Would it still be well received not based on a previous book series? Would people still like it if were an independent film by complete unknowns? Just curious.
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If The Girl With The Dragon Tatoo, were an indie, would it do well?
- Thread starter harmonica44
- Start date
There's two different questions there:
I think you'd find a lot of people don't necessarily know the books, or have heard about them and haven't read them so I don't know that the existence of the book would change the reception of the film too much.
If it had been made by indie nobody's well then who nknows.
I think you'd find a lot of people don't necessarily know the books, or have heard about them and haven't read them so I don't know that the existence of the book would change the reception of the film too much.
If it had been made by indie nobody's well then who nknows.
Are you asking this because it has a rape scene? 
Uhhh no?? lol
Are you taking about the recent remake of this movie?
The original European movie I thought was a bit of an Indie. I really thought it was good. Whay did they want to do a big budget remake?
Cheers,
Gregg
I loved the books (Män som hatar kvinnor). Really got into the 'rich' characters, arcs, plots, subplots. I watched the Swedish trilogy because I loved the continuing story (words on paper). The Swedish trilogy films did not do the books justice. Left out far too much story and character development. I then watched the 'Hollywood' remake. Much better but still lacking.
I would probably have seen the movies if they had been an original screenplay and not an adaption -- but as with several other books to movies (and series like Harris's e.g. Silence Of The Lambs) I would not have rushed to view due to mind set.
I am up and down on books to movies -- I read the Hunger Games series (a while ago -- as they were printed) but have not yet viewed the first movie. Eventually everything is eventual. Even death. Unfortunately, too many people do not read these days. They miss out on so much. As creative people, we should use all our senses in coordination with our personal grey matter and utilize our individual imaginations behind another's words... not just seeing and hearing and reacting to a set period of time.
My two cents. I am not rich, famous (or know anyone rich or famous). I just make stuff for the fun of it.
I would probably have seen the movies if they had been an original screenplay and not an adaption -- but as with several other books to movies (and series like Harris's e.g. Silence Of The Lambs) I would not have rushed to view due to mind set.
I am up and down on books to movies -- I read the Hunger Games series (a while ago -- as they were printed) but have not yet viewed the first movie. Eventually everything is eventual. Even death. Unfortunately, too many people do not read these days. They miss out on so much. As creative people, we should use all our senses in coordination with our personal grey matter and utilize our individual imaginations behind another's words... not just seeing and hearing and reacting to a set period of time.
My two cents. I am not rich, famous (or know anyone rich or famous). I just make stuff for the fun of it.
Are you asking this because it has a rape scene?
We need a like button.Because the original isn't in English, and they knew they could make mucho dinero if they broaden the audience.
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Ray to the rescue!
The original GWTDT movie was designed to be a Swedish TV mini-series but, due to production coinciding with the book series' explosion of international popularity, was released as a movie. I think that some of the TV production values, writing and pacing come through in the film version and that's one of the reasons why I think that Fincher's version is actually a much stronger cinematic experience.
The real question that I suspect harmonica is asking, as he has many times before, is whether he can get away with showing explicit acts of sexual violence in his film. The answer is the same as always: if it is artistically and morally justified then it will work, if it is not then you will have a problem. The questions you should be asking aren't these convoluted dissections of rape in mainstream cinema but 'why is the rape scene essential to my movie?' and 'how can I portray it delicately but not rob it of its power?'.
The real question that I suspect harmonica is asking, as he has many times before, is whether he can get away with showing explicit acts of sexual violence in his film. The answer is the same as always: if it is artistically and morally justified then it will work, if it is not then you will have a problem. The questions you should be asking aren't these convoluted dissections of rape in mainstream cinema but 'why is the rape scene essential to my movie?' and 'how can I portray it delicately but not rob it of its power?'.
I loved the books, and like the Swedish version slightly better than Fincher's.
I think the rape question (for me, speaking as a woman but NOT claiming to speak for all or most women), is not only how the rape is shot but also the overall context. Lisbeth Salander is the main character, and we already know her by the time we see that. The intended identification of the viewer is with her, not the rapist. and she certainly gets even with her attacker. So I never felt (when reading or watching) that either the rape or the rapist were being glorified.
I think the rape question (for me, speaking as a woman but NOT claiming to speak for all or most women), is not only how the rape is shot but also the overall context. Lisbeth Salander is the main character, and we already know her by the time we see that. The intended identification of the viewer is with her, not the rapist. and she certainly gets even with her attacker. So I never felt (when reading or watching) that either the rape or the rapist were being glorified.
Given that the book spent over 30 weeks on the NYT best seller list, I'm going to say no. Even if people didn't read it (and lots of people didn't), people had HEARD of it. It was kinda hard to miss.
I'd take that a step further...if the author hadn't died before the books were published, most people might not have even heard of them. I read the first two books (saw half the first movie too...haven't gotten around to finishing it, and I'd like to before seeing the Fincher version). They're okay, but they're not particularly well written. They don't really stand out in the genre. Admittedly, crime thrillers aren't my favorite genre, but it's a popular one and there are lots of better books being written all the time. Take away the author wish fulfillment (finance journalist sleeps with EVERYONE!) and mac shilling (ooh! look, an ipod! it holds lots of songs and you should buy one! ...oh, and there's other computers too), and it doesn't really stand out that much. Interesting enough for one read, but I don't think I'll ever re-read them.
Back on topic: Dragon Tattoo is a modern cultural touchstone. People have heard of it, and have ideas about it, no matter if they've read it or not. No, an unknown indie will not do that well (though maybe proportionately well...they spent 90 million on it). Hunger Games would not have done so well if the books weren't so popular. Avengers? You've got a few years of films and 40 years of comics building popularity for that. This is why so many adaptations get made (it works both ways, too. Novelizations of films, video games, comic book adaptations, etc)
I'd take that a step further...if the author hadn't died before the books were published, most people might not have even heard of them. I read the first two books (saw half the first movie too...haven't gotten around to finishing it, and I'd like to before seeing the Fincher version). They're okay, but they're not particularly well written. They don't really stand out in the genre. Admittedly, crime thrillers aren't my favorite genre, but it's a popular one and there are lots of better books being written all the time. Take away the author wish fulfillment (finance journalist sleeps with EVERYONE!) and mac shilling (ooh! look, an ipod! it holds lots of songs and you should buy one! ...oh, and there's other computers too), and it doesn't really stand out that much. Interesting enough for one read, but I don't think I'll ever re-read them.
Back on topic: Dragon Tattoo is a modern cultural touchstone. People have heard of it, and have ideas about it, no matter if they've read it or not. No, an unknown indie will not do that well (though maybe proportionately well...they spent 90 million on it). Hunger Games would not have done so well if the books weren't so popular. Avengers? You've got a few years of films and 40 years of comics building popularity for that. This is why so many adaptations get made (it works both ways, too. Novelizations of films, video games, comic book adaptations, etc)
What if... hard to get a real anwser to such questions.
I think they already increased the changes of succes by changing the title to The Girl with the dragon tattoo.
The original title translates as 'Men who hate women' (and part 2: 'The girl who played with fire').
I haven't seen the Fincher version.
The Swedish version is already quite intense, especially for a TV-series. (It's not very 'cinema' but the acting is quite strong.)
To get back to the question: it's easier to get attention with something people recognize.
BTW, go watch the BBC Wallander series.
I think they already increased the changes of succes by changing the title to The Girl with the dragon tattoo.
The original title translates as 'Men who hate women' (and part 2: 'The girl who played with fire').
I haven't seen the Fincher version.
The Swedish version is already quite intense, especially for a TV-series. (It's not very 'cinema' but the acting is quite strong.)
To get back to the question: it's easier to get attention with something people recognize.
BTW, go watch the BBC Wallander series.
Yes.
If that exact same story was made by unknowns for very little money
with unknown actors it would still find an audience. People would still
like it.
Hmm...
Would audiences like it? Sure. Great story, compelling characters, good twist at the end.
Would it find a distributor with a small budget, no names and no pedigree? Maybe...
...but (with sincere apologies for bringing up my own sh*t again) my latest feature has received praise from some pretty notable people (who aren't even related to me!) for its unique story and high production values on a very low budget, and is being repped by one of the most respected firms in L.A., yet has been rejected by nearly every reputable distribution company.
Like Dragon Tattoo, it's not a pure genre film. It's part thriller, part mystery, part drama, part horror. I'd been warned that non-genre films without names are very difficult to market, but I'm kinda stubborn (i.e. stupid).
I wonder sometimes how many great films like Dragon Tattoo are languishing out there, without benefit of pre-sold source material and/or names and/or budget. Tough business. Makes me sad.
Would audiences like it? Sure. Great story, compelling characters, good twist at the end.
Would it find a distributor with a small budget, no names and no pedigree? Maybe...
...but (with sincere apologies for bringing up my own sh*t again) my latest feature has received praise from some pretty notable people (who aren't even related to me!) for its unique story and high production values on a very low budget, and is being repped by one of the most respected firms in L.A., yet has been rejected by nearly every reputable distribution company.
Like Dragon Tattoo, it's not a pure genre film. It's part thriller, part mystery, part drama, part horror. I'd been warned that non-genre films without names are very difficult to market, but I'm kinda stubborn (i.e. stupid).
I wonder sometimes how many great films like Dragon Tattoo are languishing out there, without benefit of pre-sold source material and/or names and/or budget. Tough business. Makes me sad.
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Yeah that title kind of sucks as when it comes to marketing. I would assume the movie is a comedy, or if a thriller, I would assume it's a thriller with misandrist issues.
No I wasn't asking if I can get away with violence. I only saw the original Dragon Tatoo, and it wasn't really that violent, to use an example. There's much worse out there on the indie scene.
Did they tell you that they aren't interested in distributing your film cause it's too 'multi-genre' or what did they say? This is kind of why I was wondering about Dragon since it branches out into different genres.
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Very few gave any feedback at all. Those that did mainly said things like "too small" and "need big names".
Semi-predictable but greatly discouraging, nonetheless, especially in the horror genre, which CRIMPS largely is.
It's annoying KNOWING darn good and well that we could direct and produce an otherwise superb product hitting all the technical and thematic criteria AND STILL hit this industry wall.
It's the sort of rubbish that stops me dead in my tracks.