If there were any Hollywood writer comparible to a superhero, it would be Joss Whedon. Apparently the man doesn’t sleep, even through a writer’s strike. Back in the fall when every other writer was sitting around trying to figure out what to do with themselves, Whedon decided it was the perfect time to figure out how to break into the internet market of television. He couldn’t write anything for real TV because that would violate the strike, but he could do something for himself, something fans could see entirely for free. He got together with his brothers and dreamed up an etirely hokey, frankly insane idea about a super villain musical, and thus “Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog” was born. And guess what? It’s fantastic.

The film is in three acts, and the first two are already available. The final part comes out tomorrow. Although it’s free (for a limited time) it’s got absolutely everything– Whedon’s clever wit (with a script that’s on-par with his funniest Buffy and Angel episodes), a budget, albeit a small one– Whedon says in the low six figures– but enough for professional equipment, a few stunts, and celebrities. It stars Neil Patrick Harris as Dr. Horrible, a super villain that’s no good at his job because he’s just too nice and preoccupied with his nervousness around a woman he’d like to ask out, and– believe it or not– Nathan Fillion as the “good guy” Captain Hammer.

It’s also got some pretty catchy songs, and I’ll agree with critics who have already stated, before we’ve even seen the entire movie, that his song writing has improved since the Buffy musical “Once More With Feeling.” The movie already has some merchandising (t-shirts and such) and a DVD will eventually be released.

Whedon has also said he’s already “sort of” thought up a possible sequel. If the fact that the site crashed on the first day because so many people wanted to see it is any indication, I imagine there’ll be plenty of interest in a second.

Personally, I think the premise is far more orginal and fun than the idea for Whedon’s new show coming in January, Dollhouse (when did he have time to develop an actual series, by the way???) I don’t know why Dr. Horrible couldn’t be a successful TV series.

LLAP

-Cap’n Logan

Tags: Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Dollhouse, Dr. Horrible, Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog, Joss Whedon, musical, Nathan Fillion, Neil Patrick Harris, Once More With Feeling, Sci-Fi

This entry was posted on Friday, July 18th, 2008 at 10:55 am and is filed under Capt Logan, Movies, Sci-Fi. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.