Halo Movie Script on 2nd Draft Rewrite

[bapenguin]

Our friends over at Gamasutra (http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=10078) bring word that DB Weiss is doing a 2nd draft of Alex Garland's (The Beach (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0163978/), 28 Days Later (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0289043/)) Halo script. Of course with any video game movie there needs to be some changes, and with those changes come some unhappy fans.Weiss commented: "There will be the 5% on the fringe of any hardcore fanbase that get angry about any change you make to the source material. The truth is that novels, games, comics, and what-have-you are not usually ready to be slapped up on screen as-is."

In fact, Weiss suggests of this particular issue: "If you did do a 100% faithful version, 999 times out of 1000 it would be a mess, and even the 5%-ers would recognise as much."

I think it's pretty much a given SOME stuff needs to be adapted for the screen, it's just when writers/producers blatantly murder a franchise by changing things beyond recognition.

[Zeal]

I'm really starting not to like this guy.

Edit: After reading the entire interview, it's clear this guy is a total pompous fucking idiot. Way to go, Bungie.

[Captain Awesome]

People did the same pissing and moaning about that one Hobbit character being pulled out altogether from the LOTR trilogy. But to be honest, he was a useless character to the whole story and the movement of the main subject. Jackson had to do tons of trimming of fat and we got this amazing trilogy out of it.

I dont mind if they deviate, but just as long they keep the general feel, style and background found in the original license to some degree. You need to have the overall ambience of the license, it's vital. I dont want a brash, rogue writer thinking he can re-write a strong license like this. I want him to bring his writing talent and just accentuate whats been done and just tie some things together to give us a full feature.

Halo has a fairly rich history and I hope it gets utilized in a very cool way. I want to see WW2 Normandy-style beach scenes but on an alien planet with human soldiers and alien fire covering the screen and the MC dropping in to kick some alien ass. I did like 28 Days Later alot, so who knows.


Bring on the Denzel!

[camberiu]

Even LOTR suffered major changes when adapted to the screen without hurting the final results. I do not mind changing things from the original as long as the identity of the original work remains.

[Food Nipple]

I'll bet that the grunts are going to lose their sense of humor. Mankind cannot be on the brink of extinction from a bunch of 3 ft tall aliens that say things like "me run away now"

[Suicidal ShiZuru]

If there are no funny lines from the grunts Im going to be really pissed off. Im not even that big of a Halo fan but they were awesome and would be great characters in a movie.

[Captain Awesome]

If there are no funny lines from the grunts Im going to be really pissed off. Im not even that big of a Halo fan but they were awesome and would be great characters in a movie.


I loved/hated when they fought each other over who killed you :mad:

[Suicidal ShiZuru]

I loved/hated when they fought each other over who killed you :mad:

You mean after you would die? I never noticed if so.

As long as they dont change the flood into brain eating zombies I doubt they could really fuck it up.

[Captain Awesome]

You mean after you would die? I never noticed if so.

As long as they dont change the flood into brain eating zombies I doubt they could really fuck it up.


haha yeah, if you wait after you get killed. The grunts will begin to yell at each other and fight about which one really killed you. Its hilarious. I also hope the flood look just as menacing/gross if not more in the film.

[Mdot23]

maybe with today's bungie update they can shed some light on these issues we've been discussing the past couple days.

[Steve_Erhardt]

The truth is that novels, games, comics, and what-have-you are not usually ready to be slapped up on screen as-is.
Two Words: Sin City.

But in all honest, good examples of change have already been cited, and I don't have anything against some changes to make a movie as a general rule. Starship Troopers is a good example... Awesome book, but a straight translation would have made a terrible movie.

But where Halo is concerned, I'm more of the mind they don't need to change much, if anything. Anybody who's played the game can tell Bungie went in and created it with a theatrical aspect in the first place. Just don't Judge Dredd it and let us see the MC's face.

[Mason]

Apparently Weiss is also writing 2008's Ender's Game, according to IMDB. Interesting.

The Beach was pretty horrible, and 28 Days Later fell apart in the third act. Not terribly auspicious.

I'd advise people not to regard the Halo movie with anything other than curious bemusement at this point. If it becomes a life-fulfilling masterpiece, then let that be a pleasant surprise. Anyone assuming that it won't be a confused and exploitative mess is only setting themselves up for highly-foreshadowed disappointment.

[Goronmon]

let us see the MC's face.No way. I'd rather not see the MC's face the entire movie. There is just something mysteriously badass about having a hero in a suit of armor where you don't see his face.

[Goronmon]

Anyone assuming that it won't be a confused and exploitative mess is only setting themselves up for highly-foreshadowed disappointment.Unfortunately, you have the right idea. Even if the movie is decent, when you go into the movie with huge expactations you are going to come out disappointed.

[Captain Awesome]

No way. I'd rather not see the MC's face the entire movie. There is just something mysteriously badass about having a hero in a suit of armor where you don't see his face.

Agreed, this is what made Boba Fett such a memorable character. That is until Lucas ruined his background in the newer films.

The MC's coolness comes from the fact that he's never been unmasked and has that cool voice. He lets his asskicking speak for him.

[Morratut]

Agreed, this is what made Boba Fett such a memorable character. That is until Lucas ruined his background in the newer films.

The MC's coolness comes from the fact that he's never been unmasked and has that cool voice. He lets his asskicking speak for him.

So so true.

All I want him to say for the first 5 mins of the movie is 'I need a weapon' then lots and lots of ass kicking.

If they do need to show his face (which they shouldn't)then it should be a unknown actor.

[Sinistar]

Really, the only time anyone should be concerned about the Halo movie is when the powers that be announce:

"The Rock has agreed to star as the Master Chief in the upcoming Halo movie. He's signed a 3 picture deal with the Halo franchise."

That would pretty much mean that the apocalypse is here.

[Roc Ingersol]

Pretty standard move.
Script generates enough excitement to get bought and then in the process of packaging the thing, the producer/director/dev exec/janitor bring in their own pet writers.

And is there anyone left who hasn't taken a stab at adapting ENDER'S GAME?

[JazGalaxy]

I don't think anyone has a problem with specific content of source material being changed in order for it to become a movie, I think people have a problem with structure being changed. I know I do.

Let's take Daredevil for example, or really pretty much any comic movie. Producers feel like movie fans need closure and that movie fans want to see the hero beat up on the person responsible for all their problems. This has led to a formula where Daredevil's father, in the movie, is killed by the Kingpin. that's not making a small change to make the movie more accessible, that's changing the structure of the story. Now certain relationships lose their resonance and, largely, the whole reason the property is popular in the first place no longer applies.

It's like this new Shadowrun game. Shadowrun has legions of loyal fans, but who would blame them if they don't buy "CounterRun"? They've changed the entire structure and what's left is not what drew people to the series to begin with.

[captainspankypants]

The Beach was pretty horrible, and 28 Days Later fell apart in the third act. Not terribly auspicious.
I would spout the cliche "That's your opinion," but that's fucking obvious. I do want to point out though that the novel of The Beach, which is what Garland wrote, is totally fucking awesome. The problem with the movie was that Danny Boyle, the director (also directed 28 Days Later, and Trainspotting), is at heart an indy movie maker, and this was the first time that a huge movie studio was involved. They started throwing money around and making craptastic suggestions like "make Leo Dicapprio the star," "make all the characters more attractive and have everyone have sex with everyone else," and "take out all those pop culture references, they're too confusing." Boyle just gave in to all the pressure.

I loved 28 Days Later, so I have nothing else to say about that.

[Yama]

No way. I'd rather not see the MC's face the entire movie. There is just something mysteriously badass about having a hero in a suit of armor where you don't see his face.

You misread his comment. He said 'Don't Judge Dredd and let us see his face'.

In the Judge Dredd comics, you never see his face, yet in the movie Stallone is helmetless for large portions. So he's saying 'Don't show us his face'.

[Watership]

They better have some corpse humping.

Well, maybe not.

[TheHulk]

I don't really see the appeal of having big name stars do voices like this. Why not let the voice guy from the game do it. He's done a great job so far. I don't know anyone who says "Oooh! My favorite actors voice is in a movie! I'm going to see that now!" I'm not saying Denzel is a bad choice, just don't see many movies based on a voice and don't think the mainstream will either.

[EternalGamer]

Two Words: Sin City.

But in all honest, good examples of change have already been cited, and I don't have anything against some changes to make a movie as a general rule. Starship Troopers is a good example... Awesome book, but a straight translation would have made a terrible movie.

But where Halo is concerned, I'm more of the mind they don't need to change much, if anything. Anybody who's played the game can tell Bungie went in and created it with a theatrical aspect in the first place. Just don't Judge Dredd it and let us see the MC's face.


That's not a very good example. Sin City worked as a film because the entire concept was a love letter to noir films to begin with. It basically was a film in graphic novel form. I am highly skeptical that it is possible to nail the tone Halo accomplishes. The game neither deteriorates into a B-movie nor does it take itself too seriously (the Grunts and their humor). I see this tone as one that would be hard to capture in a live action film. Plus the thing that makes Halo endearing is that the gameplay narrative holds these things together. You enjoy the story cutscenes and the environment because the gameplay has made you invested in it. It's not a good enough concept to stand on its own, sans gameplay, I'm afraid.

[bapenguin]

One thing is for sure...Mary O'Donnell better be doing the music!

[SexualChoc]

It's been in limbo for a year, with no director attached, it appears that this may be the reason. In all honesty, I hope people don't dick about with it too much. Halo could work well as a movie, and Bungie want it to be as faithful to the lore as the fans. I just hope some hollywood idiots don't muscle in and change the target audience completly.

[Xerxes]

I also figured Denzel was meant maybe for Sergeant Johnson as the sidekick and face next the mask. As far as the Rock goes, if was cast, I wouldn't mind if the kept to keeping his armor on. No face. Although a unknown (maybe one of the guys from the predator) in armor, and Steve Downes doing the voice would be better.

[Zanzibar]

Two Words: Sin City.

But in all honest, good examples of change have already been cited, and I don't have anything against some changes to make a movie as a general rule. Starship Troopers is a good example... Awesome book, but a straight translation would have made a terrible movie.
You meant "a MORE terrible movie," right?

I wonder why everyone thinks Denzel is going to act. I saw it somewhere that he was meeting with Jackson about a movie Denzel is going to DIRECT. Couldn't he direct Halo?

EDIT: Here's the AP/Washington Post article (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/06/30/AR2006063000494.html) that has an interview with Denzel about it.

[Steve_Erhardt]

You misread his comment. He said 'Don't Judge Dredd and let us see his face'.

In the Judge Dredd comics, you never see his face, yet in the movie Stallone is helmetless for large portions. So he's saying 'Don't show us his face'.
Thank you, Yama... I guess at a glance what I wrote is a bit confusing, but you got it right. :)

[Feltoar]

Personally, I think Bungie will pull the plug if it its as bad as everyone thinks.

Im not sure why anything needs rewriting, Halo could make a straight conversion. So little was known about Halo 1 that the books did quite a bit in additiona and independantly of the games and didnt step on any toes. It was all calculated too, plenty of stuff in the books which didnt come around until Halo 2. I thought the same was for the movie, why is someone changing stuff? If you need a romance or something add a couple of characters. Just dont comprimise what has already been established.