Ouf

[athersgeo]

In work early this morning. Not QUITE as early as I'd planned, but still in by 7am - and this after being up until midnight (somewhat shamelessly) transcribing lightsabre duels from the Phantom Menace for use in a sword fight. Actually, it was kind of fun to do - and hey, any excuse to repeatedly watch Nick Gillard, Ray Park, Ewan McGregor and Liam Neeson repeatedly rehearse!

Actually, I've spent a lot of the last two weeks writing sword fights - which has been fun (it's one of the few things I actively miss about not writing Highlander - not having an excuse to write a sword fight per story), and a challenge (trying to come up with different things to happen in each one is tough). They were for a sword tournament being held as part of an online fair (being hosted by ganeris), so most of them will probably not see light of day beyond that; but this last one (for which I was transcribing lightsabre moves) is probably going to form the basis of a short story for the Identiverse. Have to see. If not, I will at least put up the bits I transcribed here in my LJ - just because they're kinda fun :)

There's nothing much to report on the Shadow Games front at this point - though as I clear my desk again, I should be able to get to it today :)

Comments

[antigone-ks.livejournal.com]

Whatever happened to Ray Park? I haven't seen him since Sleepy Hollow and the first XMen.

[athersgeo.livejournal.com]

Around and working :)

He did "Ballistic: Ecks vs Sever" and he's currently doing "Iron Fist" (though I'm not sure how seriously to take that second one - seems to be very little data on it at IMDB). I have a suspicion he's probably done quite a bit of stunt work that's not necessarily credited to him. (she says, based on months of tracking down just that sort of info for someone else!)

[antigone-ks.livejournal.com]

...ok, my first reaction to that was !!wstfgl!!they're making Iron Fist? What about the other xwing novels?

Then I woke up.

:D Thanks for the info. I wondered if he'd fallen off the planet or something. Glad to hear he's still around.

And really, aside from the height thing? He'd make a decent Kell Tainer.

[athersgeo.livejournal.com]

He would. He so would. And hey, if they can have Hugh Jackman play Wolverine (HJ being 6' plus; Wolvie supposed to be 5' and change), then we can have Ray Park be Kell Tainer. We'll just stick him on a box - or the rest of the cast in a trench...

Here's a question for you: Who would you cast as Wedge and Wes?

[antigone-ks.livejournal.com]

The Wedge Estrogen Brigade used to have a casting couch, but WEB is apparently down for the count and I can't find a google cache for it. John Cusack, about 5 years ago, would be a decent physical match for Wedge, but it's hard to imagine him going Vader on someone. Maybe Keanu as Wedge? If he could act, you know. Or we could always do massive plastic surgery on Denis Lawson.

I've heard Kevin Smith (from Xena) as Wes, but he's dead. There's actually a Brazilian guy who owns a restaurant in town that looks so like "Blood and Honor" Wes (the frame where he's got a cup of caf and his clothes are admirably tight?), but it's hard for me to think of an actor. A young Oliver Reed might have the vitality, but again: dead. Of course, having seen Troy, I can see a darker Pitt as Wes.

I see a blonde, A River Runs Through It-or- Meet Joe Black-era Brad Pitt for Tycho, and I've heard equally convincing arguments for Cary Elwes as either Hobbie or Ton Phanan.

What about you?

[athersgeo.livejournal.com]

I don't think Keanu could do it these days plus he's probably a bit on the old side now and plus can't act for toffee *grin* Besides John Cusack though, I can't think of anyone to play Wedge (and I agree, it's a bit hard to imagine him going Vader on someone). Maybe the pastic surgery on Denis Lawson's not such a bad idea...

For Wes, there's an actor by the name of Jason Faunt who'd be a pretty good match for him - I ran across him playing a similar sort of character (ironically enough, called Wes!) and he's a good physical match.

I'd go with Brad Pitt in looks terms for Tycho, but could he convey the sense of suffering? That said, my mind's gone appallingly blank on the subject of actors so I can't think who else (and dang it all if I didn't have an idea earlier. gah!). Ooh. No, I remember: James Marsters (then you can either have the blond Tycho from the comics OR the brunet Tycho from the novels)

Cary Elwes as Ton Phanan or Hobbie...yessssss! The pity is we'd have to pick one and he'd be great as either *grin*

[antigone-ks.livejournal.com]

Poor Keanu. It's like he can only drive in one gear; when they put him in the right vehicle he's great (Speed, the first Matrix, even Much Ado About Nothing. Shakespeare! Who'da thought?) but when they try to slide him into other roles... dear god. Too bad Ewan doesn't look much like his uncle. It'd rock to have him play Wedge. But then there would be love-child-of-Obi-Wan jokes.

I could see Jason Faunt as Wes, as far as appearance. Haven't seen him act, though, so I'll take your word for it :)

Brad Pitt could do a good comic-era Tycho, but you're right, the books are more complicated.

I could actually see James Marsters more as Hobbie than as Tycho. He's got the lean face, can so do mournful, and he's great at comedy.

Now that I think about it, though, maybe Eric Bana as Ton? That would free up Cary Elwes for either Hobbie or Tycho. If Sean Bean weren't so old...

[athersgeo.livejournal.com]

*giggles* Ewan crossed my mind - briefly. Then the practicalities of it crossed my mind - and having to listen to the inevitable jokes just wouldn't be worth it!

I take your point about James Marsters. Hobbie it is :)

Eric Bana - good call. (Damn I have a sieve for brains) Which leaves us with Cary Elwes for Tycho. Hmm. I think that would work.

Sean Bean - no. I just can't imagine one of the Rogues or the Wraiths sounding like a Sheffield steel worker...and he never looks/sounds right to me without that accent.

[antigone-ks.livejournal.com]

Sean Bean as Booster? Cause he was on Kessel, working the mines...

Kat (http://www.livejournal.com/users/katrin)'s been beating me over the head with Cary Elwes as Ton again, but I'm trying to stand firm with Eric.

And as long as I'm moving out of the Rogues/Wraiths themselves, Ian McKellan must have a role somewhere.

[athersgeo.livejournal.com]

Yes - Booster did cross my mind for Sean, and I think that would work.

Ian McKellan as Zjinj? Or perhaps the Admiral who contributed the interdictor in the fight against Zjinj (whose name is currently escaping me completely - and this with having just recently finished Starfighters of Adumar for the umpteenth time). Or, ooh, the ex-Moff the Rogues lift from Kessel to keep the Black Sun in order. (Gah. I can't remember names tonight.) I'd have said Kirtan Loor but I think Sir Ian is probably too old for him.

[antigone-ks.livejournal.com]

Flirry Vorru is the moff from Wedge's Gamble, and... crap, can't remember...

Rogriss! Yes! He'd make a fab Rogriss. Or Peter O'Toole for one and Ian for the other.

I always think of Zsinj as being younger than that, like 40s maybe. Oooh, Johnny Depp?

[athersgeo.livejournal.com]

*kicks self* I should have got both of those. THANK YOU!!! I think I want him to be Flirry Vorru - just because it's a larger part and we'd get more of him than if he was Rogriss - but he'd be great as both, with Peter O'Toole as the other.

And yes, Johnny Depp would be great as Zsinj (many apologies for mangling his name earlier!)

Hmm. Would Halle Berry work as Shalla Nelprin? And who would you have as Lara/Gara/Kirney?

[antigone-ks.livejournal.com]

Halle Berry is beautiful, but Shalla is described as "cute." Plus, she can kick butt. I'm thinking more along the lines of Gabrielle Union, who's cute and pretty and definitely athletic.

For G/L/K, maybe... I want to say Kiera Knightley. Again, she can do the physical stuff, plus she's all delicate boned.

And yes! Serena as Vorru, Peter as Rogriss!