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Peter Jackson to remake the Dambusters

Discussion in 'WWII Films & TV' started by pillboxesuk, Aug 31, 2006.

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  1. Martin Bull

    Martin Bull Acting Wg. Cdr

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    I really don't understand why 're-makes' of classic movies are made. Are they ever truly successful ?

    Let's think of a few...'Flight Of The Phoenix' sank without leaving a ripple, 'Get Carter' was so embarrassing it didn't even get a UK release, etc etc. And as for 'Memphis Belle'... [​IMG]

    Why don't they try to re-make 'Casablanca'? Because you can't ....it is of its time, with the right actors, the right music, the right script, and you just can't recreate the time and the chemistry.

    And I really don't think it can be done with 'The Dam Busters'.

    Anyhow, just look at my avatar - you can't expect me to be unbiased ! ;)
     
    Martin Bull, Sep 6, 2006
    #21
  2. No.9

    No.9 Ace

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    Fair enough urqh, but he’d have to be able to bark with a phoney British accent ;) . Perhaps they could get Richard Gere to coach him – or perhaps Dick Van Dogg :D .

    ”Arf a mo guv’nor”, and ”allo me ‘ole China” and all the other expressions I grew-up in London hearing and saying :rolleyes: .


    Martin, I think its pathetic that the film business has sunk to the depths of the music industry where there is such a void of creative talent that an increasing number stoop to recycling other people’s ideas. They don’t even make the effort to plagiarise any more, just a straight up-front rip-off. I accept a re-make IF there is genuinely something to add, or the original was good in concept but poorly made.

    One film I enjoy for itself is Kenneth Branagh’s Henry V, but I also still enjoy Olivier’s ’44 version.

    [​IMG] [​IMG]

    No.9
     
    No.9, Sep 6, 2006
    #22
  3. Kai-Petri

    Kai-Petri Kenraali

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    ANy news on the film this year?
     
    Kai-Petri, Feb 3, 2007
    #23
  4. malccy

    malccy Member

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    This is terrible news; why waste time trying to remake a classic.

    My only wish apart from it not being made is that is uses British actors and follows the original storyline.
     
    malccy, Feb 19, 2007
    #24
  5. Erich

    Erich Alte Hase

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    With the talent the man has besides his loads of finances he really should a take on some Napoleonic Battle(s), especially with many a Cavalry charge involved

    what say ye ?? :cool:
     
    Erich, Feb 20, 2007
    #25
  6. Otto

    Otto GröFaZ Staff Member WW2|ORG Editor

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    Well apparently there is going to be a Hollywood remake of the great DamBusters film at some point. I must admit that a small part of me is going to appreciate another take at a great story, but most of me is full of nausea-laden dread at the impending bastardization of a classic. The following is a compilation of some of the marketing screw-ups and nightmares of political correctness that may unfold if "Hollywood" is allowed to run roughshod over one of the greatest tales of the Second World War.
    • All the Germans speak English with a thick German accent. The exception is when the German yell the terms "Achtung!" "Schnell!" or "Nein!" Proper German is also permitted when the German is in his/her death throes; gurgling blood, falling to their death, etc.
    • Wing Commander Gibson's black Labrador Retriever originally named "Nigger" is now a cute white beagle named "Freedom." The code word for the successful attack on the Mohne damn is also changed from "nigger" to "freedom."
    • One of the DamBusters begins the film as a closeted gay. After the raid, he 'comes out' and his comrades accept him with open arms.
    • All Germans wear bright red swastika armbands, with no exceptions. This includes all soldiers, airmen and civilian old men and babies.
    • The Lancaster bombers are crewed by a rainbow of races from all over the world. This includes several black, Arabs and Asian airmen. For example Gibson's navigator is a Guatemalan named "Diego".
    • George Bush & Dick Cheney are pilot and co-pilot of a Lanc. After bombing their damn, they continue to the Alps and bomb the glaciers because they are the original source of all that water. They machine gun a few of the puffier clouds on the way back as well.
    • None of the airmen ever use, come close to or even speak of a brothel.
    • Every crew member in the Lancs are iron faced, rippled low-carb men, and they often walk around base with no shirt on, and occasionally fly missions topless as well.
    • Gary Coleman is in the film.
    • All the Germans have mp40 smgs, with no exceptions. This includes all soldiers, airmen and civilian old men and babies.
    • In a dramatic scene the Lancaster crews come together in the barracks and engage in a morose discussion on how despite the fact the dams are military targets, they might kill many civilians, so they will now be war criminals. The men accept their lot and accept that they should be considered similarly as the men who run concentration camps.
    • Eddie Murphy is in the film, he plays an entire Lanc crew by himself, each one in fat suits.
    • All the German constantly greet each other with screaming "Heil Hitler!" salutes with no exceptions. This includes all soldiers, airmen and civilian old men and babies.
    • In all scenes set in Germany, swastikas will be placed everywhere there is free space. This includes massive red swastikas emblazoned across the span of each dam.
    • Jackie Chan is in the film.
    • Michael Moore stars in a short section as a war correspondent fighting against an unjust war. His character is killed shortly afterward when he mistakes a Teller mine for a loo, it takes three trips to the bathroom to finish the job.
    • In a dramatic love tringle. Gibson & Trevor-Roper both fall in love with the same woman, respectively. The lady ends up loving Trevor-Roper more than Gibson and gets pregnant with Trevor-Roper's child when Gibson goes temporarily MIA. Eventually Gibson returns, and then when Trevor-Roper is actually KIA, Gibson decides to marry the lady and raise the bastard child as his own.
    • All the Germans have short cropped hair, with no exceptions. This includes all soldiers, airmen and civilian old men and babies. This spawns years of debate on internet message boards about the directors racism against the German people, expressed via coiffage.
    • The phrase "Die Nazi!" is used a record 256 times. Otto starts the "Die Nazi Project"
    • No German ever smiles, unless it is at the prospect of taking innocent lives.
    • One Lancaster, "K for Kosher" is crewed entirely by jews.
    Just my 2 cents. :D :otto: :2cents:
     
    Otto, Jul 21, 2007
    #26
  7. Za Rodinu

    Za Rodinu Aquila non capit muscas

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    Plus:
    • Nobody comes near a cigarette on screen
    • Flak on the dams is supplemented by scores of Germans firing Schmeissers
    • Half of them is seen mowed down in a small vignette by Lt. John Rambo, firing two MG42 from the hip
    • Actually the dams are blown up by a Adwehr officer with a conscience, played by Michael Caine who ends up captured and sent to the Channel Islands to crew an E-Boot
     
    Za Rodinu, Jul 21, 2007
    #27
    Peppy likes this.
  8. Peppy

    Peppy Idi Admin

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    Nice ones Otto and Za, very funny. :rofl: I especially like the dog named 'freedom' :puppy:

    Peppy >>> hates 'Hollywoods' warfilms
     
    Peppy, Jul 25, 2007
    #28
  9. Kai-Petri

    Kai-Petri Kenraali

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    How about some true "bad taste" movie effects included.....Peter Jackson knows all about that!

    Nice looking "crew" btw...
     
    Kai-Petri, Jul 26, 2007
    #29
  10. dgmitchell

    dgmitchell Ace

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    This thread would have been worth a bump if only to allow more Rogues to read Ottos' brilliant July 21, 2007 post (see above). That said, I have been looking around for more information on the new Dambusters movie and found a bit on the Facebook Dambusters fan page.

    According to those who claim to be in the know, the new Dambusters film will be released right around Christmas 2010. This is in line with Hollywood's typical pattern of releasing Oscar contenders just before the end of the year.

    Peter Jackson is still on board to direct. Stephen Fry is apparently still on board to write the screenplay. According to a fellow working on the film, " Sir Ian McKellen is in the frame for Barnes Wallis and James McAvoy for Guy Gibson." but I could not find any substantiation of the cast members. And it appears that a dozen replica Lancasters have been built, some of which are taxiable.

    I have to wonder whether Jackson will be able to keep with this schedule, as his version of The Hobbit has already been officially announced and should be released in 2012. It is odd that info on the new Dambuilders movie is so hard to find.

    Has anyone else heard anything more current?
     
    dgmitchell, Apr 5, 2009
    #30
  11. 4th wilts

    4th wilts Member

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    i understood russel crowe had been offered gibsons spot,cheers.:)
     
    4th wilts, Apr 5, 2009
    #31
  12. Martin Bull

    Martin Bull Acting Wg. Cdr

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    It was rumoured in mid-2008 that James McAvoy was actively being considered for the role of Guy Gibson. Stephen Fry had met one or two veterans of the Raid to discuss their experiences ( prior to starting work on the screenplay ) and contributed some thoughts to the recent 'oral history' book by Max Arthur.

    I believe also that some members of the production crew visited Lancaster NX611 'Just Jane' at East Kirkby, and around the same time more rumours (! :rolleyes:) suggested that taxi-able replica Lancasters had been/were being constructed ( in New Zealand IIRC ? ) but I haven't seen any pictures.

    After that, I've seen or heard nothing either in the specialist press or around the UK warbird 'scene'.......:confused:
     
    Martin Bull, Apr 5, 2009
    #32
  13. urqh

    urqh Tea drinking surrender monkey

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    Well as long as Steven Fry has some say in this I'm not as uneasy as I first thought when I heard this.

    But with apologies to Martin....Sorry Martin...

    I still have my doubts after seeing Stevin Fry's first edit.

    Sorry Martin...dont look mate..

    YouTube - The Dambusters a la Star Wars
     
    urqh, Apr 5, 2009
    #33
  14. Martin Bull

    Martin Bull Acting Wg. Cdr

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    :D

    Must admit - the guy who put that together has a certain talent ! :)
     
    Martin Bull, Apr 5, 2009
    #34
  15. WotNoChad?

    WotNoChad? Member

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    There's plenty of gossip on the project over at http://dambustersblog.com

    Including;
    Interviewer: Is it true that you have rewritten The Dam Busters?
    SF: Yes, well, I won’t say rewritten. The great New Zealand director, Peter Jackson, asked me if I would be interested in writing a screenplay on The Dam Busters. This was fascinating because – I yield to none my admiration to him as a film-maker; he’s astounding – I had no idea he’d be interested in this story.
    It turns out, actually, that it was David Frost who had bought the rights to the Paul Brickhill book The Dam Busters and was desperate to find someone to direct it, and he was told by a friend that Peter Jackson had a huge poster of the original film on his wall in his office and David thought, ‘I’ll call him up’, and the deal was struck. Then Peter got in touch with me. Now the original film is a magnificent film – it genuinely is a masterpiece.
    Interviewer: And when will we see your version?
    SF: 2010.
    Dominion Post, Wellington, NZ, 17 February 2009.
     
    WotNoChad?, Apr 5, 2009
    #35
    dgmitchell likes this.
  16. Drew5233

    Drew5233 Member

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    I wonder if they will f
     
    Drew5233, Apr 5, 2009
    #36
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