Del Toro And Cameron to shoot 'Mountains Of Madness' movie

[Purkake]

Via Deadline:

 

EXCLUSIVE: Since he left The Hobbit, Guillermo del Toro's next film has been a hot topic of conversation. I'm hearing he will next direct At The Mountains Of Madness, an adaptation of the HP Lovecraft tale that will be shot as a 3D film for Universal Pictures. The big surprise is that Avatar director James Cameron will come aboard as a producer. Del Toro was non-committal when I asked him about the prospect of Mountains days ago as we discussed the Comic-Con reaction to Don

[Morgoth]

Good, I liked Pan's Labyrinth. He also made a game deal with THQ recently, maybe it's a game tie-in?

[Slowtrain]

Poor choice of a Lovecraft story to film.

 

I mean, it's a fab story but nothing really happens in it. No doubt in grand Hollywwod style it wil be tarted up with a ton of stuff that has nothing to do with the actual story.

 

They'd be better off choosing one of Lovecratft's more active stories like The Shadow over Innsmouth or the Dunwich Horror.

[Purkake]

Well it's a start.

 

I'm guessing they're keeping the 1930s time period? That alone would be fun to watch.

[WorstUsernameEver]

Well it's a start.

 

I'm guessing they're keeping the 1930s time period? That alone would be fun to watch.

 

They are. Del Toro confirmed that it wanted the film to be a period piece and R-Rated otherwise he wouldn't direct it.

[Purkake]

Sweet.

 

While Mountains of Madness doesn't really do the usual Lovecraftian small creepy village/town thing, the old timey Antarctic explorers angle does add quite a bit to it in terms of uniqueness.

 

Also it's one of Lovecrafts few actual novels, most of the stuff was short stories.

Edited August 7, 2010 by Purkake

[Orogun01]

Poor choice of a Lovecraft story to film.

 

I mean, it's a fab story but nothing really happens in it. No doubt in grand Hollywwod style it wil be tarted up with a ton of stuff that has nothing to do with the actual story.

 

They'd be better off choosing one of Lovecratft's more active stories like The Shadow over Innsmouth or the Dunwich Horror.

Actually it should keep the hardcore fans from screaming "heresy", plus knowing Del Toro this is a perfect fit since both the story and the director are very visual.

[Volourn]

"the old timey Antarctic explorers angle does add quite a bit to it in terms of uniqueness."

 

Nah. That's been done to death in movies. Anyways, looks like it could be a fun movie.

[Slowtrain]

While Mountains of Madness doesn't really do the usual Lovecraftian small creepy village/town thing, the old timey Antarctic explorers angle does add quite a bit to it in terms of uniqueness.

 

Also it's one of Lovecrafts few actual novels, most of the stuff was short stories.

 

 

I agree. The atmosphere and location of ATMM is one of its strong points. If they can catch that, at least it's something.

 

The narrative though is really just two guys wandering around an ancient, abandoned city looking at wall carvings, combined with the subnarrative of the city's history as told through the carvings themselves. Don't get me wrong--that's not a putdown. It's an engrossing story and one of HPL's best. But it's not a very action/thriller/3d/hollywood narrative and will take quite a bit of "additonal" scenes to make it so.

 

Given that so many of HPL's stories could translate much better: The Whisperer in Darkness, The Haunter of the Dark, The Lurking Fear, Dreams in the Witch House, The Rats in the Walls, Pickman's Model, and they are all very good stories as well; it would seem a less than optimum choice.

 

Probably the only story that would be harder to translate would be The Shadow out of Time, also another of HPL's best. And similar in many ways to ATMM.

[Hurlshort]

I'm soooo tired of the 3D craze. I can't watch movies in 3d without being uncomfortable, and my wife is the same way. I don't see why Hollywood really thinks this is a good idea.

[Gorgon]

Me also, I could just never adjust, and I use glasses already, can't place the 3d ones comfortably.

[Raithe]

Now I'm stuck pondering on just what it would be like if hollywood went musical and did A Shoggoth on the Roof...

 

 

"Tentacles!!"

[Purkake]

I'm soooo tired of the 3D craze. I can't watch movies in 3d without being uncomfortable, and my wife is the same way. I don't see why Hollywood really thinks this is a good idea.

You can watch them in 2D as well. It probably helps against piracy and some studios like Sony have a lot to gain from it in terms of selling new TVs. As for the movies themselves, I couldn't care less. The glasses are kind of heavy and uncomfortable, but it's not the end of the world.

 

Now I'm stuck pondering on just what it would be like if hollywood went musical and did A Shoggoth on the Roof...

 

 

"Tentacles!!"

Just put it on Broadway

[Raithe]

Just put it on Broadway

 

I was more thinking of them taking the moulin rouge route with it...

 

I could just see Ewan McGregor as Herbert West... Jim Broadbent in the role of Armitage... and from outfield, Christopher Walken singing "If I were a Deep One.."

 

[HoonDing]

Good news, I guess.

 

I'm certain there will be at least one Shoggoth chase scene in the movie. After all, those things don't die (unless you kill them with fire) and the Elder Things created them.

[Slowtrain]

I'm soooo tired of the 3D craze. I can't watch movies in 3d without being uncomfortable, and my wife is the same way. I don't see why Hollywood really thinks this is a good idea.

 

 

I would guess that one reason for it is that it gives additional encouragement to see the film in the theater. MAkes it a bit more of a visual spectacle as it were. With all the competion from home theater setups, the film studios are probably lookig for ways to insure that people will still go the theaters as well as watch at home.

 

See it in the theater, see it again, buy it on dvd, watch it on cable. Ther more times the studio can sell the film, the better.

[mr insomniac]

I'm stoked for this movie. I loved Pan's Labyrinth and the Hellboy movies, and Mountains of Madness was the first Lovecraft story I read, and still my favourite, after Shadows Over Innsmouth.

 

EDIT: oops.

Edited August 8, 2010 by mr insomniac

[Blarghagh]

I somehow think the plot will be very different. The background story, settings, names, monsters etc., I think they'll keep that. But the characters will be different and the things that happen in it will as well.

[Purkake]

I somehow think the plot will be very different. The background story, settings, names, monsters etc., I think they'll keep that. But the characters will be different and the things that happen in it will as well.

At this point I'll be happy if a bunch of arctic explorers get chased around by a Shoggoth.

 

Just as long as it's not a bunch of teenagers lost in Alaska

[HoonDing]

Lovecraft is one of few authors who made aliens actually look alien.

 

 

Romance this, Shepard!

[Purkake]

Al much as I hate the rubber forehead aliens, the Elder Things are one of the stupider looking of Lovecraft's aliens. The Mi-Go, Star Vampires and the various gods a much better examples of alien aliens.

Edited August 8, 2010 by Purkake

[Orogun01]

Lovecraft is one of few authors who made aliens actually look alien.

 

snip

 

Romance this, Shepard!

 

You been writing ME hentai fanfic, I see.

[WorstUsernameEver]

Lovecraft is one of few authors who made aliens actually look alien.

 

Romance this, Shepard!

 

You know, give it a cute/troubled personality and some sad puppy eyes and I'm pretty sure you'll find a lot of people will romance it.

Of course, not many will admit it, but with time....

[Wrath of Dagon]

Shhh, don't give Bioware forums any ideas.