Sep 24 2008'Moby Dick' is the New Definition of 'Hollywood-ize'
Moby-Dick is generally considered one of the greatest novels ever written and has endured as a masterpiece even over a century-and-a-half after its publication. That being said, it has its flaws: the first-person perspective really limits the amount of digressive scenes of whale carnage, where we abandon the narrative and just hear about how this asshole whale is really busting some shit up. And Ahab, for all the ways his obsessiveness fit the story, always seemed a bit unlikable. Why not more of a suave, George Clooney type?
The writers of The Olsen Twins' New York Minute and the director of Wanted are about to fix all that! But just to warn you who are faint of heart, this is NOT your grandfather's Moby-Dick! (They actually say that):
[Writers Adam Cooper and Bill Collage] revere Melville’s original text, but their graphic novel-style version will change the structure. Gone is the first-person narration by the young seaman Ishmael, who observes how Ahab’s obsession with killing the great white whale overwhelms his good judgment as captain.This change will allow them to depict the whale’s decimation of other ships prior to its encounter with Ahab’s Pequod, and Ahab will be depicted more as a charismatic leader than a brooding obsessive.
"Our vision isn’t your grandfather’s ‘Moby Dick,’ " Cooper said. "This is an opportunity to take a timeless classic and capitalize on the advances in visual effects to tell what at its core is an action-adventure revenge story."
Yeah, I always thought Melville was trying to tell more of a kick-ass action-adventure story; he just didn't have access to enough computer effects to write that at the time. You always got the sense that, given the budget, he would have written the whale as like a Terminator character, but also a whale. It's good that vision will finally be realized.
Also: "graphic novel" is not a film style. Unless they mean in the style of a Marmaduke collection, where Marmaduke is a whale.
Bekmambetov to direct 'Moby Dick' [Variety]
Reader Comments
1. Jayfournines - September 24, 2008 11:20 AM
why!? what the fuck is wrong with my grandfather's Moby Dick?! It's not like Hollywood can make it any better...especially with the director of Wanted attached to it
fuck
Moby should destroy them with his jingle powers
www.cafepress.com/angryrobotwear
2. CMYK_Josh - September 24, 2008 11:42 AM
I got your Moby-Dick right here.
Of Mice and Men would also make a kick-ass action movie, too. It could be like a buddy road pic where the brothers just tear the shit out of monster bunny rabbits. It should star Will Smith as the smart brother and Colin Ferrel as his intellectually challenged sibling. CGI monster bunnies by ILM. Watch for it Summer 2010!
3. Daniel - September 24, 2008 12:19 PM
Wow, they are getting really desperate now...
4. Elle Driver - September 24, 2008 12:23 PM
Hey, it's the judge from Harvey Birdman!
(I've always wondered which Hanna-Barbara show he came from.)
5. Starchasm - September 24, 2008 12:27 PM
Oooh, I see. The only problem with Moby Dick is the central THEME. Well then hell yeah, lets get rid of that pesky metaphor and make the kick-ass awesome action-adventure movie that Melville surely would have envisioned if he'd had the technology to, you know, think up and write an action-adventure novel.
From now on, when someone says something is someone's "white whale" lets make sure they think of a badass avenging nemesis from the churning depths, not a boring old obsession that peels away at your inner humanity leaving you nothing but a broken husk that lives only for revenge.
'Cause that's boring.
6. momboelitist - September 24, 2008 12:46 PM
I actually love how Hollywood takes the classics and turns them into golden
shitcicles. What a country!
I think quality jumped the shark long ago my little jiggawads.
7. thanks for asking - September 24, 2008 1:07 PM
Man, that book was terrible... just because some looney thought that he should write a weird ass story and /not/ edit out all the extra bs doesn't mean it should be the greatest fucking book *ever*
8. TetraShiva - September 24, 2008 1:31 PM
This actually makes my brain hurt.
I've never actually bothered to say these words before for a lack of real conviction, but...
THERE IS SOMETHING FUCKING WRONG WITH HOLLYWOOD!
9. Dan - September 24, 2008 2:54 PM
Jesus Wept!
There are books that hollywood fucks with and you move on but THIS?? There has to some sort of cultural law which prohibits a dumbing down retard level landmarks like this.
10. Bobeyo - September 24, 2008 3:28 PM
Is it just me, or did the quoted individual basically admit all of Hollywood's usual failings when it comes to interpreting great literature?
11. B - September 24, 2008 3:53 PM
Elle - it's the Mighty Mightor...
Hollywood is just getting ridiculous anymore. See Spot Run will soon be an action-packed adventure in which Spot thwarts a drug lords plans to dominate the world. Run. Spot. Run.
12. Rob - September 24, 2008 7:59 PM
As long as Moby Dick can "bend" bullets or whatever, I'm in. I kinda hope Jet Li gets cast as Ahab.
13. eurotrashgalore - September 25, 2008 5:11 AM
wtf : "Moby-Dick is generally considered one of the greatest novels ever written and has endured as a masterpiece even over a century-and-a-half after its publication" ?? Uhm no-one outside the US knows this stupid story, every single Spiderman comic is 10000 times better than this piece of crap
14. Amy - September 26, 2008 10:30 AM
There are no words to describe how stupid every single person involved in that article is. It reads like an Onion article.
15. seashells - September 29, 2008 4:38 AM
I agree, it should be half Mightor, half Moby Dick. Now _that's_ graphic.
16. Dan - October 14, 2008 12:48 AM
How is it, sir? How do you consistently concoct these hilarious witticisms? It positively confounds me. The Marmaduke thing... I was shitting myself. I want to go to bed so bad, but I can't because I know if I keep reading, I'll find more quotes of yours to treasure forever. Also, my bed is full of shit now.