Gunnerkrigg Court: the movie

[todd]

With the past talk here about the possibility (someday) of an animated movie based on the comic, I thought that I'd raise one question that I found myself wondering about.

So far, I don't think that any of the individual chapters have been long enough to be made into a full-length movie without some additions. So I've wondered whether, ideally, the movie would be more of an overall adaptation of the webcomic in a way something like this:

It would take the core events (Annie's arrival at Gunnerkrigg Court, meeting and befriending Kat, the death of Surma in flashbacks, maybe the first encounter with Reynardine and a few of the other important supporting characters), but weave them into a complete story in itself, though taking care to preserve the mood of the comic and to be faithful to the characterizations - simply taking liberties with the details of the plot to unify the different chapters.

What do you think?

[La Poire]

The story, as it is, isn't designed like a movie, it's very episodic. Perhaps a series would be better?

[Aspen d'Grey]

GC: The Animated series.

[oorahairforce]

A series would be better, yes.

The movie could be a complete disaster, depending on who picked it up (of course, I know Tom wouldn't let anyone take it if he didn't trust them totally with the material).

Michael Bay's Gunnerkrigg Court:
A small girl named Antimony finds herself in a new school, alone and at the heart of a great mystery. Teachers hardly acknowledge her. Students act indifferent. She finds companionship in a young gypsy girl named Kat, who expresses concern with her mother's increasing aloofness as the days go by. They slowly discover that the Court is actually a base set up by aliens from Mars who are possessing human bodies and gathering their forces for the coming Earth invasion. Annie and Kat must fly on a rocket with their mentor and last human teacher, Dr. Disaster, to board the alien mothership and destroy it, solving the alien menace for good. Cue flashy explosions and witty one-liners. Ooh, and a song from Aerosmith.

John Woo's Gunnerkrigg Court:
Annie is a girl sent to the detention facility known as Gunnerkrigg Court for accidentally killing her mother in a sparring match. She vows never to fight again, but soon finds the prison life too violent to keep this promise. Still, even through her shame at each punch or kick thrown, Annie begins to notice corruption within the prison system. Inmates receiving favors. Guards trading drugs. Angry and wanting justice, Annie begins training with an ancient Greek monk named Basil whom she accidentally finds one day deep in the catacombs of the prison. The final confrontation is between Annie and her father, who as it turns out rigged the match so that her mother would die! Slow motion "walking towards each other while doves fly away" scenes abound.

Uwe Boll's Gunnerkrigg Court:
Gunnerkrigg Court is the party house in town, where all the hottest teens get together for drinking, sexing, and partying. Annie comes for her first time with a close friend, Kat, at the height of the biggest party of the year. At exactly midnight, however, people begin disappearing from more remote sections of the house. The disappearances become more frequent and bloody, until the truth becomes obvious: there's a dragon on the loose, and it's got the whole house surrounded! When nobody can leave and the going gets tough, what are the tough to do? Annie and Kat find ammunition and equipment in the cellar and get ready to bust some dragon ass. EDIT: Oh, I forgot to mention, there would also be video game footage from Reign of Fire and Eragon thrown in for no good reason.
Notes: All characters are cast by actors who have rather recognizable names and really should know better than to do anything with Uwe Boll.

Tim Burton's Gunnerkrigg Court:
Annie is a poor, misunderstood girl in the bright and happy world of Gunnerkrigg Court. Shunned by some, secluding herself from others, it is up to two friends--a sweet girl named Kat and a rough-around-the-edges demon doll named Reynardine--to show the rest of the world how great Annie is, or maybe vice versa. Antimony will be played by Johnny Depp.

I actually think Wes Anderson might be a good director.

[AluK]

Antimony will be played by Johnny Depp.

;D

I thought on Winona Ryder playing Annie but, lmao, you surpassed me by FAR.

[alexthegreater]

oorahairforce said:

A series would be better, yes.

The movie could be a complete disaster, depending on who picked it up (of course, I know Tom wouldn't let anyone take it if he didn't trust them totally with the material).

Michael Bay's Gunnerkrigg Court:
A small girl named Antimony finds herself in a new school, alone and at the heart of a great mystery. Teachers hardly acknowledge her. Students act indifferent. She finds companionship in a young gypsy girl named Kat, who expresses concern with her mother's increasing aloofness as the days go by. They slowly discover that the Court is actually a base set up by aliens from Mars who are possessing human bodies and gathering their forces for the coming Earth invasion. Annie and Kat must fly on a rocket with their mentor and last human teacher, Dr. Disaster, to board the alien mothership and destroy it, solving the alien menace for good. Cue flashy explosions and witty one-liners. Ooh, and a song from Aerosmith.

John Woo's Gunnerkrigg Court:
Annie is a girl sent to the detention facility known as Gunnerkrigg Court for accidentally killing her mother in a sparring match. She vows never to fight again, but soon finds the prison life too violent to keep this promise. Still, even through her shame at each punch or kick thrown, Annie begins to notice corruption within the prison system. Inmates receiving favors. Guards trading drugs. Angry and wanting justice, Annie begins training with an ancient Greek monk named Basil whom she accidentally finds one day deep in the catacombs of the prison. The final confrontation is between Annie and her father, who as it turns out rigged the match so that her mother would die! Slow motion "walking towards each other while doves fly away" scenes abound.

Uwe Boll's Gunnerkrigg Court:
Gunnerkrigg Court is the party house in town, where all the hottest teens get together for drinking, sexing, and partying. Annie comes for her first time with a close friend, Kat, at the height of the biggest party of the year. At exactly midnight, however, people begin disappearing from more remote sections of the house. The disappearances become more frequent and bloody, until the truth becomes obvious: there's a dragon on the loose, and it's got the whole house surrounded! When nobody can leave and the going gets tough, what are the tough to do? Annie and Kat find ammunition and equipment in the cellar and get ready to bust some dragon ass. EDIT: Oh, I forgot to mention, there would also be video game footage from Reign of Fire and Eragon thrown in for no good reason.
Notes: All characters are cast by actors who have rather recognizable names and really should know better than to do anything with Uwe Boll.

Tim Burton's Gunnerkrigg Court:
Annie is a poor, misunderstood girl in the bright and happy world of Gunnerkrigg Court. Shunned by some, secluding herself from others, it is up to two friends--a sweet girl named Kat and a rough-around-the-edges demon doll named Reynardine--to show the rest of the world how great Annie is, or maybe vice versa. Antimony will be played by Johnny Depp.

I actually think Wes Anderson might be a good director.

Way to prove that all humor comes form stereotypes.

Now tell my how James Cameron would make it.

[oorahairforce]

alexthegreater said:

Way to prove that all humor comes form stereotypes.

Now tell my how James Cameron would make it.

I can't tell if you're complimenting me or trying to insult me in an obtuse fashion.

[alexthegreater]

Ummm both?

I am groaning over your bashing some great (and not so great) filmmakers and than asking how James Cameron would make it.

So the first line should be read with an annoyed voice and the second one should be read with a quick change in tone becoming lighthearted and silly.

A lot of my posts are like this.


Now how would James Cameron make it?

[oorahairforce]

Ah, okay. I wasn't sure.

Take most of what I say with a grain of salt. I actually like the directors I satirized (except Uwe Boll, he can choke on a bag of dicks).

I'm all parodied out for now though. I'll let someone else tackle James Cameron, though I'd imagine it'd be a sci-fi special effects extravaganza based on my limited knowledge of his work.

EDIT: However, someone does need to delete Johnny Depp's phone number from Tim Burton's Blackberry or something, jesus christ.

[eggie]

Wes Andersons Gunnerkrigg Court
Antimony is a girl on the verge of a premature mid-life crisis after the death of her mother, many montages ensue. by the end of the film she has become a girl who is on the verge of a mid-life crisus after the death of her mother. The montages have great music.

Wes Cravens Gunnerkrigg Court
Gunnerkrigg soriety house, actually. Everyone is slowly picked off by a minotaur.

I've run out of directors called Wes...

[ffej]

Stephen Speilberg's Gunnerkrigg Court

Antimony is a young girl sent off to a school that is very gloomy, and there she meets a demon happy doll who had once possessed befriended a dragon puppy dog. She eventually goes to defeat the Enigmarons (who are only shown in one scene at the end, which is very dramatic) with her blaster gun walkie-talkie. With music by John Williams.

[Tom Siddell]

What's wrong with Johnny Depp as Antimony? He is a pretty flower.

[La Poire]

admin said:

What's wrong with Johnny Depp as Antimony? He is a pretty flower.

That... disturbs me. No offense meant.

[Aspen d'Grey]

That made my day almost as much as seeing Zimmy's eyes, Tom. ^^

I really liek Johnny Depp... He might make a good Eglamore.

[todd]

oorahairforce said:

Uwe Boll's Gunnerkrigg Court:
Gunnerkrigg Court is the party house in town, where all the hottest teens get together for drinking, sexing, and partying. Annie comes for her first time with a close friend, Kat, at the height of the biggest party of the year.

Just having Annie at a place like that (unless she was dragged there by Kat despite her protests that she'd rather stay home and read about erosion) would be enough to make it a horrendous adaptation.

[owl]

I also like Johnny Depp...but as Eglamore? I don't think he could pull off the square-headedness. But then, you never know. Perhaps he could be Reynardine? (voice, obviously) Or Winsbury! ;D

[Aspen d'Grey]

Eglamore- did you see him in Finding Neverland? He can totally do serious characters.

[owl]

I never said anything about his acting, I meant the way he looks. In fact, his serious roles are the best, in my opinion. I meant literally that his head would have to be more square. But then, suggesting him as Winsbury didn't make much sense (physical-wise). I dunno. I suppose with movie magic, anything is possible these days.

EDIT: Scrap absolutely everything I just said. We're talking an animated movie her. Starting again:

Yes, Aspen d'Grey, I think Johnny Depp would make a wonderful Eglamore!

There.

[rastarogue]

I don't think it would work as a Movie. The animated series would be cool and could preserve a lot of the true feel of GC.

[oorahairforce]

He definitely doesn't have the physique, though. Eglamore would have to be someone more like ... oh hell, I don't know. Tony Jaa?

Eglamore looks Asian to me vv

[rastarogue]

If we are only talking Animated Movie, no live action stuff, jonny depp could play Eglamore. Crazy idea: What if they used David Bowie for the voice of Eglamore, he's much more serious then depp (Watch the Prestige to get an idea of what voice I want)

[owl]

Watch the Prestige even if you don't. It's awesome.

Anyway, maybe Bowie....then Depp could be Reynardine (for some reason I really like this idea).

[rastarogue]

It would fit (I think). WHo should we cast as Mort, some comedian? What about Kat and Annie? I am really bad with the names of Actors and Actresses that I can not really help.

[alexthegreater]

Billy christal as mort.

Watch Howl's moving castle and you will know what I mean.

[oorahairforce]

Oh right duh, animated. Physique wouldn't matter then.

[owl]

Who did Billy Christal voice? I've seen it, but which character was he?

[alexthegreater]

The fire daemon.

[russlol]

oorahairforce said:

Eglamore looks Asian to me vv

Heh, I thought so too, glad I'm not the only one.

Voice actors, hmmm. Alexis Bledel for Kat? It could work. And maybe Christa Miller for Annie (Jordan from Scrubs).
And Jeremy Irons for Reynardine. (Scar from the Lion King)

[julieth]

What was the name of that kid who plays Malfoy in the Harry Potter movies? He'd do a great Winsbury (I'm typecasting, but so sue me).
I like Johnny Depp as Reynardine, but I'm not so sure about Billy Chrystal...maybe it's just my general predjudice against him. Alexis Bledel as Kat is brilliant.
Maybe Cate Blanchett should be Surma. I can see that happening, she's got such a serene voice.

[monkeybucks]

I agree that Depp wouldn't be too good as Eglamore. And also that you need someone with a more square head, and also that Eglamore looks kinda asian. What about the guy who plays Jin on Lost? He's like the king of square heads.