Digest Archive vol 1 Issue 224
From: owner-champ-l-digest@sysabend.org
Sent: Thursday, March 04, 1999 11:51 AM
To: champ-l-digest@sysabend.org
Subject: champ-l-digest V1 #224
champ-l-digest Thursday, March 4 1999 Volume 01 : Number 224
In this issue:
Re: this would rock (fwd)
Re: [OT] Re: Spidey Movie
Skippius, A fantasy character.
RE: Spidey Movie
[OT] Casting Wolverine
Re: Villain's Exits
Re: [OT] Casting Wolverine
Re: Characters from "Circles", my fantasy novel
Characters from "Circles", my fantasy novel
Re: [OT] Casting Wolverine
RE: X Men movie
Re: this would rock (fwd)
Rising Force Returns!
Re: this would rock (fwd)
Re: Rising Force Returns!
Re: [OT] Casting Wolverine
RE: X Men movie
Re: X-Men Movie
RE: X Men movie
Re: this would rock (fwd)
Re: X-Men Movie
Re: this would rock (fwd)
Re: Rising Force Returns!
Re: Skippius, A fantasy character.
Re: Villain's Exits
RE: X Men movie
Re: [OT] Casting Wolverine
Re: [OT] Re: Spidey Movie
RE: X-Men Movie
Re: Villain's Exits
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Wed, 3 Mar 1999 19:21:06 -0800 (PST)
From: shaw@caprica.com (Wayne Shaw)
Subject: Re: this would rock (fwd)
>The biggest problem of Starship Troopers is that it was a "glorify the
>military" book, made into a movie by a man who hated the military, had no
>idea how the military worked, had no idea how to portray a war movie, and
>didn't understand the book at all.
>
>In his credit, he did _try_ to portray what he thought it was about.
I personally don't believe that for a moment. There are a few too many
scenes were the tone was blatantly changed even when the scene was kept.
Most of the scenes with Sergeant Zim, for example, who in the book was a
pretty typical hard-but-fair DI semi-stereotype, but in the movie he's
sadistic psycho. Compare both the broken arm scene and the knife scenes
from the book and the movie. I think the guy who made the movie actively
hated the proposition at the basis of the book and rather than just
presenting it and letting the viewer decide, had to go and cook the books on it.
>
>However, you are correct. That's for a different time and list.
Of course then we went and did it anyway. :P
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 4 Mar 1999 00:07:34 -0500 (EST)
From: Michael Surbrook <susano@dedaana.otd.com>
Subject: Re: [OT] Re: Spidey Movie
On Wed, 3 Mar 1999, Bob Greenwade wrote:
> >YES! Yuen Biao is the man!
>
> Yuen Baio?
> How about Scott Baio?
> [GDR]
Michael checks Bob into the smackdown hotel.
SMACK!
- --
Michael Surbrook - susano@otd.com - http://www.otd.com/~susano/index.html
"Kids -- they're not easy, but there has to be some penalty for sex."
Bill Maher
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 3 Mar 1999 08:03:45 -0800
From: Jay P Hailey <jayphailey@juno.com>
Subject: Skippius, A fantasy character.
Since Hawk is posting his characters....
Skippius was a Roman Soldier from about 0 AD gated into a fantasy game by
mischance. He was adopted by a Demigoddess named Loriel who was fighting
the existence of slavery in the game world to pass the time in her
eternal life.
Skippius became a mercenary, a caravan guard, and was in training with a
fencing master towards the end of play.
I did not reflect the quest against slavery on this sheet. That's
covered by "Follows Orders" Psych Lim. Skippius, fed up with political
maneuvers, took his booty from adventurng and bought a handful of slaves
and set them free. Several of the slaves stayed with Skippius because
they didn't know what else to do. Skippius fell back on what he knew,
making them stand in lineand do push ups while he yelled at them. They
formed a portage business that the GM said was mostly breaking even and
keeping them fed, hence the followers.
I did not put anything about Fencing. The fencing master took Skippius in
on a dare. As a professional soldier, Skippius was considered worse than
a complete amatuer in terms of fencing as the deadly art that the master
practiced.
Skippius was only in this traning for a short period of time, and his
skill with the rapier/ sabre/whatever was slim enough to be covered by
the Weapons Fam.
VALUE CHARACTERISTIC COST BASE PTS NAME:
15 Strength x1 10 5 HERO ID: Skippius
15 Dexterity x3 10 15 PLAYER: Jay P. Hailey
15 Constitution x2 10 10
13 Body x2 10 6 PTS POWERS
END
10 Intelligence x1 10 0 3 Climbing 12-
10 Ego x2 10 0 3 Concealment 11-
13 Presence x1 10 3 0 Conversation 8-
10 Comeliness x1/2 10 0 0 Deduction 8-
6 Physical Defens x1 3 3 0 Shadowing 8-
3 Energy Defense x1 3 0 5 Stealth 13-
3 Speed x10 2.5 5 1 TF,Horses / Donkeys
8 Recovery x2 6 4 1 Lang: Greek,native,literacy
36 Endurance x1/2 30 3 1 Lang: Latin,native,literacy
35 Stun x1 29 6 1 Lang: Aramaic
Characteristics Cost: 60 2 AK: Roman Empire 11-
2 AK: Roin 11-
DISADVANTAGES BASE: 100+PTS 2 WF,Common Melee
Psychological Limitation, 10 3 Tactics 11-
"Follows Orders of Superiors", 3 Oratory 12-
common,moderate 3 1 Levels: Gladius/shortsword,
Psychological Limitation, 10 etc,tight group
"Sexist 2 KS: Famous Military strategies
common,moderate 11-
Package Deal Bonus 3 5 KS: Military Proceedures 14-
Psychological Limitation, 5 3 Paramedic 11-
"Magic-phobia",uncommon, 3 Survival 11-
moderate 7 Scrounging 13-
Distinctive Features,"Soldier", 10 3 1 Levels: Pilus, Javelin Etc.,
concealable,minor tight group
Psychological Limitation,"Be 15 3 Animal Handler 11-
Loyal to Unit",common,strong 3 Bribery 12-
1 Bureaucratics 8-
1 Forgery 8-
6 PS: Soldier 15-
3 Riding 12-
1 TF,Wagons, Carts, Etc
6 +3" Running
1
6 +2 Enhanced Perception,with all
senses
17 Followers: Ex-Slave workers
(8pt),8 # of Followers
Disadvantages Total : 53 100 : Powers Total
Experience Spent + 0 60 + Characteristic Total
Total Points = 153 160 = Total Cost
As you can see , Skippius is out of balance for a starting character, by
about 17 points. On this sheet he's out of balance by about 7 points,
which I think I could justify as earned experience given the character's
history.
Actually I Forgot to add an advantage. Skippius can march, which, when
done properly can allow soldiers to cover long stretches at a reduced
cost of Endurance compared to a non-trained person. This would be
finicky to do. Either an advantage on his running, and modification to
the advantage to cause it to only apply to long distance non-combat use;
1/2 Wnd on Running any old way (Skippius has walked, marched or ran
nearly every where he has ever gone) This would add 6 point to the
character; or devise a new skill: Marching, either general or based on
CON which, when successfully rolls cuts the long term END cost of travel
by foot in half.
But this is a very picky point as the GM never, *ever* kept track of
endurance, encumberance or any of that other stuff.
Jay P. Hailey <Meow!>
The facts, although interesting, are generally irrelevant.
___________________________________________________________________
You don't need to buy Internet access to use free Internet e-mail.
Get completely free e-mail from Juno at http://www.juno.com/getjuno.html
or call Juno at (800) 654-JUNO [654-5866]
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 3 Mar 1999 23:44:13 -0600 (Central Standard Time)
From: Tim Gilberg <gilberg@ou.edu>
Subject: RE: Spidey Movie
> On the X-Men movie, I completely agree with Patrick Stewart as Prof. X and
> Angela Basset as Storm. Wolverine has always been the toughest one to nail
> down. Stallone is physically about right but worthless as an actor, I would
Hmmmm. Have you seen Cop Land? Or Rocky, for that matter?
Stallone can do just fine on the acting front, given a script that
doesn't typecast. Of course, a comic book action flick wouldn't call for
much acting from anyone.
-Tim Gilberg
-"English Majors of the World! Untie!"
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 4 Mar 1999 00:40:15 -0500
From: David Stallard <DBStallard@compuserve.com>
Subject: [OT] Casting Wolverine
I saw this suggested somewhere (possibly in Wizard magazine) and I think
it'd be an excellent choice for Wolverine: That guy from Forrest Gump who
played the soldier who got his legs blown off. I'm guessing here, but his
name might be Gary Bussy??
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 3 Mar 1999 23:45:29 -0600 (Central Standard Time)
From: Tim Gilberg <gilberg@ou.edu>
Subject: Re: Villain's Exits
> I was just reminded the other day of the best villain ending I can ever
> remember, and was curious. If you can manage to reveal it without creating a
> big spoiler (which is why I won't tell you mine), what is the best end for a
> villain you can recall?
Who Framed Roger Rabbit.
-Tim Gilberg
-"English Majors of the World! Untie!"
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 04 Mar 1999 01:34:19 -0500
From: "Scott C. Nolan" <nolan@erols.com>
Subject: Re: [OT] Casting Wolverine
At 12:40 AM 3/4/99 -0500, David Stallard wrote:
>I saw this suggested somewhere (possibly in Wizard magazine) and I think
>it'd be an excellent choice for Wolverine: That guy from Forrest Gump who
>played the soldier who got his legs blown off. I'm guessing here, but his
>name might be Gary Bussy??
That was Gary Sinise.
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 3 Mar 1999 23:09:22 -0800
From: Tracy L Birdine <hawk291@juno.com>
Subject: Re: Characters from "Circles", my fantasy novel
Those of you who wish to see a work in progress unfolding, namely
"Circles", where these characters are featured, point your web browser
to:
http://www.commerce.adelaide.edu.au/calvert/irps/index.html
This is a monthly free e-zine called "The RPG Times" and is geared to the
Roleplaying Gaming community. The prolog is found in "This Month's
Pick", though the following chapters are likely to be found in "The
Bard's Corner".
And while you're at it, have a look around...
Peace out..
|- /\ \\/ |<
CO/Alpha Company, Black Horse Regiment
ICQ: 32038562
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 3 Mar 1999 22:40:08 -0800
From: Tracy L Birdine <hawk291@juno.com>
Subject: Characters from "Circles", my fantasy novel
I discovered I hadn't converted the current sheets to the *.txt format,
so there will be a slight lull before I post up the next one, Cynthea
Darkhand, Shadow ax warrior/assassin...
Others to follow:
Reva, half-orc warrior/ranger
Shard Tharken, Elvan advanced scout
Dennar Two-Blades, Troll warrior and his brother
Baehr Two-Blades, both protectors of the Sword Maiden
Sasha Carrington, the Sword Maiden
Sylvi Rushwood, thief and street urchan
Max Ironblade, also Shadow Ax
and of course this mysterious
Seligad, mage/inventer/healer that they all claim as contact and
patron...
I still have to work up the villains and their various minions, both
human and non.
|- /\ \\/ |<
CO/Alpha Company, Black Horse Regiment
ICQ: 32038562
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 04 Mar 1999 04:03:14 -0500
From: geoff heald <gheald@worldnet.att.net>
Subject: Re: [OT] Casting Wolverine
At 12:40 AM 3/4/99 -0500, you wrote:
>I saw this suggested somewhere (possibly in Wizard magazine) and I think
>it'd be an excellent choice for Wolverine: That guy from Forrest Gump who
>played the soldier who got his legs blown off. I'm guessing here, but his
>name might be Gary Bussy??
>
Not Gary Busey. Gary Busey played Buddy Holly in the Buddy Holly story (and
was Mr Joshua in Lethal Weapon, and Keano Reeves partner in Point Break).
============================
Geoff Heald
============================
And it's a little-known fact that the Y1K problem caused the Dark Ages.
Roving bands of well-paid craftsmen fitted two extra beads to abacuses and
sorted it out.
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 04 Mar 1999 00:37:55 -0500
From: geoff heald <gheald@worldnet.att.net>
Subject: RE: X Men movie
At 12:34 PM 3/3/99 -0500, you wrote:
>On the X-Men movie, I completely agree with Patrick Stewart as Prof. X and
>Angela Basset as Storm. Wolverine has always been the toughest one to nail
>down. Stallone is physically about right but worthless as an actor, I would
>tend more towards someone like Bruce Willis.
Wolverine is short. Really short. About 5'1". That makes him about a
foot shorter than Stallone. Armin Sherman (who plays Quark on DS9) is the
right height, but not muscular enough.
============================
Geoff Heald
============================
And it's a little-known fact that the Y1K problem caused the Dark Ages.
Roving bands of well-paid craftsmen fitted two extra beads to abacuses and
sorted it out.
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 04 Mar 1999 00:59:55 -0500
From: geoff heald <gheald@worldnet.att.net>
Subject: Re: this would rock (fwd)
At 03:47 PM 3/3/99 -0800, Filksinger wrote:
>The biggest problem of Starship Troopers is that it was a "glorify the
>military" book, made into a movie by a man who hated the military, had no
>idea how the military worked, had no idea how to portray a war movie, and
>didn't understand the book at all.
>
>In his credit, he did _try_ to portray what he thought it was about.
>
I must object to this statement. Heinlein did not approve of the values of
the society he portrayed. The book was about the dangers of fascism and
how your best friend from next door can be a danger to the people of your
country.
But it is very hard to get that message across to an audience who mainly
came to see the bugs explode, so the director lampooned fascist propaganda
and intentionally modeled the newsreel footage after NAZI films.
The movie was not a great adaptation of the book, but I believe Verhoven
understood it well enough.
============================
Geoff Heald
============================
And it's a little-known fact that the Y1K problem caused the Dark Ages.
Roving bands of well-paid craftsmen fitted two extra beads to abacuses and
sorted it out.
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 3 Mar 1999 04:19:15 -0600
From: "Michael" <mlnunn@blue.net>
Subject: Rising Force Returns!
Greetings all! After an extended Hiatus Rising Force Publications is
back...
The next issue of Herozine is ready to go to the printer in a few days and
the web site is undergoing a major overhaul. We have posted two new
galleries one in the RFP side and one in the Mighty Girl side.
While your there check out the MG comic, those pages will only be up a few
more days and then they will be pulled for new ones.
Coming soon... the Champions write-up page...
I have a question for the list... would you rather have the write-ups in
txt or in HTML?
http://fly.to/RFP
Check us out!
Michael Nunn
Editor
RFP
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 4 Mar 1999 23:35:24 +1000
From: "Lockie" <jonesl@cqnet.com.au>
Subject: Re: this would rock (fwd)
>Russel Crowe??? Umm stop me if Im wrong, but Wolverine is short and really
>buff ... I don't visualize ANY person that I know of in Hollywood in the
>part.
well, he did well as a skinhead, and hell, virtuosity got him closer to
being superhuman than most actors play.
> The others seem pretty good... although you know they are going to
>put some cheezy new character like Marrow or Jubilee (gag, gag) in the
movie.
jubilee's been in the x-men longer than cannonball. she also nursed wolvie
back to health in the australian outback.
>
>--------------------------------------------------------------------------
>Sola Gracia Sola Scriptura Sola Fide
>Soli Gloria Deo Solus Christus Corum Deo
>--------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 04 Mar 1999 06:07:02 -0800
From: Bob Greenwade <bob.greenwade@klock.com>
Subject: Re: Rising Force Returns!
At 04:19 AM 3/3/99 -0600, Michael wrote:
>Greetings all! After an extended Hiatus Rising Force Publications is
>back...
A hiatus at your end and mine both, Michael! :-]
>I have a question for the list... would you rather have the write-ups in
>txt or in HTML?
HTML if you also have the CW files available for download; TXT if not.
- ---
Bob's Original Hero Stuff Page! [Circle of HEROS member]
http://www.klock.com/public/users/bob.greenwade/original.htm
Merry-Go-Round Webring -- wanna join?
http://www.klock.com/public/users/bob.greenwade/merrhome.htm
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 04 Mar 1999 06:09:57 -0800
From: Bob Greenwade <bob.greenwade@klock.com>
Subject: Re: [OT] Casting Wolverine
At 01:34 AM 3/4/99 -0500, Scott C. Nolan wrote:
>At 12:40 AM 3/4/99 -0500, David Stallard wrote:
>>I saw this suggested somewhere (possibly in Wizard magazine) and I think
>>it'd be an excellent choice for Wolverine: That guy from Forrest Gump who
>>played the soldier who got his legs blown off. I'm guessing here, but his
>>name might be Gary Bussy??
>
>That was Gary Sinise.
It just occurred to me that this might be a good breakout role for
Martin Short (the way "The Truman Show" was a breakout for Jim Carrey).
- ---
Bob's Original Hero Stuff Page! [Circle of HEROS member]
http://www.klock.com/public/users/bob.greenwade/original.htm
Merry-Go-Round Webring -- wanna join?
http://www.klock.com/public/users/bob.greenwade/merrhome.htm
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 04 Mar 1999 06:09:01 -0800
From: Bob Greenwade <bob.greenwade@klock.com>
Subject: RE: X Men movie
At 12:37 AM 3/4/99 -0500, geoff heald wrote:
>At 12:34 PM 3/3/99 -0500, you wrote:
>>On the X-Men movie, I completely agree with Patrick Stewart as Prof. X and
>>Angela Basset as Storm. Wolverine has always been the toughest one to nail
>>down. Stallone is physically about right but worthless as an actor, I would
>>tend more towards someone like Bruce Willis.
>
>Wolverine is short. Really short. About 5'1". That makes him about a
>foot shorter than Stallone. Armin Sherman (who plays Quark on DS9) is the
>right height, but not muscular enough.
How about Aron Eisenberg (Nog)?
- ---
Bob's Original Hero Stuff Page! [Circle of HEROS member]
http://www.klock.com/public/users/bob.greenwade/original.htm
Merry-Go-Round Webring -- wanna join?
http://www.klock.com/public/users/bob.greenwade/merrhome.htm
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 04 Mar 1999 05:57:28 -0800
From: Bob Greenwade <bob.greenwade@klock.com>
Subject: Re: X-Men Movie
At 05:36 AM 3/4/99 GMT, <owner-champ-l@sysabend.org> wrote:
>Received: from beelzebubba.sysabend.org ([208.243.107.6])
>From: Tim Gilberg <gilberg@ou.edu>
>cc: Champeens <champ-l@sysabend.org>
>Subject: RE: Spidey Movie
>
>> On the X-Men movie, I completely agree with Patrick Stewart as Prof. X and
>> Angela Basset as Storm. Wolverine has always been the toughest one to nail
>> down. Stallone is physically about right but worthless as an actor, I would
>
> Hmmmm. Have you seen Cop Land? Or Rocky, for that matter?
>Stallone can do just fine on the acting front, given a script that
>doesn't typecast. Of course, a comic book action flick wouldn't call for
>much acting from anyone.
Stallone, for Wolvie? Did you guys miss that Logan's 5'4" and Sly's
more like 6'2"? Or that Sly has a hard time losing his Brooklyn accent?
If Stallone could work on a good Russian accent, I could see him playing
an older Colossus. But that's about it.
- ---
Bob's Original Hero Stuff Page! [Circle of HEROS member]
http://www.klock.com/public/users/bob.greenwade/original.htm
Merry-Go-Round Webring -- wanna join?
http://www.klock.com/public/users/bob.greenwade/merrhome.htm
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 4 Mar 1999 09:43:15 -0500 (EST)
From: chris@ergmusic.com
Subject: RE: X Men movie
On 4 Mar, I could have sworn that geoff heald said:
>
> Wolverine is short. Really short. About 5'1". That makes him about a
> foot shorter than Stallone. Armin Sherman (who plays Quark on DS9) is the
> right height, but not muscular enough.
>
Ummm, Stalone ain't 6'1" tall. He's about 5'8. I doubt they would be
able to find someone the proper size to play Wolverine.
- --
Chris Hartjes
Information Services Administrator
Entertainment Resources Group
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 4 Mar 1999 23:56:02 +1000
From: "Lockie" <jonesl@cqnet.com.au>
Subject: Re: this would rock (fwd)
- -----Original Message-----
From: Filksinger <filkhero@usa.net>
>
>
>Probably true.
>
>>Not that your point isn't correct, but I'm always a bit amazed at the
>>hostility toward this movie; it's actually not that far a miss, all
things
>>being equal. Now if you want to talk about deliberate betrayal of story
>>intent, talk "Starship Troopers". But let's not go there.
>
>
>The biggest problem of Starship Troopers is that it was a "glorify the
>military" book, made into a movie by a man who hated the military, had no
>idea how the military worked, had no idea how to portray a war movie, and
>didn't understand the book at all.
>
What he DID undrestand was how media, youth and violence is
portrayed in popular culture, which was the whole idea of the movie.
Representing those forces in a way which, while clearly eluding certain
circles,
still gave a kick to those of us who get really sick of the cliches being
tossed
around, still, in this day and age about youth war sex pr and justifiable
homocide.
The nature of these creatures as the ultimate 'valid targets', the virtually
menaingless
drop-in cliches clearly played for satire (oh look, a cowardly c.o.! never
seen that before)
and the typical light media/propoganda comentary was a good counterpoint to
some really
nice action scenes- i don't care if it's not authentic military, what the
hell would a real-life
soldier know about fighting giant flame spitting bugs? huh? huh?
Considering it's one of few 'war moves' that still managed to include an
abrupt training death as incidental to the plot as opposed to a main plot
element, i'd say it's higher on the grit scale then most would think.
Then again, that was really a comment on the valueless nature of such a
death, in the greater context of a plot and main characters status. We
KNOW that whats-his-name is going to go to war, and that this dead
person doesn't mean jack in the wider scale of the movie- that's the point.
Throwaway non-villain corpses like that turn up wayyy to much in popular
culture.
As fro throwawy villain corpses, how about all them dead bugs?
>In his credit, he did _try_ to portray what he thought it was about.
>
nope. Same name, different movie. More based on s:aab, if anything.
>However, you are correct. That's for a different time and list.
>
ok, next time just say that bit and leave it, unless ye want a reply.
>Filksinger
>
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 4 Mar 1999 09:01:47 -0600
From: "Michael Nunn" <mlnunn@blue.net>
Subject: Re: X-Men Movie
> Stallone, for Wolvie? Did you guys miss that Logan's 5'4" and Sly's
>more like 6'2"? Or that Sly has a hard time losing his Brooklyn accent?
> If Stallone could work on a good Russian accent, I could see him playing
>an older Colossus. But that's about it.
Stallone is only like 5'6" or so, he wears lifts in his shoes and
intenionaly cast short people in his movies, Dolf Lundgren is 6'6" tall and
he towers over Sly.
Even still he would suck as Wolvie..
Glen Danzig would be the perfect Wolvie right build, hight height, who knows
if he can act, but he has said if a X-Men movie was made, he would love the
roll.
Michael
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 4 Mar 1999 06:27:12 -0800 (PST)
From: "Steven J. Owens" <puff@netcom.com>
Subject: Re: this would rock (fwd)
Wayne Shaw writes:
> >From: Steven J. Owens <puff@netcom.com>
>
> >A classic of science fiction, "The Puppet Masters", by Robert Heinlein, was
> >the basis of the original "The Body Snatchers" (and Heinlein successfully
> >sued over the theft). A few years ago, it was turned into a movie. In order
> >to distinguish it from the horror movies of the same name, the movie was
> >named "Robert A. Heinlein's The Puppet Masters". The result was a third rate
> >adventure flick that barely resembled the book at all.
Watch your attributions, Wayne, the above was written by Filksinger.
(And yes, I'm at that new contract, and yes, I'm in hell :-).
> >A friend of mine who is a Heinlein fan and hater of the movie met one of the
> >authors of the screenplay at Worldcon about 4 years ago. He said he spent
> >several hours trying to convince a thoroughly depressed playwright that "it
> >wasn't that bad". Apparently the two playwrights spent a great deal of time
> >trying to get the essence of the movie into the final version of the
> >screenplay, finally succeeded, and then discovered that a director has total
> >power over what gets filmed and how it is edited. _He_ completely rewrote
> >the screenplay into the inane trash that eventually reached the screen and
> >died with barely a ripple.
Back in late '95 the two authors of the _first_ screenplay for the
puppetmasters posted an apologia to the net, a several-hundred-line-long
description of what happened. It makes excellent reading for anybody
hoping to go into script writing, or anybody who doesn't understand why
so many movies have such lousy writing. If anybody knows where I could
get a copy of that, I'd appreciate it. I want to keep it in my permanent
files :-).
If I recall correctly, the sequence of events was somewhat like:
The writers were brought in to ghostscript a movie.
Director: "that was pretty good, we should work together again sometime."
Writers:"we've always wanted to do a script for this book"
Director takes book home, reads it, comes back raving to do the movie.
The scripting job gets taken away from the writers, then given back to
them, then taken away from the second set of writers and given to a third,
then given back to the first set.
Along about here the authors learn that the director got completely
fixated on the "entering an alien spaceship" scene from the first
chapter of the book, only he's envisioning it as something H.R.Geiger-ish.
Things get worse from there.
Steven J. Owens
puff@netcom.com
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 4 Mar 1999 10:03:17 -0500 (EST)
From: Michael Surbrook <susano@dedaana.otd.com>
Subject: Re: Rising Force Returns!
On Wed, 3 Mar 1999, Michael wrote:
> Greetings all! After an extended Hiatus Rising Force Publications is
> back...
Great!
> I have a question for the list... would you rather have the write-ups in
> txt or in HTML?
I put all my stuff up as a <PRE> file, so that it will download pretty
clearly. HTML sheets never download properly and require too much editing
to be useful (to me).
- --
Michael Surbrook - susano@otd.com - http://www.otd.com/~susano/index.html
"...If said motherboard is equipped with an Intel central processing unit,
an appropriate warning label bearing the words 'Intel Inside' shall be
permanently affixed to the case in a prominent location."
Bruce Murphy, excerpting a new OSHA regulation for computer systems
------------------------------
Date: 04 Mar 1999 09:53:13 -0500
From: Stainless Steel Rat <ratinox@peorth.gweep.net>
Subject: Re: Skippius, A fantasy character.
- -----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE-----
Hash: SHA1
* Jay P Hailey <jayphailey@juno.com> Wed, 03 Mar 1999
| Skippius was a Roman Soldier from about 0 AD
Date nit-pick: there is no '0 AD'. The Anno Domini nomenclature starts
with the year 1 (which is why January 1, 2001 is the start of the 21st
century, not 2000 as the hype suggests).
- -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE-----
Version: GnuPG v0.9.2 (GNU/Linux)
Comment: For info see http://www.gnupg.org
iD8DBQE23p5Zgl+vIlSVSNkRAqr9AJ9LXGUcWiiIVNlOA3jSknRIMs4rOwCdFJmd
uq5P78t6NJY5N/r9F/phDUw=
=tTW9
- -----END PGP SIGNATURE-----
- --
Rat <ratinox@peorth.gweep.net> \ Do not taunt Happy Fun Ball.
Minion of Nathan - Nathan says Hi! \
PGP Key: at a key server near you! \
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 5 Mar 1999 00:20:27 +1000
From: "Lockie" <jonesl@cqnet.com.au>
Subject: Re: Villain's Exits
- -----Original Message-----
From: Filksinger <filkhero@usa.net>
To: Hero List <champ-l@sysabend.org>
Date: Thursday, March 04, 1999 10:29 AM
Subject: Villain's Exits
>I was just reminded the other day of the best villain ending I can ever
>remember, and was curious. If you can manage to reveal it without creating
a
>big spoiler (which is why I won't tell you mine), what is the best end for
a
>villain you can recall?
>
>Filksinger
>
in-game or anywhere in fiction? and by 'ending' do you mean death in
particular? anyway,
here's a few in the overall stakes:
There was a live-action movie based on the guyver series. can't speak for
the first one,
but the second live action movie had some pretty good super-powered martial
arts in it- compared to the usual fare. The baddie at the end was a mutant
shapeshifter who ALSO wore a suit of bioarmor like the hero,
making him twice as tough aparently. here's how he died- first he had almost
won,. but some girl
shot him in the orb thing in his forehead, which looked to be a weakpoint
since it was cracked
(it was a faulty when they found it) then, the guyver-guy jumps up and gives
him a few in the ribs,
then punches him in the orb-thing, too. THEN he ripps it out of the guys
forehead, and the villain guy begins screaming and melting in a pretty icky
looking way. THEN the guyver guy starts powering up, taking his sweet time
as his foe writhes in nasty squelchy agony. THEN he finally lets loose with
what looked like a
classic manga powerblast, the result being an agonised scream and a long
scorch on the ground where the baddie uses to be and a circular hole in a
nearby scafolding. As for the movie, yeah the grunt monsters looked a bit
dumb, but once their boss got 'upgraded' he was fine.. till he melted,
exploded, ect.
In the in-game stakes, i've kill- erm, 'ended' lots of villains. since i
assume you don't mean pc villains
my current favorite would probably be a powerful neucromancer with a
sarcastic streak that plagued several
of my campaigns. He was a pretty conventional neucro (deffinitly not up to
par with some of the wickedness i've seen mentioned on the list lately) but
he did for the campaign, and his bitter wit was distinctive and memorable.
The heroes eventually took him on just as he was ataining lichdom. They were
fighting some followers around a huge pitt, at the bottom his body lay in
repose ready for lichdom. He changed to a liche after a bolt fro the black
moon above traveled down the tunnel, got up and laughed. After literally
several dozen lifetimes, his search for a final solution to old age was
over. Then he looked up, and saw the clerics (hero version of a) mace of
disruption spinning down towards him. His final words:
"Oh. Good. "
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 04 Mar 1999 10:47:22 -0500
From: Bill Svitavsky <nbymail11@mln.lib.ma.us>
Subject: RE: X Men movie
At 09:43 AM 3/4/99 -0500, chris@ergmusic.com wrote:
>
>Ummm, Stalone ain't 6'1" tall. He's about 5'8. I doubt they would be
>able to find someone the proper size to play Wolverine.
>
They probably could; there are plenty of muscular short people in the
world, and I'm sure some of them are actors. But they aren't likely to cast
an unknown for a major role in an action blockbuster.
- -Bill Svitavsky
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 4 Mar 1999 08:59:14 -0500
From: David_A._Fair@fc.mcps.k12.md.us (David A. Fair)
Subject: Re: [OT] Casting Wolverine
gheald@worldnet.att.net writes:
>>I saw this suggested somewhere (possibly in Wizard magazine) and I
>think
>>it'd be an excellent choice for Wolverine: That guy from Forrest Gump
>who
>>played the soldier who got his legs blown off. I'm guessing here, but
>his
>>name might be Gary Bussy??
That's Gary Sinese. He is way too damn good to be doing a comic book
movie though. I think Billy Zane would be a good choice for Wolverine,
He did the Phantom really well...
Thanks,
Dave
- ---------------------------------------------------------
David A. Fair
Montgomery County Public Schools
Office of Global Access Technology
Elementary User Support Specialist
David_Fair@fc.mcps.k12.md.us
- ---------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 04 Mar 1999 10:38:14 -0500
From: Bill Svitavsky <nbymail11@mln.lib.ma.us>
Subject: Re: [OT] Re: Spidey Movie
At 03:04 PM 3/3/99 -0800, Bob Greenwade wrote:
>At 06:39 PM 3/3/99 GMT, <owner-champ-l@sysabend.org> wrote:
>>Received: from beelzebubba.sysabend.org ([208.243.107.6])
>>From: Michael Surbrook <susano@dedaana.otd.com>
>>cc: HERO System Mailing List <hero-l@sysabend.org>
>>Subject: Re: [OT] Re: Spidey Movie
>>
>>On Wed, 3 Mar 1999, Dr. Nuncheon wrote:
>>
>>> My favorite for Spidey in-costime would be Yuen Baio - he's worked and
>>> trained with Jackie Chan and Sammo Hung, so he can definitely handle the
>>> moves, and he's got the right build for it, too.
>>
>>YES! Yuen Biao is the man!
>
> Yuen Baio?
> How about Scott Baio?
> [GDR]
With Tom Bosley as Dr. Octopus & Ron Howard as Norman Osborn!
- - Bill Svitavsky
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 4 Mar 1999 10:32:00 -0500
From: Brian Wawrow <bwawrow@fmco.com>
Subject: RE: X-Men Movie
Ummm... I was under the impression that Sly was something like 5'8".
Obviously, he'd be no good as Wolvie. He sucked as Judge Dredd. He plays a
dim witted meathead from New York fairly well but that's not much of a
stretch, is it?
Collosus? Has any role in the history of moving pictures ever begged harder
to be played by Arnold? I know it's an obvious pick, but really, who else
would you choose?
What about Dr. Hank McCoy? He's my favourite X-Man and I think you'd want to
cast him based on who can pull off the erudition, rather than who's buff.
I'm thinking John Malcovitch. He's a big big guy and carves dialogue with
the best. Who knows how he'd look in a furry blue suit.
Cyclops would be simple. Pick a Baldwin, any Baldwin.
That is all.
BRI
]
] Stallone, for Wolvie? Did you guys miss that Logan's 5'4"
] and Sly's
] more like 6'2"? Or that Sly has a hard time losing his
] Brooklyn accent?
] If Stallone could work on a good Russian accent, I could
] see him playing
] an older Colossus. But that's about it.
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 04 Mar 1999 10:32:03 -0500
From: Bill Svitavsky <nbymail11@mln.lib.ma.us>
Subject: Re: Villain's Exits
At 03:49 PM 3/3/99 -0800, Filksinger wrote:
>I was just reminded the other day of the best villain ending I can ever
>remember, and was curious. If you can manage to reveal it without creating a
>big spoiler (which is why I won't tell you mine), what is the best end for a
>villain you can recall?
>
Some of you may have seen this before, but I think the story is worth
retelling.
The hero Nemesis was an android created in World War II with the
transferred brain patterns of a fighter pilot. He was constructed by a
German scientist who had defected to the U.S. after a few years working for
the Nazis. While working for them, the scientist had created another
android, The Adversary, who was physically superior to Nemesis and had no
human template. Nemesis was programmed to oppose and (if possible) destroy
the Adversary. The conflicts between the two androids outlasted WW II by
decades; they continued up until the campaign present as The Adversary
became the head of a secret criminal empire. Meanwhile, Nemesis had built a
human life for himself, becoming known as a patriotic super-hero and even
getting married.
This much information was established by the player; he left me to work out
the details on The Adversary. I had a lot of fun doing so.
Unbeknownst to Nemesis (or his player), The Adversary's allegiance to the
Nazis had lasted only a few years. He (the Adversary) was a highly advanced
machine intelligence, and the irrationality of Nazi beliefs soon became
glaringly obvious to him. Still, he bore no particular allegiance to any
other human faction. In fact, there was only one being that The Adversary
felt any real allegiance to: the one being like him, with the same creator,
his "brother", Nemesis.
He realized, though, that Nemesis had been programmed to oppose him. This
mission was Nemesis's entire purpose for being. Not only could Nemesis
never appreciate The Adversary's benign attitude, but he would cease to
function if there were no Adversary to oppose.
The Adversary thus found a new cause - to give Nemesis a purpose. He let
Nemesis "thwart his evil schemes", first with the Nazis, and later with the
small criminal operations he established to create the illusion of a secret
criminal empire. The Adversary recruited dangerous criminals for his
organization, Nemesis captured them, and everyone (except the human
criminals) was happy.
For the first couple years of the campaign, Nemesis was quite paranoid; he
was convinced that The Adversary was behind every threat the group faced.
Every so often he'd discover evidence of another Adversary secret base and
plan an attack on it. All the PC's soon learned to respect the power of The
Adversary; their combined might could barely defeat the lesser duplicates
of himself they encountered. But *somehow* they always managed to win.
Eventually Nemesis started buying down his Psych Lims (or were they Phys
Lims?) regarding The Adversary, and stopped seeing his arch-enemy's hand in
everything. Then one day he received a message from his enemy to meet him
at a certain time and place. Nemesis arrived and was greeted by The
Adversary spouting Nazi rhetoric and inviting him to join in the
subjugation of the human race. In a climactic battle, Nemesis finally
destroyed his opponent - or so it appeared.
In the aftermath, a kindly-looking old man with a German accent approached
the damaged hero. The old man suggested that it seemed unlikely that a
sophisticated machine intelligence would continue to adhere to Nazi
irrationality for decades - that it was more likely, in fact, that he might
devote himself to giving purpose to another like himself, hoping that one
day his younger brother might develop enough to overcome his programming.
Finally, Nemesis realized the nature of the battle he'd been fighting for
almost 50 years. He discovered that The Adversary had been living a quiet
human life of his own for decades, and now wished to retire from his role
as a criminal mastermind to spend more time with his aging wife, their
adopted children, and grandchildren.
The Adversary asked one thing of Nemesis in return for the years he'd spent
giving him purpose. The Adversary's "criminal empire" had accomplished a
considerable amount of good over the years, regularly funnelling dangerous
criminals into the hands of the authorities. While the old android was
eager to retire, it seemed a shame to give up such an effective ploy...
Nemesis left the campaign for a while after that, and the player started a
new character. But The Adversary - actually, a new Adversary - stayed in
business, operating out of a secret base buried deep below the heroes' own
headquarters.
- - Bill Svitavsky
------------------------------
End of champ-l-digest V1 #224
*****************************
Web Page created by Text2Web v1.3.6 by Dev Virdi
http://www.virdi.demon.co.uk/
Date: Tuesday, June 15, 1999 01:05 PM