Originally Posted By CDF2 In part of the fallout of the Rich Ross resignation, it was stated that he had killed a project involving 20000 Leagues Under the Sea - anybody know anything about that project and what it entailed? Does Disney still have the rights to that story and perhaps other Verne titles? I would think that with that tremendous submarine design by Harper Goff as the starting point, a remake of that classic film with modern special effects (minus the instrumentals of course) might be quite interesting.
Originally Posted By JeffG A remake has been in development at Disney for several years. I hadn't heard that the project was formally killed, but it has gone through several directors without making it into production. Jules Verne's books are all public domain, so Disney (or anyone else) can make movies of any of them without having to purchase rights. -Jeff
Originally Posted By Bellella Anyone who thinks a remake of 20,000 Leagues can possibly compare to the original Disney version is fooling themselves. Better not to attempt it. You can't improve upon perfection (although many of Disney's recent decisions have tried without success to dispute that point).
Originally Posted By basil fan Agreed. This is the greatest Disney live-action movie of all time, IMHO. A remake can't help but be inferior, so why bother? House of Mouse <a href="http://www.whatsitsgalore.com/disney/house.html" target="_blank">http://www.whatsitsgalore.com/...use.html</a>
Originally Posted By Witches of Morva ORDDU: Add your cauldron girls to the list of those who don't think the original 20,000 Leagues Under the sea needs a remake. Why can't they move forward with new material?
Originally Posted By leobloom I'm interested in anything Fincher directs. This doesn't sound like his typical material, so I'm not sure how it would turn out. But I'm sure it would be technically brilliant.
Originally Posted By JeffG Am I the only one that thinks the original Disney version of 20,000 Leagues is a good, but not great movie? In particular, I think the film's pacing is slower than it should be, causing it to seem longer than it is. I also do think the film is a reflection of its time and that a remake, in the right hands, certainly could benefit a lot from the advances in special effects technology. On the other hand, the performances in the original film are going to be very hard to top. Also, the film has an overall aura of sophistication that isn't as common in modern action/adventure films, so I hope the writing and directing jobs end up in the right hands. Fincher would potentially be an interesting choice to take it on. I'd be much less enthusiastic about McG,who was also attached at one time. -Jeff
Originally Posted By basil fan I suppose some folks don't care for the movie. Some probably even hate it. It's that way with every film. Of course, I don't like remakes as a general rule. But when it's a remake of a favourite, it's extra bad. I just don't happen to agree. House of Mouse www.whatsitsgalore.com/disney/house.html
Originally Posted By Autopia Deb >>> Am I the only one that thinks the original Disney version of 20,000 Leagues is a good, but not great movie? <<< Nope, it was enjoyable but far from perfect (Kirk Douglas and his Sea Shanty?! Shudder). If done well, I would very much enjoy a new version on screen. Remember, with most movies based on classic literature a new movie can be made without it being a remake of a previous film. How many excellent versions of "A Christmas Carol" have been made over the years?
Originally Posted By Autopia Deb According to Wikipedia there have been 22 film adaptations of A Christmas Carol, this includes Scrooged, Mickey's Christmas Carol and the like but not stage and television adaptations. I'd say there is plenty of president for a classic story to be adapted to film without it being a remake of a previous film.
Originally Posted By Kar2oonMan While I'd rather see more in the way of new stories than remakes, I'm sure that a great movie could be made of 20,000 Leagues. It has all the right elements -- great story, great characters -- and a wealth of special FX possibilities that were not available back when Disney made their version. Like Jeff, I found the original to be a bit on the slow side, and the original special effects just don't hold up. YMMV.
Originally Posted By oc_dean I've been reading about this for a couple years .. and what I was under the impression, it was to be written as a PREQUEL to the events of the 1954 film. When Captain Nemo was younger. Not a "remake."
Originally Posted By Manfried If Hollywood just keeps making remakes and reboots does that mean there is no more imagination left in the world and that Disneyland would have to close?
Originally Posted By schnebs No, it just means there's no imagination left in Hollywood. In other words, business as usual...
Originally Posted By basil fan Absolutely true that a studio can make a new version of a book without it being a remake. Go back to the source material and create your own take on it. But is that Disney's agenda? Sherlock Holmes <a href="http://www.whatsitsgalore.com/sherlock/holmes.html" target="_blank">http://www.whatsitsgalore.com/...mes.html</a>
Originally Posted By Witches of Morva ORDDU: Apparently that's what they're going to be doing with the Oz movie; taking a classic story and reimagining it as a prequel to Dorothy's arrival. Even so, the script I've heard about makes it sound more like a soap opera, what with Professor Marvel having affairs with the witches of Oz! ORGOCH: Sounds ta me that'd be right up yer alley, ya tramp!!
Originally Posted By basil fan That sounds like the plot for Wicked. Great Mouse Detective htto://www.whatsitsgalore.com/basil/bakerst.html
Originally Posted By CDF2 While the original 20K Leagues is a tremendous story, it had a number of areas where the technology of the time just doesn't compare to what is possible in today's cinematic world. The Harper Goff submarine, the rendering of Vulcania by Ellenshaw and the amazing underwater gear were superlative - but a certain amount of the special effects involving the ship models and the "in a tank" underwater scenes could be spruced up with a modern treatment. It would be hard to improve on James Mason's Nemo (as we have seen multiple failures in other portrayals of that character over time) but that might be part of the fun or interest in a remake. Addtionally, a remake of 20K Leagues could be used as a springboard for a franchise series that could offer up different adventures pitting Nemo against the wider society or even explore new concepts such as the fusion of the Verne "Journey to the Centre of the Earth" with Nemo as seen in the TDS attraction. Just seems like a franchise with so many different possibilities .....
