View Full Version : Solomon Kane
I just saw the trailer for the upcoming Solomon Kane adaptation, and by God it looks just about perfect.
http://img209.imageshack.us/img209/5633/solomonkaneposter.jpg
Solomon Kane (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lalm_kkczVM&feature=rec-HM-r2)
James Purefoy who played a wicked Marc Anthony on HBO’s Rome stars as Robert Howard’s Puritan adventurer.
Lot’s of demons and monsters, great special effects and a really interesting choice of leading man makes this one look like a must see.
I just saw the trailer for the upcoming Solomon Kane adaptation, and by God it looks just about perfect.
http://img209.imageshack.us/img209/5633/solomonkaneposter.jpg
Solomon Kane (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lalm_kkczVM&feature=rec-HM-r2)
James Purefoy who played a wicked Marc Anthony on HBO’s Rome stars as Robert Howard’s Puritan adventurer.
Lot’s of demons and monsters, great special effects and a really interesting choice of leading man makes this one look like a must see.I'm hopeful this might be pretty good. Purefoy really was exceptional as Marc Antony in Rome, and it looks like they're taking the Kane character seriously, unlike whoever was responsible for that god-awful piece of shit that was the Kull movie. I'm not sure they needed to add this whole redemption angle to the story, and I thought there were one too many explosions in that preview, but so far I still think this has a chance to be the best REH movie yet.
Infernorhythm
10-12-2009, 02:34 PM
The trailer blew me away, I cannot wait to see this. Purefoy is amazing (in both Rome, and in the Doctor Who audio where he played Vlad Tepes). I really hope this can get the huge release it deserves.
Tobias March
10-12-2009, 03:10 PM
Very interesting visual style, respectful of source material, decent lead - I'm sold.
Wasn't Purefoy originally cast as V, or am I thinking of someone else?
Greg Hatcher
10-12-2009, 04:18 PM
Holy cow! He actually got it made? Last I remember hearing about this was some kind of blue-sky preview storyboard thing, very early in development.
Jared
10-12-2009, 06:10 PM
I'm not familiar with the source material at all. My impression of the trailer is
Imagine if Van Helsing Didn't Suck.
Greg Hatcher
10-12-2009, 06:41 PM
Source material.... (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solomon_Kane)
http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/images/n4/n21785.jpg
Originally a pulp series character from Robert E. Howard, Kane was a predecessor of Conan. Marvel did quite a number of cool adaptations and pastiches throughout the 70's and 80's, recently collected in trade from Dark Horse.
http://livingbetweenwednesdays.com/wp-content/uploads/image/Covers/Dark%20Horse/saga%20of%20solomon%20kane.jpg
All very much recommended.
Pól Rua
10-12-2009, 07:00 PM
I'm really looking forward to this.
I've always liked Kane, and I really hope this film does the character justice.
Blueferret
10-12-2009, 08:02 PM
Aint-it-cool has been slobbering over this one for a while. They've been giving it great reviews. It does look very cool, plus Purefoy is a total badass.
Holy cow! He actually got it made? Last I remember hearing about this was some kind of blue-sky preview storyboard thing, very early in development.
I didn't even know it was in the works, so seeing the trailer up caught me totally by surprise.
It really looks like they are trying for a pretty accurate version of the character. Granted he doesn't seem quite as dour as I'd like him, but it still looks great.
Vidocq
10-12-2009, 11:41 PM
I always loved Solomon Kane more than Conan. Never Understood the why he didn´t get the adaptations.Sure it got Van Helsing, but the less we talk about that the better. I'm just glad I'll finally see the Kane on the big screen. It was about Damn time.
But already there are many Youtube Comments on how this is a total Ripoff of Van Helsing, Vampire Hunter D or The Witch Hunter from WarHammer (Whatever the Hell that is). And One even said that style is old, and that they should have made him look more like a Ninja.
The TLCNR Crowd. Never seizes to amaze me.
Pól Rua
10-13-2009, 02:10 AM
The TLCNR Crowd. Never seizes to amaze me.
TLCNR?
Is that short for ignorant dickhead?
Greg Hatcher
10-13-2009, 08:40 AM
TLCNR?
Is that short for ignorant dickhead?
If it isn't, it should be. It's right in the trailer that it's from the same writer as Conan. Even if people assume that Conan was created as a movie series for Arnold, that was still almost thirty years ago.
Tobias March
10-13-2009, 05:02 PM
Holy cow! He actually got it made? Last I remember hearing about this was some kind of blue-sky preview storyboard thing, very early in development.
I was reading about the director today, sounds like an interesting guy.
Always was curious about Wilderness.
If it isn't, it should be. It's right in the trailer that it's from the same writer as Conan. Even if people assume that Conan was created as a movie series for Arnold, that was still almost thirty years ago.I'm not all that high on the Conan movies. They were fun for what they were, but not really very satisfying as attempts to capture the atmosphere of the REH-Hyborian world. I don't even think Schwarzenegger did all that good a job in the role of Conan. Way too stiff. Which is why they made the second movie a comedy, I suppose.
Greg Hatcher
10-13-2009, 07:02 PM
I loathe the Conan movies. I'm still waiting for the real Conan movie... though there are glimmers of a Conan the Conqueror adaptation in both The Sword and the Sorcerer and in Kull the Conqueror.
http://www.moviegoods.com/Assets/product_images/1020/214354.1020.A.jpg
I actually kind of like both of those despite an amazingly stupid bit in the very end of Sword that takes you right out of the movie with its sheer imbecility (Talon takes out half the evil Cromwell's palace guard as well as Cromwell himself and an evil immortal wizard, and does this all with nail holes in his hands from tearing himself down from his own crucifixion.) And there are lots of fun things about Kull as well.
But really, the good Conan movie has yet to be made. The mistake was in casting-- everyone was obsessed with getting a guy they thought looked like the Frazetta paintings. Which is how we ended up with Ah-nuld. No, no, no. Cast a guy who can act and bulk him up. That's what they did with Christopher Reeve in Superman and people still talk about what a coup that was.
...my two cents. Not that anyone ever asks me.
Anyway, Kane. Hope it's good.
Pól Rua
10-13-2009, 08:50 PM
I'm with you there.
The problem with Schwarzeneggar is that he's a body-builder. His muscles are there for aesthetics, not for effect. He'd be so bound-up he'd be unable to move, and Conan, besides being very strong, was also a pretty capable mover when he had to be.
He was also pretty smart, with a mixture of 'shithouse rat' cunning and an almost superhuman capacity to pick up general information and languages on his travels.
And a guy with a thick accent who's being fed his lines phonetically just doesn't carry that off.
I'm with you there.
The problem with Schwarzeneggar is that he's a body-builder. His muscles are there for aesthetics, not for effect. He'd be so bound-up he'd be unable to move, and Conan, besides being very strong, was also a pretty capable mover when he had to be.
He was also pretty smart, with a mixture of 'shithouse rat' cunning and an almost superhuman capacity to pick up general information and languages on his travels.
And a guy with a thick accent who's being fed his lines phonetically just doesn't carry that off.Exactly. The body-builder physique is a problem with a lot of superhero comics as well.
Greg, I can't go along with you on the Kull movie: I found Sorbo was the worst possible choice for the role of Kull, and the excellent Tia Carrere was wasted in a terrible film. Sword and the Sorcerer I remember as a fun, unpretentious flick that I enjoyed at the time.
But yeah, Solomon Kane looks good so far. Kane's obviously a much different character from Rome's Marc Antony, so it isn't a given that Purfoy'll be able to pull this off, but I think he's enough of an actor to do it. And as already mentioned by several people in the thread, the most encouraging sign so far is that the film-makers seem to be taking the source material seriously, unlike earlier films based on REH characters.
Pól Rua
10-14-2009, 06:23 PM
I am a little disappointed that the film-makers have made some unnecessary changes. I mean, I expect it, but what's the deal with Hollywood where they'll take a property that's a story. It's proven successful as a story, but what it REALLY needs is some guy in a suit with a marketing degree to 'fix' it?
That said, I'm not gonna chuck a hissyfit because there's every likelihood that this could be a great, fun movie.
cernunnos
10-15-2009, 03:19 PM
Very interesting visual style, respectful of source material, decent lead - I'm sold.
Wasn't Purefoy originally cast as V, or am I thinking of someone else?
You're right. James Purefoy was originally cast as V in V For Vendetta.
Mike Pothier
10-16-2009, 01:17 PM
Not at all familiar with the Solomon Kane source material, but the trailer looks fantastic, so I'm looking forward to it. It looks like Van Helsing done right.
Roquefort Raider
10-16-2009, 01:47 PM
The movie has been discussed on the Conan.com board for a long time, now, and although I'm not convinced the changes made were necessary (nor even appropriate), the people in charge defended their decisions in a very sensible way. The good thing is that Michael Bassett clearly does care about the source material. That'll be a blessed relief after the mess that were the Conan films and the Kull farce.
Solomon Kane had a hard time finding a distributor, though, and I don't even know if it has found one now! That's annoying, considering that this looks much better than a lot of stuff that does make it to the big screen.
The movie has been discussed on the Conan.com board for a long time, now, and although I'm not convinced the changes made were necessary (nor even appropriate), the people in charge defended their decisions in a very sensible way. The good thing is that Michael Bassett clearly does care about the source material. That'll be a blessed relief after the mess that were the Conan films and the Kull farce.
Solomon Kane had a hard time finding a distributor, though, and I don't even know if it has found one now! That's annoying, considering that this looks much better than a lot of stuff that does make it to the big screen.Agree that from what I've read about the changes they were probably inadvisable, but yeah, still would like to see this movie.
I'd forgotten all about the REH boards - thanks for the reminder.
Roquefort Raider
10-19-2009, 07:42 AM
Agree that from what I've read about the changes they were probably inadvisable, but yeah, still would like to see this movie.
I'd forgotten all about the REH boards - thanks for the reminder.
They're a good source of info for all things REH-related, particularly because they're frequented by many members of REHUPA and other semi-pro circles.
Unfortunately, regarding the Solomon Kane movie, early reviews describe it as a pretty formulaic fantasy film. Good guy bent on redeeming his soul fights evil would-be emperor and his pet wizard, with CGI monsters thrown in. I suspect lots of teeth gnashing will be involved.
I still look forward to seeing it, but regret that the PTB didn't opt for sticking to one of the published stories as the basis for the film. A mix between "swords of the red brotherhood", "hills of the dead" and "moon of skulls" would have been pretty cool.
Jared
10-19-2009, 07:33 PM
I am annoyed by all the hating on the Conan movies. The first one is an awesome film, damnit! The second...not so much.
Pól Rua
10-19-2009, 07:45 PM
Unfortunately, regarding the Solomon Kane movie, early reviews describe it as a pretty formulaic fantasy film. Good guy bent on redeeming his soul fights evil would-be emperor and his pet wizard, with CGI monsters thrown in. I suspect lots of teeth gnashing will be involved.
We'll always have 'Brotherhood of the Wolf'...
I am annoyed by all the hating on the Conan movies. The first one is an awesome film, damnit! The second...not so much.
They are fun movies. They're just not terribly accurate Conan movies.
Just like Basil Rathbone vs Nazis is great fun movies, but not really great Sherlock Holmes movies.
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