Cool News
UPDATED!! JOHN CARTER OF MARS has a new director and he's so money...
Ahoy, squirts! Quint here with an update on that little sci-fi fantasy project at Paramount called JOHN CARTER OF MARS. It's official. There's a new director. I unabashedly love SKY CAPTAIN AND THE WORLD OF TOMORROW, warts and all, and am saddened by Kerry Conran leaving JOHN CARTER, but I'm also a fan of the new director the studio has brought on board. Paramount has nabbed JON FAVREAU, fresh off of ZATHURA and still riding high on the huge success of ELF. Man, all this talent swapping... you'd think the producers would make up their minds. Sheesh...
This'll be a big project for Favreau, but I really dig the choice. I like that Favreau switches up his films. MADE and ELF are radically different. ZATHURA is a sci-fi flick, but it's one aimed at families. JOHN CARTER OF MARS will not only break Favreau from the trend of directing films with one-word titles, but will also be his shot at making an all audience tentpole movie. If he sticks close to Edgar Rice Burroughs' brilliant novel, he has a chance at making a true classic. I dig this choice. I'm interviewing Favreau in about 36 hours, so I'll make sure to grill him on JOHN CARTER... plus I gotta warn him about those nasty, money grubbing redheaded producer types... What do you folks think of this development?
*********************************
Hey, gang. "Moriarty" here with a few questions and answers. Seems that the executive producer of this film, one "Harold J. Knowles," happened to be online tonight when this announcement went live. I decided to grill him a bit. The first question, and the most obvious, is what the heck happened to Kerry Conran?!
"I love Kerry, we all did. Ultimately though, Kerry found a couple of pulp properties that he was even more passionate about. Whenever he's ready to announce, I think everyone everywhere will be happy. You see... We're still going to deliver a Great JOHN CARTER movie, but Kerry will deliver another great science fiction pulp character film too. We film lovers will have twice as much to be excited about!"
Hmmmmm... I see. So how do you feel about Jon Favreau coming onboard as the new director?
"Jon Favreau is just an incredibly exciting choice. For one, I've known and had a great relationship with Favs, hell he even took part in the doomed AICN TV Pilot for Comedy Central. Plus - Jon has an absolute passion for not just the material - but all the great toys that must be employed in making this epic a reality."
Oh, yeah, that's right. He was in our pilot, wasn't he? Y'know, Paramount's gone through a lot of changes since you first got involved in this project. Is this hiring of Favreau a sign of confidence in the project?
"Actually - ya know, it hasn't mattered which execs we've had... there's always been a great deal of excitement at the studio side regarding this project. Signing Jon on has been further proof of just how much they value the John Carter property."
Okay, then. One last question. Ehren Kruger's script was reportedly turned in, and I've heard it wasn't universally loved by any means. What's the plan now that you've got Favs onboard?
"Jon's first order of business is to bring on a screenwriter to bring the script back closer to Burroughs. He loves that novel. At this stage Jon is securing the effects and design team that we've had through Kerry's tenure on the project and just continue to chip away at the awesome mountain of pre-production that will make this film amongst the finest science fiction-fantasy films of all time."
If you do say so yourself. Sounds good. Thanks, Mr. Knowles. Maybe someday we'll have a chance to chat some more. For now...
"Moriarty" out.
-
+ Expand All
-
yes, on mars! was that a spoiler?
-
is this old news, his leaving, or is it an elephant in the room we can't talk about? i hope it's the latter, that's more fun.
-
Zathura better be damn good, goddammit! I have to see tomorrow at Fantastic Fest.
-
Oct 06, 2005 2:25:10 AM CDT
Harry Knowles is the Jon Peters of this project. He has to go.
by tall_boy
3 directors? Man, Harry, you've changed, man. It used to be about the music.
-
... I am interviewing one of the executive producers of this film, and I will add some EXCLUSIVE QUOTES about the project as soon as I'm finished. Hold tight...
-
If this movie gets done right this would be a dream come true and make Sin City pale in comparison. Wouldn't it be awesome if they got the artist Richard Corben of Den/Heavy Metal fame to do set designs for this movie. Oh that would be too god to be true.
-
but you can't deny each of them have been quality film makers. Hurry up already, I want to see this thing while I'm still in my '20s.
-
I am a HUGE Barsoom fan- as in
-
...This is the least excited I've been for this project now, through all the potential directors...
-
And Swingers is his only good movie. I don't see John Carter of Mars being anything other than decent with him at the helm. And yes, Harry needs to go because he doesn't know anything about producing a movie. I would think that would be some sort of prerequisite. And I don't think Kerry Conran "left" this project. I think Sky Captain's $37 million dollar gross is what got him removed from this film. Same thing will happen with Joss Whedon now. Serenity will be lucky to pull in $37 million, and his writing/directing job for Wonder Woman will vanish. Then he can go back to television which is more in line with his talent level.
-
...make sure you ask Knowles about the Conran exit. Wonder if it had anything to do with his widely reported timidity. Just shove some Paxil down his yammer and set him loose. I dig Fav's stuff, but unsure about his visual capabilities.
-
So I'm glad Conran is out, but it's a shame such an interesting franchise has been handed over to such a modicum of talent.
-
I loved Elf, but Zathura frightens me. Every audience that I've seen the Zathura trailer with has had the same response. The same one I had the first time I saw it. They release a giant groan when the kid finds the game that makes the Jumanji things happen. Later, they let out a loud cackle when "From the producers of Jumanji" pops up on the screen. People are fed up with all these unoriginal Hollywood movies that are either unabashed remakes or patchwork quilts made from other flicks. Zathura is like Frankenstein's Monster. You can literally see all the stitches and seams where they sewed together Jumanji with various 50's scfi movie cliches. It's just too obvious. Jumanji with spaceships! Wow! Or better yet, yawn. Cuz, it makes me sleee-pee. Zzzzzzzzzz...
-
Maybe it'll work out. I love these stories. Favreau is funny indie writer/director turned coattail rider on elf which makes him a sort of safe bet since he's probably one of the few dudes making consistant profits, but as I write this I'm trying to remember if "elf" had a voice or a favreau signature to it at all. I don't really remember it if it happened. Contrasted to the strongly ironic and classic funny voice of Swingers or the good-intentioned follow up Made. Elf seemed like an ivan reitman movie. Which is a good thing, but if you want Ivan Reitman, why not get Ivan Reitman. I love the John Carter of Mars series of books. I don't recall them having a whole lot of blatant humor. In fact I thought the humor came in how serious, non-polticaly correct and slightly antiquated these bigger than life campy star wars-esque stories were told. I mean is John Carter gonna have snappy dialogue and self depricating humor from his realistic emotional failures? How does Favreau help this situation? I hope his sci fi film zathustra fills in plenty of holes. I just don't see what he's gonna bring to the table, beyond avoiding being a total nincompoop.
-
Oct 06, 2005 3:51:17 AM CDT
Sounds to me like there are problems with the production.
by theginger twit
hey it happens.
-
But that does mean exactly nothing. Favreau is a talented guy and I wonder what direction he'll give this one. Could be interesting potentially.
-
...will we be seeing any in the future for this, and will the be on AICN? Cause I think that would really be interesting, following the whole movie from it's reboot till release...and how long till we see this in the theatres now, or is it too early to say??
-
When I heard him talking about Zathura on Dinner I knew this dude would be killer for a real sci-fi flick. Funny, I mentioned him as being my choice for the Star Wars TV show back on the Kevin Smith thread a couple days ago...this even better news. If Vince Vaghn could get his ass in shape, hit those weights and get cut, lay off the martinis for few months maybe he could play Carter...now wouldn't that be somthing.
-
So he could concentrate on some other pulp property? I wonder what that could be. Given the man's taste for uber-pulp he's probably shooting Plan 9 from outer space, or maybe remaking Barbarella, but with the "magic of all-CG enviroments!!!1".
-
Like anybody in their right mind would have imagined Peter Jackson doing LOTR back the day. I remember at first when heard the news I was like, "wtf? the Brain-Dead/Frighteners-guy?" I knew he had talant but...fuck, I thought it was unusual, but then somehow.. cool. that's kind of what I'm feeling with this. Sure Favs hasn't done anything this big before...but neither had Jackson. It gives things a fresh perspective, it makes it different. fuck guys who've done it before, they're tired. I think this is just the right dude for just the right project, at just the right time...i hope. It'll rip I'm sure.
-
Oct 06, 2005 4:33:14 AM CDT
Sky Captains 37 million dollar gross was ansolutley criminal
by thirteen 13
and also a very much harsh reality. That movie wasn't made for the mainstream "XXX", "Fast and the Furious" crowd. If Robert Rodrigez would have made it he would have brought it in at under 50 million dollars, and with his name attached to it it would have done over 100 million total gross, not including DVD sales. I absolutely loved Sky Captain, but after wtahcing it opening night, I knew this wouldn't appeal to the mainstream movie viewer. and given the budget it ran up, i was depressed even more knowing there wouldn't be a sequel. Ahhh well. At least we stil have Sin City 2 and 3.
-
Ha! Who's going to play Carter? Bruce Campbell's way too old now and so is Patrick Warburton.
-
Or whatever.
-
Oct 06, 2005 4:57:09 AM CDT
The progression will follow... Brett Ratner to Renni Harlin to U
by domi'sinnerchild
You know it's coming.
-
i don't get any sense that he's being honest with us.... what an asshole.
-
Just a shot in the dark, but my guess for Conran's new project is the long-stalled "Doc Savage" film. Doesn't get much more pulp than that.
-
I thought Swingers was brilliant, and was disappointed to see Favreau direct movies for little kids. I love Dinner for Five too. Maybe he will make this more adult, although I doubt it.
-
I seriously hope Harry doesn't throw ANY more news about this movie your way. I don't give shit who is producing this movie as long as they have love for the material. Which it looks like Harry does. I think it's great that they got some geek input on the thing. It sure as hell didn't hurt LOTR after all. You guys should be stoked about Harry's involvement, despite what you think of him. What, you think it should be you? Besides it's not like he's the only producer on board. I trust him more than some Hollywood suit that couldn't give a flying fuck about John Carter. I'm glad he's there as a fellow fan. I swear if you fuckers rag on this thing just cuz you're on some kind of personal Harry-vendetta-quest, I'm gonna go Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back on your ass. This project is just too cool, and I've waited too long to even stand reading a bunch of "this movie will suck cuz I hate Harry" bullshit. Pre-emptive....EAT ME!
-
No it's not a kiddie movie any more than LOTR was a kiddie movie. In fact, it should be kinda violent in some spots (like LOTR), but also like LOTR ,it should also be fine for kids. If handled right.
-
Actually, having given it a bit more thought, I could see the project being "Green Hornet," too, since Smith has pretty much removed himself from every aspect of the film.
-
... just remember Harry's priority HAS to be the movie, I would rather he put 100% into that movie and contributed to making it absoloutely fucking brilliant, than have him worry about trivial nothings, like whether the tone of his EXCLUSIVE interviews don't suit some of the talkbackers. If you ask me the tone of the interview had a sense of humour about it, and knowing Harry, he will probably put 100% into John Carpenter of Mars, AND AICN, so please quit whining, espically when there is nothing to whine about.
-
Them's the facts mate! I've had a great relationship with Favreau for years now. In fact one of my all time favorite AICN events I've thrown was for Fav's MADE - when Vince Vaughn showed up by surprise. And there's not a single thing there that isn't dead on. Conran had been developing concurrent with JOHN CARTER multiple projects. Ultimately, he opted to actively pursue a personal fetish project (that will amaze folks) and two pulp character adaptations - both of which I'm dying to see. They are massively beloved characters that fandom has loved since their birth in the late 20s and 30s. Wish I could say more, but Kerry isn't quite ready for the world to know yet. And literally the first step we're taking is finding a new writer to bring the project closer to Burroughs as Jon wants. (and me too). And Jon just had a dinner with the FX team that Kerry put together and a lot of these folks came to this out of an absolute passion for John Carter. In fact - one amazing artist came running to the project after we were "full up" but he loves Carter so much - he basically lowered his fee to fit the budget because he couldn't possibly face not designing on this film. As for the Studio - PARAMOUNT had a near complete change in management in the middle of this project. If you remember this was why WATCHMEN disappeared from their roster and a good many other films. With us - since that change, Kerry was working with Ehren on a draft - while waiting on that draft he was developing other projects - and Ehren's draft wasn't quite what any of us wanted. At that stage - Jon expressed interest in the project and Kerry was expressing interest in these other two projects. It was all very undramatic. But the studio is INCREDIBLY excited and so are Jim and Sean and I. AND - I can't state enough how nervous and anxious I am to see ZATHURA tomorrow night and hang with Jon to further discuss what has... thus far been a series of email and phone calls. And I honestly believe this will be one of the greatest works of science fiction / fantasy, just as Burroughs original novel was a rosetta stone for modern pop-scifi-fantasy. But that's a bigger longer discussion we'll have at a later date.
-
I LOVE these books. Haven
-
It's not as ultra-serious as LOTR. But don't let it's pulp-origins fool you. It's not "The Phantom" or "Green Hornet" either. Think OT Star-Wars, pulpy-popcorn-fun, but still epic and real and dark in some parts. But with the same humour and sense of adventure. If done right this thing could live up the kind of coolness we all hoped for with the Prequels. Whatever your opinion of NT is, I think we can all agree that they lacked that certain magic spark. This is something that has the potential to bring it back. Believe
-
thanks for your post.. i learnt much more from that than from the answers in the article.... those first answers could have come from the mouth of Avi Arad... just sounded like they were trying to put a positive spin on everything without really telling us what the score was. Personally I find it disheartening when someone comes across as a 'spinmaster', someone whose comments i normally value. ANYWAY... i don't have a clue what Favreau's vision is like for this film, but i assume that he's got good ideas and vision otherwise he wouldn't have been hired.
-
I can't say that I approve or like this new director, but whatever, I'm not in charge of a Hollywood studio, so obviously I don't know what I'm talking about. So, Harry, give us some details on these "couple of pulp properties that he was even more passionate about" come on,
-
The guy is a terrible, terrible screenwriter. His only halfway decent script to date remains ARLINGTON ROAD. Sure, he also did a competent job copy-and-pasting together that RING movie. But the rest? SCREAM 3, REINDEER GAMES, IMPOSTOR, RING 2, BROTHERS GRIMM, SKELETON KEY ... That's one impressive track record of suck. So I hope they throw his rape of JOHN CARTER into the trash where it belongs and start over. Again.
-
what's Conran doing... FLASH GORDON ?
-
Green Hornet was never a pulp character, he only appeared on radio. Pedantic, I know, sorry. ;) But yeah, I'd love to see a rock solid DOC SAVAGE movie, especially since the George Pal one, while nicely cast, is such a trainwreck. THE SHADOW would be nice too, given Conran's use of lighting in SKY CAPTAIN. The Baldwin version of THE SHADOW started off well wit that scene on the bridge, but dropped into the toilet from there. FLASH GORDON would be fun to see in a new version, though someone would have to work hard to surpass Max Von Sydow's work in the 1980 version. Not so excited by a BUCK ROGERS movie only because I find his world to be a lot less richer than the Flash Gordon universe.
-
is good luck, and I hope you deliver. I hope that comment counteracts the uninformed bullshit that'll no doubt come from your buddy Thrall.
-
...is Billy Crudup. I've said it before, and I'm saying it again. He has the right age, the right look, the right physical condition, but above all -- the right acting chops. He can go from the Southern gentleman Carter to the ferocious warrior Carter to the Dejah Thoris-humpin' Carter with no trouble at all. Just look at the guy -- it's like he's been torn from the Del Rey 1979 edition Michael Whelan covers. You know you all want this.
-
...it will be stuck in development hell for a few more years. I mean...hey, it's director #3 and how long was the last guy attached to this project? Much longer than Rodriguez (I guess). If he had left earlier I would say "Okay, whatever", but now?
-
Oct 06, 2005 7:37:10 AM CDT
Jon Favreau has absolutely zero visual style as a director...
by leiadown&fuckher
This is akin to hiring Kevin Smith to direct, on certain types of films his basic and simplistic point 'n shoot efforts are tolerable enough, but on something that requires a strong visual identity & style, that requires an keen eye for pacing and being able to heighten the excitement factor, while simultaneously being able to balance that with character and story amongst all the spectacle and visuals - this project needs a director who can operate on all levels, and be able to well balance all those various aspects, and Favreau just aint that guy based on his previous and upcoming work. I predict this being just as stilted and lifeless as the God awful (and way over hyped on this site) Sky Captain was, or even worse. It's a shame because there's so much potential for this project, but right now my anticipation for it is somewhere below zero. Bet they pg-13 it to make things even worse and put an even bigger nail in the coffin. All that said though, as a die hard John Carter fan, I hope against hope that some miracle happens and this does come together, nothing would make me happier...I just can't see anything indicating that possibility right now, not even close, not even a sliver of hope. Damn it.
-
stick to being a critic, knowles.
leave film making to the adults -
Why not just Harry Knowles as your film credit? It's what you are know as. You getting all uppity on us?
-
Oct 06, 2005 7:48:09 AM CDT
Harry, you're involved in this; whoever this John F. is - ne
by salvatoregravano
After seeing "Sky Craptain" one could easily assume that there were only two worse candidates than this Conran character - Uwe Boll and Paul W. S. Anderscum.
Then again, the name "Ehren Kruger" is a big alarm siren. His "writing" can destroy the film, even if someone like David Cronenberg was set to direct. Get rid of him or at least have extensive rewrites done. -
Haven't we already seen thi... ooops, my mistake.
-
Oct 06, 2005 7:54:08 AM CDT
This is WAY better than having Robert Rodriguez as director.
by jrbarker
Jon Favreau's movies generally have an air of quality and craftsmanship. While Rodriguezs (who I have much respect) films tend to feel like quick and dirty cheapies. A movie like this needs to feel solid. I can imagine Robert trying to film the whole thing in 3 weeks while he writes the score and does all the special effects himself.
-
Curious to know what he's up to!
-
FWIW, I think all of these "pulp" properties are doomed to failure in today's climate. But I wish you the best of luck, Harry.
-
....Films need film-lovers to work, not Hollywood money men calling the shots. In the past 15 years, as an avid film lover, I have noticed how much fucking corperate money men ruin films. I don't like, and have never have liked 'lowest common denominater' films. I will always applaud real film lover films. So get of your high horses folks and get behind people like these.
-
Yes, I did.
-
Why do people hate that movie now?
-
Zathura. Isn't this just Jumanji in space?
John Carter is bound to be kids movie! Except none of the kids have ever heard of John Carter. And even dumb kids know you can't live on Mars!
-
so there are bound to be similarities. Glad to hear positive news on Princess of Mars. My guess Conran is looking to do Flash Gordon or Doc Savage. My first thought was The Spirit, but that didn't come out until the 1940s.
-
...have either of you gone blind or grown hairy palms from that interview yet? As for Favreau, I like his movies so far. I don't love them (although I do own both Elf and Made). I'm more than willing to give him the benefit of the doubt.
-
Oct 06, 2005 8:58:05 AM CDT
If you can just get the Tharks to look good, and the eight legge
by cookylamoo
This should be a pretty easy movie to make. I love Burroughs, but after all, it's pretty much, capture, escape, capture, escape much like Battlefield Earth. However if you get the Tharks WRONG, then you've really got Battlefield Earth. Been waiting for this movie since I was ten so don't fuck it up.
-
Oct 06, 2005 9:02:15 AM CDT
Does this mean Kerry Conran is off of the list of Greatest Direc
by frodosblueballs
Does anybody remember that article where Harry lists all these amazing directors...Kubrick, Spielburg, Lucas, and many more, and then throws in Kerry Conran into the mix like he's the next coming of Christ. On a side note I now wonder if Zathura will get lots of glowing reviews by AICN??? Hmmmm I wonder???
-
Favreau should not be raked over the coals until Zathura is seen. I like how he wanted Zathura to feel like one of the Amblin films from the 80's and used a lot of models versus CGI. I've liked all of the movies he's made so far, so I'm willing to give him the benefit of the doubt for now. Sky Captain was a major disappointment because of the lame story. It's good to see Harry and Favreau want to get the story right before moving forward. It's harder to screw up a good script than it is to try to make a bad script into something good.
-
But does anyone actually believe that the guy found some other pulp properties he was more passionate about? You direct a movie that basically bombs at the box office and are given a chance to direct a big budget studio sci-fi film as your second ever movie and you leave the project? Harry, with that line you just became a faceless studio suit and whatever this site was has officially died.
-
Hey guys, it's QUINCE with the latest Movie report. This just came in: Hi, I'm an impartial internet movie news reporter. My name is MINORITY, because I'm in the minority in that I'm a reporter AND I work in the movie biz. My buddy does too, his name is HARDLY KHOWS, as in he hardly knows anymore whether he's a movie news reporter or a movie news promoter. He has a great film project. It's called "Gabe Cotter, Sweathog of Mars." I just heard the best news about it!! Peter Jackson is no longer directing. He quit because someone offered him "Weekend at Bernie's Five: Honey, I lost the Lysol!" His replacement is Judd Nelson. Now I know Judd hasn't done any "Action" movie per se, but you should see his incredible vacation videos. He goes snorkeling and everything!! In my unbiased opinion, this news makes "Cotter" possibly the most anticipated film, to be discussed, by me, on a Thursday, in October, before I've brushed my teeth, Ever!! Cheers!! (Ha Ha and Good luck on the film!!)
-
My ass, he did. A milion bucks says the new brass at Paramount saw the paltry grosses for Sky Captain and gave him the boot. I said this would happen a few weeks after Sky Captain tanked. I'm not sold on Favreau. Elf was pedestrian, and I can't think of anything worse than having a pedestrian director on a film of this scale. Conran might have made a film only he and Knowles liked, but it wouldn't have been pedestrian. This film is doomed. DOOMED without a strong filmmaker at the helm. At best Favreau will give us the Chris Columbus version of John Carter. I think tonally this movie should be somewhere between John Milius's Conan and Jackson's Lord of the Rings.
-
Don't ever mention that waste of c-41, EVER AGAIN!!
-
this movie bombs. Will those who support harry on this website still do. Or Will the talkbackers who throw brickbats throw them at harry becuase the movie will suck to them. The one thing that I have learnt over the past year is to basically ignore what this website says. Take Flightplan. The NO1 film at the box office. I read a report on that film on this sight which all but said DONT SEE THIS MOVIE. Well of people did obviously and it is still the no one film in the US.
I have seen Sky Captain film. This film was the equivalent of looking at a Sepia Photograph for two half hours. Beautiful but dead. There is a thing called the oscar curse and two victims of this have been Halle Berry and Whinny . Dont know her? she had a career of sorts She starred in films Shakespeare in Love (or as i call it this film is much ado nothing) The boring plath movie which nobody and the abonimation that was a view from the top, you know the so called comedy set in the airline business.You dont remember that OK. moving on. Kerry Conran had one great Idea but that movie was ruined by an Atrcious story, stilted dialouge wax work dummy performances from Law, Whinny and the Jolie bot delux. Speaking of Horrible things Cruise and Holmes are expecting a kid. ARRRRRRRHHHHHHHHHH. When Harry does Lists of filmmakers why doesnt he include Hitchcock etc.
-
Moving pictures of these pallid, hairy, sweaty beasts? Doomed is right. I'm just kidding, you're alright.
-
Man, Harry even talks like a producer now. How sad.
-
And i'm not afraid to say it. It was a pathatic attempt at Sci-Fi and I really despise the fact that people enjoyed the film. Paltrow was the only redeeming performance, as law and Jolie were both typecast.
-
DocPazuzu---I still think Clive Owen would do a damn fine job, but this Crudup character is an interesting choice. I'm all for a new guy over an established action hero, but I've just never seen him deliver the ferocity we've gotten out of Jackman or Owen, is there a film I missed?
Also, you don't think Whelan's covers are too pretty? Give me Frazetta any day. Goddamn I just hope they have the sense to realize that the core of this film MUST BE THE LOVE STORY. Tonally, "Somewhere in Time" meets "Lawrence of Arabia", but including the most brawling, incredible action sequences ever concieved. Carter's immortal love for Dejah Thoris needs to drive his every move, give the action weight and desperation. It is his love for her that gives him the power and the will to do the impossible, not merely his ability. Favreau is an interesting choice (and I breathed a sigh of vague relief), but there's really no way to gauge what he'll do with this based on his track record. Now if we can just exise Kruger from the production completely...... -
All of our fanboy hopes and dreams are resting on your shoulders, headgeek
-
I bet Conran is on Flash Gordon, which would be great. But I don't see Favreau having any sensibilities, vision or skill that would make John Carter work the way it should. He is not that kind of director. What a truly bizarre choice for John Carter. IF he indeed loves the novel and wants the script closer to that, it's a good sign, but he still doesn't seem the type. It feels like announcing Kevin Smith is doing John Carter ... which is the equivelant of announcing that Kevin Smith is now leaving John Carter. I bet you see Favreau exiting the film sooner than later. I hope it works out for the best, but I don't see it.
-
I'm sorry but Favreau seems wrong.Plus he didn't direct Swingers he just wrote it.Now if you would've said Doug Limen that would've been different.Visually Favreau hasnt impressed me.Made looked like and was crap.Elf was a multiplex filler film with maybe one or two moments.An interesting choice would be say maybe Peyton Reed(he nailed that classic look with Down With Love)or Christopher McQuarrie who's underated,jobless and at one point wanted to do an Alexander adaptation which is basically half naked men and women with swords.I'm sure all eyes will be on Zathura but will we get a honest review from this site if it sucks?Well that remains to be seen.I wish him luck anyway.
-
Oct 06, 2005 10:25:37 AM CDT
This site would be ruined if it werent for these talkbacks
by frodosblueballs
This website has just become so f'ing biased now. Does anybody notice a direct corellation between movies being advertised on here and movies that Harry & co give glowing reviews for?? There are hardly ever any scoops here anymore, but goddamn if I don't love these talkbacks and everybody f'ing with Harry.
-
No offense, but who the hell are you?
-
Oct 06, 2005 10:58:05 AM CDT
I wonder if Harry is even doing anyting for this project
by frodosblueballs
or is Paramount just paying him money and giving him a fake producing credit on the film so he can hype it up to us with his free publicity.
-
Three different directors, years of nothing but shuffling things, one supposedly wretched script, talk of modernizing, and scraps for information.
Right about now I see a whole lot of merit in the way X3 nailed their feet to the floor and said just make the damned picture by this date. The way JCoM is going, it feels like it will never ever get past the 'discussed over dinner' stage. -
Okay then. The TalkBack rat shall not ask anymore questions of Mr. Hollywood.
-
We meet again. As before, I still find Owen to be a bit wooden for the part. He's fine in some of the things I've seen him in, but I just don't buy him as Confederate officer turned interplanetary warrior and adventurer John Carter. Owen seems more suited to a pulp hero like Howard's Solomon Kane who is more of a dour, smoldering and semi-restrained character (and English). I can see Crudup as more of the swashbuckler type than Owen would be.
-
Oct 06, 2005 11:13:52 AM CDT
If you could put your producer hat on a moment, Harry; a questio
by oceansized
Rodriguez and Conran were obviously both going to shoot the flick using green screen. So is Favreau also doing it that way? As a previous post mentioned, he used more practical effects than CGI on 'Zathura', so which way's he going now??
-
http://tinyurl.com/c2crp
-
Ehren blows. Conran's Sky Captain was terrible, so HEADGEEK can relax and admit he was a part of canning. I would've done the same, he's garbage. I hope the pet project is better than collecting unemployment checks. I'd be amused if Sky Captain actually made money. Favreau is cool, but is he the best choice?
-
Hi, Harry! Congrats on your new director. We're all excited for you! BUT, what are the OTHER pulp properties that Kerry is working on?
Curious,
Squidman -
Sorry, I don't mean the Ultimate Marvel Universe Kerry - duh.
-
The thing about it that alienated audiences was the fact that it was made to look like a quaint 20's-30's type sci fi movie. Audiences didn't get why so they opted not to watch it for the belief that old-school sucks when in fact, it was the movie's charm. It was a stylistic choice and I think it took a lot of balls to get something like that made when The Rocketeer had been done years before and didn't make a dent in the box office. As for Flash Gordon, last I heard that Sommers guy is set to write and direct it. I hated his Mummy films and I stayed away from the theater like a plague when Van Helsing was released. I hope the studios finally came to their senses and let Conran direct it. He has a much better sense of storytelling and is a lot more competent director if you ask me. If Sommers gets it made, however, it'll be ten times worse than the 80's release, which at least had the Queen soundtrack.
-
Oct 06, 2005 11:41:29 AM CDT
Greatn, do you actuall think Harry knows how to produce a big bu
by frodosblueballs
At most he's giving the creative consulting.
-
After I heard about the movie, I read the online texts of the first seven books in the John Carter series, and they were a complete blast. I love adventure serials, and those stories to that style perfectly: rollicking action scenes, righteous and heroic characters, despicable villains (evil high priests/mad scientists, etc., must of them lust-crazed), giant monsters, crazy Edwardian sci-fi technology, etc. I thought that Conran was the perfect one for this...Sky Captain was great, a John Carter film in that vein would be positively holy. Zathura looks pretty bad, and the only other things we have to go on with this new director are a half-decent sex comedy, a crappy gangster comedy, and a kid's fantasy comedy. I don't know about this...well, his films are competent enough, so let's see what happens. I'm certainly willing to give it a chance on a strength of the material and some old-fashioned faith.
-
A Princess of Mars will most likely be the title.
-
...I'm at work and I have to shoot these things out before the boss crosses by.
-
Jon Favreau is probably the LEAST exciting director they could have gotten for this.
-
I wondered what happened to him after the election.
-
is this an upward or downward trend?
-
Konran is a bad director, period, and it's the best thing to happen to this project so far. Sky Captain is the exact epitomy of what everyone considers wrong with Hollywood cinema today. All effects, but no substance. The characters were non-existent, the plot was boring, and everything was just filler for effects. Yet, people out there still feel it was a milestone in filmmaking. Contradictory at the least. After hearing the Krueger/Konran draft turned out to stray from the source material, I'm not suprised. Konran's a fan, not a filmmaker, let alone storyteller. Who knows if Favs will be good. He loves the material, which is a good starting point, but does he understand it? Will this be a great sci-fi cinematic achievment like Harry is saying? Don't buy into the hype, but that doesn't mean it won't be fun. And who knows if it will even be that! Zathura will definitely will be an early indication of what to expect, because it is a sci-fi book adaptation. I also say we start taking bets on what Harry's review of Zathura will be. I'm betting it'll be glowing where he says he has complete and utter faith in Favs for John Carter and that John Carter will be the most significant piece of cinema since Star Wars - or something along those lines ;)
-
Sky Captain was released OVER A YEAR AGO, so there was no sudden revelation that it didn't do wonders at the box office. The Green Hornet was more than just a radio show--it was also a movie serial, a TV show and a comic book. Oh and Sky Captain was great!
-
Zathura is about juxtaposing real world characters in a fantasy world and showing us exciting new things that our characters can react to and overcome. John Carter is also. Maybe, just maybe, this will give him a slight edge in unlocking the secret of John Carter's magic: Its not Barsoom or John Carter (or even Deja Thoris) that's cool. Its that it could happen to any of us.
Some directors such as Rodriguez and Konran may have gotten too hung up on style and special effects and forgotten that at its heart, it has to be the story of a mundane experiencing a fantasy world.
-
so it's not that far-fetched. Come on, this movie being made for the geek crowd. Without a big movie director a film like this wouldn't hit mass audiences. So why wouldn't they try to get the poster boy for movie geekness and hire Harry as a producer to get the fanboys/geeks excited about this project.
-
Oct 06, 2005 12:32:23 PM CDT
Does anyone know who has the rights to the Stainless Steel Rat S
by opticnerve
...because they are sitting on a f*cking goldmine! My first reaction to this story was that Kerry Conran had moved on to do the Stainless Stell Rat series, but Headgeek's post seems to put Kerry's source fiction in the 20's/30's. The Stainless Steel Rat series started in the 60's, but it is just screaming for a competant director to come along and start a franchise that would combine the best elements of Han Solo, The Incredibles family, and every spot-on action/adventure heroine of the past 20 years in a universe that echoes Heinlien's Foundation Trilogy. Can any old-timers out there back me up on this? I want my Stainless Steel Rat!
-
Oct 06, 2005 12:33:05 PM CDT
You watch, the next exciting announcement will be Elijah Wood is
by leiadown&fuckher
And the reason so many people hate the absolute turdfest that was the wretched Sky Captain is quite simple, retro giant robots and the like don't mean shit if the entire film is paced like a wet sock being dragged through treacle, and about as exciting to watch as something that's not exciting in the least. It also didn't help matters that it was paper thin in terms of both character and plot, and had absolutely no charm or wit at all. Oh, and the performances were career worst efforts for all involved (except a moderately enjoyabale Jolie) and were the most stilted and unconvincing performances I've seen in any film for years they were so bad and so lacking in charm. I mean most of the actors seemed like they had no idea what they should be doing or why they were even there, and as thus gave what had to be the flatest readings in recent cinema. Oh, and to cap it all off, the effects weren't even impressive or convincing in their own right, so even the spectacle produced little more than boredom. The idea for that kind of serial was solid, but everything about the execution was utterly shitful, and utterly, utterly charmless. That's why so many people hate the film, because it was one of the most boring, tedious, charmless, stilted, flat, dull and utterly empty films of the past few years.
-
I'll back you up on that. I've wanted to see a "Slippery" Jim DiGriz movie for years. I also think Harry Harrison's West of Eden would make a fantastic movie if done right.
-
I almost don't want to post, just 'cause it's so obvious, and I'm sure Harry's actually talked with him about it...anyways, Frank Darabount! Seems like he's been chippin' at the bit to write a pulp fantasy adventure, the Doc Savage movie seems to have faded (sadly) years ago, Lucas didn't care for his Indy script (which tells me, it was great!). I'm sure he's tied up on his next film.
-
Oct 06, 2005 12:38:48 PM CDT
"Well Kerry Conran has a commitment to never direct anything eve
by chickychow
Thats the real announcement.
-
Why didn't you get this up before it was announced all over the trades? Why are you holding back on your projects but let loose about all others? Hypocrite.
-
Oct 06, 2005 12:43:39 PM CDT
How about Warlord or Mars, with Warlord being the largest text?
by justice41
Let's Face it, This is a George Lucas/Steven Spielberg flick. Only the pairing of these two guys will be able to pull off a believable John Carter movie. And with Favs on board there go the Titties.
-
So many options...
-
Okay, with TWO Hawkman comments on the board, someone needs to tell you--Hawkman is Carter Hall, not John Carter.********Conran could make a decent flick if he tried to stick with a movie on a smaller scale. I think he might pull off a decent Shadow movie--if he concentrated more on atmosphere and a strong plot, and less on trying to throw every imaginable CGI creation onto the screen.
-
The last I heard about it, Jan De Bont wanted to direct it. Here's what I found a moment ago: http://tinyurl.com/dufd7
-
Oct 06, 2005 1:59:08 PM CDT
I hear Harry wanted to bring in Joss Whedon, but the studio said
by fluffyunbound
Whip-tash!
-
That's a cool, flashy movie with a lot of style, some very memorable scenes, and a great cast of character actors. Any geek should give it a chance, it's really worth checking out.
-
Why hang around this site? It's not ten years ago, there are plenty of places to "TalkBack" other than www.aintitcool.com. I criticize the man, I question these guy sliding down the slippery slope and I think corruption is always around the corner. But if you really hate him so much, how can your ego allow you to crawl around at his feet in his "Talkback" section? Contributing to this site, no matter how you do it, or what you say about his weight or lack of sexual experience, contributes to the AIN'TITCOOL empire and Harry's credibility in Hollywood. These guys are still the first name in Internet Movie Geeks and you help keep them stay there. I still find value here, although I admit they have become a little drunk on the seat of laurels. They get a lot of credit for being pioneers and this media/internet/grass roots/marketing thing is far from finished. Anyway, no hard feelings to anyone, but it sounds like effeminate sour grapes when I hear people say they truly hate this guy while they're basically part of his electronic Entourage. I'm not saying anything about free speech, but if I didn't like coming to this site, I wouldn't contribute to it. I'd try to help some other site. Cheers!!
-
Oct 06, 2005 2:25:41 PM CDT
In Hollywood, producer credits are handed out like business card
by bigdickmcgee
Paramount probably brought Knowles on board thinking he could deliver his buddy Robert Rodriguez as director. That went bust. Look for Harry to leave this project due to "creative difference" real soon. Ask yourself why a studio would hire a guy who runs a movie website to "produce" a $100 million movie. The guy has never produced anything in his life, and in fact has never held a job. You're shareholder in a public company. You have a $100 million project. Whom do you hire to make it happen? If your answer is Knowles, I suggest you also submit your resume. You never know.
-
I think his problem is just that he's not selective enough. If he falls in love with a movie, he seems to love it even if it sucks. I'll never forgive him for recommending "Viva Rock Vegas." Yeah, I know, I an idiot, but I loved the 60's cartoon and purposefully missed the John Goodman movie. Harry talked so highly about the prequel that I found myself in the theater on the first Friday. Ever since then I have never trusted his reviews. Cheers!
-
Oct 06, 2005 2:56:03 PM CDT
A "smart" move. Fav's done some solid work. Plus, I'm
by r.c. the "wise"
Should be interesting.
-
I think he would kick major ass as John Carter.
-
Oct 06, 2005 3:57:27 PM CDT
To those who argue Harry's underqualified: Would you turn do
by oceansized
"This movie business is tough. I might just have to go back to loan-sharking for a while to get some vacation."
-
I think choosing John Favreau to direct "John Carter of Mars" was a good decision. He's a bit unpredictable, and not all his films have been great, but he is creative and I think he's got the right mentality for this film. Kerry Conran seemed a very shaky director for such a story, since I thought "Sky Captain" was a quality first effort but was ultimately silly and emotionally unengaging. Favreau will likely bring a grittier attitude to "John Carter of Mars," and hopefully some quality visuals.
-
//"Before you're allowed critical faculties, go make your own movie...and then see whose laughing...me! HAW HAW".
-
Bet on it.
-
Oct 06, 2005 4:07:58 PM CDT
I now it might hurt your head Sep, but why don't you read wh
by oceansized
I asked if those arguing that Harry's underqualified would turn down the same offer he got due to their own lack of qualification. Explain to me how that's not a legitimate question, dipshit?!
-
but you basically told them to fuck off because they've never made a movie before.
-
Sep, why you don't try having a little speck of integrity and just admit you have nothing instead of coming back with such an incredibly lame response?
-
...the nickname "favs" is very, very annoying.
-
Oct 06, 2005 4:26:32 PM CDT
And Sep, I've seen you enough in these talkbacks to get a re
by oceansized
You could never actually hold your own in an argument, but you see someone else taking heat and you love juming in and rubbing it in, like Chris Tucker in 'Friday'. If I recall, you even tried doing it to Kevin Smith and he called you out on being a moron.
-
Oct 06, 2005 4:28:29 PM CDT
I think you misinterpreted that little game Kevikins and I play
by seppukudkurosawa
where we pretend to get all snarky with each other, but when we go home we have a nice warm snuggle by the fire...Yes, that's right Osh, you guessed it, I am the big-eared wife.
-
Oct 06, 2005 4:31:24 PM CDT
While I don't think your question in this thread is the same
by childe roland
...in terms of logical construction as the tired and faulty "If you don't like it why aren't you doing better?" query you busted out in that QT thread, oceansized, I have to ask: What is the relevance of any fan's desire/willingness to produce a film to Harry's qualification (or lack thereof) to do so? And on a slightly more relevant topic, what exactly, do the majority of folks here think are the requisite qualifications for a "producer" title? I'm genuinely curious.
-
Oct 06, 2005 4:31:50 PM CDT
And coming up with pointless hypothesis just to rile up the "hat
by seppukudkurosawa
You seem to me the breed of person whose idiocy is tuned to just the right level to make them completely unaware of it. I'm not an argumentative kind of guy, I just like calling out the village idiot when I see it.
-
Presumably those who come here are movie fanatics. With that in mind, I'm basically asking "if you, like Harry, got a dream oppurtunity you probably weren't qualified for, would you turn it down due to your lack of qualifications? And if the answer's no (as I suspect it would be if truthfully answered), then why rag on him for going the same way? And I believe the majority of folks would consider some actual experience in the movie making business as a prerequisite to getting a "producer" title.
-
Oct 06, 2005 4:40:36 PM CDT
Greatn, see the second part of my question in the response to Ch
by oceansized
I'd like to know your answer.
-
You asked, "What exactly, do the majority of folks here think are the requisite qualifications for a "producer" title?" Anyone with the requisite will and money can produce a movie, in my opinion. It's not a matter of being the right kind of person, or being a creative person, or even being any specific kind of person at all. Money and motivation are the keys to being a producer, and also sometimes your track record of success. As such, Harry Knowles will likely do a fine job as a producer of "John Carter of Mars."
-
Argumentative huh? Let's see, who made the obnoxious remark that got everything started? And I'm unaware huh? Who called me out on not making sense and then came back with the lamest response when I asked for an explanation, either not willing to admit or completely "unaware" how stupid they sounded.
-
Your mind is evidently logic proof, which takes the fun out of arguing with you.
-
because you're a special case. Anyway, I was just pointing out that you made a stupid analogy that said nothing so much as, Anyone who's been given the opportunity to make a movie will therefore make a good one. As I said waaay above here, I wish Harry the best of luck and think he'll make a good producer because he can't help but be invested in whatever it is he dabbles in. I just think your be-all and end-all bullshit arguments aren't up to scratch.
-
...oceansized. I see now why you asked. I still question the validity of the question in attempting to disarm or deflect someone else's questioning of Harry's qualifications. Harry had and took the opportunity. These critics, presumably, didn't. So Harry's the one who is getting his qualifications and decisions questioned. That's fair and reasonable. And, Mafu, I tend to agree with your assessment of the producer's role. From what I know of the job, Harry is as "qualified" as most Hollywood producers in that most, to my knowledge, are film backers who also serve as a sort of board of directors (like when a venture capital company makes an investment and puts a member on its board). While actual knowledge of how to make a movie or of what appeals artistically might be a plus (or a minus, depending on the project and the actual Director), they certainly aren't necessary to sit at the table. I know Harry loves (certain) movies and is definitely passionate about cinema, but I don't know that I'd trust him (based on his reviews of movies I've seen) to make or influence big decisions on my multi-million dollar film project. However, since he's (presumably) gambling with his own money (or less tangible resources) and someone wanted that bad enough to invite him to the dance, I say more power to him. I can even handle Mori "interviewing" him (with a wink). But I really don't want to see one damn review of the movie on this site when it comes out. That would just be too much.
-
Oct 06, 2005 5:03:38 PM CDT
uh, Harry is executive producing, not line producing morons.
by wonkabar
He's the creative end of things. He does have "know" shit other than John Carter and what he thinks will make this movie. As far as the other producers knowledge about movie making...
JAMES JACKS
Filmography as: Producer, Himself
Producer - filmography
(In Production) (2000s) (1990s) (1980s)
1. Book of Skulls (2006) (announced) (producer)
2. John Carter of Mars (2006) (pre-production) (producer)
3. Intolerable Cruelty (2003) (executive producer)
4. The Hunted (2003) (producer)
5. Dark Blue (2002) (producer)
6. The Scorpion King (2002) (producer)
7. Rat Race (2001) (executive producer)
... aka Course folle (Canada: French title)
8. The Mummy Returns (2001) (producer)
9. Down to Earth (2001) (producer)
... aka Einmal Himmel und zur -
It looks like someone heard my clarion call about which sci-fi books should be adapted into film (and when you think long and hard about it, the book of skulls is science fiction really).
-
"DOESN'T need to know shit" up top, and "MINUS the 'A'" down toward the end...there's other typos, but i don't give a shit...late
-
Oct 06, 2005 5:12:36 PM CDT
Sep, I said no such thing as "Anyone who's been given the op
by oceansized
Either you really believe that, in which you case you seriously are not very bright (and I feel kinda bad making fun of you all this time). Or you know you're full of shit but won't admit it, in which case your just a little spineless jellyfish.
-
But just because someone doesn't like you very much doesn't mean you have to hate them back. Look at Ribbons earlier in this talkback as a good example of human decency, that Thrall guy told him to feed ducks (it was a horrible thing to say at the time), and Ribbons politely backed off. Which is what I'm about to do, just, about, now.
-
This is pretty much the definition of cool news.
-
Oct 06, 2005 5:36:00 PM CDT
Yeah Sep, you represent human decency. Nevermind you're the
by oceansized
It must be nice to believe whatever bullshit you tell yourself. But since you want to "politely back off" and I'm getting tired of this, I'll oblige.
-
Oct 06, 2005 5:44:13 PM CDT
I wonder if he'll somehow manage to slip those three immorta
by seppukudkurosawa
And, this'll be the real coup, make sure no one (i.e. us) notices it.
-
Back in the day, Harry would have announced that not only Favreau was taking over John Carter, but he ALSO would have told us EXACTLY what film Conran was going over to!! Isn't that the point of this site? To tell us the Cool News? Why be coy? I can get coy anywhere else. I come here ... or I used to come here ... for the Ain't It Cool News. By a geek that would infiltrate studios and find stuff out that we'd like to know. What do we get now? SPIN for the most part. I want to know what film Conran is going to and there used to be a time that Harry would have been the first to tell us.
-
Harry grew up, got a kitten, a surrogate child, and a job.
-
He's a producer like I'm the Emperor of Mongo. The reason this site doesn't get news anymore is that it's usefulness has been used up by studios, i.e., Harry pimping some movie for months, like Sky Captain (which I adore) for Paramount, them blowing smoke up his ass telling him he's a producer, he tells us he's living his dream, he finds out he ain't shit, because really what is his talent anyway? Being a movie fan. Big whoop. And now, his quotes up there sound like they came from Access Hollywood or something. I don't expect the Movie Guerilla site or anything, but that was the most pat shit I've ever read. And here's to hoping Conran is on Flash Gordon, and Stephen Sommers is dead. Buck Rogers would be cool, too.
-
Harry can take over producing King Conan and hire Woody Allen to direct and star.
-
"But why? Why do I have to shove a sword into his skull? I mean, that is, not only is it, is it painful, but it's also terribly unhygenic."
Also starring Tony Roberts as Xaltoun. -
I think "Fav" is good choice as I enjoyed Elf. Af for everybody kinda giving him shit for that movie, well most of us are more biased to genre films and Elf was more for a general audience. I am a firm believer he will do a good job and as for Harry as exec producing this....Good Luck, you deserve it and even though peeps are giving you shit, they can all go to hell b/c your living out the dream man, I'll be rooting you on!
-
Not only would he have told us, he would have told us a couple months back when he first knew about it. Even Moriarty is towing the company line by telling us in other posts that he knows things but not telling us what those things are. The best thing those 2 could do after relieving Herc of his duties would be to turn the site over to someone else willing to buck the system they are now a part of.
-
Oct 06, 2005 9:46:22 PM CDT
WONKABAR, you are the single most pathetic talkbacker that has e
by chickychow
Jesus, what'd u spend eight hours on that thing?
-
First of all, I'm betting it took nowhere near that long. Second of all, WONKABAR can do whatever the fuck he wants on his own time. Asshole.
-
Oct 06, 2005 10:09:36 PM CDT
I forgot to post before I took a leak, and greatn beats me on th
by shermdawg
What else is new?
-
Harry would have sucked it dry by now.
-
Everyone talking shit about Favreau just might be in for a suprise. I have the best of hopes for this project, but I really don't know what his level of commitment is to Edgar Rice Burroughs novel. He could go the Conan route and make a popular movie, but completely hash the tone set forth by the book series. I tend to think that, despite his shortcomings (and there are many, brother) R. Rodriguez would have been a better choice. I look forward to eating my hat if I'm wrong. Keep Cool Harry.
-
Kerry Conran should adapt Randolph Carter's REM adventure into a live action feature film. Now that I would have a total brain aneurism for.
-
Ol' Viggo would make an excellent John Carter. Favreau is absolutely NOT the director for this flick! One subject I haven't seen broached (unless I missed it) is who will play Dejah Thoris? Catherine Zeta-Jones could do it -- there are probably more (maybe better) choices, but it should be someone dark and exotic; a European babe would be great (just watch, they'll cast some skinny, blonde, oh-so-American teenager. Oh! And Tars Tarkis will be played by a CGI-enhanced Chris Rock, and some kid from the cast of O.C. will be signed to play John Carter). Then there's the fact that the Martians basically run around naked wearing only weapons and jewelry according to ERB, but watch, they'll end up being covered from head to toe 'cause this will probably be turned into a kids' film about a cute lil fella named J.C. who finds a game called "Let's Go To Mars" in the attic and, gosh, strange things sure do start to happen when he sits down to play with himself! Bet the next thing we'll hear is that they've dropped the whole period aspect of the story; that Carter will now be a modern-day wise-crackin' homicide cop or some day-dreamin' astrology-minded wimpy nerd who (despite bein' a nice guy) just ain't no good with the chicks down here on Earth -- but on Mars he learns how to be a hero. I really hope this will be a great flick but at the moment it's got disaster written all over it. Sure is a shame Peter Jackson's not interested in doing it!
-
I'll admit at first glance Jon Favreau's name does seem to stand out againt Conran and Rodriguez' but I think it is a bad idea to jump to conclusions about what a director is capable of. Personally, after viewing a Zathura "making of" and I heard Jon Favreau talk about the effects work and what he wanted to achieve he is more than capable of handling this picture. It is not like he is going to be making all of the effects, holding the camera, designing the costumes, and about a million other tasks himself. I think people should try having a little faith.
-
Oct 07, 2005 12:50:32 AM CDT
Ribbons, greatn...Indeed I did cut and paste an IMDB-list. Took
by wonkabar
Uh, what was that about pathetic talkbackers chickychow?
-
PEACE
-
Kerry Conran would've been perfect for this movie. Yeah, it wouldn't have made money, but it would've been beautiful. Harry was the only hope of this director getting a movie done again soon. Oh well, I still can't wait for the next Kerry Conran movie.
-
Oct 07, 2005 2:03:57 AM CDT
I thought Harry was producing this movie, but now he's only
by windowlicker74
What does that even mean? just a credit of mercy
-
Oct 07, 2005 2:16:02 AM CDT
John Carter is bound to be kids movie! Except none of the kids h
by wonkabar
That's quoted from someone on else this board btw. Don't remember who, and I don't feel like scrolling back up to find out. Anyway, I think this illustrates exactly why Carter's actual location should just be left a mystery. After all, nobody on Barsoom refers to their planet as "Mars". They of course, call it "Barsoom" It would be totally natural for someone of Carter's time to ASSUME he is on Mars, but if there's no narration in the script, even this wouldn't be an issue. Carter's transport to the planet is an enigma,(he just sort of astral projects kinda, but with physical form) so why not let his location be one as well. Just Barsoom as far as he knows. It could very well be some other planet, or it could even be Mars of the distant-past...it is supposed to be a dying world after all. Just leave it in to the audience to decide. Now I know that ERB confirms that it is indeed Mars, but that's not till way later in the series, and the distant past theory could still hold without straying too far from the source material. I think it would be best if the movie just avoided the topic, even going so far as to ditch "mars" from the title. DEJAH THORIS would be cool as she is the "Princess" of the of the story. I mean LOTR didn't go out of it's way to inform the audience of exactly WHEN the movie took place, so why should this film go out of it's way to point out WHERE. It just helps if the public doesn't make the wrong assumptions based on "well Mars is dead so this is just silly" kind of thing. It really wouldn't diverge from the book to leave it up in the air cuz, like I said, it's Barsooom, not Mars, and it's ok if Carter THINKS it's Mars... he's from the post-civil-war-era...he doesn't even know how he got there, or even how to speak the language. So the audience could just follow the story from his perspective without any prejudgement. The story just takes off from there and that's the important thing. Mars-shmars, it's just ambiguous. That's really how it plays out in the book. It's just Barsoom...period. No more expanation other than it's a dying world. Hey, I doubt Harry in Co. are gonna take my advice, or even read this. I'm sure the movie will be great no matter what. I just wanted to point this fact of the story out, it certainly enhanced my reading experience to keep that question in mind.
-
Hasn't anyone noticed that Knowles has NEVER stated what was the extension of his "Producer" credit for this movie? As said previously,he just brought a director on board,and might be kept on paper just to help with the positive spin on the pre-prod.
I DARE HIM TO COME CLEAN ON THAT MATTER...and I'll be waiting a while...
-
DarqueGuy, that's the single funniest sentence I've seen posted in a TalkBack in over a month. Kudos, sir.
-
I'll have to take it with a boatful of salt. That's the nature of the bizzzz. Protect yr neck.... and investments.
-
Oct 07, 2005 7:42:23 AM CDT
Doesn't matter who is directing, it will suck because of one
by computerguy68
Paramount - AKA Kiss of Death
-
...Executive Producer always work on the creative end of things in films? I had assumed that, if a producer just brings money to the table, an executive producer brought a whole lot of money (or something of equivalent value) to the table. I'm sure there are instances in which an executive producer (or even a producer) has had influence over the creative process, but is it a hard and fast rule and is there some sort of pre-existing job description for either or both titles? If, as you suggest, the executive producer is always required to have the knowledge of what would make a good film, then I'd have to say Harry, as a lover of movies, probably should have declined. His taste is pretty awful. And I still don't want to see a single review for this movie on this site.
-
Oct 07, 2005 9:22:30 AM CDT
UM...He already made an "all audience tentpole movie". It was c
by minderbinder
And am I the only one skeptical that Conron left for greener pastures, as opposed to simply getting canned?
-
...why not just call it 'John Carter & The Princess of Mars'?? Pretty much hits every note methinks...but then again, it does come off somewhat Indiana-Jonesy...
-
Sky Captain was terrible. Murky visuals, boring script, unexciting action scenes, and a total lack of understanding of the genre it was working in. This movie is way better off with a talented guy like Favreau, who also has a sense of humor and has a writer's mind. My other question is why do people come onto this site and shit all over Harry Knowles? I discovered AICN in 1999 and have been totally hooked ever since. This site rocks. Harry rocks, too. Just because you're at your computer 1000's of miles away from the dude, doesn't mean it don't kinda hurt if you shit all over him. Granted, I've shit all over people on this site a few times myself -- and have felt pretty bad about it later. But lay off Harry. If it weren't for AICN, where would you be posting right now? A-O-fucking-L?
-
How's that going?
-
...I heard there was gonna be a Flash Gordon remake.
-
So that is why he left the ER? He followed that MI:2 piece of ass to Mars?
http://ipodnanos.freepay.com/?r=22765275 -
Stephen Sommers was doing Flash Gordon.
-
Hollywood has had the knives out for harry for sometime. Dont ask me, ask the female producer beau st clair, she was on a doc about inside filmmaking which was shown on the BBC/RTE. Her hatred and Contempt for harry and his ilk were not held back. This had something to do with ROllerball but of course harry wasnt the only one who demolished that film.
Hollywood know has harry where they want him. For the first film they will give an easy enough time. But after giving up this site, which he will be put under pressure to do. Anyone who doubts what I say: think about this, When was the last time Harry did a review for this website this site was supposed to be about news. Where has that gone?
This site will be ten years old next year. Even empireonline has revamped itsite since then as has darkhorizons and cinecon has revamped this site. One of these days Harry will be forced to choose between This site and A producing career. Come on Harry time to choose.
-
That is: going nowhere anytime soon.
-
Alphaville had been developing this for awhile before Harry was offically brought on board I think. I'm not totally sure about the history of it. Alpha is handling the tehnical end of things I would guees (not meaning to diminish Harry's role or anything, he might very well play a much bigger part in the process than I know). And I think Harry is... like it or not... our voice on this thing. Hollywood is fucking clueless. Harry is the guy that expains why hiring Paul W.S. Anderson as director is a bad idea, and why hiring Frank Frazetta for the art-department is a good idea. Cuz they really don't fucking know. But at least now they know they don't know. After the success of LOTR Hollywood realizes that it pays to listen to the geeks. That's why they send everybody to Comic-con now. They're tired of dumping 100 million on genre projects, only to sit back and watch helplessly as the target-audience rips it to shreads on the internet two months before release. "What's wrong with Anderson?" the boneheads muse. They really have no idea. They don't get why SPIDERMAN hits the jackpot, and FANTASTIC FOUR doesn't. They don't know. But they do know that geek-opinion can make or break they're movies. And because they're so out of touch, they decided to just hire the King himself, rather than waste time doing half-assed research trying to figure out what the do's and don'ts were,they went right to the source this time. So when they say "John Carter=Leo", Harry says "uh...no." And he actually understands why that would be stupid...and just like that, he saves the movie from certain ridicule by the likes of...well, him. And that's why he's an important piece of the puzzle, and hence, co-producer. He has a say in what is actually PRODUCED. He is definitely a key player in this thing, but generally speaking, producer credits can be bullshit in some cases...like a movie that has like, six "co-producers" You can usually bet that at least one of them is sombody's fuckn' wife or some shit.
-
Oct 07, 2005 11:54:57 PM CDT
"Hollywood realizes that it pays to listen to the geeks" Tell t
by tall_boy
Just sayin'
-
Oct 08, 2005 7:14:02 AM CDT
Executive Producer is basically just a glory title...
by leiadown&fuckher
They hand those things out to anyone who had any part in getting the initial idea off the ground, or who did something along the way but nothing that warrants any of type of credit, or to a star who wants the illusion of being in on the business end of things, or just the ego of a secondary credit. The actual stand alone title Producer is given to the folks who truly do the hard hards, make sure financing is secured, things are on time and budget is under controlled and everyone is doing their job the way they are supposed to be and such. the various other sub-producer titles (executive, associate etc) are just for those who either added a little something at some point and needed to be credited for it, or just glory credits for the various hangers on, big name suits and name 'talent'.
-
a very small subset of people who proudly refer to themselves as geeks? With all the shit I've been reading on this site and the internet, you would think Browncoats numbered in the millions, but we now know that ain't true. This forgotten book doesn't have the built in audience that you nerds think it does, it will fail like all these niche movies. This isn't 1977, there's a lot more entertainment choice out there, no small interesting sci fi film really has a chance anymore. To call films like Fantastic Four failures is ignorant at best. Those of you that actually saw it in a theater, and didn't just download it, did you notice that the kids were happy? Going apeshit running around after the movie? Who cares what a bunch of aging dorks think about the exploits of their favorite costumed hero, get the fuck over it. Another thing, what is Viggo Mortensen like the new geek standard for manhood? His name pops up now with every casting possibility it seems like. Here's some trivia: He made movies before Lord of the Rings. Really, no shit. Look it up. Sky Captain fucking rules.
-
All of you dissing Harry's job on this film would saw off your leg to have the same thing and you know it. Dude's in the room. Where are you?
Readers Talkback
User Login
Top Talkbacks
- Whitney Houston 1963 - 2012 -- 209 total posts 207 posts
- AVENGERS enemy revealed as pink boardgame pieces... You might suffer some form of elation... SPOILERS!!! -- 160 total posts 97 posts
- There's a STAR TREK video game that is going to lead into JJ's STAR TREK 2 apparently... -- 144 total posts 77 posts
- Here's The Red Band Trailer For Drafthouse Films' THE FP! -- 68 total posts 68 posts
- New JUDGE DREDD post production footage pops up -- 67 total posts 67 posts
- Does ‘SNL’ Rhyme With ‘Deschanel’?? Learn Which SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE Vet Hosts After Sexy Zooey!! -- 64 total posts 60 posts
- To Commemorate The 3D Release Of STAR WARS EPISODE I: THE PHANTOM MENACE, George Lucas Wants You To Know...Greedo Shoots First!! -- 480 total posts 55 posts
- HANNA's Saoirse Ronan to boss around seven little people -- 53 total posts 50 posts
- Friday Brings SWEEPS DAY NINE!! Gab Here About Tonight’s FRINGE!! Plus Einstein on TIM, Wiig On PORTLANDIA, MAHER, CLONE, GIFTED, GRIMM, SPARTACUS, SUPERNATURAL, GOLD RUSH And More!! -- 118 total posts 32 posts
- SPACE 2099!! -- 182 total posts 27 posts