Some superb news on the John Carter movie front. I mentioned back in October that I was a little worried that the approach director Andrew Stanton of Pixar implied he was taking was not one I thought would do justice to the classic stories. Having just read some excerpts from an interview with SciFi Wire, I feel a lot less concerned than I was a few months. As always, the proof is in the pudding and I reserve the right to be disappointed later, but Stanton is now saying things that please me.For one, the film is not going to be a Pixar animated film at all, but rather a live-action Disney movie that makes extensive use of CGI to realize it. Likewise, Stanton wants the film to look "very authentic" within the constraints of the fact that, because Burroughs inspired lots of imitators, some of his ideas now seem clichéd, even though they in fact the originals. He also indicated that "if you do the story right, there's no way you couldn't" rate it PG-13. "This story of John Carter is not going to be an all-ages film."
Now that's more like it.
That is EXCELLENT news! Thanks for the link James!
ReplyDeleteOn the subject: Any chance of you doing a review of A Fighting Man of Mars, or maybe an overview of Burroughs in general, with an eye towards its possible influence on the roots of D&D? I re-read a LOT of Burroughs last year, and was struck by the thought that John Carter and his world would have been a near-universal point of reference for the idea of "what fantasy adventure is" in the minds of the first D&Ders in a way that they almost certainly aren't for a younger generation. And, of course, you've mentioned the big influence of "lost world" novels on D&D, and Pellucidar is one of the classics.
ReplyDeleteI know its much to early to say, but I will say it anyways:
ReplyDelete\,,/_ W00T!!! _\,,/
Hm. I admit myself somewhat relieved, but I had sort of hoped it would be Pixar, because I do very much like their art style.
ReplyDeleteIt being live action is just damn great news. I did not need an animated John Carter. I'm sure an animated Dejah would be incredibly beautiful (and red and buxom and leggy and breasty and...), but I really want to see what they come up with for the look of people and things.
ReplyDeleteWe do have to pray, however, that they stick with the skimpy clothing as described in the books. If they go the "superhero movie" route and put everybody in black rubber, like the X-Men, my head will spin off my friggin' shoulders.
Great news, indeed. I rather wish, however, it was to be an "R" film rather than a PG-13; though this is rarely an opinion I would forward regarding most films. This type of material simply begs for "T&A".
ReplyDeleteI dunno... I'm still leery. I got burned by those two Gor movies back in the '80's... ;-)
ReplyDeleteAw c'mon, one of those 80's Gore films was pretty good - getting torn a new one on Mystery Science Theater!
ReplyDeleteAs for T&A in Mars, well yeah, they were described as mostly nude. But if you think about it, the leggy, tummy-showing typical summer attire of young girls these days would have blown the minds of people from the time period the books were written. Beyonce or Brittany would have gotten arrested for what they wear at a typical performance nowadays.
Oh snap! I just pictured them getting Brittany or Beyonce for Dejah Thoras! *Noooooooooooooooooooooo....*
Oh snap! I just pictured them getting Brittany or Beyonce for Dejah Thoras! *Noooooooooooooooooooooo....*
ReplyDeleteGod forbid!!!
If it was going to be fully animated, then they would likely get Cree Summers (an actress who usually plays "the token black chick" in cartoons) to voice her, much like how she is going to vice Valeria in the much promised Red Nails movie (another movie that must be PG-13 or better).
But a life-action is different. Hopefully they would find an actress like Angelica Bridges (from the stupid Conan TV show) who would go topless, who would look great topless, and who would not go wasted covered up!!!
This movie needs to do two equally important things:
ReplyDelete1. The actors and actresses need to wear no more than loin cloths and jewelry. That's as per the book.
2. The actors and actresses must not swagger around or mince around trying to look sexy. They must be unconsciously near-naked (like some of the tribesmen of Africa or South America, for example).
Unfortunately, the women will probably run around in bras. Or, on the other hand, they'll vamp it up.
Here's to hoping.
On the subject: Any chance of you doing a review of A Fighting Man of Mars, or maybe an overview of Burroughs in general, with an eye towards its possible influence on the roots of D&D?
ReplyDeleteI think that could be arranged. I'm no Burroughs scholar and my knowledge even of Barsoom is fairly limited, but I do think these stories need to be better recognized for the influence they had over early D&D, especially of the Gygaxian variety.
I got burned by those two Gor movies back in the '80's... ;-)
ReplyDeleteBut they had Jack Pallance in them!
They must be unconsciously near-naked (like some of the tribesmen of Africa or South America, for example).
ReplyDeleteThat's going to be hard to pull off properly, which is why I'd frankly prefer it if they went with something more like the Frank Schoonover illustrations from the original publications. They have a vaguely "Oriental" feel to them, which makes them look "alien" while still being familiar.