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Topic:
Peter Jackson's Temeraire
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JohnWesleyDowney
Registered:
Jan '04
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Date Posted:
9/12/06 8:49pm
Subject:
Peter Jackson's Temeraire
- Date Edited:
5/23 4:29pm (3 edits total)
Edited By:
Zaz
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Here's a project I'm sure everyone will be watching closely. This was reported by the Hollywood Reporter:
Peter Jackson has privately optioned TEMERAIRE, a historical fantasy series by first-time novelist
Naomi Novik.
Taking place in an alternative reality version of the Napoleonic Wars, the fantasy saga adds an air force of dragons and valiant aviators to the tale. After capturing a French ship, British naval Capt. Will Laurence finds an unhatched dragon egg on board, which was intended as a gift to Napoleon from the Emperor of China. After the egg hatches, Laurence leaves his life at seas to become captain of the dragon he names Temeraire.
"'Temeraire' is a terrific meld of two genres that I particularly love — fantasy and historical epic," Jackson said. "I can't wait to see Napoleonic battles fought with a squadron of dragons. That's what I go to the movies for."
Jackson hasn't decided yet on a single movie or a trilogy, but he's reportedly interested in developing interactive games based on Temeraire as well. His interest alone will probably send book sales soaring for Novik. Comments?
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How many movies do you think Industrial Light and Magic has worked on? WRONG. http://www.ilm.com/ilm_services.html "Films fulfill an unconscious spiritual desire that human beings have to share a common memory." - Martin Scorcese
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Zaz
Title: Manager, The Ampitheatre
Registered:
Oct '98
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Date Posted:
9/12/06 8:53pm
Subject:
RE: Peter Jackson's Temeraire
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I've read the trilogy; it's very good, though the second book drags a bit.
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Siths_Revenge
Registered:
Jul '04
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Date Posted:
9/12/06 10:02pm
Subject:
RE: Peter Jackson's Temeraire
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It will be three and a half hours long. Have good/poor visuals, and a lot of misty eyed character shots.
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"We seem to be made to suffer."
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Zaz
Title: Manager, The Ampitheatre
Registered:
Oct '98
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Date Posted:
9/12/06 10:21pm
Subject:
RE: Peter Jackson's Temeraire
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One thing about the books...the dragons are the most vivid characters. Tremeraire himself, Lien, and the hilarious little fire-breather, Iskeirka.
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Chancellor_Ewok
Registered:
Nov '04
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Date Posted:
9/13/06 7:24am
Subject:
RE: Peter Jackson's Temeraire
- Date Edited:
9/13/06 7:29am (1 edits total)
Edited By:
Chancellor_Ewok
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Interesting premise, I could easily see this as a Jackson trilogy, almost as much as I could see him doing Johnathon Strange and Mr.Norrell.
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For more information about the crack spider's bitch contact the Canadian Wildlife Service in Ottawa.
I robbed the second largest bank in France using only a ballpoint pen
I killed a man with this thumb.
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Zaz
Title: Manager, The Ampitheatre
Registered:
Oct '98
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Date Posted:
9/13/06 7:38am
Subject:
RE: Peter Jackson's Temeraire
- Date Edited:
9/13/06 7:44am (2 edits total)
Edited By:
Zaz
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Oh, please no. That book was insanely dull. And one thing about it: you either love it or you hate it. (Read the reviews at Amazon).
On second thought, it might be the type of book that's improved by adaptation. It would cut out the dead wood, of which there is maybe 500 pages.
I suspect "Temeraire" might be better in animation, otherwise it would be too expensive.
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severian28
Registered:
Apr '04
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Date Posted:
9/13/06 2:38pm
Subject:
RE: Peter Jackson's Temeraire
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I think the fiscal failure of The Illusionist - a very good movie - might set back Strange And Morrell.
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" Bring the sled " - Al Swearengen
" Dying all the time. Lose your dreams and you will lose your mind. Aint life unkind? " - The Rolling Stones
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Chancellor_Ewok
Registered:
Nov '04
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Date Posted:
9/13/06 2:39pm
Subject:
RE: Peter Jackson's Temeraire
- Date Edited:
9/13/06 2:40pm (1 edits total)
Edited By:
Chancellor_Ewok
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severian28 posted:
I think the fiscal failure of The Illusionist - a very good movie - might set back Strange And Morrell.
How do you figure that? I'm about 600 pages into the book and I can't help but cast the movie in my head.
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For more information about the crack spider's bitch contact the Canadian Wildlife Service in Ottawa.
I robbed the second largest bank in France using only a ballpoint pen
I killed a man with this thumb.
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severian28
Registered:
Apr '04
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Date Posted:
9/13/06 3:56pm
Subject:
RE: Peter Jackson's Temeraire
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Chancellor_Ewok posted:
severian28 posted:
I think the fiscal failure of The Illusionist - a very good movie - might set back Strange And Morrell.
How do you figure that? I'm about 600 pages into the book and I can't help but cast the movie in my head.
I think the book is great, too, and I also think it would make fine cinema but Im just pointing out that it doesnt seem that many people in America are going to pay money to see it. The books a cult hit, not a smash hit, as Zaz already pointed out - and its true, read the online reviews - its either unabashed gush or hatred. Theres very little " its o.k. ". Personally I love it and books like it. Good period pieces with a dash of horror or fantasy are a pleasure to me, but I dont think it has a large enough following to justify the tremendous budget that would be needed for that film. Seriously, I hope Im wrong, but I dont see it happening for at least ten years. From Hell didnt work out too well finacially, they never even made The Alienist, and The Illusionist just tanked. If Nolans' movie isnt a hit dont expect it to be made.
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" Bring the sled " - Al Swearengen
" Dying all the time. Lose your dreams and you will lose your mind. Aint life unkind? " - The Rolling Stones
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Zaz
Title: Manager, The Ampitheatre
Registered:
Oct '98
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Date Posted:
9/13/06 4:14pm
Subject:
RE: Peter Jackson's Temeraire
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A good many people are sorry they paid money for the book, let alone the movie. 
We're getting off topic here; this is about the Temeraire books.
Think about it--you need at least two sailing ships, several dragons, and the invasion scene itself would be very difficult.
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Well_Of_Souls
Registered:
Aug '01
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Date Posted:
9/13/06 7:27pm
Subject:
RE: Peter Jackson's Temeraire
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I've never read the book, but that synopsis sounds completely stupid.
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Zaz
Title: Manager, The Ampitheatre
Registered:
Oct '98
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Date Posted:
9/13/06 7:48pm
Subject:
RE: Peter Jackson's Temeraire
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Okay, I'll describe the books for you. Novik published the first three at once:
"His Majesty's Dragon"; "Throne of Jade" and "Black Powder War" in that order. I read them because of a rave review of "His Majesty's Dragon" in EW.
Book 1: William Laurence is the captain of a ship of the line in the British Navy circa 1805. His ship captures a French frigate carrying a valuable cargo: an unhatched dragon's egg. Dragon's eggs are extremely valuable commodities in this universe, because the British, the French, and just about every other power have aerial corps manned by aviators. The corps are composed of dragons. Each country has their own distinctive breeds. Some breathe fire (Turkish), some spit acid (British), some are nocturnal (French, called Fleur de Nuit).
Since the British are chronically short of quality dragons, the egg is a great prize. The problem is, though, it is about to hatch. Once a dragon hatches, it must have an aviator nearby to bond with or it is held to be useless in the corps and consigned to the breeding grounds in Newfoundland.
But nobody on the ship wants to be an aviator. It's an isolated life with few perks. They draw straws, and an unpromising midshipman is chosen.
The egg hatches, but the dragonet, coal black, and very intelligent (the dragons are sentinent and talk), rejects the midshipman and selects Laurence as its handler. Laurence is resigned. He loves his career, but now he must give it up to become an aviator, something disapproved of by his family, and incidentally, the aviators, who think a rare dragon (which is identified as a Chinese Imperial) is wasted on a lug of a seaman.
Chinese dragons are famous for their intelligence, and Temeraire (named after a famous ship captured from the French) is no exception. The book follows Laurence and Temeraire through basic training and battle. Temeraire turns out to be a special dragon, even rarer than an Imperial and one with a special talent.
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DAR
Registered:
Jul '04
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Date Posted:
9/13/06 9:45pm
Subject:
RE: Peter Jackson's Temeraire
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So the books are worth checking out, I haven't read a real good fantasy story in awhile.
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Zaz
Title: Manager, The Ampitheatre
Registered:
Oct '98
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Date Posted:
9/13/06 11:58pm
Subject:
RE: Peter Jackson's Temeraire
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Book 2: "Throne of Jade"
The Chinese find out that the dragon egg they intended to present to Napoleon has been captured by the Brits, and demand Tremeraire's return. He and Laurence go to China, a place where dragons are part of society, and not marginalized as they are in Europe. There Tremeraire meets Lien, an albino Celestial that's his negative reflection. Big trouble ensues, and he and Laurence eventually discover why Temeraire was offered to Napoleon in the first place.
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Siths_Revenge
Registered:
Jul '04
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Date Posted:
9/14/06 12:37am
Subject:
RE: Peter Jackson's Temeraire
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But Zas thought Serenity would be a hit, so anything goes.
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"We seem to be made to suffer."
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Zaz
Title: Manager, The Ampitheatre
Registered:
Oct '98
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Date Posted:
9/14/06 7:34am
Subject:
RE: Peter Jackson's Temeraire
- Date Edited:
9/14/06 11:42am (2 edits total)
Edited By:
Zaz
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You'll have to ask her about that... 
(My name is spelt with two z's, Zas's with an s...)
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