Topic: The Road & The Book of Eli (Read 28787 times)

variable_star · « **on:** 16 Nov 2009, 19:26 »

Nice. Two post-apocalyptic films in almost as many months. . .and just after I finished Fallout 3, too.

The Road (Nov. 25)
Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hbLgszfXTAY

The Book of Eli (Jan. 15)
Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JKfZrbS79To

scarred · « **Reply #1 on:** 16 Nov 2009, 19:35 »

The Road looks promising, as movies based on Cormac McCarthy novels often are. The second one, well... I lol'd when "MILA KUNIS" flashed on the screen dramatically.

Blue Kitty · « **Reply #2 on:** 16 Nov 2009, 19:42 »

I was so hyped for Book of Eli, then I saw Mila Kunis in the trailer. I don't know how to feel now.

KharBevNor · « **Reply #3 on:** 16 Nov 2009, 19:46 »

The first one looks pretty cool. The second one looks like a big pile of dick.

TheFuriousWombat · « **Reply #4 on:** 16 Nov 2009, 19:58 »

The Road is an amazing book. Incredibly harrowing and spare. The movie looks pretty cool, probably a lot more action-y than the book and it certainly looks a lot flashier than the language of the book would suggest but I'm still excited for it. As for Book of Eli, I think I'll save my money.

JD · « **Reply #5 on:** 16 Nov 2009, 20:13 »

The Book of Eli seems a lot like Mad Max 2

The Road look pretty superb though

Scandanavian War Machine · « **Reply #6 on:** 17 Nov 2009, 10:04 »

I am sort of nervous about The Road.

on the one hand, it's one of my favorite books and it looks likethey got the dreariness and greyness spot on; but on the other hand...well...Charlize Theron.

ackblom12 · « **Reply #7 on:** 17 Nov 2009, 10:36 »

What's wrong with Charlize Theron? Remember "Monster"?

Scandanavian War Machine · « **Reply #8 on:** 17 Nov 2009, 11:03 »

I never saw it.

I just really dislike Charlize Theron.

variable_star · « **Reply #9 on:** 17 Nov 2009, 11:12 »

Quote from: scarred on 16 Nov 2009, 19:35

The second one, well... I lol'd when "MILA KUNIS" flashed on the screen dramatically.

Quote from: Blue Kitty on 16 Nov 2009, 19:42

I was so hyped for Book of Eli, then I saw Mila Kunis in the trailer. I don't know how to feel now.

haha I totally agree....but it's got the always reliable Gary Oldman as the villain, so I have high hopes nonetheless.

*crosses fingers*

michaelicious · « **Reply #10 on:** 17 Nov 2009, 13:04 »

Quote from: Blue Kitty on 16 Nov 2009, 19:42

I was so hyped for Book of Eli, then I saw Mila Kunis in the trailer. I don't know how to feel now.

Aroused.

KickThatBathProf · « **Reply #11 on:** 17 Nov 2009, 13:16 »

Quote from: scarred on 16 Nov 2009, 19:35

The Road looks promising, as movies based on Cormac McCarthy novels often are. The second one, well... I lol'd when "MILA KUNIS" flashed on the screen dramatically.

To my knowledge there have been two films based on McCarthy books. No Country for Old Men was amazing, but the other was All the Pretty Horses

KvP · « **Reply #12 on:** 17 Nov 2009, 21:10 »

Quote from: Zombiedude on 16 Nov 2009, 20:13

The Book of Eli seems a lot like Mad Max 2

So it looks fucking awesome is what you're saying

Bastardous Bassist · « **Reply #13 on:** 17 Nov 2009, 21:20 »

Maybe not awesome, because it has fewer muscle cars than Mad Max. But it does have Denzel Washington instead of Mel Gibson, so I don't know.

Tom · « **Reply #14 on:** 18 Nov 2009, 00:44 »

It is Apocalypse Porn.

Johnny C · « **Reply #15 on:** 18 Nov 2009, 01:24 »

what the fuck does everyone have against mila kunis

scarred · « **Reply #16 on:** 18 Nov 2009, 01:31 »

When I think riveting and emotionally affecting post-apocalyptic action-drama, I don't think Meg.

Ikrik · « **Reply #17 on:** 18 Nov 2009, 13:29 »

The Book Of Eli looks to be a dumb action film set in a very cool setting. Denzel Washington hasn't been impressing me too much lately and Gary Oldman is very much hit and miss. I wouldn't mind seeing a longer trailer but so far I'm not all too impressed.

The Road, on the other hand, looks to be absolutely fantastic. I think that Cormac McCarthy's books are absolutely perfect to translate to the large screen. I really don't like Aragorn but I think that he's going to be pretty amazing and I actually think the guy will be able to hold this film all on his own. I'm really hoping that they don't make Charlize Theron a major character, she's really not in the book all that much.

TheFuriousWombat · « **Reply #18 on:** 18 Nov 2009, 21:06 »

Quote from: Ikrik on 18 Nov 2009, 13:29

I'm really hoping that they don't make Charlize Theron a major character, she's really not in the book all that much.

My one hope is that this is one of those "hey, let's show this well known attractive actress a lot in the preview even though she's only in the movie for a couple minutes because people will want to go see it more if they think she's in it a lot" kind of things. Please let it be one of those!

JD · « **Reply #19 on:** 18 Nov 2009, 21:43 »

What, do you think she is a terrible actor or something?

Inlander · « **Reply #20 on:** 18 Nov 2009, 21:44 »

I've only heard really good things about the Road (the movie). From watching that trailer it seems pretty apparent that they're trying to market what's essentially an arty mood piece to the most lucrative demographic, which is teenage boys who like going to multiplexes to watch men shoot other men, preferably in a post-apocalyptic landscape where lots of shit's been blown up, with the occasional break from the action to look at pretty women. It seems like they've crammed every single moment of action in the book into one minute of trailer.

David_Dovey · « **Reply #21 on:** 19 Nov 2009, 04:24 »

Quote from: ackblom12 on 17 Nov 2009, 10:36

What's wrong with Charlize Theron? Remember the third season of "Arrested Development"?

duh

Dimmukane · « **Reply #22 on:** 19 Nov 2009, 05:03 »

Quote from: TheFuriousWombat on 18 Nov 2009, 21:06

My one hope is that this is one of those "hey, let's show this well known attractive actress a lot in the preview even though she's only in the movie for a couple minutes because people will want to go see it more if they think she's in it a lot" kind of things. Please let it be one of those!

From what I've heard, this is essentially the case.

michaelicious · « **Reply #23 on:** 19 Nov 2009, 06:17 »

Quote from: Inlander on 18 Nov 2009, 21:44

I've only heard really good things about the Road (the movie). From watching that trailer it seems pretty apparent that they're trying to market what's essentially an arty mood piece to the most lucrative demographic, which is teenage boys who like going to multiplexes to watch men shoot other men, preferably in a post-apocalyptic landscape where lots of shit's been blown up, with the occasional break from the action to look at pretty women. It seems like they've crammed every single moment of action in the book into one minute of trailer.

Trailers often make movies seem a lot worse than they are. I read somewhere that those scenes at the very beginning of the trailer with the news broadcast or whatever aren't even in the movie and John Hillcoat was not too pleased about their being included in the trailer.

Also, I am pretty happy that they got Viggo Mortensen to play the man. I am a pretty big fan of his performance in Eastern Promises.

TheFuriousWombat · « **Reply #24 on:** 19 Nov 2009, 06:28 »

Quote from: Zombiedude on 18 Nov 2009, 21:43

What, do you think she is a terrible actor or something?

No not per se but her character wasn't much of a factor in the book at all, a couple brief memories of the Man, and the story worked really well that way. Gussying it up with all sorts of flashbacks and explicit exposition could ruin the mood.

Quote from: David_Dovey on 19 Nov 2009, 04:24

Quote from: ackblom12 on 17 Nov 2009, 10:36
What's wrong with Charlize Theron? Remember the third season of "Arrested Development"?

duh

Fuck, that's who that was? Why did I not realize??

pilsner · « **Reply #25 on:** 19 Nov 2009, 09:33 »

There is no way movie The Road can be as dark as the book and still be commercially viable. I said this about the Watchmen and history has vindicated me!

America and the world are not read for a movie depicting cannibals eating babies. You heard it here first.

Scandanavian War Machine · « **Reply #26 on:** 19 Nov 2009, 10:19 »

The Hills Have Eyes?

They eat a baby in that, don't they?

pilsner · « **Reply #27 on:** 19 Nov 2009, 10:32 »

Yes sure but it's a metaphor. For society.

Anyway, after checking Rotten Tomatoes and reading a few of the reviews, I'm definitely seeing this. Also, Michael K. Williams is in it. Michael K. Williams and Nick Cave in the same movie. Oh baby.

Caleb · « **Reply #28 on:** 19 Nov 2009, 10:53 »

The road was a really great novel. I don't see how they could possibly get that story told in a film.

MrSteevo · « **Reply #29 on:** 19 Nov 2009, 17:17 »

Quote from: pilsner on 19 Nov 2009, 09:33

There is no way movie The Road can be as dark as the book and still be commercially viable. I said this about the Watchmen and history has vindicated me!

America and the world are not read for a movie depicting cannibals eating babies. You heard it here first.

There's been a poem out for about 300 years now all about the consumption of babies.

Ozymandias · « **Reply #30 on:** 19 Nov 2009, 17:50 »

A poem?

For 300 years?

About eating babies?

Which one?

pilsner · « **Reply #31 on:** 19 Nov 2009, 18:21 »

Was it written by an ancestor of Anne Geddes? Or Eddie Izzard??

Ikrik · « **Reply #32 on:** 19 Nov 2009, 18:50 »

Quote from: Caleb on 19 Nov 2009, 10:53

The road was a really great novel. I don't see how they could possibly get that story told in a film.

I'm having a hard time seeing how it wouldn't translate perfectly into the film. McCarthy spends so many words describing the environment and the actions of the characters.

TheFuriousWombat · « **Reply #33 on:** 19 Nov 2009, 18:51 »

Quote from: pilsner on 19 Nov 2009, 09:33

America and the world are not read for a movie depicting cannibals eating babies. You heard it here first.

They filmed this scene and it was in one of the earlier cuts of the movie. Apparently they address the cannibalism thing earlier, however, and thought it would be redundant so they cut it. That's the official word anyway.

Inlander · « **Reply #34 on:** 19 Nov 2009, 19:08 »

Quote from: Ikrik on 19 Nov 2009, 18:50

I'm having a hard time seeing how it wouldn't translate perfectly into the film. McCarthy spends so many words describing the environment and the actions of the characters.

True, but a lot of the book's tone came from the techniques McCarthy used. Principally I'm thinking about his treatment of dialogue, which was shrunk down so much that it didn't even come wrapped in quotation marks; even if the movie retains the extreme sparseness of the words that are actually spoken, the effect of having them presented almost blank on the page, which flattened the character's voices and gave a strong impression of the man and the boy being worn down by their daily ordeals, is going to be difficult if not impossible to replicate once you have actual people on screen actually speaking the words. The film-makers could compensate for this through make-up and physical mannerisms, but it's going to be a different effect. I don't doubt that the movie will be highly faithful to the book, and from everything I've read it's apparently a really good film, but I expect it would be almost impossible for a film to replicate very accurately the feeling of reading the book.

Dimmukane · « **Reply #35 on:** 19 Nov 2009, 19:49 »

Harry's right, that's probably the hardest thing this movie will have to do. The characters in the book felt so hollow, almost as if they were not human but rather shells of humans who trudged forward in a combination of utter desperation and that little spark of hope that the Man kept alive in the Boy. At times I feared their interaction with other humans, because the tiny ember that kept them going was so vulnerable to the elements that it was constantly on the verge of fizzling out. I don't know yet if the film portrays that struggle in a way that makes sense to me, as I haven't seen it yet, but that's what I will be looking for when I do.

pilsner · « **Reply #36 on:** 19 Nov 2009, 21:04 »

Michael Chabon had a brilliant review in the New York Review of Books where he said that the book was better understood as an existential horror piece exploiting parents' insecurity about protecting their children from harm. I literally had to stop reading at several points in the book because I found the material so unnerving, and I read a lot of pretty fringy, existential horror stuff usually without issue. I don't expect that the movie will recreate this extreme reaction -- nor would I want it to. But all the reviews I read said it was quite faithful to the book, and a hell of a downer. I'll know better once I see the thing....

MrSteevo · « **Reply #37 on:** 19 Nov 2009, 22:46 »

Quote from: Ozymandias on 19 Nov 2009, 17:50

A poem?

For 300 years?

About eating babies?

Which one?

"A Modest Proposal"
Written in 1729, so just under 300. Sorry about that.

scarred · « **Reply #38 on:** 19 Nov 2009, 22:56 »

That wasn't a poem, it was an essay - right?

Caleb · « **Reply #39 on:** 20 Nov 2009, 06:23 »

That was just satire.

It's one thing to present an idea as satire it's another to put it into a realistic visual medium.

TheFuriousWombat · « **Reply #40 on:** 20 Nov 2009, 08:37 »

Quote from: scarred on 19 Nov 2009, 22:56

That wasn't a poem, it was an essay - right?

right

scarred · « **Reply #41 on:** 03 Dec 2009, 19:15 »

OK guys I just finished the Road and it was fantastic and everything but Cormac McCarthy needs to learn how to use a fucking apostrophe, seriously that shit was infuriating.

Blue Kitty · « **Reply #42 on:** 03 Dec 2009, 19:26 »

pilsner · « **Reply #43 on:** 03 Dec 2009, 20:35 »

Quote from: scarred on 03 Dec 2009, 19:15

OK guys I just finished the Road and it was fantastic and everything but Cormac McCarthy needs to learn how to use a fucking apostrophe, seriously that shit was infuriating.

Apparently it's some kind of brilliant marketing strategy to really piss off word nerds.

scarred · « **Reply #44 on:** 03 Dec 2009, 20:46 »

God forbid someone write a book for the sake of telling a story anymore.

pilsner · « **Reply #45 on:** 03 Dec 2009, 20:47 »

I was being snide. In the wide world of gimmicks this one is pretty innocuous. I actually remember him rattling off some convoluted and deeply felt justification in interview but I can't for the life of me remember what it was.

Inlander · « **Reply #46 on:** 03 Dec 2009, 21:10 »

Here's a really good (as in it's both full of praise, and it's also very well written) review from this week of the Road, the movie:

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/higher-education/towards-love/story-e6frgcjx-1225805911410

These two paragraphs in particular will be a relief to those of you who were concerned about the trailer:

Quote

The construction of a deceptive preview trailer that seeks to hide this darkness by promoting it as an end-of-the-world spectacular such as The Day After Tomorrow, using panicky newsreel footage and explosive snippets that are not in the film -- with shots of Theron looking beautiful and scared -- did not assuage concerns. A dog's breakfast seemed the inevitable outcome of these competing ambitions and pressures.

Instead the film is neither a fetishistic art-house indulgence of McCarthy's most miserable extremes or an entertainment-on-steroids compromise that bastardises the book. No, against all the odds it strikes towards the deepest core of the book's appeal and emerges as a grand cinematic poem about love, about what we give and what we teach and how this is carried on between generations. Any father, mother, or child knows this territory. And, like the book, the film's ultimate reverberations are restorative precisely because it pushes us towards love and sacrifice. The outcome in the film, then, is the same as that of the novel: hope, not despair.

Ikrik · « **Reply #47 on:** 03 Dec 2009, 23:37 »

I really like McCarthy's writing style, especially the absence of punctuation. I find myself a lot more involved in the reading and I absorb a lot more of what's going on because my mind is correcting the sentences as I'm reading it. I think it works very well with the way he tells his story.

pilsner · « **Reply #48 on:** 04 Dec 2009, 07:00 »

In that case check out Autumn of the Patriarch by Gabriel Garcia Marquez. Sentences go on for weeks.

Caleb · « **Reply #49 on:** 04 Dec 2009, 12:10 »

Quote from: Blue Kitty on 03 Dec 2009, 19:26

*The Road Comic*

Aww...that's nice.

THESE FORUMS NOW CLOSED (read only)

Author Topic: The Road & The Book of Eli (Read 28787 times)

ackblom12