frankthedm
First Post
While I have zero interest in this particular movie, I hope it does well, so there is a chance of Der Ring des Nibelungen saga getting made into motion pictures.
Last edited:
Les Miserables
- Thread starter Umbran
- Start date
delericho
Legend
Does the book have an epic sword fight or gunfoo scene cause I think that might save it from tanking (since people being shot after bloviating, singing, or running is pretty lame).
It won't tank. There have been a number of very successful adaptations of musicals to the movies recently (notably "Mamma Mia" and "Phantom of the Opera"), and Les Mis is huge in musical terms.
As for epic sword fights and gunfoo... well...
The book has a depiction of Waterloo (admittedly, in flashback), and an attempted revolution* (battles at the barricades, running battles in the streets, Paris burning). It also has Jean Valjean's struggle with Javert* (grappling; no swords or guns), his escape from captivity, and a struggle with the Thenardiers' thugs* (knives). Plus the aforementioned flight through the Paris sewers* - in some ways, all they'd need to do is add a dragon and they've got a better D&D movie than either of the actual ones!
(Of these, the four marked * also appear in the musical to some extent; I'd expect to see them in the film. I daresay the dragon could be digitally added later.)
But, in truth, it's mostly a story of Jean Valjean's struggle for redemption, and the love story between Marius and Cosette (and poor Eponine's love for Marius).
Basically, if you had to go to the theatre to see a musical, then this is probably the one to go and see. Well, other than "Spamalot". And "Camelot". And "We Will Rock You". (And, film-wise, nothing will ever beat "South Park" of course.)
Relique du Madde
Adventurer
(Turning the Dungeons and Dragons movie into a Punch and Judy shadow puppet show featuring music from the Wiggles with a George Lucas script would have made both movies better then the actual ones we got.
However since you are saying this is as worthy of a show as Spamalot, I gues I might try to watch it on HBO [Movie theaters are to expensive].).
However since you are saying this is as worthy of a show as Spamalot, I gues I might try to watch it on HBO [Movie theaters are to expensive].).
Actually, my understanding is that that one was published in five volumes, rather than as a serial. Of course, my source for that is wikipedia, so take with a pinch of salt...
No, I'll stand corrected. I read and researched it decades ago, and I don't claim my memory of it is perfect at this point.
Possibly. But I'd guess it'd be that the fantasy/action movie fans are generally going to be generally less tolerant of long runtimes, rather than more.
Not having a copy of the text handy, my searching cannot find a canonical statement of her age. I'm not sure one is given, and we could fiddle around with interpreting lines forever, as "childhood" is likely vague and metaphorical.
Patti LuPone was 36 when she played the part in the original London cast. I think a 30-year old can play the part now.
Yes, but stage is not film - on stage the audience never gets a close up. A full period jacket makes most men seem barrel-chested, but that won't carry on film.
The story behind it, sure. The Ring Cycle's a fine set of stories. But the opera? No thanks.
Which resonates with my point- there really hasn't been anyone in the role on stage who was a good physical match for the character as written.
Wagner's Ring cycle could be cool.
Overall, though, I want good films to continue doing well in this country so that I won't have to see things like ads for the relaunch of the Thomas Harris books (Red Dragon, Silence of the Lambs, etc.) in 10-15 years, with Pauly Shore cast as Hannibal Lecter.
My point is that you can get away with that on stage a lot better than you can in film.
Mustrum_Ridcully
Legend
Actually... I don't think it matters that much that actor and book character are that similar. It's cool when they are, maybe, but it's not that relevant, unless there is a big plot point to it and it's a very defining characteristic that possibly affects the plot.
On screen, you can pad a suit & use CGI- see the Batman movies.
Well, there is a point of plot where it is relevant, a turning point in the story, actually. You could rewrite it to hinge on something else, of course, but that's always risky for turning point moments.
For a movie that IMDB lists as still filming, and that releases *this year*, I'm not expecting a whole lot of post-production CGI.
In any case, yes, it can be done. And maybe Jackman can pull it off without artifice - the man can act. I just note it is just harder on screen than on stage.
