Conan

[rogue trooper]

Oh no, I can't stand it when they do that, they should *always* stick with teh actor's real eye colour, no matter how many folok complain about ethnic authenticity or whatever. It always looks fake and takes something away from the actor's performance.
It happened with Hopkins when he played Picasso and they gave him big brown contacts, and Jessica Alba looked quite alien and unreal in the eyes in FFROTSS, she looked fine without them in FF1.

Well, Momoa's eyes are green, so, it's not that far-off from blue, really.

 

[Octoberist]

so does the script represent Conan well?

Or is a Bryan Singer/Superman thing when the movie just duplicates a previous version instead of going back to the source material?

 

[rogue trooper]

I think a Howard purist, like the ones over at conan.com, would say of the Doppenheimer script is that it is like your Bryan Singer anology.

 

[afan]

Oh no, I can't stand it when they do that, they should *always* stick with teh actor's real eye colour, no matter how many folok complain about ethnic authenticity or whatever. It always looks fake and takes something away from the actor's performance.

Just to mention Conan's blue eyes have nothing to do with ethnic authenticity for Conan or the actor cast.
It's just the color of his eyes, period. It is a feature that Howard often accentuated when describing Conan. If the actor's hair were light brown a jet black dye job would be a must. If they can easily alter the eye color what's the problem?

 

[david icke]

Just to mention Conan's blue eyes have nothing to do with ethnic authenticity for Conan or the actor cast.
It's just the color of his eyes, period. It is a feature that Howard often accentuated when describing Conan. If the actor's hair were light brown a jet black dye job would be a must. If they can easily alter the eye color what's the problem?

The problem is, it takes away from the actor's performance. They do not look real, they cover the actor's eyes, so expression is stilted in a way that is so slight as to be very annoying and distracting.
He will just look like a guy wearing blue contacts, not a guy with blue eyes.
Howard also did not write that Conan wore contacts, and that is what it will look like onscreen. Letting the guy keep his own eye colour is the lesser of two evils, if want to call hiring an actor with a different eye colour to the character an evil. It's hardly essential.
Hair colour is completely different, hair can be dyed, a good wig can look real, like Rorschach's ginger wig in Watchmen.
colour changing eye contacts... they have not been perfected, and blue is a primary colour, they will stick out a mile, just look at Jessica Alba's blue contacts in FF2. Hopkins large brown ones looked fake and distracting in his Picasso biopic too.
They are just not a good idea.

edit: I hope I am wrong though, and they look natural, it won't ruin the movie for me though at all. Just a bugbear of mine in the pursuit of artistic excellence and perfection onscreen.

edit: I really wish the guy well who is playing him, he has come in for a lot of unnesesary stick for his ethnicity I think. I don't have many , but i have a few of the Roy Thomas/John Buscema books from the 70s and love them, I'm really looking forward to a conan movie that will hopefully be closer to those kind of tales than the Arnie ones. I mean, i enjoyed the 1st one a lot, but it could have been called Bozo the Barbarian, for all the similarity to the character I could see.
I haven't read any of the Howard books, but they based a couple of the comic stories I have on his tales, so I imagine I am familiar with some kind of cross-pollination of the two versions. Which is probably the kind of thing we will get with this movie, hopefully.

 

[Balthus Dire]

Sorry

Anyway, yeah, it is not particularly a very enthusiastic sign. However, if I'm not mistaken, during the shooting of the first Iron Man some rewriting was being done for that film. Who knows?

Tons of movies get rewrites even during production, but they are usually minor tweaks or additions. I actually can't recall a movie getting an entire script rewrite this close to production. That's just insane. Absolutely everything would change, including storyboards and costume designs and basically everything.

I'm starting to wonder if the report is off and it's actually just a tweak re-write rather than a complete overhaul. If it actually is an overhaul though, then....yikes.

 

[rogue trooper]

Let's also keep in mind that, as we had been told previously, Andrew Lobel had already done a rewrite before Sean Hood came aboard. So it might be possible that Lobel's rewrite was a significant one, and Hood might just be doing some polishing, perhaps.

 

[Nivek]

Well, Momoa's eyes are green, so, it's not that far-off from blue, really.

Exactly. It's lame people are questioning such a throw away aspect. I can understand worrying about the script, but this is something that can be done digitally in post and blend in so most people would assume his eyes are naturally blue.

 

[mclay18]

I'm curious, why are they shooting this movie in Bulgaria? Do they have a really good incentive package for Lionsgate to shoot there or what?

 

[conan69]

Black hair, blue eyes and thin lips...... uhhh sounds kind of celtic to me.


Howard CLEARLY stated that giving Conan "a latin look" is NOT how he conceived the character.


I think this entire situation is a abortion. A major rewrite before filming, a script that doesnt resemble the character at all, a actor who doesnt resemble the character,a studio tht doesnt seem to even understand the freaking property they own, etc

 

[rogue trooper]

^ Just an example: Actor Eduardo Verastegui(http://www.flickr.com/photos/42463886@N05/3978335045/) is Latin. A European-derived Mexican, to be specific. He certainly has a "latin look", but at the same time he has very solid European features. With some subtle makeup and a strict training regime, from a visual stand point, he could very well look very Conan-like. That's kinda' the same way I feel about Jason Momoa. Momoa, as seen in the most recent pictures posted in this forum, has a very European/German-derived look. In those pictures I could not have guessed he was half- Polynesian.


You know, Sean Connery didn't really look like how Ian Flemming described Bond either(more typical "English-looking" like Peter Cushing or Patrick McGoohan) and yet he is, some would say, the best Bond yet.

Momoa has plenty of physical attributes that are adequate for Conan; he has a Bronson-like brooding stare, strong voice, the appropriate height, his eyebrows are very reminiscent of how Frazetta draws them, and strong facial features.


As for the rest of what you mentioned, it might be possible. We'll see. I'm hoping for the "not-so-bad-afterall".

 

[conan69]

Momoa has plenty of physical attributes that are adequate for Conan

Which is where we disagree.

And its not about where the actor they pick comes from, but whether he looks the part. And I think the example you gave in the previous post is a better match for Conan than Momoa, who IMHO can pass for a Stygian or some of the other races in Howards world, but not a Cimmerian.

Im not even sure Momoa could pass for a teenage Conan as he was already so well built when he was a teenager. I dont buy that Momoa has the looks of somone who would break the neck of a bull or push boulders or physically overpower savages and other warriors - which is integral to the character. Howards text is very clear on this. He beats this into our heads over and over and over again.Conans physical awesomeness.

Were not talking about Batman here who has the help of the current technology or flexible armor and such, which can allow some flexiblity in casting. The actor has to look the part. Cimmerian features aside(and Im with those that the character should look celtic) Momoa doesnt have the "awe". NOTHING about Conan is common, hes exceptional in every way. Hes "the damnedest bastard that ever was"

I wouldnt buy Winstead as WonderWoman(a VERY popular choice here at SHH), I didnt buy Keaton as Batman and I wont buy Momoa as Conan. Hell I see guys in my gym 3 times a week who I would pick over Jason when it comes to he physical aspect of the character.

Alot of people say that Howards idea of well built would differ from now because we know so much more more about exercise than Howards time, but I call BS on that. Howard had plenty of things to draw inspiration from including many of the roman and greek statues, which has been around forever. I recently said this at the REH forums, but I was at the MET this past sunday and some of those statues are VERY well built, and could easily have inspired Howard when conjuring up the character.

Conan has to have the physical presence to walk among well build african warriors and have them be in awe of him. How many times in the stories did we hear people comment that theyd never seen the likes of Conan before.

I havent even started on how everyone involved doesnt seem to have a clue about the property theyre attempting to cash in on. Do these peopel understand Conan at all? It doesnt seem that way. Not from some of the reports weve gotten about the script and sch and this is my biggest beef. Momoa can work with acting coaches and such and Im glad hes reading Howards original stories - but all that doesnt mean a damn thing if the creative team doesnt even seem to understand the material theyre adapting.

This is why I find so much of this stuff so frustrating when dealing with characters I care about. Weve seen time and time again, that studio exes are idiots, who dont care abou the property they owe other than how it can line their pockets. The problem is the studio doesnt care. Conan is a property and they want to make money. 300 was popular, Sparcatus (a truly stupid and moronic show) has a following,etc. So whos the taget audience for this film? The people who have a real understanding and are fans, and more importantly CARE about the character is tiny compared to the general moviegoing audience who will go see this movie on a friday or saturday to kill 2 hours. THATS who theyre targeting for this film - so a faithful adapation be damned.And thats what I find so offensive.


eidt:
sorry for the rant, but after so long, I find this entire thing to be completely demoralizing, and I hate to see a character I love so much be treated like ****.

 

[david icke]

Exactly. It's lame people are questioning such a throw away aspect. I can understand worrying about the script, but this is something that can be done digitally in post and blend in so most people would assume his eyes are naturally blue.

No, what's lame is changing the eye colour, giving the actor an artificial look.
I haven't read the script, have you? what more can be said about it than, 'hope the last minute re-write is a positive thing instead of an indication the whole thing is bad.'
This is something that has bothered me with actors in other movies, so it will probably be bothersome here as well. And it is unessesary in the end.
It'll probably look fake and distracting. Are you really trying to tell me that Alba's blue contact lenses in FF2 don't make her eyes look weird and fake?
Most I have seen talking about that makeover noticed.
Whereas they did not give her blue contacts in FF1, and no-one complained about her not having the same colour of eyes as Sue Storm. The complaints only came after the weird looking contacts were brought in.

 

[Nivek]

No, what's lame is changing the eye colour, giving the actor an artificial look.

And again, this happens in so many film's anymore, it's pretty dumb to complain about it. You you hear blue contact's, and you immediatly think it's going to be a Jessica Alba in Rise of the Silver Surfer/ Robert Downey Jr. Tropic Thunder look? Those actors had dark brown eyes and for some reason they used contacts that made them look like vampires in Underworld (but albas more subtle contacts in the first FF movie were not as bold). Mamoa already has light colored eyes, so the types of contacts he's would be wearing would not look anything like that. Just more pointless complaining about ethnicity, like people expect a full head of dreads of a freaking afro. No wonder most of the masses expect some Down's Syndrome looking Body Builder like Ahnold than a guy who should look more like Tarzan.

 

[david icke]

And again, this happens in so many film's anymore, it's pretty dumb to complain about it. You you hear blue contact's, and you immediatly think it's going to be a Jessica Alba in Rise of the Silver Surfer/ Robert Downey Jr. Tropic Thunder look? Those actors had dark brown eyes and for some reason they used contacts that made them look like vampires in Underworld (but albas more subtle contacts in the first FF movie were not as bold).

Ok, I didn't know she wore contacts in FF1, so if he wore subtle ones like that, I am fine with that. But, I don't think it's something that's not to be worried about necesarily, they *could* give him crappy ones that look fake and weird. I'd rather they just had the actor with his natural eye colour.

Mamoa already has light colored eyes, so the types of contacts he's would be wearing would not look anything like that.

Ok, fine, but I have also watched Hopkins play Picasso with brown contacts and that was distracting, looked weird and fake too.
edit: i don't know Hopkin's natural eye colour, so don't know how if that was a factor. Looked glassy and starnge though, blocked his performance, couldn't see what was 'going on in the eyes' as they say, which is a big thing with Hopkins.

Just more pointless complaining about ethnicity, like people expect a full head of dreads of a freaking afro. No wonder most of the masses expect some Down's Syndrome looking Body Builder like Ahnold than a guy who should look more like Tarzan.

More pointless complaining about ethnicity? lol, you have got my argument ass-backwards pal. I don't give a crap about the ethnicity of the actor, I would prefer he looked as natural as possible, no artificial changes to the guy's eye colour so that he fits the description in the book to the letter.
Hair colour(for Conan), body shape, sure, important, eye colour, no, do you immediately take note of people's eye colour when you meet them? When you watch them in movies? who gives a crap? But I give a crap when an actor looks fake and weird because folk are complaining that they want their character to look *exactly* as described in the books.

If they use subtle contacts, and it works , fine.
If they look fake and weird, yeah, it's something to complain about that is valid.

 

[Nivek]

If they use subtle contacts, and it works , fine.
If they look fake and weird, yeah, it's something to complain about that is valid.

Well, when the character pictures come out and we can see his eyes, you can have at it with the physical critisims. Right now, it's just silly.

 

[david icke]

Well, when the character pictures come out and we can see his eyes, you can have at it with the physical critisims. Right now, it's just silly.

No, it's not silly to worry that it could go wrong. It's something that could go wrong that is an unnesasary addition. I'd rather they didn't go that way, because even if it only looks a little 'off', they will doubtless say, 'not many people will notice it doesn't look completely natural.' But, I will be one of those poeple who notice and it will bother me.
Ok, it's not as important as the script, but it's the same deal, folk worrying about a script before they have read it, even with the last minute re-write. Some fine movies have had re-writes on set as folk have said. So, until we read the script or see the movie it's silly to worry about it? Because by your logic, no-one should be worrying until we read or see it on film.
anyway, hopefully his eyes will look fine but they will probably look a little off if they try to make a big deal about him being some guy who has 'striking' blue eyes, and go overboard like with Alba's in FF2. Because if they think it's a big deal to fans that the eyes are blue, they will make them B-L-U-E, as in very noticable, and they could look quite glassy in that case , like Albas.
Sorry, but that is my worry, I won't bang on about it, I only meant for the one post on that subject, and thought folk would understand the slight worry in that regard.

 

[Nivek]

No, it's silly to talk about it sight unseen. That's what I'm saying. But when pictures of Mamoa as Conan come out and he has vampire eyes like Downey & Alba, you can throw back in my face then. Now, it's 100% conjecture.

 

[david icke]

No, it's silly to talk about it sight unseen. That's what I'm saying. But when pictures of Mamoa as Conan come out and he has vampire eyes like Downey & Alba, you can throw back in my face then. Now, it's 100% conjecture.

No, I disagree, as I said, it's the same as anyone else's worries about the script, as that is going on in the thread, despite it being unread.
You would be as well to quote everyone's posts that express any worries about it potentially going wrong at this stage, and saying they are silly, as they have not yet seen the movie or read the script.

 

[BETArayBill]

bob sapp really? http://www.latinoreview.com/news/exclusive-bob-sapp-cast-as-ukafa-in-conan-9298

 

[Octoberist]

is bob sapp's character featured in the books or in the comics? or was he just made up for the movie? in fact, is the villain in this movie a legit Conan villian?

 

[rogue trooper]

^ No, I believe most of the characters are specifically for this film. Not that this is automatically a bad thing, as Solomon Kane also has characters that were not in the books.

 

[x-fan]

not sure who he is but, the is bigger than conan ....just saying

 

[Project862006]

bob sapp is bigger than most men

 

[Terminator]

[YT]ceCRgf5tf0g[/YT]

Hey Bob Sapp Pleeeeease