|
|
Post by FALLINGSTAR on Feb 24, 2005 0:00:59 GMT
I make no apologies for starting this thread and if some people think it's being negative or stating the obvious - then so be it! No Sherlock or Einstein jokes please!
One thing that really bothers me about these upcoming films is the fact that instead of one GREAT movie it looks like we're going to end up with 3 movies, none of which truly satisfies.
I think the evidence so far seems to back this up. The only film I have any faith in at the moment is Jeff Waynes.
Here's my reasons [ and yes it's only guesswork on my part and obviously - I could be totally wrong ]:-
PARAMOUNT
pros - Great special effects, musical score by John Williams, cinematography, spectacle, competent acting, semi reasonable script.
cons - It's got Tom [ I'm an ok actor but I'm mainly big because of my heart throb status ] Cruise in it, possibly merchandise driven to a large extent, aimed at the usual age range of most Hollywood blockbusters, full of Hollywood cliches, and above all it's not faithful to the time or setting of the book.
Verdict - A good Hollywood blockbuster, but it's not the book!
JEFF WAYNES -
pros - great music [ for the most part ], special effects, cinematography, spectacle, time period and setting of the book, loads of fans have wanted to see the album come to life for years.
cons - possible bad dialogue and script, could end up too cartoonish, it's still not totally faithful to the book, the songs could end up being played to death everywhere and ripped off by loads of cheap and nasty re-mixers, it still has the slight stigma of being a musical. Usual jokes about singing Martians.
Verdict - It has huge potential but if it isn't done tastefully - then it would be a disaster.
PENDRAGON
pros - Could be really faithful to the book with the correct time period and setting - if done properly it would be awesome and this is the one most W.O.T.WORLDS fans want to succeed - full stop.
cons - Possible bad special effects, average or even bad musical score, bad acting [ though some of it didn't seem to bad to me on the trailers ], it might not get wide distribution, will most probably be lost anyway under Paramounts onslaught.
Verdict - Don't really know what to say about this but done properly it has huge potential. Does it even exist?
I suppose it does though.
I know just about everyone has debated these points over and over before and I'm only putting forward an argument, not claiming anything as fact - but again my main fear and point is the fact that we could end up with 3 average films instead of one great, outstanding film. I think that would be a huge let down.
|
|
|
|
Post by RustiSwordz on Feb 24, 2005 0:08:40 GMT
door is over on the left, leave me with your popcorn when you leave...
|
|
|
|
Post by Cylinder on Feb 24, 2005 0:22:59 GMT
WAIT AND SEE
|
|
|
|
Post by twistedrabbit on Feb 24, 2005 0:28:35 GMT
Wait wait wait...let me put in my 3 cents on the movies.
PARAMOUNT
pros: movie about WOTW
cons: Not out yet
Verdict: Come out already!
JEFF WAYNES
pros: movie about WOTW
cons: Not out yet
Verdict: Come out already!
PENDRAGON
pros: movie about WOTW
cons: Not out yet
Verdict: Come out already!
|
|
|
|
Post by EvilNerfherder on Feb 24, 2005 0:41:19 GMT
If they are that disappointing, read the book instead. I'm going to enjoy the movies for what they are.. not what they could be. there's no point in wishing these movies will be something the aren't.
The book will always be there , and I take great comfort in that.
As others have said.. we really need to keep the absolute negatives for after the releases.
|
|
|
|
Post by Gerkinman on Feb 24, 2005 4:46:19 GMT
my movie will pwn them all  |
|
|
|
Post by jeffwaynefan on Feb 24, 2005 13:14:39 GMT
Im sorry, but the way some go on about the film and its 'lack of commitment to the origianl story' is like it has never been done before in cinamatic history. Tell me one single film that has been made in the past 20 years that is a direct, word for word, never deviated from the original story for one moment. . . Is there a film out there?.
Come on, we all know by now how the film industry works and yet we still make a big deal out of it. So why pick on the WOTW story. Just think of how many other's are out there who think the same as we do. Just think how many other non WOTW people, those that like for example other works, stories who like us have always wanted to see there favourite novel turned into a fully working film that does not deviate from the original story to then be let down or maybe pleased to see the changes. Have you not thought that as fans this could be split 50/50 that some want the films to be direct re-trellings of the novel were as the opther 50% wnat changes to be made. The film industry is catering for BOTH parties and not just the one which if thats how it worked out either party would soon loose all faith and have something to say about the other and how one is being favoured more than the other.
Hey, I have always wanted to see a faithful version of that book, but am I going to see it? - NO, so Im having to live with that - so why cant others?. . . Were all in the same boat, so please stop rocking it.
If a film studio was to set up in the near future where fans are entitled to voice there opinions and participate in the turn around of the film, would that not benifit the films outcome. I could see some problems but I can also see that it would work - but if they did do this, how much would YOU as a individual contribute to that project?. . . . Money, time, effort, Knowledge, it could go on.
How much plainer or simply can this be put - SS and film studios are NOT stupid, they know a good money earner when they see one and WOTW is just that. They dont care about what WE think. If we had any influence over the film then it would be made in the style and ways that we want it to be made in.
Money makes the world go around.
Lets see then how this marvel of a film, best film of the decade, below par, below average, now where near what the book is like, total hash job of a movie will make on its release date and final outcome of sales. . . I bet it will be on par with the STAR WARS 3 first weekend, because thats how it works in the glitz and glamour of Hollywood.
|
|
|
|
Post by richardburton on Feb 24, 2005 16:27:44 GMT
I agree with Nerf on this - we should just enjoy them as new interpretations of the book. No film is EVER word for word true to the book. The reason is simple - films would always end up being 10 hours long. We should be thoroughly grateful that we're lucky enough to be getting 3 (count them - 1 2 3) versions of a fantastic book. So what if in the long run they could've been better in some ways. I'm sure they will be also very good in a lot of ways too. No film is ever perfect, nevermind a film born from such an amazing novel.
Hollywood blockbusters can be cliched and flawed, but can still be hugely entertaining. And on the flipside lower budget films can also have strong acting and good special effects (just look at films like 28 Days Later and Dog Soldiers). And as for Jeff Waynes...well, it'll have the music to make it fantastic...full stop.
|
|
|
|
Post by themotile on Feb 24, 2005 18:30:55 GMT
The only down side for me personaly in regards to Spielbergs WOTW is that I find myself wishing my life away waiting for July 4th to just hurry up and arrive.
|
|
|
|
Post by VES on Feb 24, 2005 18:52:16 GMT
If they are that disappointing, read the book instead. I'm going to enjoy the movies for what they are.. not what they could be. there's no point in wishing these movies will be something the aren't. The book will always be there , and I take great comfort in that. As others have said.. we really need to keep the absolute negatives for after the releases. Nailed it right there, Nerf. Whatever comes of these films, I expect nothing more than "adaptions". Nothing, absolutely nothing will ever completely satisfy us. No adaption has, that I'm aware of. Changes will be made, different points of view added. Because everyone's point of view on what a "true" adaption should look like differs. Wether it be the FM's, or the martians themselves. Dissapointments? No, I can't go that far. The only way I see dissapointment is if these seperate versions fail at what they should be first and foremost; good films, and good entertainment. |
|
|
|
Post by Charles on Feb 24, 2005 19:39:13 GMT
I'm happiest when films based on novels are as faithful to their original texts as Remains of the Day and Name of the Rose were to theirs. These weren't perfect adaptations in terms of transferring every aspect of the text to the screen and nothing more, but they endure better than other revisions and remakes precisely because they were left in their original contexts and didn't pretend to be something they weren't.
Unfortunately they are lonely exceptions to the rule that Hollywood believes it knows better.
|
|
|
|
Post by FALLINGSTAR on Feb 24, 2005 21:36:49 GMT
Im sorry, but the way some go on about the film and its 'lack of commitment to the origianl story' is like it has never been done before in cinamatic history. Tell me one single film that has been made in the past 20 years that is a direct, word for word, never deviated from the original story for one moment. . . Is there a film out there?. Come on, we all know by now how the film industry works and yet we still make a big deal out of it. So why pick on the WOTW story. Just think of how many other's are out there who think the same as we do. Just think how many other non WOTW people, those that like for example other works, stories who like us have always wanted to see there favourite novel turned into a fully working film that does not deviate from the original story to then be let down or maybe pleased to see the changes. Have you not thought that as fans this could be split 50/50 that some want the films to be direct re-trellings of the novel were as the opther 50% wnat changes to be made. The film industry is catering for BOTH parties and not just the one which if thats how it worked out either party would soon loose all faith and have something to say about the other and how one is being favoured more than the other. Hey, I have always wanted to see a faithful version of that book, but am I going to see it? - NO, so Im having to live with that - so why cant others?. . . Were all in the same boat, so please stop rocking it. If a film studio was to set up in the near future where fans are entitled to voice there opinions and participate in the turn around of the film, would that not benifit the films outcome. I could see some problems but I can also see that it would work - but if they did do this, how much would YOU as a individual contribute to that project?. . . . Money, time, effort, Knowledge, it could go on. How much plainer or simply can this be put - SS and film studios are NOT stupid, they know a good money earner when they see one and WOTW is just that. They dont care about what WE think. If we had any influence over the film then it would be made in the style and ways that we want it to be made in. Money makes the world go around. Lets see then how this marvel of a film, best film of the decade, below par, below average, now where near what the book is like, total hash job of a movie will make on its release date and final outcome of sales. . . I bet it will be on par with the STAR WARS 3 first weekend, because thats how it works in the glitz and glamour of Hollywood. I've never said that I expect any film based on Wells book to be totally faithful. There are obviously going to be deviations here and there. I think most sane fans can accept that - as long as things aren't radically changed and the adaptation keeps things overwhelmingly intact. I also wasn't picking specifically on Spielbergs film in this thread and it's obviously going to be a huge success - just making the point of quality verses quantity. An example I can think of recently is the films based upon the story THE LEGEND OF SLEEPY HOLLOW. There were 3 films [ just like WOTW ] made recently based on that story. 1. A Hollywood blockbuster 2. A cg animated film. 3. A faithful retelling of the story. Tim Burtons - SLEEPY HOLLOW was a reasonably good film. A lot of things were changed but at least they kept the time and setting. Lacking in a lot of other areas though. The animated film was good and more faithful than Burtons film, but it was aimed too much at children and was also seriously lacking. The supposed faithful retelling of the story was an extremely threadbare production and although more accurate to the story - was just cheaply rendered, dull and instantly forgettable. I also doubt many people have even seen or heard of it. Sound familiar? But hey! - money does talk and bulls**t walks! |
|
