# Movies you wish would be made ... **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 14, 2000, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-you-wish-would-be-made/41170 "2000-11-14T17:11:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Rocketeer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocketeer/32/4437_2.png) [@Rocketeer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rocketeer)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2000, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-you-wish-would-be-made/41170/41 "2000-11-15T14:18:56Z")
Spoke: “Retreat, Hell” is about the Chosin reservoir in Korea. Pretty decent film. Oh, and I heartily second CalMeacham’s suggestion of “The Stars My Destination.” Jeez, what a great book! ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2000, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-you-wish-would-be-made/41170/42 "2000-11-15T15:19:45Z")
**Baker** wrote: > [@](#): > > I’d like to see Tarzan of the Apes done true to the book. I’ll second that. And for a good set of story boards, they need look no further than Joe Kubert’s faithful comic book adaptation of the novel which was published in the DC Comics Tarzan series back in the 70’s. Very true to the book, plus Kubert had a lot of good visual ideas for any directors/cinematographers to steal. The only problem would be conveying to viewers the conversations between Tarzan and the great apes (in ape-ese). What do you do? Use subtitles? ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2000, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-you-wish-would-be-made/41170/43 "2000-11-15T15:23:00Z")
Oh yeah, and thanks for the tip **Rocketeer**. I’ll have to check that one out. ---
**Author:** ![Swampwolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8edcca/32.png) [@Swampwolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Swampwolf)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2000, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-you-wish-would-be-made/41170/44 "2000-11-15T15:46:20Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by mouthbreather \* > \*\* > > > [@](#): > > > > \*Originally posted by blessedwolf \* > > **One of the peole I work with translated that one to “reader’s theatre.” Apparently…** > > Forgive me, but I have no idea what “reader’s theatre” means…any help? \*\* I just asked the playright (who has gotten the author’s permission to make it into a play…next step: Hollywood!), and she said that Reader’s Theatre, or _Theatre of the Mind_ is when the characters all sit in a row, do their lines, and don’t move–well, one step or so, but no actual _action_. Sounds pretty cool. ---
**Author:** ![BiblioCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ed8c4c/32.png) [@BiblioCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BiblioCat)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2000, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-you-wish-would-be-made/41170/45 "2000-11-15T15:58:11Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by FairyChatMom \* > \*\*I wish “Sphere” had been true to the book. What a disappointment it was. What bozo decided it needed to be changed??? \ \*\* I want to second this…and amend it a little? I wish _“insert any great book title here”_ had been true to the book. What a disappointment it was. What bozo decided it needed to be changed??? \ I just finished “Pillars Of The Earth” by Ken Follet. It would make an **incredible** movie, but only if it follows the book faithfully. ---
**Author:** ![Togepi\_no\_Miko](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e480ec/32.png) [@Togepi\_no\_Miko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Togepi_no_Miko)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2000, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-you-wish-would-be-made/41170/46 "2000-11-15T17:20:20Z")
I’d dearly love to see David Gerrold’s war of the cthorr books as a mini or other series. Claudia Cristen (sp?) from B5 as Lizard! SK’s Eyes of the Dragon. And the Dark Tower set. Heinlein’s Double Star and Have Spacesuit, Will Travel. A _decent_ adaptation of a Lawrence Block Scudder or bernie book. Steven Brust’s Jhereg. A Samurai Pizza Cats movie. (anyone know if and where I can get the Cats’ TV run on video?) –Ginzu Sword cat slash! ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Cynical](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ee59a6/32.png) [@Mr.Cynical](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Cynical)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2000, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-you-wish-would-be-made/41170/47 "2000-11-15T17:37:55Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Davidbw1 \* > \*\*3) “The Truth Machine” by James L. Halperin \*\* _ **OUTSTANDING** _ choice! One of my favorite books. It could be done, but it would need to be a long movie. A fantastic story. I mercilessly offer the book to friends to read, and they all have loved it. ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2000, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-you-wish-would-be-made/41170/48 "2000-11-15T19:30:20Z")
Check out the _Final Fantasy_ trailer here: [http://www.finalfantasy.com](http://www.finalfantasy.com) Looks like Pixar could be in trouble. ---
**Author:** ![JosephFinn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/3bc359/32.png) [@JosephFinn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JosephFinn)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2000, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-you-wish-would-be-made/41170/49 "2000-11-15T19:43:02Z")
So many good choices already… Before I go into mine, I’ll second the adaptation of “Murder Mysteries.” I will say, however, that I love Brian Dennehey’s performance on the Sci-Fi channel audio adaptation. As for my choice, I would love to see a great film made about the life of Satchel Paige, baseball’s greatest pitcher. So many odd stories about the man, against the backdrop of the Negro leagues. Could have won two or three Cy Young awards, easy. Would also work as a great baseball movie, since he encountered Ruth, Gherig, Bell, …damn. What was the name of the great player for the Kansas City Monarchs who was on the Baseball mini-series? Buck O’Neill? ---
**Author:** ![Tommy\_the\_Cat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/74df32/32.png) [@Tommy\_the\_Cat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tommy_the_Cat)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2000, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-you-wish-would-be-made/41170/50 "2000-11-15T19:52:32Z")
Another vote here for the Wild Cards series. But you’d have to break it up some way, it’s just WAY too much for one movie. I’d just love to see how they would do Chrysalis, Father Squid, The Sleeper, etc. I would also love to see the book Gospel by Wilton Barnhardt made into a movie. It’s kind of a Raiders of the Lost Ark, but they’re searching a lost book of the Bible. Very cool. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2000, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-you-wish-would-be-made/41170/51 "2000-11-16T00:59:02Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Mr. Cynical \* > \*\* > > > [@](#): > > > > \*Originally posted by Davidbw1 \* > > \*\*3) “The Truth Machine” by James L. Halperin \*\* > > _ **OUTSTANDING** _ choice! One of my favorite books. It could be done, but it would need to be a long movie. A fantastic story. I mercilessly offer the book to friends to read, and they all have loved it. \*\* AT LAST! Somebody else who’s read this book!! I loved it! ---
**Author:** ![Gadarene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47c2d/32.png) [@Gadarene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gadarene)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2000, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-you-wish-would-be-made/41170/52 "2000-11-16T01:04:11Z")
_The Truth Machine_ and _The First Immortal_, one of which is a sequel (of sorts) of the other, are both superlative books. They give you hope for the future, in a way. ---
**Author:** ![Shingen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6bbea6/32.png) [@Shingen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shingen)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2000, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-you-wish-would-be-made/41170/53 "2000-11-16T02:09:01Z")
I think a movie based on the life of Ranald MacDonald would be absolutely fascinating. (No, he doesn’t have any connection to the Golden Arches.) He was the son of a Hudson’s Bay Company official and an American Indian princess. He heard about Japan and reached the conclusion that the Japanese and the Native Americans were related, and decided that he wanted to go there. At that time, Japan was closed to outsiders and often those who entered the country would be killed. He worked his way across the Pacific on a whaling ship, and once they reached the coast of Japan, he persuaded them to let him borrow a dingy, which he would row close to the shore and then capsize, so that he could pretend to be shipwrecked. He was so liked by the crew that they begged him not to go, and reportedly cried as he rowed off. Everything went according to plan, and instead of being killed, he was placed in prison by the local Daimyo. As time went on, he gradually gained some level of acceptance, and even wrote the first known Japanese-English dictionary. Eventually he left Japan and travelled to Europe where he gave lectures on his experiences in Japan. Unfortunately, by the time he returned to the US, Commodore Perry had already forced Japan to open to the outside world, and suddenly his knowledge was no longer so valuable. He sank into obscurity, but somewhere in Oregon (I think), there is a monument to him. I can’t think of a more fascinating life to make into a movie. ---
**Author:** ![HPL](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/3da27b/32.png) [@HPL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HPL)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2005, 5:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-you-wish-would-be-made/41170/54 "2005-06-04T05:19:01Z")
> [@tourbot](#): > > Usually, the finished product that Hollywood puts out makes me wonder why I was looking forward to it in the first place. > . Both Orson Wells and Terry Gilliam were working on their own versions, and niether have been completed. It’s too late for Wells, but maybe Gilliam will suceed. ---
**Author:** ![HPL](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/3da27b/32.png) [@HPL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HPL)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2005, 5:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-you-wish-would-be-made/41170/55 "2005-06-04T05:21:54Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > 1. I, too, would like to see “war of the Worlds” done right. I’ve seen Ray Harryhausen’s production sketches and models. He wanted to do it as a faithful period piece. THAT would have been something. > 2. The Case of Charles Dexter Ward by H.P. Lovecraft. Arguably, it’s his most filmable. The fil “The Haunted Palace” was supposedly based on this book. Despite a screenplay by Charles Beaumont (“The Seven Faces of Dr. Lao”, and a LOT of the original Twilight Zone episodes), it didn’t succeed. > . Another vote for a Period **War of the Worlds**. Though there was a version of Charles Dexter Ward made fairly recently called **"The Resurrected**". Pretty good actually. ---
**Author:** ![HPL](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/3da27b/32.png) [@HPL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HPL)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2005, 6:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-you-wish-would-be-made/41170/56 "2005-06-04T06:12:47Z")
After reading a book about the Roman Emperors, I’ve thought that Hollywood could make a great movie about 69 AD, the Year of the 4 Emperors. Start with Nero being forced to commit suicide. Galba takes command, reigns for a little less then a year, is deposed by Otho, who is then deposed by Vitelluis. Show a battle or two from the civil wars, and then end with Vespasian becoming emporer. Plenty of violence and I’m sure they could throw some sex in there as well. ---
**Author:** ![Dunderman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecb155/32.png) [@Dunderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dunderman)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2005, 10:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-you-wish-would-be-made/41170/57 "2005-06-04T10:48:12Z")
Whoah. This was some piece of thread necromancy. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2005, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-you-wish-would-be-made/41170/58 "2005-06-04T16:29:03Z")
> [@HPL](#): > > Both Orson Wells and Terry Gilliam were working on their own versions, and niether have been completed. It’s too late for Wells, but maybe Gilliam will suceed. How about _Return Of The Living Dead Thread_? If you want to start a new thread in Cafe Society, go right ahead. I’m just going to rebury this zombie. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-you-wish-would-be-made/41170.md?page=2)