what kind of movie themes do you wish to see more?

[Demi-fiend]

i'm seriously wondering what went wrong with hobbit and how it felt so differnt from what LOTR delivers, i mean it's the same director..

That's what I'm saying.

There's more at play to this than anyone knows. You need a certain... magic (pardon the pun) to make fantasy films work on a deeper level.

 

[WolfOD64]

Well, the reason for that is because they're so hard to produce... at least ones that are as well-made as LotR.

The thing is, a good fantasy film doesn't have to be identical to the production heights and weapons-grade budget Lord of the Rings had. Fantasy films from the era of Conan and Excalibur were expensive at the time, but all they really need now are good costumes and actors...not legions of CGI goblins, or painstakingly-crafted locales.

Lots of classic fantasy films have been made on small budgets, and big executives acting like every film needs to be made and financially gain as much as LOTR is like demanding every supehero game be identical to the Arkham games.

Because apparently, there WERE no good superhero games before then.

That's what I'm saying.

There's more at play to this than anyone knows. You need a certain... magic (pardon the pun) to make fantasy films work on a deeper level.

There is a magic. It's called good writing and interesting lore.

That's what make otherwise mindless, budget action-flicks like the Underworld franchise and keep them interesting (outside of that fourth bastard child, Awakening). Without the lore and characters behind it, it wouldn't be interesting...it'd be just another Matrix impersonator.

 

[absolitude]

That's what I'm saying.

There's more at play to this than anyone knows. You need a certain... magic (pardon the pun) to make fantasy films work on a deeper level.

yeah, this magic, what was it? black magic? light magic? the actings and visuals are much better than those from conan's age, but the impression is different, might nostalgia plays a part in this? cuz honestly i haven't watched again..

The thing is, a good fantasy film doesn't have to be identical to the production heights and weapons-grade budget Lord of the Rings had. Fantasy films from the era of Conan and Excalibur were expensive at the time, but all they really need now are good costumes and actors...not legions of CGI goblins, or painstakingly-crafted locales.

Lots of classic fantasy films have been made on small budgets, and big executives acting like every film needs to be made and financially gain as much as LOTR is like demanding every supehero game be identical to the Arkham games.

Because apparently, there WERE no good superhero games before then.


There is a magic. It's called good writing and interesting lore.

That's what make otherwise mindless, budget action-flicks like the Underworld franchise and keep them interesting (outside of that fourth bastard child, Awakening). Without the lore and characters behind it, it wouldn't be interesting...it'd be just another Matrix impersonator.

i guess you're right, CGI played a part in this.. and yeah, christopher lambert's beowulf and mark dacascos' brotherhood of the wolf --should they make the genre- much like pathfinder, was leaving impressions, and i don't it's high budget either


EDIT : that reminds me of highlander

 

[Demi-fiend]

Because apparently, there WERE no good superhero games before then.

You have to understand the mentality in that regard; there was GTA Spidey (Spider-Man 2) but other than that, these games were only good but not "Arkham-selling" popular.

Notice how I said "popular" and not "good" (because these earlier games were good enough on their own).

----

I didn't want to use this same argument again (on a new thread), but here goes: Beowulf may not have sold all that well, but it shouldn't have been marketed to reach a larger audience.

If more roto-scoped fantasy films were indie-developed and filmed at indie-fests, then they would fare a lot better, from my point of view.

What I'm saying is, it's fine to go small... but it needs to be sharper and sleeker if it does.

Believe it or not, I think Dark City is a good example of fantasy done just right when it came to late cult-classics.

Because it wasn't just fantasy; it was science-fantasy combined with film noir (and existentialism).

It basically had the Marvel formula of taking from different genres (instead of just one or two) before Marvel Films had even been an idea.

 

[absolitude]

You have to understand the mentality in that regard; there was GTA Spidey (Spider-Man 2) but other than that, these games were only good but not "Arkham-selling" popular.

Notice how I said "popular" and not "good" (because these earlier games were good enough on their own).

----

I didn't want to use this same argument again (on a new thread), but here goes: Beowulf may not have sold all that well, but it shouldn't have been marketed to reach a larger audience.

If more roto-scoped fantasy films were indie-developed and filmed at indie-fests, then they would fare a lot better, from my point of view.

What I'm saying is, it's fine to go small... but it needs to be sharper and sleeker if it does.

Believe it or not, I think Dark City is a good example of fantasy done just right when it came to late cult-classics.

Because it wasn't just fantasy; it was science-fantasy combined with film noir (and existentialism).

It basically had the Marvel formula of taking from different genres (instead of just one or two) before Marvel Films had even been an idea.

has a point here too.. :thumbsup:

 

[Shadow]

question, do you think pirate movies need to be funny? well i know it gotta have the funnies in some point, but pirates of the caribbean kinda blurred me on this.. and i don't remember a serious take on pirate movies or were there other than caribbean?

I don't think they need to be. I mean...I like POTC's humor and craziness, but I think pirates can work with just about any type of plot. Fantasy pirates. Horror pirates. Adventure pirates. Pirate romance. Pirate...detectives...um...? ...space pirates (though that's not really what I was talking about, but.... -shrugs-). I seem to recall the really old swashbuckler films were just about a bunch of dudes in flowy shirts finding treasure and stealing ships; nothing really humorous or grand in terms of plot. And I think they were somewhat popular in their time. Just gotta get an interesting premise. And decent actors. And have fun with it. =) Doesn't have to be humorous, just entertaining.

Idk, I just wanna see people blowing up ships and shooting pretty guns and finding lots of gold. Probably cuz I'd like to find lots of gold.

 

[Angel]

I like two things: fantasy and blowing crap up.

I do not like love interests (unless done EXCEPTIONALLY well) or "the funny one" or politics. Or the sort of film that plays to every possible angle so as not to alienate some sub-denomination no one has ever heard of.

So basically cross LOTR with something like Die Hard or the first Expendables and I'm a ridiculously happy bunny. Send a flaming Uurk-Hai into the middle of an airship and as it explodes, Terry Crews comes out and breakdances.

 

[V's patron]

Interacial romances beyond black and white and interreligious marriages.

 

[Innsmouth]

nah, no worries, this is a confusing world after all



there are some other that i'm not sure if it fits the genre, but some suggestions might come up when i googled machinist or jacob's ladder..

this kind of movies, often i'm only impressed with the actors and forgetting whose behind the screen.. btw, how bout moon and j-lo's cell, where do they fit in genre?

as far as I know moon is science fiction drama. If you mean the cell, it kinda fits there since its dry abstract. Hannibal TV also has lot of psychological horror elements. Though I thing closest was Shutter island and The ward (though this one sucked) There are of course some very old ones like Eraser Head

 

[absolitude]

I don't think they need to be. I mean...I like POTC's humor and craziness, but I think pirates can work with just about any type of plot. Fantasy pirates. Horror pirates. Adventure pirates. Pirate romance. Pirate...detectives...um...? ...space pirates (though that's not really what I was talking about, but.... -shrugs-). I seem to recall the really old swashbuckler films were just about a bunch of dudes in flowy shirts finding treasure and stealing ships; nothing really humorous or grand in terms of plot. And I think they were somewhat popular in their time. Just gotta get an interesting premise. And decent actors. And have fun with it. =) Doesn't have to be humorous, just entertaining.

Idk, I just wanna see people blowing up ships and shooting pretty guns and finding lots of gold. Probably cuz I'd like to find lots of gold.

it's just that most of the pirates that i could remember wether live-action or animated have more funnies than not.. kinda makes me think you need funnies for a pirate movies..

horror pirates and space pirates sounds nice, would be some fresh watch.. ghost ships, fogs, old london, ghost space ships, space fogs, space old london..

I like two things: fantasy and blowing crap up.

I do not like love interests (unless done EXCEPTIONALLY well) or "the funny one" or politics. Or the sort of film that plays to every possible angle so as not to alienate some sub-denomination no one has ever heard of.

So basically cross LOTR with something like Die Hard or the first Expendables and I'm a ridiculously happy bunny. Send a flaming Uurk-Hai into the middle of an airship and as it explodes, Terry Crews comes out and breakdances.

the fellowship of the yippiekaiye on steroids.. yeah, you'll never get this one-- wait, isn't it basically the expendables? on a side note, two citizens in the forum loves explosion..

on another note, did you know terry crews was addicted to porn and that he fought hard to get out of it? forgot where i've seen this, but just surprising..

Interacial romances beyond black and white and interreligious marriages.

hey z, were you having these?

as far as I know moon is science fiction drama. If you mean the cell, it kinda fits there since its dry abstract. Hannibal TV also has lot of psychological horror elements. Though I thing closest was Shutter island and The ward (though this one sucked) There are of course some very old ones like Eraser Head

yes, the cell, some visuals were very interesting and rare in movies, that alone makes it so cool.. and i need to get back to hannibal

 

[Shadow]

it's just that most of the pirates that i could remember wether live-action or animated have more funnies than not.. kinda makes me think you need funnies for a pirate movies..

horror pirates and space pirates sounds nice, would be some fresh watch.. ghost ships, fogs, old london, ghost space ships, space fogs, space old london..

Huh...good point...I wonder if people are worried that realistic pirates would be too dark? I dunno. It's odd.

All that sounds awesome and I would watch that in an instant. <3

 

[V's patron]

@absolitude yes but it just reflects the world we live in a bit more.

@Shadow you should try AC4 then.

 

[Shadow]

[USER=15134]@Shadow you should try AC4 then.[/USER]

I've played it. ^^ Ended up losing my save data due to a glitch, but I played a good amount. -liked it- Every once in a while I just go on and sail around and fight ships. ^^ Might eventually finish it one day.

 

[cheezMcNASTY]

like the cube or the divide or reedus' air? if it is, i'm loving this type of movies too, and yeah, i don't think we have much of them, if there are, they don't make it to the theatre most of the time

The cube is great. Don't know the other ones you mentioned.

Fight Club, Grand Budapest hotel, the Holy mountain (GREAT example of it), Old boy, serenity, memento, no country for old men, and American Beauty. Just to name a few.

I guess it comes down to if the plot line is visible. If I can predict the movie, I am bored. If the plot line is visible, I can predict the movie. VERY few movies get me to just enjoy and stop analyzing, Castaway On the Moon stands out as exceptional in that category. I also never watch movie trailers to that end.

Oh. And pleasantville. I'm not sure which category it falls under. Both?

 

[berto]

There's word of a Witcher movie on the horizon, or even a film based on Geralt's superior plagiarized predecessor, the Elric the White Wolf. Whatever happens, I want my fantasy films back.

You know, there is always Europe, China, Japan and Russia. I haven't seen all of them but I know they're out there and some of the ones I've seen were pretty good. The Shamer's Daughter, Tale of Tales, Nightwatch/Daywatch, The Book of Masters, Painted Skin, Snow Girl and The Dark Crystal, Re-cycle (Gwai wik), and so on. If you want true, old school European fantasy like Excalibur or DragonSlayer, sword and sorcery type movies, well, they're out there but they require some digging. Start with The Shamer's Daughter, I've heard very good things but I rather support movies so I'm waiting for a US release.

 

[WolfOD64]

You know, there is always Europe, China, Japan and Russia. I haven't seen all of them but I know they're out there and some of the ones I've seen were pretty good. The Shamer's Daughter, Tale of Tales, Nightwatch/Daywatch, The Book of Masters, Painted Skin, Snow Girl and The Dark Crystal, Re-cycle (Gwai wik), and so on. If you want true, old school European fantasy like Excalibur or DragonSlayer, sword and sorcery type movies, well, they're out there but they require some digging. Start with The Shamer's Daughter, I've heard very good things but I rather support movies so I'm waiting for a US release.

I've heard about a number of good overseas fantasy movies, but haven't heard of most of them due to language and regional barriers. Thanks for alerting me for a few, though. I'll definitely check those out

 

[berto]

I've heard about a number of good overseas fantasy movies, but haven't heard of most of them due to language and regional barriers. Thanks for alerting me for a few, though. I'll definitely check those out

It's one of the benefits of keeping an ear to the ground on all... Well, most film circuits. It's a commitment but sometimes the results are the finest films the world has to offer, but you do have to sit through a lot of crap.

 

[Foxtrot94]

or even a film based on Geralt's superior plagiarized predecessor, the Elric the White Wolf.

You're grossly overstating the case by calling it plagiarism. Plagiarism is when you take somebody else's work, copy it, and the claim it's yours. That's absolutely not the case, as Sapkowski did say that Elric was indeed an inspiration for Geralt, and it's not that surprising, considering it was a very influential character in fantasy.

And by the way, the two are not even nearly the same character, as there definitely are differences. From what I've gathered:

- Elric is an emperor, politically powerful individual, whereas Geralt is as low class as it can get without being a beggar, an outcast everyone throws manure at and disrespects.

- Elric is a weakling by nature, forced to use herbs and cocktails for maintaining himself, whereas Geralt is an incredibly fit guy on his own right, and merely uses alchemy to enhance his abilities.

- Elric is an accomplished mage, and even uses summons in battle, whereas Geralt, like any other witcher, just uses very basic magic for quick combat aid, that every actual mage makes fun of.

- Elric wields a powerful blade to which he's bound, and he can enhance his strength by absorbing the souls of those he kills. Geralt's swords are as ordinary as they can get. The image of Geralt possessing a shiny powerful sword with magical runes and all that is something that the games, Witcher 3 especially, created. For obvious reasons.

- Elric embodies the concept of the "cursed hero", so to speak, Geralt is more often than not, a pawn in the hands of individuals far more powerful than he is, I'd say Ciri is way more similar to Elric, in this sense, than Geralt's ever been.

Long story short, Elric is just an inspiration for Geralt (that Sapkowski dubbed White Wolf as an homage to one of his favorite fantasy authors' creation), and in no way, shape or form can it be defined plagiarism. The term implies a straight up literary theft, followed by a lie afterwards to claim it's your own work.

Both are incredible characters in their own way and both have brought something to the fantasy genre in their own way.



EDIT:
Okay uhm... I meant this to be a clarification but it will most likely spawn a long series of responses that will derail the thread so Wolf, I'm creating a PM discussion about it.

EDIT #2:
Looks like you'll have to create the PM, cause I can't find the appropriate link on your profile.

 

[WolfOD64]

You're grossly overstating the case by calling it plagiarism. Plagiarism is when you take somebody else's work, copy it, and the claim it's yours. That's absolutely not the case, as Sapkowski did say that Elric was indeed an inspiration for Geralt, and it's not that surprising, considering it was a very influential character in fantasy.

And by the way, the two are not even nearly the same character, as there definitely are differences. From what I've gathered:

- Elric is an emperor, politically powerful individual, whereas Geralt is as low class as it can get without being a beggar, an outcast everyone throws manure at and disrespects.

- Elric is a weakling by nature, forced to use herbs and cocktails for maintaining himself, whereas Geralt is an incredibly fit guy on his own right, and merely uses alchemy to enhance his abilities.

- Elric is an accomplished mage, and even uses summons in battle, whereas Geralt, like any other witcher, just uses very basic magic for quick combat aid, that every actual mage makes fun of.

- Elric wields a powerful blade to which he's bound, and he can enhance his strength by absorbing the souls of those he kills. Geralt's swords are as ordinary as they can get. The image of Geralt possessing a shiny powerful sword with magical runes and all that is something that the games, Witcher 3 especially, created. For obvious reasons.

- Elric embodies the concept of the "cursed hero", so to speak, Geralt is more often than not, a pawn in the hands of individuals far more powerful than he is, I'd say Ciri is way more similar to Elric, in this sense, than Geralt's ever been.

Long story short, Elric is just an inspiration for Geralt (that Sapkowski dubbed White Wolf as an homage to one of his favorite fantasy authors' creation), and in no way, shape or form can it be defined plagiarism. The term implies a straight up literary theft, followed by a lie afterwards to claim it's your own work.

Both are incredible characters in their own way and both have brought something to the fantasy genre in their own way.



EDIT:
Okay uhm... I meant this to be a clarification but it will most likely spawn a long series of responses that will derail the thread so Wolf, I'm creating a PM discussion about it.

EDIT #2:
Looks like you'll have to create the PM, cause I can't find the appropriate link on your profile.

Way to side-track the original topic.

There's really nothing to PM about. Plenty of people have identified Sapkowski's work as plagiarism, even Michael Moorcock himself. From his appearance and reputation as a "spellsword", to his White Wolf alias, to finding himself in the same political and narrative situations, even having something literally called "Witcher Sight", he really comes off as transparent as a Deviantartist's "ORIGINAL CHARACTER: DO NOT STEAL". It doesn't matter to me, really, since the Witcher games are mostly CD Projeskt's writing material, and Sapkowski literally doesn't acknowledge them. That's why I can still play and enjoy them.

But back to the topic at hand, another genre I think is visited rather infrequently is the Spaghetti Western genre. True, we have Tarantino's Django Unchained and its rather lackluster follow-up The Hateful Eight, but outside of them, the Western genre has been practically dead. The only films in the genre to come before the aforementioned Tarantino movies were bombs like Jonah Hex and Cowboys & Aliens.

Maybe the upcoming Magnificent Seven remake will rejuvenate things:

 

[absolitude]

awww yesss, ethan hawke back in big movie.. and who's the chick? beautiful eyes..