Peter Jackson to do Dambusters remake

[phil82]

Casting? I've already rung Peter Jackson to tell him I'm available...

....but he told me the part of the dog was already filled!

[turboNZ]

Just moving along a little, do you think he will use the BBMF Lanc at all ?
Or the Canadian one?
Be great if there's a real one used somewhere.

[Dave Homewood]

I see that Just Jane is to do a high speed tail up taxi run, first time in public, this month. That would be worth getting on film.

I would imagine that the Canadian Lancaster might be available for filming (it has done TV work before) as might Just Jane (again done TV work) but I don't know if the BBMF would allow filmmakers to use up its precious flying hours.

[mumbles]

I'm not sure that any of the serviceable Lancasters would be suitable for anything other than close ups or very long shots, given that they look different from the aircraft used on the Dams raid.
I was also pleased to read PJ's comments this morning, I am so sick of revisionist PC nonsense concerning the events of world war two.

[Dave Homewood]

I've just realised who would be great for the part of Guy Gibson - they could use Andy Serkis with a digital cgi rendering of Gibson over the top. It'll be a less challenging role than Golum and Kong I'd think! He is a great actor too.

[Calum]

From reading this thread it seems those who consider themselves most "un PC" seem to be getting most upset about the what MAY happen to the dogs name

Get over it guys

[Dave Homewood]

I have just watched the DVD extra set called 'The King Kong Diaries' which I bought as a 2 DVD set seperate from the King Kong standard DVD. I assume it also comes in the bigger set.

Anyway this is a whole lot of short documentaries made on set to explain the progress of King Kong as it was made, and they were released every few days on the Kong in King website. Some of you may have followed the website releases of these films, I didn't but did see one or two at the time.

I have to remark on three things. One - these films show a real insight into the inner workings behind the scenes of a big feature film better than anything I've watched before, and it's amazing the detail and lengths they go to. Two - it looks throughout like a really happy set, one huge family, and Peter always comes across as both a genuinely nice guy as well as a filmatic genius. Three - Even having watched the film I had not realised the incredible detail the team had gone to to get the period look of 1933 New York right. It is stunning how they recreated the city so well down to every detail.

This, to me, is wonderful because I am certain the same painstaking detail will be made to recreate 1943 for the Dam Busters. I have such confidence in the team to get it right and I'm sure they'll do the memory of the 617 Squadron men very proud.

[Radialicious]

I hear someone is looking at a remake of Schindlers' List but will not be allowing any reference to Jewish people or the holocaust.

[Radialicious]

Perhaps NZ's PM could play the part of Guy Gibson. She looks like a man, has first hand knowledge of damage and destruction and appears to have already taken a Flak shell in the mouth and rinsed it out with a quart of W100. Very authentic.

A squadron wouldnt be needed as she could do it herself. Coz if she were to involve her colleagues, it would be so left-wing, no amount of aileron or rudder would keep it straight.

Its chance of success would be determined however by whether or not she stuck to the speed limit during the bomb run. She wouldn't need a flak-jacket either coz her teflon shoulders were well proven methods of self defence.

If the raid wasn't successful, it would be someone elses fault and she wouldn't be accountable. If it were proven to be a failure, she would rush a bill through the Air Ministry to change it.

Whoops, I just remembered that she doesn't like the Air Force.

Disregard.

[Dave Homewood]

radialicious said:

I hear someone is looking at a remake of Schindlers' List but will not be allowing any reference to Jewish people or the holocaust.

Easily acheived, just set it in modern day Palestine!

[Dave Homewood]

The point being lost here is one of the really thrilling true stories of World War Two - where huge adversities on all levels from bereaucracy to science to actual combat were overcome by skilled and talented men, and huge achievements were made, creating an incredible legend and amazing morale for the Allies - is to be retold by one of the worl'd experts. It is to tell the truth of the story, unlike before. It is to be in colour. It will have amazing effects to achieve the storytelling, and it will educate millions around the world of the achievements made by that squadron on that night, and of Bomber Command in general, plus the boffins, etc. It will also benefit NZ's film industry greatly, employ a lot of people, and will no doubt be great for the NZ aviation industry too - surely a couple of the Lancasters will end up in museums here I hope.

Is this not absolutely fantastic news? Yes. Little arguments over a name seem to be clouding the great joy of the overall news. I for one am all for the film, and have long felt the original needed an update - having Peter Jackson's awesome team do it is the icing on the cake.

[corsair67]

Here's a piece that I found from The Press.

It seems that you can't keep all of the people happy all of the time!


Steady ... bomb gone.
13 September 2006

Peter Jackson's plans for a film on the Dam Busters has produced headlines in New Zealand, says The Press in an editorial.

Any project the epic movie-maker embarked upon would attract attention, such is his record of creative brilliance and crowd-pleasing success, but for many this latest venture has a special resonance.

For the war generation and the baby boomers, the story of the Dam Busters' raid has the attraction of an heroic myth. Paul Brickhill's 1954 book provided the first comprehensive account of the venture, just as wartime security was lifting and people were beginning to take stock of the shattering conflict they had experienced the previous decade. They were far enough away from the horror and fear to relive the world conflict's peak moments and they were avid for the detail, the explanation and the narrative that had often been denied them as the battles raged. In Britain, the Commonwealth and the United States, people also wanted to savour the scarcely believable fact that they had won.

This was the receptive audience that made best sellers of dozens of books about airmen, spies, prisoners of war, commanders, army and navy men and women. They were invariably presented as perfect heroes and exemplars of the Anglo-Saxon race. Adults were proud of them, boys and girls wanted to be them.

Few of these books was as popular as Paul Brickhill's The Dam Busters. It featured a hero, loyal followers, technical genius, a worshipping dog and a thumping victory. What it did not present was the flawed leader, the sceptical followers, and the less than emphatic success of the mission.

Peter Jackson's willingness to capture the truth about the Dam Busters' raid will test his status as master film-maker. His international record is not encouraging. The Lord of the Rings series and King Kong were spectacles, not strong on psychological insight or portrayal of character.

They were also retellings of a powerful book and a memorable movie – an inheritance that let Jackson show his skills as a recreator but not as a creator. The result was stagey, melodramatic films, saved by outstanding computerised theatrics. The temptation to repeat this style in the Dam Busters film will be strong. It will be a remake of a movie remembered by millions and it will offer many opportunities for the cinematic gimmickry that have made Jackson famous. If he resists the temptation to indulge in his now formulaic film-making he will enhance his reputation and give audiences more pleasure. A film that recreated the reality of the struggle for survival inside a Lancaster with German night fighters above and flak below, and which presented complexity of character and situation, would have the potential for greatness.

The fact that Jackson is producing but not directing the new Dam Busters might benefit the film. Christian Rivers will have detailed control and he might be a more subtle artist than his master. He is, though, in the same mould – an effects man – and his capacity to present the drama of humans rather than the melodrama of big bangs is unknown. In any case, Rivers is working on a Jackson project and is unlikely to be able to surmount the Jackson formula.

Whatever the film's quality, it will say nothing particularly about New Zealand. The Dam Busters is a tale of British endeavour – that fact that three New Zealanders participated in the raid is inconsequential. In the great scheme of things that does not matter, but it emphasises the reality that Jackson is a New Zealand film-maker in terms of nationality and residence only. He does not make films about us.

We therefore need to ensure that the authentic Kiwi cinema industry is not sucked dry by the Jackson phenomenon. The people who put our stories and our accent on the screen deserve the State's sponsorship as much as does Weta Workshops. They also deserve support from audiences – audiences that will probably find Robert Sarkies' retelling of David Gray's bloody day in Aramoana more compelling than Peter Jackson's retelling of Guy Gibson's bloody night over Germany.

[phil82]

Sheesh! Who pissed in his cornflakes the day he wrote that? I bet he wears coloured braces and a pink bow-tie screaming "look at me".

[Calum]

I dunno. I think he has several points, particularly about funding NZ cinema. Neither the Lord of the Rings nor King Kong Nor The Dam Busters is particularly NZ in nature. (OK they were made here and LOR bought heaps of tourists). I fell asleep during Lou's 1 and never bothered with the other 2, nor King Kong. (yawn)

Guys Gibson wasn't well liked at all but you didn't get that from the original film. The story of Barnes Wallis is interesting though, more for the Manchester/Lancaster Angle though IMHO.

As a kid at school in the 1970's I read The Dam buster many times. Although my favorite book of the era was "Malta Convoy". The story of that convoy and how it got hammered all the way to Malta. The Tanker Ohio being the most important vessel to make it despite much damage. Now that would be a great story to see on the big screen

From a NZ, the Aramoana story would indeed be a compelling one. For a war story (with a NZ perspective)what about the life Sir Keith Park, Galliopli veteran, to 11 Group commander, to commander of the air forces in the Battle of Malta. there as some many great stories that haven't been told I wonder why this enthusiasm to remake one that has been done.

Still. I am looking forward to the remake.

[phil82]

There's a rumoured film of Sir Charles Upham in the pipeli

[phil82]

The portrayal of Gibson in the original film was way off, but it was 1954 and he was the hero in most peoples' minds. The truth was he was a bit of a martinet. Gibson had very little contact with his father, and his mother was an alcoholic, so his childhood was dysfunctional. He was essentially an angry man, and the war was a vehicle to express that anger.He was graded 'average' as a pilot, but most who knew him graded him lower than that as an individual. In particular, he was rude and condescending to junior ranks, especially ground crew. He was, in fact,not atall like the guy portrayed by Richard Todd!

[corsair67]

Now Charles Upham would be an excellent person to make a movie about, and it'd give PJ an excuse to build a shitload of WWII German tanks and other vehicles.

[phil82]

The Dam Busters Raid in a 'PC' world

Guy Gibson “Hello Chiefy, all ready for tonight’s op then?”

”Chiefy” Powell “Almost ready, sir – just one or two small issues to sort out.”

Guy Gibson “Issues? Whatd’yer mean, issues?”

”Chiefy” Powell: “Well the engines need sorting sir, they’ve all been playing up”

Guy Gibson “Playing up!? – The Merlin is the single most reliable engine of the war, for Chrisake!”

”Chiefy” Powell “Well, they’ve been running rough and having “deferred success” after about an hour with the new fuel, you see – and, ahem, could you not refer to a deity like that, sir? The squadron’s Ecumenical Council is very concerned that we don’t offend those with a differing religious bias – The Multi-Faith Chaplains were most particular on that point”

Guy Gibson “Deferred success?”

”Chiefy” Powell “Precisely sir! Station Commander’s Standing Orders – engines and pilots don’t “fail” any more – the word promotes low self-worth negative feelings sir”

Guy Gibson “ Well, what’s all this about ‘new fuel’”

”Chiefy” Powell “Unleaded sir. A petrol engine meeting the Euro IV emission standards and using petrol meeting the Euro IV specification will emit 46% less nitrogen oxides, 50% less hydrocarbons and 56% less carbon monoxide. 100 octane – sorry, RON100 - is out.

Guy Gibson “Hmmph – well is ‘G for George’ bombed up yet?”

”Chiefy” Powell “Er, no sir. The Health and Safety Executive discovered that the bomb, er sorry, the IED, was filled with RDX High Explosive and the chemical toilet on the same aircraft had caustic soda in it”

Guy Gibson “So?!!”

”Chiefy” Powell “ICAO Dangerous Goods regulations, sir – can’t carry the two together” … and it’s ‘G’ for ‘Gay’ now sir”

Guy Gibson “Jesu .. I mean Golly, no, Gosh! – well has the route been finalised?”

”Chiefy” Powell“ Nearly done sir! Apart from re-routing away from the island of Borkum.”

Guy Gibson “ What!”

”Chiefy” Powell “RSPB have been on sir, it seems there’s a breeding colony of Storm Petrels on it and it’s more than our job’s worth to go near it, quite apart from the GreenPeace trawler monitoring any deviation – Oh, and Leutnant Otto Brayk of Jagdeschwader 52 has sent an email to say he and his boys are looking forward to meeting you over Gilze-Rijen Airfield”

Guy Gibson “My God .. I mean Gracious! Has some bast… er, who’s opened their mouth and talked?”

”Chiefy” Powell “No-one, sir – it’s in the flight-plan. I filed it this morning. You do know that to fly VFR over the Netherlands at night the Dutch Ministerie van Verkeer en Waterstaat require a plan – you should have done it last week but I phoned and they said it’ll be OK this once. And not below 2000 feet in the Amsterdam FIR please sir. The Green party are very big there now.”

Guy Gibson “Well, we’ll see about that – is my kit ready? My Mae West?”

”Chiefy” Powell “Water Flotation Device if you please, sir – Bomber Command’s Harassment co-coordinator has renamed it – Mae West has too many sexual connotations.

Guy Gibson “ Well where are my flying gloves … and my helmet?”

”Chiefy” Powell “They were kid-leather sir!! – 5 Group’s Animal-Rights Officer nearly had a fit! And no helmets any more I’m afraid – can’t get a Turban under them.”

Guy Gibson “This is just too much! You’ll be saying that I can’t get to the dams next!”

”Chiefy” Powell “Funny you should mention that Sir, Brussels Flow Control says that there is likely to be holding at the MOHNE waypoint – and there is the issue of sufficient fuel. You can’t enter the Dusseldorf FIR with less than 20mins extra, and that makes the Lanc. really tight on gas.”

Guy Gibson “Look here, Chiefy, if I don’t get back I’d like you to have my next egg – and bury my poor dog outside my office at midnight would you?”

”Chiefy” Powell “Eggs are a “non-featured item” of the menu at this time sir – the Group Healthy-Living Food-Diversity Task-Force have been concerned that as the Food Standards Agency’s ‘Guidance on the Egg Products Regulations 1993’ is currently being revised, that we as a forward-thinking, pro-active unit should show the way to the rest of the Service …………………. And er, sir….

Guy Gibson WHAT??!!

”Chiefy” Powell “The squadron Ethnicity Monitoring Team would like you to re-name your dog.”

!!!!!!!!!

[flyjoe180]

;D

[turboNZ]

I see in the Dominion Post today they're reporting that he has completed a full size replica of the Lanc and a bouncing bomb as well as a minature Dam replica,...all in Wellington.

Progress ay !!