Grayskull: Masters of the Universe - Part 2

[Thundarr]

you went on this tirade because you mixed up your self with your own post.

Ram Man RAMS things. Neither me or Thundarr said we didn't want Ram Man to jump.

we are agreeing on the SPRING legs which is the part that i BOLDED in my reply to you which you apparently ignored.

Exactly! His name is RAM Man, it's NOT Spring Man. The only reason the character had spring legs in the 1980's series was because for same reason the animators decided to be slavishly loyal to the design of the action figure, whose legs couldn't move.

However, in the original minicomics that came with the action figure, he was depicted as ramming things be getting a running start then leaping at them head first. That's also how he is depicted in the 2002 reboot. And THAT is the Ram Man people will want to see. After all, this is Masters Of The Universe, not Winnie The Pooh.

So yes to Ram Man ramming things, but no to his having spring legs.

 

[Pink Ranger]

I want a Spring Man action figure in the 2013 Classics line.

At least it's better than Sir Laserlot.

 

[Thundarr]

Sean Connery of 1971 would have been perfect. Old enough to be believable as a strong leader and a king, young enough to go physical in the middle of the action.

You know . . . With the right make up, CGI effects, and really good stunt doubles, maybe he can play Stratos after all. Hmmmmmm.

Nobody would be better than Michael Chiklis. He's born to play Ram Man.
I just hope that the focus will be on Ram's bad ass personality, and not any attempt to have him as comic relief.

But would any producer in the world think Chiklis is too known for a supporting character? I don't think so. Do you?

The Juggernaut actor is Vinnie Jones. I guess he and Chiklis are equally known as actors (outside America, anyways).

Totally agree on Chiklis. And if he's unavailable/unwilling, Vinnie Jones is a great second choice.

I don't mind if they make him the comic relief, just as long as he's ALSO a badass. Like in the 2002 reboot. Or like Ahnuld in most of his movies.

 

[Jordacar]

You know . . . With the right make up, CGI effects, and really good stunt doubles, maybe he can play Stratos after all. Hmmmmmm.

C'mon, he's retired. It's not like he's the last living Scotsman or anything.

I'd go with Henry Ian Cusick myself.

 

[Airwings]

in the original minicomics that came with the action figure, he was depicted as ramming things be getting a running start then leaping at them head first. That's also how he is depicted in the 2002 reboot. And THAT is the Ram Man people will want to see.

How do you know that other people want to see that kind of Ram Man?
I don't! And I've liked MOTU for about 25 years. His Filmation way of fighting (not Filmation personality) to be done live action is something I've longed for almost all these years.

So yes to Ram Man ramming things, but no to his having spring legs.

He needs the spring legs. That's what makes him unique from everything else.
But in the end, both you and I and everybody else can wish whatever we want. Ram Man Filmation style might not be the most known version to MOTU fans, but it still remains the most known version to non-fans a.k.a. the general audience. I'm sure the studio will base the character on the Filmation show because that's how the majority of people remember him (the fans are in minority), if they even remember him at all.
And this is not my personal opinion, but something I actually believe it's gonna happen.

 

[Airwings]

I can imagine David Wenham, Sharlto Copley or Sam Rockwell as Mekaneck

 

[Thundarr]

C'mon, he's retired. It's not like he's the last living Scotsman or anything.

I'd go with Henry Ian Cusick myself.

First of all, I was kidding (well kinda, it would still be cool if he were to take the role). And it's not just his Scottish accent that makes him a perfect fit. That slight lisp he has, which is so uniquely Sean Connery and was immitated in the 2002 cartoon, is what sells it.

I highly doubt he WOULD play Stratos, but he certainly COULD play him.

 

[Thundarr]

I can imagine David Wenham, Sharlto Copley or Sam Rockwell as Mekaneck

 

[Thundarr]

How do you know that other people want to see that kind of Ram Man?
I don't! And I've liked MOTU for about 25 years. His Filmation way of fighting (not Filmation personality) to be done live action is something I've longed for almost all these years.

Two words: Chris Nolan!

Ever since Batman Begins, everyone wants more "gritty & realistic" versions of comic book & cartoon characters. Franchises like He-Man are no exception. Certain parts will remain in the "fantastic realm" of fantasy and science fiction. But rest assured, they'll be getting "gritty & realistic" whenever and where ever they can. And something as stupid and unimportant as Ram Man having spring legs is just the kind of thing that will get cut.

He needs the spring legs. That's what makes him unique from everything else.
But in the end, both you and I and everybody else can wish whatever we want. Ram Man Filmation style might not be the most known version to MOTU fans, but it still remains the most known version to non-fans a.k.a. the general audience. I'm sure the studio will base the character on the Filmation show because that's how the majority of people remember him (the fans are in minority), if they even remember him at all.
And this is not my personal opinion, but something I actually believe it's gonna happen.

No he doesn't need the spring legs, because his name is Ram Man, not Tigger.

And it's not the spring legs that makes him unique from everyone else, it's his unique fighting style. He carries an axe, but mostly he rams people with his head (hense the name Ram Man).

 

[ShredderX]

Ram Man with spring legs ? I don't know about that. I mean, he had spring legs in the Filamation toon, and I love that toon to death. But alot of Filmation's tone was really cheesy, and I'm glad the 2002 version kinda fleshed out the characters a bit. I mean, which would translate better on film, a dwarf with spring legs or a 7 foot armored power house that runs through walls ?

 

[The Guard]

One wonders how they will get around the incredibly silly names. Like, Ram Man could show up...but is anyone going to call him "Ram Man" onscreen?

 

[Pink Ranger]

One wonders how they will get around the incredibly silly names. Like, Ram Man could show up...but is anyone going to call him "Ram Man" onscreen?

I think for day-to-day palace scenes, they just call him by his regular name (Ezra Leibowitz).

 

[Thundarr]

Ram Man with spring legs ? I don't know about that. I mean, he had spring legs in the Filamation toon, and I love that toon to death. But alot of Filmation's tone was really cheesy, and I'm glad the 2002 version kinda fleshed out the characters a bit. I mean, which would translate better on film, a dwarf with spring legs or a 7 foot armored power house that runs through walls ?

Exactly!

 

[Thundarr]

I think for day-to-day palace scenes, they just call him by his regular name (Ezra Leibowitz).

I know you meant that as a joke, but it's not a bad idea to give Ram Man a common human name. He is human after all. I mean, Man-At-Arms' real name is Duncan. Thus it makes sense that Ram Man be given a human name as well.

Maybe Buzz Off isn't his real name either. It's just what humans call him because his real name cannot be pronounced in the human tongue.

 

[Airwings]

I think "Ram Man with spring legs" can be done in a serious way too. It's not just campy.
If the film focuses on the devastation he causes when using his powers, it would be more than just bad-ass. He's like a human-sized cannonball, for heaven's sake.
Ram retreats his legs into his body, his "engine".... then builds up his powers.... and takes off in a dust cloud (like Neo).
This is a way to describe how it can be done too look more awesome.

I'm happy that Thundar agrees on Sam Rockwell/Mekaneck.
Now we have brought up almost every character we need in this film. There's just one more, and it's Man-E-Faces. People seem to like the character.
He's got a backstory that's pretty sad, and he lives all alone in a hidden place out in the desert. Somewhat of a tragic character. Man-E-Faces holds a grudge towards Skeletor, because the evil lord once destroyed his life. In the film, he needs to join the Masters, to pay back. And we get to see every side of him: the human warrior, the beast (who would be as bad-ass as X-Men's Beast), and the robot (with a computer brain that can calculate the opponent's every move).

Looks pretty good, huh? But the monster face should be more demonic and beastly.

 

[Pink Ranger]

Now we have brought up almost every character we need in this film. There's just one more, and it's Man-E-Faces. People seem to like the character.
He's got a backstory that's pretty sad, and he lives all alone in a hidden place oun in the desert. Man-E-Faces holds a grudge towards Skeletor, because the evil lord once destroyed his life. In the film, he needs to join the Masters, to pay back. And we get to see every side of him: the human warrior, the beast (who would be as bad-ass as X-Men's Beast), and the robot (with a computer brain that can calculate the opponent's every move).

Looks pretty good, huh? But the monster face should be more demonic and beastly.

Well, here's a question about MEF that is kind of in the spirit of the Ram Man spring-legs question: should it be spinning faces, morphing faces, or something else for MEF?

 

[Panthro]

I think "Ram Man with spring legs" can be done in a serious way too. It's not just campy.
If the film focuses on the devastation he causes when using his powers, it would be more than just bad-ass. He's like a human-sized cannonball, for heaven's sake.
Ram retreats his legs into his body, his "engine".... then builds up his powers.... and takes off in a dust cloud (like Neo).
This is a way to describe how it can be done too look more awesome.

I'm happy that Thundar agrees on Sam Rockwell/Mekaneck.
Now we have brought up almost every character we need in this film. There's just one more, and it's Man-E-Faces. People seem to like the character.
He's got a backstory that's pretty sad, and he lives all alone in a hidden place out in the desert. Somewhat of a tragic character. Man-E-Faces holds a grudge towards Skeletor, because the evil lord once destroyed his life. In the film, he needs to join the Masters, to pay back. And we get to see every side of him: the human warrior, the beast (who would be as bad-ass as X-Men's Beast), and the robot (with a computer brain that can calculate the opponent's every move).

Looks pretty good, huh? But the monster face should be more demonic and beastly.

That artwork is pretty cool.

 

[Thundarr]

I think "Ram Man with spring legs" can be done in a serious way too. It's not just campy.
If the film focuses on the devastation he causes when using his powers, it would be more than just bad-ass. He's like a human-sized cannonball, for heaven's sake.
Ram retreats his legs into his body, his "engine".... then builds up his powers.... and takes off in a dust cloud (like Neo).
This is a way to describe how it can be done too look more awesome.

Again, that was done because the animators were being ridiculously loyal to the design of the action figure, not the character that the action figure was based on. Remember, the cartoon characters were based on the action figures, not the other way around. And the action figures were based on the minicomics that came with them.

However, there's probably a happy medium to be found. The spring legs in the Filmation cartoon were stupid then, and are even worse for a live action film. However, if he has bionic legs, giving him superhuman leaping ability (not unlike the 6 million dollar man), That I could probably get behind.

I'm happy that Thundarr agrees on Sam Rockwell/Mekaneck.
Now we have brought up almost every character we need in this film. There's just one more, and it's Man-E-Faces. People seem to like the character.
He's got a backstory that's pretty sad, and he lives all alone in a hidden place out in the desert. Somewhat of a tragic character. Man-E-Faces holds a grudge towards Skeletor, because the evil lord once destroyed his life. In the film, he needs to join the Masters, to pay back. And we get to see every side of him: the human warrior, the beast (who would be as bad-ass as X-Men's Beast), and the robot (with a computer brain that can calculate the opponent's every move).

Looks pretty good, huh? But the monster face should be more demonic and beastly.

Man-E-Faces has a sad backstory? Wasn't he a famous actor in the king's court? That's how I remember him in both the original and the rebooted cartoons. As for who should play him, I'd say a comedian/comedic actor who is really good at doing impressions. Someone like Jim Carrey, only less well known.

 

[Airwings]

Thundarr: Ram Man should be able to jump great lenghts from standing completely still. When he's about to jump, a pair of "bionic legs" should work in the same way as the spring legs. Can we agree on that?
Now we have to discuss how tall Ram should be. Towering everyone else, like Arnold? Somewhat shorter, like Tom Cruise? I prefer the latter.

Thundarr: Man-E-faces used to be an actor, yes. But Skeletor used his body for experiments. Man-E-Faces managed to escape, and then decided to live away from other people. He's not a happy guy anymore.

 

[Pink Ranger]

Well, to be fair, there are at least 4 different continuities to draw a given character's backstory from (the action figure comics, the filmation cartoon, the 2002 cartoon and the character bios from the new action figures).

 

[TheVileOne]

I like how there's an actual debate going on about Ram Man having spring legs in a live action movie.

And Sam Rockwell as Mekaneck? Please.

 

[Pink Ranger]

I like how there's an actual debate going on about Ram Man having spring legs in a live action movie.

And Sam Rockwell as Mekaneck? Please.

It's our version of organic web shooters. Give us that at least.

 

[TheVileOne]

Not really. Listen, I love He-man and everything, but listen the Filmation cartoon was not that great. It was super-cheap and the show doesn't hold up very well. The spring legs would be stupid in live action and would get laughed at by any audience. It was a bad Filmation device.

If they ever made a live action movie and say Ram Man were in it there would be no spring legs. If Hordak or Skeletor were adapted they wouldn't be comedic buffoons. Heck Skeletor was already adapted and Frank Langella played the character totally straight.

The Filmation cartoon was fun and good for its time but it's extremely dated and most of it would not be translated to live action. Heck I look at it now and it looks like 1960's animation done in the 1980's.

The 200x series did a tremendous job of updating all the classic stories and characters and making them all more natural including Ram Man.

 

[Thundarr]

Thundarr: Ram Man should be able to jump great lenghts from standing completely still. When he's about to jump, a pair of "bionic legs" should work in the same way as the spring legs. Can we agree on that?
Now we have to discuss how tall Ram should be. Towering everyone else, like Arnold? Somewhat shorter, like Tom Cruise? I prefer the latter.

Thundarr: Man-E-faces used to be an actor, yes. But Skeletor used his body for experiments. Man-E-Faces managed to escape, and then decided to live away from other people. He's not a happy guy anymore.

Well that's why I suggested it as a compromise. As for who should play him and how tall he should be? In the Filmation series he was shorter than He-Man. In the 2002 series, he was huge even in comparison to He-Man. So if you want him short? Michael Chiklis (I met him once, he's only about 5'7"). If you want him to be really huge? Vinnie Jones.

 

[DawnWarrior]

Paul Wight is huger.