NationStates Jolt Archive

The Dam Busters
http://today.reuters.com/news/articlenews.aspx?type=filmNews&storyID=2006-08-31T230038Z_01_N31371060_RTRIDST_0_FILM-LEISURE-DAMBUSTERS-DC.XML&archived=False


although, I guess they'll leave out the squadron mascot in this one...

The Lord of the Rings director Peter Jackson is to remake classic British war film The Dam Busters, he has told film industry trade paper Screen Daily.

Jackson will produce the movie, with King Kong animator Christian Rivers in the director's chair.

Jackson said it would be "as authentic as possible and as close to the spirit of the original as possible".

The 1954 film told the true story of how Britain developed bouncing bombs to destroy German dams in World War II.


Nowadays, of course, a lot of people would cry "War crime!" if someone deliberately developed a bomb that blew up dams and drowned everyone downstream from the catastrophe.

T
Nowadays, of course, a lot of people would cry "War crime!" if someone deliberately developed a bomb that blew up dams and drowned everyone downstream from the catastrophe.

*blinks*

Ahm ok.

I saw a show on these bombs and how they worked not too long ago- it was pretty interesting.

It'll be interesting to see how Rivers and Jackson tackle one of the most embarrassing elements of the Dambusters story. The fliers how took the bouncing bombs to German had a dog as their squadron mascot and this dog was much referred to in the 1950s film version of The Dambusters. There's only one problem with the dog - its name. The dog was dark, very dark, and so the pilots called it by an epithet that was not uncommon in its usage at the time to describe very dark people. But it's word you don't hear used much these days. Yes, the dog's name started with the letter N and it rhymed with that bouncy orange and black animal in the Winnie The Pooh movies.

The only fuss there'll be about whether the dog is called ****** or not will be kicked up by those trying to push a political point. Maybe if they just shut up, everyone would realize it doesn't actually matter.

Peter Jackson is proving to have not a single imaginative or original bone in his body.

I'll bet anyone here 5 dollars US, that 90% of the movie is made by WETA too.

Another remake, yo PETEY, get a fucking imagination dammit!!!!!!

He ever decides to remake Casablanca, I will hunt his sorry ass down and beat him to death with a brick.

Peter Jackson is proving to have not a single imaginative or original bone in his body.

I'll bet anyone here 5 dollars US, that 90% of the movie is made by WETA too.

Another remake, yo PETEY, get a fucking imagination dammit!!!!!!

He ever decides to remake Casablanca, I will hunt his sorry ass down and beat him to death with a brick.

Maybe you could have done a better job at LOTR? Or maybe you just didn't read his rather extensive filmography (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001392/) as a producer, director, and even acting minor roles.

It'll be interesting to see how Rivers and Jackson tackle one of the most embarrassing elements of the Dambusters story. The fliers how took the bouncing bombs to German had a dog as their squadron mascot and this dog was much referred to in the 1950s film version of The Dambusters. There's only one problem with the dog - its name. The dog was dark, very dark, and so the pilots called it by an epithet that was not uncommon in its usage at the time to describe very dark people. But it's word you don't hear used much these days. Yes, the dog's name started with the letter N and it rhymed with that bouncy orange and black animal in the Winnie The Pooh movies.

Maybe they'll re-name the dog "jigaboo" instead.

Or-maybe they'll rewrite history and make an african american the hero of the whole story.

Yes, the dog's name started with the letter N and it rhymed with that bouncy orange and black animal in the Winnie The Pooh movies.

You mean that it was called Niederegger after the German marzipan company?

Begoner21;11642104']You mean that it was called Niederegger after the German marzipan company?

Close...

sounds shit

sounds shit

oh, but aren't we always impressed by CGI recreations of WW II aircraft?

or was Enemy At The Gates and Pearl Harbor too much crap for you?

oh, but aren't we always impressed by CGI recreations of WW II aircraft?

or was Enemy At The Gates and Pearl Harbor too much crap for you?

Well, being that there are no full scale Stuka's that can fly, there's only so much they can do.

Well, being that there are no full scale Stuka's that can fly, there's only so much they can do.

IIRC, only a couple of Lancasters that can actually fly.

oh, but aren't we always impressed by CGI recreations of WW II aircraft?

or was Enemy At The Gates and Pearl Harbor too much crap for you?

the story itself is terrible as well the plot is some guys get on a plane train to and then blow up a dam

Wow I’m certainly going to waste 4+ hours of my life on this

the story itself is terrible as well the plot is some guys get on a plane train to and then blow up a dam

Wow I’m certainly going to waste 4+ hours of my life on this

"is that the sound of the Lancasters in flight?"

"no, it's the audience snoring horribly"

IIRC, only a couple of Lancasters that can actually fly.

Yep, one's in the Battle of Britain flight, and the other in a candian museum.
Neither of which have long left.

The remake could never live up to the original, it's a classic, and Hollywoodising it would never work (it did with king kong, granted)

And yes - I would consider bombing the dams with the effect it had a war crime, just like the strategic bombing campaigns both sides carried out. Doesn't stop it from being a good film though.

It'll be interesting to see how Rivers and Jackson tackle one of the most embarrassing elements of the Dambusters story.

The real embarassment of the Dambusters story was that as a military operation it was stunningly ineffective, and resulted in the deaths of more allied than axis persons. About 700 or so allied POW's were drowned when the dams were burst, IIRC.

IIRC, only a couple of Lancasters that can actually fly.


Sadly only one...out of RAF Conningsby in Lincolnshire....used to go past there alot a while back...

I think the last flight was on Rememberance Day when it dropped a million red poppies....

Well, being that there are no full scale Stuka's that can fly, there's only so much they can do.

???

Why would the Germans be sending dive-bombers instead of fighters to tackle the Lancasters? I know that Jerry always gets painted as a bit daft in most WWII movies, but that would be going too far.

although, I guess they'll leave out the squadron mascot in this one...

Heck, they could just redub it to 'Trigger' for the yank audience like they did for the original cinematic release of the original.

The Dam Busters
http://today.reuters.com/news/articlenews.aspx?type=filmNews&storyID=2006-08-31T230038Z_01_N31371060_RTRIDST_0_FILM-LEISURE-DAMBUSTERS-DC.XML&archived=False


although, I guess they'll leave out the squadron mascot in this one...



Nowadays, of course, a lot of people would cry "War crime!" if someone deliberately developed a bomb that blew up dams and drowned everyone downstream from the catastrophe.

That's why the Western world can never hope to win another war. Our politicians care too much about public opinion and too little about the facts.

Since Peter Jackson is making the film, it will be a 3 and a half hour long boring special effects film which will have numerous false endings after the 120 minute mark. It will also have numerous scenes which should've been left on the cutting room floor.

*blinks*

Ahm ok.

He is right. Just look at how people responded to Israel's bombing of an airport runway where there were 0 casualties.

Wow I’m certainly going to waste 4+ hours of my life on this

LOL, I love the attack on Peter Jackson. His movies are so poorly edited that we know it will be 4+ hours.

Jackson is the most overrated director. It took "King Kong" for people to realize he is a fraud.

Did anyone else see "Bad Taste"?

Fine, Fine Film...

Jackson is the most overrated director. It took "King Kong" for people to realize he is a fraud.

So people only thought they were enjoying his previous films, but they were mistaken all along?

Sadly only one...out of RAF Conningsby in Lincolnshire....used to go past there alot a while back...

I think the last flight was on Rememberance Day when it dropped a million red poppies....

Technically there are two that can fly in the UK, but one is only used for taxiing because the owners can't afford the insurance to fly it. All the systems onboard still work, though.

they have to have the shot of Lincoln Cathedral as they are flying out , I heard about this a while back because anything to do with the Dambusters gets put up on the front of the Lincolnshire Echo

Technically there are two that can fly in the UK, but one is only used for taxiing because the owners can't afford the insurance to fly it. All the systems onboard still work, though.

You mean the one at East Kirkby

"is that the sound of the Lancasters in flight?"

"no, it's the audience snoring horribly"
That is funny! :D

So people only thought they were enjoying his previous films, but they were mistaken all along?

Those films survived in spite of Jackson. LOTR is a great story. That is why people enjoyed those films. Jackson really did poorly in Return of the King. That movie suffered from his refusal to cut scenes and drag out his movies. (Something that really killed King Kong.)

You mean the one at East Kirkby

Yeah, that one. I got a guided tour of it. :D

Peter Jackson is proving to have not a single imaginative or original bone in his body.

I'll bet anyone here 5 dollars US, that 90% of the movie is made by WETA too.

Another remake, yo PETEY, get a fucking imagination dammit!!!!!!

He ever decides to remake Casablanca, I will hunt his sorry ass down and beat him to death with a brick.
I think that there is an unwritten rule about certain movies never being remade.Casablanca, Gone with the Win, Battle Ship Potemkin, Shane ect.I would not suprise me if some yahoo tried it any way.

I think that there is an unwritten rule about certain movies never being remade.Casablanca, Gone with the Win, Battle Ship Potemkin, Shane ect.I would not suprise me if some yahoo tried it any way.

They will, just like when Ted Turner colorized the classic b/w movies.

They will, just like when Ted Turner colorized the classic b/w movies.
Such a bad f*cking idea.Caan't wait till I'm 70 and some git takes it on himself to remake the Matrix or better still LOTR.

???

Why would the Germans be sending dive-bombers instead of fighters to tackle the Lancasters? I know that Jerry always gets painted as a bit daft in most WWII movies, but that would be going too far.
I was reffering to EATG.;)

What is the point of remaking such a classic? You're going to have to change it so much to fit the "modern audience", that you might as well make a new film while you're at it. I mean look at "The Day of the Jackal". 1973, fantastic film with Edward Fox. Now look at the remake with Bruce Willis. Ouch.

1969, "The Italian Job" with Michael Caine. Great film. Then they remade it. Again, ouch.

Why not just come up with an original concept, and be content to simply enjoy the classics as they are?

Oh yea, money.

The only fuss there'll be about whether the dog is called ****** or not will be kicked up by those trying to push a political point. Maybe if they just shut up, everyone would realize it doesn't actually matter.


Actually, they're deciding between "Cracker" and "Whitey". Can't very well have a racist dog name, can we?

What is the point of remaking such a classic? You're going to have to change it so much to fit the "modern audience", that you might as well make a new film while you're at it. I mean look at "The Day of the Jackal". 1973, fantastic film with Edward Fox. Now look at the remake with Bruce Willis. Ouch.

1969, "The Italian Job" with Michael Caine. Great film. Then they remade it. Again, ouch.

Why not just come up with an original concept, and be content to simply enjoy the classics as they are?

Oh yea, money.

Frederick Forsythe's book- The Day of The Jackal was excellent. The movie with Edward Fox was good.
The one with Bruce Willis couldnt be considered a remake, could it? It was so completely different. I think it stunk as a movie either way-only good part was Jack Black getting offed. If only Willis had hit Richard Gere as well.

Peter Jackson is proving to have not a single imaginative or original bone in his body.

I'll bet anyone here 5 dollars US, that 90% of the movie is made by WETA too.

Another remake, yo PETEY, get a fucking imagination dammit!!!!!!

He ever decides to remake Casablanca, I will hunt his sorry ass down and beat him to death with a brick.

Yeah, why doesn't he do something really imaginative, like a porn with puppets...

...wait...

I love these criticisms. Kubrick did adaptations most of his career, no one was bitching at him to 'get an imagination.' There's more art than in simply coming up with a story, telling it is one, too. Novelty is a 20th Century fascination. Art is in the doing.

Further, Jackson is producing this film, not directing it.

I'll go see it if the dog is called ******, if not I wont.

When the original was made in 1954, a lot of the story, the details and tech aspects had to be completely made up, because [rightly or wrongly] they were all still classified. At the time, noone had even seen the 'actual' designs for the Bouncing Bombs. [obviously excepting those who were involved in the actual mission]

Remaking the film now will enable much more accuracy to be allowed, the shoddy graphics will be done with and everybody can fuss over the dog instead :rolleyes:

Yes, its name may be viewed by some as controversial. However, it is history. If you go to RAF Scampton [where the raids were launched from] now, you can still see his grave. The name isn't bandied around for no reason either, the transmission of the name over morse code was the indicator that the dams had been breached successfully.

Let us look beyond the bloomin' dog's name, and instead focus on the 53 aircrew who never returned, the truly exceptional flying skills that saw huge wartime aircraft fly at tree top level for several hundred miles and the MASSIVELY morale boosting effect it had on UK troops, and the British public at large.


Oh, and the BBMF Lancaster B2 at Coningsby is still flying fairly regularly, its appearances are limited, but the RAF get it out as much as they can, along with the several Spits and Hurricanes they have.

Let us look beyond the bloomin' dog's name, and instead focus on the 53 aircrew who never returned, the truly exceptional flying skills that saw huge wartime aircraft fly at tree top level for several hundred miles and the MASSIVELY morale boosting effect it had on UK troops, and the British public at large.

Focus on the 53 fallen airmen rather than the 1,000+ they killed? Why?

The whole operation was little short of disastrous. It was only a success as far as morale boosting went - a feel good factor which had little relation to the actual military reality.

So people only thought they were enjoying his previous films, but they were mistaken all along?

yes. brilliantly well scammed doncha think?

and i forgot the point i actually wanted to make, which is that Jackson is like Rowling. He's no more a director than she is a writer. They both started off well (though Fellowship was godawful...), and as soon as the reigns of editing are not exercised, they trip all over themselves.

Maybe you could have done a better job at LOTR? Or maybe you just didn't read his rather extensive filmography (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001392/) as a producer, director, and even acting minor roles.

Dunno, haven't tried. Give me a few years and I'll let you know.:D

And his career, which isn't really that extensive for someone who has been around as long as he has, has still for the most part centered on being the head of one of the foremost CG studios in the world. Without that, he is an average director.

Personally, I'd like to see him do a movie without using WETA. no 3D effects at all. and yes, I'd like to see Lucas do the same thing.

Maybe you could have done a better job at LOTR?

I know I might've done. For starters, I'd've pushed for six films. LOTR done properly needs at least eighteen hours.

The Dam Busters
http://today.reuters.com/news/articlenews.aspx?type=filmNews&storyID=2006-08-31T230038Z_01_N31371060_RTRIDST_0_FILM-LEISURE-DAMBUSTERS-DC.XML&archived=False


although, I guess they'll leave out the squadron mascot in this one...



Nowadays, of course, a lot of people would cry "War crime!" if someone deliberately developed a bomb that blew up dams and drowned everyone downstream from the catastrophe.You know, I'd call that a war crime back then, too. Churchill was a genocidal maniac. He just happened to be one of the more civilized of an era of genocidal maniacs.

Ugh...

First the travesty of the LOTR movies...then King Kong (which I still refuse to see). Now this?

I expect he'll get tired of butchering the ideas of others...as soon as it stops making him boatloads of cash. :rolleyes:

I know I might've done. For starters, I'd've pushed for six films. LOTR done properly needs at least eighteen hours.

I'd go so far as to say that a proper treatment of LOTR will never be possible in theatres. If I were to remake it, I'd push for a mini-series on HBO...24 episodes, each 1 hour long.

And he is gonna be Producer for the Halo movie!

WHY!?!?!?!?

Halo? Shit! Wasn't Doom bad enough? Though I gotta admit, the story premise for the Doom movie was alot more interesting than the Hell On Earth scenario of the games.

There's only one problem with the dog - its name. The dog was dark, very dark, and so the pilots called it by an epithet that was not uncommon in its usage at the time to describe very dark people. But it's word you don't hear used much these days. Yes, the dog's name started with the letter N and it rhymed with that bouncy orange and black animal in the Winnie The Pooh movies.


Why not just say it?

******.

There!

That kind of word only means anything if you give it the power.
Its just a word.

To hint, and dance around its use may be an attempt to be "pc", but frankly, being so delicate only reminds us how that word can be used as a weapon.

Its all about the context.

You werent using it to be offensive, so why dance around it so much?
Just say it, and be done with it.

Maybe they'll re-name the dog "jigaboo" instead.

Or-maybe they'll rewrite history and make an african american the hero of the whole story.

if the dog is Black, they could name the dog "Blackie"

or just not name the dog... period.

EDIT: or better yet, have an African... Londoner? British? call the dog ******, once... and the dog is never named again.

And he is gonna be Producer for the Halo movie!

WHY!?!?!?!?

Halo? Shit! Wasn't Doom bad enough? Though I gotta admit, the story premise for the Doom movie was alot more interesting than the Hell On Earth scenario of the games.

Hell on Earth is DOOM 2.

Doom did take place on Mars. ;)

*ominous high,shrill dropping sound*

BOING!BOING!BOING!

Crash! Boom!

*Bits of Peter Jackson flies through the air at high velocity*

We'd need a new producer for the Halo movie then.

Why not just say it?

******.

There!

That kind of word only means anything if you give it the power.
Its just a word.

To hint, and dance around its use may be an attempt to be "pc", but frankly, being so delicate only reminds us how that word can be used as a weapon.

Its all about the context.

You werent using it to be offensive, so why dance around it so much?
Just say it, and be done with it.
Because he was baiting a hook.
*ominous high,shrill dropping sound*

BOING!BOING!BOING!

Crash! Boom!

*Bits of Peter Jackson flies through the air at high velocity*

We'd need a new producer for the Halo movie then.
Oh, but now you get Uwe Boll...nice job...

Peter Jackson is proving to have not a single imaginative or original bone in his body.

I'll bet anyone here 5 dollars US, that 90% of the movie is made by WETA too.

Another remake, yo PETEY, get a fucking imagination dammit!!!!!!

He ever decides to remake Casablanca, I will hunt his sorry ass down and beat him to death with a brick.
Braindead (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0103873/)
----------------------------
Call the dog ******.
-------------------------------
I was too lazy on Friday...

Why not just say it?

******.

There!

That kind of word only means anything if you give it the power.
Its just a word.

To hint, and dance around its use may be an attempt to be "pc", but frankly, being so delicate only reminds us how that word can be used as a weapon.

Its all about the context.

You werent using it to be offensive, so why dance around it so much?
Just say it, and be done with it.

Because people here would say I was flaming even if I wasn't.

Because people here would say I was flaming even if I wasn't.

whatever, ******.













(words only have power when offended people give them power.)

I love these criticisms. Kubrick did adaptations most of his career, no one was bitching at him to 'get an imagination.' There's more art than in simply coming up with a story, telling it is one, too. Novelty is a 20th Century fascination. Art is in the doing.Didn't you hear? Bashing popular movies is the "in" thing. All the cool kids are doing it.

In the original movie, the dog's name was changed into "Trigger", so I guess Jackson's problem was already solved 50 years ago.

In the original movie, the dog's name was changed into "Trigger", so I guess Jackson's problem was already solved 50 years ago.

Not in the UK it wasn't. Redubbed for some foreign releases though.

LOL, I love the attack on Peter Jackson. His movies are so poorly edited that we know it will be 4+ hours.

Jackson is the most overrated director. It took "King Kong" for people to realize he is a fraud.
So, it took 9 films, nominated for a total of 31 Oscars between them (actually between just 4 of them) and winning 17 (Jackson himself has been personally nominated for 8 Oscars, winning 3), and 20 years of filmmaking for people to 'realise' he's a fraud?

Best tell that to the Academy.

Personally, I'd like to see him do a movie without using WETA. no 3D effects at all. and yes, I'd like to see Lucas do the same thing.
You mean like:

Bad Taste
Braindead
Meet the Feebles
Forgotten Silver
Heavenly Creatures


Here's an idea: Before you start criticising someone based on their work, it's prudent to actually see their work first.

You mean like:

Bad Taste
Braindead
Meet the Feebles
Forgotten Silver
Heavenly Creatures


Here's an idea: Before you start criticising someone based on their work, it's prudent to actually see their work first.

Where's the fun in that?

Seriously, I stand corrected on the question of him working without WETA.

The question would be now; were any of those movies any good? If not, then I stand by my assertion that he is merely an average director. If they were, then I stand corrected.

You gotta realize though DH, that for a lot of people, Jackson is only known for the LOTR trilogy, King Kong and as producer for Halo. So he hasn't been famous for directing and/or producing original works.

Betrayed!!!

He promised us, he bloody well promised, Braindead 2. Right after I finish with skateboarding Legolas, he said.

I don’t want giant apes, I wan’t lawnmower gore!!

Puppet sex! Now!

Where's the fun in that?

Seriously, I stand corrected on the question of him working without WETA.

The question would be now; were any of those movies any good? If not, then I stand by my assertion that he is merely an average director. If they were, then I stand corrected.
Depends on your opinion as to what makes a good movie.
Everyone I know loves his first three movies (Bad taste, Meet the Feebles and BrainDead). But then everyone I know has a decidely twisted sense of humour.

If the idea of exploding sheep, brains being kept from falling out people's heads with a belt, drug and sex crazed muppets, zombies being attacked with lawnmowers, hot (or should that be cold?) zombie sex, and people being attacked by (farting) zombie digestive tracts (just to give a few examples) amusing then you'll enjoy them.

If not, then...well...you don't have much of a sense of humour imo.
No offence.

Me a sense of HUMOR!?

Perish the thought!


Some of that sounds funny to me, some just gross. I have an odd sense of humor, not twisted enough, but I might have to look into those movies. Much grass DH.

So, it took 9 films, nominated for a total of 31 Oscars between them (actually between just 4 of them) and winning 17 (Jackson himself has been personally nominated for 8 Oscars, winning 3), and 20 years of filmmaking for people to 'realise' he's a fraud?

Best tell that to the Academy.

Academy Awards are not an accurate way to judge people or movies. The greatest movie of all time, "Citizen Kane," only won a single minor award. "Titanic," which is now regarded as an average at best film, won about a dozen. Academy Awards mean nothing.

Academy Awards are not an accurate way to judge people or movies. The greatest movie of all time, "Citizen Kane," only won a single minor award. "Titanic," which is now regarded as an average at best film, won about a dozen. Academy Awards mean nothing.
That's for one movie. I mentioned 31 nominations for 4 movies. And that's just Oscars. Go to imbd and check to see how many nominations/awards his movies have got.
But then I know you won't. You've decided he's a hack and no amount of facts are going to change that opine, are they?


As for 'Citizen Kane' being the best movie of all time, I think that's very debateable. It's rated that way now, cause it's always been rated that way. Heaven forbid any critic to come out now and say it's not as good as some other movie. That's total sacrilege.
Personally I'd rate Casablanca over Kane. And rate Kubrick way over Wells as a filmmaker.

The question would be now; were any of those movies any good? If not, then I stand by my assertion that he is merely an average director. If they were, then I stand corrected.
Bad Taste is a cult classic. It certainly is gross, they had to give out sick bags when it originally showed in cinemas. It was made independently - the special effects consist primarily of stuff you could cook up in your kitchen. It's over-the-top lowest of the low brow comedy.

You gotta realize though DH, that for a lot of people, Jackson is only known for the LOTR trilogy, King Kong and as producer for Halo. So he hasn't been famous for directing and/or producing original works.
I think this is DH's point. Those movies were money making ventures - the backing of big film studios (ie the cash to make the movies you want to make) usually require some concession to main stream tastes. I dont think any big line movie production house would front up big dollars to make Meet the Feebles or Bad Taste. It may be that Jackson's first choice is to make the kind of films that inspired him to go into movie making and that could be over-the-top cheesy splatter-fests and the classics - both types of films probably reflect what intersted Jackson in film making (ie his whole reason for bothering to make films at all), but of the two only the 'classic/epics' are considered to have any reliable bankability in the industry.

You mean like:

Bad Taste
Braindead
Meet the Feebles
Forgotten Silver
Heavenly Creatures


Here's an idea: Before you start criticising someone based on their work, it's prudent to actually see their work first.

How could make a list of his films without including the BEST ONE:

Dead Alive

The night I read conclusively that the director of Dead Alive was making the LOTR movies I was honestly speechless.

How could make a list of his films without including the BEST ONE:

Dead Alive

The night I read conclusively that the director of Dead Alive was making the LOTR movies I was honestly speechless.
Dead Alive is on the list....under it's other name, aka Braindead.;)

Someone please stop this man making any more movies.

The money wasted on his ludicrous big-buget monstrosities
could have fed the third world many times over.

He should have stopped after Bad Taste.

Peter Jackson is proving to have not a single imaginative or original bone in his body.

I'll bet anyone here 5 dollars US, that 90% of the movie is made by WETA too.

Another remake, yo PETEY, get a fucking imagination dammit!!!!!!

He ever decides to remake Casablanca, I will hunt his sorry ass down and beat him to death with a brick.

I LOVE PETER JACKSON FOR THE SIMPLE REASON THAT HE MADE BAD TASTE!!!! That movie made me kinda wish that I was named Derek.