Today's Column: We Know Nothing, Jon Snow

This month's column skips the dreaded sequel for last month's (not much to columnize about me liking Jurassic World, other than summing up lots of hyperboles and superlatives, which makes for a dull read) and instead targets another very predictable topic, that jolly show called Game of Thrones, which had yet again drawn to a season close.

Column: We Know Nothing, Jon Snow

We've arrived at that time in the series we knew would come sooner rather than later. Book readers no longer can say with certainty what's to come for the majority of story lines. The series has caught up with the various narratives in the novels in most cases and has even well progressed beyond them in some. Not to mention many of them have also been changed to such an extent they little resemble their literary counterparts. Only a few of the characters' stories are still behind, and a bunch of them involve people we haven't even met yet, and may not ever meet on the show. So what does that mean for the relationship between those who have read all the novels, and those who solely stick to the series? For one thing, the latter party doesn't need to worry so strongly about dodging spoilers, which also means the former can once more open their mouths in public without fear of someone socking a fist in them. It makes for a better balance between both types of fans, now that they all know who, when and what we're talking about and nobody knows for a certainty what's going to happen next (except for Mr. Martin, I should hope). The interchange of theories will now evolve along more equal lines, since both parties know as much, or more aptly speaking, as little.

Of course, book readers still know about the other possibilities certain characters could have had, as they had them in the book, and may take a hint or two from those, though there are no longer any guarantees. The only spoiler threat left for avid viewers/non readers now involves the new characters, like the already announced Randyll Tarly, Septon Meribald and Euron Greyjoy. However, of these characters the only one whose story line from the novel is left mostly intact is that last name. The other two in the books already appeared much earlier in situations the show can't duplicate anymore, because the narrative of the characters they supported has moved well beyond their original point, requiring novel settings for their appearance, which means there's little tangible left to spoil about them. So even though book readers may know their Randyll Tarly, Septon Meribald and Euron Greyjoy from the book, they won't know the new incarnations of these characters and as such anything they think they can spoil about them needs to be taken with a grain of salt (or in Greyjoy's case, salt wives).

Book readers and viewers no long need to be at odds, nor do they need to avoid one another socially. Instead, they can embrace in the shared knowledge that nobody knows what's coming any more on their beloved show. So let's go out and celebrate that new equality which formerly could be called adversity. Anyone feel like hosting a lavish feast in some great Lord's hall with lots of wine and song? If not, you've certainly learned your lessons from watching this show.

Today's Column: The hour of wolves

This month's column for your consideration:

Het Uur van de Wolf

And it's not even about Game of Thrones. Though I couldn't escape at least mentioning that show, since it's the first thing on most people's minds when you mention these large wild canines these days. I must admit I exaggerated my experiences with the wolf news a little, as I did my fear for the safety of my friends in that region. It's the Netherlands, what could possibly go wrong? Small country, small catastrophes. And one wolf in 150 years shouldn't exactly cause a witch hunt by mobs in panic (though on a related note, that darn eagle-owl in Purmerend nearly did). Nevertheless, I found all the upheaval in the media and the reactions of the man in the street on the subject most intriguing. And since one of my colleagues already beat me on writing another column on superhero movies this month, I'd thought I'd address this subject instead (so you know what to expect for a column next month). How much difference is there after all in between consuming large quantities of one particular television show and one particular news item over the course of a matter of days? In terms of experience, it can be very much the same thing, as I found it to be. The news might reach the same highs and lows in terms of action and drama as the show, though of course, the news isn't scripted (though the way the media brings it might be doctored to some degree).

Of course, when met with a decent amount of viewer loyalty, the series is eligible for a second season, while the news is limited to actual goings-on of any interest for any follow-ups. Seems this wolf has had his fifteen minutes of fame and the show's over. Unless the wolf acquired a taste of the beautiful and bountiful Dutch landscape and decides to return. Fat chance. Whenever I go gallivanting around in Groningen, I'm always happy to reach home again. I doubt the wolf would feel any different.

Today's Column: True Blood has died the True Death

Overdue by a few days (by no fault of mine, I upheld my deadline as always), but here's my latest online column:

http://www.moviescene.nl/p/157062/column_de_ware_dood_van_true_blood

Boy, am I glad that is over and done with. And not because it was so dismally bad as some would have you believe, though the finale did leave a lot to be desired. But so did the rest of the season, so at least there is some inner consistency. There's a lot to be said against this last season in terms of story, but there were still several plot lines and especially characters I continued to enjoy and appreciate. And in that case, True Blood at least can boast a genuine ending, unlike most other shows that suffer increasing deteriorating ratings and heavy fan critique. The greatest thing about this finale is that it does indeed feel quite final and the show was permitted a decent send-off in that regard, rather than face cancellation and leave us all in the dark as happened to so many shows (and a lot of them deserved better). We can now all close the Sookie Stackhouse chapter of our lives peacefully, as to my mind any show should be ended. Of course, there were a few story threads that didn't feel wholly resolved and more of those that I felt should have been handled entirely different, but there's few shows that even get to this point without screwing a thing or two up. Only two recent examples of shows that were granted a final farewell sprung to mind, Breaking Bad and Spartacus. Admittedly, both of those ended on a superior note, but they were much more coherent in their quality throughout their run, while True Blood from the get-go tended to meander between well executed plot threads and those less so, featuring both wonderfully charismatic characters and their barely watchable counterparts. We'll have to make do without both, from now on. No more Maenad orgies, conniving witch covens and endless droning about who Sookie will jump into bed with this time, but also no more shrewd vampire politics, stupendously supernatural situations and Eric Northman. Not every blood type variety of Tru-Blood proved as delectable, but I still regret having to return to strictly human beverages again after seven years.

Today's Review: Boardwalk Empire Season 4

It sure has been a while, but I finally wrote another review, of a whole season of television no less:

http://www.moviescene.nl/p/156957/boardwalk_empire_seizoen_4_-_dvd_recensie

I have less and less time for fairly lengthy pieces like these. Considering I was on vacation I decided to take a crack at this one when it was offered to me. After all, you just have to find time every now and then for writing a piece that has the potential to be read by thousands. Sadly, the reviews on my blog don't count in that regard, as they're lucky to be read by more than three people (my mom doesn't even check them out, for heaven's sake!). Of course, recently I started aiming at writing reviews that I can post on IMDb in abbreviated form, but still, the use of taking the time and effort for such pieces is debatable considering my otherwise fairly busy existence. It kinda sucks for my blog, but it just doesn't have that much priority.

I had a blast watching this fourth season of the magnificent and hugely underrated HBO show Boardwalk Empire. Top-notch quality television like the previous seasons, despite a somewhat slow start (which is not unusual for HBO series). The only true downside of the thing is I received the DVD version rather than the requested Blu-Ray set, which means a breach in viewing style compared to the previous three seasons, which do grace my BD collection. Lesser video quality and a lower number of special features (saves time!) didn't hinder my appreciation of the show's fourth and penultimate season, as you'll find checking out the deservedly high rating I bestowed upon it. That said, I still have a tough time reviewing entire seasons of TV shows, considering there is so much to say about them. The piece already ended up longer than most similar reviews by the hand of my peers, but there's still plenty of material left unaddressed. I didn't even mention Michael Shannon's fabulous performance as former Prohee Nelson Van Alden in this run, which so poignantly mixes dark humour with social drama, as we follow the man's descent into a life of true crime which paradoxically finally makes him a likeable person. The show's tendency for wonderful team-ups of characters you would never see coming is also left largely unexplored, even though it formed one of the most enjoyable experiences this season. Reviewing seasons of television shows in an adequately limited number of words remains quite a challenge for me. I'm sure many readers won't be bothered by the frustrating results as much as I am myself though. Certainly not the small numbers who read it here.

Today's Triple News: an exodus of empires at the Apocalypse

The quest to post new news continues:

http://www.moviescene.nl/p/156389/eerste_teaser_boardwalk_empire_seizoen_5

Looks good. Looks positively final too. A sense of foreboding and imminent closure is clearly instilled with all the little hints at the show's ending found here. 'All Empires Fall', not very subtle, but it can't hurt to let the viewer know this grand show will soon come to an end. And am I gonna miss it. Boardwalk Empire is definitely on my Top-3 of currently running shows. Spectacular production values, compelling writing, intriguing mix of fiction and history and some of the loveliest acting you'll find on telly these days: what's not to like here? But as always, all good things must come to an end. Besides, I haven't even seen season 4 yet, so the finale is not so close for me as for most others. It's a nice thing the teaser makes it clear some of my favorite characters are still alive - some of them just had to be, according to the history books - but I can take a spoiler or two, as they are unavoidable when you're in a line of (unpaid) work that includes posting movie news. Nevertheless, as has become obvious throughout previous seasons (or indeed, most HBO shows for that matter), death still ever lurks around the corner for the characters we've come to appreciate. So we better enjoy seeing these folks interact with each other on screen for a final season, while we still can. For even if they do survive all the way up to the end, we won't be seeing them again anyhow.

http://www.moviescene.nl/p/156408/nieuwe_fotos_ridley_scotts_exodus

There's no denying Sir Ridley Scott is the closest thing we have today to the Cecil B. DeMilles and David Leans of yesteryear. While most of his contemporary colleagues opt to film against mostly blue-screen backdrops on this type of epic film, Scott prefers to deal with the real thing as much as the budget allows. And thanks to his long list of past successes, his budgets tend to be fairly large. Hence his opportunity to shoot scenes on sets like the one above, which can best be described as 'lavish'. Which is not to say Scott has difficulty employing the use of digital trickery when tangible means fall short. There's still a Red Sea to part the blue way (or green, it's all the same). The appeal of lush visual effects, spectacular set construction and grandiose costume design aside, will this new retelling of the familiar Exodus story offer anything of novelty? Maybe Scott took a note from Darren Aronofsky's Noah, which told the Biblical tale in a more streamlined form (also to accommodate viewers of other persuasions, it cannot be denied). However, Scott is a much more straightforward director with a tendency to prefer the classical approach of storytelling. I very much doubt his take on Exodus will deviate much from previous incarnations, surely not as much as Noah dared to be different. Which may be for the better, considering the fairly uncomfortable, haphazard results that spawned (also thanks to studio interference).

http://www.moviescene.nl/p/156405/singer_onthult_details_opening_x-men_apocalypse

And there's more ancient Egypt to go around in Hollywood these days. Which will not surprise audiences who knew better than to walk away before the end credits of X-Men: Days of Future Past had rolled completely. As Bryan Singer's tease of the treatment shows here, X-Men: Apocalypse will open more or less on the same note its predecessor left us, namely the backstory of the age old mutant En Sabah Nur, who will grow over the centuries to become the new X-nemesis Apocalypse. Spectators familiar with the comics won't be surprised by this particular bit of background story for the mutant megalomaniac, as it is integral to the formation of this big Marvel baddie and his 'not all mutants were created equal' philosophy. The scene also serves to flesh out his prime henchmen, the Four Horsemen, which may be of major importance to the various X-Men we're familiar with, as some of them will undoubtedly be chosen to represent Apocalypse - whether they want to or not - in the movie's present day and age. Or is Singer going to be very brave and ignore the events of Days of Future Past by diving directly in the alternate reality popularly known as the Age of Apocalypse? I would applaud that decision, but I'm sure it won't come that far, as the studio will be convinced it will needlessly confuse the general audience, which might have some difficulty accepting the notion of alternate universes which in the comics has become a routine ingredient of the X-franchise. It would also detract from the cinematic universe studio Fox is currently hoping to built (though Days of Future Past showed disappointingly little evidence of that, hinting at the studio's insecurity as to how to proceed on that front) if things were to be mixed up too much at this point. Lastly, Days of Future Past's overly cheerful ending, where a dark finale heralding the rise of Apocalypse seemed to have made so much more sense than the happy-happy joy-joy climax we were served instead, goes to show Singer too isn't so brave as to stir things up that aggressively. I don't expect to be surprised by X-Men: Apocalypse too much from a narrative perspective, as I'm not at all surprised by the hints dropped through this Instagram tease.

Today's Trailer: True Blood, the final season

Posted this interesting bit of advertising on MS yesterday:

http://www.moviescene.nl/p/155784/trailer_laatste_seizoen_true_blood_

Looks like True Blood means to go out with a bang. As it should. I know the show has seen its ups and downs, but even among all the silly Maenad blood orgies and wacky worshipping witches there was always enough left to keep you enticed. I've yet to see Season 6, so I don't know whether it too features dramatic qualitative deterioration or whether it keeps the momentum and strength of Season 5 going, but I'd like to think the odd numbered seasons provide the better fare, and hopefully Season 7 continues that trend and carries it to a formidable finale that once and for all defines the series as a true quality show beyond contestation. As for the trailer, it looks promising, showcasing that all our favorite characters are back - some of them we haven't seen for a while, and others we could have lived without for a while longer - for one final supernatural showdown, before we'll have to do without them forever. I bet there will be a fair amount of casualties among them, as the writers don't necessarily have to keep them alive for more any longer. Whoever gets fanged up, it better not be Eric, since I'm still hoping for his own spin-off show. Or maybe the end of True Blood would be a decent time to start watching Vikings then.

Today's Column: Spoiler is Coming

Wrote another column for MovieScene, read it here:

http://www.moviescene.nl/p/155411/column_spoiler_is_coming

I struggled for a while coming up with a decent topic (as those who are in the business of writing columns are prone to do), but when I had it, it quickly proved to be easy writing. Of course, I made situations appear more poignant and heartwrenching than they actually are in real life, for dramatic effect and poetic license, reflecting the plight of the many unfortunates who are forced into social silence just for knowing more than others. You might read my column as me saying people who cannot take spoilers are a danger to freedom of speech, but that would maybe be reading a little too much into things (then again... perhaps they are!). I don't have as many friends so highly suspectible to spoilers as you would be inclined to believe from this piece, just one or two who make my case for me. And even though I would love to just let it go and throw the truth all out right at them - these characters are all gonna die, yo! - I know better than to jeopardize friendships like that. Just as people who, unlike myself, are not spoiler proof have to learn to live with their disabilities by accepting that in these digital times they are often unavoidable, the rest of us has to learn to accomodate their shortcomings into our everyday lives and simply take such blatant personality flaws for granted. Pity them for their wilful lack of ignorance, I say.

A funny thing concerns the last paragraph of this column, in which I state that I might stumble unto wholly new plot lines not as yet addressed in Martin's novels at some point in the next season. Boy, did the writers of the show prove me wrong! Mere days after penning this column they already seriously digressed from the source material in wholly unpredictable ways which very likely will leave their marks on the act of reading the upcoming novel(s). Not only did the fourth episode of the fourth season change quite a few things on already existing plot lines, the show's ending was either completely made up by the episode's writer, or contained potentially massive book spoilers. Apparently the showrunners deduced that after the shocking events of last season, the majority of the show's fans would have taken to the books already by now, because they could not take 'not knowing' anymore when a written alternative was within their grasp, so they decided to start surprising that, probably fairly considerable, chunk of the audience sooner than anticipated by adding some true 'terra incognita' to the show. Personally I hope they won't continue that process too often over the course of this season: after all, even if only 10% of the next book is covered this way, I still prefer not to know what's coming my way in the pages of Martin's writing, even though I proved less concerned by such thoughts in the case of the TV show. I guess I'm not as spoiler proof as I initially considered myself to be. It's just the question to what medium these spoilers refer to. Televison spoilers? Whatever. Book spoilers? Shut the fuck up and get out of here!

Today's Double News: X-creed

Two bits of movie news I wrote for MS:

http://www.moviescene.nl/p/155455/justin_kurzel_gaat_assassins_creed_verfilmen

http://www.moviescene.nl/p/155407/fox_overweegt_x-men_tv-serie

An X-Men TV-show, why the heck not? In fact, why not try this years ago? There's so many characters, locales, powers and motives in the many decades of X-comics, the movies have barely even scratched the surface. Plus, the film franchise insists on a small ensemble of characters as the core team, while most other mutants presented are relegated to bit parts instead. A TV-show would be able to flesh such underused characters out neatly, while also keeping the franchise from becoming overly convoluted to the general audience, as the film series tends to risk just that in the next few years due to Fox's insistence on copying Marvel proper via excessive crossovering. That said, I agree with Kinberg that a show revolving around superpowered individuals is in danger of breaching budget limitations which always plague the realm of television. But these powers don't have to be so in-your-face as seen in the source material. It's not the first superhuman TV-series after all. Just consider the likes of The 4400, Heroes and Alphas, who in many ways incorporated everything X-Men would have to do, except they were lacking the big X-Men name to draw audiences in initially. Granted, FX on these shows weren't always convincing (Heroes far from it in fact), but the technology keeps pushing the limits and grandiose effects are getting ever more affordable. Of course, at its heart, X-Men isn't at all about the superpowers and the cool visuals, it's about the characters and the social commentary. We are living in the golden age of television, where such ingredients are almost a given, so that also need not be an issue. However, as with Marvel's current series Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., audience expectations in terms of characters might be an obstacle to overcome. These days, thanks to the X-movies, the term 'X-Men' will immediately bring to mind associations with a very select group of characters, including but not necessarily limited to Wolverine, Professor Xavier, Magneto and Mystique. Considering the high profile actors, if not outright Hollywood stars, playing these parts, it's not likely these hugely popular characters will make an appearance, unless recasting is in order (which won't sit well with many fans no doubt). To me, Xavier is the only true must-have, as he's the guy responsible for all the X-ing about. Other than that, there's plenty of personas, protagonists and antagonists alike, to pick from. You just need to convince the audience quickly of the quality of the show and the characters involved before they start to miss those X-characters they've come to love. Of course, if the TV-show is running alongside the movies, things are different, and probably only more difficult to pull off in terms of making the show stand on its own instead of being a mere appendix of the movies. As you can see, there's many elements to take into consideration in creating this show, which is undoubtedly why Fox hasn't greenlighted anything yet. I think it's harder to make a TV-show based off a film series work than the other way around. But then, if Fox had started the franchise on television instead of on the big screen in 2000, it's unlikely the superhero movie (especially those carrying the Marvel brand) would have been as popular as it is today.

As for Magneto, I highly doubt we'll see either Sir Ian McKellen or Michael Fassbender in that role on telly. We will be seeing Fassbender in other capacities though, most notably as the popular titular assassin from Assassin's Creed, in the upcoming big budget movie adaptation of the video game. The project will reunite him with director Justin Kurzel, with whom he recently worked on an adaptation of that Scottish play, MacBeth. Considering Fassbender is also producing Assassin's Creed, he'll probably have had a hand in hiring his director. Such loyalty is a good sign the relationship between star and director is strong and effective and will likely spawn positive results for Assassin's Creed. Good thing too, as expectations for this video game movie are no doubt high considering its success on the game market and its recognizable name. Even though the "curse" on video game adaptations has softened somewhat over recent years, it sure as hell hasn't been lifted wholly, and any movie based on a game is still met with quite a lot of initial scepticism accordingly. At least the movie will star a solid actor we know can play any part including this one easily.

Today's Triple News: Heroes and villains

My increasing lack of spare time continues to wreak havoc on my regular, timely updating of this blog. So here's another bit of triple news, some of it days old by now. Expect this sort of thing to occur more often in the future.

http://www.moviescene.nl/p/154042/nieuwe_posters_game_of_thrones_seizoen_4

http://www.moviescene.nl/p/154006/nieuwe_trailer_the_amazing_spider-man_2

http://www.moviescene.nl/p/153971/heroes_terug_op_televisie

Of all the cancelled shows they just had to resurrect the series that least deserved it in my opinion. I disliked Heroes from the pilot on, and couldn't be bothered to
watch beyond the first season. It was severely overhyped
and dreadfully uninspired. Anyone who knows his superhero comics had an easy time recognizing just where they stole the various characters, powers and plot lines from. The show also exceeded its fair share of hommages to similar works, so it was hard to consider it paying tribute to (better) thematic forebears as it blatantly appropriated such names for its own uses. I had a hard time swallowing this show's popularity, but fortunately I got to enjoy a surprisingly similar but superior show called The 4400, which debuted only a year or so prior to the release of Heroes, but also was copied by that show abundantly. That series hardly got any audience love at all, and also ended up prematurely cancelled. I would much rather have seen that series return, as it's highly frustrating to know it left us with so many unanswered questions. Not the first show where that happened though. Enterprise, Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles, Caprica, V and the notorious Firefly... all terrific shows that deserved more episodes but were denied. But apparently Heroes was just popular enough for the network to try again five years later, same people beind the scenes involved. At least it's for only 13 episodes. God forbid it catches on well enough to end up getting more. The shameless intellectual theft that characterized the previous show already seems to continue unabashed, as the title Heroes Reborn is suspiciously similar to the line of comics from the same name that witnessed alternate versions of the Marvel Universe superheroes, after they supposedly died in their regular universe. Won't be the last time Heroes takes a note from Marvel. Again.

Game of Thrones, now there's a fabulously well crafted show not likely to get cancelled anytime soon! Both its general popularity and anticipation for the upcoming fourth season are ever stronger on the rise. To tease us a bit more, HBO released a bunch of moody character posters of the most beloved established characters that are yet alive. But will they be for much longer? Their grim faces aren't accompanied by the ominous exclamation 'Valar Morghulis' for nothing... some of these (or all of them, mayhaps!) are bound to die in the near future. Most likely excruciatingly, knowing this show's nature and HBO's delightfully sick, depraved mind. Of course I spoiled myself big time by reading the books so I know just who are the goners here, but I like the suggestive way HBO handles this marketing campaign, knowing just what buttons to press to ensure its spectators keep on spectating. It's like the contemporary equivalent of a high profile Roman gladiatorial match, and these are the contestans. Who will kick the bucket? Place your bets! But never bet against a lady with three pet dragons.

And Spider-Man got himself another trailer. This time it's a full three minutes and it basically shows you the events of the movie in a nutshell. You know a promotional campaign is nearing its end when they resort to giving so mcuh plot away, even though half of it is old news by now. I doubt we'll be getting any more trailers for The Amazing Spider-Man 2. We've got several of those, various behind-the-scenes videos, many a poster and banner: it should suffice to get people's attention. Best thing Sony can do now is sit back and watch the money flow its way. And prep the third movie of course, since this one is bound to break a few more of those annually smashed box office records. Whether the moniker 'amazing' is warranted still remains to be seen, considering the previous installment didn't exactly fit that description. That said, this one does look more appealing in my mind, though with a severe risk of overdoing it in terms of the number of present characters.

Today's News: here's a dreadful trailer for ya

Got this up at MS yesterday:

http://www.moviescene.nl/p/153800/eerste_trailer_penny_dreadful

I hadn't heard of this new series yet, but I must admit it looks rather interesting. The beauty and squalor of Victorian era England, a time of refined culture, daring exploration and unapologetic conquest, the dark nature of literary characters from that period like Dorian Gray and Dracula, games of psychological misconduct and sexual manipulation, and a few good actors and writers/producers to make it all seemlessly come to life... what's not to like here? Maybe for some, the fact it sounds like an adult version of the film adaptation of The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen (which is a movie I, unlike most others, hold little umbrage against). As opposed to getting into fisticuffs with each other, in this upcoming Penny Dreadful they seem to jump into bed together and do the nasty instead. Or so it would appear, but as always, trailers can be highly deceiving. Just what these personae are up to and what the role of characters specifically written for this show might be all remains somewhat obscure from just this trailer. The show aims to be a mystery thriller serial (not unlike, say, HBO's Carnivale, which it appears to resemble in tone and mood), and in that regard the trailer delivers that aspect just sublimely. Whether the show itself will be any good is far too early to tell, but I like to think there's room for a gritty unusual terror/noir piece like this on contemporary television. And I have faith in the writers/producers, who have delivered mostly good stuff before (I'll forgive showrunner John Logan for his involvement in Star Trek: Nemesis, as he has redeemed himself with grand movies like Skyfall, Hugo and The Aviator). As for the actors bringing the characters and their strengths and flaws to life, they seem to be a mixed bag. Though I'm always pleased seeing sultry dame Eva Green, suffering Josh Hartnett's blank apathic stare on the small screen for hours on end is not something I hunger for, but I can live with it if needs be. And ah, Timothy Dalton... I sincerely hope this show will turn out as fascinating as the trailer suggests it will be, as the subject matter certainly has potential. In fact, it may just render that announced LXG TV-series redundant.

Today's Double News: Game of Gotham, a Foreshadowing

This just in from MS, by me:

http://www.moviescene.nl/p/153685/nieuwe_lange_preview_game_of_thrones_seizoen_4

http://www.moviescene.nl/p/153660/ben_mckenzie_gecast_voor_gotham-serie

15 minutes of previewing GoT, can it get any better? Sure, watching the actual new season itself instead of being hyped to death. Unlike most other (shorter) teasers for the upcoming season, this one proves really worthwhile. Sure, you got the cast and crew joking around a bit, showing they're just people too, but considering all the death, dismay, dismemberment, decapitation, dicks and dragons these folks deal with each year while working on this magnificent show, it's obvious they are in need of such simple diversions to stay sane. Plus, it's always a blast to see the actors, whose performances you utterly love (yes, you do! Even if they're evil people!), had a great time filming this. Of course HBO wouldn't dare show the bad days - and I reckon there are some, up in the frozen wastes of Iceland and the soaring heat of Croatia - but at least nobody is actually losing any body parts. And even if silly shenanigans and zany dance routines are not your thing, there's plenty of actual new footage to get that mouth of yours watering for more sword & sorcery & sex. There's an epic new dragon shot (my, those beasties are growing rather large!) as well as a first Meereen cityscape, which looks splendid and distinct from the Slaver's Bay cities we witnessed so far. Too bad it makes its throne room look somewhat underwhelming (small for a throne rooom really), but with such compelling performances and terrific drama (and loads of naughty bit cleverly intermixed) we won't even begin to notice such trivial trifles. Winter may still be coming after three seasons, but Seven Hells be damned if this show doesn't stay as formidable as ever.

And now for something completely different. Or not really actually. Just a different setting in a different universe. But a similar game of thrones will soon be played on the small screen in Gotham City, as cops and crooks struggle for power of this metropolis. Not to mention a certain Caped Crusader, though since he's still a kid here I wouldn't bet on seeing much of him anytime soon. Which means Gotham's Finest have to make a stand against crime running rampant on its own. Fortunately James Gordon is on the job, and this week news broke that Ben McKenzie has been cast in that role. I have never heard of him, as I haven't watched anything he's in. Not on purpose of course, it just never popped up in my path. I'll be sure to watch a bit of Gotham though, even if just to see whether that town is anywhere near as interesting without Batman as it is with. Considering many ingredients that make the Dark Knight so enduring are present here, and the story unfolds around many of the same characters, except younger, chances are good it'll prove compelling material. Then again, it wouldn't be the first time revamping a franchise completely with a younger cast severely backfired (at least in my opinion, though not necessarily in those of others). But at least J.J. Abrams is not involved with this one. Good thing too, since there's someone I'd really liked to see Batman beat up.

Today's Double News: can't hate this behind the scenes video

Two more bits of news I posted on MS yesterday:

http://www.moviescene.nl/p/153580/tarantino_maakt_mogelijk_alsnog_hateful_eight

http://www.moviescene.nl/p/153579/nieuwe_blik_achter_de_schermen_game_of_thrones

So Game of Thrones has a new production designer. Considering the stunning design of the sets of the first three seasons, that's a tough act to follow. From the looks of it, Debbie Riley seems up to the task, as the new sets (as well as new versions of several locations used prior, including the Eyrie) look equally grand as those that came before. At least, so it appears from this short puff piece video. Of course, the grandeur and beauty of the sets not withstanding, it's the actors which make them come alive, and what we want to see most is which of our beloved characters - the ones that yet live, that is - will return next season. Apart from that, first glimpses of new characters are also most welcome. The preview this little behind-the-scenes clip offers introduces another new character, namely Tycho Nestoris of the Iron Bank of Braavos, played by Mark Gatiss. That's one more down. No other new faces here, but fan favourites including Daenerys, Brienne, the Hound, Arya and Cersei Lannister still appear very much alive. For a moment longer at least, you know how this show works... characters come and go, but at least we'll always have fabulous production design.

And surprise, surprise: Tarantino may be reconsidering dropping The Hateful Eight. I was sorta expecting him to. You don't shelve a project that fast just because someone leaked a script. Scripts get leaked all the time. You do some damage control, but you don't throw out the project completely. How many members in the audience actually bother to read scripts? Even if some people know the story and post it online, the vast majority will still be surprised by the finished movie. Better yet, you can slip in some sneaky rewrites to catch those who spoiled themselves off-guard. Folks in the industry will know better than to leak Tarantino again now, since even though The Hateful Eight might still end up on the big screen despite what we first heard, I bet the lawsuits (all-American style sueing!) this hateful Tarantino is preparing will not be abandoned so easily. Let that be a lesson for those who spoil things for others!

Today's News: Hannibal sinks its teeth in a new future victim (500th post!)

Posted another scoop on MS late last night. Posting it here as my 500th post:

http://www.moviescene.nl/p/153489/michael_pitt_voegt_zich_bij_cast_hannibal_seizoen_2

Now that's he's sleeping with the fishes on Boardwalk Empire, Pitt has joined the cast of another show where you know for sure things are gonna end up badly for him. We've already seen the gruesome results of the meetings between Lecter and Verger on Ridley Scott's baroque Hannibal movie from 2001, and the TV show will now demystify how the appalling facial mutilations came to be for our enjoyment. Do we even want to know? It's not knowledge we particularly need, but any excuse to see Mads Mikkelsen psychologically toy with other people before proceeding to ruthlessly dispatch them, be it to their own private version of a mental hell or to the afterlife, makes for intriguing and intelligent television. If you can stomach such gruelling subject matter of course. Hannibal is certainly not for everybody. Even though the actual kills are most often not wholly explicitly shown, the amply present visual imagery of horribly disfigured bodily remains, intercut with lavish feasts of usually unidentified dinner ingredients (we're to decide whether Hannibal is engaging in his trademark cannibalism for ourselves, but it was stated early on in the show that he never eats a vegetarian meal), effectively cause a continuous feeling of queeziness and emotional unease. In short: this is a most disturbing show, successfully balancing attraction and abjection. You don't really want to watch it, but you can't turn it off either. Pitt's performance on Boardwalk was no different, as he portrayed a formerly good soul corrupted by war and coaxed into crime by his screwed-up family relations (his mother was only a kid when she had him for crying out loud!), ultimately bringing him to an untimely but foreseeable end. His personal demons were the main cause of his downfall, as is the case with Mason Verger who wouldn't have ended up the way he did if he hadn't condemned himself to his eventual deranged emotional state, something Hannibal feeded for his own nefarious purposes. The results, as illustrated before by Gary Oldman in heavy facial prosthetics, were pretty bad. It'll be interesting to see just how it came about, even if we already know what's gonna happen later down the road. Predictability so far hasn't been a detrimental issue on Hannibal, as we already know what's gonna happen to most of these characters (and the ones whose fate remains unknown are not particularly the people we're watching this show for). The talented cast and generally sickly but savoury atmosphere have made for a compelling first season, and Pitt's addition to the series is only an indication season 2 wont be any different. Plenty of interesting but abhorrent courses to follow, it seems. Don't watch this show while you're eating.

That's right: eeww! Just the sort of stuff you want your readers to see when reaching 500 posts.

Today's Double News: Amazon wants Barbarella, we want Game of Thrones

A few more items I collected for MS these past few days:

http://www.moviescene.nl/p/153167/set_visit_video_game_of_thrones_seizoen_4

http://www.moviescene.nl/p/153191/amazon_wil_barbarella_serie

Good television series continue to be made due to ever growing public demand, and so the search for potentially profitable properties also drones on. While Game of Thrones is currently at the height of its popularity - despite its fabulous quality, you know in terms of success it can only go down at a certain point, and I think that's not far off, as there's little new audiences to be reached (except for paying ones instead of them dirty freeloadin' downloaders!) - rival studios won't sit still, looking for that next piece of audiovisual entertainment that grips spectators by the eyeballs and won't let go until the season is over, at which point it has proven so addictive that stopping the show would be nothing less than a crime against humanity. I doubt Barbarella will be that next hit. That is, if they stick to the campy, Sixties' tone of love and permissiveness established by both the original comics and the 1968 movie, which just seems to outdated. It's basically soft-erotic Sci-Fi escapism with a touch of surreal comedy mixed in. There's nothing wrong with that (far from it!), but would audiences be waiting for such fare in these darker, grittier times of crisis and misery, where serious and bloody shows like Game of Thrones reign supreme? Maybe I'm wrong and Barbarella will prove popular amongst mature audiences (certainly won't be a kids' show!) just because it's so cheerful and positive and silly, so it will be a great addition to the existing fantasy shows due to its different style. That is, if they indeed stick to the Barbarella of old instead of needlessly adapting her to the present times, which I hope they won't. With someone like Nicolas Winding Refn, a connoisseur of classic (or less so) movies if ever I saw one, at the helm, I doubt Barbarella will undergo many changes to her promiscuous personality, and I wouldn't have it any other way. Nor would the HBO-saturated audience that expects a fair amount of bare skin these days. But Amazon is not HBO, and would do well not to gratuitously copy HBO. Better the studio develops its own distinct personality, just like Barbarella has. If you want HBO, stick to Game of Thrones. There's absolutely nothing wrong with that. I'm as pumped for Season 4 as the next man, and I have already scoured this seductive little video for any new revelations it might insidiously offer. Not much of those, except for a first glimpse at Mace Tyrell, and the continuing promise of a badass Red Viper. Just ten more weeks until Season 4 premieres, sit tight! And HBO, please keep these videos coming to help us get over any signs of withdrawal...

Today's Double News: Two Hercules movies, four TV-shows

Here's two short news flashes brought to you from MovieScene and myself:

http://www.moviescene.nl/p/150808/eerste_trailer_hercules_the_legend_begins

Another Hercules movie in 2014? What is this, Hercules Memorial Year? Or just a very suspicious coincidence? Whatever the cause, I don't really mind the fact Hercules, or Greek mythology for that matter, is suddenly enjoying newfound popularity. I do mind if the results are poor though, which seems to be the case in the majority of recent examples of the Mediterranean classics being adapted to the moving image, from the two heavily digital Titans movies to the new BBC series Atlantis (which also features 'a' Hercules). This new film, Hercules: The Legend Begins, doesn't seem to steer in the right direction, as the story ventures far from the known Hercules tales and tells an origin story all its own which, judging from the trailer, seems a bit of an uneasy potpourri between traditional mythology fare and Roman plots and intrigue, complete with the ever sensational topic of arena fighting. The visual style is all too similar to the likes of 300 and the Spartacus series (the latter also starred Liam McIntyre, who plays an important role in this film as well), which is not necessarily a bad thing, but definitely an uninspired move at this point, as it currently seems "the" route to take for action flicks set in ancient times. There's also quite a 'B-movie' or 'direct-to-video' vibe to the piece (even though it's just a trailer and therefore nowhere near an accurate representation of the final product, as trailer history has taught us in the past) with its fairly bland and overly digital vistas and battle scenes, plus the fact there are no genuine A-list actors present, despite its obviously intended epic scope. All of the main cast is composed of actors that previously played bit parts and supporting roles, often minor, though some did take place in moderately big budget projects (including lead Kellan Lutz of Twilight Saga fame). For now it seems Hercules: The Legend Begins will find a major competitor in Brett Ratner's Hercules: The Thracian Wars, starring popular muscleman Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson as its titular character, while the cast includes veteran names like John Hurt, Joseph Fiennes, Ian McShane and Rufus Sewell. And that film too is nothing like the Hercules we know, but at least in its case that can be attributed to the fact it's a comic book adaptation. It seems Hercules will experience some tough competition from himself next year...

http://www.moviescene.nl/p/150887/marvel_plant_vier_tv-series_

Then there is the news Marvel's TV plans, alluded to before when I reported on a potential Agent Carter series, have been revealed to some extent, and appear far bigger than anyone would have dared to anticipate. Four TV-shows and a miniseries, produced simultaneously, with a commitment for no less than sixty episodes?! Madness says I, and most seasoned television producers would agree with that assessment. However, this is the House of Ideas, and it has a brand name which has shown to survive seemingly mad notions before: on the big screen at least, establising a shared universe between various movies, culminating in one of the biggest box-office successes ever. Could it work similar wonders on the small screen and thus continue to slowly but surely dissolve the boundaries between both audiovisual media (as further interweaving of universes will be sure to happen, now that Marvel's only currently running show Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. has witnessed its first Samuel L. Jackson appearance that most people previously considered was not gonna happen)? Marvel's previous gamble payed off successfully and one cannot help but admire this bold move, but it would definitely be wiser to either continue more modestly (say, two additional shows) or wait for Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. to conclude its first full season and see the financial results. Of course, the latter would mean risking the loss of the current momentum: Marvel is hugely popular now, so better exploit that huge fan love before it dies down (you never know whether it will or won't, eh?). There's simply all kinds of pros and cons involved and that's not gonna change, so why not show a little more bravery and contine to risk much and gain more? After all, there's still many hundreds of fascinating superhuman characters (see above) that have yet to be seen on film, with an equal amount of good actors available to portray them satisfactory. I'm gonna watch whatever is spawned here for sure, and I know many many other people will do the same.

A Game of Time, but a Feast for Fanboys

Today, I visited Westeros. And I wasn't alone, as thousands of others joined me on a tour to George R.R. Martin's fabulous world of epic fantasy as seen on HBO's Game of Thrones. It was well worth the trip; at least in my case, since I reckon there were others that did not get to enjoy it to the fullest extent as they ought to have. And that's mostly to blame on poor execution in the set-up and planning of the event. Though the Posthoornkerk in Amsterdam proved an appropriate setting with its Gothic look, it left a lot to be desired in terms of space, only accomodating 150 people at a time. Trouble is, the church was surrounded by vast legions of eager fanboys/fangirls (the series apparently appeals to both nigh on equally) which were held at bay by a small army of security guards, who gave each group only a mere 15 minutes to take in all the wealth and riches in design that the Seven Kingdoms have to offer. Alas, it turned out that for many such a brief time simply isn't enough even to get your picture taken on the Iron Throne...

I went there with a good friend, who loves the show nearly as much as I do. Being the smarty-pants that we are, we thought we would do well to arrive early so as to avoid most of the large crowds we knew would appear on the church's doorsteps this Sunday morning to worship the televisual teachings of the Song of Ice and Fire. It proved a smart move, since the number of fans that banded together in a long line around the block surpassed probably everybody's expectations, undoubtedly numbering in the tens of thousands before the day was over. So there we were, at half past nine, while the exhibition opened at ten, and there already was a huge group of people patiently waiting for the doors to open. When they did, the first group of 150 enthusiastic fanatics - which did not include ourselves, as we were part of the second wave - was let in but their enthusiasm was tempered when they were told they only had a quarter of an hour to soak it all up. Naturally, the first thing that happened was this former line of people immediately reassembling itself in front of the Iron Throne - or to be more precise, an iron throne (and definitely not made of metal), since it was an obvious replica if ever I saw one -  were you could have your picture taken while sitting on the damn chair. Who wouldn't want that, eh? The answer: nobody, so everybody got in line for their own photoshoot. The moment you have your picture taken on the throne has to be the most orgiastic feeling a true Game of Thrones adept could ever strive for. But sadly, the allotted time of 15 minutes was insufficient for all 150 people to get this photographic highlight of their life over and done with. I and my pal, having waited for this moment for 50 minutes, were lucky as we had to wait only ten more minutes to succeed in this endeavor, and we got another 5 minutes to drool over the fascinating props and costumes on display. Again, inadequate in terms of time. So what's a loyal GoT fan to do? Simple, get back in line. To both our dismay and delight, the line had grown in size. A lot. The number of avid fans that turned up - even from neighbouring countries like Germany - surprised even me, its fanbase has apparently been growing strong in the last few years. You should hear them roar as they were again told they could not yet come in.

Unbowed, unbent, unbroken we finally got in again after another 70 minutes of practicing patience. This time we knew what was in store for us, having caught brief glimpses of the rest of the exhibition (and having recorded some on camera so we could spend some time exploring the expo while standing in line). So now we knew to avoid the photoshoot area. We had managed to have our picture taken and in hindsight it had proven to be a little kitschy, so now we could focus all our attention on what deserved it the most: the treasures of the Seven Kingdoms, Essos and even Old Valyria before the Doom. There they lay for our gazing pleasure, as well preserved historical artifacts of a world long gone, as valuable as the Mona Lisa, the Hope diamond or Sue the T-Rex. Or just as what they were: exquisite samples of family, duty, honor; of the great care and craftsmanship that goes with creating the wide world of Westeros. Both the beauty of this realm and the cruelty that inhabits its noble houses as they strive for its dominion were well represented: elaborate dresses were displayed next to humongous swords, precious gems next to severed body parts. Though we had unfortunately missed the appearance of some of our show favorites the day before (no Arya Stark meet & greet for us suckers), the clothes they wore, the weaponry they carried and the ever present fear of sudden death they might one day face on telly for our pleasure they had left behind.

The richly embroidered fabrics of the vile Cersei Lannister and the elaborately patterned tunic of her even more despicable son Joffrey adorned one end of the hall, the by comparison dirty but still impressive Dothraki rags of our favorite khaleesi Daenerys Targaryen the other. Also to be found were the simple garments of the members of House Stark that suggested only hints of nobility to them, while the furs and thick coats of the Night's Watch and the Wildlings betrayed their owners lacking noble blood completely but sporting sense enough to arm themselves against the bitter cold of the North with great caution. Many weapons we would love to have hanging on our walls could be gazed at, including Needle, Hearteater, Ice and Longclaw, while we also had the opportunity to marvel both over props of great beauty, like rings, cups and jewelry as high as honor, and some of a more bizarre, morbid nature, like Davos Seaworth's bag of fingers, the brutally severed arm of the poor Grand Septon and of course Ned Stark's head. Game of Thrones might be rated '16' in the Netherlands (and justly so!), but that didn't stop some fans from bringing their young offspring, who beheld the more grotesque items with as much fascination as they did the others. Again, 15 minutes proved inadequate to take in all the design details of the, in truth, small amount of utterly intriguing items on display (less than a hundred in total), but at least it allowed us to take decent pictures of them all, for further study at home. Though the time we had spend waiting in line exceeded the amount of time we experienced to enjoy the wealth of Westeros by a factor of six, we considered it well worth the trouble, and we lamented the poor souls that didn't get to have their picture taken on the Iron Throne and had to get in a two hour line again just to at least see the rest of the show. Since this exhibition is only going to be open to the public for five days, I doubt this situation will change, so be warned: if you decide to go there, arrive early. If you really feel you need that coveted throne shot (and you will once you're there), run to the back of the hall the moment you get in - yours is the fury! - and if you find 50 people have beaten you to it, don't bother and go check out the things this expo really ought to be about: the props and costumes that make the characters we've come to love and loathe feel convincingly sincere, sympathetic or sinister.

No giftshop?! The more fools HBO! They don't charge admission in the first place - did I mention this expo is free yet? - and they don't sell merchandise to a public that craves it. I guess they didn't feel like selling swords to a large audience that over the course of three seasons has learned how to make proper use of them. Especially when confronted with waiting in line for so long they might get the urge to swing at their fellow fanboys in a fit of competitve rage. Apparently, HBO does not sow such fire and blood.

I can't wait for winter to come again. Or that theme song to get out of my head. Which at least isn't on a spike, like this one:

Dream TV Series

I still didn't get to watch any new movies (my vacation isn't over yet), so I got some time to think about any dream projects I'd really like to see get made some time, but this time I focused on television series. This is of course dangerous territory for me, since I only followed a brief course in Television Studies in my early college days and never pursued the topic further, opting instead for Film Studies (like most of my fellow students did). Though I enjoy a good TV show as much as the average bloke, I'm much more of a layman when it comes to the subject, but that doesn't stop me from having an opinion on it, like I have an opinion about... well, everything really. So here's a few ideas for TV shows I really hope get picked up by the right people and like to see realized as epically as they deserve.

Rome 2.0

Remember that fabulously well written, violently gritty and sexy, largely realistic TV series about the last days of the Roman Republic and the rise of the Roman Empire HBO produced a few years back? Well, you should! It's still my favorite TV series, and it got very positive reactions from audiences and critics all over the globe (which is not related to it simply being my favorite TV series, I'm just a fan as basically all its viewers understandably became). Sadly, HBO considered the show so expensive (which really showed!), they pulled the plug prematurely, so while Rome was opted for five seasons, only two of them got made (and the second season, though still of great quality, did indeed feel a bit rushed). This decision was all about money, because regardless of the high production costs involved everybody loved it and kept on watching for all 22 episodes, so it wasn't the audience's fault. HBO exces later stated they regretted cancelling the show, which lead to talk about a Rome theatrical film. That project unfortunately still hasn't gotten to fruition, and I doubt it ever will at this point.

But why not just throw out the movie idea altogether and pick off where the show left us? In fact, why not explore ancient Rome before the start of the series too? What would really make me happy is a show chronicling the whole history of Rome, starting ab urbe condita in 753 B.C., and ending with the downfall of the Western Empire in 476 A.D., showing us all of the city's history, from King to Republic to Empire, all in the style and quality of the first Rome TV series. I hear you thinking, 'that's much too epic a project'. Yup, it is, which is why it's just a dream of mine. But it could be very good television, not to mention a very very very long series. There certainly seems to be an audience for it, judging from the success of films like Gladiator and shows like Spartacus: Blood and Sand (of course, the existence of such works would make certain periods of Roman history already familiar to audiences, but in this time of remakes, reboots and reimaginings, that hardly seems a relevant issue). And indeed, the glory of Rome itself, which went well before its time. Plus, now that Spartacus is coming to an end despite its continuous popularity, there seems to be a vacancy here...

Iliad and Odyssey

Speaking of glory, how come two of the most quintessential works of literature still haven't gotten the audiovisual treatment they deserve? Homer's Iliad, about the Trojan War, and Odyssey, about Odysseus' journey home, have both seen numerous adaptations, and very few of them did the original stories justice. As the movie Troy showed, any movie, even one with a running time of 196 minutes, would just be too short to tell the whole story properly. So why not a TV series instead, and indeed tell the whole story, including all the stuff later authors added to it: granted, some of the additions were uncalled for, while others became iconic, even near synonymous with Homer's work, like the Trojan Horse. 

A TV show could tell it all and wouldn't need to skip a thing, showing us stuff we never got to see in any adaptations so far, like Achilles fighting the Amazons, or the destruction of the Ithacan fleet by the Laistrygonian giants. Of course, this show too would be too long and too epic to ever be realistically produceable. But I'm sure that's what they said about A Song of Ice and Fire before, and look how well that turned out... HBO, I hope you're reading this!

The Life and Times of Scrooge McDuck

This seems like an odd choice, but those who have actually read these particular Uncle Scrooge comics by Keno Don Rosa, – undoubtedly the greatest Duck artist since Carl 'The Duck Man' Barks – will know better. The original twelve part comic book series reveals the full life story of the richest Duck in the world and how he got to be so stupendously wealthy, yet also so pitifully lonely. From his early days as a poor kid on the streets of Glasgow to his financial empire building in the first half of the 20^th Century, The Life and Times of Scrooge McDuck offers human drama at its best. In fact, you could even substitute the ducks for humans with no effect to the overall story. But why not stay true to the source material and use real Ducks? That is, animated of course. Computer animation, possibly even motion capture techniques similar to the recent The Adventures of Tintin: The Secret of the Unicorn, seems the best way to go here, bringing life to this particular avian convincingly enough to care for him as he relentlessly seeks riches to escape the utter poverty of his childhood days and restore the name of the once proud Clan McDuck, only to find getting rich comes with a price as he has to abandon the potential love of his life and his relationship with his direct family turns bitter, when he evolves from a once loving and caring boy to a hardened sourdough into a tired, battered old man with no friends or family, just a shitload of money.

This is not the Scrooge McDuck you think you know from the often embarrasingly childish Disney kiddy magazines, this is hardcore Duck lore filled with tragedy, woe and hard earned life lessons! Certain scenes still get me every time no matter how often I've read them, -Spoilers!-  like the way news of the tragic death of Scrooge's mother reaches him as he's chained to the steam pipes of a river boat by his archnemesis Slick who means to publicly humiliate him, only to witness Scrooge break into utter rage in pain over his loss and destroy the whole ship singlehandedly. As this scene illustrates, there's room for humour thrown in too at times, so it doesn't get too hard to watch. Plus, it's surprisingly historically accurate, as Scrooge meets actual historical characters (except they're 'black nosed' in the obligatory Disney fashion) and lives through some epic historical events, among them the Krakatau eruption in 1883 and the sinking of the Titanic in 1912. A TV miniseries could tell the story chapter by chapter, remaing true to Don Rosa's original art and losing very little in the translation. Remember the Young Indiana Jones TV series? Well, it's very much like that, but with Ducks. And it still beats it easily.

20,000 Leagues Under the Sea

And then there's this much beloved science fiction adventure story, which really ought to be remade properly (despite my love for the 1954 movie) before the recent silly plans to give Will Smith Nemo's captain's chair come true. You'd think a classic tale like this would have been given a decent treatment in the present age of CGI blockbuster remakes, but apparently it's not the case. Or worse, they could do to this Jules Verne story what they did to Journey to the Center of the Earth and Mysterious Island and turn it into some preposterous 3D action flick aimed primarily at kids and making money over their lack of developed taste. Or maybe, just maybe, they could treat it with honors and remain faithful to the original work (minus the rampant animal abuse of the nineteen-hundreds). 

A TV miniseries seems the most appropriate here, some 13 episodes of showcasing Professor Aronnax's adventures sous la mer as he and his friends set out in search of the sea monster which turns out to be a highly advanced submarine constructed and captained by a bitter man who has turned his back on humanity, choosing life under the sea instead. For some reason, I always envisioned Jeremy Irons in the role of Nemo, but I'm open to other (good) options. A miniseries set in the Victorian Era, chronicling the explorations of the deep seas, watching aquanauts battling giant squids and enjoying the occasional trips to cannibal infested tropical island paradises? Bring it on! But at least treat it seriously, and with some shred of decency, unlike the fate which befell some of Verne's other works recently...