When we first see him, he’s practicing an elven battle kata underground. Here I am engrossed in the movie and just loving it to death then BAM!! I’m all of a sudden thinking that this is how I’d imagine a movie where a drow like Zaknafien Do’Urden could be shown during a practice session.
During that sequence there was no dialogue. It was all visual and believe you me Prince Nuada practically oozed battle confidence and control with each acrobatic movement. For me it was crazy because for few brief moments I thought that I was watching a Forgotten Realms movie.
Something (I won’t say what) snapped me back into the Hellboy Universe towards the end of that scene, but it was all good.
As the movie progressed Prince Nuada’s character really grew on me. Kudos to Luke Goss for giving such a strong performance. (Look for him in the upcoming Tekken movie!)
Nuada’s resentment of humanity and desire for an all-consuming confrontation with them was so strong that at one point I thought to myself how it was like Fate took the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse and squeezed them all together into one hate-driven being.
As the movie progressed the battle sequences just got better and better.
Before I forget, Prince Nuada’s weapon’s morphing ability fit perfectly with the morphing weapon concept introduced in the 3E Realms Sourcebook Underdark too.
Anyway, I recommend you see the movie. It will make you sit on the edge of your seat and laugh out loud.
And if you’re lucky, it will make you want some of what’s in it for a Forgotten Realms movie.
I vote for the Director of Hellboy 2 (Guillermo del Toro) to be the future director for any FR movie.
:D
I'm planning to see the movie tomorrow.
That prince struck me as a gold elf (going by the trailer).:P
I'm planning to see the movie tomorrow.
it looks good
I vote for the Director of Hellboy 2 (Guillermo del Toro) to be the future director for any FR movie.
-In the Forgotten Realms Movie thread, it was already put to vote, and Dan won, actually. He's going to be directing the movie.
maybe he's Ed's albino drow
According to mythology, King Balor was the God of the Drow (however he supposedly had one eye).
wasn't he a leader of fomorians
it's interesting to speculate with one-eye myths, Correllon and Gruumsh, Labelas being called one-eyed ...
But then you'd be silly.
Well you could make a statement the Formorians were roughly equivalent to Dark Elves.
But then you'd be silly.
they are the feywild's version of drow
I can't wait 'till I see this movie - that Prince sounds EXACTLY how I have re-imagined my version of Gray/Sun/Eladrin Elves - the ones I dubbed Maeladrin in that other thread.
They're perfect, right down to the skin color. :D
And you want to hear something weird? I've been planning on writing-up two magical items for the Elven Netbook to go with my 'artificial limbs' article, and I was going to base them on the hand and Eye of Nuada!
How cool is that?
(Not that I was being original - Hellboy and I both stole the idea from Michael Moorcock's Corum novels)
In fact, Nuada (as King of the Tuatha Dé Danann), warred incessently with the Fomorians, which is another angle to work him/them into FR/D&D. The Moonshaes is a perfect place for this, and Brian James' article lends itself well to this kind of 'ancient history' of the region.
In fact, Nuada (as King of the Tuatha Dé Danann)...
...and just so we can bring this full circlee (in a six degrees of Kevin Bacon kind of way), Tuatha De Danann happens to be the name of the guild I'm a member of on World of Warcraft.
Nice ideas, Markus.
We'll have plenty more opportunities like this once the FRCG hits the shelves.
What is that thing The Borg are so fond of saying...
"Resistance is futile"
they are the feywild's version of drow
Only in the sense that they live underground. They could just as easily be called the Feywild's version of illithids or duergar. Because the drow are originally from the Feywild, it might be more accurate to say the drow are the Feywild's version of the drow.
On topic, I loved Hellboy II, though I thought the three most fantastic scenes (the Troll Market, the goblin smith's portal, and the clockwork battleground) fit more strongly with Planescape than the Forgotten Realms.
The creatures from Hellboy 2 (haven't seen the movie... yet) rather remind me of fey more than of elves. As in fey from the Unseelie/Seelie Court. Elves are more creatures from this world rather than the one next door.
In 4E, elves are fey.
Only in the sense that they live underground. They could just as easily be called the Feywild's version of illithids or duergar. Because the drow are originally from the Feywild, it might be more accurate to say the drow are the Feywild's version of the drow.
That and they are the dominant bad guys of the underground
I will disagree with you Rip, my favorite part of the movie was the entire scene involving the goblin's "pal." I don't want to ruin it for anyone...
In 4E, elves are fey.
Only the eladrin. Not that it matters to me...
hand and Eye of Nuada
Hand and Eye of Vecna, cut off by the traitorous lieutenant Kas...
I will disagree with you Rip, my favorite part of the movie was the entire scene involving the goblin's "pal." I don't want to ruin it for anyone...
Definitly. I'm a big fan of the designers and costumes from Pan's Labyrinth and now this movie as well. Good stuff.
"Resistance is futile"
Not for me, it's the positive side of my Human "subrace", very headstrong and doesn't changes unless he want's to.
Since I want nothing to do with 4th edition I don't allow it's corruption on my ideas.
Anyone interested in helping me create him for a PC? Only gonna make him 1st lvl though...
It would really depend on what fighting style your going for. He's pretty diverse with two weapons, single sword, and spear fighting and I'd suggest the Fighter or Ranger class.
That and they are the dominant bad guys of the underground
Do you really think drow dominate the Underdark? I've always thought they existed in uneasy balance with the other powerful Underdark races, as equals and rivals to the illithids, aboleths, duergar, cloakers, and others.
Only the eladrin. Not that it matters to me...
All 4e elf-kin are classified as fey, including elves and drow. But only the eladrins are "creatures of the world next door."
Only the eladrin. Not that it matters to me...
Actually elves are also considered "fey".
By the way, I loved the movie in question. Lots of good fantasy elements in it, and of course, it helped that it has funny and likable protagonists.
His physical appearance reminded me of Elric of Melniborne.
Good movie....and I love the "Tooth Fairies" - they rocked!!
There mini-series might even be worse....
-Does Sci-Fi do original animation? I'm not sure. That'd be nice, to see a new D&D cartoon, more in line with the animation and themes of today.
-Cartoon Network, nowadays, does not have quality programming. I'll put it like that...
I agree.
Now a live action Ravenloft show, that I would watch!
Bel
I agree.
Now a live action Ravenloft show, that I would watch!
Bel
-Buffy the Vampire Slayer was good, right? So, it can be done!
I agree.
Now a live action Ravenloft show, that I would watch!
Bel
There already was a live action Ravenloft movie.
It was called Van Helsing. :P
And before you argue anything, I point out that the idiocy of the protagonist just makes it MORE like D&D.
I agree.
Now a live action Ravenloft show, that I would watch!
Bel
-Buffy the Vampire Slayer was good, right? So, it can be done!
I was actually thinking of Buffy when I made that post. The makeup on that looked pretty damn good, so one can imagine that Ravenloft can be handled just as well, if not better.
And before you argue anything, I point out that the idiocy of the protagonist just makes it MORE like D&D.
...I find myself having a hard time disputing that. ;)
Whether live-action or animated, TV serial or feature length movie, they would definitely need to pay very close attention to previous examples of the fantasy genre on the big and small screen alike - those that have succeeded, as well as those that have been spectacular flops. I would also suggest considering other 'geek' genre films that have been mainstream hits (such as the X-Men franchise).
Lord of the Rings - I would put the Peter Jackson LoTR films firmly into the former category, and if ever there is something to emulate, it's here. Good acting, good story/script, good visuals. It had strong crossover appeal, which is key, because you're not going to score without both drawing in your fan base, and attracting attention from mainstream audiences.
The D&D Movie - Pretty classic example of what not to do. Poor story, coupled with lack of attention to the basics of the material. One obvious lesson to draw - if you can't at least mildly draw the interest of the fanbase, you're probably not going to attract anyone else.
Dragonlance - This one's been collecting dust on my bookshelf as a DVD. Honestly, where did they go wrong? The voice talent was good, and animated features are no longer automatically assumed to be the 'kids stuff' it was 10-20 years ago. Opinions may vary, but I'd hazard to guess that they just didn't put 'enough' into it. From what I saw, the animation was relatively sub-par compared to what the current 'anime' generation has come to expect. Couple this with the fact that it wound up being a direct to DVD release (at least I never heard of it hitting theaters), and I wonder if anyone outside the gaming community even noticed. I could be wrong though, since this was around the time I was coming back from Iraq.
Bottom line, I tend to think that the Holy Grail of a D&D/FR/etc movie 'done right' is probably going to remain unattainable until someone comes along, a la Peter Jackson, who has the clout to insist on doing everything the way it really ought to be done - full budget, no corners cut (or minimal at least).
And yes, Luke Goss would be an awesome choice to act in it. :D
At the risk of veering off topic...
Lord of the Rings - I would put the Peter Jackson LoTR films firmly into the former category, and if ever there is something to emulate, it's here. Good acting, good story/script, good visuals. It had strong crossover appeal, which is key, because you're not going to score without both drawing in your fan base, and attracting attention from mainstream audiences.
The one problem I see is that because LotR was such a hit, other Fantasy genre films will be linked to that by the mainstream audience and may come off as a "rip-off". On the plus side though, it's been a while since the films have been off the Big Screen and a good Fantasy film is due, I think.
The D&D Movie - Pretty classic example of what not to do. Poor story, coupled with lack of attention to the basics of the material. One obvious lesson to draw - if you can't at least mildly draw the interest of the fanbase, you're probably not going to attract anyone else.
Aye, this movie was pretty bad. I think the only thing that appealed to me was the Beholder and the some-what use of known magic spells in the D&D universe. Now, the D&D: Wrath of the Dragon God film (by SciFi) was much better (IMHO) because it actually had a better plot, the characters were more thought out, and there was a greater focus on the details such as spell components/incantations, turning undead, and other class features seen throughout D&D. And priced for under $10 isn't a bad deal either.
Dragonlance - This one's been collecting dust on my bookshelf as a DVD. Honestly, where did they go wrong? The voice talent was good, and animated features are no longer automatically assumed to be the 'kids stuff' it was 10-20 years ago. Opinions may vary, but I'd hazard to guess that they just didn't put 'enough' into it. From what I saw, the animation was relatively sub-par compared to what the current 'anime' generation has come to expect. Couple this with the fact that it wound up being a direct to DVD release (at least I never heard of it hitting theaters), and I wonder if anyone outside the gaming community even noticed. I could be wrong though, since this was around the time I was coming back from Iraq.
I think I almost threw up when I watched it. I had SUCH high hopes when I heard of it's release and the voice actors/actresses they got to play the roles (Keifer Sutherland as Raistlin.....
) and that they were going to animate it made it more appealing to me. But then I watched it, in all it's horrible, pox-filled, unholy glory. They actors didn't seem to have any feeling but a "read this line here and speak into the mic" detatchment. The animation was pathetic to say the least and I've seen better animation from the original D&D cartoon over 20 years ago. Not to mention the random CGI of the draconians and dragons (which was sub-par to even Sci-Fi studio standards)and how it didn't fit well into the over-all theme of the movie. Also, some of the characters were rather uncharacteristic such as Caramon being a giggling school girl when it came to Tika and a moron for the rest of the time and of course there's no mention of the Green-Gem stone man WHO'S ONE OF THE BIGGEST PLOT ELEMENTS IN THE DAMN STORY!!! *sigh* ok rant's over and I apologize to those who enjoyed the movie. Bottom line, I tend to think that the Holy Grail of a D&D/FR/etc movie 'done right' is probably going to remain unattainable until someone comes along, a la Peter Jackson, who has the clout to insist on doing everything the way it really ought to be done - full budget, no corners cut (or minimal at least).
And yes, Luke Goss would be an awesome choice to act in it. :D
Seconded!
On the plus side though, it's been a while since the films have been off the Big Screen and a good Fantasy film is due, I think.
-Isn't The Hobbit in production?
I had SUCH high hopes when I heard of it's release and the voice actors/actresses they got to play the roles
Sadly, it looks like they spent all their money on the voice actors rather than on the animation. Or the writing. Or the directing.
-Isn't The Hobbit in production?
Yep. Two Hobbit movies (not filming at once like the LotR movies, though). One is an adaptation of The Hobbit, while the second fills in the gap between The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings. Can't wait to see what Guillermo Del Toro does with Smaug.
Couple this with the fact that it wound up being a direct to DVD release (at least I never heard of it hitting theaters)
Being direct-to-dvd isn't the curse word it used to be. Apparently Marvel's seeing some success with their direct-to-dvd projects. Same for DC. I bought Justice League: New Frontier just the other day, and that was apparently direct-to-DVD.
Bottom line, I tend to think that the Holy Grail of a D&D/FR/etc movie 'done right' is probably going to remain unattainable until someone comes along, a la Peter Jackson, who has the clout to insist on doing everything the way it really ought to be done - full budget, no corners cut (or minimal at least).
One would think that, between the success of the Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter, and The Chronicles of Narnia, that this would be a priority. Well, hopefully with The Hobbit, we'll see a bit more impetus to put a Forgotten Realms story to film.
And yes, Luke Goss would be an awesome choice to act in it. :D
If Guillermo Del Toro directs, we can pretty much count on it. :D Though I doubt he'll ever have the chance. His plate's pretty full with the two Hobbit movies along with Hellboy III.
One would think that, between the success of the Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter, and The Chronicles of Narnia, that this would be a priority. Well, hopefully with The Hobbit, we'll see a bit more impetus to put a Forgotten Realms story to film.
If an FR movie ever gets made, I'd definitely check it out!
Speaking of which, what elements from other popular fantasy movies would people here consider a benchmark of sorts?
Off the top of my head, I think the battle between Voldemort and Dumbledore really set the standard for magic duels in the last Harry Potter movie.
- Beastmaster
- Bram Stoker's Dracula (I'm thinking of Ravenloft in this case, as this sets the kind of tone that I'd like to see in any Ravenloft production)
- The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe
- The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian
- Conan the Barbarian
- Dog Soldiers (Modern, but the werewolves are amazing. Best I've ever seen. And yeah, thinking of Ravenloft, again. Specifically Verbrek)
- Excalibur (absolutely perfect portrayals of Arthur and Merlin, who're the archtypal knight and wizard)
- Hellboy II: The Golden Army (I can't speak highly enough of Guillermo Del Toro's ability to create fantastical creatures. This is what fantasy movies should look like)
- The Hobbit (animated version)
- The Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring (pretty much a given. Not least of which because they made halflings look good, without hiring midgets in the lead roles)
- The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers
- The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King
- Pan's Labyrinth
While I don't care for the rest of the movie (It was WAY to hacked down from the book, which is a shame, because the book was damn near flawless), the duel between Voldemort and Dumbledore was fantastic. A wellplayed D&D mage duel would be quite the sight to see on film.
The D&D Movie - Pretty classic example of what not to do. Poor story, coupled with lack of attention to the basics of the material. One obvious lesson to draw - if you can't at least mildly draw the interest of the fanbase, you're probably not going to attract anyone else.
Actually, I'd argue that the movie was actually crippled by its attempts to be a fantasy story instead of a D&D story. According to an association, the presentation was the problem not the actual content. If you had inserted frequented cuts to a table with the actors as players, then the entire movie would have become a wonderful meta-narration on the hobby and its absurdities.
I think the first D&D movie must be comedy.
-G'night, folks.
Anybody?
Come on.
Bah, we'll let the Gnome do it.
In any case, I seriously believe that focusing on the fantasy story in D&D misses the point. I'd much rather watch a movie about Shaun of the Dead style 30 something gamers than another attempt to believe D&D isn't about SIMULATING fantasy rather than fantasy itself.
Bah, we'll let the Gnome do it.
-Always with the Gnomes...
-Concerning the point you raised, I'd NOT go see such a movie, if it was made in such a way that, at random points, the storyline stopped to see people playing D&D. A lot of the people that I used to play D&D with this past year, that I really don't, we're always raving about and quoting from some movie called "Gamers", which apparently did this. Ugh, personally, I think it's a horrible idea.
-Always with the Gnomes...
-Concerning the point you raised, I'd NOT go see such a movie, if it was made in such a way that, at random points, the storyline stopped to see people playing D&D. A lot of the people that I used to play D&D with this past year, that I really don't, we're always raving about and quoting from some movie called "Gamers", which apparently did this. Ugh, personally, I think it's a horrible idea.
I think it reminds people that the fantasy story is unimportant. Ultimately, whatever happens in the fantasy story is irrelevant because its a bunch of characters by people sitting around a table. The point of the story is that it's to show a hobby about people having fun through imagination.
Honestly, you could excuse any plot holes or bad acting because it becomes a reminder that D&D players cannot and should not come up with anything truly epic because it's not fantasy by JRR Tolkien but the product of College Students. Personally, I love Order of the Stick, which is just shy of this. Heck, Knights of the Dinner Table doesn't even bother with the fantasy story.
This is what would separate D&D the Movie from "Generic Fantasy Movie 7."
D&D the movie is not D&D because it's about fantasy characters while D&D is about PLAYERS. A true D&D movie is about gamers and their hobby not a bunch of attempts to tell another Sword and Sorcery epic.
I think it reminds people that the fantasy story is unimportant. Ultimately, whatever happens in the fantasy story is irrelevant because its a bunch of characters by people sitting around a table. The point of the story is that it's to show a hobby about people having fun through imagination.
-This is where we differ, then. When I play, the "behind-the-scenes" things are unimportant. It's telling the story that's important.
-Like I said, in the context that you describe it, I could definitely not go see said movie.
I consider it a loss though.
Now, if they did said movie, and all of a sudden people started to die in real Life the same way they were dying in the game, that would be Box-Office Gold, but D&D would never license such a movie because it would harken back to the days when Church folk said D&D came from Satan.
Which, of course, in the movie it would.
because LotR was such a hit, other Fantasy genre films will be linked to that by the mainstream audience and may come off as a "rip-off".
Certainly this is possible, and would have been a given 8 years ago. However, over the last several years we have had a surge in the number of fantasy movies, as well as the juggernaught advent of Warcraft with over 10 million current subscribers (Probably closer to 20-30 million that have at some point played). Audiences are starting to realize that fantasy is its own genre, instead of just thinking LotR.
Drizzt is especially well suited to fix this problem, since Drow are unique to the brand.
I'd have to go along with LK on this one - even if the movie were any good, I don't think that format would draw a large enough audience. It wuld be like an Indy film - no one really watches those.
Now, if they did said movie, and all of a sudden people started to die in real Life the same way they were dying in the game, that would be Box-Office Gold, but D&D would never license such a movie because it would harken back to the days when Church folk said D&D came from Satan.
Which, of course, in the movie it would.
Didn't thay do that in a movie already? Although it was based on a video game.
For a D&D movie, if they only did a framing story maybe five minutes in the beginning and at the end, showing the players starting and ending the game.
That wouldn't really work, how do you make a good two hour movie about one gaming session?
Nevermind.
Bel
I'd have to go along with LK on this one - even if the movie were any good, I don't think that format would draw a large enough audience. It wuld be like an Indy film - no one really watches those.
-Right.
That wouldn't really work, how do you make a good two hour movie about one gaming session?
Nevermind.
-Sequels? Never ending sequels? Straight-to-video releases?