Why Dirk Pitt is Exhibit A on Why Hollywood sucks

[Guest TheZsaszHorsemen]

Dirk Pitt.

 

Never heard of him?

 

He's the star of (I think, but don't quote me) 18 adventure novels by a man named Clive Cussler. He works for a US Goverment agency called NUMA (National Underwater and Marine Agency). Basically the guy goes to exotic nautical locales, foils complex evil schemes, and there's a lot of adventure and fun to be had. The books are more Indiana Jones then James Bond - there's nearly no sex or graphic violence, they play like film serials from the 1940's. You won't confuse the prose with F. Scott Fitzgerald anytime soon, but hey, who am I to talk?

 

What is this all leading to? Well, since Raise the Titantic! became a HUGE bestseller in in the 70's, Cussler's been trying to get his books turned into movies. After one disaster in 1980, it finally seemed like Cussler was getting on track in 2002. The films were going to be produced by Crusader Pictures, directed by Rob Bowman (The X-Files: Fight the Future) and star Matthew McCoughnhey (sp?) as Dirk Pitt. It all looks fine and dandy, and then... all hell breaks loose.

 

Rob Bowman quits last year because he and Crusader have reached a "creative impasse", now Cussler is SUING THE PRODUCTION COMPANY THAT'S MAKING HIS OWN DAMN MOVIE because of unauthorized script changes.

 

The reason I post this is twofold:

 

1. The Dirk Pitt books are REALLY F'N SWEET, and the early ones are really light reading so I recommend any and all of you humanoids give them a shot.

 

2. This movie done right is the genesis for a franchise that doesn't even come around once in a lifetime. There's 18 more successful stories where this came from; this is james bond esque money we're talking about here.... and they can't seem to NOT fuck it up.

 

I hate Hollywood.

[kkktookmybabyaway 0]

1. The Dirk Pitt books are REALLY F'N SWEET, and the early ones are really light reading so I recommend any and all of you humanoids give them a shot.

 

Pft, yeah right. Like I'm going to read some hippy book...

[Guest TheZsaszHorsemen]

1. The Dirk Pitt books are REALLY F'N SWEET, and the early ones are really light reading so I recommend any and all of you humanoids give them a shot.

 

Pft, yeah right. Like I'm going to read some hippy book...

Actually they have nothing to do with hippieness. If anything, they're right up your political bent. The one I'm reading now FLOOD TIDE is about trying to stop the unchecked flow of illegal immigration, evil Chinese shipping magnates, a mass grave in Oregon, AND giant battles between good and evil commando units.

 

It's like a 60's Bond movie, with a plot that centers around water.

[kkktookmybabyaway 0]

Actually they have nothing to do with hippieness.

 

I use "hippy" when I need a derogatory, yet playful, adjective...

[Guest TheZsaszHorsemen]

Actually they have nothing to do with hippieness.

 

I use "hippy" when I need a derogatory, yet playful, adjective...

Sorry 'bout that.

[Corey_Lazarus 0]

Funny, because I use "cunt" in the same way that kkk uses "hippie."

[Guest TheZsaszHorsemen]

I hate my thread.

[kkktookmybabyaway 0]

OK, back on topic.

 

You actually think Hollywood will produce movies that reflects viewpoints like the unchecked flow of illegal immigration?

 

Do you know what the changes in the script were?...

[Guest TheZsaszHorsemen]

OK, back on topic.

 

You actually think Hollywood will produce movies that reflects viewpoints like the unchecked flow of illegal immigration?

 

Do you know what the changes in the script were?...

Hollywood will accept any subtext if there are enough explosions.

 

Oh and I'm pretty sure that they got s cript to Cussler, got it approved, and then made changes after that point without his consent. I'd assume they're just the normal trials and tribulations of converting a 500 page novel into a 2 hour film.

[kkktookmybabyaway 0]

How was the movie-to-book transition of Raise the Titanic? What were the main problems...

[Conspiracy_Victim 0]

Man I used to LOVE reading the Pitt novels. The only one I never really cared for was The Mediterranean Caper, I don't know why.

 

Anyway, I remember the rumors about the NUMA series becoming movies with McConaughey and was stoked. The books actually seem like a pretty easy conversion to movies, because they all seem to follow the same formula. Pitt and his sidekick (Al Giordino) accidentally get involved in an altercation, it leads to uncovering a huge coverup/conspiracy, they get put in some impossible situation, Pitt goes McGuyver to find a solution and escape, huge shootout at the end, good guys win and Pitt gets the girl.

 

I'm still hoping they get the movies made, I'm looking forward to seeing what they can do with books like Sahara, Treasure, and Dragon.

[Guest El Satanico]

That's a very Hollywood friendly formula. I can't imagine why they would have troubles with making it into a movie.

[Conspiracy_Victim 0]

Actually I just looked up info about this on IMDB, and found some things. Yes I know IMDB isn't always the most trustworthy source, but it does seem pretty good.

 

Anyway, they only have a couple of cast members listed for the Dirk Pitt movie, which will indeed be Sahara. Not a whole lot of trouble with Matthew as Dirk and Penelope Cruz as Eva Rojas. However, they list Steve Zahn as Al Giordino. Excuse me, but STEVE ZAHN? The wacky guy from Friends, That Thing you Do, Saving Silverman, and National Security? I'm sorry but he doesn't exactly fit the book description of Al which is mainly a short, stocky (former nose guard at Air Force) swarthy guy.

[Swift Terror 0]

I'm also a fan of the books. The movie Raise the Titantic was shoddy filmmaking at best and completely missed the mark as far as what the Cussler novels are. I would love to see quality movies made from the books--they are right up Hollywoods alley, despite their slight lean to the right, politically (they don't deal with politics much IMO).

 

BWT, I'm suspicious that Cussler is still actually writing the novels. There is a distinct difference between his earlier novels and recent ones. I think it is quite glaring. Perhaps he is cranking them so fast the the quality suffers.

 

P.S. James Bond was actually featured in one of his novels from the early 80s. It wasn't one of his best, but it was interesting.

[Guest TheZsaszHorsemen]

I'm also a fan of the books. The movie Raise the Titantic was shoddy filmmaking at best and completely missed the mark as far as what the Cussler novels are. I would love to see quality movies made from the books--they are right up Hollywoods alley, despite their slight lean to the right, politically (they don't deal with politics much IMO).

 

BWT, I'm suspicious that Cussler is still actually writing the novels. There is a distinct difference between his earlier novels and recent ones. I think it is quite glaring. Perhaps he is cranking them so fast the the quality suffers.

 

P.S. James Bond was actually featured in one of his novels from the early 80s. It wasn't one of his best, but it was interesting.

Yeah the character based on Bond in Night Probe is awesome.