Why did 10,000 B.C. suck?

[maralyn]

Re: Why did 10,000 B.C. suck?

I couldn't see it for a long time. I was so JEALOUS.

wow. Fancy being the one to bring ancient man back to life like that.

But then I watched it, and thought, why the hell are they talking like that? And what's with this weird story?

Still, the children seemed to enjoy it. Obviously they're a lot more gullible.

[wcmartell]

Re: Why did 10,000 B.C. suck?

Actually, it got mixed reviews. Turan at LA Times liked it (and he hates lots of stuff), so did both of the trades (though, if memory serves, one really liked it and the other thought it was fun but could have been better) and I think it got at least one thumbs up on the show that used to be Siskel & Ebert.

It was good cheesy fun - check your brain at the door.

- Bill

[Juno Styles]

Re: Why did 10,000 B.C. suck?

i lasted 20 minutes on this movie. when i noticed all the cavemen or whatever spoke perfect english, even better than someone who's completely illiterate, it immediately reminded me of that dumb viking movie that came out a couple years ago, forgot the name. the actors just looked they were dressed up for halloween. lame all the way around.

[Knaight]

Re: Why did 10,000 B.C. suck?

I could only stomach to watch like half an hour of 10,000 B.C. because it's just laughably stupid in every respect. Definitely watch QUEST FOR FIRE. And 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY. I'd also recommend a few man vs. environment vs. man movies that aren't paleo-located, like ZERO KELVIN and DERSU UZALA.

Thanks for the suggestions; I'll definitely check them out. It's been a long time since I've seen 2001, and I've never seen any of the others.

[Gwai Lo]

Re: Why did 10,000 B.C. suck?

I could only stomach to watch like half an hour of 10,000 B.C. because it's just laughably stupid in every respect. Definitely watch QUEST FOR FIRE. And 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY. I'd also recommend a few man vs. environment vs. man movies that aren't paleo-located, like ZERO KELVIN and DERSU UZALA.

[Knaight]

Re: Why did 10,000 B.C. suck?

Okay, so the general consensus is:

-Laughably historically inaccurate.
-Boring characters.
-Uninspiring story.

I'll take that as good news. The first item is one that I have complete control over and the other two issues I can work hard to overcome.

For anyone interested, the script I'm working on is not like 10,000 B.C., it's just set in the same time period and anyone who reads it or about it is likely to draw a parallel. The script I'm writing is still an epic one, but it's on a much more personal level. No warring clans chasing down 500 mammoths in the desert, just a son trying to get his estranged father with a broken leg back to his clan's camp before the first winter storm hits.

But just in case, I think I'll help it stand out by calling it, "11,000 B.C." That should do the trick.

[Ravenlocks]

Re: Why did 10,000 B.C. suck?

When I first started seeing billboards for 10,000 BC, I wanted to see it mostly because of the setting. I thought it could be fun and fresh. Then I started hearing bad word-of-mouth, so in the end I never spent the cash. But I can tell you it wasn't the setting that turned me off.

[jcgary]

Re: Why did 10,000 B.C. suck?

10,000 BC was conceived as a fantastical event movie for overseas audiences not an authentic prehistoric adventure, and it delivered on being a fantastical event movie (with good overseas returns). You should certainly see it, but don't bother worrying about it or why it wasn't a success (which is how the town feels about the movie, although it did make back its nut -- talk to me sometime about Wild Wild West). APOCALYPTO and to a lesser extent CLAN OF THE CAVE BEAR and QUEST FOR FIRE might spark your imagination more.

[Signal30]

Re: Why did 10,000 B.C. suck?

I saw the whole wooly mammoths in the desert bit in the trailer and figured I could go without seeing any more.

[Raff]

Re: Why did 10,000 B.C. suck?

10, 000 B.C. got me excited when it was announced. I am a big fan of Clan of the Cave Bear (the book not the horrible movie!!) and Quest for Fire. That was what I was hoping for - authenticity! Which 10KBC did not deliver.

From the first 5 minutes it was clear that this story was not researched. From costumes, language, settings and social structure everything felt "made up". And the actual narrative was not worthy or imperative of the setting.

That being said, it did make a profit. But I'm sure it could have been better if the screenplay was matured more.

[Captain Jack Sparrow]

Re: Why did 10,000 B.C. suck?

I'm unfortunately well aware that the marketability of this one is pretty low. However, 2009 was a bad year for me -- I only finished one spec. I had several false starts and finally decided I just needed to pick an idea and write it. This was the idea that interested me most, so it's the one I'm going with. The story is strong and compelling, so even if it's unable to sell, I'm hoping that the writing will be enough to introduce me to some new people.

Well be all means finish it, it's good practice and well, you never know, stranger things have happened.

[medic1]

Re: Why did 10,000 B.C. suck?

i can't remember much about this movie, but I do remember while watching it at the theater, this would make a great parody with a change or two... the dudes should've probably carried hair driers with em'.

at least it made it enjoyable even if it wasn't their intention.

[Knaight]

Re: Why did 10,000 B.C. suck?

Sad to say I think you will have a tough time selling a script like what you propose, and Roland didn't do you any favours, in fact he probably killed any chance you had. "Oh so it's like 10 000BC is it?" good luck talking yourself out of that one

I'm unfortunately well aware that the marketability of this one is pretty low. However, 2009 was a bad year for me -- I only finished one spec. I had several false starts and finally decided I just needed to pick an idea and write it. This was the idea that interested me most, so it's the one I'm going with. The story is strong and compelling, so even if it's unable to sell, I'm hoping that the writing will be enough to introduce me to some new people.

[Captain Jack Sparrow]

Re: Why did 10,000 B.C. suck?

Well it just didn't have a compelling story, I mean I saw it, and whilst I admit I zoned out after 5 minutes, I don't even have the faintest recollection what the story was about or who the characters were. I mean sure there was half a high concept there, 10 000BC (but then what?), but what was the actual story about? Because I don't have the foggiest. That means it committed the one cardinal sin... it was boring!

The setting itself was ok, it's just scenery after all. It had enough spectacle in and of itself (I mean this wasn't filmed in a phone booth) if the story was compelling.

Other than that, well I suspect Emmerich's lack of attention to detail and research probably bites more on a film like this, I mean who cares on a fun film like Independence Day, but a film about 10 000 years BC, you gotta put a bit more effort into it, people notice! But then Emmerich never had much credibility to start with in this sense so it was probably always going to be an uphill battle. If James Cameron made it I'd know it was authentic to a t, I would buy into the world, but this thing was all over the shop, forgivable maybe if it was played for laughs and a bit tongue in cheek... but it wasn't, it was dead serious!

Sad to say I think you will have a tough time selling a script like what you propose, and Roland didn't do you any favours, in fact he probably killed any chance you had. "Oh so it's like 10 000BC is it?" good luck talking yourself out of that one

[Knaight]

Re: Why did 10,000 B.C. suck?

Well it was made by Roland 'never bothered to learn about characters/story/structure' Emmerich, that might have had something to do with it...

Although I hated THE DAY AFTER TOMORROW and have purposely avoided STARGATE and GODZILLA, I'll go out on a bit of a limb here and admit that I watch INDEPENDENCE DAY on at least a yearly basis and enjoyed THE PATRIOT as well. So at least in my mind, there have to be some more specific reasons than, "Emmerich touched it".