If . . . Swords Against Death

[Warrior Poet]

Thanks for all the interesting input, everyone! The more I think about the possibility for these movies, the more I think a mini-series might not be a bad idea (I've been watching lots of Band of Brothers lately, so that may have something to do with it, and obviously, I wish the Fafhrd/Grey Mouser series would be as well-made as Band of Brothers). Of course, it's so rare for a mini-series to be well made and gain any kind of interest.

Something someone mentioned, too, in one of the other threads (can't remember the thread or the poster; maybe the "Where Are All the Fantasy Films" thread?) is that there may be a perception among many U.S./North American audiences that fantasy films really means for kids (although I would never say a Sword and Sorcery movie like Milius' Conan was for kids) and so has to be somewhat disguised. Maybe there just wouldn't be enough draw.

But I'd watch it!

barsoomcore, the Swords of Lankhmar idea sounds like a great start. I think the Fafhrd/Grey Mouser films would, in a way, just have to be really wild (not hallucinatory, but just very visually interesting; not even stylized, necessarily, but all the elements you mentioned like the rat city and the ghouls and so on would have to really catch the eye) as a way to really show viewers what an imaginative and fun and fantastic world Nehwon is, inhabited by some really cool and strange and eldritch beings (I keep coming back to Sheelba and Ningauble on this one).

Might be the kind of thing to make people scratch their heads and say, "Ya mean there's more to fantasy books than just Tolkien?" (nothing against the professor, I love his work, but I'd love to see a bigger diversity of stuff). It doesn't have to be poorly acted, it doesn't have to have cheesy effects. Just tell the stories. There's enough humor built into them already for that to shine through, and enough treachery, action, strangeness, beauty, conflict, magic, and bawdiness to make for a really awesome set of films.

Thanks again for all the input. Maybe someday. Maybe someday.

Warrior Poet

 

[Klaus]

Hey, as long as we're imagining things, I'm imagining Mike Mignola as Production Designer.

His Death is just cool!

 

[sniffles]

Would Tyler Mane make a good Fafhrd?

Euurgh!! Tyler Mane would make a good-looking Fafhrd, but can we please have someone who can act?

That's the problem - do you want people who look the part, or people who can act the part? The two are sadly so often mutually exclusive.

Definitely no narration by an aged version of a character. Movies with voiceovers uniformly suck. Remember 'Dune'?

Actually, these stories would be really good as anime. It would be wonderful if some anime studio would pick them up. Or maybe the folks who are doing "Avatar - the Last Air Bender" for Nickelodeon - they seem to have found a good balance between Western style animation and anime.

 

[Warrior Poet]

Euurgh!! Tyler Mane would make a good-looking Fafhrd, but can we please have someone who can act?

That's the problem - do you want people who look the part, or people who can act the part? The two are sadly so often mutually exclusive.

That's why I'm always suggesting get some unknown actors. I think those qualities may be often mutually exclusive in Hollywood as it is generally presented to us, but I really think there have got to be unknown or struggling actors out there that look the part and can act the part as well, if they could just be found.

There are so many risks: Rackhir in the remake thread mentioned that execs are always on the verge of getting axed for a bad film, and if no one showed up because no one knew the names, then they won't take that risk because they won't risk their jobs. I don't know if that's true or not as I really don't know anything about the film industry (I'm also naive in that I believe if people hear that a movie about Leiber's Nehwon was being released they'd show up in droves, wait in line for tickets, buy the Burger King commemorative glass, the whole shebang. I also believe in Santy Claus and the Toof Fairy). Another risk is for the actors. Why take this part? It might break me out, or it might forever typecast me as the agile fighter or the barbarian fighter or the faceless wizard who lives in a chicken leg hut.

Definitely no narration by an aged version of a character. Movies with voiceovers uniformly suck. Remember 'Dune'?

I disagree, but can't think of any films to back up my disagreement right now, which is lame. If I think of one, I'll return to make a case.

Incidentally, I think one reason Dune the film didn't live up to Dune the text is that, 1) it's a helluva text to live up to, and 2) Lynch's original version apparently got hacked pretty good by the studios, and wasn't the film he had really hoped for. They were probably worried it wouldn't be any good, and wouldn't make bank, even though that's a film that I think definitely would put butts in seats on the title alone.

Warrior Poet

 

[Warrior Poet]

Hey, as long as we're imagining things, I'm imagining Mike Mignola as Production Designer!

The man does have a beautiful sense of artistic design. I'm not exactly seeing his influence for these films in my head, but I'm going to think on it a while and see if it doesn't find someplace it would like to sink in and take root.

Warrior Poet

 

[Klaus]

The man does have a beautiful sense of artistic design. I'm not exactly seeing his influence for these films in my head, but I'm going to think on it a while and see if it doesn't find someplace it would like to sink in and take root.

Warrior Poet

Wrap your head around these babies:

http://www.lankhmar.demon.co.uk/fgm.htm

4-issue mini-series from Epic Comics. Adapts "Ill Met in Lankhmar", "The Circle Curse", "The Howling Tower", "The Price of Pain Ease", "Bazaar of the Bizarre", "Lean Times in Lankhmar" and "When the Sea King's Away". Script: Howard Chaykin; Art: Mike Mignola & Al Williamson.

My most treasure comics. "Ill Met in Lankhmar" would be a perfect starting movie, followed by a mix of "The Circle Curse" and "The Price of Pain Ease".

 

[Warrior Poet]

Wrap your head around these babies:

http://www.lankhmar.demon.co.uk/fgm.htm

Oh.

Oh, my.

I didn't even know those existed. Oh, boy, this . . . this could be a beautiful thing . . . .

Wow.

Warrior Poet

 

[barsoomcore]

Those ARE lovely.

 

[sniffles]

Wrap your head around these babies:

http://www.lankhmar.demon.co.uk/fgm.htm

4-issue mini-series from Epic Comics. Adapts "Ill Met in Lankhmar", "The Circle Curse", "The Howling Tower", "The Price of Pain Ease", "Bazaar of the Bizarre", "Lean Times in Lankhmar" and "When the Sea King's Away". Script: Howard Chaykin; Art: Mike Mignola & Al Williamson.

My most treasure comics. "Ill Met in Lankhmar" would be a perfect starting movie, followed by a mix of "The Circle Curse" and "The Price of Pain Ease".

Awesome!! Thanks, Claudio. But why not -you- as the designer, eh?
I can see it now: Claudio's conceptions of Fafhrd and the Grey Mouser, coming soon!

 

[Klaus]

Sniffles -> Now you're just getting me worked up! STOP!!!!!



I found all four issues in a discount bin at a con over 10 years ago. At times I just break them out to oogle at the storytelling and set designs by Mignola. It always makes me want to run a city-based campaign like that.