LEGEND: THE MOVIE

[locke]

So who which actors would play which characters.
I'm thinking the head viking in 'the 13th warrior' to play Druss!
What do you think?

[drosdelnoch]

No it was just the graphic novel that protrays her as Sathuli.

[Ward Booth]

As a movie, some things will have to be cut from the book. Its too big for all of it to make into a movie version. Cutting back minor characters is easy, but its still going to be too big for a movie. How much of a difference would it make to the overall story if the following were to be cut out of the story:

1. Vintar and Serbitar checking on Rek and Virae when Reinard visits their cabin.
2. The Thirty turning into Temple to battle Nosta Khan.
3. Nosta Khan attacking the Wastrel and killing the ship's second mate.
4. Druss and The Thirty as ghosts in the tunnel towards the end of the book.
5. Rek fighting Nosta Khan (as worm and spider) in his nightmare.
6. This is a big one; Virae being brought back to life in the crystal block.

Here is my reasoning behind cutting the above out of the movie:
1. We dont lose anything from the overall story by losing this part from it.
2. I personally hate movies where people walk out saying "Why didnt they just..." The Thirty are a walking plot hole machine, they open up more questions than they provide answers for. Cutting back their abilities to just reading minds and having a clairvoyant picture of the future will stop some of the plot holes. Once Nosta Khan is dead, The Thirty should have just turned into Temple again and destroyed most of the Nadir.
3. Zombies dont belong in this story. The second mate walking around headless opens more questions up yet again. As a part of the book it fits in well, on the big screen its going to look more like Pirates of the Caribbean or the ghastly undead in Lord of the Rings 3. Complaints I hear about the movie 300 usually always involve the magic or bizarre creatures. Complaints I hear about LOTR 3 involve the army of undead. Even with todays CGI these things are going to end up being complained about more than they're going to shock and amaze people.
4. Once again: Ghosts fighting doesnt make sense and will alienate the viewers more than it will please them.
5. Here we have a brilliant siege warfare movie. The guts of the story is about character development and the death of a hero. It is about freedom and what it means to defend something you love even if you know its a futile cause. Throw in a giant man-spider and vicious worm that enters the dream of the main hero and tries to kill him. In my opinion it doesnt fit for the movie and will look way out of place compared to the rest of the story.
6. I'll likely get a lot of complaints from this, but in my opinion Virae should remain dead. Bringing her back to life will open a flood gate of questions. Its almost like reading an excellent mystery novel which ends poorly with the line "Then she woke up - it was all a dream!". Her death is very sad, the way she goes out is tragic and will leave a far bigger impression on the audience than bringing her back to life at the end. We're not in the 50s anymore, so having a happy ending isnt vital for the success of this movie. Its success will come from the human elements, the character interaction and development.

For me, Legend is like Akira Kurosawa's Seven Samurai. Its about a group of great men (and women) who fight to the death for something they believe in. Something has to be cut from it. I'd sooner leave the back stories of the key characters in it and cut out the magical elements to strengthen it overall.

I have explanations for how I'd get around the things I'd cut out of the above, but firstly I'd like some constructive feedback about what I've suggested here. If you have a buring desire to see anything from the above in it, please put your case forward so I can see your point of view. Cheers!

[Phil Keeton]

What you have here Ward is a big screen version and an extended version!

I agree about the majority of these observations with the exception of The Thirty. Yes, there are plot holes, but perhaps if you limit them as Temple by adding some sort of mental / spiritual fallout or why not ecstasy following their battle (a little tinkering to make it work) there is an explanation for why they are unable to be Temple again.......Temple is a last resort, and comes with its own cost from the Source.

The tunnel seen is one of my favourites, but I agree it does not make movie sense. It would be great in a fans extended addition though!

Call it cheesy, but I love the ending in Flash Gordon where a hand that looks like Mings reaches for Mings ring and then Ming is heard laughing.......so:

How about an end seen..........Virae is laid in the block and the assembled company turn away........zoom in, zoom in and Virae takes a breath.....cut to credits!

Yeah Uber-cheese.....but I like cheese!

[Phil Keeton]

I think some music may be necessary as well.................Rock or Classical.....original or adapted?

[Ward Booth]

Thanks for your reply Phil, I appreciate it. I see what you're saying with the extended version, but the problem still remains with what to cut from the story for the box office version. To me, the ultimate warrior would be a man who can read your next move before you've made it. This is The Thirty. Do they need to be able to spectral walk as well? I know that Temple smothers them and desires above all things to live and have its own conscience. The battle of wills it has against Vintar and Serbitar to remain alive is colossal. If I had never read the book and I was watching that on the big screen for the first time I'd feel like it was two movies smashed together. One is a sci-fi / fantasy / supernatural movie and the other is a war / drama. I dont mind leaving in the mind reading and the ability to see the future but the rest of the bizarre supernatural stuff might add this movie to a long list of movies that will never be known as classics. Conan has similar magic in it. Would you prefer a movie like Conan or one like The Seven Samurai?

As for music, it would have to be original. However, there is a song by a beautiful japanese singer named Ayumi Hamasaki called Heaven. Virae's death could have that playing in the background. It just depends on what kind of movie we're going for here. The story is that good I think it has the potential to be remembered as one of the greatest movies ever. I really dont want to cheapen it in any way.

[Phil Keeton]

My problem with a straight story on this, is that it has been done before in LOTR films.....two seiges in two films. Both expertly done.

What the LOTR films do not have is an intense human element. They are all action and no soul. Legend is moving as you really feel for the characters, so I don't feel it is a simple as 7 Sam Vs. Conan.....it's more Deadwood and Rome (HBO). The battle sequences are epic, but only because you actually care about the people on the wall.

In the case of magic / mystical.........there are many ways this can be sanitised but remain soul full.

Think.........."It's full of stars!".......

[Captain Dangle]

Progressive Rock without a doubt.

Phil Keeton said:

I think some music may be necessary as well.................Rock or Classical.....original or adapted?

[Phil Keeton]

Prog Rock...........no please no! Don't get me wrong I like some prog rock, but Ladyhawke was ruined by a dodgy soundtrack.

Now if you're thinking Ozric Tentacles....?

[Captain Dangle]

I have to agree the Ozric's are good, but would be better over Echoes of the Great Song.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oqL3QrcN7yw&feature=related

But my personal choice for Echoes of the Great Song would be The Mars Volta
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8cdSiAgz1XU&feature=related

I was thinking somthing with a little more teeth, like Tool they know how to build a song to an almost climatic crescendo, and then give it some more.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R2F_hGwD26g&feature=related

[Ward Booth]

It would forever be compared to 300 with music like this. That's not necessarily a bad thing, I was thinking something more original though.

[Phil Keeton]

Actually, Ward, I agree.

When George Lucas asked John Williams to write the Star Wars music, he had chosen several pieces to inform the composer of the style and mood he wanted, and Mr Williams did the rest.

So themes on a scene of Legend..........Damn it, someone should write the screenplay! I can taste the popcorn already.

[Captain Dangle]

It would not be the music but the film style that would give me the comparisons to 300, and for style I would say use my Brother and I, or if I could not afford them maybe (and dont discount this before checking) John Landis.