21st century Dambusters (for all discussion on the remake)

Hope this isn't true. What a shame if it is.
this is lincolnshire- news, entertainment, jobs, homes and cars

 

Hope this isn't true. What a shame if it is.
this is lincolnshire- news, entertainment, jobs, homes and cars


The original had the feel of being a fly-on-the-wall documentary simply because they used original sites and conversations. The re-make will be just that a remake of a very fine film but with a fictionalised content.

 

Well, I'd be a little worried about them putting PA 474 to any unnecessary risk for a film. Making such a film would be more difficult than making a film using Spitfires precisely because there are so few of the originals.

And the original film used a considerable degree of artistic licence and special effects. The matte "splashes" when the bombs were dropped. The way in which the "bombs" (ok, mines) were protruding from the bomb bay was exagerrated for the film. And in the shots from the bomber noses, the prone bomb-aimer is clearly a dummy.

I'm more concerned about whether they give the historical characters 21st century mentalities and attitudes rather than what they how they portray the action.

Of course there are more B17s flying than Lancs.......

And I bet Nigger will be replaced by a Golden Labrador... or even a cat...:elkgrin:

 

Living in Lincolnshire it would be great if they used the local area for some of the filming. I hope that they don't mess with the script too much but I'm sure they'll mess it up.

 

And I bet Nigger will be replaced by a Golden Labrador... or even a cat...:elkgrin:


And the sqn "executive officer" will be a coloured woman, who also flies the top secret jet propelled lancaster on the pathfinder role

 

Guy had a cat called Wings. Your fact for the day.

I have every faith in Jackson to make a good film, but I swear to God, he messes up this film and I'll [EDITED for language]

 

I do find it funny that the original is seen as such a sacred cow - it was such a product of the 50s stiff upper lip style - I'm hoping some of the real emotions and personalities come through in the new one.

 

Doubt they'll show Guy setting fire to Dingy's trousers though.....

 

I do find it funny that the original is seen as such a sacred cow - it was such a product of the 50s stiff upper lip style - I'm hoping some of the real emotions and personalities come through in the new one.


The original used conversations taken from real life and the film was shown to the survivining dambusters to check it. So, if the implication is that it was stiff upper lip stuff then thats what happened in real life.

 

Film making, like all things in the world today is financially driven and has to be made within it's alloted budget. That is just a fact of life.

Although it would be nice to use original locations, things have changed so much it may detract from the accuracy of the film. And that's the main thing. It can be made in New Zealand, using cheap Chinese Lancaster replicas for all I care, as long as the finished film is as accurate as it can be and not 'Souped Up', 'Dummed Down' and Yankified to appeal to the American unwashed.

 

as long as the finished film is as accurate as it can be and not 'Souped Up', 'Dummed Down' and Yankified to appeal to the American unwashed.

That is the problem, there are many fine articles and books on the subject, which would give Stephen Fry ideas for his script but the worry is that it will not retain many of the aspects of the actual raid.

 

I think we can give Fry the benefit of the doubt. for now.

 

Jackson has the same problem the guys making The Battle of Britain had back in 1969...England doesn't look like it did then. You fly over Britain for straight and level for 30 seconds and you'll have power plants, skyscrapers, Motorways, and shopping malls in the background.

China has obviously less of all of those, and you can build a dam and an RAF airfield there without disrupting traffic more easily.

And I would not submit PA474 to the stress of movie-making. Period. When they made 12 O'Clock High back in 1949, they had problems with B-17s crashing and becoming total write-offs.

What matters to me is that script, acting, and plot. This has got to follow history, and not some Hollywood marketing genius's power book. The bomber crews were from the British Commonwealth, except for McCarthy. They flew Lancasters, not B-17s. The defenders had flak, not TIE fighters. There was no love triangle between the hotshot American lead pilot and his English sidekick for the hand of the female karate instructor, played by Angelina Jolie. The RAF brass were not incompetent traitors, played by Alan Rickman (doing Severus Snape and the Sheriff of Nottingham).

 

What matters to me is that script, acting, and plot. This has got to follow history, and not some Hollywood marketing genius's power book. The bomber crews were from the British Commonwealth, except for McCarthy. They flew Lancasters, not B-17s. The defenders had flak, not TIE fighters. There was no love triangle between the hotshot American lead pilot and his English sidekick for the hand of the female karate instructor, played by Angelina Jolie. The RAF brass were not incompetent traitors, played by Alan Rickman (doing Severus Snape and the Sheriff of Nottingham).

:biggrin:

 

I'm not sure how much RAF Scampton has changed over the years but surely some shooting could be done there and it would be a fitting location.
They seemed to manage to shoot 'Memphis Belle' in the UK.
With all the CGI Jackson uses maybe it wouldn't be that big a problem.

 

This may have been mentioned previously however they have only purchased the rights for Australian Paul Brickhills book "The Dambusters". I have not read anything about "Enemy Coast Ahead".

Both of these books were used for the original!

 

I am getting seriously overexcited at the thought of WETA getting their grubby little computers around the raid itself. Anyhow....

I have faith in Jackson and the actual Director (from WETA) that they'll do a good job. But I would like to see actual on site shots at Scampton (which hasn't changed that much by all accounts), up the Derwent and down the Mohne.
Just pray Fry doesn't try to modernise the language and script, or they fill it with effette Yank actors who can't do accents. Though from past experience again Jackson deals with this nicely (look at LotR) And I expect them all to walk and stand correctly!

 

I have faith in Peter Jackson as well given he is at least a "colonial" as opposed to a Yank getting hold of what is RAF to the bone. My one hope, besides not wanting to be shaking my head too many times throughout the film, is that the film is done well enough that it teaches people about the sacrifices that were made for what they have now.

Saving Private Ryan and Band of Brothers did that. Now, in this modern day of blockbusters and notwithstanding past efforts, it's the RAF's turn!

Apres Moi Le Deluge!

Cheers

Andy

 

Kitty, I said the same about Jackson when he was first confirmed as the director for Lord of the Rings but within 5 minutes of seeing it I knew it was in good hands. I have every confidence he will do a good job. wonder what job Andy Serkis(Gollum) will get? Will he play a Lanc??

 

Serkis? Now theres a serious potential for one of the main characters. Maybe Guy? But that may be pushing it. I'd rather have him, who can act, than some pretty boy.