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Old Man Harpell
Senior Scribe
USA
497 Posts |
 Posted - 01 Jun 2012 : 08:27:05
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quote:
Originally posted by Seravin
If it was a success, go for a franchise of FR movies before moving on to Halfling's Gem or Streams of Silver; I'd go with a Knights of Myth Drannor or Seven Sisters movie then back to Drizzt prequel ala Batman movies with Homeland. Just my 2cents.
I like this idea. It would pretty much have to be animated or CGI, in my opinion.
Despite that, I voted Lord of the Rings.
- OMH |
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Thauranil
Master of Realmslore
India
1591 Posts |
Posted - 01 Jun 2012 : 16:26:26
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LOTR hands down. Its the best possible role model for any fantasy series. In terms of quality, recognition and revenue.
if the realms movie is half as good it will create millions of new fans interested in the fantasy genre, just as the LOTR movies did.
I should know, I am one of them and am eagerly awaiting the Hobbit movie. |
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Lord Karsus
Great Reader
USA
3745 Posts |
Posted - 01 Jun 2012 : 20:59:00
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quote:
Originally posted by Dennis
Which is fine, too. Except that pencil and ink type HARDLY makes it to the big screen. Like the recent Marvel and DC animated films, they're usually good for Direct-to-DVD only.
-Which is how it should be. Last time WotC ventured to the cinema, they had an abject disaster. Realistically, if a Forgotten Realms movie was made, there isn't going to be a $X00 million dollar budget. Animation keeps costs down (and let's you do all kind of things you can't do without big budget special effects), and production on a Direct-to-DVD level is fine, because D&D is a niche hobby. If they eyes get too big for the stomach, and financial goals are not met as a result, that doesn't help the company or the fans. |
(A Tri-Partite Arcanist Who Has Forgotten More Than Most Will Ever Know)
Elves of Faerūn
Vol I- The Elves of Faerūn
Vol. III- Spells of the Elves
Vol. VI- Mechanical Compendium |
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BEAST
Master of Realmslore
USA
1714 Posts |
Posted - 02 Jun 2012 : 05:47:31
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quote:
Originally posted by Seravin
Start with a LOTR style Icewind Dale as a one off. I've already directed the opening scene of Crenshinibon's creation, the fight between Errtu and the Deva, and it's landing in Faerun pre-credits rolling in my head (with narration by someone with a cool voice, James Earl Jones maybe)
Nah. I say show it pretty much like Bob wrote it.
The Crystal Shard
Errtu bickers with his toadie demon about the missing Shard, and the toadie tells us what happened, but we never actually see it. If it is seen at all, it's only a brief visual with the toadie doing a voiceover narration. Errtu definitely needs to end that particular convo with a bone-crunching snap of his jaws.
Cut to the Shard flying through the air, twirling end over end. As the credits roll, have Drizzt do key voiceover excerpts from his Drizzt Diaries, introducing the setting of Icewind Dale. Show an overhead view of the Spine of the World Mountains, with the Dale in the background. Drop the Shard down into the snow of the mountain range with a satisfying plop. Flare the crystal, and melt the snow around it. Pan over to the wizards' caravan traveling through the nearby mountain pass.
Later, for Drizzt's grand entrance, we see a brown-cloaked figure running across the brown tundra floor, kicking up a small dust cloud. Slowly zoom in to the shadowy area beneath this figure's cowl, the face completely hidden from view. Overlay brief sound clips from dramatic moments in his past, revealing that this is a very troubled soul with baggage. Then overlay the ambushing tundra yetis' roars, rocking us all out of our collective calm. Two purple points of light flash amidst the shadow. Show the figure skid to a halt, its cowl shifting, revealing a shocked black-skinned face, wavy stark white hair, and lavender eyes. Cut to Regis lounging by the lake.
I actually have envisioned a running theme of magic stones in all the opening sequences:
Streams of Silver
In black and white, show the disastrous invasion of Mithral Hall by Shimmergloom the dragon and his minions, with dwarves running amok. As the sounds of battle and largescale death roll, pan to the wall of the cave, where we see a sheet of cooled, rippling silvery metal running up and down. Follow that mithral vein upward, leaving the sounds of carnage behind. As credits roll, voiceover pertinent Drizzt Diary excerpts on the personality of King Bruenor, and the significance of Mithral Hall. Transition into the sounds of running water. Transition into color, as we see the mithral stream become a water stream. Pan over to the male Companions of the Hall hiking past a small river, on the beginning of their quest.
The Halfling's Gem
Drizzt and Wulfgar meet with Malchor Harpell at the Twilight Tower, with Drizzt picking up his scimitar Twinkle. Cut to the next sunrise, where they mount up on their horses. Watch the Tower fade away. The heroes briefly discuss the evil assassin who has abducted their halfling friend, all over a gem. They then ride away, with the camera fixed on a view of the rising reddish sun partially concealed behind the branches of a nearby tree. As credits roll, voiceover Drizzt Diary excerpts on the feud between Drizzt and Artemis Entreri. Blur and distort the reddish image. Zoom out to reveal the ruby pendant, spinning at the end of its golden chain, hanging from the hand of Entreri, as he taunts his halfling prisoner.
quote:
If it was a success, go for a franchise of FR movies before moving on to Halfling's Gem or Streams of Silver; I'd go with a Knights of Myth Drannor or Seven Sisters movie then back to Drizzt prequel ala Batman movies with Homeland. Just my 2cents.
Bah. I say do all three Drizzt stories in a row. They're a continuous tale on paper, and should be on film, too. Like I showed there with my vision of the opening sequences, they should be shown to be closely related by imagery and themes.
I don't know if movie trilogies should ever be filmed simultaneously like the latter 2 Back to the Future flicks or TLOTR. That seemed to make for some wicked logistical headaches. But if it's feasible, then it would still be better than interrupting the flow by detouring down lots of different paths.
Don't water down the brand, or overwhelm the casual viewer.
Rather than mixing up the release of movies from different character casts and storylines, I'd say to feature a blurb about the Forgotten Realms, with an iconic stylized image, in the opening and closing credits. Invite viewers to learn more about the setting beyond Drizzt. |
"'You don't know my history,' he said dryly."
--Drizzt Do'Urden (The Pirate King, Part 1: Chapter 2)
<"Comprehensive Chronology of R.A. Salvatore Forgotten Realms Works"> |
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BEAST
Master of Realmslore
USA
1714 Posts |
Posted - 02 Jun 2012 : 06:00:36
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quote:
Originally posted by Entromancer
I've been kicking around how Drizzt could be done for quite sometime. The things is, the series has no real ending to it. There's also a lot of material out there. Most franchises peak at their third film, Potter being the exception. Even then, that had an ending.
I don't think it would be all that difficult to impose a great ending on Drizzt movies. At the end of The Halfling's Gem, Drizzt sits atop a cliff overlooking Mithral Hall and Settlestone, pondering how far he has come, and the meaning of friends and family, before he goes down to actually enter the Hall and meet up with everybody again. Now, I think that that mountainttop scene would make the ideal end for the movie. Yes, you lose the funny cliffhanger which sets us up for The Legacy. But you use a scene from the book in a meaningful way to draw the films to a close.
quote:
These are the changes I'd make to add a bit of meat to the Icewind Dale trilogy. [...] There's so much in the Realms that could really hook the "general audience."
I think you suggest far too many changes to the story from the books. Much of those scenes were only briefly discussed in passing in the books, because Bob didn't have time to delve any more deeply into them, and he had to focus on the scenes that he felt were more important to the "present". The movies would have even less time to tell their tales, which means there would be no room for adding in dramatizations of all those extra scenes that you mentioned, unless you shortchanged those scenes that Bob himself focused on in the books. And that's probably not a good idea. |
"'You don't know my history,' he said dryly."
--Drizzt Do'Urden (The Pirate King, Part 1: Chapter 2)
<"Comprehensive Chronology of R.A. Salvatore Forgotten Realms Works"> |
Edited by - BEAST on 02 Jun 2012 06:06:03 |
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Jorkens
Great Reader
Norway
2950 Posts |
Posted - 02 Jun 2012 : 09:23:45
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| I must say that I hope that they never make a movie; but if they do an animated movie would be my preference. But maybe Azure bonds could work. If an original story was used (at least to a degree suggested by Ed) I think it should include cameos from various known characters, the setting is not special enough to really give it an individual feel if all new characters are used. |
No Canon, more stories, more Realms. |
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Thauranil
Master of Realmslore
India
1591 Posts |
Posted - 11 Jun 2012 : 12:52:14
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| A Drizzt movie would be best in my opinion, he is the most iconic character of the realms and someone newbies could easily understand and relate to. |
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MrsDrasek
Acolyte
26 Posts |
Posted - 16 Jun 2012 : 01:27:05
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I've often wondered over the years why they haven't made a movie.
I would prefer live not animated and much like LOTR. (What comes to mind is a women sitting with her husband when I saw this in the theater saying "this was a book?" LOTR's was a epic movie and flawless in every way a movie can be.
I think maybe with FR is a double sided coin, when your mass marketing to people who don't get it. You have die hard fans that may not like changes that have to be made in order to appease the masses. (things always translate differently from book to film) Then you have the masses who won't get it, if they don't know much about it. I have seen many books turned into movies and if you have read the book prior, you got it. The ones who didn't were wondering what?
I would love to see the realms made into a movie, a 3 part would be awesome too. I guess if it would have to be Drizzt whatever... but there are so many other great stories out there.
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Part Well...Regret Nothing |
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Dennis
Great Reader
9933 Posts |
Posted - 18 Jun 2012 : 04:36:20
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Would you all prefer the films to be stand-alone or a series?
Personally, I'd like to see a trilogy first. |
Every beginning has an end. |
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BEAST
Master of Realmslore
USA
1714 Posts |
Posted - 18 Jun 2012 : 19:09:11
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"The Icewind Dale Trilogy", first. Then "The Dark Elf Trilogy". Go the hexilogy route, Lucas-style.
I would just call them "Dark Elf" movies at first, without sequencing numbers:
- Dark Elf: The Crystal Shard, or maybe just Dark Elf: The Shard
- Dark Elf: Streams of Silver
- Dark Elf: The Halfling's Gem, or maybe just Dark Elf: The Gem
Then, if those did well enough that there was a demand for Drizzt's backstory, just as with the original novels, I'd go back and do the origins trilogy with sequencing numbers, and re-release (on DVD, Blu-ray, etc.) the original trilogy with sequencing numbers too:
- Dark Elf I: Homeland
- Dark Elf II: Exile
- Dark Elf III: Sojourn
- Dark Elf IV: The Crystal Shard
- Dark Elf V: Streams of Silver
- Dark Elf VI: The Halfling's Gem
Yes, Lucas already did it before, so this doesn't sound original. It isn't.
But whereas Lucas was making it up as he went along, Bob was specifically asked to go back and do an origins tale with the books. He did this because there was enough intrigue about Drizzt that readers wanted more. And I'd like the movies to try to duplicate that as much as possible.
Telling everything in proper chronological order kinda loses some of the magic of that gradual reveal, methinks. |
"'You don't know my history,' he said dryly."
--Drizzt Do'Urden (The Pirate King, Part 1: Chapter 2)
<"Comprehensive Chronology of R.A. Salvatore Forgotten Realms Works"> |
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Thauranil
Master of Realmslore
India
1591 Posts |
Posted - 19 Jun 2012 : 09:07:16
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| Well you cant argue with the success of Stars Wars so this does seem like a good route for them to follow, but the prequels will be heavily dependent on the financial success of the first trilogy. People today are much more accepting of fantasy in movies than before, thanks mostly to LOTR but tastes change so if they are ever going to make a realms movie they had better get on with it. |
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Quale
Master of Realmslore
1757 Posts |
Posted - 19 Jun 2012 : 10:46:28
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| Better to spend money on some game, movies are too short. |
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Therise
Master of Realmslore
1272 Posts |
Posted - 19 Jun 2012 : 17:28:19
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quote:
Originally posted by Quale
Better to spend money on some game, movies are too short.
I agree, though I'd prefer to see a new standalone game rather than an addition to (or new) MMO. I find D&D Online to be quite lacking.
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Female, 40-year DM of a homebrew-evolved 1E Realms, including a few added tidbits of 2E and 3E lore; played originally in AD&D, then in Rolemaster. Be a DM for your kids and grandkids, gaming is excellent for families! |
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The Sage
Procrastinator Most High
Australia
31796 Posts |
Posted - 20 Jun 2012 : 01:54:31
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quote:
Originally posted by Therise
quote:
Originally posted by Quale
Better to spend money on some game, movies are too short.
I agree, though I'd prefer to see a new standalone game rather than an addition to (or new) MMO. I find D&D Online to be quite lacking.
Agreed, as well.
I know and appreciate the fact that most modern games, nowadays, will require an online and/or multiplayer component... but I'm growing tired of the reality that most advertised games that I might actually like, are being produced/promoted through their online/multiplayer features first... with the single-player mode/campaign being referenced as a distinct secondary feature. And, often, appearing as a secondary development as well, in favour of the multiplayer function of a particular game.
I'm looking your way Star Wars: The Old Republic. |
Candlekeep Forums Moderator
Candlekeep - The Library of Forgotten Realms Lore
http://www.candlekeep.com -- Candlekeep Forum Code of Conduct
Scribe for the Candlekeep Compendium -- Volume IX now available (Oct 2007)
"So Saith Ed" -- the collected Candlekeep replies of Ed Greenwood
Zhoth'ilam Folio -- The Electronic Misadventures of a Rambling Sage |
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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36821 Posts |
Posted - 20 Jun 2012 : 04:47:46
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quote:
Originally posted by The Sage
quote:
Originally posted by Therise
quote:
Originally posted by Quale
Better to spend money on some game, movies are too short.
I agree, though I'd prefer to see a new standalone game rather than an addition to (or new) MMO. I find D&D Online to be quite lacking.
Agreed, as well.
I know and appreciate the fact that most modern games, nowadays, will require an online and/or multiplayer component... but I'm growing tired of the reality that most advertised games that I might actually like, are being produced/promoted through their online/multiplayer features first... with the single-player mode/campaign being referenced as a distinct secondary feature. And, often, appearing as a secondary development as well, in favour of the multiplayer function of a particular game.
I'm looking your way Star Wars: The Old Republic.
One of the things I like about LotRO is just how much I've been able to do without grouping. I got one of my toons to what was then the highest possible level with almost no assistance/grouping, and several other toons to high levels with next to no assistance/grouping. |
Candlekeep Forums Moderator
Candlekeep - The Library of Forgotten Realms Lore
http://www.candlekeep.com -- Candlekeep Forum Code of Conduct
I am the Giant Space Hamster of Ill Omen!  |
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Zireael
Master of Realmslore
Poland
1190 Posts |
Posted - 14 Jan 2013 : 17:26:08
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Reviving the topic to say I just saw Jodie Foster and immediately thought: 'Imoen!'
I'd love if it a movie based on BG series was made. |
SiNafay Vrinn, the daughter of Lloth, from Ched Nasad!
http://zireael07.wordpress.com/ |
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ElricJDeschain
Acolyte
USA
1 Posts |
Posted - 14 Jan 2013 : 18:35:55
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| Do Servant of the Shard. Its different from most of the big name fantasy films out there; it doesn't really feel quite so quest based. The gritty feel seems to be popular right now; this is the perfect time for a SOTS adaption. A simple explanation of Crenshinibon would suffice to get the ball rolling. |
Knight of the Balance |
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Dark Wizard
Senior Scribe
USA
830 Posts |
Posted - 14 Jan 2013 : 23:43:09
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quote:
Originally posted by The Sage
Then I'm sorry to say, but you're missing the point of the entire project and development of the DL animated film saga.
It was never meant to be an "modern-developmental" take on the founding story of the saga. It was designed to be a "good first step" into the future [hopeful] production of additional film-adaptations of the original three books in the Chronicles trilogy.
Looking at the Dragons of Autumn Twilight animated film... and expecting something like the high quality of the lot of DC animated films that have been released over the last 5+ years, for example, isn't all that realistic. The WB/DC Animated Studios has an extraordinary budget, and a great development/production staff to draw from. The folk that produced the DL film, didn't. It's the best they could offer with the resources they had at hand.
Then the whole "good" first step purpose of the Dragonlance animated project was a grand folly. It was a serious misstep. By releasing an inferior product they've done harm to the Dragonlance brand.
Take note of the reviews and comments of this film. Every where I've seen, the reviews and comments are generally negative and not within a margin that could slip this film into the watchable pile in the face of all the media people have access to today.
If they were hoping to create a cult classic, they failed. Cult classics, despite being bad, have many redeeming and watchable qualities, this film does fall into the "so bad it's good" category. It's forgettable at best, and I'd bet some people involved in it hope everyone forgot this one existed.
They burned bridges not only with fans and newcomers to the story, but also future investors for DL film projects. If they hoped to use this to generate revenue to reinvest in a bigger project, they definitely failed. Everything is about risk mitigation nowadays. Why are the big movies each summer usually sequels or adaptations of existing franchises? Because investors want to put their money on a "winner", who wouldn't.
This film brands the Dragonlance franchise as a cinematic "loser", this is it's record of performance. If this didn't exist, perhaps they could bank on the Dragonlance novel's bestseller status to organize a more competent film project off the ground. Once a film under-performs, no matter the novel sales, future films don't get the backing they need. Similar and even stronger franchises and more respected works have faced the same situation, especially in the fantasy genre, recall Golden Compass, Eragon, even Narnia, etc.
It doesn't help that WotC licensed the D&D movie rights to an amateur, now partnered with companies who seem to put out bland filler films periodically only so they can hold on to the license in the hopes WotC or more likely Hasbro buys it back for a good sum.
Say what you will about the Marvel film rights held by Fox (or Sony), at least they put a decent budget behind them and actually want to make money off those characters.
I'm actually afraid for the Forgotten Realms. With both the D&D and the Dragonlance names tainted by poor films, which franchise does WotC/Hasbro have left in their repertoire, which is their other big name. Yup. With the current care given D&D based films, an FR film, whether live-action, CGI, or traditional animation, is going to be medieval torture levels of pain.
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Alystra Illianniis
Great Reader
USA
3750 Posts |
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GRYPHON
Senior Scribe
USA
527 Posts |
Posted - 15 Jan 2013 : 00:34:04
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| The Lord of the Rings Trilogy (the newest remake)... |
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Dark Wizard
Senior Scribe
USA
830 Posts |
Posted - 15 Jan 2013 : 00:49:59
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True, Narnia shouldn't be grouped with those other movies, but I recall despite a good box office performance, there was some wrangling between the producers and studios involved on the sequels. For a time, those sequels were far from a sure thing. That was a time coinciding with those other franchises I mentioned, and it looked like there was going to be a bust of fantasy films to the boom started by LotR and Harry Potter. It shows even with a famous, beloved book series and a good first movie there are still hurdles to overcome.
As I understand it now, the rights to the later books in the series are the issue holding up the next movies, but that's another matter.
Now consider Dragonlance is a less famous book series with a flop of a poorly animated movie to its credit. |
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The Sage
Procrastinator Most High
Australia
31796 Posts |
Posted - 15 Jan 2013 : 01:26:55
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quote:
Originally posted by Dark Wizard
Then the whole "good" first step purpose of the Dragonlance animated project was a grand folly. It was a serious misstep. By releasing an inferior product they've done harm to the Dragonlance brand.
I don't see it as a grand folly. That's a little harsh. For someone who has been with DRAGONLANCE since the beginning, I see the film, more, as a stumble, on the road to something better.
quote:
Take note of the reviews and comments of this film. Every where I've seen, the reviews and comments are generally negative and not within a margin that could slip this film into the watchable pile in the face of all the media people have access to today.
Eh. I don't place all that much stock in reviews posted online. I'm always curious about just how many of them are actually genuine and how many are just "jumping on the bandwagon of hate" that seems to permeate almost every lot of reviews I read about anything. I think some folk are just a little too afraid to say that they might have actually liked the film, but thought it could've been much better, and then be branded "not true DL fans" by those with a fanatical bent toward decrying almost everything in a franchise that isn't one-hundred percent up to their personal expectations.
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If they were hoping to create a cult classic, they failed. Cult classics, despite being bad, have many redeeming and watchable qualities, this film does fall into the "so bad it's good" category. It's forgettable at best, and I'd bet some people involved in it hope everyone forgot this one existed.
Considering that I and my fellow DL fans continually re-watch the film almost every year, I'd say this is something of an overstatement. We consider it a cult-classic because of it's stumble status I spoke of earlier. We're looking at it in light of what, potentially, could come later.
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They burned bridges not only with fans and newcomers to the story, ...
Again, I think you're stretching things here. I have handed my copy of the film to newcomers of the setting, and while they're comments haven't been glowing, it's prompted them to look further into the world and pick up both the novels and gaming books.
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... but also future investors for DL film projects. If they hoped to use this to generate revenue to reinvest in a bigger project, they definitely failed. Everything is about risk mitigation nowadays. Why are the big movies each summer usually sequels or adaptations of existing franchises? Because investors want to put their money on a "winner", who wouldn't.
I do believe there's some truth to this. But it also doesn't help that the project didn't have much in the way of funds when it got started either.
quote:
This film brands the Dragonlance franchise as a cinematic "loser", this is it's record of performance. If this didn't exist, perhaps they could bank on the Dragonlance novel's bestseller status to organize a more competent film project off the ground. Once a film under-performs, no matter the novel sales, future films don't get the backing they need. Similar and even stronger franchises and more respected works have faced the same situation, especially in the fantasy genre, recall Golden Compass, Eragon, even Narnia, etc.
I don't think you can lay this all at the feet of how poorly the DRAGONLANCE film did among audiences. That was a boat that was already sailing the minute the first live-action Dungeons & Dragons film was released. The DL film just really didn't do anything to halt that downward spiral of dislike.
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Say what you will about the Marvel film rights held by Fox (or Sony), at least they put a decent budget behind them and actually want to make money off those characters.
Yes, because they can afford it. I wouldn't consider Wizards of the Coast to occupy the same place, financially, as either Fox Studios or Sony Entertainment. There's a significant difference there.
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Candlekeep Forums Moderator
Candlekeep - The Library of Forgotten Realms Lore
http://www.candlekeep.com -- Candlekeep Forum Code of Conduct
Scribe for the Candlekeep Compendium -- Volume IX now available (Oct 2007)
"So Saith Ed" -- the collected Candlekeep replies of Ed Greenwood
Zhoth'ilam Folio -- The Electronic Misadventures of a Rambling Sage |
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Dark Wizard
Senior Scribe
USA
830 Posts |
Posted - 15 Jan 2013 : 02:56:10
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In regards to viewers, reviews, and fans and newcomers being turned off by the movie, we'll have to agree to disagree. You've obviously had a more positive experience with it.
Every where I turn, I see the film poorly rated. That was my reaction upon first watching it. In disbelief at how amateurish the end result turned out, I showed it to friends and people in my group, no one liked it. Some were DL fans since high school, we read the same set of books traded between us. It did not rekindle the nostalgia we had for the books. Some distantly knew of DL through discussions between above mentioned group, most weren't big on sword & sorcery type fantasy (mostly sci-fi, comics, anime) but could sit through epics like LotR and come away with an appreciation, that group hated the DL movie. They felt was a bland derivative (I believe there were pacing issues that didn't help in this area). They ripped the animation to shreds, and these were people who could sit through filler episodes of long running anime series, often with their own stilted animation (but not to the extend of the DL film) and poor stories.
I don't feel the dislike of the Dragonlance movie is based on or linked to the dislike of the D&D movies. If the DL film was of sufficient quality, it would be reflected in reviews and word of mouth. Audiences are capable of separating the two film branches, especially as the Dragonlance movie did not emphasis the D&D brand. It is much better than any of the D&D movies, that's a positive. And I'm not going to throw in the line about it not being hard to exceed those three live-action films. The DL film was significantly better.
As for your statements about the lack of budget, I don't feel that's a good excuse. Not sure I agree with that attitude to jump into a project knowing the budget was limited and the result could be weaker than hoped for. It's like those sad SyFy channel movies that try too hard to be campy monster flicks, but fail miserably and end up boring wastes of time. As a fan I expect a bit more, especially from a franchise with some past history of success. I want the property to succeed, not make desperate attempts to break into a new medium when it is obviously not ready for it.
I'm also dubious as to whether such a strategy works. We can cite the animated Hobbit or LotR, but that was a different era and the gap between projects was three decades. Are we sure it was the animated versions that compelled the live-action version to be made, rather the popularity of the books and probably a production team that believed in their project and went out of their way to earn the financial backing by convincing investors and studios. I think the latter is the more influential factor to getting a good project off the ground.
If they did not have the equivalent budget of three or four episodes of a regular TV animated show (I see this as a minimum, plus some setup cost), then they should not have gone through with the project that would result in an obvious sub-par project. They could have tried to present the project proposal to more investors or studios to obtain more funding.
Working with what they did have, they could have skipped the celebrity actors for the voices and went with professional voice actors to save money. They could have streamlined production by not using CGI for the few scenes of dragons and draconians. That probably would have saved money. They could have chosen a style that had fewer animation frames, some anime does this to save production money. I don't feel they made very canny decisions with the movie even given the resources they had available.
Heck, even one of the animation companies involved went on to do better animated work. Toonz Animation did some of the DL movie, they went on to animate Wolverine and the X-Men TV series. You can recognize the animation style between the two projects, but the latter is miles ahead in consistency. Perhaps the DL project only had funds for a certain commitment from Toonz and the other animation studios. Or the DL project placed a bad bet on a newer company. This later example of their work could show improved proficiency after they had their practice, DL paid for their learning curve perhaps. That would be unfortunate for DL, not so much for the studio.
It seemed wiser choices could have been made throughout and that's a shame because Dragonlance deserved a good start, not a stumble. As I said before, it seems from past examples a stumble in the film market is much harder to overcome than starting from a "fresh" best-selling series.
Don't like that Dragonlance "settled" for any project they could get together. I'm sure it was more complex than that, but it's what it seems like. As a best-selling series, not too much separates it from the other numerous films based on best-selling novel series. If anything D&D based novels perform better than the game. Yet, even the novels get weak treatments for film projects. I wouldn't want to see a similar treatment for a Realms movie based on past examples. |
Edited by - Dark Wizard on 15 Jan 2013 03:05:43 |
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The Sage
Procrastinator Most High
Australia
31796 Posts |
Posted - 15 Jan 2013 : 03:26:04
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I respect your opinions on too many other topics to debate this further with you, Dark Wizard, so I'll simply nod, consider your points, and smile as we continue to agree to disagree.
I'll just move on.  |
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Dennis
Great Reader
9933 Posts |
Posted - 15 Jan 2013 : 03:41:34
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quote:
Originally posted by Alystra Illianniis
Voyage of the Dawn Treader was actually the best Narnia movie thus far, IMHO.
I disagree. It started slow, had a sloppy climax, and I couldn't bear to finish it. |
Every beginning has an end. |
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Alystra Illianniis
Great Reader
USA
3750 Posts |
Posted - 15 Jan 2013 : 09:06:22
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| Sloppy climax? I didn't think so. As for the slow start, keep in mind they were transitioning between old and new characters, and there was a lot of backstory to fill in on the new kid. There was also several hundred years of history in Narnia itself between the first film and the other two, which meant that much had changed. All that had to be covered in the beginning of a two-hour movie, as well as explaining the current situation of the prince and the reason for the voyage of the ship in the first place. That's a LOT of story to try to condense into a movie! And the relationships between the four (down to two still of age to visit Narnia in VotDT) original siblings and their obnoxious cousin was a part of that, too. |
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Lord Bane
Senior Scribe
Germany
479 Posts |
Posted - 15 Jan 2013 : 09:28:10
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| I“d actually go for a Game of Thrones approach (more mature themed) mixed with the budget of Lord of the Rings trilogy. |
The driving force in the multiverse is evil, for it forces good to act. |
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Dark Wizard
Senior Scribe
USA
830 Posts |
Posted - 15 Jan 2013 : 19:12:06
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quote:
Originally posted by The Sage
I respect your opinions on too many other topics to debate this further with you, Dark Wizard, so I'll simply nod, consider your points, and smile as we continue to agree to disagree.
I'll just move on.
I guess the main take away, what we both agree on, is for future D&D-based films projects to continue to receive consideration for production.
And don't get me wrong, I think these projects should continue, but on a larger, more professional scale, as much as possible.
I just feel these past films haven't come close to reaching the full potential of the material or their budget in some cases, shoe-string level as they may be.
quote:
Originally posted by Lord Bane
I“d actually go for a Game of Thrones approach (more mature themed) mixed with the budget of Lord of the Rings trilogy.
I could take it or leave it with the mature themed trend we see nowadays. It's great if it's done well, but often times it can devolve into gratuitous scenes tagged on to the narrative for the sake of it.
Existing examples of wider age group material, such as Pixar films and shows like Avatar the Last Airbender, where relevant themes are dealt with but still maintain age appropriate ratings, shows a mature film is less about visceral displays or controversial or taboo subjects, but can also just be a willingness to portray and tackle non-trivial, real world relevant topics in a meaningful way.
The additional bonus being that a wider rating means more ticket sales, generally. This also means studios are more willing to fund a decent budget, generally. |
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Lord Bane
Senior Scribe
Germany
479 Posts |
Posted - 15 Jan 2013 : 20:29:14
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| Catering for the massess to appease them is not always a way to create good work. If you want to bring a point across with the portrayal of something, then you show how it is and not do it "hush-hush" with a "bees and flower" synonym of some sort. Atleast that is my opinion on it. |
The driving force in the multiverse is evil, for it forces good to act. |
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Dark Wizard
Senior Scribe
USA
830 Posts |
Posted - 15 Jan 2013 : 21:32:46
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Telling it how it is one thing, but we've also seen when "mature and gritty and realistic" leads to violence and sex for the sake of it.
That sort of grasp towards marketing catch words (mature, gritty, realistic) is the sort of thing I wouldn't want to see. We've recent examples where a movie follows the latest blockbuster that found success, copying their styling and look, offering nothing original in its own take. The trend follower usually ends up a bland, forgettable film compared to the trend setter. Ultimately, this is Hasbro we're talking about here: Tranaformers, GI Joe, Battleship.
Aiming a film towards a wider age range should not be equated with catering to the masses. In some cases it is, but keep in mind most of the Realms novels don't go into the same amount of details or the topics of Game of Thrones/ASOIAF and similar series.
Not to say the Realms don't touch on such topics at times or the Realms as a setting are not suited for such stories if authors or scriptwriters put their efforts into it. We've seen that it can, and from some examples of Ed's work and other like-minded authors, the Realms does have that complexity and ambiguity for stories in any fantasy subgenre, intrigue, dark, etc. |
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If ever they make a Realms movie...
