22 replies to this topic

[doublenoughtspy]

Very interesting reading:

http://entertainment...7033558000.html

My favorite part:

Lawyer Marvin Putnam, who represents Anschutz's company, also claimed Cussler misled the moviemakers about the popularity of the books.

"This case is about fraud, pure and simple from the get-go," Putnam said. "We only discovered after the movie came out that the fan base didn't exist."

[Jackanaples]

That doesn't sound like a very strong case. Presumably the moviemakers wanted the rights in the first place because every Dirk Pitt novel since RAISE THE TITANIC! has been New York Times bestseller.

I used to be a huge fan of Cussler's books. Given a film that adhered more to the books, with a good script, a strong director, and the right actor in the role (Note: Matthew McConnaghey is NOT that actor) and there's every reason to believe a successful film series could generate. Properly done, Dirk Pitt is where James Bond meets Indiana Jones and goes swimming.

[Four Aces]

Sour grapes over a movie with a poor box office performance. The Dirk Pitt books I think are great

Thanks for posting this topic and link.

[marktmurphy]

Quite enjoyed it myself.

And if you don't feel you've got enough of a case, may as well sling in a racism accusation!

[TheSaint]

It had its moments, like Raise the Titanic did. I'm surprised it made $68 million. Good luck winning that case.

[Harmsway]

Dirk Pitt has plenty of fans - but a half-assed movie adaptation that doesn't keep the spirit of the characters isn't going to get them to show up at the theatre.

[Dell Deaton]

Does this mean I should cancel my order for the DOXA "Dirk Pitt" SUB 750T diver's watch? LOL

Used to love the Dirk Pitt novels, and began w/ Raise the Titanic! myself. By the way, one has to wonder if the litigants in this case are aware that that Clive Cussler novel was also made into a feature film. (Saw the miniature of the ship many years ago on a Hollywood studios back-lot tour one time.)

On a more positive note, I'm glad to see so many Dirk Pitt fans here. I quite agree that Sahara was a very difficult movie to watch (because I found it to be bad). I'm gonna guess that I was two-thirds of the way through the DVD before I realized that I'd actually read the book and quite enjoyed it! Cussler used to be a top fiction read for me, tho' he hasn't been for almost a decade now (not so much free time, since I don't travel trans-continental and internationally any more). He sorta jumped the shark for me when he started inserting himself into the prose. And I never read the stories featuring his non-Pitt protagonist.

But those early stories were simply the greatest!

[My name's Bond]

Very interesting reading:

http://entertainment...7033558000.html

My favorite part:

Lawyer Marvin Putnam, who represents Anschutz's company, also claimed Cussler misled the moviemakers about the popularity of the books.

"This case is about fraud, pure and simple from the get-go," Putnam said. "We only discovered after the movie came out that the fan base didn't exist."

It reminds me something about Thunderball...

[Safari Suit]

Did the adverts even mention the name "Dirk Pitt"? I'm sure there have been successful movies from far less popular books.

[Loomis]

"We only discovered after the movie came out that the fan base didn't exist."

Hilarious!

I mean, what a way to sound stupid. "So, Mr Cussler, these books of yours - they're popular, yes?" "Oh, very. They've got millions of fans." "That so? Swell. Here's tens of millions of bucks for a movie, then." *Months later* "Wait a minute!"

In other news, the webmaster of DanielCraigisnotBond admits: "We only discovered after the movie came out that a fan base for James Bond films not starring Pierce Brosnan existed."

[Safari Suit]

Although this is an absurd case, don't be too surprised if the company finds a way to win it. Does anyone know the deal with that case where Paramount (successfully) claimed "Coming To America" and "Forrest Gump" lost money?

[Harmsway]

Did the adverts even mention the name "Dirk Pitt"? I'm sure there have been successful movies from far less popular books.

The adverts didn't really mention Dirk Pitt, and there wasn't much advertising, period. Barely anybody knew that this film had been released.

[Roebuck]

Does this mean I should cancel my order for the DOXA "Dirk Pitt" SUB 750T diver's watch? LOL

Is this your first SUB? I've got the Clive Cussler edition 600T and it keeps great time for a non chrono. Been toying with the idea of getting a Sharkhunter and putting a thick leather strap on it, ''Three Days of the Condor'' style.

[TheSaint]

There's an article about the lawsuit in the new EW. It's not up on the website yet so I can't link to it yet.

[TheSaint]

I forgot to link to the article that ran in EW but here's an article from the L.A. Times that ran in the New York Post...Sandtrap

[Loomis]

What am I missing here? A bunch of very rich people took a gamble in "the marketplace" and lost. Boo hoo.

[HawkEye007]

I am a big fan of the Dirk Pitt novels, and I think Clive Cussler is a great writer. I'll also admit, I kinda liked Sahara the movie, even though the book was much better. Some things about the movie could have been better (namely choice of lead actors), but poor box office performance is no reason to sue.

On a side note, everytime I read a Cussler book, I hear Matthew McConnaghay's voice when I read Dirk Pitt!

[DLibrasnow]

I am a big fan of the Dirk Pitt novels, and I think Clive Cussler is a great writer. I'll also admit, I kinda liked Sahara the movie, even though the book was much better. Some things about the movie could have been better (namely choice of lead actors), but poor box office performance is no reason to sue.

On a side note, everytime I read a Cussler book, I hear Matthew McConnaghay's voice when I read Dirk Pitt!

If you are a Dirk Pitt fan you should check out this thread:

http://debrief.comma...?showtopic=8070

[Tarl_Cabot]

So no Dirk Pitt 2?

[RazorBlade]

What am I missing here? A bunch of very rich people took a gamble in "the marketplace" and lost. Boo hoo.

If that's the case, I don't think any of us are missing much. I read that CC had to deal with 14 different screenwriters and it drove him crazy. Each one of those birds made hunderds of thousands rewriting the script over and over. Nice work if you can find it. He claimed he had a papertrail of emails from the producers that showed they acted in bad faith. We are surprised by that why?

[ACE]

Great article, doublenoughtspy

Hmmm, I really liked Sahara. Haven't read any Clive Cussler though!

Of the previous Dirk Pitt film flop, Raise The Titanic, producer Lew Grade opined, "It would have been cheaper to lower the Atlantic."

[Skudor]

I sort of enjoyed the movie. But it's absolutely right that MC just isn't the right guy for the part. Not that I've read the book, he's just not right for any major leading role.

[chikin23]

MC belongs in cheesy romantic comedies, not action/adventure movies.

I love Dirk Pitt novels, own all of 'em and read 'em each several times. Sahara was an okay movie, but, reading the book previously, I wasn't impressed.

However, like some posters have said, I believe that with the right actor and staying close to the books, Dirk Pitt could become a good movie franchise.