G.I. Joe director fired???

[blockaderunner]

I apologize a thousand times over that I can't find the source where I read this. Maybe later in the thread or one of you can find it.

Apparently, after a less than stellar test screening, Stephen Sommers (He of the immensely fun The Mummy, but the utterly forgetable "Everything After That") was handed his walking papers and pick up shooting and last minute editing is being handled by a name all too familiar here:










Stuart Baird










Yes, that Stuart Baird. And of course, in the article I read there was an immediate response from TPTB saying it's not true and etc. etc. etc. I'm not saying it is, but if it is, will Sommers get credit? This may be just internet BS on the part of overzealous geeks, but, from what I've seen so far, nothing really inspires confidence. What do you think? And if you can provide a link to the article before me, thanks.

 

[Harvey]

Sommers hasn't inspired confidence in anything he's done since The Mummy in 1999. The trailers for this film look abysmally cheesy, but, then again, the source material isn't Shakespeare.

And say what you will about Baird's directorial efforts--I'd chalk up the failure of Star Trek Nemesis to him being unsuited to the material and a bad script over him being a bad director--but he is an excellent editor. Wish he'd stay in that line of work.

And here's an article about this

 

[Greg Cox]

Sounds like an unconfirmed rumor to me.

I mean, the original "news report" is based on an anonymous post on a message board somewhere?

Well, gee, it must be true then . . . .

 

[roguephoenix]

even if this was true, the person they should fire is the one the came up with those mecha-super-suit things they now wear...

 

[LutherSloan]

The producer of the film has officially denied the rumor, after being asked about it by Latino Review.

 

[Hermiod]

And say what you will about Baird's directorial efforts--I'd chalk up the failure of Star Trek Nemesis to him being unsuited to the material and a bad script over him being a bad director--but he is an excellent editor. Wish he'd stay in that line of work.

I'd disagree with that somewhat. Part of Nemesis' problem was the editing. A director that comes from an editing background should do a better job.

Too much was lost on the cutting room floor to make the story cohesive.

 

[Daneel]

All the promotional material presented thus far credits Sommers as the director, and I doubt that's going to change, regardless of what may or may not have happened behind the scenes (I'm inclined to doubt this rumour, but you never know). Here's an article about the rumour, updated to include the producer's denial.

In any event, I still think this movie looks like crap. In the article above, the producer denies there was any trouble after screenings, saying that the movie tested very positively. Right... perhaps there's more to this rumour than we think. (I kid. ) I know, the film's quality can't really be gauged until it's released. Who knows, maybe it'll turn out to be decently-made fun... but given Sommers' recent track record, I wouldn't bet on it.

As for Baird, I agree he's not a bad editor. I too think he's better-suited for editing rather than directing, but there are plenty of worse directors out there -- Nemesis' direction wasn't stellar, but it was far from the film's only problem.

 

[Aragorn]

I'd disagree with that somewhat. Part of Nemesis' problem was the editing. A director that comes from an editing background should do a better job.

Too much was lost on the cutting room floor to make the story cohesive.

If the movie works best at 2:15 and the studio demands it be cut down to 1:50, how is it the director or editor's fault?

Is Ridley Scott to blame for the theatrical cut of Kingdom of Heaven?

 

[Hermiod]

^Baird said in the DVD extras that if he'd had the choice he would have made it shorter. Doesn't sound like studio pressure to me.

 

[Aragorn]

I don't mind Baird as a director. He's serviceable in a Brett Ratner sort of way. If the script isn't any good, he's not going to be able to make it better. I think his biggest problem with Nemesis was not knowing Star Trek or sci fi in general.

But he has to get some credit for being the first (and only?) director to kill off a Steven Seagal character, especially only 30 minutes into the movie.

 

[God Magnus]

even if this was true, the person they should fire is the one the came up with those mecha-super-suit things they now wear...

Why? Because they introduce a science fiction element into the story? Early versions of suits performing super-human functions are already in development. Battle armor is also an old concept with the Joe line, having already been used several times for Battle Armor Cobra Commander.

Also, G.I. Joe has a long history of scifi elements that stretch belief. Serpentor, Battleforce 2000, Synthoids and the blob featured in the episode "The Germ" that was defeated by...apples. After that, armored suits are barely worth mentioning IMO.

 

[Starbreaker]

Not True

 

[Professor Zoom]

even if this was true, the person they should fire is the one the came up with those mecha-super-suit things they now wear...

Why? Because they introduce a science fiction element into the story? Early versions of suits performing super-human functions are already in development. Battle armor is also an old concept with the Joe line, having already been used several times for Battle Armor Cobra Commander.

Also, G.I. Joe has a long history of scifi elements that stretch belief. Serpentor, Battleforce 2000, Synthoids and the blob featured in the episode "The Germ" that was defeated by...apples. After that, armored suits are barely worth mentioning IMO.

I don't think it's the idea that is a problem, it's the execution. Seeing them in the trailers...it just doesn't look very good.

 

[exodus]

Is it even possable to fire a director after the film is done?

 

[ManOnTheWave]

Not happening. This rumor is days old and debunked days ago.

Is it even possable to fire a director after the film is done?

Most of Superman 2 was shot when they axed Donner. So yes. But it's unusual, as in the the director would have to personally majorly piss off the head of a studio or something.

Why? Because they introduce a science fiction element into the story? Early versions of suits performing super-human functions are already in development. Battle armor is also an old concept with the Joe line, having already been used several times for Battle Armor Cobra Commander.

It goes further back than that. Remember SNAKE armor? An armor suit for a figure, but if you didn't have a figure it came with an armiture to fit inside so it could be a robot. What amuses me is that the real armor suits that are proposed have a function so that a soldier could removed the suit and let it perform one job while he perfomrs another. Kind of like the SNAKE.

 

[Captain Craig]

I'm not a huge Joe fan but will be seeing this movie, despite it looking less than stellar. As long as it stays a few notches above Dragonball and the Street Fighter: Chun-Li film it can at least maintain some pride.

 

[Harvey]

Is it even possable to fire a director after the film is done?

Ridley Scott was fired after principal photography was finished on Blade Runner. It's not uncommon for a director to be kicked out of the editing room and the studio (or producer) to take over post-production when they don't like the way things are going.

 

[JPRyan]

Have talked to two friends on the lot who saw advanced screenings of it. Both say it's a mess. One wanted to walk out after 10 minutes. If this thing tanks the blood in motion picture development is going to be ankle deep.

 

[Aragorn]

If the rumor is true that Sommers had total control of this movie, then everyone who signed off on that should be fired. So The Mummy being a surprise hit caused his stock to rise, but then to follow it up with The Mummy Returns and Van Helsing? Did no one notice his escalating problems?

 

[Greg Cox]

Is it even possable to fire a director after the film is done?

Ridley Scott was fired after principal photography was finished on Blade Runner. It's not uncommon for a director to be kicked out of the editing room and the studio (or producer) to take over post-production when they don't like the way things are going.

SUPERNOVA (the James Spader/Angela Basset space movie) went through something like three directors before the final edit was achieved. And big-name actors have occasionally taken over the editing of their movies, squeezing the director aside.