Favorite Book into Film, Not Yet Done?

POSTED BY: Indigo
UPDATED: Tuesday, September 4, 2007 17:39
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INDIGO

Thursday, June 30, 2005 2:07 AM

In light of the "What Movie or TV ep. Have You Seen a Ridiculous Number of Times" thread (oh gods, I'm running out of things to talk about that I don't have to stick my fingers in my ears and say, "La, la, la, I don't hear you spoilers!")... what book/s would you like to see made into film -- that haven't been yet -- and any cast, writer, cinematographer wishes?

I'll submit my list soon

Beware of Geeks bearing gifs.
Blessed are the Geeks for they shall internet the world.

EVILMIKE

Thursday, June 30, 2005 2:15 AM

Just off the top of my head...

Ringworld by Larry Niven
Childhood's End by Arthur C. Clarke

CALLMESERENITY

Thursday, June 30, 2005 2:16 AM

Memory, Sorrow and Thorn by Tad Williams. It's a trilogy (in 4 volumes),it's FANTASTIC and would make a great LoTR-esque film (or trilogy of films.) My brother and I discussed this, with Rupert Grint as Simon, the main character. We think he'd be a perfect Simon. But the only problem is that they'd have to start making the movies a year ago for it to work, before RG gets too old and whatnot.

"Somebody has to do something, and it's just incredibly pathetic that it has to be us." ~Jerry Garcia

ECGORDON

Thursday, June 30, 2005 2:20 AM

My favorite author is Robert Heinlein, and his best novel is The Moon is a Harsh Mistress. I really hope that Tim Minear's screenplay is produced, and wouldn't it be great if Tim got a chance to direct? However, I do not think that is likely, but I can't think of anyone else I would recommend to direct it. I do think Alan Tudyk could do a remarkable job as Manny.

I would also dearly love to see Terry Gilliam adapt Alfred Bester's The Stars My Destination.

wo men ren ran zai fei xing.

CYBERSNARK

Thursday, June 30, 2005 2:53 AM

Peter David's Sir Apropos of Nothing would make a fine movie, though I'm worried that they'd have to cut out so much funny stuff (it's all funny stuff). The Woad to Wuin (the sequel) would also be entertaining. Haven't been able to find/read Tong-Lashing yet, but I'm confident in David's writing.

And of course, Matthew Stover's novel of Revenge of the Sith is what the movie should've been, as a bare minimum. It was half-decent ("good" is far beyond what that particular script was capable of without completely rewriting the last act).

-----
We applied the cortical electrodes but were unable to get a neural reaction from either patient.

RICKKER

Thursday, June 30, 2005 5:50 AM

well David Webber's Honor Harington series.
Dragonlace Chronicles
Any of the RA Salvatore novels
Any of the Michael Stackpole novels
this is the short list

BLUEHANDTWOBYTWO

Thursday, June 30, 2005 6:36 AM

I really fell for "LOVELY BONES" by Alice Sebold and "THE CURIOUS INCIDENT OF THE DOG IN THE NIGHTTIME" by Mark Haddon. Both, I feel, would be unfilmable, as they are primarily narrator-driven pieces and the movies would have to rely too heavily on "Voice overs". I'm really surprised that Hollywood hasn't tapped further into the "Dean Koontz" and "Chuck -Fight Club- Palahniuk" pools for movie projects. Koontz's "ODD THOMAS" was a cool book, kinda like what would happen to the little boy in "THE SIXTH SENSE" if he grew up..(the narrator is 20-ish). Augustin Burroughs' "Running with Scissors" was an incredible memoir, but they've already turned it into a movie which will probably be released in the fall. I finished Chuck Palahniuk's "HAUNTED" which was deliciously sick and twisted, and am half-way through his book, "SURVIVOR" which I am also enjoying very much. (I'm on a 'chuck' kick because I just got to meet him last weekend and now have a signed copy of all his books! LOL)Any of the above books are a good read! Enjoy~!
~LarryL

CHRISISALL

Thursday, June 30, 2005 2:31 PM

I Am Legend, by Richard Matheson.
It got made into movies twice (most recently Omega Man) and they missed the point both times.
John Carpenter or George Romero, please do it!!

B movies rule Chrisisall

INDIGO

Thursday, June 30, 2005 4:06 PM

I'm afraid that the books that I would be most intrigued to see in film could be fairly difficult to script. Figures.

The Dream at the End of the World: Paul Bowles and the Literary Renegades in Tangier.
- This was the most amazing multi-person biography I've ever read. Key players were P. Bowles (The Sheltering Sky), Truman Capote, Allen Ginsberg, William Burroughs... all down in Morrocco. Awesome. I read it while travelling around Greece one summer and holed up in an old castle during the begining of autumn storms on Naxos Island.

Foucault's Pendulum, by Umberto Eco (Name of the Rose).
- Other than some of Neal Stephenson's books, this is one of the most densely fascinating and finely crafted tales out there. An intellectual adventure story. I see Kevin Spacey in one of the roles.

Cryptonomicon by Neal Stephanson.
- "...Imagine Tom Clancy mated with William Gibson, with James Michener acting as midwife..." Seattle Times. Spies, codes, gold, pirates...

The Shadow of the Torturer by Gene Wolfe.
- "...the tale of young Severian, an apprentice to the Guild of Torturers on the world called Urth, exiled for committing the ultimate sin of his profession--showing mercy toward his victim."

Lavondyss, Mythago Wood, and the Bone Forest by Robert Holdstock.
- Mmm, yummy, frightening, intelligent fantasy.

The Snow Queen, and the Summer Queen by Joan Vinge.

Beware of Geeks bearing gifs.
Blessed are the Geeks for they shall internet the world.

ODDNESS2HER

Thursday, June 30, 2005 5:06 PM

I think Anne McCaffrey's Dragonriders of Pern series would make a good movie (or series of movies).

FERREL

Thursday, June 30, 2005 5:19 PM

Startide Rising - David Brin
Doomsday Book - Connie Willis

SICKDUDE

Thursday, June 30, 2005 5:23 PM

"The Invincible", by Stanislaw Lem. It's a hard enough book to find since it hasn't been released in a while. But I always thought it'd be great as a movie.

"Don't say 'ka' until you've tried it." Daniel Jackson

THESOMNAMBULIST

Thursday, June 30, 2005 5:34 PM

Notre Dame by Victor Hugo.
Although there are two versions of this book, and a Disney animated
movie, none of them have stuck to the real tragedy of the original
story. Plus none of them explored 'Notre Dame' Cathedral as a
character. So I'd love to see this made into a film. When I was
younger and dreaming of being a director this was my pet project, I
even started doodling a graphic novel of it. So this is very much top
of my list of Books into films.
In terms of cast and crew :
Director: Tim Burton
Music: Danny Elfman
Cinematographer: Stephan Czapsky
Adaptation: Richard Gravanese(sp) (He wrote Fisher King)
Cast:
Quasimodo - Ron Perlman
Frodo - Gerard Depardieu
Phoebus - Jude Law
Esmeralda - Morena Bacarin or Lenor Varela

That'd be my first choice, my second would be Don Quixote also
known as the unfilmable book, as I'm sure poor Terry Gilliam would
agree with.
No one seems to have been able to adapt this book by Cervantez. It is
a difficult character, but I reckon it's possible these days.
Director : Jean Jeunet
Music : John Williams
Cinematography :Vittorio Storaro
Adaptation: Richard Gravanese

Cast:
Don Quixote :Antonio Banderas
Pancho : Dominique Pinon (From Delicatessen)

Also I'd love a TV show adaptation to:
One Hundred Years of Solitude. I think this would work better than a film as it is such a layered book it would need the proper time to develop all the characters, and TV could certainly do this.

Lastly a concise TV show about :
On Thousand and one Nights. With a new cast and crew every week. Telling these great fantasy tales. Some great directors could have a go at directing a show every week. That'd be fun.

Those are my choices for now. :)

TheSomnambulist

www.cirqus.com

GUNRUNNER

Thursday, June 30, 2005 5:47 PM

'Nimitz Class' by Patrick Robinson, one of the best Naval-Techno Thriller-Mystery novels I've read. Also the sequel ‘HMS Unseen’ disserves to be made in to a film. Too bad Robinson slowly turned in a bigoted, liberal bashing (military bashing too?!?) Tom Clancy.

EV Nova Firefly mod Message Board:
http://s4.invisionfree.com/GunRunner/index.php?act=idx

THATWEIRDGIRL

Thursday, June 30, 2005 6:15 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by TheSomnambulist:
Notre Dame by Victor Hugo.
Although there are two versions of this book, and a Disney animated
movie, none of them have stuck to the real tragedy of the original
story. Plus none of them explored 'Notre Dame' Cathedral as a
character. So I'd love to see this made into a film. When I was
younger and dreaming of being a director this was my pet project, I
even started doodling a graphic novel of it. So this is very much top
of my list of Books into films.

That'd be my first choice, my second would be Don Quixote also
known as the unfilmable book, as I'm sure poor Terry Gilliam would
agree with.
No one seems to have been able to adapt this book by Cervantez. It is
a difficult character, but I reckon it's possible these days.

I second! btw, I'd love to see a Notre Dame graphic novel.

www.thatweirdgirl.com
---
Res melius evinissent cum pepsimilk!

JADEHAND

Thursday, June 30, 2005 7:04 PM

Well, These would take more than one movie:

Raymond E. Feist's (Rift war saga) at least. followed by the 2 in between books and then the Serpent war saga. Great series, 10 books.

L. Ron Hubbard's Mission Earth (another 10 book series) Very funny. But keep those scientology freaks away from it. Silly actors, haven't heard he made the whole thing up on a bet, and it's all psychology with a few words changed.

But since those are unlikely, I'd Love to see Neil Gaiman/Terry Pratchet's GOOD OMENS: the nice and accurate prophecies of Agnes Nutter, witch. I think It'd make a great movie.

Visit WWW.Marillion.Com for a better way to live
Visit www.TheInside.org and see Tim Minear's show Weds. 9:00pm EST

THESOMNAMBULIST

Thursday, June 30, 2005 7:08 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by thatweirdgirl:
I second! btw, I'd love to see a Notre Dame graphic novel.

Cool. Nice to see we agree on books too twg!
:)
...One day I hope to return to the idea of the graphic novel. It'd mean a change in drawing style but I think it'd be fun to return to pencil and ink, and a more sketchy style, and get away from the fussy thing I've got going at the moment.

.....one day.... maybe.....

The
Somnambulist

www.cirqus.com

CRIMSONSTAR

Thursday, June 30, 2005 8:06 PM

Snow Crash by Neal Stephenson

Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card

I heard a rumor that Ender's Game was being made a while back, but I haven't heard anything about it going into production.

----------------------------------------
STICK TO THE PLAN! STICK TO THE PLAN!

FIREFLYWILDCARD1

Friday, July 1, 2005 2:06 AM

Anne McCaffrey's Dragonriders of Pern would make an excellent series of movies, or maybe HBO miniseries.

Sword of Shadows by J.V. Jones would make a good fantasy trilogy. I love this trilogy (although we haven't gotten the 3rd book yet). The first two books are awesome. And I'm hoping that the 3rd comes out this year.

FOURTHTROIKA

Friday, July 1, 2005 2:30 AM

Well, it's not quite my favorite book, but I'd like to see someone do a properversion of The Food of the Gods by H.G.Wells. It's one of his lesser known works. Bert I. Gordon filmed a "portion" of the book in 1976. But I'd like to see the whole book covered. With the big budget versions of his stories coming out in recent years (War of the Worlds, The Time Machine), who knows?

AOMAN14

Sunday, July 3, 2005 1:49 AM

One of my favorite series is the Dark Tower by Stephen King. On one hand, I'd love to see it as a movie. BUT, I dunno if Hollywood could pull it off.

The current series I'm reading is The Wheel of Time by Robert Jordan. Its a 12 book series that I'm really enjoying. Time moves slow and lots of plots going on but it keeps it interesting.

I'm not sure who would star or direct these movies but it would be fun to see if they could be done

--Andy--

BATMARLOWE

Sunday, July 3, 2005 2:59 AM

GLADIATOR by Philip Wylie.

AIRYLLI

Sunday, July 3, 2005 3:41 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by TheSomnambulist:
Notre Dame by Victor Hugo.
Although there are two versions of this book, and a Disney animated
movie, none of them have stuck to the real tragedy of the original
story. Plus none of them explored 'Notre Dame' Cathedral as a
character. So I'd love to see this made into a film. When I was
younger and dreaming of being a director this was my pet project, I
even started doodling a graphic novel of it. So this is very much top
of my list of Books into films.
In terms of cast and crew :
Director: Tim Burton
Music: Danny Elfman
Cinematographer: Stephan Czapsky
Adaptation: Richard Gravanese(sp) (He wrote Fisher King)
Cast:
Quasimodo - Ron Perlman
Frodo - Gerard Depardieu
Phoebus - Jude Law
Esmeralda - Morena Bacarin or Lenor Varela

...

Lastly a concise TV show about :
On Thousand and one Nights. With a new cast and crew every week. Telling these great fantasy tales. Some great directors could have a go at directing a show every week. That'd be fun.

Those are my choices for now. :)

TheSomnambulist

www.cirqus.com

i third the notre dame de paris nomination! one of my very favorite books of all time. the disney version is fun in its own right, but when lined up with the movie..well..you can't. who's brilliant idea was it to make a disney movie out of that kind of tragedy, anyway?

have you seen the musical notre dame de paris? i didn't see the english version (which i heard was pretty bad) but the french version was frelling brilliant. i think up to date it is the best adaptation of that book (although i haven't seen the early 20s/30s films).

i'd been searching for an esmeralda forever and then i saw firefly and was like damn, here she is. morena baccarin would be absolutely perfect. to quote joss: "hmm..where am i going to find an olive-skinned beauty (ahemmorenaahem)?" i think summer glau would also be brilliant, especially with her dancing skills. actually, now that i'm think about it, i think i like the idea of summer even better..esmeralda was so free and innocent in the beginning.

i know nothing at all about directors so i couldn't tell you anything, but i think joss would do great with the tragedy/comedy aspect. well, not so much comedy per se, but there is a lot of humor in nddp.

gonna have to research casting a bit...i haven't thought the other characters out so much yet. who would be gringoire? easily my favorite character...casting is crucial. but for frollo, i think daneil lavoie or michel pascal would be really great. and garou for quasimodo. but then, i'm really partial to the musical casts. in fact, put richard charest and patrick fiori in there somewhere as gringoire and phoebus.

i absolute love your 1001 nights idea. i think that would be so much fun, if done correctly.

my other favorite books would be el alquimista by paulo coleho and the outsiders by s.e. hinton. i love the film version of the outsiders, although a new one would be beautiful as well. i could see james franco as dally, even though he isn't bleach blonde.

el alquimista (or the alchemist) is apparently going to be made in reality, but i haven't heard any solid plans on it yet, so i don't really know. the only thing about alquimista would be that it would seem to be actually a very slow film, since it's all about this one boy whose name is referred to about once in the entire book. some young, olive-skinned, talented (and preferably pretty) boy, a newcomer...any ideas?

wow. that was long. i apologize. i have some kind of odd attachment to notre dame de paris. i think i'll post more later

.

-----
I swallowed a bug.

www.cafepress.com/airylli

PERFESSERGEE

Sunday, July 3, 2005 4:48 AM

There have been many great suggestions on this thread, but here's a couple that haven't been seen yet:

Dan Simmons' Hyperion Cantos series (Hyperion, The Fall of Hyperion, Endymion and The Rise of Endymion). If you haven't read Simmons, by all means do; he's awesome.

Larry Niven's The Smoke Ring and The Integral Trees. (or any part of the Man'Kzin Wars system).

Stephen Stirling's Island in the Sea of Time series.

Well, that's more than a couple. Plus, I maintain that Dune has still not been done decently. A tough nut to crack, but surely some cinematographer could do it.

Oh, and I certainly second nominations above for the work of Heinlein, McCaffrey, and many others.

Lastly, I haven't yet seen the recent Wizard of Earthsea. Was it any good? I'm a longtime fan of Ursula LeGuin.

perfessergee

ROCKETJOCK

Sunday, July 3, 2005 6:33 AM

Glory Road by Robert A. Heinlein. It starts as a war story, segues into a wonderfully witty sword-and-sorcery adventure, and finishes strong with a final third that's pure sociological Science Fiction. This is a film that I've kept casting and re-casting in my head for nearly thirty years.

Also, Laurel K. Hamilton's Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter series has massive untapped movie potential. My wife and I spend hours debating casting call for this one (So far Kevin Sorbo has the inside track for Richard).

H. Beam Piper's Lone Star Planet (AKA A Planet for Texans)could make a wonderful comedy. I see Jim Carrey as Ambassador Stephen Silk, an up-and-comer in the Terran Diplomatic Corps who finds himself assigned to the unalligned colony of New Texas, which has a rather... unique political system -- killing a practicing politician isn't considered a crime, except to the extent that the deceased polecat didn't deserve it. The trial of the killer becomes a de facto trial of the late politician's public record. Sounds like an idea whose time has come to me... Lots of room for timely satire here.

"Do you know what the definition of a hero is? It's somebody who gets somebody else killed." -- Zoë Warren

THESOMNAMBULIST

Sunday, July 3, 2005 10:23 AM

Originally posted by airylli:

Quote:
i third the notre dame de paris nomination! one of my very favorite books of all time. the disney version is fun in its own right, but when lined up with the movie..well..you can't. who's brilliant idea was it to make a disney movie out of that kind of tragedy, anyway?

In fairness to Disney all of the versions tend to end on a light note.

Quote:
have you seen the musical notre dame de paris? i didn't see the english version (which i heard was pretty bad) but the french version was frelling brilliant. i think up to date it is the best adaptation of that book (although i haven't seen the early 20s/30s films).

I haven't no, I have to admit the idea of a musical version doesn't appeal to me straight away, but then I could be swayed if it really is that good. I'm just not into musicals particularly. The early 20's film, which I saw when I was young I remember as being engaging but I've forgotten about the specifics, and I'm not sure how accurate to the book it was.

Quote:
i'd been searching for an esmeralda forever and then i saw firefly and was like damn, here she is.

Hey I thought that too!!! Although it crossed my mind that for the role she may now be too old. Esmeralda was supposed to be sixteen wasn't she? Or in her teens I think.... So it may require an entirely new face, but certainly I saw Morena and thought how pefect she is for Esmeralda.

Quote:
i think summer glau would also be brilliant, especially with her dancing skills. actually, now that i'm think about it, i think i like the idea of summer even better..esmeralda was so free and innocent in the beginning.

That's a fair point, her free spirit is in tune with Summer, and she would seem more like a person who would have a pet goat.

Quote:
i know nothing at all about directors so i couldn't tell you anything, but i think joss would do great with the tragedy/comedy aspect. well, not so much comedy per se, but there is a lot of humor in nddp.

You know I wondered about Joss and how he may interpret it, I'm not sure though... I think Burton is more in tune with the kind of character Quasimodo is, I mean look at Edward Scissorhands, he's not too far off the Quasimodo character. They're both handicapped, both loners, and both live in a gothic retreat... I'm sure Burton drew upon the great Gothic characters to find Edward Scissorhands so I think he's just there to start with.

Quote:
gonna have to research casting a bit...i haven't thought the other characters out so much yet. who would be gringoire?

Yeah I totally forgot about Gringoire. Hmmm Yeah I may have to come back to you on that one, I'll give it some thought. Wait actually now I think of it Dominique Pinon from Delicatessen, and Alien4 would be superb.

Quote:
easily my favorite character...casting is crucial. but for frollo, i think daneil lavoie or michel pascal would be really great. and garou for quasimodo. but then, i'm really partial to the musical casts. in fact, put richard charest and patrick fiori in there somewhere as gringoire and phoebus.

Sadly I don't know these guys. I wish I did as I'd love to see how you're visualising this. Oh and apologies for spelling Frodo, in my original post, too much Lord of the Rings these days! I mixed 'em up.

Quote:
i absolute love your 1001 nights idea. i think that would be so much fun, if done correctly.

Why thank you :) I'm often surprised that nobody in hollywood has tapped into these tales. I'd love to do these also.

Quote:

el alquimista (or the alchemist) is apparently going to be made in reality, but i haven't heard any solid plans on it yet, so i don't really know. the only thing about alquimista would be that it would seem to be actually a very slow film, since it's all about this one boy whose name is referred to about once in the entire book. some young, olive-skinned, talented (and preferably pretty) boy, a newcomer...any ideas?

Yeah read this a while back now, it didn't ma

AIRYLLI

Sunday, July 3, 2005 3:24 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by TheSomnambulist:
In fairness to Disney all of the versions tend to end on a light note.

Haha yes, I guess they do. It's just so funny to see sometimes.

Quote:
I haven't no, I have to admit the idea of a musical version doesn't appeal to me straight away, but then I could be swayed if it really is that good. I'm just not into musicals particularly. The early 20's film, which I saw when I was young I remember as being engaging but I've forgotten about the specifics, and I'm not sure how accurate to the book it was.

I must admit, I'm the type that comes down favorably on the side of musicals. But only if they've got a crazy good story line and involve some type of tragedy...Mamma Mia!, for example, bored me to death. The thing about Notre-Dame de Paris, though, is that there isn't a single line of spoken dialogue. Everything is sung beautifully in French. I'd recommend listing to clips of the Original Cast Recording (I think they've got them on Amazon). For starters, "Les temps de cathédrales" and "Belle" are gorgeous songs in their own right. My personal favorite is "Lune", I think. But then you could end up hating it..a lot of my friends just look at me funny when I tell them how amazing it is

.

Quote:
Hey I thought that too!!! Although it crossed my mind that for the role she may now be too old. Esmeralda was supposed to be sixteen wasn't she? Or in her teens I think.... So it may require an entirely new face, but certainly I saw Morena and thought how pefect she is for Esmeralda.

Cool, I'm not crazy! Or maybe we both are. Hee. Yeah, Morena's age is the only thing I had against her playing Esmeralda, and that's where I originally got the idea for Summer playing her instead. Although Morena has the absolute perfect look and "undefinable allure", she's not quite as carefree as Summer can be. Or maybe one day she'll do a part as Esmeralda and blow us all away. Who knows?

Quote:
That's a fair point, her free spirit is in tune with Summer, and she would seem more like a person who would have a pet goat.

Hahahaha. I think I'm going to have to go rewatch the cow scene in "Safe".

Quote:
You know I wondered about Joss and how he may interpret it, I'm not sure though... I think Burton is more in tune with the kind of character Quasimodo is, I mean look at Edward Scissorhands, he's not too far off the Quasimodo character. They're both handicapped, both loners, and both live in a gothic retreat... I'm sure Burton drew upon the great Gothic characters to find Edward Scissorhands so I think he's just there to start with.

You know, that's actually a really good point. I think Burton is great with the gothicism. The only thing I have with that is that a.) I'm afraid Burton will make it all wacky-like (not that I've got anything against wacky, but I don't know how that would play out with this material) and b.) I don't know how he would deal with the gothicism, whether he would actually put a focus on the cathedral, which would probably be a first, or whether he'd make all the human characters different. Man, I really want to see this film made now.

Quote:
Yeah I totally forgot about Gringoire. Hmmm Yeah I may have to come back to you on that one, I'll give it some thought. Wait actually now I think of it Dominique Pinon from Delicatessen, and Alien4 would be superb.

Hmm..I don't think I know him. The problem I have with coming up with good casting ideas is that I seem to be physically incapable of remembering people outside of what I'm currently watching/thinking about. So right now all I can see is the Firefly cast and, for some reason, the League of Extraordinary gentlemen (

). Hee and I don't think either fit all that well, outside of a few select actresses.

Quote:
Sadly I don't know these guys. I wish I did as I'd love to see how you're visualising this. Oh and apologies for spelling Frodo, in my original post, too much Lord of the Rings these days! I mixed 'em up.[/QUOTE

THESOMNAMBULIST

Sunday, July 3, 2005 4:55 PM

airylli wrote:

Quote:
I must admit, I'm the type that comes down favorably on the side of musicals. But only if they've got a crazy good story line and involve some type of tragedy...Mamma Mia!, for example, bored me to death. The thing about Notre-Dame de Paris, though, is that there isn't a single line of spoken dialogue. Everything is sung beautifully in French. I'd recommend listing to clips of the Original Cast Recording (I think they've got them on Amazon). For starters, "Les temps de cathédrales" and "Belle" are gorgeous songs in their own right. My personal favorite is "Lune", I think. But then you could end up hating it..a lot of my friends just look at me funny when I tell them how amazing it is .

It is tricky with musicals isn't it? I usually find the wealth of music overwhelming, or strident. Plus I'm really fussy when it comes to music in general, so I'm often jarred by the 'style' equally as much as the tune itself. Funnily enough the only musical which I did like tends to be hated by everyone else and that is Absolute Beginners Have you seen it? Well none of my friends quite understand how I can hate musicals and yet like that one, and to be honest I have no idea either. Oh and Blues Brothers but that's slightly different... :)

Quote:
Cool, I'm not crazy! Or maybe we both are. Hee. Yeah, Morena's age is the only thing I had against her playing Esmeralda, and that's where I originally got the idea for Summer playing her instead. Although Morena has the absolute perfect look and "undefinable allure", she's not quite as carefree as Summer can be. Or maybe one day she'll do a part as Esmeralda and blow us all away. Who knows?

Yeah we could be crazy

Still we're having fun with it so what's the harm. Morena as she is now is perhaps the closest I've seen who fits the description of Esmeralda - but if it were to be made, I think in all reality it would need someone considerably younger and more vulnerable looking. But for now, if I re-read Notre Dame of Paris, she'll be my Esmeralda.

Quote:
Hahahaha. I think I'm going to have to go rewatch the cow scene in "Safe".

I like that scene :) Cows are funny! Mind you so are goats! My parents used to have goats and they used to crack me up! You ever hear a goat sneeze? That's the funniset thing ever.... As they eat the tall grass, often it'd tickle there noses and make them sneeze and they look so perplexed as to what is happening to them that it's all the more hilarious! They were funny those goats.....

Quote:
You know, that's actually a really good point. I think Burton is great with the gothicism. The only thing I have with that is that a.) I'm afraid Burton will make it all wacky-like (not that I've got anything against wacky, but I don't know how that would play out with this material) and b.) I don't know how he would deal with the gothicism, whether he would actually put a focus on the cathedral, which would probably be a first, or whether he'd make all the human characters different. Man, I really want to see this film made now.

I think Burton's on tune to do something not just dark, but also serious... I just think he's approaching that time. Big Fish was a revelation, and although not gothic, it proved his ability to tell a tale of sadness without over sentiment, which is what Notre Dame needs. Also Burton is the most unrelenting when it comes to finalés... He rarely has a happy ending, and often leaves a touch of ambiguity or sadness to his films' conclusions. In all honesty I can't think of a better director for this, save someone like Burgman or Woody Allen (in his serious modes). Directors can be very fearful of melancholia for an ending, but even with a major studios imput Burton has manged to do this. Look at Batman and Batman Returns. A huge blockbuster, with a very ambigious ending.

As for your second point that's an uncertainty really. I know what you mean. He possobly could treat the Gothic as nothing more than a visual vehicle. This is his style to a certain extent so you h

AIRYLLI

Sunday, July 3, 2005 5:35 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by TheSomnambulist:
It is tricky with musicals isn't it? I usually find the wealth of music overwhelming, or strident. Plus I'm really fussy when it comes to music in general, so I'm often jarred by the 'style' equally as much as the tune itself. Funnily enough the only musical which I did like tends to be hated by everyone else and that is Absolute Beginners Have you seen it? Well none of my friends quite understand how I can hate musicals and yet like that one, and to be honest I have no idea either. Oh and Blues Brothers but that's slightly different... :)

I actually have never heard of that one...why's it so hated? Heh, the Blues Brothers. The only quibble I had with Notre-Dame de Paris was that they pronounced ΑΝΑΓΚΗ as anarkia. Maybe it´s my Greek training, but it just bugged me.

Quote:
Yeah we could be crazy Still we're having fun with it so what's the harm. Morena as she is now is perhaps the closest I've seen who fits the description of Esmeralda - but if it were to be made, I think in all reality it would need someone considerably younger and more vulnerable looking. But for now, if I re-read Notre Dame of Paris, she'll be my Esmeralda.

Morena is definitely just..the perfect Esmeralda. And her gorgeous wardrobe doesn't hurt. Yeah, when I re-read, I think I'll be switching back and forth between Morena and Summer.

Quote:
I like that scene :) Cows are funny! Mind you so are goats! My parents used to have goats and they used to crack me up! You ever hear a goat sneeze? That's the funniset thing ever.... As they eat the tall grass, often it'd tickle there noses and make them sneeze and they look so perplexed as to what is happening to them that it's all the more hilarious! They were funny those goats.....

HAHAHA! I want one! Hee, now I'm having Angel flashbacks. Oh, that reminded me - go here: http://www.geocities.com/pierregringoire/Disclaimer.html and scroll down until you see a button called "shockwave" on the left. It is hi-larious.

Quote:
I think Burton's on tune to do something not just dark, but also serious... I just think he's approaching that time. Big Fish was a revelation, and although not gothic, it proved his ability to tell a tale of sadness without over sentiment, which is what Notre Dame needs. Also Burton is the most unrelenting when it comes to finalés... He rarely has a happy ending, and often leaves a touch of ambiguity or sadness to his films' conclusions. In all honesty I can't think of a better director for this, save someone like Burgman or Woody Allen (in his serious modes). Directors can be very fearful of melancholia for an ending, but even with a major studios imput Burton has manged to do this. Look at Batman and Batman Returns. A huge blockbuster, with a very ambigious ending.

He did Big Fish? I didn't know that! That was a brilliant movie (and an even better book). I don't actually remember the first Batman films (except that Jack Nicholson was frelling scary), but I'll have to go rewatch them. I think he really might be the best choice for this..namely because after Mighty Aphrodite, I cannot take Woody Allen seriously.

Quote:
As for your second point that's an uncertainty really. I know what you mean. He possobly could treat the Gothic as nothing more than a visual vehicle. This is his style to a certain extent so you have a point there.

Yeah...I wouldn't mind a lot of visual Gothicism, especially with the cathedral, as long as he does put a great focus on the cathedral itself.

Quote:
Heck I'll make it if someone gives me the budget! I'm all into this idea again now!!! Ho humm!
*Throws hands into the air*

Hee! I'll help!

Quote:
I've not seen the League Of Extraordinary Gentlemen, I've heard nothing but poor reviews for that so I've kept avoiding it. As for the Firefly crew playing parts aside from Summer and Morena I can't visualise the others having too bigger role, although Sean may possibly fit the

THESOMNAMBULIST

Sunday, July 3, 2005 8:53 PM

airylli wrote:

Quote:
I actually have never heard of that one...why's it so hated? Heh, the Blues Brothers. The only quibble I had with Notre-Dame de Paris was that they pronounced ANAGKH as anarkia. Maybe it´s my Greek training, but it just bugged me.

I'm not really sure. It came around the mid eighties, and I think the idea of resurrecting the 'musical' was deemed silly. Fact is I thought it was really hip. David Bowie was in it and he wrote some of the songs. It was about 60's Britain. I thought it had some style and punch, but everyone else I know just thinks it's trash... It was directed by Juiln Temple who later went on to do 'Earth Girls are Easy'.

Quote:
HAHAHA! I want one! Hee, now I'm having Angel flashbacks.

Yeah I loved that intro to that episode. Just the way he looks down at those goats. Funny.

I couldn't get that flash to work - I'm on my lowly 56k modem thingy and I've not downloaded the latest version of flash. I'll try at work another time. Thanks though. I read some of the stuff there.

Quote:
He did Big Fish? I didn't know that! That was a brilliant movie (and an even better book). I don't actually remember the first Batman films (except that Jack Nicholson was frelling scary), but I'll have to go rewatch them. I think he really might be the best choice for this..namely because after Mighty Aphrodite, I cannot take Woody Allen seriously.

Yeah Big Fish is awesome.... Really moving. I have to admit I wasn't a big fan of the first Batman, although Jack Nickelson was great. No I was more into Batman Returns - that's seriously twisted and Bizarre, and Michelle Pfeiffer is brilliant. Danny Devito as Penguin is tragic and Keaton as Batman is finally allowed to be the suffering hero.

Quote:
Yeah...I wouldn't mind a lot of visual Gothicism, especially with the cathedral, as long as he does put a great focus on the cathedral itself.

Y'know these days though, most probably it'd have to be a CGI Notre Dame :( Not sure I like that idea, but you can see why it would be so....

Quote:
Hee! I'll help!

Hey - excellent. Maybe we should collaborate on an adaptation :) Man I wish I could really commit to that. So much work and so little time.. Oh well we can dream eh?

Quote:
Oh, by all means, keep avoiding it. I was forced to sit through it half of it two days ago and...:shudder:. The only reason I didn't poke my eyes out was that I love Stuart Townsend. It could've been such a great movie, but...blech. You know, Sean does have a certain Phoebus quality to him, what with the nobleness and all. Actually though, I could see him as a Jehan as well, with all that naked singing he does on top of Hippocrates .

I'll keep doing so :) As for Sean - you know maybe he's just too nicer a guy for that part. I really despised Phoebus when I read the book! I projected images of all the guys I went to college with who stole the hearts of girls I liked... Ok so a tiny bit jealous but y'know I'm ok now....However that was the power of the book.

Quote:
Sinbad films? I know the animated movie Sinbad with Brad Pitt, but I don't think that's what you're talking about...Heh. Another project. Wheee!

Woah!!! Yeah you're in for a treat if you can buy these on DVD. They're great fun! They're really Ray Harryhausen's masterpieces, very enjoyable. I have The Seventh Voyage of Sinbad made in 1958 on DVD. Its famous for having a sword fight between Sinbad, and a Skeleton warrior. Similar to Jason and the Argonauts but came earlier so it's not as polished. However the adventure is very enjoyable. Cyclops, Giant Eagles, Genies, Dragons, man you name it it's got it. Fantastic film. However there is one version where Vincent Price is side kick to Sinbad played by Douglas Fairbanks JR - this is a superb film and Vincent Price is hilarious. It was actually thought a bit racey as it had a lot of delicately dressed women in it.

Quote:
Yuhuh! Now...who do we know that's a young Willem Dafoe?

Presently no, but I'm going to keep my eye out for o

MISGUIDED BY VOICES

Sunday, July 3, 2005 9:03 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by BlueHandTwoByTwo:
I really fell for "LOVELY BONES" by Alice Sebold and "THE CURIOUS INCIDENT OF THE DOG IN THE NIGHTTIME" by Mark Haddon. Both, I feel, would be unfilmable, as they are primarily narrator-driven pieces and the movies would have to rely too heavily on "Voice overs".

You know Lovely Bones is next on the plate for Peter Jackson after Kong, right? And Chuck's stuff is all in development hell at the moment - they are insanely unfilmable and take a fair amount of money. They need a package like that behind Fight Club to do a decent job.

I may be imagining it, but I think I read somewhere that Fincher may be looking at one of the books for a mini-series (presumably HBO or Showtime)

"I threw up on your bed"

STARPILOTGRAINGER

Sunday, July 3, 2005 9:19 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by perfessergee:
There have been many great suggestions on this thread, but here's a couple that haven't been seen yet:

Dan Simmons' Hyperion Cantos series (Hyperion, The Fall of Hyperion, Endymion and The Rise of Endymion). If you haven't read Simmons, by all means do; he's awesome.

Hard to do, but I'd like to see it done.

Quote:

Stephen Stirling's Island in the Sea of Time series.

This is one of those rare books that I'd love to see done (especially as a TV series), but I wouldn't particularly care if they changed much of the story. I like the setup and a number of the characters, and the story is okay, but I just wouldn't get at all worked up if they changed stuff - just as long as it was changes that made sense.

Let's see, other choices for me, ones I haven't seen mentioned (since I agree with a number others that were mentioned):

Jumper, by Stephen Gould. Sure, it's a simple 'person with powers in a normal world' story, but I really enjoyed it and would like to see it come alive.

I'd love to see something done in the setting of James White's Sector General series, but I'm not sure of any particular book I'd like to see adapted.

Runaways, the comic.

Star Pilot Grainger
"Remember, the enemy's gate is down."
LJ: http://www.livejournal.com/users/newnumber6 (real)
http://www.livejournal.com/users/alternaljournal (fictional, travelling through another world)
Unreachable Star: http://www.unreachablestar.net - Comics & SF News/Reviews/Opinions
This week: My spoiler-free Serenity review

PIOTROWSKI

Sunday, July 3, 2005 9:42 PM

Hmm... The mentions of "The Lovely Bones" got me thinking about a book that was often compared to it when it first came out, "The Dogs of Babel" by Carolyn Parkhurst. Sad and beautiful book. Would make for a sad and beautiful movie. I don't know about directors, etc. as long as Thomas Newman does the score. Thomas Newman!

And AOman14: Dark Tower! Completely impossible for Hollywood to do it, but man... What a series of movies it would make. Of course it would need to be like six movies long ...at least. A double trilogy. Heh. Yeah right.

But Gina as Susannah? Hmmm. Maybe get a time machine and retrieve a slightly more grizzled Nathan Fillion from the future to play Roland? Or you know...just wait a while. I'm sure 6-7 movies would require decades of preproduction.

And thus this adaptation shall forever remain intangible and wraithish, existing only in my head. Probably for the best...but man! So cinematic!

Same goes for Neil Gaiman's Sandman. Sure it's a graphic novel. But still...novel. And again, unfilmable. But fun to dream about.

PIOTROWSKI

Sunday, July 3, 2005 9:43 PM

Hmm... The mentions of "The Lovely Bones" got me thinking about a book that was often compared to it when it first came out, "The Dogs of Babel" by Carolyn Parkhurst. Sad and beautiful book. Would make for a sad and beautiful movie. I don't know about directors, etc. as long as Thomas Newman does the score. Thomas Newman!

And AOman14: Dark Tower! Completely impossible for Hollywood to do it, but man... What a series of movies it would make. Of course it would need to be like six movies long ...at least. A double trilogy. Heh. Yeah right.

But Gina as Susannah? Hmmm. Maybe get a time machine and retrieve a slightly more grizzled Nathan Fillion from the future to play Roland? Or you know...just wait a while. I'm sure 6-7 movies would require decades of preproduction.

And thus this adaptation shall forever remain intangible and wraithish, existing only in my head. Probably for the best...but man! So cinematic!

Same goes for Neil Gaiman's Sandman. Sure it's a graphic novel. But still...novel. And again, unfilmable. But fun to dream about.

PIOTROWSKI

Sunday, July 3, 2005 9:43 PM

Double poster! You jerk!

AIRYLLI

Sunday, July 3, 2005 10:37 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by TheSomnambulist:
I'm not really sure. It came around the mid eighties, and I think the idea of resurrecting the 'musical' was deemed silly. Fact is I thought it was really hip. David Bowie was in it and he wrote some of the songs. It was about 60's Britain. I thought it had some style and punch, but everyone else I know just thinks it's trash... It was directed by Juiln Temple who later went on to do 'Earth Girls are Easy'.

But..Bowie! Now I'm interested. :)

Quote:
Yeah I loved that intro to that episode. Just the way he looks down at those goats. Funny.

Hee!

Quote:
I couldn't get that flash to work - I'm on my lowly 56k modem thingy and I've not downloaded the latest version of flash. I'll try at work another time. Thanks though. I read some of the stuff there.

Heh yeah, when you get a chance, definitely give it a look. It's like a cross between the Disney and the book..very funny. I really like some stuff on that site...I'm looking forward to when it's completely renovated.

Quote:
Yeah Big Fish is awesome.... Really moving. I have to admit I wasn't a big fan of the first Batman, although Jack Nickelson was great. No I was more into Batman Returns - that's seriously twisted and Bizarre, and Michelle Pfeiffer is brilliant. Danny Devito as Penguin is tragic and Keaton as Batman is finally allowed to be the suffering hero.

Hmm. Was Keaton Beetlejuice? Haha anyway, yeah, I now definitely need to rewatch those. I love Michelle Pfeiffer. And twisted and bizarre = of the good.

Quote:
Y'know these days though, most probably it'd have to be a CGI Notre Dame :( Not sure I like that idea, but you can see why it would be so....

Damn...actually being shot in France would be absolutely amazing. I think, as producers, we should demand that. :P Of course permission to shoot inside of the cathedral itself might be a little bit difficult and possibly sacreligious..damn.

Quote:
Hey - excellent. Maybe we should collaborate on an adaptation :) Man I wish I could really commit to that. So much work and so little time.. Oh well we can dream eh?

Oh, to be an important and influential person. Sigh. Maybe I'll reread the book and adapt it..although I'm trying to read it in the French now and it's..kinda hard

.

Quote:
I'll keep doing so :) As for Sean - you know maybe he's just too nicer a guy for that part. I really despised Phoebus when I read the book! I projected images of all the guys I went to college with who stole the hearts of girls I liked... Ok so a tiny bit jealous but y'know I'm ok now....However that was the power of the book.

Oh, definitely too nice. But I think it'd be interesting to see Sean pull off a mean mean character. Phoebus was eeeevil. Although he seemed more of just a self-centered coward to me, wherease Fleur really did seem evil to me. I think Liam Neeson would actually do a really good bad/tortured guy as Frollo..although keeping Notre-Dame a non-big-star production would probably be a better idea.

Quote:
Woah!!! Yeah you're in for a treat if you can buy these on DVD. They're great fun! They're really Ray Harryhausen's masterpieces, very enjoyable. I have The Seventh Voyage of Sinbad made in 1958 on DVD. Its famous for having a sword fight between Sinbad, and a Skeleton warrior. Similar to Jason and the Argonauts but came earlier so it's not as polished. However the adventure is very enjoyable. Cyclops, Giant Eagles, Genies, Dragons, man you name it it's got it. Fantastic film. However there is one version where Vincent Price is side kick to Sinbad played by Douglas Fairbanks JR - this is a superb film and Vincent Price is hilarious. It was actually thought a bit racey as it had a lot of delicately dressed women in it.

Argonauts! This sounds like a load of fun..I'll definitely have to check those out as well. What else is summer for, eh? Hee, "delicately dressed".

Quote:
Presently no, but I'm going to keep my eye out for one. [/QUOTE

SERENITYVALLEY

Monday, July 4, 2005 3:35 AM

both "Dirk Gently" books by Douglas Adams.

Adams was gonna make a Dirk movie after Hitchhiker's, but he died even before Hitchhiker's. *cry* I could see someone like Nathan Lane or John Lovetts as Dirk Gently.

http://www.simple-assault.com/Firefly.htm

THEUNBLINKINGKILLER

Monday, July 4, 2005 7:23 AM

"Ringworld", "Ender's Game" and "The Moon is a Harsh Mistress" have already been said, so I'll go with

The "His Dark Materials" Trilogy by Phillip Pullman, Alan Moore's "Watchmen", Harry Harrison's "Bill the Galactic Hero" series or "Stainless Steel Rat" series (the sequels are already written!) or pretty much anything by Robert Rankin, especially "The hollow chocolate bunnies of the apocalypse."

LINDALE

Monday, July 4, 2005 7:45 AM

Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine is an amazing book that was made into a travesty of a movie (mostly through huge, ridiculously unnecessary changes to the characters and plot). I choose to denial myself into believing it hasn't actually been made into a film, allowing me to add it to this list.

Also, Boy's Life by Robert R. McCammon is a book I had to read for my high school junior english class quite a few years ago. Quickest 600+ pages I ever read (less than a day, if I remember correctly- I couldn't put it down). I think this would make a fantastic movie, kinda with a Stand By Me-ish vibe. That whole last-summer-of-innocence thing. A wonderful book that I can't recommend enough.

ROLAND

Monday, July 4, 2005 7:59 AM

Both of my main choices have been mentioned already.

1. The Dragonlance Chronicles trilogy

2. The Dark Tower Series - I don't think this would work as a movie but I think it could be turned into an incredible TV weekly series that ran 1 or even 2 seasons. That way they could take their time with the story. The budget wouldn't be really large, since there isn't a lot of special effects in the series.

ASTRAGYNIA

Monday, July 4, 2005 1:22 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Lindale:
Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine is an amazing book that was made into a travesty of a movie (mostly through huge, ridiculously unnecessary changes to the characters and plot). I choose to denial myself into believing it hasn't actually been made into a film, allowing me to add it to this list.

I, too, really like that book, and I refused to see the film - glad to see I was justified. The difficulty in it, though, is that so much of the best parts of the love story take place in letters - not the easiest things to convert into film.

Ender's Game - definitely, though I'm sure I would complain about the end result if it were ever done.

AIRYLLI

Monday, July 4, 2005 2:48 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by TheUnblinkingKiller:
The "His Dark Materials" Trilogy by Phillip Pullman

You know, I keep hearing rumors about this actually being made, and I think there's a page on IMBD. The problem with this is that the rumor is that they've cut out all of the clerical stuff from the story to make it "more accessible". :disappointed" In that case, I don't know how good the movie would be, if at all.

----
I swallowed a bug.

www.cafepress.com/airylli

THEUNBLINKINGKILLER

Monday, July 4, 2005 3:27 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by airylli:
Quote:
Originally posted by TheUnblinkingKiller:
The "His Dark Materials" Trilogy by Phillip Pullman

The problem with this is that the rumor is that they've cut out all of the clerical stuff from the story to make it "more accessible".

"Clerical Stuff" Like what? The Alethiometer? THAT'S certainly not an integral part of the story... Sheesh Hollywood...

AIRYLLI

Monday, July 4, 2005 3:35 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by TheUnblinkingKiller:
"Clerical Stuff" Like what? The Alethiometer? THAT'S certainly not an integral part of the story... Sheesh Hollywood...

Haha yep..well, I'm fairly certain they'll have an alethiometer if only because it'll look cool, but the serious stuff like the deadly struggle for heaven and the evil clerics and the angels and the Angel declaring that he's God..all of that is supposed to go out the window.

----
I swallowed a bug.

www.cafepress.com/airylli

THEUNBLINKINGKILLER

Monday, July 4, 2005 3:38 PM

They'll prolly take out that part with the angel killing that guy as well...

THESOMNAMBULIST

Monday, July 4, 2005 8:54 PM

Originally posted by airylli:

Quote:
Heh yeah, when you get a chance, definitely give it a look. It's like a cross between the Disney and the book..very funny. I really like some stuff on that site...I'm looking forward to when it's completely renovated.

Will do :)

Quote:
Hmm. Was Keaton Beetlejuice? Haha anyway, yeah, I now definitely need to rewatch those. I love Michelle Pfeiffer. And twisted and bizarre = of the good.

Yep Keaton was in Beetlejuice. A great character.

Quote:
Damn...actually being shot in France would be absolutely amazing. I think, as producers, we should demand that. :P Of course permission to shoot inside of the cathedral itself might be a little bit difficult and possibly sacreligious..damn.

I'm sure if we grease the right palms we could gain permission :) however could be cheaper to replicate certain key areas on a soundstage. Exteriors however would benefit from the real deal.

Quote:
Oh, to be an important and influential person. Sigh. Maybe I'll reread the book and adapt it..although I'm trying to read it in the French now and it's..kinda hard .

Oh that'd be great. My best friend is french and she's always telling me how much better some of my favourite films would be if I could read/understand French. I know a little but nothing like enough to enjoy a book.

Quote:
Oh, definitely too nice. But I think it'd be interesting to see Sean pull off a mean mean character. Phoebus was eeeevil. Although he seemed more of just a self-centered coward to me, wherease Fleur really did seem evil to me. I think Liam Neeson would actually do a really good bad/tortured guy as Frollo..although keeping Notre-Dame a non-big-star production would probably be a better idea.

I like the idea of Liam Neeson playing a tortured Frollo, but yes a big named star would change the element of it.

Quote:
Argonauts! This sounds like a load of fun..I'll definitely have to check those out as well. What else is summer for, eh? Hee, "delicately dressed".

Oh it is. It's a typical rainy sunday afternoon kinda film. Perfect.

Quote:
Oh man, I know. I was on a loooong flight to Korea when I was finishing up the book for the first time and I've never cried during a book and I've maybe teared up in a Buffy episode or a movie very few times..but that third act really killed me. Soul destroying indeed.
I was very close to sobbing. I think the guy next to me was a little bit afraid. Hee.

He,he... Maybe he took note and decided to go read it for himself.
It's a cracking book. I love the classics. I tend to prefer those to more modern books, although there have been a few that I have enjoyed none have had quite the impact that this one has made on me.

Cheers.
The
Somnmabulist

www.cirqus.com

ANFA

Monday, July 4, 2005 11:03 PM

Ooh, this is a good topic!

I'm gonna have to agree with you, Rocketjock - the Anita Blake books by Laurell K. Hamilton are totally full of potential. I'm gonna have to say I think Kevin Sorbo is a bit old to be Richard, but I love the thought of Ron Perlman as Edward. That cast of characters would be gold if they got it right . . .

Also, I'd love to see a well done version of Neil Gaiman's Neverwhere. I was taken with it and was surprised when I was.

The books I'd want to see, but I know would get butchered to death, are the Keltaid series by Patricia Kenneally Morrison. Brilliantly written, especially if you're a King Arthur fan. I'd hate to see it end up like the made for TV Mists of Avalon - it just wasn't what it could have been.

Hmm . . . Then there is the Exiles series by Melanie Rawn, and the Stephanie Plum books by Janet Evanovich. Evidently, one of the big studios has the rights to her first book, but so far, nothing . . .

" We're just too pretty for God to let us die."

AIRYLLI

Tuesday, July 5, 2005 1:52 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by TheSomnambulist:
I'm sure if we grease the right palms we could gain permission :) however could be cheaper to replicate certain key areas on a soundstage. Exteriors however would benefit from the real deal.

Yeah, I agree with you that some sets need to be build on a soundstage...the deep insides of the cathedral (like Frollo's room), for example, probably need to be built sets. But a great shot of the rose windows would also be gorgeous. Ooh, and all the statues of the kings and all that good alchemy stuff.

Quote:
Oh that'd be great. My best friend is french and she's always telling me how much better some of my favourite films would be if I could read/understand French. I know a little but nothing like enough to enjoy a book.

Yeah, it's a bit difficult, but I know some Spanish so it's a lot easier than I thought it'd be. I still can't conjugate a verb to save my life, but in context I can easily figure it out. I just want to get a feel for it in the original language.

Quote:
I like the idea of Liam Neeson playing a tortured Frollo, but yes a big named star would change the element of it.

I agree...brilliant newcomers are always fun. Although I do love Liam Neeson.

Quote:
Oh it is. It's a typical rainy sunday afternoon kinda film. Perfect.

Hooray!

Quote:
He,he... Maybe he took note and decided to go read it for himself.
It's a cracking book. I love the classics. I tend to prefer those to more modern books, although there have been a few that I have enjoyed none have had quite the impact that this one has made on me.

Hahaha hopefully. His life would be better for it. I prefer classics as well..as much as I love Hemingway and some modern stuff (Harry Potter!), going way back to Greek mythology and through the Romantic period just gets to me a lot more.

Cheers!

Airylli

----
I swallowed a bug.

www.cafepress.com/airylli

SIMONSAYS

Tuesday, July 5, 2005 3:11 AM

Well, I can think of one book that I wish they HADN'T made into a book.....War of the Worlds!

Another big paycheck for Tommy Boy and Big Steve!
Why can't anyone make a movie that actually follows the book or makes sense?

Remember what LOUIS VUITTON said: "It's in the bag!"

STATIC

Tuesday, July 5, 2005 3:40 AM

The Alienist and The Angel Of Darkness by Caleb Carr.

THESOMNAMBULIST

Tuesday, July 5, 2005 8:18 AM

airylli wrote

Quote:
But a great shot of the rose windows would also be gorgeous. Ooh, and all the statues of the kings and all that good alchemy stuff.

Also known as "The Money" shot. ;)

Quote:
Yeah, it's a bit difficult, but I know some Spanish so it's a lot easier than I thought it'd be. I still can't conjugate a verb to save my life, but in context I can easily figure it out. I just want to get a feel for it in the original language.

Ok now you're scaring me... I know some spanish too. A very, very little amount. It was my first language, but sadly having lived here in England I've forgotten a great deal although, I understand a lot of it. I'm just unable to respond in time :(

Quote:

I agree...brilliant newcomers are always fun. Although I do love Liam Neeson.

Yep. That's what makes Firefly so good, and what is going to impress me the most about the release of Serenity.

Quote:
Hahaha hopefully. His life would be better for it. I prefer classics as well..as much as I love Hemingway and some modern stuff (Harry Potter!), going way back to Greek mythology and through the Romantic period just gets to me a lot more.

Good grief! I'm right there with you. I love Mythology! I'm writing one of my own. I've not read any Harry Potter though, the films kinda put me off, but I like Hemingway. "A Farewell to Arms" is one of my favourites. It's just so unusally worded. What about Marquez? Have you read any of his? One Hundred Years Of Solitude is my all time favourite book, but almost anything he does I love.

Ace chatting with you.

The
Somnambulist

www.cirqus.com

AIRYLLI

Wednesday, July 6, 2005 4:08 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by TheSomnambulist:
Also known as "The Money" shot. ;)

Hee!

Quote:
Ok now you're scaring me... I know some spanish too. A very, very little amount. It was my first language, but sadly having lived here in England I've forgotten a great deal although, I understand a lot of it. I'm just unable to respond in time :(

Whoa, that's weird...yeah, I'm not too good with the speaking part so much. I was in Spain for a bit last year for spring break and I improved a whole lot, but then I went back to school and it all went bye-bye. But..England! I want to go there. I'm stuck in the States..oh joy..

Quote:
Yep. That's what makes Firefly so good, and what is going to impress me the most about the release of Serenity.

Exactly..I. Cannot. Wait. September should be in the middle of summer, I've decided.

Quote:
Good grief! I'm right there with you. I love Mythology! I'm writing one of my own. I've not read any Harry Potter though, the films kinda put me off, but I like Hemingway. "A Farewell to Arms" is one of my favourites. It's just so unusally worded. What about Marquez? Have you read any of his? One Hundred Years Of Solitude is my all time favourite book, but almost anything he does I love.

Hey, I wrote a myth once! Granted, I was in like 6th grade and it was about why the sky was blue and white, and I think I "borrowed" from a Chinese story I read once

. What are you writing about? Yeah, the Harry Potter movies are..tons and tons of fun, but only if you read the books first and don't take the movies too seriously. Try them, I think you'll enjoy them. I see some Whedon in Ms. Rowling.

I haven't yet read "Farewell to Arms," although I think that's one of my summer projects. I've read bunches of short stories by him though, which I absolutely love..except for the Nick Adams ones. Aside from one or two, I wasn't so much a fan of those.

I think I read a couple short stories by Marquez last year in class, which I really enjoyed, but I started One Hundred Years of Solitude and couldn't get through it. But I started it when I was really young, so I think it was just too early for me. I've heard he's a bit like Hemingway...is that true? If so, I'll definitely have to give him another chance. Have you read anything by Federico Garcia Lorca? I'm not certain a lot of his stuff has been translated, since poetry's a bit difficult to do, but he's really brilliant. Oh, actually, he wrote "The House of Bernarda Alba" which I think was made into an English movie. That was pretty good too.

Quote:
Ace chatting with you.

Right back at you! I think I'll go work on that screenplay now...

Airylli

----
I swallowed a bug.

www.cafepress.com/airylli

HASUFEL

Wednesday, July 6, 2005 7:06 AM

A few repeat votes first:

Notre Dame - exactly. And will never happen. (sigh)

Pern - I have quiet hopes that now that Ronald Moore is in with BSG on the SciFi Channel, he might get to resurrect his Pern series and get to do it right. One can always dream.

And for my own addition -

Rendezvous With Rama (Arthur C. Clarke). Probably wouldn't work or would be changed to be unrecognizable. Clarke has a way with "dangerous, not sinister", but Hollywood just doesn't get that. Morgan Freeman has actually been shopping this as a movie property for some time, but it doesn't look like anything will come of it. ( http://www.rendezvouswithrama.com)

Arizona Browncoats - http://tv.groups.yahoo.com/group/AZ_Browncoats/

AIRYLLI

Wednesday, July 6, 2005 3:55 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Hasufel:
A few repeat votes first:

Notre Dame - exactly. And will never happen. (sigh)

Aww hey now, if someone (or I) ends up writing a really good screenplay, finding a good and willing director, a perfect and preferably unknown cast, a helpful producer, and a non-evil sponsor/movie release company thingy, it could happen possibly.

Yeah, guess not..

----
I swallowed a bug.

www.cafepress.com/airylli

ZEEK

Wednesday, July 6, 2005 4:21 PM

Well pretty much everything I would like to see has already been mentioned.

Enders Game - though I don't think they could possibly do it justice.

The Moon is a Harsh Mistress - though I don't think it would get the budget to do it justice.

Neverwhere - I think it could do well considering how the Harry Potter movies do.

the only ones I didn't see previously mentioned:
Timothy Zahn's Star Wars trilogy. He did a far better job capturing the feel of the original trilogy than Lucas ever did. I would still like to see them as movies even though the cast is getting too old now.

WEICHI

Wednesday, July 6, 2005 5:02 PM

I really liked "The Sparrow" by Mary Doria Russell (not sure of the authors name). Its a nice 'first contact' story, we recieve transmissions from a doable solar system, while the UN argues the Jesuits send a mission. Would not exactly be an action movie but good science, I thought.

See how I'm not punching him, I think I've grown!

YT

Wednesday, July 6, 2005 7:57 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Zeek:
Neverwhere - I think it could do well considering how the Harry Potter movies do.

Neverwhere is a 6-part miniseries http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0115288/ . I bought it without having read the books, but didn't like it.

Keep the Shiny Side Up . . . (wutzon) Allman Bro's, "What's Done Is Done", "Where It All Begins"

THESOMNAMBULIST

Wednesday, July 6, 2005 10:34 PM

airylii wrote:

Quote:
Whoa, that's weird...yeah, I'm not too good with the speaking part so much. I was in Spain for a bit last year for spring break and I improved a whole lot, but then I went back to school and it all went bye-bye. But..England! I want to go there. I'm stuck in the States..oh joy..

I have a no excuse really; I grew up in Paraguay and as I was only three at the time Spanish was my first language, with the native guarani being me second. When we came back to England, I was nine, I spoke little English. However because I kept being teased at school I made a strong effort to learn English very quickly, and somehow somewhere along the way, my Spanish just left me, or I rejected it I don't know... :( It's kinda there but not in a good way.

As for England - well I guess it's worth a visit... It has it's moments no doubt. I live in the countryside and I love it here, but it took me time to settle with England - the attitude is very different to what I grew up with in Latin America.

Quote:
Exactly..I. Cannot. Wait. September should be in the middle of summer, I've decided.

He, he. Yeah I'm excited about Serenity. I converted my two best friends to Firefly, and we're going together to watch Serenity on it's release. It's going to be a hoot!

Quote:
Hey, I wrote a myth once! Granted, I was in like 6th grade and it was about why the sky was blue and white, and I think I "borrowed" from a Chinese story I read once . What are you writing about?

Excellent!!! Wow I'm impressed. Have you stopped writing?

I started mine thirteen years ago. My approach is to just keep on adding to it. It's become, in it's own little way, quite dense. It's really a reaction to events I've expericed, that I then transpose onto make believe characters, creatures and landscapes through a muddle of poetry and prose and plain old simple storytelling. As I was quite young when I started it it initially began more as a jilted man's handbook, but it's moved on since then.

However as my influences were and are very much things like Hugo,Marquez, Cervantez and Galliano it's tragic for the most part.

Quote:
Yeah, the Harry Potter movies are..tons and tons of fun, but only if you read the books first and don't take the movies too seriously. Try them, I think you'll enjoy them. I see some Whedon in Ms. Rowling.

Friends have told me this - but I think there's too much hype presently for me to enjoy it just yet, so I'm waiting for some silence. Then I'll tackle them.

Quote:
I haven't yet read "Farewell to Arms," although I think that's one of my summer projects. I've read bunches of short stories by him though, which I absolutely love..except for the Nick Adams ones. Aside from one or two, I wasn't so much a fan of those.

A farewell to Arms is just such an unusual book. It tells the story by the omission of words. That sounds crazy, but if you read it you'll see what I mean. The language of it is irregular, clipped even... Give it a whirl.

Quote:
I think I read a couple short stories by Marquez last year in class, which I really enjoyed, but I started One Hundred Years of Solitude and couldn't get through it. But I started it when I was really young, so I think it was just too early for me. I've heard he's a bit like Hemingway...is that true?

It may not be an age thing. I read it when I was young and recently I gave it to my best friend to read and he couldn't get through it either, and he's now thirty. No I think it's just maybe one of those things. Magical Realism isn't everyones cup of tea, it may just be that way with you also.

To help it may be worth trying Chronicle of a death Foretold first. This is somewhat easier and perhaps more accessible to start with... I dunno. Could be worth a go.

Quote:
Have you read anything by Federico Garcia Lorca? I'm not certain a lot of his stuff has been translated, since poetry's a bit difficult to do, but he's really brilliant. Oh, actually, he wrote "The House of Bernarda Alba

ANFA

Wednesday, July 6, 2005 11:01 PM

Quote:
Neverwhere is a 6-part miniseries, available in regions 1 & 2. I bought it without having read the books, but didn't like it.

The BBC version - bless them, anyway - did it less than justice. Read the book!!

It has so much potential, if someone had time and money . . . Anyway, (to loosely quote Jayne) if wishes were horses we'd all be eating steak!

" We're just too pretty for God to let us die."

ASTRAGYNIA

Wednesday, July 6, 2005 11:20 PM

Ooh, Neverwhere - I really, really like that book. I like the BBC series, too, but it - uh, how shall I put this - requires a fair amount of imagination and forgiveness to get around some of the low-budget-ness, terribly bad fight-choreography (to the point where you can't always tell that a fight was going on) and tacky music.

I heard a rumour somewhere that a movie of it was proposed, but the producers wanted to set it in New York City, so Neil Gaiman said no. I mean, New York!?!? Neverwhere without London just wouldn't be Neverwhere. It would be like doing Firefly without the ship.

AIRYLLI

Wednesday, July 6, 2005 11:29 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by TheSomnambulist:
I have a no excuse really; I grew up in Paraguay and as I was only three at the time Spanish was my first language, with the native guarani being me second. When we came back to England, I was nine, I spoke little English. However because I kept being teased at school I made a strong effort to learn English very quickly, and somehow somewhere along the way, my Spanish just left me, or I rejected it I don't know... :( It's kinda there but not in a good way.

That's a bit like with me and Korean..I moved to the states when I was 4/5 and learned English then and now I can speak both, but I'm way more proficient with English. I really wish I could be more fluent, especially now that we've moved back to Asialand.

Quote:
As for England - well I guess it's worth a visit... It has it's moments no doubt. I live in the countryside and I love it here, but it took me time to settle with England - the attitude is very different to what I grew up with in Latin America.

Yeah, I can see that...Also, I hear London is crazy crazy expensive. Not healthy for a wallet of my size.

Quote:
He, he. Yeah I'm excited about Serenity. I converted my two best friends to Firefly, and we're going together to watch Serenity on it's release. It's going to be a hoot!

That's pretty awesome! I've brainwashed some of my cousins and I had a friend randomly IM me from Hong Kong saying, "But what I don't understand is..Why do they all keep trying to speak Chinese?" :P Hopefully, I'll be able to convince some more of my friends once I go back to school in the fall..just in time for Serenity!

Quote:
Excellent!!! Wow I'm impressed. Have you stopped writing?

I started mine thirteen years ago. My approach is to just keep on adding to it. It's become, in it's own little way, quite dense. It's really a reaction to events I've expericed, that I then transpose onto make believe characters, creatures and landscapes through a muddle of poetry and prose and plain old simple storytelling. As I was quite young when I started it it initially began more as a jilted man's handbook, but it's moved on since then.

However as my influences were and are very much things like Hugo,Marquez, Cervantez and Galliano it's tragic for the most part.

Heh yeah, it was a lot of fun. I still write every now and then and plan to do a whole lot of it during the summer, when I have more time. Currently, I'm working on a couple of projects, one of them being a..well, I don't know how to describe it, really. I guess the premise is a bit like the Alchemist in that it's about just a boy, but in my story he grows up to be the historical Muslim ruler who built most of La Alhambra. It's a mix of history and fiction, with a lot of mythical/fantastic elements on the way. I think I may have to rewrite the entire thing though; I started it around last year and I only have the very beginning of it done, but so far, the writing is just kind of...bad. So yeah, more work on that is desperately needed. It does end quite tragically though. Haha yeah, I think all of this reading has influenced me way too much in the art of literary sadism/masochism.

Your project sounds really interesting...any chance of you posting it anywhere? I would love to read it. Dense mythology is always the best kind; just look at Tolkein.

Quote:
Friends have told me this - but I think there's too much hype presently for me to enjoy it just yet, so I'm waiting for some silence. Then I'll tackle them.

Haha that's actually quite prudent. I'm that way with a lot of things...I think because I grew up around Star Trek-crazy people, I've successfully avoided it my entire life.

Quote:
A farewell to Arms is just such an unusual book. It tells the story by the omission of words. That sounds crazy, but if you read it you'll see what I mean. The language of it is irregular, clipped even... Give it a whirl.

You know, that's a great way of describing Hemingway

STARPILOTGRAINGER

Wednesday, July 6, 2005 11:29 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Astragynia:
Ooh, Neverwhere - I really, really like that book. I like the BBC series, too, but it - uh, how shall I put this - requires a fair amount of imagination and forgiveness to get around some of the low-budget-ness, terribly bad fight-choreography (to the point where you can't always tell that a fight was going on) and tacky music.

I heard a rumour somewhere that a movie of it was proposed, but the producers wanted to set it in New York City, so Neil Gaiman said no. I mean, New York!?!? Neverwhere without London just wouldn't be Neverwhere. It would be like doing Firefly without the ship.

I agree, but on the other hand, I wouldn't mind, if a first Neverwhere movie does well, a sequel heading for New York's Below or that of another city, since it did seem to be set up for it (hell, if they could make a Neverwhere TV series and they had to set it in NY Below, I'd be happy with that, so long as it was an actual sequel to the story that took place in London).

Star Pilot Grainger
"Remember, the enemy's gate is down."
LJ: http://www.livejournal.com/users/newnumber6 (real)
http://www.livejournal.com/users/alternaljournal (fictional, travelling through another world)
Unreachable Star: http://www.unreachablestar.net - Comics & SF News/Reviews/Opinions
This week: My spoiler-free Serenity review

ANFA

Wednesday, July 6, 2005 11:30 PM

Quote:
I mean, New York!?!? Neverwhere without London just wouldn't be Neverwhere. It would be like doing Firefly without the ship.

I whole heartedly agree - I mean, you'd have to change the whole thing! Half (or more) of the charm of it is that there are so many London tube landmarks for names, etc. I totally support him standing by his creation just the way it is.
Although . . .

Quote:
I agree, but on the other hand, I wouldn't mind, if a first Neverwhere movie does well, a sequel heading for New York's Below or that of another city, since it did seem to be set up for it (hell, if they could make a Neverwhere TV series and they had to set it in NY Below, I'd be happy with that, so long as it was an actual sequel to the story that took place in London).

. . . I could also get into this idea, too! Always good to be forward thinking - I commend you, Star Pilot Grainger!

Speaking of his creations, I also really liked his book, [bold]Stardust[/bold]. Hmm . . . Another good idea for a movie right there!

" We're just too pretty for God to let us die."

YT

Wednesday, July 6, 2005 11:58 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Anfa:
The BBC version - bless them, anyway - did it less than justice.

I'd been hoping for something as good as Hidden City http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0095298/ -- that never came out on DVD.

HC's denouement seemed to allow for more stories. I thought it was an unsold pilot, but IMDB says it's a feature.

Keep the Shiny Side Up . . . (wutzon) Johnnie & Joe, "Over the Mountain, Across the Sea", from "the Doo Wop Box"

AMDOBELL

Sunday, July 10, 2005 11:15 PM

My top choice would be the Vorkosigan books by Lois McMaster Bujold. They are fabulous and would make a terrific set of films. I would love to see the title character/hero, Miles Vorkosigan, played by Kevin Spacey. I would have the books to script done by J. Michael Stracynski, director Stephen Speilberg and music by John Williams.

The 'Dark Matter' books from Wizards of the Coast (only four were put in print - "In Hollow Houses", If Whispers Call", "In Fluid Silence" and "Of Aged Angels", though a fifth "By Dust Consumed" went as far as an initial print before the series was cancelled by Wizards in favour of more profitable story-to-gaming titles and I couldn't get my paws on a copy for love or money). The books are based around the Hoffman Institute and all kinds of strange and weird phenomena and creepy stuff. Absolutely excellent story telling that should have been allowed to continue. This would be a mesmerising subject for a film. If you ever see any of the books on a shelf, nab them and read them!

Katherine Kurtz 'Deryni' books would be a terrific subject as would Mary Stewarts Merlin trilogy or Nigel Tranter's historical Robert the Bruce trilogy which reduced me to tears with the power of the writing.

"I don't want to live in a world where one life doesn't matter" - Cade Foster, "First Wave"

Ali D :~)
You can't take the sky from me...

YT

Monday, July 11, 2005 10:34 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by AMDOBELL:
Mary Stewarts Merlin trilogy

I hope they aren't even optioned for film, 'though I expect that's a doomed wish. The stories are wonderfully visual, but aach book would require hours to cover -- maybe a US-length-season of TV. I wonder if Peter Jackson would be interested? I think Richard Taylor would.

Keep the Shiny Side Up . . . (wutzon) Derek Trucks Band, "Footprints", eponymous

AMDOBELL

Monday, July 11, 2005 10:49 PM

Peter Jackson would be my preference.

"My days of not takin' you serious are certainly comin' to a middle" - Mal, "Firefly

Ali D :~)
You can't take the sky from me...

YT

Monday, July 11, 2005 11:15 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by AMDOBELL:
Peter Jackson would be my preference.

Richard Taylor is head of Weta Workshop. PJ would definitely use Weta, but Richard also works with other directors.

Keep the Shiny Side Up . . . (wutzon) Moe, "St Augustine", from "L"

IMEARLY

Tuesday, July 12, 2005 12:59 AM

Piers Anthony's Apprentice Adept novels

Clive Barker's Weaveworld

Go sign my Guest Book, http://www.geocities.com/thisbrownhouse
Then download Serenity, http://homepage.mac.com/rocketplane/FileSharing8.

ACROWLEY

Tuesday, July 12, 2005 1:37 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Jadehand:
I'd Love to see Neil Gaiman/Terry Pratchet's GOOD OMENS: the nice and accurate prophecies of Agnes Nutter, witch. I think It'd make a great movie.

I agree wholeheartedly.

Quote:
Originally posted by TheUnblinkingKiller:
Alan Moore's "Watchmen"

As much as I would like to see Alan's vision on the big screen, Hollywood would ruin it. Maybe I'm a cynic - okay, I am - but look what They've done to him so far. I imagine you've read the original The Watchmen screen play...? Dreadful.

Quote:
Originally posted by YT:
Neverwhere is a 6-part miniseries http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0115288/ . I bought it without having read the books, but didn't like it.

YT, YT, YT.... The mini-series was a valiant effort, but pales in comparison to the book (don't judge a book by its mini?). Find the BBC version of the novel (with all the good bits that the US version cut out) and forget you ever saw the mini.

I wouldn't mind terribly if They would make a good version of Neil Gaiman's Murder Mysteries. Other'n that, I can't think of anything that hasn't already been mentioned.

YT

Tuesday, July 12, 2005 3:18 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by CrimsonStar:
I heard a rumor that Ender's Game was being made a while back, but I haven't heard anything about it going into production.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0400403/
Screenplay by OSC, with Wolfgang Petersen attached to direct. Planned for 2007, but no updates since February 2004. It's still a rumour.

Keep the Shiny Side Up . . . (wutzon) Stevie Ray Vaughan, "Cold Shot", from "Essential . . . "

YT

Tuesday, July 12, 2005 7:19 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by RocketJock:
Glory Road ...snip...
This is a film that I've kept casting and re-casting in my head for nearly thirty years.

It may be Heinlein's most visual novel, & my favourite among those that didn't win a Hugo. Did Mandy Patinkin fit into your plans, say, ten to fifteen years back? If Christian Bale could bulk up by thirty pounds, I think he could be ECGordon (btw, he posts on this site).

Quote:
H. Beam Piper's Lone Star Planet (AKA A Planet for Texans)

I've been able to see his Space Viking, vividly, for forty years. For the past year & a quarter, when thinking of Lucas Trask, I see Malcolm Reynolds (& Nathan Fillion).

I couldn't tell either of these stories @movie length. Reckon I'd need about eight hours for Glory Road. A beautiful thing about Space Viking is that Piper's story could be just the first season, but Jerry Pournelle has the movie rights &, rumour has it, has drafted a screenplay.

Keep the Shiny Side Up . . . (wutzon) Stevie Ray Vaughan, "Sky Is Crying (Live)", from "Essential . . . "

NEUTRINOLAD

Tuesday, July 12, 2005 8:08 AM

Nine Princes in Amber - please, Peter Jackson?
John Carter of Mars - Barsoom! What's not to love?
The Autobiographies of John Mortimer (Clinging To The Wreckage and the second one whose-title-I-forget-just-now) - an old style movie, in the manner of Goodbye Mr. Chips
Astonishing X-Men, current run - should be a tv series. A long running tv series.
Jesuits, by Jean Lacouture - would make a dandy documentary
Known Space Universe, Larry Niven - a series based on Niven's Known Universe tales, wow
The Dying Earth, Jack Vance - another universe rich with infinte interest.
The Physiology of Taste: Or Meditations on Transcendental Gastronomy
by Jean Anthelme Brillat-Savarin, M. F. K. Fisher - I have a vision of this as a 20 hour mini-series that would be rapturous

GAVIDA

Tuesday, July 12, 2005 9:39 AM

Hmmm, I would love to see a "Starship Trooper" movie... NOT something losely (sp?) based on the book, but a real "Heinlein's Starship Trooper"-Movie.

I would like to see movies made from the Books:

The Dragon and the George - Gordon R. Dickson

Lucifer's Hammer - Larry Niven, Jerry Pournelle

Inferno - Larry Niven, Jerry Pournelle

Janissaries - Jerry Pournelle

Some others have already been mentioned:

Ringworld - Larry Niven

The Dragonlance Chronicles - Margaret Weis, Tracy Hickman

See ya,
Gavida

THESOMNAMBULIST

Tuesday, July 12, 2005 12:31 PM

airylii wrote:

Quote:
That's a bit like with me and Korean..I moved to the states when I was 4/5 and learned English then and now I can speak both, but I'm way more proficient with English. I really wish I could be more fluent, especially now that we've moved back to Asialand.

Hey that sounds cool. You get about a bit :)

Quote:
Yeah, I can see that...Also, I hear London is crazy crazy expensive. Not healthy for a wallet of my size.

This is true. All my friends who live in London say the same thing:
"If you have money - London's great! "

Quote:
That's pretty awesome! I've brainwashed some of my cousins and I had a friend randomly IM me from Hong Kong saying, "But what I don't understand is..Why do they all keep trying to speak Chinese?" :P Hopefully, I'll be able to convince some more of my friends once I go back to school in the fall..just in time for Serenity!

He, he.... I guess for chinese speaking people it must seem strange that they drop in the odd sentence here and there :)

Quote:
Heh yeah, it was a lot of fun. I still write every now and then and plan to do a whole lot of it during the summer, when I have more time. Currently, I'm working on a couple of projects, one of them being a..well, I don't know how to describe it, really. I guess the premise is a bit like the Alchemist in that it's about just a boy, but in my story he grows up to be the historical Muslim ruler who built most of La Alhambra. It's a mix of history and fiction, with a lot of mythical/fantastic elements on the way. I think I may have to rewrite the entire thing though; I started it around last year and I only have the very beginning of it done, but so far, the writing is just kind of...bad. So yeah, more work on that is desperately needed. It does end quite tragically though. Haha yeah, I think all of this reading has influenced me way too much in the art of literary sadism/masochism.

Keep at it. Accumulate enough so that when you come to editing it down you have enough great! stuff to keep. I think it requires being quite ruthless with your ideas - if you feel there's stuff that is "so,so" then ditch it in favour of the stuff that you think is strong. However stick with it. I've been to La Alhambra. It's beautiful. Interestingly enough some of the Seventh Voyage of Sinbad was shot there!

Quote:
Your project sounds really interesting...any chance of you posting it anywhere? I would love to read it. Dense mythology is always the best kind; just look at Tolkein.

Thanks :) however Tolkien it aint! You know I'd love to post it up on my site, but I'd feel better if I could secure it as my own on an official level first. You see I'm trying to pitch it to publishers. So I want to be secure in the knowledge that it's had no way of being reached by the outside. I know that sounds a touch 'precious' but a few years back some work I did was taken from me illegally and unfortunately through bad circumstances I wasn't able to claim anything back. Since then I've been extremely careful about things.

Quote:
Haha that's actually quite prudent. I'm that way with a lot of things...I think because I grew up around Star Trek-crazy people, I've successfully avoided it my entire life.

I can see that - it makes you 'not' want to like it doesn't it. I only found this with the later star trek derivatives. I always liked the original series, it was fun.

Quote:

You know, that's a great way of describing Hemingway. I took a Hemingway and Fitzgerald course last spring, and one of the projects was to write short stories in the style of Hemingway and it was hard. I mean I naturally write short, simple, terse sentences and I hate adding phrases like "he said", but doing it Hemingway-style was still very difficult. I'm definitely going to read Farewell to Arms though; I've heard all sorts of good things about it.

That sound slike an interesting project. I'd actually find it very difficult. I tend to over embelish sometimes :)

Quote:
Magical Realism, huh? That actually sounds pr

CHRONICTHEHEDGEHOG

Tuesday, July 12, 2005 2:00 PM

Neverwhere would be great, though I'd like to point out that the book was based on the series as many people seem to think it was the other way around. Personally I prefered the series as the book seemed to think the reader was stupid on many occasions.

The Dark Tower would be amazing, though it'd undoubtably bomb. I agree a series might be better.

I was looking forward to I Am Legend as a film until Francis Lawrence signed on to direct, and I hear he wants Will Smith in the lead role. *Shudder*

Don Quixote would be good but PLEASE don't let Terry Gilliam make it, I love him but having Johnny Depp as a time traveller who goes back in time to meet him is just... stupid.

BLACKOUTNIGHTS

Tuesday, July 12, 2005 4:50 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Gavida:
Lucifer's Hammer - Larry Niven, Jerry Pournelle

The Dragonlance Chronicles - Margaret Weis, Tracy Hickman

See ya,
Gavida

I absolutely loved Lucifer's Hammer. Such great visuals and such a great story. I was frankly surprised when all those meteor movies hit the theaters [Armegeddon and that other one I forget the name of] and Hollywood completely missed LH.

Dragonlance Chronicles could be real fun.

Dark Tower; The only way this could be done right ... and it's how I'd do it if I could ... would be to make the movies [and put it like this for anyone who's not read to series] take up where the books left off. Start off showing Roland with the horn. It'd make deviations from the book more tolerable and acceptable.

But, of course, the movies I'm just dying to see, and I can't believe no one has mentioned them, are Martin's Song of Ice and Fire. It'd be a task and a long commitment, but boy! What a ride! C'mon, Lewis' seven Narnia books are being adapted.

"The man in black fled across the desert, and the gunslinger followed."—Stephen King

CAPTAINNAPALM

Tuesday, July 12, 2005 8:42 PM

I've allways thought that Simon R. Green's Deathstalker series was an anime that just happened to be in book form instead of its natural medium.

The Moon is a Harsh Mistress is such a great book. I wouldn't be suprised to see Hollywood cut out the whole S-Group part though. I think you'd need a voice-over to capture all of Manny's character, but Hollywood would probably blow that off too.

CG has gotten to a point where McCaffery's Pern novels could be pulled off reasonably - at least from a technical point.

I think Jennifer Robberson's Swordancer could make a really good movie with lots of appeal.

Michael Morcock's Elric novels seem right up Tim Burton's alley.

Dragonlance would require the same level of lavish support as Lord of the Rings. And while Dragonlance does have a lot of name recognition - I don't think it has enough outside of the fantasy genre to convince Hollywood to give it that much support (now that I think about it the same goes for Pern)

Speaking of LotR and books that need to be made into movies, Peter Jackson needs to give the same treatment to The Hobbit.

Captain Napalm

AIRYLLI

Tuesday, July 12, 2005 10:03 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by TheSomnambulist:
This is true. All my friends who live in London say the same thing:
"If you have money - London's great! "

Haha that's a great quote. I'll just have to go rob a bank or something and then I'll be all set.

Quote:
He, he.... I guess for chinese speaking people it must seem strange that they drop in the odd sentence here and there :)

Hee yes. Only I don't think she could quite understand anything they were saying

.

Quote:
Keep at it. Accumulate enough so that when you come to editing it down you have enough great! stuff to keep. I think it requires being quite ruthless with your ideas - if you feel there's stuff that is "so,so" then ditch it in favour of the stuff that you think is strong. However stick with it. I've been to La Alhambra. It's beautiful. Interestingly enough some of the Seventh Voyage of Sinbad was shot there!

Yeah, I think the ruthless editing is the hardest part for me. That and the fact that I always seem to go in the direction of condescending to the audience. I'm always afraid they just won't "get it". Which is, incidentally, something I was told over and over to avoid while studying Hemingway.

Quote:
Thanks :) however Tolkien it aint! You know I'd love to post it up on my site, but I'd feel better if I could secure it as my own on an official level first. You see I'm trying to pitch it to publishers. So I want to be secure in the knowledge that it's had no way of being reached by the outside. I know that sounds a touch 'precious' but a few years back some work I did was taken from me illegally and unfortunately through bad circumstances I wasn't able to claim anything back. Since then I've been extremely careful about things.

Oh, definitely. I completely understand that..people stealing your stuff is a bitch. So yes, hide hide hide..and good luck with the publishing thing! Let me know how that goes; I've always been curious as to how exactly to go about that.

Quote:
I can see that - it makes you 'not' want to like it doesn't it. I only found this with the later star trek derivatives. I always liked the original series, it was fun.

Heh yeah, exactly. Although apparently, in order to be a real scifi fan, I'm supposed to at least know what Star Trek is about. Hee so I guess I should get on that sooner or later..

Quote:
That sound slike an interesting project. I'd actually find it very difficult. I tend to over embelish sometimes :)

Oh, me too. The editing was the hardest part; I had to chop out a lot of parts that I realized didn't sound a bit like Hemingway.

Quote:
In simple terms; Magical realism is the removal of factual constraints facilitating fantasy to further a story within the confines of reality :) he, he... Yep simple.

Real simple. :Gives Jayne's crazy ivan face from the Serenity pilot: :P

Quote:
I'll have to try and catch that. It'll be interesting to see how they do it.

Yeah, definitely check that out; I only got to see the first Act or so, but it was very well done. And the girl playing- damn, I can't even remember her name; the youngest one- did obsessed nuttiness very well.

Quote:
Ooops! This time I thought it was your turn to reply, and now I've just checked and it was my turn all along. Sorry.

Oh and one last thing... You're in San Francisco now?

Haha it's all good. I flew back from San Francisco on Saturday. Actually, I hadn't had a chance to ask you- everything okay with you over there in England? We heard about the bombings pretty late in California, and the NYTimes hadn't even had a chance to report it yet. So far, most people I know are okay, but it must be insane over there right now. Hope everything is well.

San Francisco was absolutely gorgeous; we visited Berkeley and Stanford, both of which I loved. I think so far Stanford is my first choice, which doesn't bode well for me because I think they have somethng against admitting stupid people

. We'll s

AIRYLLI

Tuesday, July 12, 2005 10:05 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by CaptainNapalm:
Speaking of LotR and books that need to be made into movies, Peter Jackson needs to give the same treatment to The Hobbit.

I second that. I always did love the Hobbit; I read it before anything else. And at the time, I'd never even heard of anything like "Lord of the Rings", so when the movies came out, I was like whoa, that sounds like this book I read one time...

Yuhuh. I was twelve. So sue me.

----
I swallowed a bug.

www.cafepress.com/airylli

THESOMNAMBULIST

Wednesday, July 13, 2005 12:34 AM

airylii wrote:

Quote:
Haha that's a great quote. I'll just have to go rob a bank or something and then I'll be all set.

Cool - I'll be the getaway Driver!

Quote:
Hee yes. Only I don't think she could quite understand anything they were saying .

That's pretty funny really, because the way it's acted you almost believe you know what's said. Interesting :)

Quote:
Yeah, I think the ruthless editing is the hardest part for me. That and the fact that I always seem to go in the direction of condescending to the audience. I'm always afraid they just won't "get it". Which is, incidentally, something I was told over and over to avoid while studying Hemingway.

You know one thing i did to combat this was to write in prose, or the poetry. It tends to force you to refine your words. I worked for me on one or two projects.

Quote:
Let me know how that goes; I've always been curious as to how exactly to go about that.

Yeah me aswell. So far I haven't reached any conclusions other than blind luck! But thanks for the best wishes... That's very kind of you.

Quote:
Heh yeah, exactly. Although apparently, in order to be a real scifi fan, I'm supposed to at least know what Star Trek is about. Hee so I guess I should get on that sooner or later..

The last star trek I saw I really thought was bad. Whichever film that was I forgotten now, but I think I fell asleep towards the end. Pity really because I quite like the guy who plays Picard (Patrick Stewart)

Quote:
Real simple. :Gives Jayne's crazy ivan face from the Serenity pilot: :P

Quote:
Yeah, definitely check that out; I only got to see the first Act or so, but it was very well done. And the girl playing- damn, I can't even remember her name; the youngest one- did obsessed nuttiness very well.

Was that Adela? was she the obsessed one?

Quote:
Haha it's all good. I flew back from San Francisco on Saturday. Actually, I hadn't had a chance to ask you- everything okay with you over there in England? We heard about the bombings pretty late in California, and the NYTimes hadn't even had a chance to report it yet. So far, most people I know are okay, but it must be insane over there right now. Hope everything is well.

Well you know it's not that different to what we all grew up with over here. You see since I've lived in England we've always had terrorist threats. A few years ago it was the IRA that reaked terror for 25 or so years, and as a kid I remember going into London knowing that there was a chance of a bombing! Now It always scared me of course, but at the same time - you rationalise the fact that there's a greater chance of being run over than there is being a victim of a bombing attack. However I must stress I don't live in London, I live relatively nearby but I'm far enough away not to be affected directly, unless as I say I take a trip into the Capital. My friends though seem suitably philosophical about it. In simple terms, they're not that troubled by it.

That said my heart sank for all those people who lost there lives... It's not a way to die. It's very tragic.

Quote:

San Francisco was absolutely gorgeous; we visited Berkeley and Stanford, both of which I loved. I think so far Stanford is my first choice, which doesn't bode well for me because I think they have somethng against admitting stupid people . We'll see how that goes.

Ahh you're not stoopid! I wish you the best with your choice.

Cheers
The
Somnambulist

www.cirqus.com

MANWITHPEZ

Wednesday, July 13, 2005 12:51 AM

Book into film, huh?

I'll start with a little hard to find number called Nightblood, by T. Chris Martindale. That book is what Blade could have been...You know, if he'd been white, human, and a Vietnam vet...I'd want John Carpenter on that one...Kurt Russell could play Stiles, a vet on a mission to find a thing so evil, that when it killed his brother, his brother was doomed to stay in limbo forever...

Bring Me The Head of Prince Charming...Hard to pull off, but, man, if enough people with sardonic senses of humor (why do I think that just about all the population of this site counts?) got together, it could be done...A fun little book...Not unlike Shrek, actually...

The Dark Knight Returns...I'd love to see it...but, damn would it be impossible...Maybe animated...

The Secret Tapes of FBI Special Agent Dale Cooper...Twin Peaks was interesting enough on its own, but this book has David Lynch written all over it!

The Dark Tower 1: The Gunslinger. I'm not interested in seeing any of the others, because this one has the least amount of cast in it...But, these would be so very easy to screw up...

The Horn Series...Sci Fi pulp noir (almost), about a cop with a cybernetic robot arm...(Has that been done already?)

It'll never happen in my lifetime, but I wouldn't mind seeing the orignal Sinister Six vs Spider-Man.

Worth Winning...Actually, someone did take the basic premise and make a movie of this book, but didn't come close to doing it justice. This is a vicious book about a man who takes a bet to become engaged to three women at once...Which might be fine, until they all find out without his knowledge...

The Phantom of the Opera...Make the book, people!!! MAKE THE BOOK!!!

Necroscope...Take The Sixth Sense, and add some balls to it, and you'll get this fantastic series of books...That seems to be written very cinematically.

Tortilla Flats...Has this been made? I'm not sure...But, I love the simple nature that Steinbeck put in this...

And, I'll be back with some more later...

Kaylee: "What's so damn important about being proper? It don't mean nothing out here in the black."
Simon: "It means more out here. It's all I have..."

AIRYLLI

Wednesday, July 13, 2005 8:07 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by manwithpez:
Book into film, huh?

The Phantom of the Opera...Make the book, people!!! MAKE THE BOOK!!!

I hear Universal is actually getting on that. Should be out in a couple of years if it goes well.

----
I swallowed a bug.

www.cafepress.com/airylli

THEREAVER

Wednesday, July 13, 2005 9:27 PM

I would like to see a movie of 'Concrete Dreams' by Chris Mansell. Unfortunately this would be impossible as I haven't finished yet although it is quite good if I do say so myself.

-----------------------
I'll rape you to death.
I'll eat your flesh.
I'll sew your skin into my clothes.
If you're very very lucky, I'll do it in that order - TheReaver

AIRYLLI

Wednesday, July 13, 2005 10:57 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by TheSomnambulist:
airylii wrote:

Cool - I'll be the getaway Driver!

Nice! Now we need a plan, or some such nonsense.

Quote:
That's pretty funny really, because the way it's acted you almost believe you know what's said. Interesting :)

Haha yeah. I think it was the pronunciation that threw her off.

Quote:
You know one thing i did to combat this was to write in prose, or the poetry. It tends to force you to refine your words. I worked for me on one or two projects.

I find that actually works quite well. I did the reverse one time, fleshing out a poem into a short story and I found that I had said everything so much better and much more succintly in the poem. Figures.

Quote:
The last star trek I saw I really thought was bad. Whichever film that was I forgotten now, but I think I fell asleep towards the end. Pity really because I quite like the guy who plays Picard (Patrick Stewart)

Patrick Stewart...isn't he Xavier in X-Men?

Quote:
Was that Adela? was she the obsessed one?

Yes! That's her name. Man, I hated her character.

Quote:
Well you know it's not that different to what we all grew up with over here. You see since I've lived in England we've always had terrorist threats. A few years ago it was the IRA that reaked terror for 25 or so years, and as a kid I remember going into London knowing that there was a chance of a bombing! Now It always scared me of course, but at the same time - you rationalise the fact that there's a greater chance of being run over than there is being a victim of a bombing attack. However I must stress I don't live in London, I live relatively nearby but I'm far enough away not to be affected directly, unless as I say I take a trip into the Capital. My friends though seem suitably philosophical about it. In simple terms, they're not that troubled by it.

You know, I think that's become the universal mentality; to just live with it. I was living right outside of the city when 9.11 happened and I was in Spain the time of the Madrid bombings (woohoo for good location picking..go me..) and that's basically what everyone was like. Good to hear you're okay though.

Quote:
That said my heart sank for all those people who lost there lives... It's not a way to die. It's very tragic.

Absolutely..it all just makes me so mad. I was quite impressed by Blair and his handling of the situation though; he went right back to the issue on poverty without maniacally declaring war on another country. Ahem..

Quote:
Ahh you're not stoopid! I wish you the best with your choice.

Haha thanks very much. Here's to the white devils that are college applications.

Cheers!

Airylli

----
I swallowed a bug.

www.cafepress.com/airylli

THESOMNAMBULIST

Thursday, July 14, 2005 3:10 PM

airylii wrote:

Quote:
I find that actually works quite well. I did the reverse one time, fleshing out a poem into a short story and I found that I had said everything so much better and much more succintly in the poem. Figures.

Isn't that always the way... Still a useful lesson learned no doubt.

Quote:
Patrick Stewart...isn't he Xavier in X-Men?

Yup that be him. He does an ad voiceover here in the uk, and he has a great voice. Really deep and lush, like liquid gold... I always listen out for great voices and he's amoung the best going.

Quote:
Yes! That's her name. Man, I hated her character.

....I've dated a few women like that... Not nice.

Quote:
You know, I think that's become the universal mentality; to just live with it. I was living right outside of the city when 9.11 happened and I was in Spain the time of the Madrid bombings (woohoo for good location picking..go me..) and that's basically what everyone was like. Good to hear you're okay though.

Crickey!!! That's alarming for you! But yeah generally I believe the public are just continuing as normal.... I mean in all reality we have little choice.... You can't run and hide, so you just continue.

Quote:
Absolutely..it all just makes me so mad. I was quite impressed by Blair and his handling of the situation though; he went right back to the issue on poverty without maniacally declaring war on another country. Ahem..

Well us brits have had centuries to hone our 'stiff upper lipped' skills. It's pretty much second nature to us.

Quote:
Haha thanks very much. Here's to the white devils that are college applications.

Indeed. I raise a glass in your general direction and salute your application.
Good Luck.

TheSomnambulist.

P.S. it's amazing where a simple discussion on a favourite book will get you.

Hurray for Notre Dame of Paris!

www.cirqus.com

BLACKOUTNIGHTS

Thursday, July 14, 2005 4:07 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by airylli:
Quote:
Originally posted by CaptainNapalm:
Speaking of LotR and books that need to be made into movies, Peter Jackson needs to give the same treatment to The Hobbit.

I second that. I always did love the Hobbit; I read it before anything else. And at the time, I'd never even heard of anything like "Lord of the Rings", so when the movies came out, I was like whoa, that sounds like this book I read one time...

Yuhuh. I was twelve. So sue me.

HA! I was in the second grade when me dad gave me The Hobbit to read. I loved it, and when I got through I told dad, "I really like Bilbo's ring." He just silently nodded and scratched his chin before asking me to follow him. He introduced me to LotR, and I was enthralled. Read them sitting in class and my teacher told my mother if she let me read the books I'd turn out 'weird.'

If only my mother would have listened. Ack!

"This is some damn good coffee, Jimmy."—Jules

AIRYLLI

Thursday, July 14, 2005 10:34 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by TheSomnambulist:

Isn't that always the way... Still a useful lesson learned no doubt.

Quote:
Yup that be him. He does an ad voiceover here in the uk, and he has a great voice. Really deep and lush, like liquid gold... I always listen out for great voices and he's amoung the best going.

Oh, I know what you mean...Another voice I love is Clive Owen's. I think he'd make reading a phonebook sound interesting.

Quote:
....I've dated a few women like that... Not nice.

Good grief, I'm so sorry. I don't think I've found a male counterpart like that and hopefully I never, ever will. :P

Quote:
Crickey!!! That's alarming for you! But yeah generally I believe the public are just continuing as normal.... I mean in all reality we have little choice.... You can't run and hide, so you just continue.

Yeah...We can't all live in bomb shelters for our entire lives :suddenly remembers Nathan Fillion's cameo in Blast from the Past:.

Quote:
Well us brits have had centuries to hone our 'stiff upper lipped' skills. It's pretty much second nature to us.

Hahaha good on you...if only we had some more of that over here.

Quote:
Indeed. I raise a glass in your general direction and salute your application.
Good Luck.

Thank you!

Quote:
P.S. it's amazing where a simple discussion on a favourite book will get you.

Hurray for Notre Dame of Paris!

Hahaha exactly. Incidentally, I was rereading the book the other day trying to figure out how one would write a screenplay...NOT as easy as one would think. Damn Hugo and his obsession with saving high gothic cathedrals...

.

----
I swallowed a bug.

www.cafepress.com/airylli

AIRYLLI

Thursday, July 14, 2005 10:37 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by BlackoutNights:

HA! I was in the second grade when me dad gave me The Hobbit to read. I loved it, and when I got through I told dad, "I really like Bilbo's ring." He just silently nodded and scratched his chin before asking me to follow him. He introduced me to LotR, and I was enthralled. Ack!

Hee! Bet you didn't like his ring so much afterwards...Incidentally, how come he wasn't affected like Frodo was?

Quote:
Read them sitting in class and my teacher told my mother if she let me read the books I'd turn out 'weird.'

If only my mother would have listened.

Aw honey! Well, at least you didn't turn out "normal". :shudder:

----
I swallowed a bug.

www.cafepress.com/airylli

HKCAVALIER

Thursday, July 14, 2005 11:20 PM

If I had the power, I'd get Reading Lolita in Tehran made yesterday! Ang Lee's entire filmography has been building up to this kind of multi-cultural, multi-narative masterpiece. I would love to see his versions of the scenes from The Great Gatsby, Lolita, Daisy Miller, Pride and Prejudice, etc. that inform the main story. It would be a real tour de force. And the memoir of being a female literature professor at the University of Tehran through the Islamic Revolution and the war with Iraq would be amazing and so, so timely.

I think A Song of Ice and Fire needs to be an HBO miniseries because Peter Dinklage was born to play Tyrion Lanister.

All the Phillip Marlowe novels should be slavishly adapted to the screen.

The Earth Sea Trilogy plus Tehanu would be amazing to see, if only producers could trust the material. I had such high hopes after LoTR that folks in Hollywood would get it that good books make good movies ifyou trust the material and simply shoot the story. Yes, change the text where absolutely necessary, but great, beloved classics are great and beloved for a reason: the stories.

HKCavalier

Hey, hey, hey, don't be mean. We don't have to be mean, because, remember, no matter where you go, there you are.

THESOMNAMBULIST

Friday, July 15, 2005 12:40 AM

airylii wrote:

Quote:
Oh, I know what you mean...Another voice I love is Clive Owen's. I think he'd make reading a phonebook sound interesting.

Oh I'll have to listen out for him. I hadn't noticed before. Another fav is Michale Gambon, and Jonathan Price, and Chrisopher Lee of course. Have you heard the way he says "Sleepy Hollow".... It's fantastic!

Quote:
Good grief, I'm so sorry. I don't think I've found a male counterpart like that and hopefully I never, ever will. :P

I say a few it's only been two, but that's enough for me... Lets just say I hope you never do either.

Quote:
Yeah...We can't all live in bomb shelters for our entire lives :suddenly remembers Nathan Fillion's cameo in Blast from the Past:.

You know I saw that just the other day, it was on TV. I wasn't really paying attention, I think I was writing an email, and it was on in the background, then I heard his voice! I recognised him straight away then turned to the tv to see and yup there he was picking a fight with Brendon Fraser.... Strange huh! It's sort of strange seeing him next to Alicia Sylverstone?!?!

Quote:
Hahaha good on you...if only we had some more of that over here.

He, he... I bet you think we're like Giles or Wesley now :)

Quote:
Hahaha exactly. Incidentally, I was rereading the book the other day trying to figure out how one would write a screenplay...NOT as easy as one would think. Damn Hugo and his obsession with saving high gothic cathedrals....

I was doing this last time I read it. What I've done is to place post - it notes at the beginning and ending to key moments of drama/action/dialogue etc and disregard much exposition about the time or flowery prose about Paris... As we were talking about earlier, I concentrated on Gringoire aswell. He's the best character as he gets around a bit more.
That said it isn't easy at all and lately I've been wondering if I shouldn't take the stance more from the point of view of Esmeralda. This would allow me the chance to make Quasimodo more of a shadowy figure. A kind of mysterious 'Batman' type that is revealed to us through Esmeralda... I'm not sure though.... It's such a tricky choice. On one hand Gringoire has so much comedy around him that it's a great way to follow the story, however I wonder if some of the drama and tragedy would fall flat when it came to it.... What do you think?

The
Somnambulist

www.cirqus.com

AIRYLLI

Friday, July 15, 2005 1:59 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by TheSomnambulist:
Oh I'll have to listen out for him. I hadn't noticed before. Another fav is Michale Gambon, and Jonathan Price, and Chrisopher Lee of course. Have you heard the way he says "Sleepy Hollow".... It's fantastic!

Ah yes..also excellent voices. When does Lee say "Sleepy Hollow"? I can't say I'm familiar with that. I loved Richard Harris' voice as well. He always sounded so...wise. But then that's probably because the only film's of his I have in recent memory are Gladiator and the first Harry Potter films.

Quote:
I say a few it's only been two, but that's enough for me... Lets just say I hope you never do either.

Hahaha. I'll run away at first glance.

Quote:
You know I saw that just the other day, it was on TV. I wasn't really paying attention, I think I was writing an email, and it was on in the background, then I heard his voice! I recognised him straight away then turned to the tv to see and yup there he was picking a fight with Brendon Fraser.... Strange huh! It's sort of strange seeing him next to Alicia Sylverstone?!?!

Isn't that weird? The first time I saw the film I didn't even notice it, and when other people pointed it out to me, I was like holy crap! Heh. It'll be weird to see him in a horror flick like Slither; the only characters I can see him as are as Mal and an evil preacher.

Quote:
He, he... I bet you think we're like Giles or Wesley now :)

Yes! Non-prick-like watchers! That is, of course, excluding the first seasons of Giles and Wesley.

Quote:
I was doing this last time I read it. What I've done is to place post - it notes at the beginning and ending to key moments of drama/action/dialogue etc and disregard much exposition about the time or flowery prose about Paris... As we were talking about earlier, I concentrated on Gringoire aswell. He's the best character as he gets around a bit more.
That said it isn't easy at all and lately I've been wondering if I shouldn't take the stance more from the point of view of Esmeralda. This would allow me the chance to make Quasimodo more of a shadowy figure. A kind of mysterious 'Batman' type that is revealed to us through Esmeralda... I'm not sure though.... It's such a tricky choice. On one hand Gringoire has so much comedy around him that it's a great way to follow the story, however I wonder if some of the drama and tragedy would fall flat when it came to it.... What do you think?

Ooh, I so wanted to put post-its all over the book, but alas, I was on an airplane and none were to be found. I think one really must disregard all that flowery prose, as you said. At the same time though, I really do want to preserve the original intent of the novel, which was to preserve Notre Dame. I think the chapter "Ceci tuera cela" is really important, although how one would go about really depicting the essence of that is a mystery to me. Possibly why Hugo made this a novel instead of a play.

I really would love the focus to be on Gringoire, and I think you're intention of Quasimodo as Batman through Esmeralda is brilliant. Most of the adaptations I've seen focus on Quasimodo and Esmeralda as the main characters, but in the book, Quasimodo really is a very shadowy figure. I'd seen the Disney version before reading the novel, so throughout the first 2/3 of the book, I was like, where the hell is the hunchback? We really don't see too much of him until the end. So I think the focus really should be on Gringoire. And Frollo, of course. I feel like Esmeralda's really a foil for everyone else and the cathedral. It's as if Hugo set out to save a great gothic work of art and just happened to have a great Romantic tragedy as a by-accident. Figures. :P

As for the actual tragic elements, I think they'd actually work quite well with Gringoire. Because while he is a comic and sometimes even flat character, I feel like he's the most human. What was Hugo's description of him? Something about him being one of the few people who could stee

DBELL46

Friday, July 15, 2005 6:31 AM

Somnambulist and Airylli:

I have to ask- there's a film version of
notre dame that stars Salma Hyek(sp) as Esmeralda.
Did either of you see it and if so what did you
think of it.

I enjoyed it greatly, but I've never read the
book. I wondered how it compared.

****************************************************
If history is remarkably clear on one point,
it's that people never learn from history.
****************************************************

THESOMNAMBULIST

Friday, July 15, 2005 10:23 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by dbell46:
Somnambulist and Airylli:

I have to ask- there's a film version of
notre dame that stars Salma Hyek(sp) as Esmeralda.
Did either of you see it and if so what did you
think of it.

I enjoyed it greatly, but I've never read the
book. I wondered how it compared.

Really! I had no idea. Do you know when it was made? I'd love to see it. Airylii do you know of this version?

I thought I'd have heard of this as Salma Hayek is in it... Hmmm maybe our idea has been done and all our chit-chat has been in vain.... Oh well. It's fun anyhoo.
:)

Thanks dbell46.

The
Somnambulist

www.cirqus.com

THESOMNAMBULIST

Friday, July 15, 2005 10:49 AM

airylii in the light of dbell46's info perhaps we've been beaten to the punch. I'd like to see this version to see how they interpreted the book.

That said I'm glad you still think Gringoire is still the better character to follow the plot along with.

This chapter: "Ceci tuera cela" that you spoke of is the one that's put many people off who I've suggested read the book. At first I was a little put out by it because I wanted to find out what was happening to the characters. However upon further reading I do quite like this chapter. Of course for a film it'd have to be basically removed or put across through clever visuals and editing, but still I think you're right about why Hugo kept it in.

Quote:
When does Lee say "Sleepy Hollow"? I can't say I'm familiar with that.

He had a small part in Sleepy Hollow as a judge. He had to utter the words to Ichabod Crane.

Quote:
Isn't that weird? The first time I saw the film I didn't even notice it, and when other people pointed it out to me, I was like holy crap! Heh. It'll be weird to see him in a horror flick like Slither; the only characters I can see him as are as Mal and an evil preacher.

Have you seen him in Two guys and a Girl? This was the first time I'd ever seen him. Later I saw him in Firefly and at first I struggled to see the crossover. He is however no definitely Malcolm Reynolds - no question. He's really made that character.

Quote:
What was Hugo's description of him? Something about him being one of the few people who could steer a middle course through everything. I can't remember the exact line.

That's a fair point.

Quote:
Most of the adaptations I've seen focus on Quasimodo and Esmeralda as the main characters, but in the book, Quasimodo really is a very shadowy figure.

Yes the thing is though that very significantly Hugo Describes Quasimodo as something like the very gargoyles upon the catherdral - which always struck me as though he were a physical manifestation of the Catherdral itself....Come to life to explore the very city it sits within, and in so doing becomes aware of just how out of place he/it [the catherdral] is within Paris of that time.

However even with these thoughts I think we're both slanting towards Gringoire - which for me says he is the way to go.

Select to view spoiler:

You know something just occured to me which I think would make the film even more profound. You mentioned in your spoiler what Gringoire does in the end, and I think this is very important. As an audience travelling along with Gringoire this last act that he does would seem incredibly heartless and dispassionate. I think it would tear the audience up even more!!! Which is a great idea - he'd come across as having let 'us' down in not intervening to save Esmerelda's life, thus adding to the emotional drama and tragedy!!!

That is now I think key to the approach. What do you think?

OK now I've waffled on too long

Cheers
The
Somnambulist

www.cirqus.com

AIRYLLI

Friday, July 15, 2005 1:55 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by TheSomnambulist:
in the light of dbell46's info perhaps we've been beaten to the punch. I'd like to see this version to see how they interpreted the book.

I actually have heard of this version. In fact, before I ever read the book, I was channel surfing and saw Edward Atterton, which stopped me because I'd remembered him from Alias (and now as Atherton Wing!) and Salma Hayek and something about a noose. So naturally, I was curious but then it went to commercials and I forgot all about it. Only later did I figure out what the movie was..I think it was a TNT TV movie with Richard Harris as Frollo. I've always wanted to see it, but I never saw it again on television. I'll have to hunt it down..

From all reports, it's very good, but not entirely faithful. Which I can't begrudge, since the book is very difficult. But I say we go ahead with our project

.

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That said I'm glad you still think Gringoire is still the better character to follow the plot along with.

Absolutely. Of course I may be slightly biased since I love Gringoire to pieces...

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This chapter: "Ceci tuera cela" that you spoke of is the one that's put many people off who I've suggested read the book. At first I was a little put out by it because I wanted to find out what was happening to the characters. However upon further reading I do quite like this chapter. Of course for a film it'd have to be basically removed or put across through clever visuals and editing, but still I think you're right about why Hugo kept it in.

Really? I'd have thought "Bird's Eye View" would turn people off more...It took me nearly hours to finish it. I liked "Ceci tuera cela", although it was a bit difficult as well; I only figured out I liked it after half the chapter had gone by. Then I was like hmmm...I feel like Hugo thinks this is important.

But yeah, it'd be really hard to do on film..maybe as like a side conversation? Dunno..

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He had a small part in Sleepy Hollow as a judge. He had to utter the words to Ichabod Crane.

Ohh that Sleepy Hollow! With Johnny Depp, possibly? I was going to go rent that, along with Sinbad and Argonauts and Ed Wood...totally on a film kick. Just finished Princess Bride again along with the Indiana Jones films and I saw Edward Scissorhands for the first time. It was depressing, but I'm officially convinced Tim Burton is a crazy genius. So I've decided I must see every one of his and Depp's films. :P

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Have you seen him in Two guys and a Girl? This was the first time I'd ever seen him. Later I saw him in Firefly and at first I struggled to see the crossover. He is however no definitely Malcolm Reynolds - no question. He's really made that character.

Ah, not yet, but I've been dying to since I found out Fillion was in it. But I agree that he totally sells Mal; sheer brilliance.

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Yes the thing is though that very significantly Hugo Describes Quasimodo as something like the very gargoyles upon the catherdral - which always struck me as though he were a physical manifestation of the Catherdral itself....Come to life to explore the very city it sits within, and in so doing becomes aware of just how out of place he/it [the catherdral] is within Paris of that time.

I like that bit about Quasimodo being a manifestation of the cathedral. Every time I try to analyze this book, I learn something new...that's really interesting. I'm going to be thinking about this forever. But I just hope the gargoyles don't sing and dance in the TNT version...;)

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However even with these thoughts I think we're both slanting towards Gringoire - which for me says he is the way to go.

Yuhuh. He's just too cool to not focus on. I swear that last sentence made sense.

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Select to view spoiler:
You know something just occured to me which I think would make the film even more profound. You mentioned in your spoiler what Gringoire does in the end, and I think this is very important. As a

HJERMSTED

Friday, July 15, 2005 4:09 PM

Cheers to the Heinlein fans on this post!

I still would love to see Stranger in a Strange Land produced into an epic film.

If handled correctly (ie: without too many producers' hands soiling it), of course, this would make a memorable movie.

Alas, George C. Scott is no longer with us so he cannot be cast as genius crumudgeon Jubal Harshaw. In the picture show in my mind, Scott is Harshaw whenever I read that book. Sean Connery could do it, I s'pose but his diva-osity cannot be allowed to interfere with the material.

Rumor has it Tom Hanks wants to be Valentine Michael Smith. This would be wronger than wrong itself! This must not be allowed to happen!!

mattro

THESOMNAMBULIST

Friday, July 15, 2005 5:19 PM

airylii wrote:

Quote:
I actually have heard of this version. In fact, before I ever read the book, I was channel surfing and saw Edward Atterton, which stopped me because I'd remembered him from Alias (and now as Atherton Wing!) and Salma Hayek and something about a noose. So naturally, I was curious but then it went to commercials and I forgot all about it. Only later did I figure out what the movie was..I think it was a TNT TV movie with Richard Harris as Frollo. I've always wanted to see it, but I never saw it again on television. I'll have to hunt it down..

From all reports, it's very good, but not entirely faithful. Which I can't begrudge, since the book is very difficult. But I say we go ahead with our project .

Oh right... Well there you go. If it is a recent production then it's a tad strange. As gracious as Salma Hayek is really her part should be played by someone younger... But still, liking her as much as I do I must admit I'd kinda like to see that production :) for reference purposes of course.... Er hum.

So yes let's continue with our project :)

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Really? I'd have thought "Bird's Eye View" would turn people off more...It took me nearly hours to finish it. I liked "Ceci tuera cela", although it was a bit difficult as well; I only figured out I liked it after half the chapter had gone by. Then I was like hmmm...I feel like Hugo thinks this is important. But yeah, it'd be really hard to do on film..maybe as like a side conversation? Dunno..

Oh yeah... That one too. It was really an upward struggle trying to convince friends to read it. I even bought a copy for my ex-girlfriend.... Sadly I don't think she gave it a second thought.

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Ohh that Sleepy Hollow! With Johnny Depp, possibly? I was going to go rent that, along with Sinbad and Argonauts and Ed Wood...totally on a film kick. Just finished Princess Bride again along with the Indiana Jones films and I saw Edward Scissorhands for the first time. It was depressing, but I'm officially convinced Tim Burton is a crazy genius. So I've decided I must see every one of his and Depp's films. :P

Oh Edward Scissorhands... I really love this film, I didn't find it depressing at all. Until recently it was in my top five favourite films. It's still Burton's best for me. I minor masterpiece in my eyes, but then I'm a sucker for that gothic stuff, can't get enough of it....

By all means catch up on his back catalogue. He and Depp do work well together, but have you seen Beetlejuice? Crazy brilliant!!!! Utterly hic-cuppy in style and emotion. Ed Wood is kinda understated brilliance too.... Actually I'm a bit of a Burton fan, although I couldn't stand the first Batman! OK enough no more about Burton.....

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I like that bit about Quasimodo being a manifestation of the cathedral. Every time I try to analyze this book, I learn something new...that's really interesting. I'm going to be thinking about this forever. But I just hope the gargoyles don't sing and dance in the TNT version...;)

Ha, funny when I heard Disney were going to make that film I just knew there'd be singing dancing Gargoyles - I've not seen it, I'm sure the animation is incredible, so I shouldn't knock it, and I know my Niece and Nephew go ape over things like that so... WHo am I to take a dig...

Anyway - that's just my view on Quasimodo, I remember reading that line [actually I must try and find the exact words] and from then on thinking of him as that.

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Right on. That was exactly my mind when I read the part with the boat and Djali...I was like HOW? WHY? HOW? Oww...and then I was so sad. I think possibly the only more soul destroying part is the scene with

Yup...That settles it. Gringoire it is :) Actually I'm not at home presently so later I'm going to dig up the phrase that I think is the really impactful one, at least for me, just to compare with you. I like that part too that you mentioned but there's something specific I'm thinking off that I want to present to you correctly to see if you find it a

JOSSISAGOD

Thursday, August 4, 2005 10:52 PM

I'd like to see the Young Jedi Knights series as well as the New Jedi Order series, directed, produced and casted by Joss Whedon. As long as he casts Summer Glau as Jaina Solo I'll be a happy camper.

LEIGHKOHL

Thursday, December 15, 2005 11:58 AM

Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrel and The Secret History.

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