References to films in BGII

[The Offspring of Viconia and Edwin]

I'm just realising how many references to films there are in BGII. The Umar Witch Project is obviously the Blair Witch Project. The Planar Sphere might have something to do with the film, Sphere. Irenicus sounds like something out of a documentary on the Romans. There's probably about half a million hidden references to Lord of the Rings. Has anyone noticed any more?
And, just being greedy for information, has anyone managed to play the game so that the date reads a recent date? I think it starts in 1369.

[Xen]

Originally posted by The Offspring of Viconia and Edwin: I'm just realising how many references to films there are in BGII. The Umar Witch Project is obviously the Blair Witch Project. The Planar Sphere might have something to do with the film, Sphere. Irenicus sounds like something out of a documentary on the Romans. There's probably about half a million hidden references to Lord of the Rings. Has anyone noticed any more? And, just being greedy for information, has anyone managed to play the game so that the date reads a recent date? I think it starts in 1369.

Well IIRC John Boy casted the Evil in Time Bandits. I am not sure about LotR becuase the only powerful ring in SoA is carried by one of the most powerful beings in Fae`Run. Nalia`s quest reminds me on Robin Hood. She helped many poor people but she is rich.

[Pirengle]

There may be references to the Ring Trilogy in book form, but the game came out before the movies, IIRC.

SPOILERS
.
.
.
.
ranging game-wide
.
.
.
.

--Elvis portraits and guitars in the Five Flagons
--moose and squirrel together in a cage in the Promenade
--AD&D cartoon portraits in the Adventure Mart, and on flags in the Docks and Trademeet
--I think "resistance is futile" shows up somewhere in ToB
--Gaelan Bayle's "coo" comes from the Goodfeathers skit on Animaniacs (the voice actor also provides the voice of Bobby Pigeon)
--the Knights of Solamnia come from Dragonlance
--the feral halflings come from an early D&D setting kit
--a few names in the game come from the last names of the Black Isle/Bioware team
--the BG2 forum held a contest about ideas for the new game, and the people with the best ideas or somesuch had their usernames put to NPCs in the game. Mencar Pebblecrusher, Chieftain DigDag, and the second-in-commmand of Anarg's fallen paladins are examples.
--Sir Kalthorine ut Wistan's name shows up on a scroll in ToB. He designed several early scripts, such as Happy Group.
--a reference to Walt Whitman in ToB
--a reference to Faust in ToB
--a reference to Michael Jackson in ToB (in fact, that imp is chock-full of modern-day references and in-jokes)
--the NPC mods have a few in-jokes

[Xen]

Yes the game did came out waaaay before the movie did.

Quite a good list you have there! [img]graemlins/thumbsup.gif[/img]

[Dace De'Briago]

I thought that the pics in the Adventurers Mart were off the TV series/cartoon Dungeons and Dragons... there is a direct reference to the evil dragon (can't remember it's name though...)

[Dadams1]

Pirengle said:
------------
--the Knights of Solamnia come from Dragonlance
------------


Dragonlance is not a movie . Although it would be nice if they made a movie out of the main storyline... Great books, BTW. Most of them, at least...

[Pirengle]

Originally posted by Dadams1: Dragonlance is not a movie .

Well, neither are Walt Whitman and Michael Jackson.

I've heard that the names of the Fab Five in the Bridge District all take their names from a group of villains in either a book or comic book series. Don't know for sure, because I've tried searching for every one of their names and nothing's turned up.

[605]

Originally posted by Dace De'Briago: I thought that the pics in the Adventurers Mart were off the TV series/cartoon Dungeons and Dragons... there is a direct reference to the evil dragon (can't remember it's name though...)

The dragon's name in the D&D cartoon was Tiamat... and the bad guy with the silly horn on his head was Venger.

I have all the episodes downloaded on my puter [img]smile.gif[/img]

[Tancred]

Only other thing I can think of right now: You have the option of replying "You want the truth? You can´t HANDLE the truth!" to the Captain of the Guard in Saradush... a definite ref. to ´A Few Good Men´, quoting Jack Nicholson.

[Xen]

Originally posted by Tancred: Only other thing I can think of right now: You have the option of replying "You want the truth? You can´t HANDLE the truth!" to the Captain of the Guard in Saradush... a definite ref. to ´A Few Good Men´, quoting Jack Nicholson.

I thought he was quoting Bruce Lee!
Jack Nicholson never said this, Bruce Lee did.