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Author Topic: The "Make a Star Control Movie" petition  (Read 15392 times)
Nic.
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The "Make a Star Control Movie" petition
« on: February 05, 2003, 10:03:11 am »

More forum fodder for y'all:

I heard a rumour long ago about a petition floating around to try and convince a movie studio to make a movie based on the Star Control universe.  While that is likely never going to happen, it does get me thinking:
  • If you had the opportunity to write the screenplay, what would the movie be about?  Is there "too much story" to fit into one movie?
  • More to the point, do you think there is any "must-see" plot point from the games that would have to be in the movie at all costs, or similarly any "must-not-see" plot point that should be excised from the hypothetical movie?  Why?
  • Would mainstream sci-fi audiences bred on transporters and death stars be able to "accept" a sci-fi story where humans are not only NOT in charge, but are penultimate in the pecking order, superior only to a bunch of suicidal raccoons?
  • I would hold that the ships as presented in the game would have to go, in lieu of big, diverse fleets of alien ships.  SC3's 3-D combat mode showed that the Dreadnought just isn't very intimidating-looking when you add volume, and it should be.  Thoughts?
  • CGI or animatronics for the aliens?
« Last Edit: February 05, 2003, 10:05:05 am by Nic. » Logged
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Re: The "Make a Star Control Movie" petition
« Reply #1 on: February 05, 2003, 12:50:39 pm »

I think a Star Control based movie would have to be a cartoon, something within the "Titan AE" or "Treasure Planet" style...

Real actors with CGI scenes just wouldn't work, and it would be very dificult to make it true to the Star Control spirit (humor).

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Re: The "Make a Star Control Movie" petition
« Reply #2 on: February 05, 2003, 02:13:28 pm »

Or maybe computer animated? I didn't like the Final Fantasy movie very much, but if you used that kind of style for ships and such (or B5 whatever seems appropriate). Then you could have creautres animated more like the wackos in Shrek. Especially the Traddash would lend themselves to that kind of animation I think Smiley

The plot part I really consider must see is the one where you *ally* with the Syreen : )

Seriously though, I think regular scifi fans would enjoy watching it as well, it'd be a nice break from the long live the humans stuff....
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Re: The "Make a Star Control Movie" petition
« Reply #3 on: February 05, 2003, 08:19:37 pm »

Wow, the site is still around on geocities....

http://www.geocities.com/TimesSquare/Lair/3656/
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Re: The "Make a Star Control Movie" petition
« Reply #4 on: February 05, 2003, 09:28:14 pm »

What about XR?  Isn't that taking care of it?

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Re: The "Make a Star Control Movie" petition
« Reply #5 on: February 06, 2003, 01:27:02 am »

With all due respect to the XR project, absolutely not.

Unless you think the ideal "Star Control" film would be a bunch of POVRay movies of ships from the game fighting.  While I like a good space-battle as much as the next guy, I think the quality of the fiction in the "Star Control Universe" is what could make a good movie, including the ships from the game outright would make it cheesy/campy/lame (exception:  the Mycon Podship.  A sky full of those would be about as cool as a forest full of Ents walking down and kicking ass)

Thanks to season #4 of "Babylon 5", when I imagine the concept of a "planetary siege unit" the image that comes to mind is anything but an Ur-Quan Dreadnought.  But thanks to "Star Control", when I think of super-badass space villains, I always think of the Ur-Quan.  I think there's something to that.

And besides, just because someone is supposedly making a "movie" doesn't mean we can't talk about making a movie.  There's room for both.  Smiley
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Re: The "Make a Star Control Movie" petition
« Reply #6 on: February 06, 2003, 01:52:11 am »

Wow, I remember that page!  It's sooo old!  Hehe.  That's really cool that it's still up.

I think if there was a movie made, most of it (at least space battles) would be done in CGI...  I think the format would have to differ from the story of Star Control II or any of the games in the series, since a motion picture is obviously a different medium with different strengths...  and I think the only way for any of it to work would be a in a computer-animated, Final Fantasy movie graphics project.  Or else the aliens would just look lame.  The other option would be puppetry, a la SC3.  And while the Star Control series wouldn't make the greatest film, I could see some of the epic parts of the series definately translated into a cool sci fi flick.
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Re: The "Make a Star Control Movie" petition
« Reply #7 on: February 06, 2003, 02:00:04 am »

I've always supported good sci-fi/fantasy movies!
When I read The Hobbit I always wondered why don't they make any movies with dragons and magicians etc. And in the case of Star-Control it was just the same!

I think that the Hollywood today produces quality movies unlike ever before. I am very pleased with LOTR and it's length (2.5 hours minimum). So my thoughts are - make a real movie with real actors (Hey, they picked the perfect actor for Spiderman) and create the starships using the Star-Trek method (real miniature models) rather than the not-so-realistic (well, it's not) B5 method.

Resident Evil was another good title.
In other words, I'm sure the only problem is no producer has even heard of Star Control II, and it could be a top-rated movie. I only hope that if and when someone makes a film out of it, efforts won't be spared and the movie's length would be at least 2.5+ hours ( Wink ).. It should stand to the standards of LOTR..

(yes so I love that movie! don't most of us?  Roll Eyes)


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Re: The "Make a Star Control Movie" petition
« Reply #8 on: February 06, 2003, 10:00:07 pm »

Actually, I think the ships from Star Control would look very cool in a movie, maybe with some modifications.  What's wrong with the Ur-Quan dreadnaught?

I actually think rather than a big screen movie it would work better as a mini-series.  A half dozen two hour episodes should give enough time to cover the salient points in the story.  

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Re: The "Make a Star Control Movie" petition
« Reply #9 on: February 07, 2003, 03:29:33 am »

The biggest problem with an SC movie would be copyright issues; not with accolade/infogames, they can be bought-off easily since they're just one company.  All the makers of the movies and television shows that the SC ships are based off of will want their cuts, though, and some may just not want anyone to use their material.

I would love to see an SC movie though.  

Start with a Chenjesu communicating with a Mmrnmhrm about the different Hierarchy races being subjugated (The Communications are all translated into text for our benefit, and to allow other sounds to pervade the scene): An image of Umgah drones getting blasted - through their cones - by fusion bolts, switch scenes to a picture of an ilwrath city getting destroyed.

*The Umgah and the Ilwrath have been subjugated*
*We succeded in turning the Enemy aside from us, but even now, the Spathi are surrendering.*

Here the Spathi Surrendering ceremony could be performed.
10001111000111 WHAT OF EARTH? 000111101
*Although the Ur-Quan seem to attack the weak first, we do not believe they would benefit from attacking Earth right now.  We must first warn the Yehat and their Shofixti.*
Fade out.
Fade in to a little 5 minute history blurb about the Small War, the dismantling of the nukes, the creation and escape of the Androsynth and the creation of Star Control, then fastforward 30 years and Cue the Giant Chenjesu Broodhome:

People from Earth:  We are the Chenjesu.  We mean you no harm.  
We come in peace with an urgent message.  Heed
these words:  there is a horde of conquering warriors
advancing toward your solar system from deep space...


Then let the Stories of the Great Crucible of Sentience be told, complete with battle scenes and Captain Rand's insult.
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Re: The "Make a Star Control Movie" petition
« Reply #10 on: February 07, 2003, 03:46:02 am »

How about a trilogy? Tongue

I mean, Dune (3-parts mini series) was great, but LOTR had so much more quality!

And the problem with the Kzer-Za's vessel is that whoever tried making it in 3D didn't make it fierce enough

It looks a bit weird in 3D
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Who do you take us for, Captain... Spathi!?"
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Re: The "Make a Star Control Movie" petition
« Reply #11 on: February 07, 2003, 04:00:26 am »

The problem with telling the story of the original Alliance of Free Stars is that they get their asses kicked, and people in general do not like paying $9 USD to watch the "good guys" lose.  Smiley

Although watching huge starships annihilate ancient landmarks and turn the sky red would be quite cool.

Also, aliens storming the ship and engaging in hand-to-hand combat is a staple of most "mainstream" sci-fi.  Would you be for or against such a scene in a Star Control movie?  Why?
« Last Edit: February 07, 2003, 04:04:15 am by Nic. » Logged
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Re: The "Make a Star Control Movie" petition
« Reply #12 on: February 07, 2003, 04:09:49 am »

What's good about the Star Control story is that it has a reason for this "one person saves the universe"

because all Earthlings are encased inside Earth.. So you're the only one left Tongue
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Re: The "Make a Star Control Movie" petition
« Reply #13 on: February 07, 2003, 03:07:57 pm »

In regards to aliens storming a ship.. that's the Orz job isn't it? There could eb some serioulsy cool scenes watching the Orz invade. Aldo, maybe they could teach other races their marine skills? the shofixti would probably make good marine fighters
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Re: The "Make a Star Control Movie" petition
« Reply #14 on: February 07, 2003, 04:22:05 pm »

Haha , talking about the Shofixti - did you ever think how is it possible for few Orz marines to get into the scout? too small Tongue
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"You boldly enter our space! Approach this Dreadnought as though it were a recreation base and then play the dumb hominid?
Who do you take us for, Captain... Spathi!?"
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