And no, the Adams Batman pose and the Workers on girders doesn’t look any thing like these posters.
If they hadn’t only come out about a year apart from one another no one would have noticed.
Re: The White Wolf lawsuit:
This one was my favorite:
“90. In the World of Darkness, wood does not kill vampires. In Underworld, the werewolves do not use wood to kill vampires, nor mention it as an option.”
In fairness, I sympathize with White Wolf. They may not have invented the majority of their material, but they did bring a great number of sources together and form them into something workable, if not enjoyable, and even though they’re ending the World of Darkness soon, it sort of steals their thunder to make a big budget vampire and werewolf movie without involving them. Also, involving them could have brought WoD Werewolves into the movie, and I’ve been waiting for nigh-upon a decade for them to get something, be it a video game, movie, or even a halfway decent cartoon. Aside from those arty one-shot comic books last year, Werewolf the Apocalypse has gotten none of the recognition it deserves.
I am an avid fan of White Wolf’s games, and have been a Storyteller for both Werewolf and Vampire for two years… It doesn’t mean that I will support them on all counts, however, I do believe they have a case. I believe it is entirely possible that the makers of Underworld may have borrowed, at least in part, from V:TM and W:TA. Having read WW’s complaints, I see a few points that are too similar to the games to not have been borrowed from them. I think that if the writers did indeed use WW’s ideas, they need to be smart and admit it, at least give WW some credit and some money. If they didn’t, then it sure seems like they did, because a lot of people (including myself) at first thought that Underworld was produced by WW or (in my case) based on the WoD. Perhaps it’s that there were not enough entirely unique concepts in the film to make it dissimilar enough to the WoD. (I haven’t seen it, but I’ve been informed by a friend who has that it does seem a lot like they took directly from WW, and I’ve read the synopsis.)
Anyway. That’s just my two cents. I’ll shut up now. o.o
The problem this leads to is, of course, is should White Wolf go back and sue every other movie involving vampires and/or werewolves since the company was founded?
Because they’re bound to find similarities whereever they look.