Forum adverts like this one are shown to any user who is not logged in. Join us by filling out a tiny 3 field form and you will get your own, free, dakka user account which gives a good range of benefits to you: No adverts like this in the forums anymore. Times and dates in your local timezone. Full tracking of what you have read so you can skip to your first unread post, easily see what has changed since you last logged in, and easily see what is new at a glance. Email notifications for threads you want to watch closely. Being a part of the oldest wargaming community on the net. If you are already a member then feel free to login now.

So I watched this video in which the producer said some stuff I found reassuring:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YSoAft4eCes

However it still seems he's only including what's "necessary", so it's likely there shan't be any cherubs, gothic choirs, monks, servitors... monotonous chanting... Bah.


At any rate, I wanted some Dakka thoughts:

Do you find it reassuring that this will be a straight-to-DVD release? In my view this can be taken as further assurance that they won't butcher the fluff in an attempt to make the movie accessible to the wider public. Thompson himself says that this is aimed at 40k fans only.

Are you happy that Abnett was the screenwriter? I've never read any of his books, though my best friend has a very low opinion of him. Personally I don't see what would've been wrong with using the writer of the Ultramariens Omnibus, he struck me as pretty good...

Are you happy that this movie is about the Ultramarines? Whilst I disagree with his point that we've all brushed with them a few times, I still hold them as the archetypal Space Marine chapter, and ultimately about 70% of the fluff concerns Space Marines, we've all collected them at some point and we all have some ground-knowledge of their fluff and the way they work. Also, I'd go so far as to say that the entire Warhammer brand is supported on the Space Marines' lofty shoulders.

And finally, what're your thoughts on it being CGI? I guess it will make the movie cheap, meaning GW will be more willing to take risks (like staying true to the fluff and thus limiting the market) and it allows much more to be done. I've heard rumours that they're using the same animators as the ones who did that awesome DoW II intro cinematic, but I don't know if that's a fact...

Anyhoo, one HELLUVA excited fan here

I'd agree, really. I think that some of the more grimdark stuff might give the film an R rating. I don;t know if the crew is okay with that, so they might tone things down to get a PG-13.

As to your questions;

I doubt it'll be straight to DVD. If GW has any logic, they'll realize that Sci-Fi moves are Sci-Fi movies, and will inevitably draw a crowd. Plus, it might serve as a form of advertising.

I view Ultramarines as one of the more heroic SM chapters, and I definitely agree about the approachability of the Space Marines. I think its again, an advertising thing. People will see the Ultras in the movie, see Ultras on boxes on shelves, and spend $$$. Or something.

I like that it's done with CGI. I think they're going to pull it off better that way, considering previous attempts to make movies with regular humans in SM power armor have been pretty cheesey.

They've already said it'll be PG-13 and (though this is what youtube comments say...) people are saying it's straight-to-DVD, which I ultimately find reassuring... I mean look at what the new Star Trek movie had to do (and don't get me wrong, I enjoyed it, but it still had to sell out a tad...), at least this way they haven't got high costs and the considerable fanbase can still turn them a profit

It IS straight to DVD it's been stated in an interview, and the PG-13 has also been said in an interview.

That said, I cant wait for this movie, I'm so happy Dan Abnett wrote the script!

Also, about it being Ultramarines.. i couldn't care less, fact is, if this one does well, more movies will follow :3

CGI IMO is good, because i think actors doing Space Marines will always look awkward or the proportions just wouldn't fit.

The fact it is straight to DVD means it wil be true to the fluff, which is good, but lower budget, which is bad.

I am delighted that Dan Abnett is the screen writer. His Horus Heresy books are okay, but more importantly I am a big fan of his comic strips in 2000AD. He is able to adapt to different mediums to tell a story, which is encouraging, as this way he should give thought to what will be good on the screen, not just in his head.

I have no real issue with it being Smurfs. I'd prefer someone else, like Blood Angels or even Blood Ravens, but no biggy. At least there is lots of useable fluff out there to get ideas from.

For a W40K movie without a Hollywood budget, I think CGI is the only way to go. I won't be expecting a blockbsuter, but I think we can expect a solid piece of fluff which is enjoyable for 40k fans.

Any idea who the main opposition will be? Chaos? Orks? Tyranids?

It really depends, Chaos is most likely because they are enemie #1

Orks if they want a humoristic element..

Nids if they wanna copy starship troopers with more om noms...

I don't think we have any info about the story other than it's all done...

I hope Guard make an appearance, or at least some other Space Marine chapters... maybe an inquisitor? I want to see the full range of Imperial forces at least briefly shown (well, within reason... I don't want any Grey Knights just popping in and going HAI GUYZ).

I really wanted a Horus Heresy movie to be honest

But if they go with Ultramarines I think the 'nids might be a nice bet...

Dan Abnett is one of the best Black Library writers, and despite his penchant for killing any characters you care about, I enjoy his work. I'm happy with the idea of them using Ultramarines though. They're the posterboys, and it's good marketing. The audience for a movie starring say, the Eldar, would have an intrinsically smaller audience.

CGI is the best choice for the budget. Cheap CGI is really painful to watch though. Here's hoping it'll be of decent quality. As for the rumor of the guys who did the Dawn of War cinematics - pretty sure that's false. The guys who did some of the Bionicle movies for Lego are working on this. Having it be CGI will let them be a bit more lenient with the violence, however. Animation can get away with a lot more graphic violence than live action can with the same rating. I know it's out of context, but just look at Metalocalypse. You couldn't do that sort of thing in live action and get away with a TV-MA rating.

A Horus Heresy movie would be cool, but that's just too big to cover in 2 hours; especially to people who aren't already familiar with the fluff. As something akin to an HBO miniseries, it could do far better.

Overall I'm cautiously optimistic about the movie. GW has never let Hollywood get a hold of it's IP for the sake of staying true to the source, and it's got some good elements in the production. I'm looking forward to it - it should at the very least be entertaining enough to put on in the background while I paint.