Fionn McCumhaill, Cuchulainn, Quenn Maebh, Red Branch Knights...

Coriolanus

kowloon wrote: »

Does he not have a series of childrens books worthy of filming already?

He has a few series of childrens books worth filming. Great author, loved him to bits as a kid. I wanna shake his hand, he pretty much single handedly gave me a love of reading.

sensibleken

Theres a Cuchulainn movie being made at the moment being written by the bloke from horselips. 'Hound' is the title.

Could go either way

Amhran Nua

Ezekiel Shapely Electrician wrote: »

And I think these are even better stories. Brilliant stories with a hell of a lot of depth that need not be a series but a whole untapped resource of stories that as far as I know have never been brought to the big screen. I would hate to see them be americanised though there is no real set story but al lot of interpretations.

Yes, this could work really well if its done right, I've always loved the De Dannan stories and the work of Jim Fitzpatrick. We have similar ideas in our cultural policies too. There's so much of the history and mythology of this country that's underused and not just for tourism, in media sales alone it could do very nicely. I'd start out with an animated series then work up to the big screen productions, that's the usual route these things take. You'd need a distinctive "Irish" style of animation though, and you wouldn't have to stick purely with mythology, you could spin off a load of other stuff, like those Sláine stories.

PeggyvB

Logical Fallacy wrote: »

Personally, i would rather see something like this done as a proper Anime than a live action thing. The Secret of Kells was really nicely done and there is no reason why Ireland couldn't produce more of such films.

I've thought so too, for a while now. That's why I've started wotking on a Manga that draws on Irish mythology this past year!:D

Monty Burnz

Ezekiel Shapely Electrician wrote: »

We have all heard these stories and fantastic stories they are. Lots of countries have mythology eg England with King Arthur etc but I think these ones are exceptional

Got to thinking on these tonight and had a chat about them. Learned about them in school which was always one of the more interesting stories, I presume and hope that they are still teaching them

But after having a whisket there with the aul boy we got on to them and talked (well I talked, he hadn't a clue what I was on about) about the Lord of the Rings and the huge boost that gave New Zealand. It was their biggest employer for a couple of years and has done wonders for their tourism industry. Mainly because it's a cool story that can show off a tremendous landscape.

And I think these are even better stories. Brilliant stories with a hell of a lot of depth that need not be a series but a whole untapped resource of stories that as far as I know have never been brought to the big screen. I would hate to see them be americanised though there is no real set story but al lot of interpretations.

Point is they are everything mythology should be, all have depth and morality at their core and amazing imagery and as such have an incredible potential. And I think they would be brilliant to share. And also, of course, that they could employ and boost tourism, moreso than the "I'm three eights Irish" florisa pastel wearing tourists.

Just a thought

Have you actually read these stories? I really don't think you could much with them at all as films. The best you could do is take vague themes or archetypes out of them and make up everything else - the dialogue and situations described are usually laughable to a modern audience. Remember, these were oral tales that had to be easily rememebered - they are full of repitition and thin on realism or characterisation. At that point, you'd have so little left, you'd be as well off starting from a clean sheet of paper and making stuff up from scratch.

Obviously the historical characters are another matter.

Amhran Nua

Monty Burnz wrote: »

Have you actually read these stories? I really don't think you could much with them at all as films. The best you could do is take vague themes or archetypes out of them and make up everything else - the dialogue and situations described are usually laughable to a modern audience. Remember, these were oral tales that had to be easily rememebered - they are full of repitition and thin on realism or characterisation. At that point, you'd have so little left, you'd be as well off starting from a clean sheet of paper and making stuff up from scratch.

Obviously the historical characters are another matter.

You've clearly never ready Jim Fitzpatrick's work.

Donal Og O Baelach

When I was younger, I used stare at Jim Fitzpatrick's artwork and feel a swelling of pride at out rich heritage, marvelled at the depth of our historical culture and I always became physically aroused at the fine women he drew. It was great. By God he can draw a great arse.

How about we open a state funded porn studio instead? It's a worldwide billion dollar industry and we could become market leaders.
We could rebrand FAS into F-ASS and take it from there.

Monty Burnz

Amhran Nua wrote: »

You've clearly never ready Jim Fitzpatrick's work.

Jim Fitzpatrick's work? I thought we were talking about the original stories? *checks OP* ...yup. The OP was not talking about Jim Fitz, he was talking about the original stories, and so was I.

Capt'n Midnight

Ezekiel Shapely Electrician wrote: »

I would hate to see them be americanised though there is no real set story but al lot of interpretations.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Mystic_Knights_of_Tir_Na_Nog

I think it's best if we pretended it never happened ...

PeggyvB

Capt'n Midnight wrote: »

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Mystic_Knights_of_Tir_Na_Nog

I think it's best if we pretended it never happened ...

Oh God! (tries not to be sick)

On the other hand, Roar wasn't bad...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roar_%28TV_series%29

Bookworm85

Would love to see a movie about the Tuatha De Dannan.

Something LOTR style with all the epic battles.

Amhran Nua

Monty Burnz wrote: »

Jim Fitzpatrick's work? I thought we were talking about the original stories? *checks OP* ...yup. The OP was not talking about Jim Fitz, he was talking about the original stories, and so was I.

If you want an entertaining interpretation of the stories, there's one example. Besides which, could you just release a verbatim version of say Homer's work and hope it does well? Of course not. Even the Beowulf movie, already mentioned, was largely rewritten to make it work. This is how culture grows and develops, by building on earlier creations.

Besides which, I find the original stories to be pretty interesting in and of themselves.

Monty Burnz

Amhran Nua wrote: »

If you want an entertaining interpretation of the stories, there's one example. Besides which, could you just release a verbatim version of say Homer's work and hope it does well? Of course not. Even the Beowulf movie, already mentioned, was largely rewritten to make it work. This is how culture grows and develops, by building on earlier creations.

Besides which, I find the original stories to be pretty interesting in and of themselves.

Well I've read the Iliad (a straight translation) and it was very interesting, a good read. I've also tried straight translations of Irish stuff and it was more or less totally unreadable. Let's not make the fact that it's Irish blind us to the fact that it would need a huge amount of work to make it at all appealing to a modern mass audience, and as I stated, at a certain point you get so far away from the source, you might as well start from a blank sheet.

I'm not debating or doubting for one second the cultural value of Irish folklore, just questioning whether it can be marketed to a modern mass audience.

Amhran Nua

Monty Burnz wrote: »

Well I've read the Iliad (a straight translation) and it was very interesting, a good read. I've also tried straight translations of Irish stuff and it was more or less totally unreadable.

Can you give us an example?

Monty Burnz wrote: »

I'm not debating or doubting for one second the cultural value of Irish folklore, just questioning whether it can be marketed to a modern mass audience.

Jim Fitz made a pretty good living out of it, and he didn't stray too far from the original stuff, certainly not a blank sheet.

Monty Burnz

Amhran Nua wrote: »

Can you give us an example?

No - it was over ten years ago, so I can't tell you whose translation it was. I can't tell you whose translation of the Iliad I read either, and I only read that two years ago. I can tell you I was very eager to read the Irish stuff - it's my heritage after all - and gave up in dismay.

However, I have read both in translation as I said - have you? If you are convinced that the stories are quite readable as they were originally told (i.e. a straight translation), perhaps you can post examples?

Amhran Nua wrote: »

Jim Fitz made a pretty good living out of it, and he didn't stray too far from the original stuff, certainly not a blank sheet.

Do you know how his sales compare to - say - JRR Tolkien (before the films were made)? I would guess that Tolkien outsold Fitzpatrick by at least a thousand to one.

If the Irish stuff is so marketable, how come it has enjoyed so little mass-market success?

Amhran Nua

Monty Burnz wrote: »

No - it was over ten years ago, so I can't tell you whose translation it was. I can't tell you whose translation of the Iliad I read either, and I only read that two years ago. I can tell you I was very eager to read the Irish stuff - it's my heritage after all - and gave up in dismay.

However, I have read both in translation as I said - have you? If you are convinced that the stories are quite readable as they were originally told (i.e. a straight translation), perhaps you can post examples?

Getting a bit defensive here aren't we? I don't think you've read any of them, Monty Burnz.

Monty Burnz wrote: »

Do you know how his sales compare to - say - JRR Tolkien (before the films were made)? I would guess that Tolkien outsold Fitzpatrick by at least a thousand to one.

If the Irish stuff is so marketable, how come it has enjoyed so little mass-market success?

Irish culture is vastly marketable, you need only look at the likes of Riverdance and its associated shows for evidence of that. Four times the population of this country has paid hard cash to watch them. I don't see anyone lining up to watch morris dancing. All that needs to be done is to put the right impetus behind it, the right spin, and the rewards will be significant.

PeggyvB

Amhran Nua wrote: »

Irish culture is vastly marketable, you need only look at the likes of Riverdance and its associated shows for evidence of that. Four times the population of this country has paid hard cash to watch them. I don't see anyone lining up to watch morris dancing. All that needs to be done is to put the right impetus behind it, the right spin, and the rewards will be significant.

This!

Monty Burnz

Amhran Nua wrote: »

Getting a bit defensive here aren't we? I don't think you've read any of them, Monty Burnz.

Sorry, at the point in the coversation where you call me a liar, you can **** off.

Owen

If you're ever in Baltinglass, head out towards Boleylug. There's a mountain there that no one takes any notice of, but someone's painted an entire picture of Fionn McCumhaill, his Wife, Child and Dog in Lime across the whole mountain, like the one of the Horse in the UK. And no one pays it a blind bit of notice - it's right next to where our farm used to be, and seeing that mountain used to be a huge thing for me as a kid.

--Kaiser--

Mousey- wrote: »

they were to make a film about brian boru.

was to be made by mark mahon, they released a comic on it before they didnt get funding, not surprising.


edit, already being disscussed, i heard leonardo di caprio waas to be cast at one stage, from somone working on the production

I heard about that as well. I can't think of anyone less well-suited to the role than Di Caprio (terribly over-rated actor as well)

Lothaar v2

Boll0x.

I've been drafting a screenplay for the past two years on this exact subject. Did lots and lots of research and put a lot of work into hammering out a narrative structure to the disjointed storylines and mythological references to create something believable and digestible on the big screen. (This is a MASSIVE undertaking, and it's still a work in progress because the stories are so convoluted.)

Now you've gone and given my idea away. Dammit!

Killer Pigeon

Guys guys I have a title, m'kay;

"BROKEBACK FIANNA"

It'll be totally fantastic and I'm sure Colin Farrell will have some role.

Killer Pigeon

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o3QW0Op3tFY

PeterIanStaker

I used to love all those legends, I really must try to re-read them again, especially the excellent Thomas Kinsella's The Táin with Louis le Brocquy's illustrations.

Big Game

Loads of similar subject matter in the old Sláine stories from 2000AD in the 80's. Looks like a fans film has been made already altough it's dialogue is Spanish strangely enough, looks like a Spanish director....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nRIPAsbhZpM

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sl%C3%A1ine_%28comics%29

Not quite the original stories but the mythology is stolen wholesale.

Mr Benevolent

Absurdum wrote: »

the problem with this country is that we're afraid of glorifying our warriors

We never had any.

Coriolanus

Big Game wrote: »

Loads of similar subject matter in the old Sláine stories from 2000AD in the 80's. Looks like a fans film has been made already altough it's dialogue is Spanish strangely enough, looks like a Spanish director....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nRIPAsbhZpM

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sl%C3%A1ine_%28comics%29

Not quite the original stories but the mythology is stolen wholesale.

Slaine: Demon Killer would make a kick ass film.

MajorMax

PaintDoctor wrote: »

If you're ever in Baltinglass, head out towards Boleylug. There's a mountain there that no one takes any notice of, but someone's painted an entire picture of Fionn McCumhaill, his Wife, Child and Dog in Lime across the whole mountain, like the one of the Horse in the UK. And no one pays it a blind bit of notice - it's right next to where our farm used to be, and seeing that mountain used to be a huge thing for me as a kid.

Up until about 10 years ago my family (The Kelllys) owned Boleylug. I always remember going to visit my Granny on the farm and seeing the feature you're talking about. But I was always told that the legend was that that was where Fionn McCumhail and his family had rested for a night on their journey. The feature is a naturally occuring phenomenen and wasn't painted by anyone. I think you're thinking of the White horse in England

sensibleken

Is this the site youre talking about?

http://www.megalithomania.com/show/site/1215/finn_mccool_and_his_wife_hill_figure.htm

draylander

Its funny how celebrating our heritage is based on the idea of boosting our economy. Its not the first time either, The Wood Quay excavation and the M3 through the hill of Tara.
I think our attitude toward our heritage wains depending on what we can get out of it.


On the topic of mythology, I love this book
Michael Scott - irish myths and legends

Paddy Samurai

Always thought RTE should invest more of their our money in making programs/films that would generate a return worldwide.Rather than shovelling it up their noses. All their overpaid djs/tv celebs prevent the money been spent on money making programmes of international appeal like bbc does with robin hood etc.
British TV stations have made huge money on numerous Robin Hood remakes/spinoffs DVD's etc.
Given our abundance of great mythological stories/characters, programmes based on CuChulainn etc, I think we have an untapped goldmine if done right. It would create employment,generate a steady income return and encourage tourism etc.

Snakeblood

Absurdum wrote: »

the problem with this country is that we're afraid of glorifying our warriors

I thought it was that we were totally skint.

Owen

MajorMax wrote: »

The feature is a naturally occuring phenomenen and wasn't painted by anyone. I think you're thinking of the White horse in England

Naturally occurring phenomenon my hole. It's clearly an outline of a man, woman, child and dog done by hand with lime, and yes I am thinking of the white horse in England also as I said in my post 'just like the Horse in the UK'.

Coriolanus

PaintDoctor wrote: »

Naturally occurring phenomenon my hole. It's clearly an outline of a man, woman, child and dog done by hand with lime, and yes I am thinking of the white horse in England also as I said in my post 'just like the Horse in the UK'.

Want to find it on Google maps?

keano_afc

I certainly think we should introduce more of these stories into society. I was spoonfed Irish mythology when I was younger and loved it. As a result, we named our baby Sadhbh last month as I always loved the name from the story of Oisin and Fionn Mac Cumhail. I couldnt believe how many people just couldnt pronounce the name or had never heard the stories. Needs to be more exposure of these tales.

Krusader

keano_afc wrote: »

I certainly think we should introduce more of these stories into society. I was spoonfed Irish mythology when I was younger and loved it. As a result, we named our baby Sadhbh last month as I always loved the name from the story of Oisin and Fionn Mac Cumhail. I couldnt believe how many people just couldnt pronounce the name or had never heard the stories. Needs to be more exposure of these tales.

Sadhbh is a fine name, it's on our shortlist also

Owen

Nevore wrote: »

Want to find it on Google maps?

Can't believe I actually found it. Must be 15 years since I saw it last. The kid and the dog are obscured by the trees, couldn't find a clear view at the junction behind it, but you can see the two adults in the frame. Mental, love google maps so much right now, and hate Nevore for making me lose 30 minutes of my life checking every little by-road To be fair to the other poster (Who must be my cousin, as we stayed on the same farm with the same Grandmother) - it may not be done in lime, but I still can't see it being naturally occurring, it's too detailed when you see it in the flesh.

Linky

andrew cross

Ezekiel Shapely Electrician wrote: »

We have all heard these stories and fantastic stories they are. Lots of countries have mythology eg England with King Arthur etc but I think these ones are exceptional

Got to thinking on these tonight and had a chat about them. Learned about them in school which was always one of the more interesting stories, I presume and hope that they are still teaching them

But after having a whisket there with the aul boy we got on to them and talked (well I talked, he hadn't a clue what I was on about) about the Lord of the Rings and the huge boost that gave New Zealand. It was their biggest employer for a couple of years and has done wonders for their tourism industry. Mainly because it's a cool story that can show off a tremendous landscape.

And I think these are even better stories. Brilliant stories with a hell of a lot of depth that need not be a series but a whole untapped resource of stories that as far as I know have never been brought to the big screen. I would hate to see them be americanised though there is no real set story but al lot of interpretations.

Point is they are everything mythology should be, all have depth and morality at their core and amazing imagery and as such have an incredible potential. And I think they would be brilliant to share. And also, of course, that they could employ and boost tourism, moreso than the "I'm three eights Irish" florisa pastel wearing tourists.

Just a thought

there could be a lot of films made you could be the main character with that name *slasher*

squod

Recommend a look at the seven wonders of Fore. Nice place to visit and unlike most Irish folklore stories most of the stuff is still around to see, touch and talk about.

A local historian told me of the day Cú Chulainn raised the lintel (big ass 12 ton stone) above the door. Facinating.

GhostInTheRuins

EverEvolving wrote: »

I love the Children of Lir story, think it make an excellent film for all ages.

Film for all ages? :eek: Have you ever actually read it? It's a soul destroying, depressing story.

And as far as the Táin goes, there's noone that would like more to see something like that on screen than myself, but it just wouldn't work without a rewrite so far from the original that there'd be no point. Sure 90% of the (mishmashed) story is Cú Chulainn tearing people to shreds relentlessly.

sensibleken

Nevore wrote: »

Want to find it on Google maps?

ahem

http://www.megalithomania.com/show/site/1215/finn_mccool_and_his_wife_hill_figure.htm

oops. didnt see you guys actually found it already.

sensibleken

Crosáidí wrote: »

Sadhbh is a fine name, it's on our shortlist also

Thats my doggys name