shouldn't it be time to start looking for options from another Film company. I know that Necroscope is not exactly "genre defining" because it pulls from many different realms, but isn't now the time to stop dealing with a middling company, hire someone to pitch this idea, and get it done?

Whats the latest on the movie???

To be quite honest, I cannot believe that even the SciFi channel here in the states (don't know the BBC equivalent) hasn't made some crappy b-grade version of this story.

 

It's one of the most absolute original takes on the whole vampire genre, complete with the whole other side of ESP-involved spy agencies.

 

How can material like this NOT be a goldmine for an excellent movie script?

 

For f**ck sake, they've made a Will Ferrell 'Land Of The Lost' movie based on a mediocre childrens show. Now I hear rumblings of a H.R. Puffenstuff movie.

 

With the revival of Dr. Who and the spin-off Torchwood, how is an excellent and quite original concept such as our beloved Necro-saga NOT a great screen-worthy project?

 

I need to win the lottery or something so I can fund this thing properly myself. Perhaps those nice fellows over in Africa will contact me soon about that foreign inheritance money I've been helping them get out of the country.

 

(And on a side note, LOST, at it's core, has been a great show. It's floundered a bit, but still a great series.)

I'm with you all the way there Mr, if I wasn't so cynical I wouln't be able to understand why Necroscope hasn't been on our screens for years either.

 

Then the cynical side takes over and I understand perfectly - the reason is it's too good! When was the last time you went to see a trully great and totally original film?

 

(Not with you on Lost though, I don't dislike it, I just didn't really get around to watching it)

Edited June 4, 200916 yr by Silver

I think we need to appreciate the complexity of having to create a Necroscope film.

ESP powers wouldn't exactly translate to the screen as easily as reading the books.

Necroscopy? Telepathy? Onierancy? Empathy? Locator? Spotter?

 

That's a seriously difficult task, especially for those that haven't read the books.

 

I personally prefer they do it well than do it quickly.

That is a good point jello, perhaps for us who know Necroscope inside out it's all second nature and would perhaps be very obvious, but for a total newcommer it would have to be really clear on showing the various powers.

 

It has been done already though and very well too on Heros, and the same team is supposedly going to be involved on Necroscope which I think will be fantastic if/when it happens.

I'm prepared to wait. I don't think they'll be able to top the books though.

 

Who plays Harry might make it or break it for me.

I agree with Mr. Moogly. I'm really surprised the movie industry here in the U. S. hasn't tried to make a movie of the Necroscope series. It would certainly be 100 percent better than some of the stuff they're putting out. If they can make the movie "Twillight" for the teenage group, why not one for us adults? Besides, there hasn't been a decent vampire movie in ages.

I promise you this, if we do ever get a movie based on the Necroscope series, and it is shown in here in the States, when it comes to Arkansas, I'll be first in line to see it.

I'll just keep hoping and wishing.

Cathy

I'm pretty sure you need the rights from Brian to make a movie of his books. They can't just go and make a movie of the Necroscope whenever they see fit. Though I'm sure they'd love to.

Aboslutely right jello. I don't know if Brian had ever been approached before about making Necroscope a movie or not but the option was originally bought a couple of years ago, although they haven't got very far with it yet when the time comes to renew it they do keep buying it up again, to me that shows they are keen.

 

I agree, whoever plays Harry would make or break it.

With the revival of Dr. Who and the spin-off Torchwood, how is an excellent and quite original concept such as our beloved Necro-saga NOT a great screen-worthy project?

 

Money is tight at the moment. ITV have canned Primeval and Demons. Shame about Primeval as it was very good. It made up somewhat for the dearth of Dr Who this year. Roll on November.

 

To be fair, Demons was pants tho'. A nice idea but it didn't gel on screen for me. Phil Glennister's cod-US accent was particularly cringeworthy. :eek:

 

I've enjoyed the Underworld trilogy. I think the team that made those would make a good fist of bringing Necroscope to the screen. They used the CGI sparingly and the makeup effects were awesome - especially the Lycans. :cool:

 

Necropaedia

I was forced to necro this thread too... because there was really nowhere else to discuss special effects and such... I've been hearing the Cry of CGI, CGI, CGI, here on the boards a lot regarding a Necroscope movie... For the love of all that is undead why?!?!?! I urge you the next time you watch the underworld series to pay attention to the way the Lycans don't particularly blend well into the backgrounds of some of the shots. Computer cinematography is still somewhat limited in this day and age, it's better used for effects than entire characters sometimes.

 

That in mind I urge you to look back at Army of Darkness... While it's true it is a comedy the evil dead series did not start out that way, Sam Rami simply saw the limits of what he could do with effects and made his works into what they were after seeing them on screen. HOWEVER, you have to admit the "deadites" did actually look like human remains for the most part. I would much rather see an extremely well puppeteered, make-up, and prosthetic version of the great majority, than poorly done and not quite right CGI versions moving around. Now take into account the remake of Dawn of the Dead, those were some decent looking undead. As were some of the zombies in the Resident Evil movies, but again the CGI creatures in those again looked like garbage.

 

Now on the other hand CGI can be done properly with a mix of Make-up to work awesomely together as evidenced in the Spiderman movies, even though Venom looked a bit cheesy in some places, the Sybiote itself looked rather good. And let's face it I'm sure it would be extremely hard to puppeteer the "others", the amoeba like, and the shape shifting aspects of some Wamphyri creatures. If they can make the symbiote work in Spiderman 3, them with CGI coupled with make-up and prosthetics it can be done for the Wamphyri.

 

Lets not rely on computers to make something we all love so much, and instead look at what has ALREADY been done right, see if we can apply that to the Master's work, and improve upon what needs to be improved.Though if it isn't broke, do NOT fix it. We want our beloved to look great, and stand the test of time, not look cheesy in the years to come. We want it done right, not just done.

 

Prime examples to ask yourself about.

LoTR's Ringwraiths Cheesy or awesome looking? Were those prosthetics or CGI?

LoTR's Gollum? Same questions.

Darth Vader?

Jar Jar Binks?

Romero's human being ripped in half effects?

I'm sure you can think of other great examples of things done properly and not so much yourselves.

Edited July 21, 200916 yr by DeVil.DeMonde

Good points all.

 

My own opinion is that neither CGI or special effects will do the characters of Necroscope justice. I believe that the right kind of animation would be the best way to go. Not like some of the more unrealistic anime, but like the Final Fantasy movies. There were parts of those movies that looked so lifelike I had to remember that I was watching animation. I just think that no CGI or special effects are going to do the proper justice to the constructs and creatures of the wamphyri, not to mention the wamphyri themselves.

 

On another note, I don't think any movie company, anywhere in the world is going to budget this properly right out of the gate and will try to cram as much as possible into the first movie, thus ruining it. LOTR was 3 books. Necroscope is 15. I think that an HBO, or the UK equivalent, series would give it a better chance of being done right.

 

Just my opinions and I respect everyone else's. (God knows I am wrong often enough!)

 

nECrO

Very good points and well made both of you.

I'd have to disagree about the cartoon aspect for one main reason. It will never appeal to the mainstream. Especially such an adult oriented cartoon. Thereby limiting the audience.

There is a very big difference between cartoons and serious animation. Have you seen the Final Fantasy movies? Both were rated PG-13 and were hardly kids fare. They are the best examples of photo-realistic animation I can cite. I can't say much for the movies themselves but the animation was top-notch and as close to photo-realistic as I have ever seen.

 

 

nECrO

Well and again that is nice, but my points are still valid. Nor could you gain much respect for our beloved series with a PG-13 rating... Still though I can't see people like my woman, nor other family members going to a movie theater to see an animated movie about vampires... What you have to realize is that you are fighting against a stigma in that kind of market. It just doesn't have that mass market appeal.

I think that's a bit harsh DeVil. You are correct that animated is not the same as mainstream but I think you might be underestimating just how many adults would be into animated vampires.

 

Necro is using final fantasy just as an example of a successful animated film, the fact that it was a PG 13 rated film is irrelevant, the point is the visual effects, it doesn't actually matter if it was even a good film, all I'm saying is that I think there would be a market out there for it.

 

I don't necessarily agree that it's what I'd prefer to see, I actually really like the idea of proper actors with make up and prosthetics and perhaps some CGI used for some stuff in the background, but I also enjoy animated films and would be really interested to see how that would turn out. If it were done that way I would certainly go to the cinema to watch it and I know plenty of others who would too who haven't even read one of the books.

I think we need to appreciate the complexity of having to create a Necroscope film.

ESP powers wouldn't exactly translate to the screen as easily as reading the books.

Necroscopy? Telepathy? Onierancy? Empathy? Locator? Spotter?

 

That's a seriously difficult task, especially for those that haven't read the books.

 

I personally prefer they do it well than do it quickly.

 

Many a parlor job has been done even on a big screen without huge special effects. Condition an audience to see a simple green glow reflect communication with the dead and then color coding the other skills pulls it off. Most important is the current options, when they expire, should be pulled and offered up again to another bidder.

I think that's a bit harsh DeVil. You are correct that animated is not the same as mainstream but I think you might be underestimating just how many adults would be into animated vampires.

 

Necro is using final fantasy just as an example of a successful animated film, the fact that it was a PG 13 rated film is irrelevant, the point is the visual effects, it doesn't actually matter if it was even a good film, all I'm saying is that I think there would be a market out there for it.

 

I don't necessarily agree that it's what I'd prefer to see, I actually really like the idea of proper actors with make up and prosthetics and perhaps some CGI used for some stuff in the background, but I also enjoy animated films and would be really interested to see how that would turn out. If it were done that way I would certainly go to the cinema to watch it and I know plenty of others who would too who haven't even read one of the books.

 

Aaaaaaaaaaah, a challenge!

 

Thank you silver for your most gracious retort. I will savor this. I'm sure while my approach may seem harsh, or as I like to call things as they are, brutal, it was truth. For indeed in your attempt to counter what I said you've lent it further credibility. I did not say there would be no market, what I said is it would not hold MASS market appeal, mass being the operative word.

 

Regarding the use of Final Fantasy as being successful well how does one measure mass market success? Let us use the box office earning and profits...

Well Final Fantasy VII: Advent never even saw the box office so it is a moot point there. However since it's release it is known to have brought in $14,860,325 from DVD sales, no paltry number.

Now then Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within in just box office sales alone has had a worldwide gross of $85,131,830 this includes a US Gross of $32,131,830. Now I'm sure most people will be impressed by that number, but here's where things get complicated. For you see the advertising budget of this movie was $30,000,000. So you see the US gross alone was barely enough money to cover the advertising they used for the movie. Hardly a success. Oh I almost forgot, the total budget was $137,000,000.

Now let's put it into contrast, let's use a mass market appeal movie that wasn't an out and out smash hit, but something that was released around the same time... *thinks hard on that...* We'll use Scary Movie II (a movie I found to be utter garbage...) The US gross alone was $71,277,420 more than double the US gross of Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within and darn near the Worldwide Gross. It's Worldwide Gross was $141,189,101 close to double that of Spirits Within, and it's budget by comparison was $45,000,000 nearly half of the afore mentioned. This movie doesn't even compare to the block buster hits that month Planet of the Apes & Jurassic Park III.

Now then regarding the ratings issue. You say the rating are irrelevant but I again have to disagree. After all what is our target audience? These stories aren't meant to be family stories, indeed they are quite graphic and adult oriented. Now you can say so is anime but anime isn't the rule in most places is it? No, for it is the exception. And let me pose to you this question. When is the last time you saw a smash anime success in the box office? Why even Transformers was changed from it's original animated version and turned into a live acting movie as was GI Joe. Let alone an animated feature with an R or higher rating doing that well?

 

Of course there is a market, there is a market for everything. But is that the market we want to tap? You yourself said it's not a format you believe you'd prefer to see, well and I agree, and what's more I think the majority that is not of the great majority would feel the same. Why should they go after the adult animation crowd, when they can go after EVERYBODY?

 

Oh how I love a good debate... and money being the root of all evil what better a subject to discuss with one such as me, no?

 

Warmest regards to you both Silver and nECr0, thank you for presenting me with a difference of opinion. I bow to your efforts.

 

One more thing... neither of you touched on the stigma of animated features, nor the fact that while you are saying it has market appeal, again, I am saying yes it holds market appeal, but not MASS MARKET APPEAL, which is a different creature entirely.

 

If the difference is not understood allow me elaborate. Within every market there are submarkets. We could cater to vampire fans, we could cater to fans of the supernatural, we could cater to fans of espionage, indeed we could even cater to fans of the books, or even broader to fans of horror movies in general. But why not cater to everybody that could purchase a ticket for themselves or with the help of a guardian and get ALL the markets I've mentioned and just make it an all around phenomenal movie that appeals to most everybody?

 

NecrozDarksoul: Absolutely the human psyche is quite impressionable, why telepathy is easy enough to do all you need is a shot of the actor's face's lips not moving, concentration showing, with a voice over and it's understood this dialog is meant to occur in their head. It doesn't even have to go that far... Regarding the renewal of the options, I think it's more a matter of making sure you get a bidder with the proper abilities involved, then to just let the current, or some other bidder hold onto it and turn it into a gamble at best.

Ok, slight bit of overkill there dude, my response wasn't supposed to be a challenge or trigger a debate, just an observation that in my opinion you were trying to crush the idea of animation without really giving it a fair chance. I thought perhaps that could have been because you may not be someone who enjoys animation - I could be wrong there but that was the vibe I was getting from your post.

 

I still think that this is something that isn't as cut and dry as how much money it made either. Yes I realise that that's how a films success is usually measured but I strongly feel that the reason Final Fantasy didn't do better is because it was not actually a great film, not because it was animated which in this discussion I think is a very important factor that needs to be considered. If the film itself was fantastic (as we hope the Nec film will be) it won't matter if it's animated, people will still want to see it. I do understand what you mean by mass market, and you are correct that animated films don't come into that catagory as such, but that doesn't mean they never will be and I think that there have been enough poeple on this forum who keep putting them forward for that they shouldn't be ruled out.

 

Also you missed the point about the rating, I said that the rating on Final Fantasy was irrelevant because it was the not the film itself that was the example, it was the visual effects that we were discussing. Obviously if the film had a higher rating you would expect different content and Necroscope would certainly have to be a high rating, but that has nothing to do with whether a film is animated or not, it depends on what the content is which is what I meant.

 

It isn't going to be our film of course, it will belong to whoever eventually makes it and whatever kind of film it does end up being I'm certain it won't be exactly what any of us wants. I'm just trying to keep an open mind about all the possibilities, as none of us actually has any idea as to what kind of film it will be.

I'm sure I enjoy animation just as much as any "normal human", however I am resolute that it would never do The Necroscope justice. In the real world according to the current standards how much money a film makes is exactly how it's success is measured. Sad but true. And so you feel Spirits within is not worthy of championing the animated cause here? How about something with more mass appeal? Say the South Park movie... Sadly it only grossed $52,037,603 and it had the R rating and more of a market appeal.

 

As far as rating goes, to this date there are only 2 animated feature presentations that made it to the box office in the US that I can think of... The afore mentioned South Park, and Heavy Metal neither which did extremely well in the box office, yet were geared for the adult audience... The sad fact of the matter, even though as you pointed out, may not always hold true, is production companies in the US just are NOT willing to readily invest in adult oriented Feature Films, and even when they CAN be convinced, the movies do not do well on release. So while you may think it has nothing to do with content, I can assure you that a lot of companies that would have the means to produce the Necroscope would NEVER touch it as an animated film, precisely because of the content, and the rating it would require. So no my dear, I did not miss your point, you missed mine. If the company won't invest in it in the first place there won't be any visual effects to judge.

 

You're right of course it won't be "our" movie in regards to investment or ownership, but it will be our hearts, and minds that go into the theaters with high hopes should the film actually see the light of day.

 

Oh I almost forgot... I had warned everybody in my introduction as to my nature... Are my responses and my taking your replies as an open invitation to debate, (or even argue, play word/mind games, etc.) so surprising? Just try to keep in mind that I do it all in "good nature" and with a smile on my face. Harsh, brutal, overkill, perhaps... take comfort however small it may be though in the fact that it is said without malice or anger, nor shall you ever see me truly irate on these boards.

 

Now then regarding the ratings issue. You say the rating are irrelevant but I again have to disagree. After all what is our target audience? These stories aren't meant to be family stories, indeed they are quite graphic and adult oriented. Now you can say so is anime but anime isn't the rule in most places is it? No, for it is the exception. And let me pose to you this question. When is the last time you saw a smash anime success in the box office? Why even Transformers was changed from it's original animated version and turned into a live acting movie as was GI Joe. Let alone an animated feature with an R or higher rating doing that well?

 

 

This is what you said about rating, there's nothing anywhere in there that suggest that what you're actually trying to say is that in your opinion film companies won't invest in animated films with adult content which is why you think the rating matters, instead of what you actually said which was that PG isn't our target audience and anime doesn't do well in the box office. Don't "my dear, I did not miss your point, you missed mine..." me when your point, was not actually made.

 

Having said that, I accept you mean no malice so neither do I, but at this point I will agree to disagree, simply because I can't be bothered to continue and as I did say originially, I do prefer the idea of real actors anyway, I was only going against you because of the way you replied!

 

I think you may have to keep reminding people about being good natured about this, because your posts do read somewhat condescending at times - my dear, which is not something I usually appreciate! I'm not saying this to you as a moderator so don't think I'm telling you off, I'm saying it as someone who could have taken offence but chose not to. I realise that you like to play this role and that's fine with me, all I'm saying is that it might be a good idea to try and do so in a more friendly tone though, as other people may not see it the same way and take offence.

I don't choose to play any roles... I simply am what I am. I am blunt, but I do not consider it a fault. Perhaps that is why I did so well in the Army. Maybe that has something to do with my love of mind games as well... Possibly even why I don't shy away from any type of challenge and maybe even a good number of other things too... As far as my manner of speech... I suppose it isn't the norm but I am very much elitist in everything I do, and therefore everything I say. *shrugs* I find my phrasing of things tends to offend more often than what is actually being said... People tend to look at me as if I'm from Mars sometimes.

 

One more thing on the rating bit, and then I too shall let a dead dog lie. My point on the ratings to drive it home with a verbal hammer is a combination of the two things you credited me with. Film companies will not want to invest heavily or with much enthusiasm in an adult oriented cartoon because PG isn't the target audience, anime type movies don't do well in the box office, and animated features will for the time being continue to struggle against the stigma of being "kidstuff".

 

It's my professional opinion as a tech support agent that people on the internet tend to read too much into what others type, including tech support agents (the reading into part, not the typing bit). Sure netiquette is a big part of things and we should always try to maintain those high standards, but the big problem there is that one never knows the spin another will put on anything one writes. I find the best way to read anything on the net is in the mental voice of one of those horrible old text to speech type things. At any rate I'm glad you chose to not take offense. Since now I'm getting all off topic I think it's time to leave this at a close.

Gentlemen...we have the technology to do it right

 

I know if it is ever brought to the big screen I would want to see it done right..no skipping details to shorten it..The guys that did Unborn could do it... I have been waiting ever so patiently since this site first said it was in the making..