--- Moved from BOOKS Forum by moderator ---
I think this book would make an excellent movie, though I also think this may just be due to the fact that it was simply one of the most evocative books I've ever read. I am assuming the book was originally written in French and later translated into the English version I read. Not having read the original French version, I have to say the English translation was excellent.
I think any fan of the book would love to see it on film, but I also think that it simply couldn't be completed in a way to match the books power. Anything less than a top notch production team and cast would be needed. You would also require a tremendous budget for the battle scenes. It would probably also require one of the best screenwriters in the world to get across Sajer's thoughts and emotions.
The more I think about it the more I feel it couldn't be accomplished.
Brian
"Forgotten Soldier" could a movie even portray it?
Moderator: Commissar D, the Evil
-
Michael N. Ryan
- Enthusiast
- Posts: 518
- Joined: Thu Apr 28, 2005 6:10 am
CROSS OF IRON was a good movie. Das Boot was good. Europa Europa was interesting.
It's been a long time since I read Guy Sajer's work. But I believe it would make an interesting movie. Certainly would be a lot better than the Sex and drugs filled Politically Correct Bush bashers that Hollywood is putting out to its own bankruptcy.
Memoirs of a Geisha I tried to read. For a novel that has been getting such AWsom reviews I found IT ABSOUTELY AWFUL. Not to mention BORING, but they're making a movie out of it. Then there's the Da Vinci Code.
P.T. Barnum said there's a sucker born every minute. Now we know where they went when they grew up.
There are a lot of books that would make great movies. The stories of the German soldiers during WWII are as intereesting as those of the American soldiers. More interesting since We Americans grew up with those stories. I suppose the same can be said of Canadians and their grandfathers. Or Australians and their's and the same can be said in Britain.
Another book that would make a great movie, I feel, is NACHEMIA German & Jew in the Holocaust written by Nachemia Wurman a Jew who hid in the German army during the war.
Problem is Hollywood. You're going to have as much luck getting Hollywood to make a movie other than the bombs they like as I found trying to get the Liberal elite of the Publishing World to show interest in my novel.
Really do wish things were different.
It's been a long time since I read Guy Sajer's work. But I believe it would make an interesting movie. Certainly would be a lot better than the Sex and drugs filled Politically Correct Bush bashers that Hollywood is putting out to its own bankruptcy.
Memoirs of a Geisha I tried to read. For a novel that has been getting such AWsom reviews I found IT ABSOUTELY AWFUL. Not to mention BORING, but they're making a movie out of it. Then there's the Da Vinci Code.
P.T. Barnum said there's a sucker born every minute. Now we know where they went when they grew up.
There are a lot of books that would make great movies. The stories of the German soldiers during WWII are as intereesting as those of the American soldiers. More interesting since We Americans grew up with those stories. I suppose the same can be said of Canadians and their grandfathers. Or Australians and their's and the same can be said in Britain.
Another book that would make a great movie, I feel, is NACHEMIA German & Jew in the Holocaust written by Nachemia Wurman a Jew who hid in the German army during the war.
Problem is Hollywood. You're going to have as much luck getting Hollywood to make a movie other than the bombs they like as I found trying to get the Liberal elite of the Publishing World to show interest in my novel.
Really do wish things were different.
-
desert_fox
- New Member
- Posts: 12
- Joined: Fri Sep 24, 2004 1:31 pm
- Location: TURKIYE
-
Tom Houlihan
- Patron
- Posts: 4301
- Joined: Mon Sep 30, 2002 12:05 pm
- Location: MI, USA
- Contact:
Hey! I liked that book! I'm looking forward to seeing what they can do with a filmMichael N. Ryan wrote:Then there's the Da Vinci Code.
Of course, I also enjoyed National Treasure, as long as I remembered to keep it in context.
And, I'm looking forward to the Narnia movie, too!
Okay, back on topic. I hope somebody does do a movie of Forgotten Soldier, and that they do it properly![/i]
Forgotten Soldier Movie
Here's the latest from the guy who's the screenwriter for The Fogotten Soldier film project. He and I are in regular contact -
Sajer has FINALLY agreed to sign the legal papers giving a certain studio production rights to the movie - I don't know if he's signed them yet however, since he takes forever to make up his mind.
On the other hand, Paul Verhoeven, who had been avidly pursuing the goal of being the director for the film version of the book, got tired of waiting for Sajer to make up his mind, so he signed on to direct another WW2 epic - involving the Japanese general Yamashita, of all things.
So whether Verhoeven will want to do two WW2 movies in a row is an open question - ask again in about six month.
Yes, IF it does get filmed, it will probably have to be done in Eastern Europe - Poland, Czech Republic, Russia, Ukraine - all are contenders because it's so cheap compartively to film there.
I'm seen the outline of the screenplay, and if it's ever filmed, it ought to be pretty good, what with CGI graphics and such - you could make the Battle of Kursk come alive onscreen like never before.
Regards,
Doug Nash
Sajer has FINALLY agreed to sign the legal papers giving a certain studio production rights to the movie - I don't know if he's signed them yet however, since he takes forever to make up his mind.
On the other hand, Paul Verhoeven, who had been avidly pursuing the goal of being the director for the film version of the book, got tired of waiting for Sajer to make up his mind, so he signed on to direct another WW2 epic - involving the Japanese general Yamashita, of all things.
So whether Verhoeven will want to do two WW2 movies in a row is an open question - ask again in about six month.
Yes, IF it does get filmed, it will probably have to be done in Eastern Europe - Poland, Czech Republic, Russia, Ukraine - all are contenders because it's so cheap compartively to film there.
I'm seen the outline of the screenplay, and if it's ever filmed, it ought to be pretty good, what with CGI graphics and such - you could make the Battle of Kursk come alive onscreen like never before.
Regards,
Doug Nash
Re: TFS Movie
I agree!Doug Nash wrote:No, none yet. That's up to Verhoeven if he signs on to direct. I hope that he avoids American actors, since except with a few exceptions, most are unable to evoke the European character of the era.
-
Tom Houlihan
- Patron
- Posts: 4301
- Joined: Mon Sep 30, 2002 12:05 pm
- Location: MI, USA
- Contact:
Re: TFS Movie
Sadly, I have to agree too.Doug Nash wrote:...most are unable to evoke the European character of the era.
However, I'm available for a non-speaking part! Cheap, too!!
TFS Movie redux
One of the things about Sajer that I find curious is his depiction of himself in his book. Reading it, you would gain the impression that he was a small and diminuitive sort of fellow, suffering from what we'd call "low self-esteem issues" today. However, having seen a number of pictures of him as well as a self portrait, he is a rather big fellow and quite robust looking, even in his 70s. He certainly doesn't seem to have any self-esteem issues these days; if anything, just the opposite!
Re: TFS Movie
Manno Tom, I would be an Extra for FREE!!!!Tom wrote:Sadly, I have to agree too.Doug Nash wrote:...most are unable to evoke the European character of the era.
However, I'm available for a non-speaking part! Cheap, too!!
Hi Doug,
Thats very interesting, I had the same impression of him from the book too. Mabye just downplaying his own bravery. One thing that made me sit up was his promotion to Ober...I thought that didnt click with his own description of himself, as you didnt get promoted if you were useless.
Is there any chance of squeezing Sajer's contact details from you, purely to enter into corrospondence with him? Please PM me if you are open to this, or possibly passing a letter on, through yourself.
PS, Shame Max Schell isnt still in his prime, he would have made an excellent Wesreidau.
Cheers,
Thats very interesting, I had the same impression of him from the book too. Mabye just downplaying his own bravery. One thing that made me sit up was his promotion to Ober...I thought that didnt click with his own description of himself, as you didnt get promoted if you were useless.
Is there any chance of squeezing Sajer's contact details from you, purely to enter into corrospondence with him? Please PM me if you are open to this, or possibly passing a letter on, through yourself.
PS, Shame Max Schell isnt still in his prime, he would have made an excellent Wesreidau.
Cheers,
Jock
Hi,
We arn't discussing whether Sajer was telling the truth or not, but personally I believe he did, and so do many others. The daft reasoning that people give that his story is innacurate, he makes mistakes regarding places/units, blah blah is stupid. He was a Private in a very large, messy war. Christian, you think you could remember every place name and unit you saw during a 3 year period in Russia? Remembering that 3 year period is going to be so filled with horror, highs, lows, friends dying? At 18 years old? While trying your hardest to stay alive? And you are writing all this 20 years later.
If you could, you should probably join the circus, and be the amazing memory man, because most people couldn't.
I dont mind a bit of debate about Sajer, but please dont question his bravery till you can prove he did not serve - on the eastern front of all places.
Cheers,
We arn't discussing whether Sajer was telling the truth or not, but personally I believe he did, and so do many others. The daft reasoning that people give that his story is innacurate, he makes mistakes regarding places/units, blah blah is stupid. He was a Private in a very large, messy war. Christian, you think you could remember every place name and unit you saw during a 3 year period in Russia? Remembering that 3 year period is going to be so filled with horror, highs, lows, friends dying? At 18 years old? While trying your hardest to stay alive? And you are writing all this 20 years later.
If you could, you should probably join the circus, and be the amazing memory man, because most people couldn't.
I dont mind a bit of debate about Sajer, but please dont question his bravery till you can prove he did not serve - on the eastern front of all places.
Cheers,
Jock