[SleepinGiant]

First, a nice gif from Flixens.com that I llike:


http://www.latinorev...eview.php?id=28
Script review highlights:

Quote

So what is THE WOLF MAN about?

What is the SETUP?

I'll keep the spoilers to a minimum. Here is a condensed rundown of the 1st act.

The story takes place in Victorian London, 1888. Lawrence Talbot is an actor in his 30s-performing HAMLET in a traveling theater whose current stop is London. To be or not to be. That is the question. Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to suffer, the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune. Shakespeare's famous passage plays a central part to the theme of THE WOLF MAN.

THE CALL TO ADVENTURE/REFUSAL scene: After his performance, Lawrence gets a visit from GWEN CONLIFFE, his brother BENJAMIN'S fiancée. Apparently, Ben has going missing from Blackmoor, where Lawrence and his brother Benjamin are from. Ben has disappeared for more than a month now, without a trace. A killing has happened in Blackmoor, an unspeakable murder. Supposedly, a gypsy woman is involved too CARMILLA. Carmilla cheated on her gypsy husband VICTOR who was in prison. Victor returns to the gypsy camp to find his adulterer wife pregnant and Ben is supposedly the father. Victor wants justice but where is Ben? Lawrence refuses Gwen and for his own reasons won't return to Blakmoor.

After a horrible dream sequence, Lawrence ACCEPTS THE CALL.

Lawrence returns to Talbot Hall in Blackmoor and reunites with his father SIR JOHN TALBOT, a widower and hunter. Something tragic happened to Lawrence's mother in the opening scene when Lawrence was 10. Soon Lawrence faces old demons, joins his father in trying to piece together the mystery of his brother Ben's disappearance and the unspeakable murders happening at every full moon in Blackmoor - a supposed gypsy curse.

The zoo scene sounds like it could be fun. But just as the reviewer points out, it'll be hard to pull it off with convincing CG.

This post has been edited by Tank: 01 February 2008 - 03:46 PM

[The Human Torch]

Del Toro is one rough looking mug.

[Laridian]

I was just watching Big Top Pee-Wee this weekend and I noticed the he played Pedro, the dog-faced boy. He looked just like he does above.

[Wally Q]

I'm hoping that this is a decent remake, as well as a decent werewolf flick. This genre of monster films very rarely gets a decent flick.

[lovecraftian]

Here's hoping that this makes werewolves watchable again, because crap like Underworld: Evolution is surely not doing the job. I'm somewhat dissappointed at its reputedly high levels of gore, but needs must, I suppose. At least they got Toro, who's got good acting chops.

We'll see.

[DeegsMano]

I hope this werewolf doesn't end up looking like a bear on steroids as has been the recent trend. That thing in Cursed pretty much looked like the bastard child of a bear and a man in a gorilla suit.

[Tank]

The Howling is over 20 years old and still has some of the best design werewolves, as well as some of the best transformation effects.

Cursed was good in the first half when they used CG for long shots, and make up in the close ups-- but the latter half of the film went all CG and it looked like the ass.

[Wally Q]

To this day, An American Werewolf in London is still the best film in the genre and had the scariest ******* creature ever.

[Jason Solo]

Word.

http://www.youtube.c...h?v=DWRB_Ozbs9s

Best transformation EVAR!

I wonder if they're going to go with a Lon Cheney type Wolf Man by having him a biped.

[DeegsMano]

Ugh. The bone crunching always gets to me.

[Wally Q]

Speaking of An American Werewolf, does anyone know where I can get a copy of the script online? I'm very interested in it's development and the differences between the script and what became the final product as I'm doing research for my own project that I'm writing.

[lovecraftian]

Hot damn that looks excruciating.

Although the recent trend of bipedal werewolves has frequently doubled for the Ass-Sandwich Hall of Fame, I think that if they don't encumber del Toro with prosthetics and let him figure out how to move, it'll look pretty cool.

That's been the problem with recent werewolf movies. They don't trust the actors enough; it's all smoke and mirrors. Now that they've got someone classy, the werewolf film can very will be "brought back from the grave."

[DeegsMano]

Well there have been werewolf movies at least so it wasn't dead. It was just clinging to life after having been beaten to near death by Kate Beckinsale and that weird looking guy who's werewolf powers turn him into Nightcrawler.

[Tank]

BUMP!

A Year later, and it looks like some of our wishes are being granted acccording to AICN.

Rick Baker will be doing the make up effects! If you don't know who he is, you suck. The short version is, he is the one who oversaw the make-up, transformation, and practical effects for American Werewold in London (and some other rad 80's genre films).

That said... does Benecio even need freaking make-up? Here's test shot taken by the production team with benecio in character WITHOUT any make up or costuming:



He already looks like the wolfman!

Also, if it hasn't been mentioned, the director is Mark Romanek who's done a lot of cool music videos. The first one of note being NIN's Closer. Google him and see-- he's done a ton of really cool well known videoes.

Between him and Baker and Benecio, this is looking to be the anti-Van Helsing.. which is good.

[D-Ray Kenobi]

Considering that's probably how he just showed up for the screen test, my dreams are now forever haunted.

[Mercury]

This could be really good. Benecio certainly looks the part...and he's a great actor.

[Tank]

I can't get over how much he actually resembles Lon Chaney Jr.

[Thomas Alan]

Quote

Here's test shot taken by the production team with benecio in character WITHOUT any make up or costuming:

Scrariest thing since Nick Nolte's mugshot.

[Exodus]

Tank, on 13 Sep 2007, 11:41 AM, said:

...the director is Mark Romanek

I'm in.

And yeah, I echo the sentiments on the transformations done in The Howling and American Werewolf in London.

[lovecraftian]

Viva la raza. I'm pumped for Benicio's performance.

[The Man with No Name]

Yep, this film definitely looks anti-Van Helsing, anti-Underworld. Del Toro is perfect for the part. I agree with whoever said he's got the acting chops.

If we can see a stylistic, not-too-serious, but pretty damn dark film on screen I'm sure this will be pretty big. I feel we need a good werewolf flick, just every once in a while so that the genre doesn't die. I'm surprised no one mentioned Nicholson's performance in Wolf yet.

The only thing I don't like is it takes place in Victorian-era London. I can see how it sorta "fits" this genre but the setting in general just annoys the hell outta me. If that's your cup of tea, cool, but it just doesn't do it for me. Maybe I'll change my mind later on.

[MechWarrior]

Didn't Del Toro direct Hellboy?

The movie seems like a nice cocktail of mystery/thrilller and horror.

[Padmes Love Slave]

MechWarrior, on 14 Sep 2007, 10:42 PM, said:

Didn't Del Toro direct Hellboy?

Guillermo del Toro directed Hellboy.

[MechWarrior]

Oh. If my psychic powers serve me well, then Guillermo is Benecio's brother.

[Padmes Love Slave]

MechWarrior, on 16 Sep 2007, 11:56 PM, said:

Oh. If my psychic powers serve me well, then Guillermo is Benecio's brother.

Nope, sorry. Benecio only has one brother, Gustavo. Benecio is Puerto Rican and Guillermo is Mexican.

[Ryn]

Tank, on 13 Sep 2007, 11:41 AM, said:

That said... does Benecio even need freaking make-up? Here's test shot taken by the production team with benecio in character WITHOUT any make up or costuming:

The victim being played by Mr. Rick Baker, as well.

[The Human Torch]

The Human Torch, on 11 Aug 2006, 12:54 PM, said:

Del Toro is one rough looking mug.

I can only echo my previous statement. lol

[King_Elessar]

Ryn, on 17 Sep 2007, 11:53 AM, said:

Tank, on 13 Sep 2007, 11:41 AM, said:

That said... does Benecio even need freaking make-up? Here's test shot taken by the production team with benecio in character WITHOUT any make up or costuming:

The victim being played by Mr. Rick Baker, as well.

Hunh. I thought at first that was Donald Sutherland, perhaps playing his father Sir John Talbot.

[lovecraftian]

King_Elessar, on 17 Sep 2007, 03:06 PM, said:

Hunh. I thought at first that was Donald Sutherland, perhaps playing his father Sir John Talbot.

I believe Anthony Hopkins is playing Sir John Talbot.

[Treq]

Best recent werewolf movie is Dog Soldiers by Neil Marshall. Great film.

Also, check out his follow up, The Descent, some scary stuff. The first hour before the monsters even show up is extremely tense and cluastrophobic.

[King_Elessar]

The Man with No Name, on 14 Sep 2007, 10:23 PM, said:

Yep, this film definitely looks anti-Van Helsing, anti-Underworld. Del Toro is perfect for the part. I agree with whoever said he's got the acting chops.

If we can see a stylistic, not-too-serious, but pretty damn dark film on screen I'm sure this will be pretty big. I feel we need a good werewolf flick, just every once in a while so that the genre doesn't die. I'm surprised no one mentioned Nicholson's performance in Wolf yet.

The only thing I don't like is it takes place in Victorian-era London. I can see how it sorta "fits" this genre but the setting in general just annoys the hell outta me. If that's your cup of tea, cool, but it just doesn't do it for me. Maybe I'll change my mind later on.

The original took place in 1940's Europe, but basically omitted any reference to WWII. Woulda been cool to see them update the story to, say, end of the century Central Europe, specifically the region of Bosnia and Serbia, and address the politics and aftermath of fighting in that area as a backdrop to the story. Also easier to introduce ethnic Gypsies into the story. Victorian-era London doesn't really make sense to me. Benecio is about as British as Keanu Reeves.

[Wally Q]

There originally was hope for this remake. It was Benicio Del Toro as Lawrence Talbot, Anthony Hopkins as his father, and directed by Mark Romanek. I had a lot of faith; everything was going right. Rick Baker was brought on for the creature work and it was going to be as much practical effects as can possibly be done. Now Romanek is off, and according to Harry at Ain't It Cool News, Universal is hiring hack director Brett Ratner to film in three weeks.

First X-Claws, now this. I hate life right now in film land.

[Tank]

Yeah, I was AMPED for this project. To hear that Ranter might take over from Romanek is really disappointing.

I can only hope that this is like X3, where the previous director's stink is already on it enough that Ratner just shows up to make sure the footage is shot. If Romanek's pre-production, DP and script remain unchanged there is SOME hope I guess.

[King_Elessar]

So...Hollywood has not learned it's lesson from Van Helsing and The Mummy?

The Wolf Man needs to be a scary, yet tragic, HORROR MOVIE, not some cheesy adventure schlock.

[Tank]

Well, things may be good again. Either AICN was full of crap-- or they didn't have the whole story.
NOW they are saying there is actually a short list that Ratner was on-- but now may be off.

The list of hopefuls includes:

Frank Darabont (Mist, Shawshank Redemption)

Joe Johnston - (The Rocketeer, Jumanji, October Sky & Jurassic Park 3)

Bill Condon - (Gods And Monsters)

Neil Marshall - (Dog Soldiers)

Martin Campbell - (Casino Royale)

John Landis - (if I have to tell you, you suck)

Guillermo Del Toro - (like he doesn't have 2343245 other films on his slate)

Any of those would be great-- but John Landis!? That might be pretty cool...

The other good news, is that if they get started soon, the Wg strike will keep the new director from messing with what is rumored tobe a decent script.

[Ryn]

Tank, on 1 Feb 2008, 12:02 PM, said:

Any of those would be great-- but John Landis!? That might be pretty cool...

It's not like he hasn't worked with Rick Baker (and werewolves) before...

[ETAndElliot4Ever]

That awful "Animal I have Become" song will play in the trailers and TV spots. Mark my words.

[Wally Q]

I really like the idea of Condon doing the film; he's very much an actor's director and would really go well for what's been set for the film.

Please God, let this not suck.

This post has been edited by clone of lucas: 02 February 2008 - 12:33 AM

[Tank]

Joe Johnston is in!

Credits include:

Hidalgo
Jurassic Park III
October Sky
The Adventures of Young Indiana Jones
Jumanji
The Pagemaster
The Rocketeer
Honey, I Shrunk the Kids

he came out of ILm as one of the many VFX directors that worked on the original trilogy.

He's not my first pick from the short list, but he'll qualify. He's very much out of the Speilbergian/Lucas school of 80's genre.

[Wally Q]

He's not my first pick either, but he did do the Rocketeer.