What the hell? What is with all these remakes and reboots that are coming out while the corpse of the previous show is still warm? They should wait for at least 10 year, if not 20.
http://blastr.com/2011/10/bryan-singers-remake-of-e.php
QuoteBryan Singer's Excalibur remake is dead, paving way for more BSG
If you, like us, have been waiting with trepidation to see Bryan Singer's take on John Boorman's epic Arthurian movie Excalibur, you can stop waiting, because the planned remake is—to put it mildly—dead in the water.
Singer had announced about two years ago that he would tackle a remake of Excalibur (1981), a film that many fans still consider to be, to this day, the definitive King Arthur movie.
While Singer was attending the annual Sitges Film Festival, the director spoke to SFX about how the deal has fallen through:
"Yeah, unfortunately it is no longer going to happen," he says. "I was really enthused to do it. I'm a fan of John Boorman's movie and it was my intention to get it going after Jack The Giant Killer was completed. The project was with Warner Bros and what happened is that another King Arthur project was brought to them during that time. Basically, it was just more ready to go into production than ours was. That is why our version of Excalibur ended up being negated. But, when that happened, it allowed me to go straight into developing Battlestar Galactica - which I think will be really exciting."
While we're a bit bummed out we won't get to see a new version of Excalibur (though the film's an absolute favorite of ours, it would have been cool to see an updated version—if done right, of course—since it hasn't aged as well as we'd hoped), we're quite excited about the fact that Singer is moving ahead with his reboot of Battlestar Galactica.
Singer's version will have nothing to do with Ron D. Moore's recent successful take on the classic sci-fi series, but will rather be a re-imagining of Glen Larson's 1978 original series, with Larson on board as a producer.
So what do you guys think? Are you disappointed that Warner Bros. has shelved Singer's planned Excalibur remake? Are you thrilled that the director's still going ahead with his own take on Battlestar Galactica? Do you think Bryan Singer can come up with even cooler Cylons than the recent series? But, most importantly, will Starbuck be back to being A MAN?
Smart move, he can cash in on all the disappointed fans who didn't like the new series.
It's not like they can make a sequel, and a prequel already failed. They make new batman comic and cartoon reboots all the time.
Certainly Excalibur didn't need to be remade. Another King Arthur movie would be fine, but Excalibur itself was too quirky to offer any room for a remake. Further, I think it has aged just fine.
I am just not sure the BSG story really offers a lot of scope for a remake. The whole tragedy at the beginning was as well-done by the second series as it could be, and the chase elements get old pretty quickly. Both series bogged down once they got past the initial reactions to the disaster. Plus, the Cylons are too one-dimensional; if they are a host of Terminators, the show devolves into a series of deus ex machina escapes, and if they aren't, the show loses its tension.
Better to boot up The Mote in God's Eye for the first time, or do the first few stories n the Honor Harrington series (since there is no way the series could last into the drier late books, whether as movies or TV).
You'll need a third sex for Starbuck.
Quote from: The Brain on October 23, 2011, 03:43:18 PM
You'll need a third sex for Starbuck.
Maybe a different species, how about a horse?
Quote from: The Brain on October 23, 2011, 03:43:18 PM
You'll need a third sex for Starbuck.
Don't give them ideas.
Rush through the early stuff and actually get a proper arrival of the fleet at an earth with actual humans. :moon:
Then we can see maybe what could have been seen before. :ph34r:
Chaz Bono will play Starbuck.
Quote from: grumbler on October 23, 2011, 03:38:55 PM
or do the first few stories n the Honor Harrington series (since there is no way the series could last into the drier late books, whether as movies or TV).
I'd like to jam a dead cat up David Weber's fat ass.
Quote from: Ed Anger on October 23, 2011, 06:28:32 PM
Quote from: grumbler on October 23, 2011, 03:38:55 PM
or do the first few stories n the Honor Harrington series (since there is no way the series could last into the drier late books, whether as movies or TV).
I'd like to jam a dead cat up David Weber's fat ass.
Eww! :yuk:
Quote from: Ed Anger on October 23, 2011, 06:28:32 PM
Quote from: grumbler on October 23, 2011, 03:38:55 PM
or do the first few stories n the Honor Harrington series (since there is no way the series could last into the drier late books, whether as movies or TV).
I'd like to jam a dead cat up David Weber's fat ass.
Is that fetish undertaken to compete with DGuller's desire to taste the penis of a president? I'd argue it is successful.
Quote from: Ed Anger on October 23, 2011, 06:28:32 PM
Quote from: grumbler on October 23, 2011, 03:38:55 PM
or do the first few stories n the Honor Harrington series (since there is no way the series could last into the drier late books, whether as movies or TV).
I'd like to jam a dead cat up David Weber's fat ass.
The cat deserves better.
Just make a decent Horatio Hornblower series, with lasers.
Quote from: grumbler on October 23, 2011, 03:38:55 PM
Certainly Excalibur didn't need to be remade. Another King Arthur movie would be fine, but Excalibur itself was too quirky to offer any room for a remake. Further, I think it has aged just fine.
Yeah, but you're capable of appreciating a movie that didn't spend eighty million on CGI.
I've always wanted to see a Ringworld movie, but I'm afraid that it wouldn't be very good.
I want more Gor movies.
I hate movies.
They should be prohibited, and the monies thus saved used to feed the poor.
Are you drunk again?
Quote from: Ed Anger on October 23, 2011, 06:28:32 PM
Quote from: grumbler on October 23, 2011, 03:38:55 PM
or do the first few stories n the Honor Harrington series (since there is no way the series could last into the drier late books, whether as movies or TV).
I'd like to jam a dead cat up David Weber's fat ass.
His Safehold series (aka Off Armageddon Reef + sequels) was cliched and disappointing.
Quote from: HisMajestyBOB on October 23, 2011, 08:46:17 PM
Quote from: Ed Anger on October 23, 2011, 06:28:32 PM
Quote from: grumbler on October 23, 2011, 03:38:55 PM
or do the first few stories n the Honor Harrington series (since there is no way the series could last into the drier late books, whether as movies or TV).
I'd like to jam a dead cat up David Weber's fat ass.
His Safehold series (aka Off Armageddon Reef + sequels) was cliched and disappointing.
I actually enjoyed the first 3 books in the series.
Now too many fuckers know the secret.
Quote from: Razgovory on October 23, 2011, 08:41:44 PM
Are you drunk again?
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.motivationals.org%2Fdemotivational-posters%2Fdemotivational-poster-15083.jpg&hash=f0e2524e9bbfd3ac8f8cacee9f7d55f30a38df4a)
I'll take that as a yes.
Quote from: HisMajestyBOB on October 23, 2011, 08:46:17 PM
His Safehold series (aka Off Armageddon Reef + sequels) was cliched and disappointing.
It is like all his series (and most series, for that matter); started off well, but lost steam and became self-indulgent.
I think he kept going in the Harrington series because it was one of his first (the very first, something about the moon, wasn't very good from the start, but lots of writers start slow).
I think the first five or so Harrington books are quite good, for the genre, and they'd make good movies.
Not as good as
The Mote in God's Eye, though.
Quote from: Razgovory on October 23, 2011, 09:01:03 PM
I'll take that as a yes.
Fuck off!
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.motivationals.org%2Fdemotivational-posters%2Fdemotivational-poster-15071.jpg&hash=387849fdc3a686e6211896fccf19ef0b60d83a32)
Quote from: grumbler on October 23, 2011, 09:06:09 PM
Quote from: HisMajestyBOB on October 23, 2011, 08:46:17 PM
His Safehold series (aka Off Armageddon Reef + sequels) was cliched and disappointing.
It is like all his series (and most series, for that matter); started off well, but lost steam and became self-indulgent.
I think he kept going in the Harrington series because it was one of his first (the very first, something about the moon, wasn't very good from the start, but lots of writers start slow).
I think the first five or so Harrington books are quite good, for the genre, and they'd make good movies.
Not as good as The Mote in God's Eye, though.
His latest book about the alien invasion was a pile of shit. Vampires?!!?! Dracula?! WTF
The Mote was a good book, but would it wokr without the back story about Sparta and such? Even without getting into Warworld.
Quote from: Darth Wagtaros on October 23, 2011, 09:19:48 PM
His latest book about the alien invasion was a pile of shit. Vampires?!!?! Dracula?! WTF
The Mote was a good book, but would it wokr without the back story about Sparta and such? Even without getting into Warworld.
I didn't read the earlier books in Purnelle's universe (I find Pournelle on his own unreadable) and didn't have any trouble. A few lines of dialogue would make it all clear enough, I think.
Weber has had many WTF moments for me; I'll avoid the one you mention.
Quote from: grumbler on October 23, 2011, 09:06:09 PM
Quote from: HisMajestyBOB on October 23, 2011, 08:46:17 PM
His Safehold series (aka Off Armageddon Reef + sequels) was cliched and disappointing.
It is like all his series (and most series, for that matter); started off well, but lost steam and became self-indulgent.
I think he kept going in the Harrington series because it was one of his first (the very first, something about the moon, wasn't very good from the start, but lots of writers start slow).
I think the first five or so Harrington books are quite good, for the genre, and they'd make good movies.
Not as good as The Mote in God's Eye, though.
I liked the series about the moon.
Quote from: Darth Wagtaros on October 23, 2011, 09:19:48 PM
His latest book about the alien invasion was a pile of shit. Vampires?!!?! Dracula?! WTF
The Mote was a good book, but would it wokr without the back story about Sparta and such? Even without getting into Warworld.
My dad mentioned that he was reading a book that sounds like that. Sounded like a farce.
I read Mote without any of the backstory. I didn't even know there were books prior to it. The impression I got was that it was post WWII in space without so much cold war.
It would make for a cool movie, but in this political climate I see it being a CGI extravaganza about human militarists fucking over sympathetic aliens.
I"m not really big on Sci-Fi gun wanks novels, er "Military science fiction". The politics are inane.
Quote from: sbr on October 23, 2011, 03:55:56 PM
Quote from: The Brain on October 23, 2011, 03:43:18 PM
You'll need a third sex for Starbuck.
Maybe a different species, how about a horse?
I googled "Starbuck the horse" and there was quite a lot of them. I shudder to think the results from googling more nerd friendly species like cats and dogs.
Quote from: grumbler on October 23, 2011, 09:06:09 PM
Quote from: HisMajestyBOB on October 23, 2011, 08:46:17 PM
His Safehold series (aka Off Armageddon Reef + sequels) was cliched and disappointing.
It is like all his series (and most series, for that matter); started off well, but lost steam and became self-indulgent.
I really liked the premise and enjoyed the first book, despite its flaws, but the second book put me of reading any more of it. I did manage to finish it at least.
Madness
I would like to see E.E."Doc" Smith's Lensman series made into an expensive multi-season series :cool:
Failing that I will back grumbler, The Mote in God's Eye would make a fine film in the right hands.
Quote from: Richard Hakluyt on October 24, 2011, 05:24:35 AM
I would like to see E.E."Doc" Smith's Lensman series made into an expensive multi-season series :cool:
JMS is working on exactly that (though three movies, not TV). Ron Howard to produce, no director announced yet (maybe Howard, but probably not). The technology to make the flicks is still in development, though, the last I heard (this was maybe a year ago). IMDB is carrying this title in their pro system only, indicating it is still in the idea stage.
Straczynski is working on it? Excellent, they will need updating for modern times of course and that needs to be done well.
Incidentally, I'm watching (with my wife) Babylon 5 for the second time atm. We are currently at the start of the 3rd series, we are both agreed that the rewatch is, if anything, better than the initial viewing :cool:
Quote from: Siege on October 23, 2011, 09:11:06 PM
Quote from: Razgovory on October 23, 2011, 09:01:03 PM
I'll take that as a yes.
Fuck off!
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.motivationals.org%2Fdemotivational-posters%2Fdemotivational-poster-15071.jpg&hash=387849fdc3a686e6211896fccf19ef0b60d83a32)
Yeah, when people are pointing their fingers at you and laughing, you've got their attention.
Now that I look at the picture, it looks like it's some of Putin's thugs.
Quote from: Richard Hakluyt on October 24, 2011, 06:43:02 AM
Incidentally, I'm watching (with my wife) Babylon 5 for the second time atm. We are currently at the start of the 3rd series, we are both agreed that the rewatch is, if anything, better than the initial viewing :cool:
It is fun to catch all the little things JMS left out there that didn't catch your eye the first time.
My favorite is the scene when Delenn foes to see Kosh in
Chrysalis. She says she has doubts, and want's Kosh to show her that "it is true." We see her reaction to Kosh unveiling himself, and then she thanks him and says her doubts have been satisfied. The ep never says what "it" was that she wanted proven.
More than three years later, JMS has the character Dukhat talking to Delenn before the E-M War, and telling her "if you ever have ay doubts, look into the face of a Vorlon, and they will be eliminated." JMS didn't ever brag about this little foreshadowing, and I didn't catch it until the third or fourth viewing... but that it the "it" is Dukhat's comment.
BSG remake, meh. I like the first 2 seasons of the last one just fine.
Not this again.
Quote from: Grey Fox on October 24, 2011, 01:48:38 PM
Not this again.
To have Starbuck as a girl twice would be kind of amazing.
Quote from: viper37 on October 24, 2011, 01:44:32 PM
BSG remake, meh. I like the first 2 seasons of the last one just fine.
The whole "disaster and flee and escape by the skin of the teeth" works, indeed, for about two seasons. And the second show did that about as well as it could be done (with maybe the best three-episode arc ever done for SF, Pegasus and the two Resurrection Ship eps), but that was it. The show stopped being any good because no one could decide what the show was about, other than a disaster and escaping by the skin of the teeth.
I don't think there is enough story to make more than two seasons' worth of decent BSG. You'd need complex and interesting characters to go any further than that, and I don't think the BSG universe is the kind to produce complex and interesting characters.
If the networks wanna throw away some money, have them give Josh Whedon a few bucks to continue Firefly. Yeah, the movie sucked, but Whedon's writing is perfect for the TV episodes. The actors are still mostly available.
Quote from: grumbler on October 24, 2011, 02:04:57 PM
The whole "disaster and flee and escape by the skin of the teeth" works, indeed, for about two seasons. And the second show did that about as well as it could be done (with maybe the best three-episode arc ever done for SF, Pegasus and the two Resurrection Ship eps), but that was it. The show stopped being any good because no one could decide what the show was about, other than a disaster and escaping by the skin of the teeth.
The producers admitted that they were asked by the network to change their writing style, to produce more self-contained episodes. So the 3rd season essentially sucked, and they got better only toward the end.
Their mistake, was to allow that to happen. They should have held their ground and cancelled the series instead of going down that way. Imho, they never recovered from that mistake.
I disagree with you that the universe can't allow for a good show to be done. Imho, it could have been done. And I think the characters were just right for this, but they would obviously need a little more flesh on their bones. Wich was doable.
ing characters.
Quote
If the networks wanna throw away some money, have them give Josh Whedon a few bucks to continue Firefly. Yeah, the movie sucked, but Whedon's writing is perfect for the TV episodes. The actors are still mostly available.
Most of the actors aren't, actually. Nathan Fillion and Morena Baccarin are busy elsewhere. So is Gina Torres. Not many left to re-make the show.
But that was a good idea, and one we could agree on :P
Quote from: viper37 on October 24, 2011, 02:15:57 PM
Quote from: grumbler on October 24, 2011, 02:04:57 PM
The whole "disaster and flee and escape by the skin of the teeth" works, indeed, for about two seasons. And the second show did that about as well as it could be done (with maybe the best three-episode arc ever done for SF, Pegasus and the two Resurrection Ship eps), but that was it. The show stopped being any good because no one could decide what the show was about, other than a disaster and escaping by the skin of the teeth.
I disagree with you that the universe can't allow for a good show to be done. Imho, it could have been done. And I think the characters were just right for this, but they would obviously need a little more flesh on their bones. Wich was doable.
I think the universe as presented is too constrained. Twelve planets in such close proximity that travel between them takes only hours? Not enough diversity. No aliens, only very limited interstellar flight, just a bunch of mostly-alike humans and very-alike robots. I don't think that that's enough.
Quote
Most of the actors aren't, actually. Nathan Fillion and Morena Baccarin are busy elsewhere. So is Gina Torres. Not many left to re-make the show.
But that was a good idea, and one we could agree on :P
None of those shows are going to be around by the time a FF revival gets underway. Baccarin has probably become to big to cast in her old role, and Glau definitely has, but those aren't essential roles. You need Fillian, Baldwin, Torres, and Tudyk. It'll never be done, but I think it doable. They came extremely close to getting JMS to completely reboot B5 this summer.
Quote from: grumbler on October 24, 2011, 02:04:57 PM
The whole "disaster and flee and escape by the skin of the teeth" works, indeed, for about two seasons. And the second show did that about as well as it could be done (with maybe the best three-episode arc ever done for SF, Pegasus and the two Resurrection Ship eps), but that was it. The show stopped being any good because no one could decide what the show was about, other than a disaster and escaping by the skin of the teeth.
I agree, the space refugees theme is played out, I'm skeptical that this can be remade and milk multiple seasons out of this concept so after nBSG has finished.
My opening miniseries would be a total fake out. The opening scene would have a Rag Tag Fleet fleeing attackers. Then it would shift to another scene where Adama is discussing the strategic situation with his subordinates. Patrol ships have been going missing and HQ is afraid that the Cylons are preparing to break the armistice. The Galactica is on a long distance patrol near a remote section of the border. They've been tasked to investigate a local disappearance.
Unbeknownst to the colonials, similar disappearances have occurred on the Cylon side of the armistice line. They are worried that the Colonials have somehow discovered their preparations to launch a massive invasion across the armistice line. A basestar is investigating the area.
Following clues (debris, sensor echoes, etc) both the Cylons and the Galactica arrive in a system to see the Rag Tag Fleet under attack. These are the survivors of the 13th tribe, whose Civilization was obliterated by an alien horde that wields incomprehensibly bizarre biotechnology. The scene devolves into a three way brawl between Human, Cylons and Aliens.
The last ship standing is the Galactica, the remaining RTF escorts were destroyed. It's up to the Galactica to escort over a million refugees (who of course are foreign and weird) to the Colonies through a war torn frontier, filled with clashing fleets of all three powers. This takes one season, after which the Galactica is sent to the front lines and it turns into a pure war story. Eventually in the last season the Colonials and the Cylons are forced to make peace and fight together to survive the alien onslaught.
Map?
Sucks.
Quote from: Habbaku on October 24, 2011, 03:38:29 PM
Sucks.
How would your battlestar galactica look then?
Quote from: jimmy olsen on October 24, 2011, 03:39:03 PM
Quote from: Habbaku on October 24, 2011, 03:38:29 PM
Sucks.
How would your battlestar galactica look then?
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimages.tvrage.com%2Fshows%2F3%2F2729.jpg&hash=b2337bf41cafb60a600b4c6cbad66a3db94f1182)
Horrible 70s camp?
Heres a crazy fucking idea.
How about a Sci Fi series that is not based on something that has already been done?
Shocking, I know! But maybe they could get some good writer to come up with a NEW sci-fi story idea!
Quote from: Razgovory on October 24, 2011, 08:52:11 AM
Now that I look at the picture, it looks like it's some of Putin's thugs.
Actually the guy with the gun looks like it could be Putin.
Quote from: Berkut on October 24, 2011, 04:10:59 PM
Shocking, I know! But maybe they could get some good writer to come up with a NEW sci-fi story idea!
Doubtful - have you seen most sci-fi books? No concept of characterization, pacing, or most story elements in general.
Quote from: Berkut on October 24, 2011, 04:10:59 PM
Heres a crazy fucking idea.
How about a Sci Fi series that is not based on something that has already been done?
Shocking, I know! But maybe they could get some good writer to come up with a NEW sci-fi story idea!
Not gonna happen. Totally new stories that are not based on anything that has ever been done just don't happen. Writers read to learn how to write, and so their writing is almost
always based on what has gone before; they can't help it.
Seriously, though, original SF shows are done all the time, of course. I'd bet there are far ore proposals for new shows than for remakes. The advantage to basing them on known products is in getting them funded. People are more apt to shell out the bucks if they have a clear idea in their head what the outcome of the investment will look like; even an earlier failure gives some sense of the scope and the scale of the thing, and assures that it can be done.
Plus, having an existing universe to ground one's contributing writers can help a lot. They can be doing research rather than bugging the showrunner. Scriptwriters are cheaper than producers.
Quote from: jimmy olsen on October 24, 2011, 03:31:17 PM
Quote from: grumbler on October 24, 2011, 02:04:57 PM
The whole "disaster and flee and escape by the skin of the teeth" works, indeed, for about two seasons. And the second show did that about as well as it could be done (with maybe the best three-episode arc ever done for SF, Pegasus and the two Resurrection Ship eps), but that was it. The show stopped being any good because no one could decide what the show was about, other than a disaster and escaping by the skin of the teeth.
I agree, the space refugees theme is played out, I'm skeptical that this can be remade and milk multiple seasons out of this concept so after nBSG has finished.
My opening miniseries would be a total fake out. The opening scene would have a Rag Tag Fleet fleeing attackers. Then it would shift to another scene where Adama is discussing the strategic situation with his subordinates. Patrol ships have been going missing and HQ is afraid that the Cylons are preparing to break the armistice. The Galactica is on a long distance patrol near a remote section of the border. They've been tasked to investigate a local disappearance.
Unbeknownst to the colonials, similar disappearances have occurred on the Cylon side of the armistice line. They are worried that the Colonials have somehow discovered their preparations to launch a massive invasion across the armistice line. A basestar is investigating the area.
Following clues (debris, sensor echoes, etc) both the Cylons and the Galactica arrive in a system to see the Rag Tag Fleet under attack. These are the survivors of the 13th tribe, whose Civilization was obliterated by an alien horde that wields incomprehensibly bizarre biotechnology. The scene devolves into a three way brawl between Human, Cylons and Aliens.
The last ship standing is the Galactica, the remaining RTF escorts were destroyed. It's up to the Galactica to escort over a million refugees (who of course are foreign and weird) to the Colonies through a war torn frontier, filled with clashing fleets of all three powers. This takes one season, after which the Galactica is sent to the front lines and it turns into a pure war story. Eventually in the last season the Colonials and the Cylons are forced to make peace and fight together to survive the alien onslaught.
The Borg?
Biotechnology? Played out.
Quote from: Neil on October 24, 2011, 05:16:41 PM
Biotechnology? Played out.
Well the Cylons are a machine race, so the Aliens need to be distinctive to them and the Humans.
I can make up a story about space Hitler.
Quote from: Ed Anger on October 24, 2011, 05:47:44 PM
I can make up a story about space Hitler.
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2F24.media.tumblr.com%2F8vZVaLrqhke45g7nc3YxTRXLo1_500.jpg&hash=74c35dc61a6d6a15c425b5ec8bb1d8c8d3539414)
You have to taint everything, don't you?
Goddammit.
Quote from: jimmy olsen on October 24, 2011, 05:46:19 PM
Quote from: Neil on October 24, 2011, 05:16:41 PM
Biotechnology? Played out.
Well the Cylons are a machine race, so the Aliens need to be distinctive to them and the Humans.
You can create distinctive aliens without having weird-ass technology bases. Look at Star Trek.
Quote from: Ed Anger on October 24, 2011, 05:52:10 PM
You have to taint everything, don't you?
Goddammit.
You're just pissed because you got one-upped.
Quote from: Neil on October 24, 2011, 06:19:01 PM
You can create distinctive aliens without having weird-ass technology bases. Look at Star Trek.
The aliens were distinguished by having different foreheads. Not gonna be the model for a creative showrunner these days.
Quote from: grumbler on October 24, 2011, 06:21:46 PM
Quote from: Neil on October 24, 2011, 06:19:01 PM
You can create distinctive aliens without having weird-ass technology bases. Look at Star Trek.
The aliens were distinguished by having different foreheads. Not gonna be the model for a creative showrunner these days.
I was thinking more in terms of their personalities. The Klingons, for example.
Quote from: Neil on October 24, 2011, 06:19:01 PM
Quote from: jimmy olsen on October 24, 2011, 05:46:19 PM
Quote from: Neil on October 24, 2011, 05:16:41 PM
Biotechnology? Played out.
Well the Cylons are a machine race, so the Aliens need to be distinctive to them and the Humans.
You can create distinctive aliens without having weird-ass technology bases. Look at Star Trek.
I'm thinking they'd be Reptillian as a shoutout to the Cylon's creators in the original series.
We need giant amebas like in "The Course of Empire".
Quote from: Siege on October 24, 2011, 06:39:37 PM
We need giant amebas like in "The Course of Empire".
One wonders how something like that would evolve.
Quote from: jimmy olsen on October 24, 2011, 06:38:01 PM
Quote from: Neil on October 24, 2011, 06:19:01 PM
Quote from: jimmy olsen on October 24, 2011, 05:46:19 PM
Quote from: Neil on October 24, 2011, 05:16:41 PM
Biotechnology? Played out.
Well the Cylons are a machine race, so the Aliens need to be distinctive to them and the Humans.
You can create distinctive aliens without having weird-ass technology bases. Look at Star Trek.
I'm thinking they'd be Reptillian as a shoutout to the Cylon's creators in the original series.
OK, so now you have a physical look, but what makes them interesting?
Quote from: Neil on October 24, 2011, 06:47:44 PM
Quote from: Siege on October 24, 2011, 06:39:37 PM
We need giant amebas like in "The Course of Empire".
One wonders how something like that would evolve.
Maybe something like a Jellyfish? A Jellyfish isn't really an Amoeba, but it kind of looks like one.
Quote from: jimmy olsen on October 24, 2011, 06:38:01 PM
Quote from: Neil on October 24, 2011, 06:19:01 PM
Quote from: jimmy olsen on October 24, 2011, 05:46:19 PM
Quote from: Neil on October 24, 2011, 05:16:41 PM
Biotechnology? Played out.
Well the Cylons are a machine race, so the Aliens need to be distinctive to them and the Humans.
You can create distinctive aliens without having weird-ass technology bases. Look at Star Trek.
I'm thinking they'd be Reptillian as a shoutout to the Cylon's creators in the original series.
I would prefer something like the aliens from Independence Day.
To me they were the most alien looking ones, because of all the tentacles and bio-armor.
Also, the aliens from Returner were awesome.
Quote from: Razgovory on October 24, 2011, 06:52:03 PM
Quote from: Neil on October 24, 2011, 06:47:44 PM
Quote from: Siege on October 24, 2011, 06:39:37 PM
We need giant amebas like in "The Course of Empire".
One wonders how something like that would evolve.
Maybe something like a Jellyfish? A Jellyfish isn't really an Amoeba, but it kind of looks like one.
Perhaps, but how does it get into space? Sure, you can have life in space, but complex life would be a little difficult.
Quote from: jimmy olsen on October 24, 2011, 03:39:03 PM
Quote from: Habbaku on October 24, 2011, 03:38:29 PM
Sucks.
How would your battlestar galactica look then?
I was clearly riffing on Brain's question about the map, dufus.
Bail out?
Are you afraid of getting in an argument with Tim?
Quote from: Neil on October 24, 2011, 06:58:57 PM
Perhaps, but how does it get into space? Sure, you can have life in space, but complex life would be a little difficult.
No idea. I was trying to come up with that was Amoebaish that could be larger then a 1/10th of a millimeter. Jelly fish aren't really much like amoebas but they kind a look like them. Single cell organisms don't really scale up that well.
A civilization that have found immortality through cloning.
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fcdn.lolcaption.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2010%2F06%2Ffunny-demotivational-posters-cloning-hayden.jpg&hash=3c94b58709221261eda6089fca785945084d0021)
Okay, that's enough Siege.
Is that supposed to be Hayden Pantyhead? She's weird-looking.
Quote from: Razgovory on October 24, 2011, 07:45:50 PM
Okay, that's enough Siege.
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2F3.bp.blogspot.com%2F_mmBw3uzPnJI%2FSxbcwf_d9JI%2FAAAAAAAA5Qs%2FjBkmldgTIFU%2Fs400%2Ffunny_demotivational_posters_34.jpg&hash=79053147f780acc4ebb38223e8187892dea8aa98)
And that ain't even a real sniper weapon.
That's an upgraded M14 with a M3A sniperscope.
Can't tell if the barrel is NM (national match)
Quote from: Neil on October 24, 2011, 06:48:17 PM
Quote from: jimmy olsen on October 24, 2011, 06:38:01 PM
Quote from: Neil on October 24, 2011, 06:19:01 PM
Quote from: jimmy olsen on October 24, 2011, 05:46:19 PM
Quote from: Neil on October 24, 2011, 05:16:41 PM
Biotechnology? Played out.
Well the Cylons are a machine race, so the Aliens need to be distinctive to them and the Humans.
You can create distinctive aliens without having weird-ass technology bases. Look at Star Trek.
I'm thinking they'd be Reptillian as a shoutout to the Cylon's creators in the original series.
OK, so now you have a physical look, but what makes them interesting?
I'd have to think on it more. It seems to me that making the enemy "interesting" often leads to villain decay. Just look what happened to the Borg.
The enemy should remain horrifying, inscrutable and unstoppable.
Quote from: grumbler on October 24, 2011, 06:21:46 PM
Quote from: Neil on October 24, 2011, 06:19:01 PM
You can create distinctive aliens without having weird-ass technology bases. Look at Star Trek.
The aliens were distinguished by having different foreheads. Not gonna be the model for a creative showrunner these days.
Unfortunately. Roddenberry had the right idea that the actors' faces shouldn't be obscurd--Star Trek aliens might not be particularly interesting looking, but the actors playing them were actually able to do more than just voice acting.
The best sci-fi show evah was Stargate SG-1.
The first 7 seassons.
Quote from: dps on October 24, 2011, 08:18:05 PM
Quote from: grumbler on October 24, 2011, 06:21:46 PM
Quote from: Neil on October 24, 2011, 06:19:01 PM
You can create distinctive aliens without having weird-ass technology bases. Look at Star Trek.
The aliens were distinguished by having different foreheads. Not gonna be the model for a creative showrunner these days.
Unfortunately. Roddenberry had the right idea that the actors' faces shouldn't be obscurd--Star Trek aliens might not be particularly interesting looking, but the actors playing them were actually able to do more than just voice acting.
I dunno, I kinda liked the Sheliak's moxy.
Quote from: Neil on October 24, 2011, 06:36:19 PM
Quote from: grumbler on October 24, 2011, 06:21:46 PM
Quote from: Neil on October 24, 2011, 06:19:01 PM
You can create distinctive aliens without having weird-ass technology bases. Look at Star Trek.
The aliens were distinguished by having different foreheads. Not gonna be the model for a creative showrunner these days.
I was thinking more in terms of their personalities. The Klingons, for example.
I like the Klingons in the original series. They were evil and pragmatic. By the Next Generation it was all about HONOR RAWR WARRIORS. Boring crap.
Quote from: grumbler on October 24, 2011, 02:30:03 PM
None of those shows are going to be around by the time a FF revival gets underway. Baccarin has probably become to big to cast in her old role, and Glau definitely has, but those aren't essential roles. You need Fillian, Baldwin, Torres, and Tudyk. It'll never be done, but I think it doable. They came extremely close to getting JMS to completely reboot B5 this summer.
Tudyk's character is supposed to be dead, as per the movie.
JMS redoing B5? Man, I'd love to see that. But I think he'd need much more guarantee than WB would ever give him :P
Quote from: Berkut on October 24, 2011, 04:10:59 PM
Heres a crazy fucking idea.
How about a Sci Fi series that is not based on something that has already been done?
Shocking, I know! But maybe they could get some good writer to come up with a NEW sci-fi story idea!
there's Terra Nova. Not sure it's gonna be good though... It's a new sci-fi story idea, but it's filled with old stories...
1i agree with the need for more sci-fi.4
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2F2.bp.blogspot.com%2F_mmBw3uzPnJI%2FTPTAYCmP9yI%2FAAAAAAAByBc%2Fq-9Cpc5zv4c%2Fs1600%2Ffunny_demotivational_posters_11.jpg&hash=f654eb1aca1844d14738c99a312e8fabd5302d25)
Quote from: dps on October 24, 2011, 08:18:05 PM
Unfortunately. Roddenberry had the right idea that the actors' faces shouldn't be obscurd--Star Trek aliens might not be particularly interesting looking, but the actors playing them were actually able to do more than just voice acting.
that went overboard by the time of TNG. The episodes under Roddenberry, even.
Perhaps a sci-fi faux-documentary series about lizard-like aliens invading during the Vietnam war?
Quote from: jimmy olsen on October 24, 2011, 08:16:42 PM
]I'd have to think on it more. It seems to me that making the enemy "interesting" often leads to villain decay. Just look what happened to the Borg.
The enemy should remain horrifying, inscrutable and unstoppable.
Can you think of an enemy that was any good that fit that bill?
Quote from: jimmy olsen on October 24, 2011, 08:16:42 PM
Quote from: Neil on October 24, 2011, 06:48:17 PM
Quote from: jimmy olsen on October 24, 2011, 06:38:01 PM
Quote from: Neil on October 24, 2011, 06:19:01 PM
Quote from: jimmy olsen on October 24, 2011, 05:46:19 PM
Quote from: Neil on October 24, 2011, 05:16:41 PM
Biotechnology? Played out.
Well the Cylons are a machine race, so the Aliens need to be distinctive to them and the Humans.
You can create distinctive aliens without having weird-ass technology bases. Look at Star Trek.
I'm thinking they'd be Reptillian as a shoutout to the Cylon's creators in the original series.
OK, so now you have a physical look, but what makes them interesting?
I'd have to think on it more. It seems to me that making the enemy "interesting" often leads to villain decay. Just look what happened to the Borg.
The enemy should remain horrifying, inscrutable and unstoppable.
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.motifake.com%2Fimage%2Fdemotivational-poster%2F0904%2Frealization-military-boot-camp-realization-demotivational-poster-1240015195.jpg&hash=2779313af5e7e76fabcab9f4aed048aac4de79ba)
Siege, seriously.
Word.
I would agree original sci fi is preferable....but....whenever it is tried half of the time it sucks (Terranova?) and 90% of the time it lasts just the one series before the axe comes down.
Quote from: Neil on October 24, 2011, 06:36:19 PM
I was thinking more in terms of their personalities. The Klingons, for example.
The Klingons were Vikings. Not very distinctive. Star Trek thought that having actors paint half their face white and half of it black made them "alien," when it was clearly Frank Gorshin playing Frank Gorshin.
Quote from: dps on October 24, 2011, 08:18:05 PM
Unfortunately. Roddenberry had the right idea that the actors' faces shouldn't be obscurd--Star Trek aliens might not be particularly interesting looking, but the actors playing them were actually able to do more than just voice acting.
Roddenberry didn't understand that actors didn't use their whole faces while acting; you only need to give them their eyes and eyebrows, and mouth, and they can do Shakespeare if they have the talent to begin with. I don't think any alien emoted as well as Andreas Katsulas as G'Kar, and he wore a particularly heavy prosthesis. It was well-enough designed, though, that it could make him look quite alien without getting in the way of his acting.
Quote from: viper37 on October 24, 2011, 09:00:38 PM
Tudyk's character is supposed to be dead, as per the movie.
You would have to ignore the movie to revive the TV series. Not hard to do. :P
QuoteJMS redoing B5? Man, I'd love to see that. But I think he'd need much more guarantee than WB would ever give him :P
He had full creative control, a $2 million-an-episode budget, and a full 24-episode order. This was going to be for a new distribution system WB was launching in collaboration with several cable providers. It was the distribution part of the new venture that broke down, not the content part.
As an aside, the new B5 would have been based on the old story, but have completely new characters and story arcs. JMS said he would get some of the old cast back in guest roles (like Bruce Boxleitner as the Earth Alliance president that gets assassinated, maybe) but there would be no reprising old roles, and no old roles to reprise.
This telegram came for Siege:
PLZ PLZ PLZ STOP
Quote from: grumbler on October 24, 2011, 02:30:03 PM
I think the universe as presented is too constrained. Twelve planets in such close proximity that travel between them takes only hours? Not enough diversity. No aliens, only very limited interstellar flight, just a bunch of mostly-alike humans and very-alike robots. I don't think that that's enough.
I don't see why that's true. Eureka's been a fun little show for four seasons in the same little town, and plenty of mainstream shows are set in modern day New York, or suburbia.
A Town Called Eureka has been a little show. I don't think I'd say fun.
Quote from: grumbler on October 25, 2011, 06:38:38 AM
As an aside, the new B5 would have been based on the old story, but have completely new characters and story arcs. JMS said he would get some of the old cast back in guest roles (like Bruce Boxleitner as the Earth Alliance president that gets assassinated, maybe) but there would be no reprising old roles, and no old roles to reprise.
I'd rather see him do something completely new, if similar to B5 thematically, than that.
Not saying that it would be bad, but that we've seen B5 already and it's great.
a series on the Night's Dawn Trilogy might be nice.
Galaxy spanning, zombies, aliens, spacebattles, groundbattles, jungles, megacities, al Capone, sex
Quote from: HisMajestyBOB on October 25, 2011, 10:33:43 AM
Quote from: grumbler on October 25, 2011, 06:38:38 AM
As an aside, the new B5 would have been based on the old story, but have completely new characters and story arcs. JMS said he would get some of the old cast back in guest roles (like Bruce Boxleitner as the Earth Alliance president that gets assassinated, maybe) but there would be no reprising old roles, and no old roles to reprise.
I'd rather see him do something completely new, if similar to B5 thematically, than that.
Not saying that it would be bad, but that we've seen B5 already and it's great.
I would be happy with whatever he did.
I would be even more happy if others tried to emulate him.
Quote from: grumbler on October 25, 2011, 06:38:38 AM
He had full creative control, a $2 million-an-episode budget, and a full 24-episode order. This was going to be for a new distribution system WB was launching in collaboration with several cable providers. It was the distribution part of the new venture that broke down, not the content part.
As an aside, the new B5 would have been based on the old story, but have completely new characters and story arcs. JMS said he would get some of the old cast back in guest roles (like Bruce Boxleitner as the Earth Alliance president that gets assassinated, maybe) but there would be no reprising old roles, and no old roles to reprise.
Would have been nice. Hopefully, it's something that will work in the future :)
Quote from: HisMajestyBOB on October 25, 2011, 10:33:43 AM
I'd rather see him do something completely new, if similar to B5 thematically, than that.
Not saying that it would be bad, but that we've seen B5 already and it's great.
Agree, and to some extent I think he would agree as well. The problem is getting people tom fund stuff, and, as I noted, it seems getting remakes funded is easier.
Quote from: Faeelin on October 25, 2011, 07:50:12 AM
I don't see why that's true. Eureka's been a fun little show for four seasons in the same little town, and plenty of mainstream shows are set in modern day New York, or suburbia.
We are talking space opera here, though. Other genres do quite well with limited casting (
Death and the Maiden had a cast of three, and was excellent). For Space Opera, the BSG 'verse just seems too constrained, to me.