New movies coming: Solomon Kane, Plan 9, and Russian Conan VS/ the Stalinist Zombies

[eric_hinkle]

First of all, the trailer for Solomon Kane AKA Van Helsing Part Two.

I guess it's about as faithful an adaptation as we dare expect, though I hope they at least mention Kane's Christianity. After all, it was a major part in the character as written

Comments

[stauros]

Plan 9 looks like just another zombie actioner ... if they slather on a thick layer of Hollywood "message" it'll be as hokey as the original, just with better sfx. (That anachronistic cathedral radio in the 1970s-looking kitchen fairly screams cluelessness.)

I like the gravedigger's dog, though.

[eric_hinkle]

Plan 9 looks like just another zombie actioner ... if they slather on a thick layer of Hollywood "message" it'll be as hokey as the original, just with better sfx.

This reminds me of what someone said on a forum: "At least Hollywood can't make it any worse."

To which someone responded:

"Your faith in them is far greater than mine."

[headnoises]

I'm agreeing with your summation of the Kane movie....

Of course, I kinda enjoyed Van Helsing, on a "let's throw neat stuff and see what fits" level.

[eric_hinkle]

I like Van Helsing myself. It's a fun monster-slaying romp, and the werewolves were very well done. My sole regret is that we didn't get to see Anna get turned into one. ;)

It's just that proper Solomon Kane stories (to me) have more low-key fantasy elements. Kane isn't out to take down the Dark Lord, he's going to be fighting a local sorceror who's bringing back the recently dead and maybe will have a low-grade demon or two around.

[headnoises]

Isn't Solomon Kane the Puritan Adventurer that Mr. Wright always talking about?

Honestly, from a story standpoint, I prefer the lone gunner going against relatively local evil that's still destroying lives... always having the Huge World Destroying Villain kinda kills the drama.

[eric_hinkle]

Solomon Kane, the swashbuckling Puritan. Yeah, that's him. Probably one of my best-loved Howard characters.

And I agree with your second paragraph. Saving the world should not become old hat; and if it has, someone's writing skills aren't up to par. A smaller scale just works better sometimes.