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Finally... => General Discussion => Topic started by: kalida99 on August 03, 2010, 09:09:16 pm

Title: At the Mountains of Madness
Post by: kalida99 on August 03, 2010, 09:09:16 pm
So Guillermo Del Toro And James Cameron are going to recreate one of HP Lovecraft's best stories in 3D. With Guillermo directing, and Cameron Producing.


So any thoughts? Could it be a flop, The greatest thing ever, or drive everyone who sees it insane?

Sources (there's a lot of them): http://english.ohmygore.com/guillermo-del-toro-james-cameron-and-at-the-moutains-of-madness-news-uk-7356.html
http://moviesblog.mtv.com/2010/07/29/guillermo-del-toro-finally-arrives-at-the-mountains-of-madness-best-movie-news-of-the-year/

literally just search google and it turns up a lot
Title: Re: At the Mountains of Madness
Post by: MetalSlimeHunt on August 03, 2010, 09:13:56 pm
Cameron better not screw this up. I love H.P. Lovecraft stories, and I love Cameron films. But after he did Avatar and got caught up in crazy SFX, I have become worried. Also, I want Christopher Walken to be cast in this film. If anyone can pull off good crazy, it's him.
Title: Re: At the Mountains of Madness
Post by: Zai on August 03, 2010, 09:17:10 pm
Wh...How...

I'm unsure how I feel about this. I don't know how they're going to pull it off or if they even can. I'm not sure it can be done while maintaining the feel of the original story. They'll probably end up making the ending of the story the main focus.
Title: Re: At the Mountains of Madness
Post by: nenjin on August 03, 2010, 09:18:44 pm
Del Toro has talked about wanting to do this movie for a long time, but no one would bite. Cameron is the one that finally did.

I have no doubts about Del Toro. But I worry that Cameron won't know when to stay out of it as a producer, and we're going to end up with a CGI monstrosity shoved down our throats in the first 30 mins.

Either way, any exposure for Lovecraft stories is a good thing IMO, especially since all he's ever gotten is B (or C or D) movie treatment. I just hope the tension and, well, the Lovecraftiness gets retained, and isn't spoiled by a bunch of big name actors and over done CGI.
Title: Re: At the Mountains of Madness
Post by: Criptfeind on August 03, 2010, 09:28:50 pm
I worry that the horror will be seen. It is something that needs to stay unseen for my imagination.
Title: Re: At the Mountains of Madness
Post by: Cthulhu on August 03, 2010, 09:29:48 pm
If anyone can do it it's Del Toro.  I'm optimistic.
Title: Re: At the Mountains of Madness
Post by: TheCze on August 03, 2010, 09:31:47 pm
wow so it has finally become true.
A Lovecraft movie that is not a b movie.



I love HPL, he is one of my two favorite authors, but I just can't imagine a Cameron Lovecraft adaption at the moment.

Spoiler (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: At the Mountains of Madness
Post by: Dakk on August 03, 2010, 09:33:09 pm
I dunno about Del Toro, Hellboy movies were one big pile of trash for me. He did pan's labyrint though, which was sweet, so I dunno.

Then there's Cameron  ::)

I'm only afraid this will turn into a live action doll pseudo horror thing, since Del Toro just loooooooves glueing oddly coloured rubber to his actors. And I don't think super mega CG would really fit in either. Lovecraft's horror is more of a "there's horrible things out there and there's almost nothing we can do about it" rather then "there's a creepy guy in a shoggoth costume and a CG character chasing us through generic dramatic escape scene!" thing.

I'm also hoping they won't totally butcher the plot to insert obvious love interest girls and super heroic movie ending escape scene.
Title: Re: At the Mountains of Madness
Post by: MetalSlimeHunt on August 03, 2010, 09:37:16 pm
Given that Dark Corners Of The Earth showed us an accurate Shoggoth, I have a small measure of hope for this. After the money Avatar raked in, Cameron could demand any budget from the studio and get it without question. I hope he doesn't mess this up, but he most likely will. Lowest Common Denominator-ization, here we come...
Title: Re: At the Mountains of Madness
Post by: Dakk on August 03, 2010, 09:45:51 pm
The shoggoth in that game was rather well done, IE it wasn't a blob of tentacles, more like a huge almost amorphous mass of tentacles, eyes, teeh and claws that makes scary noises and wants to eat you. I sorta liked the flying polyp more though, that one was genuinely creepy.

I'm trying to refrain from being totally skeptic, but I dunno if they can make a movie that can convey the same creepy factor the novels deliver. I don't think I ever saw a movie by Del Toro or Cameron that I could consider scary in any way, except for pan's labyrint, and then only some moments here and there.

Like, look at The Colour From Out of Space, there's no eldritch abomination around in it, but the obscureness of the plot and the fact that you see it all from the view of a actual character (so you don't get a magical explanation from anything unless the characters gets some too) helps to make it all really creepy.
Spoiler (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: At the Mountains of Madness
Post by: MetalSlimeHunt on August 03, 2010, 09:50:55 pm
The shoggoth are a very usable concept, being that they just form whatever they need from their cellular mass. Or somthing like that. Running low on SAN here, shouldn't think about it.
Title: Re: At the Mountains of Madness
Post by: alway on August 03, 2010, 09:59:31 pm
Whatever the end result, always keep in mind one fact: It could be worse; it could be a Syfy channel original. (Sharktopus! duhn duhn derp...)
Title: Re: At the Mountains of Madness
Post by: nenjin on August 03, 2010, 10:10:05 pm
Quote from: alway on August 03, 2010, 09:59:31 pm
Whatever the end result, always keep in mind one fact: It could be worse; it could be a Syfy channel original. (Sharktopus! duhn duhn derp...)

QFT.

Basically, the whole movie rests on setting up the terror and the unknown in a believable and compelling way. That's why Lovecraft works. He lulls you into this false sense of security with all his prim and proper, long winded prose. You connect with the characters and then BAM! indescribable horror gets shot into the mix.

It remains to be seen if Hollywood appreciates subtlety enough to respect that.
Title: Re: At the Mountains of Madness
Post by: Willfor on August 03, 2010, 10:40:24 pm
Quote from: nenjin on August 03, 2010, 10:10:05 pm
Hollywood

Quote from: nenjin on August 03, 2010, 10:10:05 pm
subtlety

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zz902h6XxR0
Title: Re: At the Mountains of Madness
Post by: Renault on August 03, 2010, 10:42:28 pm
Quote from: Willfor on August 03, 2010, 10:40:24 pm
Quote from: nenjin on August 03, 2010, 10:10:05 pm
Hollywood

Quote from: nenjin on August 03, 2010, 10:10:05 pm
subtlety

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zz902h6XxR0

This is one of my favorite posts ever.
Title: Re: At the Mountains of Madness
Post by: Zai on August 03, 2010, 10:47:27 pm
Quote from: Dakk on August 03, 2010, 09:33:09 pm
I'm also hoping they won't totally butcher the plot to insert obvious love interest girls
That would be hilarious.
Title: Re: At the Mountains of Madness
Post by: nenjin on August 03, 2010, 10:52:53 pm
Quote from: Zai on August 03, 2010, 10:47:27 pm
Quote from: Dakk on August 03, 2010, 09:33:09 pm
I'm also hoping they won't totally butcher the plot to insert obvious love interest girls
That would be hilarious.

If a love interest showed up, I'd half expect Del Toro to kill her 1/2 way through the movie.
Title: Re: At the Mountains of Madness
Post by: ein on August 03, 2010, 10:53:26 pm
Quote from: Zai on August 03, 2010, 10:47:27 pm
Quote from: Dakk on August 03, 2010, 09:33:09 pm
I'm also hoping they insert obvious love interest girls to butcher.
That would be hilarious.
Title: Re: At the Mountains of Madness
Post by: woose1 on August 03, 2010, 11:11:51 pm
Oh god, love intrests with lovecraftian monsters in 3D. WHAT HAS THIS WORLD COME TO AHHHHHHH
Title: Re: At the Mountains of Madness
Post by: Criptfeind on August 03, 2010, 11:12:34 pm
Well it can make any body part it needs...
Title: Re: At the Mountains of Madness
Post by: woose1 on August 03, 2010, 11:14:40 pm
DO NOT PUT THESE PICTURES IN MY HEAD. DAMN YOU.
Title: Re: At the Mountains of Madness
Post by: ein on August 03, 2010, 11:15:09 pm
Quote from: woose1 on August 03, 2010, 11:14:40 pm
PUT THESE PICTURES IN MY HEAD. THANK YOU.
Title: Re: At the Mountains of Madness
Post by: Criptfeind on August 03, 2010, 11:16:15 pm
I was going to say something but then I decided not to get banned from human society.
Title: Re: At the Mountains of Madness
Post by: Realmfighter on August 03, 2010, 11:19:01 pm
PMS NOAW
Title: Re: At the Mountains of Madness
Post by: woose1 on August 03, 2010, 11:20:20 pm
You sick bastards. Don't you remember that shoggoths are acidic? As in they burn flesh!?

EDIT: ON CONTACT!?

Seriously, anyone?
Title: Re: At the Mountains of Madness
Post by: Realmfighter on August 03, 2010, 11:20:47 pm
They just want to love.
Title: Re: At the Mountains of Madness
Post by: Willfor on August 03, 2010, 11:24:50 pm
Quote from: woose1 on August 03, 2010, 11:20:20 pm
You sick bastards.

Quote from: woose1 on August 03, 2010, 11:20:20 pm
Don't you remember that shoggoths are acidic? As in they burn flesh!?

http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/






Okay, this is my last one like this, I promise.
Title: Re: At the Mountains of Madness
Post by: woose1 on August 03, 2010, 11:26:54 pm
I don't get it D:

Now I think I get it. But since when were all Bay12'ers gore fetishists?
Title: Re: At the Mountains of Madness
Post by: ein on August 03, 2010, 11:28:11 pm
Quote from: Realmfighter on August 03, 2010, 11:19:01 pm
PMS NOAW
Quote from: woose1 on August 03, 2010, 11:20:20 pm
You sick bastard.
Title: Re: At the Mountains of Madness
Post by: Willfor on August 03, 2010, 11:30:08 pm
Quote from: woose1 on August 03, 2010, 11:26:54 pm
I don't get it D:

Now I think I get it. But since when were all Bay12'ers gore fetishists?
You've been here longer than I have, I thought you could tell me.
Title: Re: At the Mountains of Madness
Post by: woose1 on August 03, 2010, 11:30:44 pm
Oh god, what? I can't end this, why are you harping on that response? And does 'PMS' mean 'PM's' or 'Post Menstral Symptom'?

Quote from: Willfor on August 03, 2010, 11:30:08 pm
Quote from: woose1 on August 03, 2010, 11:26:54 pm
I don't get it D:

Now I think I get it. But since when were all Bay12'ers gore fetishists?
You've been here longer than I have, I thought you could tell me.
NO. Or at least I hope so.
Title: Re: At the Mountains of Madness
Post by: ein on August 03, 2010, 11:32:12 pm
Quote from: Willfor on August 03, 2010, 11:30:08 pm
Now I think I get it. But since when were all Bay12'ers gore fetishists?

Because Japan.
Title: Re: At the Mountains of Madness
Post by: Criptfeind on August 03, 2010, 11:37:08 pm
Quote from: woose1 on August 03, 2010, 11:30:44 pm
Oh god, what? I can't end this, why are you harping on that response? And does 'PMS' mean 'PM's' or 'Post Menstral Symptom'?

My first thought was Post Menstral Symptom... this may get awkward in a few months...
Title: Re: At the Mountains of Madness
Post by: alway on August 03, 2010, 11:43:35 pm
Rule 35 of the internet applied to Lovecraft? Oh gods, the horror! Horror in every possible dimension. Plus a few impossible ones!

Which just made me realize, since the whole point of Lovecraft is to invoke horrors beyond imagining, it would be the perfect Lovecraft movie. Even the audience goes away horrified and driven into insanity by the time all is said and done!
Title: Re: At the Mountains of Madness
Post by: ChairmanPoo on August 04, 2010, 12:29:41 am
Yeah, saw this a while ago (and discussed it here, in fact). In the old thread there was a link to a copy of the proposed script. If they use that one, it's a flop.

EDIT: here is the link to the supposed script
http://www.raindance.org/site/picture/upload/image/general/movies/at_the_mountains_of_madness.pdf

Title: Re: At the Mountains of Madness
Post by: woose1 on August 04, 2010, 12:31:17 am
Link please? Reading proposed and then rejected scripts are always so lulzy.
Title: Re: At the Mountains of Madness
Post by: ChairmanPoo on August 04, 2010, 12:34:04 am
don't assume it's rejected. It features some things that smell of del Toro.

(summary: It's more a rip off of "The Thing" than an adaptation of ATMoM)
Title: Re: At the Mountains of Madness
Post by: Armok on August 04, 2010, 11:17:04 am
Quote from: ein link=topic=63130.msg1456518#msg1456518   date=1280895309
Quote from: woose1  on August 03, 2010, 11:14:40 pm
PUT THESE   PICTURES IN MY HEAD. THANK YOU.
Quote from: Realmfighter on August 03, 2010, 11:19:01 pm
PMS NOAW
Quote from: alway link=topic=63130.msg1456604#msg1456604   date=1280897015
Rule 35 of the internet applied to Lovecraft? Oh   gods, the horror! Horror in every possible dimension. Plus a few   impossible ones!

The whole   point of Lovecraft is to invoke horrors beyond imagining!
Blow my mind! Now! With all possible meanings of blow, figuratively and literally!
Title: Re: At the Mountains of Madness
Post by: Retro on August 04, 2010, 01:46:24 pm
Quote from: nenjin on August 03, 2010, 09:18:44 pm
I have no doubts about Del Toro. But I worry that Cameron won't know when to stay out of it as a producer, and we're going to end up with a CGI monstrosity shoved down our throats in the first 30 mins.

Either way, any exposure for Lovecraft stories is a good thing IMO, especially since all he's ever gotten is B (or C or D) movie treatment. I just hope the tension and, well, the Lovecraftiness gets retained, and isn't spoiled by a bunch of big name actors and over done CGI.
^
Pretty much my exact thoughts.
Title: Re: At the Mountains of Madness
Post by: Criptfeind on August 04, 2010, 02:44:10 pm
How do you always manage to fail something as easy as quoting armok?
Title: Re: At the Mountains of Madness
Post by: Armok on August 04, 2010, 02:58:11 pm
Talent.
Title: Re: At the Mountains of Madness
Post by: Euld on August 04, 2010, 06:10:25 pm
So either the movie turns out well and we're all driven to madness, or it's so bad we're driven to madness, or it's so mediocre we drive ourselves to madness out of disgust.

Looks win/win/win to me!
Title: Re: At the Mountains of Madness
Post by: jaked122 on August 05, 2010, 10:42:54 am
the horror had best remain cloaked within the shadows, I'd rather not have an image ruin the perfection of what lovecraft had described in damn near perfect vagueness.
Title: Re: At the Mountains of Madness
Post by: Azzuro on August 05, 2010, 10:50:14 am
After reading the script, it does indeed seem like a cheap ripoff of "The Thing", given all the shoggoth madness.

In my opinion, what makes Lovecraft such a good writer is because he explains just enough for our imagination to fill in the blanks. For example, many alien races are not described fully within the text (especially Cthullu), leaving the reader free to imagine the appearance. As a result, the book will not translate well to film, as everything needs to be shown on film. In addition, much of "At the Mountains of Madness" is actually very slow-paced, and it is only the climax which has any speed to it. In a movie, audiences expect the film to jump from one scene to the next, with very little exposition.
Title: Re: At the Mountains of Madness
Post by: MetalSlimeHunt on August 05, 2010, 10:53:19 am
Yep, that's Lovecraft's thing. He gives you just enough details to make you intrested in the mythos, and then cuts it off. Turns your own imagination into your enemy.
Title: Re: At the Mountains of Madness
Post by: Jackrabbit on August 05, 2010, 03:55:50 pm
Quote from: Azzuro on August 05, 2010, 10:50:14 am
In my opinion, what makes Lovecraft such a good writer is because he explains just enough for our imagination to fill in the blanks. For example, many alien races are not described fully within the text (especially Cthullu), leaving the reader free to imagine the appearance. As a result, the book will not translate well to film, as everything needs to be shown on film. In addition, much of "At the Mountains of Madness" is actually very slow-paced, and it is only the climax which has any speed to it. In a movie, audiences expect the film to jump from one scene to the next, with very little exposition.
Some audiences do. There's still those of us who like slow, atmospheric buildups.

From what you've been saying though, that isn't going to happen.
Title: Re: At the Mountains of Madness
Post by: nenjin on August 05, 2010, 05:23:41 pm
Del Toro is going to be fairly busy in the next two years, me thinks. (http://www.gamespy.com/articles/111/1110655p1.html)

Citizen Kane of video games. Man, that's not a lofty goal, or anything.
Title: Re: At the Mountains of Madness
Post by: ChairmanPoo on August 05, 2010, 08:57:52 pm
Quote from: nenjin on August 05, 2010, 05:23:41 pm
Del Toro is going to be fairly busy in the next two years, me thinks. (http://www.gamespy.com/articles/111/1110655p1.html)

Citizen Kane of video games. Man, that's not a lofty goal, or anything.

Spoiler (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: At the Mountains of Madness
Post by: NFossil on August 06, 2010, 08:20:59 am
Quote from: woose1 on August 03, 2010, 11:20:20 pm
You sick bastards. Don't you remember that shoggoths are acidic? As in they burn flesh!?

EDIT: ON CONTACT!?

Seriously, anyone?

Sure they can be genetically retooled to burn only clothes.