Richard's Animorphs Forum
Animorphs Section => Animorphs Forum Classic => Topic started by: Yorick Brown on August 30, 2008, 10:12:15 PM
-
Lots of people keep ragging on me for deleting or changing major plot points even though they couldn't fit, so let's see you do better.
Would you adapt The Invasion alone or with another book like The Message? (Maybe the Animorphs meet Elfangor AND Ax at the construction site and Ax leaves with the Animorphsw hile his wounded brother dies?) What happens in the movie?
Would you cast any established actors (if so, who?) for roles or mostly unknowns?
Would you end the Animorphs journey with just one film?
-
Good GOD, Sideshow Mel. It can't be done with today's film capabilities and social constraints, man! Let it go!
Move on. There are plenty of other good franchises out there that won't cost half of Spielberg's wallet and all of ILM's nerdery coupled with a little of Jim Cameron's sanity.
Come back in ten years or something and propose it again. This new photorealism tech might be at the stage where it's engaging and affordable by then.
Like, seriously. 2018. 2020 to be safe.
You're not going to get anything better than Narnia if this thing gets made anytime soon. Balls to that. Balls, I say.
-
WHY does everyone keep saying that Animorphs would be too expensive to make? It isn't!
ID4 was only made for 75 mil!
An Animorphs flick would NOT need a 90-100 mil+ budget.
-
Well, I would try to stay as true to the books as possible. Now I know there a lot of story elements that don't 'translate' as is across media, ie book to movie, but good directors and actors just get creative and translate it to film. They don't remove or add things! (Well, they can add things, but if it ONLY enhances the story/message.) 8)
-
Translate is NOt the right word to use. That means that a film will follow a book word-for-word and that's a recipe for disaster.
The word you're looking for is ADAPT. Things have changed to accomodate the transition across media but it doesn't mean that the movie isn't faithful.
Films remove and add things from the source material all the time. Sometimes for the better or worse.
You never told me what's your first film about and what would happen in it yet.
-
An Animorphs movie is perfectly capable of being made. Nobody has a right to flame Yorick just for wanting it to happen. Plenty people do. And no one can really flame somebody for his interpretation on how it should done. But anyone can disagree with it.
I'll be back with my idea of how I would do it in a lil bit.
-
Here is how I would do it based solely on the fact that movies aren't typically longer than 3 hours. Obviously, this would be a movie that would attract many people who used to read the books, but it would also need to be marketed to a general audience or else it won't be worth the money to make it.
I would do a trilogy. I would have the first movie cover the first 20 books. The second movie would cover the next 18. The final book would cover from book #39 to #54.
Time wise, some of the books would need to be shortened, and some of the storylines dulled down a bit, but I would put emphasis on the character relationship building. And on the battles and planning around them.
I think the first hours of the first movie would be from books 1-6, ending the hour with Jake's yeerk dying. Those are the details from the top of my head. I'm sure if I sat down and wrote up a synopsis it would be much longer. 8)
-
I'm sorry, but how the hell can you fit 20 Animorph books into ONE movie?! Even it were possible, the movie would be far too long and would be butchered by the fact that it would have to rush every plot line. Besides, they are several books that have no relevance to the plot and would not not need to be included in the movie.
-
Well, for instance, instead of doing the full books, I would make the scene end where Jake's yeerk dies, and the next scene would open with "Two weeks later". And Jake would be narrating again, talking about how after he was a controller, they fought other battles, and explain them a bit. But I'd work the storyline back in. And then it would start out at book 10 or something in the second hour of the movie. 3 hours per movie. You skip a few books and then work them back in with flashbacks or the narrater talking about what happened. Like, I could start with book 1, and make it last about 20 minutes, then skip a few books, and have the meeting where Cassie is talking about dreams she keeps getting with messages from under the sea. I don't know the logistics of it, I would figure all that out of course.
-
Obviously, this would be a movie that would attract many people who used to read the books, but it would also need to be marketed to a general audience or else it won't be worth the money to make it.
THANK YOU!
FINALLY someone else who considered the non-Animorphs reading public!
If Animorphs fan and Animorphs fan alone were the only who could understand and want to see aridiculous long movie, it'd only make 30 bucks total.
I would do a trilogy. I would have the first movie cover the first 20 books. The second movie would cover the next 18. The final book would cover from book #39 to #54.
Like the trilogy idea but how can you cover so much in only two-three hours each?
-
Read my above post. I kind of explained it.
-
um dude, how long do you think these movies are going to be? 20 books in 3 hours? 20 minutes for the first book? With a script, a page translates to a minute on screen, you are talking about a 2000 page script per movie, and even if you dont include everything in every book, and you skip books, and cut corners, you can maybe cut that down to 500 pages lol
Okay heres what I would do:
1. The first movie would take the Invasion and mix in a classic yeerk plot for them to foil. It would be nice if it could be an origional plot, but for arguments sake lets say its the kandrona at the EGS tower. While in the yeerk pool, Tobias overhears about where they are keeping it while he is being trapped in morph. Then the movie ends with them destroying it.
2. The second movie would mix the message and the predator. This is the only one that would worry me about feeling tacked on. We could have them get captured trying to escape the sea with Ax, but that would be a little too long in the same mission. I think it would be better to have them get ax, and then they go straight to helping him get home and get captured and brought to V1. So technically it would be 4 and 5 just pasted together, but i dont think it would feel that way, i think it would flow nicely. We could also add the theme of ax not trusting the team and then end it with him telling them about seerows kindness.
3. The third movie is where Tobias gets his morphing powers back. For this we should mix #7 and #13, while tobias is dealing with the bird thing, rachel finds out her dad is moving and she could leave the fight. A random battle leads them to the yeerk pool where the ellimist comes to them and helps them escape, in the chaos two hork bajir escape. As the ellimist comes to tobias telling him to save these two, he also comes to rachel and shows her the future, which allows her to learn the location of the valley, the perfect place for the hork bajir.
4. This movie will introduce Erek and the Chee. While the Android has enough story to support a movie, it wouldnt be long enough, so a side plot such as jake being infested or rachel getting an allergy can be used to add depth and length to the story.
5. The David Trilogy. Nuff said.
As I've said in other threads, these movies arent working to an end, and these five movies are only the tip of the iceberg. A little creativity can adapt almost any of the other books to make another 10 movies. This isnt how it should be done, or how it has to be done, this is how i think it should be done and would like to see it done.
-
I'm sorry, but how the hell can you fit 20 Animorph books into ONE movie?! Even it were possible, the movie would be far too long and would be butchered by the fact that it would have to rush every plot line. Besides, they are several books that have no relevance to the plot and would not not need to be included in the movie.
I agree. It'd be a glorified clip show.
-
The plot of your third film is a little too confusing but I sincerely like the ideas you presented so far, Duffy.
I like that you werre able to take on my challenge but succeed. Good job.
For the 4th film, do you think you can combine The Android and The Exposed?
This isnt how it should be done, or how it has to be done, this is how i think it should be done and would like to see it done.
You may want to rewrite this.
-
Yea thats the one I had trouble with, cause I needed to add another storyline and it kinda made sense to have it involve the ellimist
Its basically the events of The stranger, and when they escape so do the hork bajir, then tobias finds them and helps save them as the ellimist comes to them like he did the second time in the stranger and shows them the future where the yeerks win, but instead of showing them the egs tower he has someone mention where the hb colony was. It is kinda confusing but I think the right script could link them well
eh i dont think it would really work imo, cause they are kinda similar, yeerks are after pemalite technology and the chee need the animorphs help. actually, maybe if the pemalite crystal is the key to locating the ship it could work: Marco finds out about erek because his hologram is malfunctioning from the ship. They agree to help them steal the crystal but the yeerks are able to figure out where the ship is before they can and its a race to the ship, final battle in the ship. But you might have to leave out the drode unless you can have a movie introduce the crayak before this
This isnt how it should be done, or how it has to be done, this is how i think it should be done and would like to see it done.
You may want to rewrite this.
what do you mean?
-
You said this isn't how it should be done and then you said this is how it should be done.
-
Obviously, this would be a movie that would attract many people who used to read the books, but it would also need to be marketed to a general audience or else it won't be worth the money to make it.
THANK YOU!
FINALLY someone else who considered the non-Animorphs reading public!
If Animorphs fan and Animorphs fan alone were the only who could understand and want to see a ridiculous long movie, it'd only make 30 bucks total.
Yeah, but keep in mind you need to make both sets of viewers happy. You have to keep in true enough to the real series to please the fans and still have it interest those that haven't read the books.
Keep in mind, if something is based of a book or series people will compare the two. Some who haven't read the books will go out and read them after seeing the movie. If it doesn't compare well and that matters to the person then you get bad word of mouth, and realistically that's more influencing than any TV ad. If your friend says a movie isn't worth your money, do you bother to see it? Typically no.
Yes, some people won't care if it compares well and some won't compare the two. But you've got to realize that the people who are first and foremost going to be interested in the movie are the current fans. Whether or not they make up a large population, the word of mouth they spread will be an majorly influencing factor.
-
I don't ssee why you can't consider fans AND non-fans in the equation.
Keep the basic characters and storyline of the books but no big details that works for a multiple-book series rather than a film frnachise.
Tom being a controller and the Yeerk menace being a result of Andalite folly can be included but making Tobias getting trapped and also being Elfangor's son and Marco's mom Visser One and the Hork-Bajir colony just doesn't hold.
-
I don't ssee why you can't consider fans AND non-fans in the equation.
I'm not saying you CAN'T, I'm just saying if you piss the fans off and they spread bad publicity then it's going to be just as bad as considering ONLY the fans and not the general public.
Tom being a controller and the Yeerk menace being a result of Andalite folly can be included but making Tobias getting trapped and also being Elfangor's son and Marco's mom Visser One and the Hork-Bajir colony just doesn't hold.
Mmmmhmmmm..... And yet the fact that those had major influences on the characters means nothing?
-
Well I'll just have to be careful about not alienating the fans.
Yes. It means something-in the BOOKS but a movie?
A movie, adaptation or not, should be able to stand alone. Find another way of developing Tobias and Marco and others without adding these other things.
-
If you remove major plot elements in an adaptation then you've made it something else entirely-then how do you justify making calling it Animorphs? ::)
-
Well I'll just have to be careful about not alienating the fans.
but you arent being careful lol making tobias human would alienate every single fan. and BB is right, the first people to review the movie will be fans and other nerd sites which will say wtf this is completely off from the books dont waste your time and even if it is an awesome stand alone movie, less people will want to see it
You said this isn't how it should be done and then you said this is how it should be done.
i was saying this is how I THINK it should be done, as in its just my opinion
-
but you arent being careful lol making tobias human would alienate every single fan.
Very true.
and even if it is an awesome stand alone movie, less people will want to see it
If it's that awesome it won't need the traditional fan base. And people have a way of coming around eventually once a movie starts getting good reviews.
It would be an extension of, not replacement to the series. Hardcore fans will always have the books.
You just have to make sure the parts you take out don't erode the message and themes (like in LOTR for instance - changes pissed me off at first but I got over it cause they didn't alter the meaning)
And honestly, how big is the traditional hardcore animorph fanbase? I doubt it's big enough to make that much of a difference.
-
If you remove major plot elements in an adaptation then you've made it something else entirely-then how do you justify making calling it Animorphs?
Because it'll still be about 6 kids (5 humans, 1 alien) engaging in guerilla warfare by using the power to shapeshift into animals to defeat body-controlling, slug-like aliens secretly invading Earth. There's a character named Jake who's the leader and who's brother is a slave. His cousin, Rachel, who's best friends with the daughter of high-ranking slave. Her other best friend, Cassie, who's parents are vets and has access to animals. Jake's best friend Marco who's the comic relief and Tobias, the bullied loner as well as Ax, a stranded alie youthn and the brother of the Andalite that gave them their power.
Have I really removed anythinng from the major storyline at all?
Is Marco's mom being Visser One and Tobias being Elfangor's son and the like REALLY that important?
but you arent being careful lol making tobias human would alienate every single fan. and BB is right, the first people to review the movie will be fans and other nerd sites which will say wtf this is completely off from the books dont waste your time and even if it is an awesome stand alone movie, less people will want to see it
Fans should really take the time to think and realize that work in one medium (esp. one that has dozens upon dozens of books to develop it's characters) to another will have to sacrifuce some things.
It would be an extension of, not replacement to the series. Hardcore fans will always have the books.
Thank you. I hate those drama queen fans that think that the books will magically disappear or change IF a bad or simply different but good adaptation is made.
And honestly, how big is the traditional hardcore animorph fanbase? I doubt it's big enough to make that much of a difference.
Agreed.
-
I think Animorphs would work well as the standard superhero/comic book summer film. I would definitely not try to make it like LotR or Harry Potter. It would be impossible to condense all the books, or even a selection of the "important" books, into a reasonable number of movies.
I agree with Duff's outline for the most part. As he said, the first film could follow the plot of the Invasion with a possible subplot, and any sequels would take one or a few books for the plot.
No one would want to see an adaptation of every single book except the hardcore fans, and there's not that many of us.
-
Its not about the fanbase as a whole, its about the nerd websites who will be writing those very first reviews as they dig up all the little details about the movie. And one of the biggest things those nerd sites base their reviews on is how faithful it is being. (and im not talking about animorph nerd sites im talking about the big ones that people actually go to lol)
You might as well just change a few more things and make it an origional work yorick, because the things you are talking about taking out would tear out the gritty guts and realism of the series. The actual fact that marcos mom is visser one isnt really all that important. the fact that marco was an inch away from quitting the war and the only reason he now fights is to save her is very important. Tobias being trapped in a hawk, actually pretty important on its own lol but then add in the fact that he has the ability to trap himself and leave it all behind and doesnt, and that defines his character
Thanks mirienne!
-
It's reasonable, rational people like you Mirienne that gives me hope for the world.
You might as well just change a few more things and make it an origional work yorick, because the things you are talking about taking out would tear out the gritty guts and realism of the series. The actual fact that marcos mom is visser one isnt really all that important. the fact that marco was an inch away from quitting the war and the only reason he now fights is to save her is very important. Tobias being trapped in a hawk, actually pretty important on its own lol but then add in the fact that he has the ability to trap himself and leave it all behind and doesnt, and that defines his character
Marco can still be hesitant about the war at first but his natural conscience makes him decide to keep fighting. He fought for 5 whole books without knowing his mother's true fate.
Tobias' loneliness can be attributed to being an orphan and not being trapped as a bird.
A movie should stand up as it's own and keep the same themes and grittiness of it's source material despite necessary plot changes.
-
but they arent necessary changes, if you just get a little creative you can fit them in
-
It's too risky to force in these inclusions that sound like something out of Star Wars when you only have a handful of films.
For what it's worth, you can still pretend that Marco's mom is Visser One and Tobias is Elfangor's son because they're just not featured.
-
But its not like you only have a handful of films, you have plenty of films to tell the story, you dont HAVE to do a trilogy
-
Unless it's a planned trilogy or film series (The Lord of the Rings, Scream, Star Wars, The Matrix), the audience shouldn't get movies with loose ends that may never be resolved if the studio ever decides to pull the plug.
An Animorphs film should and would be more Spider-Man and Jurassic Park like.
-
Yorick what I don't understand is WHY are you so convinced that Animorphs needs such large changes to appeal work in a movie? What is it that attracts readers to the books that wouldn't attract viewers to the movies? ???
-
Are these large changes though? Are they really or are you just blinded by your love of Animorphs?
I only left out the major storylines like Marco's mom and Elfangor's son NOT because they wouldn't be unappealing to audiences but such character-affecting plots would distract too much from the main story. These are films and not a book or TV series where you have all the time in the world to develop these new plots.
The only thing you've fans have been able to argue reasonably was Tobias getting stuck as a hawk and even then I don't think people would care about a moping talking hawk.
-
My 'love' of Animorphs doesn't "blind me", I love Animorphs (http://because of what it is)-it's hits and it's misses; the same reason 99.99% of all Animorphs fans love it-maybe not you per se, but the rest of us.
The Marco and Elfangor storylines by general consensus don't distract from the story; they part of the story! You are part of a minority that doesn't seem to think so. ::)
And you never answered the last question-What is it that attracts readers to the books that wouldn't attract viewers to the movies? If the books got such popularity and a following for being what they were why wouldn't movies do the same? I mean do you secretly not like Animorphs, or something??? ??? >:(
-
This is how I would do it. The cast would be unknowns for the most part, but I like Yorick's idea of Hugo Weaving for the Visser. Also I would do Morgan Freeman for the physical manifestation of the Ellimist.
Story: It's basically#1 The Invasion and that's what we focus on. There will be a bit of #2 The Visitor, and some original scenes. Very similar to Yorick's plan without the exclusion of important plot points. The only change I would make in character is that Rachel is more close to Melissa than Cassie and that they are more casual friends but their relationship grows as the movie progresses.
Scene:
Jake's opening narration
Characters established at Mall (including Melissa, see below)
Construction Site, Elfangor gives them powers, Visser arrives and kills him
Tobias visits Jake, Tobias morphs cat, Jake morphs Homer
School Cafeteria (group argument)
Rachel talks to Melissa, Melissa acting strangely
Cassie's Barn, Cassie morphs horse, Policeman visits
Tobias morphs hawk (possibly off-screen)
Jake, Marco and Tobias at Jake's House, Tom tries to get them to join The Sharing
Rachel visits Melissa/ acquires her cat
Parallel Scenes: The guys check out the Sharing/ The girls spy on Melissa (Viewers realize that Melissa is not the Controller, her father is)
Tom talks to Jake/ Jake is determined to free him
Jake morphs lizard, spies on Chapman
Group discussion at Mall/ everyone formally agrees to fight the Yeerks except Marco who tells the group for the first time about his family situation
The Gardens
Cassie captured (offscreen)
The Yeerk Pool
Afterwards Marco tells Jake he will continue to fight until Tom is free
Tobias visits Jake, viewers realize he is trapped, Jake decides to fight until the Andalites arrive
END
Should be around two hours and I think the concept is interesting enough to attract new fans.
-
The Marco and Elfangor storylines by general consensus don't distract from the story; they part of the story! You are part of a minority that doesn't seem to think so. ::)
He's not debating whether they're part of the story or not. He's basically saying (unless I'm wrong) that: "Yeah they're part of the story but they're a part that doesn't have to be mentioned specifically in a movie".
I.e. they're simply unmentioned background rather than deleted background.
They're all well and good for the books cause you have tons of description time but for a movie it would just be far too distracting from a linear storyline.
And you never answered the last question-What is it that attracts readers to the books that wouldn't attract viewers to the movies? If the books got such popularity and a following for being what they were why wouldn't movies do the same
Movies by nature need to reach a massive audience to be successful and the vast majority of the target audience (non-animorph fans) wouldn't give a crap about how faithful it is to the book. They just want a good movie.
Too much info can slow a movie down. Also people will be like "who cares?" about certain things.
I mean do you secretly not like Animorphs, or something??? ??? >:(
Hmm...curious that he wants to make a movie out of a series he secretly hates... ::)
-
thats pretty good element, seems like it might blend pretty well
the only problem with it is that it only has one battle, a big blockbuster needs at least a few action scenes, for this movie, it would need at least two big battles and maybe some kind of smaller conflict like something in bird morph
-
Yea I thought about that but it seems like the plot can't really afford a huge battle like at the Yeerk Pool, mainly cuz thats supposed to be the first time they use their battle morphs. However, I think the Construction Site scene, the Sharing/Melissa's house scene, and lizard scene could be made more exciting in a few ways. Then the final scene has to be amazing to give the audience a good pay-off. A tiger, gorilla and elephant fighting a small army of Hork-Bajir and a giant three headed creature that spits fireballs from it's mouth has to be good.
-
The Marco and Elfangor storylines by general consensus don't distract from the story; they part of the story! You are part of a minority that doesn't seem to think so.
As I've said a million times before, if I could make my TV series I would GLADLY and RAPIDLY insert those storylines. Why wouldn't I? I certainly had the time and number of episodes.
But in a FILM series, those character-heavy storylines would have no room inside all the battles and and excitement. Where's the room to pause and think in a movie-esp. action movies?
And you never answered the last question-What is it that attracts readers to the books that wouldn't attract viewers to the movies? If the books got such popularity and a following for being what they were why wouldn't movies do the same? I mean do you secretly not like Animorphs, or something???[/quotes]
I never said that that non-fans wouldn't like these storylines. Just that they'd have no place in a film series. They're two different mediums and just isn't any room for that.
I agree with every single thing wotw2112 said.
-
The only change I would make in character is that Rachel is more close to Melissa than Cassie and that they are more casual friends but their relationship grows as the movie progresses.
I like that. I never did understand how Cassie and Rachel were such good friends in the first place.
Why didn't Melissa go with them at the construction site?
Maybe they should have had that important discussion somewhere that isn't a crowded mall.
-
WHY does everyone keep saying that Animorphs would be too expensive to make? It isn't!
ID4 was only made for 75 mil!
An Animorphs flick would NOT need a 90-100 mil+ budget.
ID4 was made 13 years ago with a mix of CG and modelwork. The modelwork wouldn't work so well for this series. And how many moving, walking talking aliens did ID4 have? Two? Yeah, two?
Point made. Superman Returns cost close to $300 mil, plus marketing.
Think of the size and scope of that movie, and then think of the later books in the Animorphs series with all the pool ship and thousands of bug fighters and a valley full of hundreds of flesh & blood sentient aliens.
You can't do it.
And the story isn't suited for a film franchise, anyway. You can't tell this story in a trilogy of movies.
A TV series is a better idea in terms of plot mechanics, but the visual element and budget simply isn't there. I'm not being closed-minded, you're all just being impractical. Fanboys and girls, meet reality.
-
Fanboys and girls, meet reality.
You can't make us! ;D
But seriously, good point unless you go the animated route (which, though I'm not particularly fond of, seems the logical choice anyway).
-
you dont need bug fighters, pool ships or a valley full of aliens to make the first movie so thats not really a problem. The budget wouldnt be that high and animorphs would make a perfect movie adaptation, not the whole series, but the first book. you dont have to adapt the whole series
-
Point made. Superman Returns cost close to $300, plus marketing.
Bad example. The only reason why that movie cost so much was because it included the costs of canceled preproduction reboots stretching over a decade.
Think of the size and scope of that movie, and then think of the later books in the Animorphs series with all the pool ship and thousands of bug fighters and a valley full of hundreds of flesh & blood sentient aliens.
Unless you're talking about gigantic battling robots and gorillas and star fighters in dog fights, this movie does not need a 90-100 mil+ budget.
For The Invasion film, you'd only need some trained animals and puppets and men in make-up. The spaceships which won't be seen in CGI or models.
You can't do it.
Sure you can.
And the story isn't suited for a film franchise, anyway. You can't tell this story in a trilogy of movies.
I'd prefer a TV series but I feel I did a good job keeping the gist of the story.
A TV series is a better idea in terms of plot mechanics, but the visual element and budget simply isn't there. I'm not being closed-minded, you're all just being impractical. Fanboys and girls, meet reality.
No. You're just being unimaginative.
-
90-100 million would make a **** movie, the tv show tried to use puppets and trained animals and look what happened
it would need a 200+ mil budget but thats completely justifiable with the money it could make
-
It's not even the budget, so much as the rating.
An R-rating isn't justifiable when you're using 13 year olds as your actors (no regulation board in the world would get on board with that), and anything less - even a hard PG-13 - is going to be making major thematic and visual concessions. This isn't Fantastic Four, with adults in spandex saving the world from a naked dude on a surfboard. This is children fighting brutal skirmishes with claws and teeth. With people dying.
The effects are a hurdle that can perhaps be overcome once James Cameron's new tech is showcased with Avatar next year. Traditional CGI won't cut it, but this new thing has potential.
The violence and general themes, though? Not going to fly in a mainstream studio film, not ever. When have you EVER seen a movie involving MIDDLE-SCHOOL kids killing people, and being portrayed as the heroes/protagonists? Unless it's dealing with insanity or mental delusion, it doesn't happen.
You cannot make this movie without excising almost every horrific scene in the books. It's really that simple. If you're satisfied with butchering it into a mainstream-friendly telepathic CGI-rendered animals and a trendy emo music soundtrack, then whatever. That's disappointing. If you want the war story this series was by the end of the books, you're going to be completely ****ing disappointed.
But hey, if you're happy with compromise and the director bending over for the studio, that's your issue.
-
I agree with you Xenomorph (I actually like that name. How did you come up with it?)
But of course, thats just whats gonna have to happen. Compromise. Unless its an R-rated movie, you will not see a bloody and gory Animorphs. You just won't.
Still, there are ways to make these things work. There's always a way.
In the X-Men movies, wolverine has claws (I HATED X-Men 3. Oh god, i get frustrated just watching it). Its obvious what he does with these claws, and they showed that in the X-Men movies. But of course they showed no blood. See? It can be done.]
Same goes for a Tv show, which I do not think can be accomplished as live action. We've already had that and it ended up looking like a mix between Fraggle Rock and The Tomorrow People.
This topic drains me.
-
What do you mean? Xenomorph is the term used for the alien in the Aliens movies. I ain't comin' up with nothin', dawgz.
Your X-Men example is a good one. To me, Wolverine has to be violent. If Wolverine isn't chopping up soldiers and ninjas left right and center while screaming in their faces, he's no longer Wolverine.
In a similar way, Animorphs loses all of its impact entirely if you can't really buy the fact that these kids are having nightmares every single night over what they have to do. That sort of impact doesn't come from turning into a grizzly and growling at someone. Animorphs needs to be violent, and disturbingly violent at that.
This topic tires me too, but that's born of exasperation. I DON'T want to see them tone this down, raping the series the way they have so many times before with other franchises so they can sell Happy Meals.
Look, it is simply not Animorphs if you can't believe the fact these kids are completely f'ed up by the end of it. Reading the words on the page your imagination can create the pictures, therefore little kids aren't going to be too disturbed or affected. SEEING those animal V.S. Hork-Bajir fights is a different matter entirely. You either make is visceral and cause MAJOR controversy and be forced into an R rating, or you go for the no blood route and sacrifice credibility for the plot and the character development.
The public was concerned about the last few Harry Potter movies, for God's sakes. Animorphs should make Harry Potter look like Barney.
-
Reading the words on the page your imagination can create the pictures, therefore little kids aren't going to be too disturbed or affected. SEEING those animal V.S. Hork-Bajir fights is a different matter entirely.
which is exactly why I can't stand reading those kind of things, but scared of movies that have blood and stuff.
-
Just because they dont show much blood doesnt change the fact that they will be killing and ripping these things apart, the visuals will be affected slightly, and we all know that the movie will be nothing like the books in terms of grit or realism, we want there to be a movie to see a tiger, a bear, a gorilla, a wolf, a hawk and an andalite in an epic battle vs a bunch of bladed aliens, and thats what we would get
-
and we all know that the movie will be nothing like the books in terms of grit or realism,
This discussion has its answer right here.
You all know this, and yet you still support the idea of a movie adaptation.
Really sickens me.
-
The only change I would make in character is that Rachel is more close to Melissa than Cassie and that they are more casual friends but their relationship grows as the movie progresses.
I like that. I never did understand how Cassie and Rachel were such good friends in the first place.
Why didn't Melissa go with them at the construction site?
Maybe they should have had that important discussion somewhere that isn't a crowded mall.
Hmmmm.... let's see. Cassie and Rachel are such good friends because of the commonly used opposites attract. And don't tell me such relationships don't exist, I have several friends that would seem as odd a pair with me as Cassie and Rachel do. Besides which, it was the author's choice not yours end the end and Applegate made them that way so thus they are. You can't treat them like real people, they are someones creation and thus subject to that creator's whims.
and we all know that the movie will be nothing like the books in terms of grit or realism,
This discussion has its answer right here.
You all know this, and yet you still support the idea of a movie adaptation.
Really sickens me.
I don't support it actually, I just get very opinionated and look at something like this and basically am unable to NOT point out the things I don't like about it. I think the books are too long to do as a movie and besides which it won't happen. They tried the TV series, it lasted for a while. Once something's been filmed once it isn't filmed again for SEVERAL years and usually only then because it's a classic or was very popular. Animorphs..... I highly doubt it will ever happen.
-
Animorphs..... I highly doubt it will ever happen.
Good. It doesn't need to happen, and that simple fact is overlooked all too often.
It's not even remotely suited to a screen format.
-
who would want to see them ruin our beloved books anyway
-
Exactly. It's simple.
The risk is very real, and there (so far) aren't any great inspired solutions to make it viable.
-
i really think KA made that **** up when she came here to make us all talk about it for EVER, its so impossible and not worth it why would it ever happen anyway?
-
We (the general community) have been talking about it far longer than when Katherine mentioned it. Longer than RAF's even been around, to be honest.
-
it was just as pointless then as it is now
-
I don't understand where all the cynicism is coming from. Whenever there is book to movie adaptation, things will have to be changed. How much is changed is up to the director, script writes etc. but it's not going to be a 100% faithful visualization of the written series. It's impossible, not only because of the time limits, physical limitations, budget and all those other things, but also because everyone's interpretation of the story is different. It's highly unlikely that my vision of Animorphs is exactly the same as any of yours, because we all imagine things differently.
Does this mean it can't be done. No. You just can't go to a movie suspecting everything to be the same as how you imagined when you read it. It's a director's creative interpretation on it. I think that it's possible to come out with a very satisfying Animorphs movie, just like it's possible to come up with a low budget, unfaithful crap piece. But we not gonna know until someone attempts to do it.
-
90-100 million would make a **** movie, the tv show tried to use puppets and trained animals and look what happened
But that was a 1-2 mil per episode budget. Only 60 mil tops is needed.
it would need a 200+ mil budget but thats completely justifiable with the money it could make
It does NOT need a big Spider-Man sized budget.
It's not even the budget, so much as the rating.
There's no way in hell or a studio exec would let an Animorphs film be rated higher than a PG-13.
The effects are a hurdle that can perhaps be overcome once James Cameron's new tech is showcased with Avatar next year. Traditional CGI won't cut it, but this new thing has potential.
There's no need to wait for Avatar. Tis film does not need to break the bank to finance itself.
But of course, thats just whats gonna have to happen. Compromise. Unless its an R-rated movie, you will not see a bloody and gory Animorphs. You just won't.
It would be violent but just not gory. The Jurassic Park films show plenty of blood and death but they're still PG-13.
You either make is visceral and cause MAJOR controversy and be forced into an R rating, or you go for the no blood route and sacrifice credibility for the plot and the character development.
You completely overstated how violent and gritty these books really were. They were still these Scholastic books marketed to preteens for crying out loud.
And don't tell me such relationships don't exist...
Wasn't planning on it. Chill out.
Just because I was confused, it doesn't mean I was against Applegate's decision to do so.
Good. It doesn't need to happen, and that simple fact is overlooked all too often.
Nobody said an adaptation needs to happen. We simply WANT it to happen.
People love and look forward to film and Tv adaptations so much because it's fun imagining our favorite characters and scenes brought to 3-D life.
It's not even remotely suited to a screen format.
Your opinion and not mine.
who would want to see them ruin our beloved books anyway
I hate hearing this! How would an adaptation ruin the books? Will it magically make the books physically turn into bad books?
The risk is very real, and there (so far) aren't any great inspired solutions to make it viable.
What risk? Nothing will happen to the books!
Agree completely with Element X.
-
Walking around in circles, walking around in circles, walking around in circles, walking around in circles, walking around in circles......
-
Why are you being such a jerk about this?
-
You completely overstated how violent and gritty these books really were. They were still these Scholastic books marketed to preteens for crying out loud.
Are you sh*tting me?! Of course they were marketed to preteens. They were Scholastic books.
What you fail to grasp is, Animorphs was somewhat unique among the Scholastic crowd, in that it was undoubtedly the most violent and high-concept. You DON'T see this kind of crap in Goosebumps or Harry. You just don't. Don't make me go looking for excerpts/passages from the books to grind your stubborn little face into the ground with about this. The (mostly Katherine/Michael-written, less so with the ghosts) books included graphic descriptions of people losing limbs and vicious animal mauling and burnt flesh. They did. Don't come here saying they didn't.
The books were disturbing and visceral.
And yes, that doesn't mean they weren't marketed to kids. They were. Which was the entire controversy with the incidents of parents and teachers complaining about them at the time. These WERE children's books, and they WERE violent.
That's not something you see often. Somewhat of an anomaly.
So yeah, nothing personal, but shut up.
-
Walking around in circles, walking around in circles, walking around in circles, walking around in circles, walking around in circles......
I completely agree.
-
Yeah, well, talking to a brick wall usually tends to breed repetition. Gotta be persistent when faced with an immovable object that's in the wrong. Always hope you'll educate someone.
-
I suppose for kid's books they were kinda violent, I just never really noticed that when I was younger. I never heard any teachers or parents complaining about them either. As a kid I always liked reading books that were more mature than my age. Everworld was clearly written for an older crowd than Animorphs (which is why I haven't let my sister read them yet) but I was still pretty young when I read those for the first time.
Anyway, please stop the pointless arguments and stay on topic.
-
I suppose for kid's books they were kinda violent, I just never really noticed that when I was younger. I never heard any teachers or parents complaining about them either.
You're probably just too young. It happened.
-
Or maybe my teachers were just nicer than yours? :P
I'm 19 so I wouldn't say I'm young compared to many RAF members.
If I were to make an Animorphs movie, I would have to make more than one in order to tell the story. Or I'd just make a better TV show with a decent budget and writers or actually read the series!
-
They weren't that violent. I read Animorphs as a third grader, which is how old I was when the series came out. I admit, some of the kids my age said their parents wouldn't let them read them. My parents.... well, maybe if my mom knew some of the things that happened her mind would have changed. She mostly didn't want us watching garbage TV shows (I'll leave names out) so she was glad I was reading.
And don't tell me such relationships don't exist...
Wasn't planning on it. Chill out.
Just because I was confused, it doesn't mean I was against Applegate's decision to do so.
Hey, I was just making a point. Not yelling. The only reason you thought I was yelling it you read it that way.
-
And don't tell me such relationships don't exist...
Wasn't planning on it. Chill out.
Just because I was confused, it doesn't mean I was against Applegate's decision to do so.
Hey, I was just making a point. Not yelling. The only reason you thought I was yelling it you read it that way.
Y is he always telling someone to chill out when he's just as bad, especially comin' up in here with those terribly annoying & repetitive ideas of his?
Lol, does anyone remember when he went off on Phoenix just b/c Phoenix kept merging the gazillion different threads he kept creating? Bipolar or what. Like we need a gazillion threads all saying the same thing...
-
Actually I was just locking unnecessary threads because he kept making loads of threads that were almost identical. That outburst was what got him a 3 day ban a while back.
Anyway, please keep to the topic. There is a thread to comment on Yorick being banned in the General board.
-
They weren't that violent.
*laughs* I swear to God, one more response like this and I'm going to go skim-read through the books and type up some of the passages from the fight sequences. Just to put this to rest. Don't make meh get tha hose, Cletus!
They were that violent. Much much more violent if you pay attention to what's being said, more extreme than anything you'd ever see in a movie. Terminator looks like the Muppets compared to Ax cutting off arms and Cassie ripping the throat out of a Hork, and a dude laying on the ground begging Jake for a blanket as he's dying, with Jake just coldly turning and walking away.
Won't. Happen. In. A. Movie.
-
Oh, get off it, man! >:(
*SMITE*
-
There have been plenty of violent movies in the past. Assuming they ever do make an Animorphs movie, they could raise the age rating or just tone down the violent scenes to make them more appropriate for younger viewers (and then add the more violent scenes onto the DVD version).
Besides, we are still talking about a hypothetical situation. No need to take it so seriously.
-
And it could always be an indie :P!
-
*headdesk*
I give up. No way to convince people set in their ways, I guess. Better settle for a playing-it-safe summer movie, because that's all we're going to get.
-
Well, if a playing-it-safe summer movie is all we're going to get, then that's all we're going to get. I think it'd be better than no movie at all. It would get some new fans into Animorphs at least.
Forgive me if I'm completely missing the point. I've been away from this thread too long...I no longer understand what the argument is. xD
-
Well, if a playing-it-safe summer movie is all we're going to get, then that's all we're going to get. I think it'd be better than no movie at all.
Yeah, well, that's where we differ I guess. I just see more potential in this than a 7/10 totally blahhh "it was okay" blockbuster movie.
You know what? Animorphs to me could be like one of those 80's classics. Star Wars, Indiana Jones, Back To The Future. The narrative is there, for this to have a big cultural impact and be incredibly good.
And, yeah, call me a stubborn pessimist, but I want nothing less than that. Because, without sounding arrogant, I could probably do a better job of translating this than whatever Fox or Universal or whoever will probably pump out, if you fans keep badgering them about a movie.
-
A blind monkey could produce something better than the Animorphs TV show, and that's a great insult to the blind monkey community...
-
I didn't even realize there was such thing as a blind monkey...
-
Well, if a playing-it-safe summer movie is all we're going to get, then that's all we're going to get. I think it'd be better than no movie at all.
Yeah, well, that's where we differ I guess. I just see more potential in this than a 7/10 totally blahhh "it was okay" blockbuster movie.
You know what? Animorphs to me could be like one of those 80's classics. Star Wars, Indiana Jones, Back To The Future. The narrative is there, for this to have a big cultural impact and be incredibly good.
And, yeah, call me a stubborn pessimist, but I want nothing less than that. Because, without sounding arrogant, I could probably do a better job of translating this than whatever Fox or Universal or whoever will probably pump out, if you fans keep badgering them about a movie.
You confuse me dude. You say that you could make a better animorphs movie than any studio. But then you flip out on all of us when we try to discuss how we would make it, without offering a single idea of your own.
Doesnt matter whether it will ever be made or ever be made right, we're dealing in hypotheticals and from that post it sounds like you would love to play
-
How about this? Anybody who wants to post their idea for how the movie should go, do so, and those who don't just don't. Simple.
-
You confuse me dude. You say that you could make a better animorphs movie than any studio. But then you flip out on all of us when we try to discuss how we would make it, without offering a single idea of your own.
Doesnt matter whether it will ever be made or ever be made right, we're dealing in hypotheticals and from that post it sounds like you would love to play
I've offered ideas of necessity, general things that have to be there for this to be worthwhile. However, I've also realistically pointed out the major hurdles present that stop those objectives being achieved.
I didn't say I could make a better movie than the studios are capable of making. I said I could probably make a better movie than what they inevitably will choose to make. That's different. If we're talking about operating OUTSIDE the studio system, somehow getting around the limitations of ratings boards and studio executives and budget constraints and technology (ie. operating in some fantasy world), then yes, a great movie could be made.
If you're thinking about this from the perspective of keeping your feet on the ground and your head out of the clouds, this becomes a different game entirely.
So, yes, I've provided input. In terms of creative direction, all one needs to do is stick to the books 100%, and not budge an inch. Whoever takes this project on as director will NEED to be a) a big Hollywood player with an enormous amount of sway and influence, and b) incredibly pig-headed. Stubborn, not able to be bullied into settling for mediocrity.
Don't get me wrong, if this can be done with all of these requirements being whole-heartedly fulfilled, then I'm on board with this. I suppose what I'm trying to say is, that kind of achievement with something of this large a scale has never been done in Hollywood. And I mean ever.
And yes, to conclude, the reason a lot of these ideas are being criticized is because they're bad.
If people want to bring back Animorphs, the way to go would be as an independent animated series, a straight-to-DVD serial style production. That way you're operating with stylized animation, which is relatively cheap and you don't have to worry about extensive effects work. The serial format suits the narrative so much better, too. Plus, independently, it's free to push the boundaries a little more with what is and isn't appropriate for the major studios and TV networks.
If you want suggestions, there they are. A series of PG-13 rated 40 minute episodes (traditional animation, not CGI) is logically the best way to go, all things considered. Everything else is, sorry to be so blunt, just being a sissykicking daydreamer and not taking into account the realities of how the system works.
-
Fine. You think Animorphs can only be done that way and that's fine but be more respectful of other people's opinion, Xeno.
People have different opinions and will disagree. It doesn't mean that their opinion is worthless or 'wrong.' (Nit unless it's REALLY crazy like adapting 20 books into one film and using flashbacks to remind people if the other books in the series.)
And what's worng with a summer blockbuster? Quality filmmaking and escapist fare aren't mutually exclusive.
-
See, you're mistaking this for personal attacks. It's never been about beating down another person's ideas. Ideas are fine, opinions are fine. But, see, opinions can be wrong. "My opinion is Jesus was a surfer!" = am I allowed to have that opinion? Sure. Is it wrong? You betcha.
What's wrong with a summer blockbuster? Nothing, if done right. It's simply that the source material here doesn't lend itself well to a summer blockbuster format, or tone. It's really that basic.
-
It's simply that the source material here doesn't lend itself well to a summer blockbuster format, or tone. It's really that basic.
Are you allowed to have that opinion? Sure. Is it wrong? You betcha.
hehe you walked right into that one dude lol
-
::) O snap.
Lulz, I see wut u did there. Duh huh.
I provide evidence and supporting rationale, you provide "dudes" and "lols". Not helping your case, chachi.
-
What's wrong with a summer blockbuster? Nothing, if done right. It's simply that the source material here doesn't lend itself well to a summer blockbuster format, or tone. It's really that basic.
And we all respectfully disagree.
No one here is right or wrong.
-
Except that they are, when one side is providing reason and step-by-step analysis of the obstacles, and the other's saying "oh hay wuldnt an Animurphz movie b kewlz?"
-
"My opinion is Jesus was a surfer!" = am I allowed to have that opinion? Sure. Is it wrong? You betcha.
wouldn't it be a fact that jesus wasn't a surfer?
-
Exactly. Precisely! No different to how Animorphs isn't a viable option for a film adaptation, if you're making it even remotely resemble the books.
Point in case.
-
...wait I'm confused... you said that was an opinion that was wrong. and I'm thinking it's not an opinion but a fact (well a wrong fact)...
-
What I tried to illustrate was that opinion and fact aren't always mutually exclusive. Everyone has a right to have an opinion, but a lot of times those opinions are wrong. They're still allowed to believe it, but conflicting opinions proposed on a factual basis should also overrule said opinion.
-
...
I still don't understand, but I'm not gonna ask you to explain again because
1. you might not want to explain again
and 2. it'd probably just confuse me more.
-
What's to understand? People are free to think whatever they want on any issue. Doesn't mean those people aren't wrong in believing what they believe.
People are allowed to believe a quality Animorphs movie can be made within the major studio system. They're wrong, but they're allowed to be wrong.
-
What's wrong with a summer blockbuster? Nothing, if done right. It's simply that the source material here doesn't lend itself well to a summer blockbuster format, or tone. It's really that basic.
And we all respectfully disagree.
No one here is right or wrong.
What r u talking about? I'm right, and all you b*tches are wrong! HAHAHA
Lol. I'm kidding guys. Shows just how wrong this argument has gone. The only person I think was wrong in their opinions, since he decided to express them, was Yorrick.
-
They weren't that violent.
*laughs* I swear to God, one more response like this and I'm going to go skim-read through the books and type up some of the passages from the fight sequences. Just to put this to rest. Don't make meh get tha hose, Cletus!
They were that violent. Much much more violent if you pay attention to what's being said, more extreme than anything you'd ever see in a movie. Terminator looks like the Muppets compared to Ax cutting off arms and Cassie ripping the throat out of a Hork, and a dude laying on the ground begging Jake for a blanket as he's dying, with Jake just coldly turning and walking away.
Won't. Happen. In. A. Movie.
Geez. It's a personal opinion. My view: if I can be 8 years old and read these things without nightmares it either means there's a hell of a lot wrong with society or they weren't THAT bad in comparison to things that did give me nightmares. You take your pick, but I'm not changing my opinion.
Besides which my overall view is that as much as I'd like to see an Animorphs movie done, it's very unlikely and NOT for any reason stated in this thread. They won't do it because of this.
- It's been filmed already as a TV series.... and that didn't go over well
- Books that have been filmed more than once fall under the following criteria
~ They're classics (Lord of the Ring, Bridge to Terrabithia, Chronicles of Narnia etcetera.)
~ They're filmed again several years after the original filming
I'm sorry, but as much as I love Animorphs they are not classic books. I don't see it being very likely they'll ever be filmed again, movie or TV show. My only views being expressed in this thread were ones against how Yorick wanted it done, not views as to whether I thought it would or could be done up until now.
-
Geez. It's a personal opinion. My view: if I can be 8 years old and read these things without nightmares it either means there's a hell of a lot wrong with society or they weren't THAT bad in comparison to things that did give me nightmares. You take your pick, but I'm not changing my opinion.
Asi I said, that's not because of the content, that's because it was simply words on a page.
If you visualized those same sequences word-for-word on screen, and took away the imagination and interpretation of the child watching? Stopped filtering the severity? You'd have kids SCREAMING.
I mean, this isn't like The Joker threatening to cut a dude up into little pieces, then the camera cutting away as little kids start to cry. The books actually described the acts. In pretty gruesome detail.
-
I think the more we push for a movie, the more we are going to be disapointed. if we really want to see a movie soon, then were better off making our own. The real block buster wont come until later until everyones forgoten about animorphs. Once we forget about following the sieres, then that opens up the door for directors and writers to be creative, and make the movie more interesting. There are somethings we are going to have to sacrifice to see a good movie. im not saing to screw everything, but somethings we might have to give up.