My Film Idea

[Sayscalled]

Hey guys. Sorry I haven't been around much. Business recently picked up at my day job.

Anyway, I recently had a brainstorm for the inevitable Disney GAH film. A week or so ago I was re-watching the pilot movie, and I got to thinking... What could it hurt to simply re-do the pilot movie as a feature film?

Sure, they'd have to re-cast with younger actors, and slightly tweak the "Gabriel's Army" angle, to make things more Disney-friendly... but I think it would work for the most part. I genuinely think the GAH pilot is possibly the best pilot movie of any TV show. Plus, the ending where Ralph desperately calls out for another instruction book, would be a great end point for a sequel (should they choose to do one).

Here's another thought. Jesse Goins could do a cameo as Bill's pre-suit partner, John. Of course, I don't want to seea new GAH film, but if they insist, this would be the only reasonable option, I think.

[jopierce]

The kid was onto something.

Sure, the original pilot was the way to go. Don't mess with an original. Problem is those high class suits in Hollywood are all into glitter. Nothing but pretty boys, they forget to look for good bone structure... Too much time and cash wasted on the smoke and mirror effects.

Of course, GAH Noir would have very different ideas for a new flick. First, there should be no Disney. The only thing that mouse house should be involved in is hosting a few dozen cats for dinner.

Then give it some kick. Pour some tobasco over it, make the dialogue bite, and bite hard. No bubble gum and candy. No slapstick. Make Ralph's landings make you laugh because the are uncomfortably real, not because they are silly. Go for drama. Go for wit and sarcasm. Make the audience think about it. Make 'em work for the laugh.

That's what GAH Noir would do.

Problem is, too many remakes turn into jokes. They try to appeal to kids and some silly dames. They think family movies should be silly, cause they can't make good and clean dialogue for adults. They go for nostalgia, but they wind up with kitsch...

...And that just stinks...

[/size]

[MelMac]

Totally agree. There are a few TV shows turned into movies haven't worked well. There are a few exceptions ("Maverick") and one movie I know turned into a successful TV Series "M*A*S*H" (though the movie is closer to the book than the series).

Now, I've written a story that's present day (will be posted in the next few days on fanfiction.net), but the problem with any big movie version of a TV series now a days is that they're all sizzle and no steak. "Dukes" just watching the TV promos, I wasn't going to watch. "Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" I think was successful simply because no version (TV, book, audio, movie) is exactly the same save Earth being blown up. That's the way Douglas Adams wrote it. I do, however, think they miscast Ford, as Mos Def didn't have the eccentricity David Dixon (TV Ford) did. (McGivern was good in the role too in the audio).

From what I've seen in the few recent remakes other than "Hitchhiker's," they've seriously changed the premise of the original show. I have this sinking feeling if they did bring it big screen, Ralph would essentially be a wimp and a klutz (as he crashes all the time), and Bill a dummy (as no Republican is apparently smart in this industry. ). Pam would be the one kicking all the butt (and, don't get me wrong, she can and did in the show, I'm referencing all the time). The students would be either too dumb or constantly beating up on Ralph, and the green guys would probably call Ralph out on all his faults.

Basically, they'd make it for kids, sorta like "GAHeroine" felt to me (plus side, worked well for a story I'm tweaking now. ). If they filmed it just like the show, children of all ages would fall in love with the show again. Good grief, I loved it at 2 and now at 27, not many shows hold that honor. Bear in mind, this is just my two cents, as I've also said a reunion movie would be better (and, can be worked around the "GAHeroine" pilot).

[jopierce]

I also think that the other option could be to introduce new characters; sort of like the premise from "Don't mess around with Jim." That the suit goes to different groups at different periods of times. Of course, the jokes/plots would have to be different. But Bill chasing commies wouldn't work anyway unless it was set in the 80s anyway...

Wouldn't be the same, but at least then you may get more people into the original series.

[MelMac]

jopierce said:

I also think that the other option could be to introduce new characters; sort of like the premise from "Don't mess around with Jim." That the suit goes to different groups at different periods of times. Of course, the jokes/plots would have to be different. But Bill chasing commies wouldn't work anyway unless it was set in the 80s anyway...

Well... this story I wrote is a handoff, but it keeps it in the family (but not who you'd think), but it's also the only other way I can see a movie working. Recasting the three is a craps shoot, and with the luck they've had recently, it'd be snake eyes. Bill and commies... well, it'd be tweaked to present day, but even that basis can still work out.

[Ms Boku]

Well most people here know my view of a new movie here but I'll do a brief recap without getting on my soap box...too much. It's not as much the movie I wouldn't mind as it would be the actors. A chemistry like our hero's is hard to find and I feel that they would try to change the characters.
Not all remakes make it and rather than see GAH ruined. even though I'd love to see a remake, I say leave it alone. I wouldn't want to have the original integrity of the show messed with. I mean you have to do it right or not at all. Now IF SJC were to play a major part then I would have faith but if it's going to end up like SW the Phantom Menace, (midi-clorians? pff) and the lack of acting in eps 2-3) I say no!
But SJC-I say yes!

[extreme01]

Hey all!! Just a quick note, check my GAH reunion movie thread(if you haven't already,or even if you have), and check the last page for a new update and info.

Thanks

Ted

[HoudiniDerek]

jopierce said:

The kid was onto something.

Sure, the original pilot was the way to go. Don't mess with an original. Problem is those high class suits in Hollywood are all into glitter. Nothing but pretty boys, they forget to look for good bone structure... Too much time and cash wasted on the smoke and mirror effects.

Of course, GAH Noir would have very different ideas for a new flick. First, there should be no Disney. The only thing that mouse house should be involved in is hosting a few dozen cats for dinner.

Then give it some kick. Pour some tobasco over it, make the dialogue bite, and bite hard. No bubble gum and candy. No slapstick. Make Ralph's landings make you laugh because the are uncomfortably real, not because they are silly. Go for drama. Go for wit and sarcasm. Make the audience think about it. Make 'em work for the laugh.

That's what GAH Noir would do.

Problem is, too many remakes turn into jokes. They try to appeal to kids and some silly dames. They think family movies should be silly, cause they can't make good and clean dialogue for adults. They go for nostalgia, but they wind up with kitsch...

...And that just stinks...

[/size][/quote]

I don't know if I saw this or did see it and just ignored it the first time through.

I like sayscalled idea about just redoing it and slightly tweaking it because it had the drama and comedy to make it work. I like some of your ideas too, Josie, but I don't agree with most. After all, you are talking about changing the original premise of the show and that is one reason movies like the A-TEAM have been so long in coming out. People remember the original premise, especially with the DVD sets out, and they don't want something highly dramatic. They like the cheese...just like you do...and I think it would be best to leave it that way. Maybe have some serious scenes as GAH did, but not an overall drama.

[jopierce]

Actually, perhaps you miss my point. Giving it bite means not having it turn into something silly. It can be fun but not silly.

And I disagree with you, HD. I think what I say stays more within the premise of the show - since I am more concerned with a movie addressing the big question - "what would happen if you got the suit. How would it affect your life."

The producers most likely would see the premise of the show as "Silly Superhero Guy." or "The superhero who can't fly."

Don't get me wrong. I like cheese and kitsch. But Disney for the most part doesn't know how to do it well. Cheese and kitsch can't be created on purpose. It is or it isn't. Disney - and most other studios - would turn it into something awful like "I, Spy," the live Scooby Doo films, the live action Flintstone films, etc....

Now when I say go with Drama, I don't mean make it completely without comedy or action. I don't mean have it done in black and white and filmed on the streets of Toronto in November. I am thinking more of the feel of Indiana Jones (for the movie example) or The Hit Car. There is a lot of humor, and a whole lot of action, in those episodes, but they aren't inherently cheesy. We may see them as such now, because we tend to be fixated on things like special effects in a techno world. But they weren't cheesy.

You can have "Ralph flying badly" scenes be funny without them being cheesy. You'd laugh because he keeps saying Damn or keeps losing his clothes, not because you see a wire holding him up. I could see Disney saying "Let's show them the wires! It would be funny!!"

The GAH pilot actually isn't really cheesy at all, in and of itself (except for the special effects which were cheesy because of the technology of the time and the budget).

I think if they redid the pilot (which is a great idea) and just kept the humor in the lines, the interaction between characters, it would be fine. But I can imagine Hollywood thinking that it would be fun to cheese up the flying scenes since that's how they'd see the series - for the cheese and not any of the other components.

[MelMac]

There had only been one Disney produced (though it's an affilate company) movie that was similar to its predecessors: "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy." This case, it worked only because none of the books, audio or TV series matches to begin with (which is what Adams did to begin with). The premise: Earth getting destroyed to make way for a hyperspace bypass and Arthur being rescued by Ford from that fate, is the only main concept that's the same throughout. Well... there are other bits and pieces, but the start remained relatively untouched.

There were some changes, but overall it was all right. I liked who was cast as Trillian, I didn't like Ford one bit (not beliveable in the role here.) I also liked the first Flintstones, but not the second one.

Now, back OT. If they did a movie, I agree with Jo, they'd need to go along the lines of humor in the "Indiana Jones" series, which is probably the closest to the humor in GAH. More I think about it, I could see Ralph and Bill in the third one... except Ralph'd have the suit and such so he'd probably be OK as far as some of the three test traps. The only big difference... keep it in LA as far as a GAH one.

[HoudiniDerek]

jopierce said:

Actually, perhaps you miss my point. Giving it bite means not having it turn into something silly. It can be fun but not silly.

And I disagree with you, HD. I think what I say stays more within the premise of the show - since I am more concerned with a movie addressing the big question - "what would happen if you got the suit. How would it affect your life."

The producers most likely would see the premise of the show as "Silly Superhero Guy." or "The superhero who can't fly."

Don't get me wrong. I like cheese and kitsch. But Disney for the most part doesn't know how to do it well. Cheese and kitsch can't be created on purpose. It is or it isn't. Disney - and most other studios - would turn it into something awful like "I, Spy," the live Scooby Doo films, the live action Flintstone films, etc....

Now when I say go with Drama, I don't mean make it completely without comedy or action. I don't mean have it done in black and white and filmed on the streets of Toronto in November. I am thinking more of the feel of Indiana Jones (for the movie example) or The Hit Car. There is a lot of humor, and a whole lot of action, in those episodes, but they aren't inherently cheesy. We may see them as such now, because we tend to be fixated on things like special effects in a techno world. But they weren't cheesy.

You can have "Ralph flying badly" scenes be funny without them being cheesy. You'd laugh because he keeps saying Damn or keeps losing his clothes, not because you see a wire holding him up. I could see Disney saying "Let's show them the wires! It would be funny!!"

The GAH pilot actually isn't really cheesy at all, in and of itself (except for the special effects which were cheesy because of the technology of the time and the budget).

I think if they redid the pilot (which is a great idea) and just kept the humor in the lines, the interaction between characters, it would be fine. But I can imagine Hollywood thinking that it would be fun to cheese up the flying scenes since that's how they'd see the series - for the cheese and not any of the other components.

That makes more sense after you explained it and I can agree...especially with keeping it similar to THE HIT CAR. I think that episode showed the drama and comedy aspects well without being overly done like the cartoon sounds in TRAIN OF THOUGHT when Ralph is beating up bad guys or the strained ninja scene in THIRTY SECONDS.

The problem won't be the cheese factor being forced like in SCOOBY-DOO...or even getting Disney to see that the original idea worked best. It will be getting leads that understand the original premise of the show and can have that chemistry to deliver. {Of course, ALL of this is contingent upon getting a script that stays true to the original show...and that is what I liked about says's idea...it is just the old show updated}.