Movies or T.V Series

[LordMalinari]

I know that I for one would really like to see all of the books in the series made into movies or possibly tv Maxi/Mini Series (But realistically I do not think that the series should be brought to TV....especially the really erotic stuff the Wamphyri do in the books which is pretty explicit)....ONLY IF Brian Lumley has complete creative control/input over they way the films are made (look at what happened to Dune....the book was wonderful...the movie...total crap!)
One of the Directors that comes to mind to direct...one with terrific vision is...Tim Burton who I think is awesome.
I also feel that any actors and actresses cast for the parts of Harry, the E-Branch Staff as well as the Wamphyri Characters should all be unknown individuals (No big screen actor names)...similar to what George Lucas has done in the past with Star Wars.
I also think that with really good/High Quality CGI effects and creature effects done by say Stan Winston's or Rick Baker's creature companies...it very could work out to be an incredible event!
I also certainly hope that if the movies are made that none of the awesomeness of the Wamphyri Characters, their Leuitenant and Thralls and Creatures as well as what the Szgany characters are capable of is any way shape or for diluted down due to pressure from the ratings board for the movie industry!

Well, what do you all think out there?
Let me know what your thoughts are and I hope to here back from my fellow Lumley Fans out there!

[Ferenczy]

I personally think that if the boks were adapted to the screen it would have to be all CGI or pure animation. I'm waiting to see the new starwars movie, as it is completely digital and see what it looks like. I think that would be the only true way to depict the Wamphyri and thier size, metamophofic ways. Also the land scape of Sunside/Starside you need to be the vast plains and the mushroom swamps. The Great red waste would be a challenge as well as the ice lands. The Sxgany forest and the Desert. All need to be digital to trully show the vastness and uniqines of it all.

[LordMalinari]

Thanks for your post to my thoughts on when and if they ever make the series into movies.
I liked your thoughts on the whole CGI process....I think your right about it..I mean if they can make Babylon 5 a weekly TV series using excellent, (relatively) cheap CGI effects...there is no reason why the Wamphyri characters could not be translated properly....I would just hope that the effects would not be really cheesy like in those dreadfully bad the Adventures of Hercules or Xena Warrior Princess or like the first season of Sliders...geez those CGI Character effects were so cheesy!

[Ferenczy]

The truly bad thing is that if a movie were to be made it would have to be a true epic.

If it was a series it stands a good chance of getting hacked to pieces due to time and budget contraints.

That's what really scares me about a movie.

I was pretty disapointed with the first set of comics for the necroscope series, but the second one was better but, seems to have gone away.

I would really hate to see the movie get hacked to pieces if was made.

[Rane]

Although computer graphics would definately have to used to capture the grand scale of Sunside/Starside the gate and the process of metamorphosis, don't underestimate the use of secial make-up effects. The solidity of having an actor in 8 to 12 hours of make-up does have its advantages. For instance, in I think it was, Legend, the character of the devil played by Tim Curry was all done in make-up. The "presence" of the character would not have been the same if it was computerized because there just isn't the realness there. You feel like you can actually reach out and touch him, because you could. When a character has solidity it is more alive. And that liveliness is what lends itself to the reality and justification(?) of the character and its surroundings. Thereby bringing you more into the movie and into that world, just like Lumley's books always do.

[Lord Malinari]

Rane.
You are absolutely right about the use of CGI AND Special Makeup effects! I think that there are a couple of really good SXF Shops that could handle the requirements of the grand scale of the series....Stan Winston...Rick Baker...(possibly) Tom Savini....but Brian Lumley should/would havve to have total and complete say over their creation.
I would love to see the true metamorhpic effects of the Wamphryi come to life on the big screen! That as well as the incredible creatures they create in their Aeries, the awesome destruction the Characters manage to do to the Szangy as well as each other as well as the "evil" Russians at the Perchorsk Projekt...the battle scenes....so many cool things!
I am keeping my fingers crossed that eventually something will kick into gear soon and the first book will get made into a decent movie.
Its funny...whenever I get into a discussion about good books and authors with the people I work with...my coworkers always bring up Anne Rice and how "good" her Vampire Chronicles Series is...I always chuckle and then mention that they should read Brian Lumleys books and then they will get an understanding of how over rated and dull her series and characters are compared to the Necroscope, Blood Brothers/Blood Wars and (now) the E-Branch Series is (didn't care for the Lost Years very much....but still they were a decent read)

Let me know what your thoughts are Rane

[Lord Malinari]

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by ARTEMIS:
The only way I could see these books being made into a movie is to have it go straight to video. That way it could be split up into a bunch of different tapes that would form a collection. The Necroscope Series!

<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

I don' now about "direct to video"..that brings up connotations of really cheesy/god awful movies that have failed to get major theatrical release...i.e bad acting, bad special effects, over all bad quality....can you say Jean Claude VanDam?
Good idea/thought though Artemis!

[Rane]

Lord Malinari,
I quite agree with you on the fact that Lumley's books are more intriguing and have more depth than Anne Rice's. Although she does have good character development and history, there just isn't the same connection? with her characters. Plus, Lumley's books have so much more to offer period!
I did read her series many moons ago. At the time I had nothing really to compare them to, and they are okay books. However, I lost most respect for her and her creative talents when the movie for Interview With A Vampire came out. IT was far from the book. And although it can be quite difficult to transfer a book to a movie, there were many oppurtunities for them to do better and stay at least somewhat near the book. Plus, in the summer? they are coming out with Queen of the Damned and Aaliyah will be playing the dramatic role of Akasha and the story & plot line have also been drastically changed.
This is exactly why (as you've said before) that Lumley would have to have more creative and casting control to make sure it did the books justice. He would basically have to direct the movie himself to please all of us, or have someone who previously read the books and shared his ideas. I don't like the idea of straight to video either because there is usually less of a budget. And well, let's face it, this would be bigger than Star Wars in proportion and alot longer. There would have to be over 13 movies if everything was done right, which would take very long time. I do hope someone gets up the courage to turn these action packed horror novels into the great movies they could be. I think all of us would like to see what Lumley could visually come up with. Who knows, maybe one of us will have the time, money and connections. At least I hope so.

[LordMalinari]

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Rane:
Lord Malinari,
I quite agree with you on the fact that Lumley's books are more intriguing and have more depth than Anne Rice's. Although she does have good character development and history, there just isn't the same connection? with her characters. Plus, Lumley's books have so much more to offer period!
I did read her series many moons ago. At the time I had nothing really to compare them to, and they are okay books. However, I lost most respect for her and her creative talents when the movie for Interview With A Vampire came out. IT was far from the book. And although it can be quite difficult to transfer a book to a movie, there were many oppurtunities for them to do better and stay at least somewhat near the book. Plus, in the summer? they are coming out with Queen of the Damned and Aaliyah will be playing the dramatic role of Akasha and the story & plot line have also been drastically changed.
This is exactly why (as you've said before) that Lumley would have to have more creative and casting control to make sure it did the books justice. He would basically have to direct the movie himself to please all of us, or have someone who previously read the books and shared his ideas. I don't like the idea of straight to video either because there is usually less of a budget. And well, let's face it, this would be bigger than Star Wars in proportion and alot longer. There would have to be over 13 movies if everything was done right, which would take very long time. I do hope someone gets up the courage to turn these action packed horror novels into the great movies they could be. I think all of us would like to see what Lumley could visually come up with. Who knows, maybe one of us will have the time, money and connections. At least I hope so.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Rane
I enjoyed your thoughts on my response!
You nailed the problem with Anne Rice's characters dead on and I think it is the reason why I really did not enjoy the books very much...in fact the only one of her books that I have truely enjoyed was Ramses The Damned and it not even about a vampire, but a Mummy.
I also felt that the Movie Interview with a Vampire was poorly made as well as poorly cast (Brad Pitt was an O.k Louise....Claudia was very well cast, though the actresses name escapes me....sigh...that what happens when you live to be as ancient as I am...Ha!)
and I have no desire to see Queen of the Damned once it is release either....I think it is frustrating to see so many poorly made Vampire movies being turned out by Hollywood these days (case in Point....John Carpenters Vampires and the crappy sequel to From Dusk till Dawn...Texas Blood Money!!)
I think your right about the amount of movies that would need to be made...in fact I think 13 is a great number! (Ha!) Especially the way more and more movies with sequels are being made back to back (back to the future 2 & 3 and Matrix 2 & 3)
I think that if anyone does decide to make the movies...they should be made to read the books..before they are allowed to go thru with any production effort....I also think that it should be stipulated that Brian Lumley offer total creative consultant input on everything ranging from development, casting (especially this area), etc, etc
Look forward to hearing from you again

[Rane]

Lord Malinari,
I think the only way that the movie could really be made is if Lumley himself directed it, or if someone who previously read the series and shared his ideas directed it. However, of course, Lumley would still have to have much of the control. His characters never fold and I imagine that he wouldn't either when (if ever) it comes down to a movie. Hell, he'd never hear the end of it from all of us!!!

[Lord Darkstorm]

the way i see it is that they need to keep the wamphyrireal life actors but they sould do what they did with jar jar binks in starwars combination of real and effects.i must say i have never been hooked on a book seris before till i picked up brian lumleys book. i was hooked at once. these have to be the greatest put to gether books i have read in a long time and i would love nothing more for them to come out as a movie but they would have to be done like you have said.stay true to the books.now i know that sci fi channel could do woders with a seris but i would have to think it would have to be after the first movie came out.just to give them the proper guide lines.tell ya what i just got the new book defilers and finished it in three days and i can't wait for the next.

[Lord Darkstorm]

the way i see it is that they need to keep the wamphyrireal life actors but they sould do what they did with jar jar binks in starwars combination of real and effects.i must say i have never been hooked on a book seris before till i picked up brian lumleys book. i was hooked at once. these have to be the greatest put to gether books i have read in a long time and i would love nothing more for them to come out as a movie but they would have to be done like you have said.stay true to the books.now i know that sci fi channel could do woders with a seris but i would have to think it would have to be after the first movie came out.just to give them the proper guide lines.tell ya what i just got the new book defilers and finished it in three days and i can't wait for the next.

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Those who have seen a storm have yet to see a Darkstorm

[LordMalinari]

Good response DarkStorm
I agree with what you said in response to my posting, my thoughts on the Sci-Fi Channel are mixed....they have had some decent movies on the channel...but also some VERY cheesy movies/shows as well (Can anyone say (ughhh) Lexx?)....I am waiting to see how they adapted the classic Dune novel soon.
I am with you on the Actors and CGI effects...make that good QUALITY CGI effects and casting of the actors too.
I feel the same way about Lumley's novels...although "The Lost Years" were my least favorites in the entire series (But then again...those 2 books were better than many of the "so-called" established Vampire Authors (Ummmm...Anne Rice comes to mind here! Ha!!)
I myself just finished "Invaders" and am waiting for Defilers to come out in Paperback now...Ahhhhhh the anticipation!!
Good to hear your thoughts on my posting

[Lord Darkstorm]

Lord Malinari.
if you liked invaders you'll like defilers.i'm waiting on avengers now.I really do hope that a movie does come out and soon .readind these book are great.

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Those who have seen a storm have yet to see a Darkstorm