Agreed. I liked Conan, but the Conan Clones SUCK! No more Arnold-Type characters! I'm all for a thief though. Or even a Mage.

After watching Ever After, I can see Drew pulling of Nalia. Even the voice is almost similiar.

<span style="color: lightblue">Or perhaps Anomen? Only problem woudl be the lack of romance novel accent... but, I don't think anyone much would complain about that.

If u made a poll for the PC on 3 main characters: Wizard Class, Fighter Class, Rogue Class, i would almost guarantee the fighter class wins. Im not talkin just about this forum, but if asked for a large audience most would take the fighter. Their really the only thing that works on an epic story like this.

Off topic but seeing as how a lot of people are reading this, perhaps someone could give me a link to the download of the romance mod that lets all romances take place.

<span style="color: lightblue">Only a figher PC could possibly work? Hmm... no, I don't buy it. They are generally what has been done thus far, but there is always room for inovation.
And even if that were the case, why would it have to be a body builder superstar actor (ie, someone Arnold-ish)? Why not someone who looks normal? Why not an elf, or a dwarf? Why not a halfling?

And if you think that only an Arnoldish character could possibly work, how do you explain the succcess of Lord of the Rings?

Don't forget Costner in Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves.

Thief characters work just as well.

Mages, look at the movie Dragonslayer. That had a semi-mage (Fighter/Mage I'd say) as the main character.

I'd also say why not an elf, dwarf, or halfling? Maybe even a half-orc?

After reading The Cleric Quintet I also say why not a cleric? They can be interesting.

Well Lennon, if that is ur real name, scroll up and see if i ever said that only an Arnoldish character would work for the PC. Let me save u som time and tell u i didnt, thats what id like to see, but its not the only possibility.

How much thiefing did Costner do in Robin Hood? Was he always on guard looking for traps? Did he ever successfuly hide in the shawdows?

I could however see a cleric as the PC, everyone always loves a Holy Warrior, especially if the movie had some sort of religious crises, a loss of faith and then a miraculous redemption.

Keep in mind that people HATED Abdel, the PC in the Baldur's Gate novels. Male fighters are boring. Now, a female fighter, dual-wielding daggers or short swords... That's a bit different. Not "Me fighter man. Me hurt you with my arms the size of lunchmeat."

Hahaha what kind of lunch meat, pre-sliced or like a big haunch of ham?

The latter... Or maybe a caveman club. Or his bare hands.

Jeez. I leave for a week and y'all are courting LIVE actors again. Tsk.

Animated > live action for two reasons: sound and image.

Image: People are taking the familiar portraits and trying to find actors who fit the picture. If a film wanted to stick as close to the source material as possible, animation is key. (Y'all are also going for Hollywood celebrities and it can be difficult to get celebrities to work together on the same picture.) I also think it's better to do spellcraft in animation rather than CGI, but that's personal preference.

Sound: Many people mentioned keeping David Warner as Irenicus. Irenicus is one buff ex-elf. David Warner is a once-robust old man. Rob Paulsen (Anomen's voice actor) looks nothing like Anomen. Also, the voice acting in the BG series is top-notch. Rob Paulsen is also the voice of Yakko Warner, Pinky from Pinky and the Brain, and many, many other things. Flip through the vocal credits on a cartoon or video game, and dollars to donuts, he's there. The vocals make the game--I think they can also make a movie.

Actors. Shame on you. [img]tongue.gif[/img]

<span style="color: lightblue">Bodhi: Rebecca Romjin-Stamos .

That would be Rebecca Romijn-Stamos, Lennon ;) And I beg to differ on your opinion, I would say Rebecca Romijn-Stamos makes an excellent Ellesime.

Personally I would rather see animated than live-action film. I concur with Pirengle, the voice acting cannot be faulted, at all. At some points it’s what made the game (well, not the only thing but...).

If truth be told though, overall I would much prefer a series. A good, well made, well financed series with a good director who won’t muck up the essence of Baldur's Gate. Many many episodes would be dedicated to main quest of Irenicus and Imoen and then the odd episode or, every other episode would be dedicated to a sub-quest such as The Unseeing Eye, or The Slavers etc...

Using 'Friends' as an example, on the show they had many famous and not so famous actors on which could also be used on the series, famous and not so famous. The original music that is used in the game has to be on the film/animation/series though; I bloody love that music, especially Viconia's romance music and the main title (for SoA).

And finally, I would personally love the main character to be a Bard - A bit of fighting, a bit of magic, and a bit of thieving. Plus I just love Bards, heheh.


--Kestrel--

Live action has a bigger audience

Yeah I suppose.

But wouldn't it be better to have a non-live action film that does the Story and the game justice that doesnt pull that bigger an audience, then having a live action film that pull a big audience but lets down the Story and makes it look very cheesy?


--Kestrel--

<font color=plum>Well, Peter Jackson finally proved that you can have the best of both worlds - the bigger audience AND not letting a story loved by millions down.

The AD&D movie didn't suck because the main character was a thief (in fact, I thought that was a rather nice twist), it sucked because the people who made it didn't know JACK SQUAT about the game (although they still managed to do well in certain parts - such as the thief stronghold).

But I also agree that Baldur's Gate would be better as a short series and it would cost a LOT of money to make that many full-length movies.

While it's fun to discuss which celebrities would be the best for which role, it isn't their ability to work together that keeps films from having too many in one film - it is the COST of HIRING "Big Name" actors and actresses for key roles.

Halle Berry is a definite for Viconia. She proved she could play a strong female character in the X-Men films. Catwoman wasn't her fault - it was the fault of the writers and producer.
Sean Connery would be the best for Keldorn. He has played aged-fighter/paladin types before.
Alan Rickman would be a better Edwin than Christopher Walken.
Drew Barrymore would work as Nalia (and her portrait was modeled after Barrymore.
Sarah Michelle Geller would make a good Imoen.
I agree with Callista Flockhart for Aerie.
Ben Affleck would work for Anomen.
Wesley Snipes would be good for Valygar, though he might actually be a bit "strong" for that character.
Danny De Vito would be the definite choice for Jan.
I would guess the guy that played Gimli would also work for Korgan.


I also like the idea of having a non-traditional PC (though fighters are usually the standard). A bard sounds like a GREAT idea. Though I disagree with the characterization given earlier of a thief PC. The PC could be the ones that stealthily scouts ahead of the group in the different dungeons and also saves the group from tripping the traps set by their enemy. They come to a locked door and the fighter wants to just bash it in, but the PC steps up, takes out his Thieves Tools and deftly opens the door without attracting the attention of any guards.

The enjoyment of these discussions comes from the fact that the possibilities are endless.</font>

Yeah, I was going to put that too. But this is like one of a kind. And the actors, director, writers were all perfect, and huge dedicated fans of the books. You would need someone with that same passion making BGII in order for it to 'perfect'.

I still think Alyson Hannigan fits the role better. Looks the part, and can act very innocent, aswell as very tough. Plus she feels like your little sister.

Hmm, possibly. But I think having John Rhys-Davies play another dwarf wouldn't be that good. It would seem scratched somehow.

Most definitely, heheh ;) Someone who sees sense, Heheh [img]graemlins/hehe.gif[/img] ;)


--Kestrel--

Well, in that movie he did steal a lot from nobles, and there were scenes of hiding. No trap detecting, though.

The female fighter idea does sound interesting. Plus, not too many fantasy movies I can think of with a female fighter as the lead.

Hey, I thought I had made a good case for anime earlier by pointing out Record of Lodoss War.

I can really only think of Red Sonya


--Kestrel--

<font color=plum>Unless you count Angelina Jolie in the Tomb Raider series.

A couple of other celebrity suggestions.

Ah-nold would probably be one of the best choices for Minsc.
Orland Bloom for Haer'Daelis.
Ron Perlman for Sarevok.

Still don't have a good idea for Irenicus. I'm not familiar with the guy that was suggested earlier, so I'll just defer to those who are familiar with him that he would be a good choice.</font>

Isnt Sarevok black? Ron Pearlman wouldnt work for that.
Orlando Bloom's a good 1 for Haer'Daelis

And Jerr, i think if they did a movie and came right out and said the PC was a thief but stil use a lot of action it would work. But no one's wanting the PC to backstab the bad guy to death. Even in Robin Hood, the climax was a straight up sword fight.

ion gruffudd has got a carismatic voice, the welsh accent, how could you say no! definately a keldorn or anomen type charicter

Thieves can fight. At least mine can :D

I can really only think of Red Sonya


--Kestrel-- </font>[/QUOTE]Yea, Red Sonja came to mind. She reminded me of a female Conan though, with more lines.

<font color=plum>This is one of the things that the DnD movie actually got right. Towards the end of the movie, the PC gets in a stand-up fight against the fighter/villain. The thief did OK for the first 2-3 rounds, but the longer the battle lasted, the more the superior technique of the fighter asserted itself.

Thieves are NOT designed to be toe-to-toe melee characters (with swashbucklers being the possible exception). Robin Hood is not a good example, because he was an archer first and a thief second. If anything, he was a fighter/thief.

There would be nothing wrong with primary PC being a thief. In the final battle, he/she has been captured by the antagonist and the rest of the party comes to the rescue. After a fierce battle, the villain has the upper hand and is about to deliver the coup de grace, when a sword suddenly explodes through his chest from behind. He turns in shock to see the thief PC standing there. He looks over at the shackles that had been holding the PC and sees them dangling from the wall. He looks back to the PC, who holds up his lockpicks and says...

"Never turn your back on a thief".</font>

I can really only think of Red Sonya


--Kestrel-- </font>[/QUOTE]Yea, Red Sonja came to mind. She reminded me of a female Conan though, with more lines. </font>[/QUOTE]Wasn't she actually intended to be the 'female Conan'?


--Kestrel--


p.s. On a side note, anyone from the UK seen that advert with the parody of Conan on? For like Milkyway or Mars or something?

<font color=plum>This is one of the things that the DnD movie actually got right. Towards the end of the movie, the PC gets in a stand-up fight against the fighter/villain. The thief did OK for the first 2-3 rounds, but the longer the battle lasted, the more the superior technique of the fighter asserted itself.

Thieves are NOT designed to be toe-to-toe melee characters (with swashbucklers being the possible exception). Robin Hood is not a good example, because he was an archer first and a thief second. If anything, he was a fighter/thief.

There would be nothing wrong with primary PC being a thief. In the final battle, he/she has been captured by the antagonist and the rest of the party comes to the rescue. After a fierce battle, the villain has the upper hand and is about to deliver the coup de grace, when a sword suddenly explodes through his chest from behind. He turns in shock to see the thief PC standing there. He looks over at the shackles that had been holding the PC and sees them dangling from the wall. He looks back to the PC, who holds up his lockpicks and says...

"Never turn your back on a thief".</font> </font>[/QUOTE]Yea, out of all my thieves only my Fighter/Thief and Swashbuckler can hold their own (In a straight up fight, backstab evens the odds). Swashbuckler after level 12.

This is in BG1 and 2 though. In Icewind Dale 2, with weapon specialization available, my thieves fight well. It also helps I max out Dexterity. Also, there are those skills that help a thief out (Like dodge).

It's been a long time since I've seen the D&D movie, so I can't remember if the theif won the fight or someone else killed the fighter.

[ 01-18-2005, 12:44 PM: Message edited by: Jerr Conner ]

I can really only think of Red Sonya


--Kestrel-- </font>[/QUOTE]Yea, Red Sonja came to mind. She reminded me of a female Conan though, with more lines. </font>[/QUOTE]Wasn't she actually intended to be the 'female Conan'?


--Kestrel--


p.s. On a side note, anyone from the UK seen that advert with the parody of Conan on? For like Milkyway or Mars or something? </font>[/QUOTE]I think so, not sure. [img]tongue.gif[/img]

I love anime and I love Lodess War (and other sword and sorcery series like Slayers, etc.) but Japanese animation has a distinct style and I'm not sure if that style would suit the game. (Even the more recent series still echo the big teardrop eye thing Illumina mentioned.)

David Warner voices Irenicus in the game, so people are plugging that he'd be first in line to play him in a live action film. And I'm like, he's a 67-year-old man. (He ain't gonna be playing Ras Al'Ghul in any live-action Batman series either, I can tell ya that much. [img]tongue.gif[/img] ) Another good thing about animation: the voice actors can be as famous or infamous or polar opposites of the character as you can get, but the voice will still be recognizable.

I still think it's more suited, though I wouldn't be opposed to a more Gargoyles style one.

Still, narrow eyes for more serious characters. It works well, gives them a more serious look. Why I love Lodoss War is that it was very serious and more realistic-looking for some characters than most other shows.

<font color=plum>Well many of the movie-goers won't be as familiar with the game as most of us are, so I really don't think the voice would have to be a perfect match. Although I haven't seen the Riddick-series, I would think that Vin Diesel would do a good job as Irenicus. He has the look and the physical build, and some minor coaching could get rid of his street-style accent and teach him to talk in a low, menacing tone.</font>

Vin Diesel's a beast and while Irenicus isnt your typical mage build, Vin is stil too buff. Wouldnt u rather have him as Minsc, or maybe Cernd.

Really, I can't see Vin playing anyone in the movie.

<span style="color: lightblue">So? [img]tongue.gif[/img] Irenicus is a former elf, doomed to age and die as a mortal. Think about Captain James Sawyer - doesn't he look kindof like he could once have been an elf? Put him in forgottenrealmsish clothes, and maybe lengthen his hair a tiny bit, and suddenly he looks very much like an aging mortal, with some small trace of elf left.

I realy don't see Jon Irenicus as being the picture of youth [img]tongue.gif[/img]

I don't know... His avatar looks really muscular.

Aswell as his CGI avatar on the end movie of SoA.

--Kestrel--

who farted?