Why did 10,000 B.C. suck?

[Knaight]

I've been researching and developing an action/adventure script about journeying Paleoindians near the end of the last ice age. The obvious similar movie would be 10,000 B.C., which had less than less than stellar reviews. I'm about to begin my outline, and I'd love to avoid that movie's pitfalls.

Since the script seems pretty unavailable, I'm obviously going to rent it and see what's wrong with it for myself, but I'm interested to hear other peoples' thoughts before going into it.

Is it the characters? The setting? The antagonistic forces?

Some people believe that it's simply hard to create empathetic characters in a prehistoric setting. I loved APOCALYPTO, though, and I'd like to think that if Pixar can make me empathize with toys, rats, and cars, it should be possible to create prehistoric characters that an audience would like to spend time with.

The last ice age certainly seems like a strong setting for a movie. You can take any spot in the world -- excluding the poles -- and spin it on its head visually. There's a whole set of dangerous animals that look familliar yet have their own other-worldy quirks to them. Judging from 10,000 B.C.'s trailer, though, it almost seems like the setting was a weakness.

I can see how antagonistic forces might be a problem. It's hard to create super villains when clans are only 30-50 people in size. Then again, the size of a village didn't stop Daniel Day-Lewis from being one of my favorite evil movie men of all time in THERE WILL BE BLOOD. Aside from people, I've also got intense weather and animals that I can use to keep my hero down.

Honestly, it just blows my mind that the one recent movie taking place in this setting was deemed terrible by so many people. I'd love to know where it went wrong.

Thanks for your input!

-Nate

[Captain Jack Sparrow]

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...

[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".

[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?

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.

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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?

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.

[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.