20,000 Leagues Under the Sea

[Klaus]

My av for this week's contest made me ponder this classic, one of my all-time favorite books, and the question of whether a faithful adaptation of it could work as a movie today. War of the Worlds, its main peer in the era IMHO, has had several serious versions and, for better or worse, one modern remake -- what about relaunching the Nautilus?

The Disney version is fun and looks great but, well, it's a Disney version and is thus a bit fluffy. Watching Kirk Douglas gnaw scenery and hearing Peter Lorre whine is always entertaining but they really don't have anything to do with the book's approach and spirit.

I do have a lot of respect for James Mason's performance as Nemo -- he seems to be acting in a different movie from everyone else.

There was a Skiffy version recently, and that's all I need to say about that...

Another reason why I think it could work today is that modern sfx could make the underwater scenes really spectacular and thus something of a draw to the non-fen. The transit of the Suez tunnel, trapped under the ice, the giant pearl... those would rock in the hands of Weta or ILM.

I'd also think the original inconclusive ending would work, since it would set up doing a sequel if it worked out, just like Verne did.

And the core of the story -- Nemo's tortured soul and war against humanity -- would be perfect for any number of top-flight actors.

Reactions? Casting ideas?

 

[DWF]

There was a Skiffy version recently, and that's all I need to say about that...

Niether the CBS movie nor the ABC miniseries is Sci-Fi's fault. However there is a prequel to the Disney movie in the works.

 

[AviTrek]

I'd love to see Patrick Stewart do it. I guess he's already done a TV version of Nemo, but that's no reason not to let him do a movie version too.

 

[Kirkman1987]

It's an Idea I've pondered myself from time to time.

I haven't read the book forever, but loved Jules Verne when I was growing up. The Disney version is quite spectacular for what it is, but like you said, it's a bit fluffy and light. If anything, James Mason is amazing as Nemo and the more serious scenes were very well done. I even liked the ending, even though it was nothing like the book.
OCTOPUS SCENE

I think a new version could be a big hit, under the right circumstances. The big draw would be SFX and good casting, but the story could remain mostly faithful. the book has some great sequences. I'd love to see the nautilis trapped in ice, not to mention the octopus battle.

 

[MeanJoePhaser]

I watched parts of the updated Lorenzo Lamas starring version.Theres mechnical squids that attack submarnes. Nemo's got like a rave room on the Nautilus and brainwashes people.

Awful, just awful.

 

[Captaindemotion]

Isn't Nemo supposed to be Indian in the novel? I liked how they made him that way in LXG (indeed, that actor was one of the few good things about the movie). Perhaps, given that people are suggesting Patrick Stewart, his lookalike Ben Kingsley - who has won an Oscar for playing a famous Indian, even though he's not - would be a good choice!

Afraid it's been a long time since I read the original novel, so I'm all out of ideas for the other characters. I'd like to see some French actors in it, given the origins of the author.

 

[Caliburn24]

I haven't read The Mysterious Island(Verne's sequel) yet, but I believe Nemo is made out to be a disenfranchised ex-Confederate navel officer in that book.

 

[Marc]

I haven't read The Mysterious Island(Verne's sequel) yet, but I believe Nemo is made out to be a disenfranchised ex-Confederate navel officer in that book.

Which contracdicts 20,000 Leagues. One of the biggest scenes which indicated Nemo might be an an Indian is when they are watching the some pearl divers.

Also Disney did another less well know version of 20,000 Leagues. It was a cartooon and although it added a character (a niece of Consel who tells the tale of the Nautilus) it's much closer to the book than other versions.

 

[Kryton]

Gotta have Kelsey Grammer as Nemo.

 

[Marc]

Gotta have Kelsey Grammer as Nemo.

pompous and sanctimonious indeed

 

[Gov Kodos]

I haven't read The Mysterious Island(Verne's sequel) yet, but I believe Nemo is made out to be a disenfranchised ex-Confederate navel officer in that book.

Which contracdicts 20,000 Leagues. One of the biggest scenes which indicated Nemo might be an an Indian is when they are watching the some pearl divers.

Also Disney did another less well know version of 20,000 Leagues. It was a cartooon and although it added a character (a niece of Consel who tells the tale of the Nautilus) it's much closer to the book than other versions.

His background, a Hindu prince, is revealed in "Mysterious Island" where he is identified as Prince Dakkar and is fighting against the British. They killed his family during the Sepoy rebellion in 1857 (I think that's the year).

 

[DWF]

Gotta have Kelsey Grammer as Nemo.

That was a priceless skit.

 

[Vonstadt]

Gotta have Kelsey Grammer as Nemo.

Perfect

 

[Corran Horn]

Hell, John Hamm did a great James Mason on SNL...

 

[M'Sharak]

I haven't read The Mysterious Island(Verne's sequel) yet, but I believe Nemo is made out to be a disenfranchised ex-Confederate navel officer in that book.

Which contracdicts 20,000 Leagues. One of the biggest scenes which indicated Nemo might be an an Indian is when they are watching the some pearl divers.

Also Disney did another less well know version of 20,000 Leagues. It was a cartooon and although it added a character (a niece of Consel who tells the tale of the Nautilus) it's much closer to the book than other versions.

His background, a Hindu prince, is revealed in "Mysterious Island" where he is identified as Prince Dakkar and is fighting against the British. They killed his family during the Sepoy rebellion in 1857 (I think that's the year).

That's the year of the Sepoy Mutiny, and it fits with The Mysterious Island, set a few years afterward.

 

[Gov Kodos]

Which contracdicts 20,000 Leagues. One of the biggest scenes which indicated Nemo might be an an Indian is when they are watching the some pearl divers.

Also Disney did another less well know version of 20,000 Leagues. It was a cartooon and although it added a character (a niece of Consel who tells the tale of the Nautilus) it's much closer to the book than other versions.

His background, a Hindu prince, is revealed in "Mysterious Island" where he is identified as Prince Dakkar and is fighting against the British. They killed his family during the Sepoy rebellion in 1857 (I think that's the year).

That's the year of the Sepoy Mutiny, and it fits with The Mysterious Island, set a few years afterward.

Going back over Mysterious Island and the Confederate conection, if you will. The main characters were Union sldiers held prisoner by the Confederates outside Richmond. They escape the Confederate prison using a makeshift hot air balloon. A freak storm blows them all the way to the South Pacific.

There is some controversy about Verne's timeline and Nemo's life between TTLUTS and MI, but none about his backround as a Hindu prince and his motivation to fight the British. Thanks for checking the year of the Sepoy Rebellion, I wasn't sure my memory was right on that.

 

[AJBryant]

Yeah, given that the SEQUEL takes place during the War Between the States, and the original novel features a US naval vessel named "Abraham Lincoln".... yeah, there's a time screwup there.

 

[Klaus]

I have this sudden image of Nemo being debriefed by the Dept. of Temporal Affairs...

 

[Davros]

The deepest part of the ocean is less than 20 thousand leagues under the surface.

 

[Klaus]

The deepest part of the ocean is less than 20 thousand leagues under the surface.

...but only by about 19997.2 leagues!