Thursday 24 November 2011

A message!

First, a sincere apology for the lack of updates.  A series of events behind-the-scenes have been mounting, particularly one situation which started in August (not what you think) but didn't really escalate until a few months ago.  It's a deeply personal family matter, so I won't get all morose or maudlin, but suffice to say I've been in a somewhat erratic and unpleasant state of mind.  I had hoped to keep this off the blog, but it spilled out in some unpredictable ways: again, I can only apologise.
Secondly, and more pleasantly, I have a renewed sense of purpose.  This is going to be the final post I make regarding the film for the foreseeable future.  I've said before that I felt a tremendous sense of futility when the film came out: all that time analysing screen captures, set photos, cast documents, script pages and magazine interviews.  Thousands of words of analysis and conjecture based on every morsel of detail I could get.  I must've written something like a hundred thousand words at the end of it all.  All for a film that I personally considered barely a Conan film at all.

I was distraught. Actually, it was worse than that: I felt destroyed. I felt like I had wasted over a year of my time on something that didn't deserve all that effort.  Look at all the things that fell by the wayside: my look at Almuric, the Hyborian Age Gazetteers, Barbarians of Middle-Earth, Frazetta & Howard, the Newcomer's Guide - how much more work could I have done in those series?  The Encyclopedia didn't suffer as badly since I was determined to work bit by bit on that every spare moment, but I certainly would've spent more time on it without the film.  All those posts, articles, essays, drawings and projects took a back seat to The Wrath of Zym.

If I found the film good enough on its own merits, that may have helped; if it was at least a box office success, I could take solace in the fact that many more potential Howard fans may use it as a gateway.  But it was a disaster critically and commercially.  It didn't matter that Howard fans and scholars whose opinions I respected enjoyed it, found it an enjoyable enough film, even found it better than the 1982 film - I didn't enjoy it.  I didn't see what they're seeing.  For all the good it did in being freer from the 1982 film's influence than the series or films before it, and for Jason Momoa being closer to Howard's creation than Arnold could ever be, I couldn't help but think: just how many people are going to go out and buy a Howard collection?

It may be that I'm being unfair on the film. The filmmakers seemed to be happy enough with the product despite the problems in the production.  I don't doubt that they thought they were making the best film they could.  Yet, well, the numbers speak for themselves.  If there's anything good I can glean from the experience, it's the knowledge that I felt I did my best.  I sought to mention or bring up Robert E. Howard as often as possible, explaining the divergences and similarities to his work, and bringing up all the books and essays I could.  I met a lot of new Howard and Conan fans, and I feel I must've done some good being one of the few blogs reporting on the film from a different point of view from the Remake Brigade.

But, as they say, onwards and upwards.  There isn't any upcoming news apart from the Blu-Ray/DVD/Digital release.  If a sequel's coming out, it won't be for a long time - and I honestly don't know if I'll be covering it if it does.  Solomon Kane fooled me once.  Conan fooled me twice.  I have serious concerns about Kull and Bran Mak Morn (if the latter's still coming).  And I'm absolutely terrified by what Christophe Gans might have in store for Sword Woman.  I just don't think I could muster the enthusiasm, knowing that any or all of those films could be at best as "good" as Solomon Kane, and at worst as bad as Conan.

But that's in the future.  For now, I have more time to dedicate to the Encyclopaedia, and I'm going to use the blog as the central news network: previews, sketches, queries, the works.  I may do cross-posts on other sites to maximise saturation and get the most possible feedback.  Since I'm kicking the Encyclopedia into overdrive, however, this means that the Blog may not be updated as often: I'll endeavour to keep you all informed, but if you don't see new posts for long stretches, know that this is because I'm hard at work on the Encyclopedia behind the scenes.

I may be knocked for six, but I'm not licked yet.  Conan didn't kill me, and it isn't going to kill the Encyclopaedia.

16 comments:

  1. "I felt like I had wasted over a year of my time on something that didn't deserve all that effort."

    Would that time have been less wasted if the movie was any good? I don't mean to be insulting or tell you how to live your life or anything like that but it seems like your priorities went out of whack for a while there. The movie was going to be whatever it was going to be, analyzed or not.

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  2. PS: JOESKY approach superior.

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  3. Al, it's good to have you back. There's nothing I care to add regarding your coverage of the Conan film and future prospects for Robert howard's characters on the big screen. To remain hopeful is always laudable enough but at this point it's easier to be cynical, at least for me. I haven't see the Solomon Kane and laughed out loud when the in the Conan trailer Jason Mamoa spoke as Conan. Needless to say I gave the film a wide berth and it gets easier every time another film purporting to be representative of Howard's tales makes it to the big screen. For those who snarl at me for having a POV without seeing the film I suppose I should be required to see every film that looks bad to me in order to validate my decision? So, I still have the books on the shelf and great articles to read and life is good despite Hollywood's disappointing forays. On a funny note I was told that my decision to not attend the film and my reasons for not attending would make no difference on the film's success. When it flopped I was then told it was my fault (with other "purists") that it flopped. It would be nice if people could make up their minds regarding my own and others' responsibility or lack thereof for the success or failure of popular films but it does pose an interesting philosophical conundrum.
    Anyway, I hope everything is better in your life and you get your routine back on track. Looking forward to more articles, big guy.

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  4. As I've already said, if I can assist you in any way, shape or form by providing graphics, design, text, translation, research help etc.. for the encylopedia, let me know :)

    Go go go Encyclopedia Hyborica!

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  5. Well I certainly don't think you wasted a year working on the Conan Movie Blog. The film itself may not have turned out to be very good, but the blog was of a remarkably high quality and remained extremely tightly focused. Something that other franchise specific or movie specific forums/boards/blogs rarely manage to accomplish.

    So what, the movie turned out to be mediocre at best, I gnashed my teeth through threw the entire thing but the friend I took with me loved it and bought not only Michael Stackpole's novelization but also the new Del Rey REH Conan compilation and has thoroughly enjoyed them from what I can see.

    For the first time in a really, really long time, REH was available in Wal-mart and Target in the United States. At their biggest extent the duel titans of Borders and Barnes & Noble only had about 1500 stores in the US, Wal-mart and target combined have nearly 5000 stores. I'd say thats a silver lining, I've not seen the books clearance out either so chances are a good many of them sold.

    The Movie itself seems to be doing well on DVD, though the fact they seem to be eschewing any sore of first week discount strategy is likely to hurt them in the short turn but maybe help them in the long term.

    Personally and honestly, I think that you are attempting to do to much. Since The Cimmerian folded a few years ago you have posted a rather substantial number of REH and Conan related posts, typically at what for me anyway, would be a blistering speed.

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  6. i agree , i do not think the blog was a waste. just getting acqauinted with yourself ( online anyway,lol) and several others with a passion for howard made it worth it alone, no matter anyones feeling on the final result.
    And yeah,i got the feeling reading your stuff that you were spreading yourself a little too thin. time to put it behind and get back to things you enjoy, people will always be split on this movie .
    I hope your personal problems work out too, corm knows family problems are the worst we all have em. feel free to drop a line anytime you need to vent Al.-mario

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  7. Go back into your cave then (and good luck)!

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  8. Would that time have been less wasted if the movie was any good?

    My logic (read: desperate justification) was that if the film was good, then more people would enjoy it: if more people enjoy it, a larger number of new Howard fans might appear. If nothing else, it would at least stand as a film that was deserving of being analysed. But I was hoping beyond hope that they'd pull off a miracle.

    Argh. Don't rub it in.

    PS: JOESKY approach superior.

    I don't follow...

    To remain hopeful is always laudable enough but at this point it's easier to be cynical, at least for me.

    Perhaps there's a time when optimism becomes delusion, and cynicism becomes realism. I think in my heart I knew this film was going to be a disaster since the very first production photos, but I always had a little voice saying "hoy, you've been wrong before."

    On a funny note I was told that my decision to not attend the film and my reasons for not attending would make no difference on the film's success. When it flopped I was then told it was my fault (with other "purists") that it flopped.

    This argument gets me every time. It would be hilarious if it wasn't so sad.

    As I've already said, if I can assist you in any way, shape or form by providing graphics, design, text, translation, research help etc.. for the encylopedia, let me know :)

    Will do, Waldgeist!

    Well I certainly don't think you wasted a year working on the Conan Movie Blog. The film itself may not have turned out to be very good, but the blog was of a remarkably high quality and remained extremely tightly focused. Something that other franchise specific or movie specific forums/boards/blogs rarely manage to accomplish.

    Thanks, Lagomorph. I do like to think that whatever I spend my time on, be it worthwhile or not, I at least do it well.

    For the first time in a really, really long time, REH was available in Wal-mart and Target in the United States. At their biggest extent the duel titans of Borders and Barnes & Noble only had about 1500 stores in the US, Wal-mart and target combined have nearly 5000 stores. I'd say thats a silver lining, I've not seen the books clearance out either so chances are a good many of them sold.

    I saw the Conan movie tie-in collection at WH Smith (newsagents) and Tesco (our Walmart): that's the first time I've seen REH in any of the two. I've also seen the tie-in and Conan the Destroyer in Waterstones, in addition to the leatherbound Centenaries still on shelves since 2006.

    Personally and honestly, I think that you are attempting to do to much.

    That's probably it in a nutshell. Well, without the movie blog, that probably won't be a problem.

    i agree , i do not think the blog was a waste. just getting acqauinted with yourself ( online anyway,lol) and several others with a passion for howard made it worth it alone, no matter anyones feeling on the final result.

    Meeting yourself, Steve Dilks and others was indeed one of the highlights of the experience for me.

    Go back into your cave then (and good luck)!


    Onwards and downwards, then!

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  9. Well, I am glad that you did what you did. If it hadn't been for the movie I would never have "met" you (virtually, that is). It was because I posted a picture of Momoa-as-Conan on my blog that engendered a comment from you which introduced me to your blog. Without that I would never have discovered The Cimmerian, the REHUPA, Lagomorph Rex, Leo Grin and a host of other Howard aficionados and added immensely to my appreciation and understanding of REH.

    So, from one blogger at least, thank you for putting in the effort that you did. It was much appreciated.

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  10. Al,

    I was repelled by the trailer that I saw at Cross Plains. By Crom it was awful! I am not surprised that the film was a disaster as you described it. No, I have not seen it and have no desire. I don't even think that I have watched all of the Conan film starring Schwarzenegger. What I saw in that film was rather comical. I hope that Howard Days will stop featuring talks about movies and comic books and other inferior derivations. It never ceases to amaze me how people get so excited by movies. Movies are almost always a disappointment and almost never as good as the original book. Sad but true. It is a waste of time fussing over films.

    Much better to devote your energies and considerable talents to something like the Encyclopedia project. Do something that is worthy of being published and read years from now. Don't dissipate your energy on ephemera. You know about Time's winged chariot.

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  11. Al,
    I tend to agree at least in part with the first poster (anonymous). While it's a fascinating read, I still don't quite get the whole point with doing the critique. At 20,000 words, its nearly 1/3 as long as Hour of the Dragon. It would have been one thing if you had loved the film, or were at the very least ambivalent about it. But your review prior to the critique unambiguously summed up how you felt about the film. I just don't understand why you would want to put so much time and effort into it after the fat lady sang and you clearly hated it. It seemed to me like an exercise in self torture. Maybe you felt like you needed to vent 3 years of pent up frustrations about the project. I don't know. I'm really trying to understand. I saw Kull the Conqueror on opening day and never watched it again. I've seen Red Sonja twice, once when it came out and again more recently, just because it happened to be available on Netflix (it was actually a lot more fun the second time around...I guess I've mellowed). I have posted my share of snarky reviews of Bruce Jones and DeMatteus Conan comics, but nothing even close to the sheer magnitude of your critique. Not trying to hurt your feelings, but it does seem like a colossal waste of your time.

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  12. Time to move on, you have done so much, so well. I enjoyed all that you did for this movie, even though in the end, you were so dissapointed by the finished product. I liked the film, but the people involved tried to please everyone, and in the end , plesed only a few.No matter who directed or wrote, no movie will ever compare to to the words of the man himself. Keep your chin up and forge on, its only an movie, after all!

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  13. I don't think you wasted your time, on the blog or on the critique (which I read with great interest). We desperately need more thoughtful, intelligent writers on the intertubes, especially when it comes to literature and literary adaptations, if only to dispel the myth that these filmic abominations are "true to the original." Which doesn't mean you need to spend all your time tilting at the windmills of popular perception, but the work you did is far from worthless.

    And now let it go and do other things; there's more enjoyable matters to write about. After all, sooner or later, there *will* be a good adaptation of some kind - made by the people who appreciate the actual original. Maybe you'll be part of that, or help lay the foundation for it.

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  14. Hero of the Federation28 November 2011 at 00:34

    Figuring things out for yourself is practically the only freedom anyone really has nowadays. Use that freedom.

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  15. Well, I am glad that you did what you did. If it hadn't been for the movie I would never have "met" you (virtually, that is). It was because I posted a picture of Momoa-as-Conan on my blog that engendered a comment from you which introduced me to your blog. Without that I would never have discovered The Cimmerian, the REHUPA, Lagomorph Rex, Leo Grin and a host of other Howard aficionados and added immensely to my appreciation and understanding of REH.

    So, from one blogger at least, thank you for putting in the effort that you did. It was much appreciated.


    Thank you M.D.: that's exactly what I set out to do, and I'm glad I could introduce you to the wider world of Howardom.

    While it's a fascinating read, I still don't quite get the whole point with doing the critique.

    It sounds trite to say this, but frankly, it just sort of "happened." It wasn't as if I decided "I'm going to write a massive essay on the film," it was pretty much a stream-of-consciousness piece that practically cascaded out of me. I was just so overcome with conflicting emotions on the film that I felt I had to do something, so I figured, rightly or wrongly, that a critique would harness that energy. Perhaps I thought it would function as a "final word" on the film (and frankly, in many ways it still is), or I thought a deeper analysis would yield some hidden spots of beauty or appreciation.

    It never ceases to amaze me how people get so excited by movies. Movies are almost always a disappointment and almost never as good as the original book. Sad but true. It is a waste of time fussing over films.

    Sometimes it can feel like that, Matthew, but the sheer number of people who come to pretty much any literary property through films makes me concerned about them.

    Much better to devote your energies and considerable talents to something like the Encyclopedia project. Do something that is worthy of being published and read years from now. Don't dissipate your energy on ephemera. You know about Time's winged chariot.

    Took me long enough to realise this! Thanks, Matthew.

    Time to move on, you have done so much, so well. I enjoyed all that you did for this movie, even though in the end, you were so dissapointed by the finished product. I liked the film, but the people involved tried to please everyone, and in the end , plesed only a few.No matter who directed or wrote, no movie will ever compare to to the words of the man himself. Keep your chin up and forge on, its only an movie, after all!

    Thank you, mysterious stranger!

    We desperately need more thoughtful, intelligent writers on the intertubes, especially when it comes to literature and literary adaptations, if only to dispel the myth that these filmic abominations are "true to the original." Which doesn't mean you need to spend all your time tilting at the windmills of popular perception, but the work you did is far from worthless.

    Thanks, Jonas. I guess I just see these misconceptions so frequently, I feel like I'm never doing enough: I have to just accept that some people are just either ill-informed or stupid, and only tilt at the windmills that might cause problems rather than the little tiny ones.

    Figuring things out for yourself is practically the only freedom anyone really has nowadays. Use that freedom.


    Sir! I get you, Sir!

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  16. Devoted fans like you (us! :) and sites like this just add weight to what we already know. Nothing can kill Conan. He and his creator and the stories are immortal. Thanks for this awesome site.

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