Related Sections: Movies News Opinion Toys
From the 'WTF-Files': They want to make a View-Master movie
There was a time, not long ago, when movies were based on books or comics or even original stories. But that time, apparently, has passed.
With the success of the Transformers franchise and with such films as G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra on the horizon, movies now get developed based on the flimsiest of properties: toys (Stretch Armstrong), primitive video games (Asteroids) and now, it seems, rudimentary amusement devices:
The Hollywood Reporter says that DreamWorks wants to turn the Fisher-Price View-Master 3-D viewing toy into a feature film, to be developed by Transformers writers Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman.
View-Master: The Movie.
Here's how the trade paper describes it:
DreamWorks is in negotiations to acquire movie rights to the toy from Mattel (which owns Fisher-Price) and has asked Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci to do some Transformers-style magic on it.Brad Caleb Kane, who worked as a writer-producer on the duo's Fox series Fringe, is on board to write the screenplay. Kurtzman and Orci would produce.
Story specifics are being kept under wraps, though Kane, who tweeted his involvement during the holiday weekend, said, "It'll be like the old '80s Amblin movies: Goonies, Young Sherlock ... in that vein." That post has been taken down. Amblin-style movies has been the modus operandi of the Kurtzman-Orci banner.
So ... how would this work, exactly? Would the View-Master itself be a thing of evil, a cursed object inhabited by the soul of a demon? Or would it be a talisman that allows an innocent child a glimpse into a magical world of fantasy? Or would it be a high-tech instrument from the future, cleverly disguised as a simple toy, which holds the key to reversing an impending invasion from Zeta Reticuli? Or better yet, a bomb designed to level the headquarters of DreamWorks? Stay tuned.
By Thom at 6:24 AM ON 07/07/09
Can we please just get a straightforward reporting of the information without snarky critique of the concept?
Yes, it sounds like a film that I probably would not care to see. However, any concept can be made to work if executed properly.
News reporters should report the news, and leave the commentary to columnists.
By aqtwet at 6:53 AM ON 07/07/09
In a few years will be the direct to cable follow-up, "Viewmaster vs Ouija vs Asteroids" only on SiffYi!
By Shaun at 8:44 AM ON 07/07/09
“Can we please just get a straightforward reporting of the information without snarky critique of the concept?”
agreed. you guys are starting to sound as jaded as a lot of the members who post.
By Ohm Beat at 8:55 AM ON 07/07/09
Shaun and Thom, are you serious?! This is a planned feature film about a static toy!! Not even an action figure or anything, but basically something you look at purdy pictures with!
What's next? A mini-series about tiddly-winks? What about an epic about silly putty??
All I can say is there certainly is a shortage of inspiration in Hollywood if this is the only thing they can come up with!
By Shaun at 9:01 AM ON 07/07/09
“All I can say is there certainly is a shortage of inspiration in Hollywood…”
i completely agree with that. i was responding to the tone of the writing.
By Mike at 9:21 AM ON 07/07/09
That's the dumbest idea since renaming a cable channel "Siffy."
By wpb30635 at 10:36 AM ON 07/07/09
I'll just hold out for the "Pet Rock" or "Silly Putty" movies.
By Mumbo at 11:12 AM ON 07/07/09
Don't be so hard on the idea. This could be the ultimate comeback vehicle that Steve Gutenberg has been waiting for.
By Zaphod at 12:58 PM ON 07/07/09
Four words:
Pong: The Motion Picture
By AngryJonny at 1:33 PM ON 07/07/09
Hey, all you View-Master: The Movie naysayers: I'd like to remind you that the brilliant '80s cartoon based on the Rubik's Cube proves that it can be done! (Yes, SO kidding.)
But if any movie was meant to be in 3-D, it's View-Master... because, you know... it's already in 3-D...
Yeah...
By kryche at 1:53 PM ON 07/07/09
This is the kinda thing that makes me wish the market for Hollywood movies would fall out from underneath them and their entire industry would dry up and go the way of the dodo bird. Their creativity obviously already has.
By AdmNaismith at 4:20 PM ON 07/07/09
First a bidding war over 'Asteroids' and now this? Jesus...
Ok, it's like Juminji and Zathura.
You look through the View-Master and advance the slide, some CGI crashes through your house, then it all stops happening and everything is back to normal (and your parents love you again, or someting...)
It practically writes itself (oh, and DW owes me a cool mil for this).
I don't remember the last time I saw a Dreamworks movie. Sh*t like this is why.
By ecgordon at 5:29 PM ON 07/07/09
If they want to use ViewMaster they should make a Wonderfalls movie.
By IsoTek at 12:39 AM ON 07/08/09
Wow, um...Maybe they should contact you guys at SYFY. Afterall, it was you guys that used such a device in your new movie (name withheld because of negative aspects of advertising as being marketed as movies) promoting the channel that a ViewMaster(tm) can be used to change the enviroment to whatever is in the viewer disk. You practically gave these people an idea for how to make the film. Oh well. Hopefully they will never figure it out. Last thing we need is a modern version of "The Wizard".
By Ohm Beat at 8:47 AM ON 07/08/09
I'd LOVE a Pet Rock Movie!!!
And Shaun, no worries! I thought the writing was a little snarky (mine included, but then again I'm a sarcastic git on the best of days!)
Other suggestions: Yahtzee: The Motion Picture; Monopoly (I seem to recall this one actually being in development...); or even better: Crayons!
I was watching Mike Judge's Idiocracy" the other night. Does anyone recall what the biggeest grossing movie was in that film?? Well, we sure seem to be headed in that general direction!!!
By TackyON at 1:55 PM ON 07/08/09
Coming soon to a theater near you its......"Belly Button Lint: The Motion Picture"
By Son of a Maui Portagee at 6:16 PM ON 07/08/09
Thom,
I have to agree. It's as if an organization is constantly shocked that its readership reflects its writing style and attitudes.
Visit mobile.syfy.com/wire on your mobile device.
Son of a Maui Portagee:
Thom, I have to agree. It's as if an organization is constantly shocked that its readership reflects its writing s...More »