20 replies to this topic

[Bryce (003)]

Not that you can touch a classic, but I heard a "whisper in the wind" over at Fox the other day.

Coburn's shadow casts almost as long as Connery.

Can't find anything on the web other than that the Flint fanbase would like it, but it needs to be spot on and the real issue seems to be who could possibly recreate that role 40+ years later. The last attempt (a TV movie in '76) went down in flames.

Who the Hell would attempt writing it? Would it be camp or done in cheek with a wink?

[triviachamp]

The most interesting thing about this news is what sort of tone it will have. Will it end up like a new Austin Powers or Bourne? Or some uncomfortable mixture?

[Bryce (003)]

I'd hope not. Sure, it should have a dash of both. The hand-to-hand scenes in the original were done by Coburn himself. He was a student of Bruce Lee. As for the swinging/playboy bit, it shouldn't be done like AP. The thing about Flint was that he was a master of all trades and it was never established what he did as a business man/philanthroper that allowed him to maintain his lifestyle. Four doting girls who may or may not have been mistresses, a private lear jet, New York penthouse and a worldly experience with a military background - I'm guessing in Korea - which is mentioned to Cramden during the films PTS.

I think it could work done and written right. Again, the bitch is the casting. I really can't think of any actor to pull it off unless they went with an unknown.

[zencat]

Many years ago I got a shot at this. Eddie Murphy was attached at the time, which I was not crazy about. Had a great meeting with the producer (I want to say it was with Arnold Kopelson's co, but I'm not sure), but I bombed at the studio. The exec had no knowledge or interest in Flint or his world, he just kept harping on about capturing "Eddie's attitude." Never heard another thing about it.

[Bryce (003)]

Whoa I do remember that buzz now.

After "I Spy" - I doubt we'll see Eddie recreating another similar bit.

I told my exec friend that if anything sprang to my mind, I'd let her know, but a remake is, well just that. Still, be interesting if it happens. Just as long as it happens right.

Wouldn't mind taking a shot at it myself. The writing part, not the acting.

[Jackanaples]

If a Derek Flint movie were to happen, you could do a lot worse than casting Jeffrey Donovan from USA's BURN NOTICE. He gives off a 1960's James Coburn/Clint Eastwood vibe to me.

[TheSaint]

Wouldn't mind taking a shot at it myself. The writing part, not the acting.

I tried sitting through the 2nd film and just couldn't do it, and I like Coburn.

Right now, you're the only person I could see pulling off the acting part.

They really have to stop with the remakes already.

[quiller]

if they really have to do it, i say get john favreau to direct. to me, iron man had a rather flint feel to it. in parts, anyway

[dodge]

It'd be tough, considering that the original was a spoof, bordering at times on camp. The trick, for me, would be to update it while sticking close to the character of Flint, which was the main draw anyway. The consummate one-upsman, the jack of all trades, the articulate and witty warrior who is hell on wheels with his fists. I agree that Jeff Donovan might be ideal.

[Harry Fawkes]

Now that's a cool idea. Wouldn't mind seeing a remake. Loved the original, specialy the music by JG. 5 stars.

Harry

[Bryce (003)]

If a Derek Flint movie were to happen, you could do a lot worse than casting Jeffrey Donovan from USA's BURN NOTICE. He gives off a 1960's James Coburn/Clint Eastwood vibe to me.

He would but it might not work now with Burn Notice being so established.

[marktmurphy]

It was pretty of its time, wasn't it? I can't see why a spy spoof would be relevant; especially one that plays on the 60's James Bond.

[Brisco]

if they really have to do it, i say get john favreau to direct. to me, iron man had a rather flint feel to it. in parts, anyway

Now that you mention Iron Man, you know Robert Downey Jr. just might have the swagger to pull it off. Although I do also agree that Jeffrey Donovan would be a good choice. I can't quite picture how Flint would make the transition to modern times, though. The character--as much as the movie--was so much a product of his era! I think of Sixties Coburn spy fare, The President's Analyst would fare much better in a modern remake. Most of the jokes in that movie still play just as well today, in our modern political climate, as they did back then. (For better or for worse.)

[Jackanaples]

If a Derek Flint movie were to happen, you could do a lot worse than casting Jeffrey Donovan from USA's BURN NOTICE. He gives off a 1960's James Coburn/Clint Eastwood vibe to me.

He would but it might not work now with Burn Notice being so established.

True. Personally, I don't see Flint as something that "needs" to be done again. Donald Hamilton's Matt Helm would be a far better candidate to visit again on film -or- John D. MacDonald's Travis McGee. Neither has ever been done justice on screen.

There's a script for MATT HELM out there already from a couple years ago. Don't know about McGee.

Edited by Jackanaples, 07 May 2009 - 02:14 PM.

[Eurospy]

On remakes, it's beyond me why so many are so hostile towards them.

Since when Hollywood HASN'T produced a great deal of these. Remakes are criticized over and over again with terms "Hollywood's out of ideas", etc, etc.

If one takes a better look at movie history, one will realize that a great deal of remakes have always existed.

Of course that most remakes end up not being that good, or remakes in title only (like Mission: Impossible), but I say give the remakes a chance.

Charlton Heston's Ben-Hur was a remake (or re-adaptation if you will), Bogie's The Maltese Falcon was a remake (second of third, it escapes my mind at the moment), and the list goes on and on.

[Blofeld's Cat]

The last attempt (a TV movie in '76) went down in flames.

Truly horrendous. It was actually a TV pilot called "Our Man Flint: Dead On Target", but should have been called "Dead On Delivery" instead. Ran 77 minutes, but I swear 70 minutes of it showed Flint just riding around in his car.

It's included in the Ultimate Flint Collection DVD set if anyone is curious about it.

Who could play Flint now? Make it half serious and have Viggo Mortensen play Derrek!

[dodge]

The last attempt (a TV movie in '76) went down in flames.

Truly horrendous. It was actually a TV pilot called "Our Man Flint: Dead On Target", but should have been called "Dead On Delivery" instead. Ran 77 minutes, but I swear 70 minutes of it showed Flint just riding around in his car.

It's included in the Ultimate Flint Collection DVD set if anyone is curious about it.

Who could play Flint now? Make it half serious and have Viggo Mortensen play Derrek!

Now, there's an interesting idea. And the more I think about it, the more I think a remake could work. That old playfulness and mixture of action and wit could be the right precription for those who've grown weary of the painful solemnity that now afflicts the scene.

[Bryce (003)]

Viggo is a VERY interesting notion. Charming but a bit rugged. Hmmm...

I watched Iron Man again the other day and yeah, Downey's take on Tony Stark did ring of Flint. A jet with a stripper pole and willing attendants? Hey...

"We were supposed to take off three hours ago."

"Yeah, I got stuck doing a little piece for Vanity Fair and since it's my jet, I thought we could leave when I wanted. to. Wheels up!"

Flint tinkered with science (ultra-sonic gadgets and of course communication with dolphins - a bit laughable at the time, but now...), wrote books, went on survival missions. The man was a sponge for knowledge.

Maybe my subconcious was thinking Flint when I saw it. Okay, now I'm just going to have to watch both films again today. First coffee and the Flint CD. A little Goldsmith to start the morning.

[Safari Suit]

On remakes, it's beyond me why so many are so hostile towards them.

Since when Hollywood HASN'T produced a great deal of these. Remakes are criticized over and over again with terms "Hollywood's out of ideas", etc, etc.

If one takes a better look at movie history, one will realize that a great deal of remakes have always existed.

Of course that most remakes end up not being that good, or remakes in title only (like Mission: Impossible), but I say give the remakes a chance.

Charlton Heston's Ben-Hur was a remake (or re-adaptation if you will), Bogie's The Maltese Falcon was a remake (second of third, it escapes my mind at the moment), and the list goes on and on.

Good points, but while remakes have always been fairly common practice, they've become noticably more prominant this decade without there being a proportional increase in the number of good remakes, let alone remakes which actually improve upon the original.

[Eurospy]

Good points, but while remakes have always been fairly common practice, they've become noticably more prominant this decade without there being a proportional increase in the number of good remakes, let alone remakes which actually improve upon the original.

You make a very good point as well, Safari.

I guess that making a good remake requires a certain formula of balancing the elements which is not easy to apply (in case of The Avengers, for example, it seems to be very true to the source, on the surface, but ends up forgetting to have sheer fun with the ride).

What bothers me is when they decide to go the easy route and simply spoof the source material. It's quite easy to make fun of the way things were (Starsky and Huch, Land of the Lost), but to try to maintain the same spirit at the same time as they try to bring it to nowdays is not so easy, perhaps.

[Bryce (003)]

I guess that making a good remake requires a certain formula of balancing the elements which is not easy to apply (in case of The Avengers, for example, it seems to be very true to the source, on the surface, but ends up forgetting to have sheer fun with the ride).

What bothers me is when they decide to go the easy route and simply spoof the source material. It's quite easy to make fun of the way things were (Starsky and Huch, Land of the Lost), but to try to maintain the same spirit at the same time as they try to bring it to nowdays is not so easy, perhaps.

Excactly that and well said Eurospy. You sum it up perfectly in saying true yet not spoofing. If this possibly ever comes to be, it's got to be contemporary, stylish but allow for a few nods or winks, but no outright mockery.

Although since you did mention the Avengers, now I'm worried as that also featured a weather control device/threat.

I watched OMF this weekend and did note a funny tie in (maybe I'm stretching here) to two Bond films that have been compared endlessly as being the same film. TSWLM and YOLT. The villains (Galaxy) have their base of operations in a hollowed out volcano WITH a submarine base. Although Flint did come out a year before YOLT.

Again, contemporary, stylish and the casting of Flint is crucial. Lastly, PLEASE change the name of Flint's organization. Z.O.W.I.E just won't fly today.