128 replies to this topic

[brucegray666]

I've been playing the HD redux-ing of Beyond Good and Evil on the xbox and it struck me that it would make a good film. Main reason is the fact it's got a strong main female character who is more than just a pair of CGI tits.

[Christian U]

Paul Greengrass might be great for a Marvel Studios MarvelMan/MiracleMan. I thought his concept work for WATCHMEN more interesting than Snyder's adaptation.

Greengrass would've been great for Watchmen, but I don't think he'd be right for Miracleman. Who would be, though... hm.

[Noel L]

Peter Jackson?

[Christian U]

That'd be a very good choice, actually. Provided he doesn't write the screenplay himself but gets one that is very good and doesn't meddle.

It's a bit weird imagining him doing a superhero movie, but... I could see Miracleman as a Fincher movie.

[Johnny Henning]

Fincher would be the closest to Kubrick.

If it was a commercial venture, then Matthew Vaughn would be the best choice, I think. He'd capture the comic book but wouldn't exceed it.

Still, Greengrass is my choice because the way his development work on Watchmen was aiming for something that wouldn't look like a comic book. He'd find a way to make it look like an original film which essentially was the innovation of Miracleman #1 in the first place. It was a superhero title drawn like a drama or science fiction story. Not like superhero comics. If Greengrass directed, I'd like to see Tony Gilroy write the script.

Also, possibly, newcomer Josh Trank (CHRONICLE) with a script by Max Landis (also CHRONICLE)

Neill Blomkamp, of course, or Jonathan Liebesmann even though I've only liked his indy film KILLING ROOM.

Finally, for an outside choice with a big budget - David Yates directing with Steve Kloves writing.

On the way outside - André Øvredal (TROLLHUNTER), Gareth Edwards (MONSTERS) or Richard Kelly (DONNIE DARKO, THE BOX)

[steveuk]

'Sandman'

Finally just accept the fact that it's a $200m indie flick and get on with it. Unfortunately the recent cancellation of 'Paradise Lost' suggests this sort of epic, morally complex fantasy isn't in vogue right now.

Outside comics; 'Neuromancer' and the only name (apart from Chris Nolan) I can think of for it is Duncan Jones.

[Johnny Henning]

Seems like Vincent Natali (CYPHER, SPLICE) has been trying to make Neuromancer for a while (http://www.firstshow...ured-financing/). I heard he was connected to a new Alan Moore-based Swamp Thing back in 2010, but I imagine that never got very far.

If he did do Neuromancer, I think it would closer to an indy A SCANNER DARKLY-style production than THE MATRIX or any big action SF epic.

[steveuk]

Seems like Vincent Natali (CYPHER, SPLICE) has been trying to make Neuromancer for a while (http://www.firstshow...ured-financing/). I heard he was connected to a new Alan Moore-based Swamp Thing back in 2010, but I imagine that never got very far.

If he did do Neuromancer, I think it would closer to an indy A SCANNER DARKLY-style production than THE MATRIX or any big action SF epic.

I'm not a fan of his, and I wouldn't be interested in a "small" 'Neuromancer' anyway.

[craggy]

that feeling when you've got to wait ages for something to happen, and you get so excited and anxious for it, and build it up so much in your mind that the reality can't possibly live up to the expectation...but then it does.

that's what I'd like to see someone adapt into a film. it'd be sort of the anti-Phantom Menace.

[Johnny Henning]

Yeah, there are plenty of adaptations that have already been made that I'd like to see redone better than they were - DUNE, for example.

I'd like to see the Norse Sagas and Egyptian Myths get a serious big budget adaptation as well. Why do the Greeks get all the fun?

[steveuk]

Yeah, there are plenty of adaptations that have already been made that I'd like to see redone better than they were - DUNE, for example.

They tried it as a feature film and then as a mini-series. In both cases there were problems. I'm not sure what they could try next?

I'd like to see the Norse Sagas and Egyptian Myths get a serious big budget adaptation as well. Why do the Greeks get all the fun?

I think it's just that western civilization borrowed more from the Greeks (via the Romans) than it did from the Vikings or the Egyptians.

Having said that, we still get 'Mummy' movies and we had 'The Lord of the Rings', which are as influenced by the Norse myths and anything else they draw from.

[Johnny Henning]

They tried it as a feature film and then as a mini-series. In both cases there were problems. I'm not sure what they could try next?

I think a "GAME OF THRONES" or "BATTLESTAR GALLACTICA" style adaptation as a long term series would not be a bad idea, but I don't think the problem with the film and mini-series were inherent to the media, but instead the productions were flawed. Neither one figured out how to present the story in a way that would invite the audience into it, unlike GAME OF THRONES where it captures the very vivid world and story of the novel.

I'm surprised we don't see more Norse sagas adapted from Northern Europe, actually. Maybe the stigma of Nazism and Hitler's appropriation of the myths via Wagner's opera works has left people less enamored of them. How well did Marvel's THOR with its Aryan lead do in Scandinavia?

Speaking of DUNE, I hadn't noticed it before, but I wonder if Zecharia Sitchin ever read it, because the conflicts between Enki, Enlil and Marduk certainly resemble the Atriedes versus the Harkonnens. On top of that, the basic idea, extra-worldly colonials coming down to a desert to rob a planet of its resources, matches both The Earth Chronicles and Dune. They ruled as "gods" and Paul pretended to be/became their Messiah returned - the Mahdi (Muab-di'b).

[steveuk]

I think a "GAME OF THRONES" or "BATTLESTAR GALLACTICA" style adaptation as a long term series would not be a bad idea, but I don't think the problem with the film and mini-series were inherent to the media, but instead the productions were flawed. Neither one figured out how to present the story in a way that would invite the audience into it, unlike GAME OF THRONES where it captures the very vivid world and story of the novel.

So, do it again, but better?

I'm sure we will see 'Dune' adapted again, but it'll still be pot luck whether it works or not.

I'm surprised we don't see more Norse sagas adapted from Northern Europe, actually. Maybe the stigma of Nazism and Hitler's appropriation of the myths via Wagner's opera works has left people less enamored of them. How well did Marvel's THOR with its Aryan lead do in Scandinavia?

I don't think it's even a concern is it? Despite the neo-Nazis who complained about a black Asgardian in 'Thor' no-one else really cares what the ethnicity of a legend is? There are limits in terms of trying not to produce something distracting, but I think Ken Watanabe would make an awesome viking for example.

Apart from 'Thor' though, have any viking-themed films done well since Kirk Douglas and Tony Curtis jumped on a longship?

'13th Warrior', 'Pathfinder', 'Outlander' and even 'Beowulf'? I'm sure there are people who made money off them but even Zemeckis' film wasn't a runaway hit.

We hear about viking films in development from time to time, but most of them stay there.

[Jim Ohara]

Directed by Michael Bay.

[Johnny Henning]

Apart from 'Thor' though, have any viking-themed films done well since Kirk Douglas and Tony Curtis jumped on a longship?

'13th Warrior', 'Pathfinder', 'Outlander' and even 'Beowulf'? I'm sure there are people who made money off them but even Zemeckis' film wasn't a runaway hit.

We hear about viking films in development from time to time, but most of them stay there.

Total Lifetime Grosses

Domestic: $217,581,231 44.0%
+ Foreign: $277,297,528 56.0%
= Worldwide: $494,878,759

[Ulf Imwiehe]

I'm surprised we don't see more Norse sagas adapted from Northern Europe, actually. Maybe the stigma of Nazism and Hitler's appropriation of the myths via Wagner's opera works has left people less enamored of them. How well did Marvel's THOR with its Aryan lead do in Scandinavia?

I can only answer anecdotally but whenever this topic comes up among the Norwegian side of my family and friends it turns out that while people do take a vague folkloristic pride in their Norse (and Viking) heritage there seems to be comparably little serious interest in the pre-Christianization history as opposed to the middle ages and the period of Norway’s declaration of independence which resulted in the country’s eventual dissolution from Sweden.

That said I know quite a few people who still hold a grudge for the rather bloody Christianization of Norway and consider themselves pagans, but not a single one of them is a neo-Nazi and all of them enjoyed Thor for what it was – black Heimdall included.

[steveuk]

Total Lifetime Grosses

Domestic: $217,581,231 44.0%
+ Foreign: $277,297,528 56.0%
= Worldwide: $494,878,759

And an excellent film it is too.

A couple more and we might see a trend!

[craggy]

I'd like to see more Norse, Egyptian, Indian and Japanese myths and legends adapted to film. Like...Hollywood film. Or at least something I can understand with my tiny wee brain.

[David Meadows]

They tried it as a feature film and then as a mini-series. In both cases there were problems. I'm not sure what they could try next?

David Lynch's film wasn't really an adaptation, it was a "I want to use these concepts and then do my own thing" film. Someone taking the "Peter Jackson" approach could make a very good trilogy out of the first book.

I haven't seen the mini-series but I thought it was generally well regarded?

I'm surprised we don't see more Norse sagas adapted from Northern Europe, actually. Maybe the stigma of Nazism and Hitler's appropriation of the myths via Wagner's opera works has left people less enamored of them. How well did Marvel's THOR with its Aryan lead do in Scandinavia?

But Wagner's "adaptations" are some of the most revered and successful works in classical music, with a lot of people enamoured of them (including in Scandinavia, where they are regularly performed).

And yes, people still talk about the Aryan stigma attached the the operas, but that doesn't stop people flocking to them. And didn't stop Daniel Barenboim becoming one of the top-regarded Wagnerian conductors, as well as being the most prominent Jewish conductors of our time!

[Johnny Henning]

So it is weird that we haven't seen those myths adapted to film especially from Europe.