A Clockwork Ender

[matt_rah]

So, crystalpyramid and I were just talking about the (long-promised, probably-never-happening) Ender's Game movie on the bus, after a previous mention of Orson Scott Card at dinner. We were discussing how it would be really hard to actually do the book justice on the screen: not only would it be difficult if not impossible to film the child-on-child violence in

Comments

[splintercat]

Stanley Kubrick would own at directing Ender's Game. That's so true. Wow.

(The terrifying adults seem to be intact in The Golden Compass. Mrs. Coulter seems as evil as ever and showing Asriel as evil would be spoilery.)

[matt_rah]

Cool! I'm definitely going to see it soon!

Matt

[instigator_ash]

I was more terrified by the view of children in the movie than the view of adults. But yes, Kubrick at least stood a chance. It'd still be hard, though. Even the Battle Room, the most visual part of the book, would be hard.

And the subplot with Ender's siblings taking over the world? Pretty much impossible-- it takes place in chat rooms. How do you make a movie of that?

[mrwendel]

Seeing as how the movie Battle Royal http://us.imdb.com/title/tt0266308/ got made, maybe Kubrick films it outside of the US and then eventually we get the uncensored director's cut on DVD?

Now, I am guilty of having not read Ender's Game yet (it's on the long list), but is it so graphic that it can't be filmed? Or is this one of those times where I need to go read the book to find out?

Also, in regards to The Golden Compass, even if it's not nearly as good as it should be I have to go see it just for the Battle Bears! (The church screaming it's the anti-Christ is a nice encouragement as well.)

[matt_rah]

Well, Kubrick is dead, so, you know... but maybe they can find one of his numerous followers.

Anyway, I haven't seen Battle Royale, though I did play in a LARP based on it back in March. That's with teenagers, though. EG's violence isn't particularly graphic, but the age of the children involved is quite young, like 6, and that's what I think Hollywood and/or the MPAA wouldn't want to see.

Yes, Golden Compass definitely! Next Saturday?

Matt

[mrwendel]

You know, I should have remembered Kubrick was dead. Maybe Quentin Tarantino with some assistance? :)

As for Battle Royale, I will have to watch it again. It's a definite got the kids gunning each other down, knives, and other assorted weapons. Plus most six year olds in movies are nine or ten anyways. ;)

I might be up for the Golden Compass next Saturday, not sure how that is going to pan out with Pete coming up over the weekend, so I'll have to play it by ear.

[matt_rah]

Yeah, Tarantino was my next director after Kubrick. I think he'd make the violence too stylized though, maybe.

I'll let you know when I'm going to see GC.

Matt