Andy Mcnab
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>>By am-i-binned (Tuesday, 11 Feb 2003 14:32)
The lioness aspect will out!
As I told Lynn: Sorry, but there came a point where I could not turn the other cheek without a substantial punch in passing! Too much mixing with SAS bods and wayward K'...
>>By buddy (Tuesday, 11 Feb 2003 16:01)
understood...
>>By am-i-binned (Tuesday, 11 Feb 2003 16:16)
We should do coffee and toast again, sometime - if you'd like!
>>By buddy (Tuesday, 11 Feb 2003 23:56)
Love to!!!
>>By am-i-binned (Wednesday, 12 Feb 2003 11:56)
Publisher variations:
Re: Firewall -- the team Nick had with him in Helsinki (to abduct Valentin)
UK version: Sergei, Carpenter, Nightmare, and "...The last two on the team I'd christened the Kray twins..." as in Reggie and Ronnie Kray, but I don't recognize who the Krays actually are -- obviously a UK thing, hence the altered US version.
Buddy, can you enlighten us non-UKs as to who the Krays are?
US version: Sergei, Carpenter, Nightmare, and "...The last two on the team I'd christened the James brothers..." as in Frank and Jesse James, the "wild west outlaws".
Curious what these characters were christened in the Australian and Dutch versions -- Paul? Lynn? -- or in any other lurkers' versions?
>>By am-i-binned (Wednesday, 12 Feb 2003 16:15)
You are joking, I hope, on the changes to named persons?
Kray Twins: really sick, nasty, ugly (London) gangsters
Guess the Aussie version had Ned Kelly and sidekick!
Why do British books have to be altered for the American market? Damn it, how many American books do we Brits buy that are spelt US English and when it comes to American bad guys we know most of the notorious ones!! American books are never altered for our benefit, ie; spelt Brit/Aussie English...
Isn't it about time American publishers presented Brit books as is to the American readership, that way US readers would learn a little more about Europe and Europeans...Nothing wrong in a litttle research, surely!!
It begs the question: how in God's name can America understand the rest of the world (alien languages) when we (UK & USA) speak the same lingo but can't agree to spell it the same way...
>>By buddy (Wednesday, 12 Feb 2003 22:34)
England and America are two countries separated by a common language.
George Bernard Shaw (1856 - 1950)
I'm afraid I'm not joking, Buddy. There are lots of differences between the two versions -- some make sense, some don't. Like the PMS/PMT I asked about recently -- made sense to use PMS in US and PMT in UK, since both describe same thing, just using the more familiar term. What's really a mystery is why the Dutch version didn't use PMS since it's a common term in Holland. Lynn can tell you better, but the Dutch publishers came up with a very lame line bearing no relationship whatsoever to the humour (Brit. spelling you'll note) of Nick's reply.
Paul, what does it say in your version of Crisis Four? Passage we're talking about is in Chapter 5, Nick is thinking back on when he was in Afghanistan with Sarah, negotiating with the rebels for the Hind helicopters:
" ... They had screamed and shouted at each other and the meet had ended with her storming off the mountainside. We drove to the border in silence, while she sat and brooded about what had happened. At length she said, "Not a good one for me, Nick. What do you think I should write in my report?"
I thought for a moment. "PMS?"
She laughed. "Never mind, we'll just have to come back and try again soon, but not for the next five days."
I really can't address why American books are not modified for UK readership. Main reason I'm aware of these variations is because I happen to have both US and UK copies of AM's books (long story, explain some other time). My biggest gripe is not with spelling, but passages that are left out, edited out! We've already discussed Remote Control's missing 4 pages in the first chapter – why on earth would the US and Australia have those pages but the UK (and Holland) do not! Firewall is another example -- there are at least two passages where Andy talks about "Blue Peter" in the UK book but those paragraphs (and jokes) are missing in US book. I did look for “Blue Peter” – but then I do a lot of internet homework on such things (see one of my earliest posts here at GNOD). I confess, however, I did not look for the Krays – a major laziness lapse, I guess – and now I’m tempted to ask – who’s Ned Kelly?
>>By am-i-binned (Thursday, 13 Feb 2003 06:58)
Okay, did my homework -- yep, the Krays fit; nope, don't think Ned and brother Dan to fit as well...
>>By am-i-binned (Thursday, 13 Feb 2003 07:14)
Nice to see such lively conversation here.
Found this site when I searched the net for Andy Mcnab-stuff.
My favourite books are Immediate Action, Firewall (I enjoy reading his description of our Scandinavian features as Finland is our neighbouring country) and Liberation Day.
Don´t kill/make Nick retire! I hope for many more adventures för him.
Isn´t it a bit early to condemn the movie before we have seen it? It may even tempt people to read the book...
A film based upon a book is never as good as the book itself. The book Bravo Two Zero was overwhelmingly much better than the movie.
In the Swedish version the twins havn´t got names. They are just called "The twins".
In the Swedish versions of Immediate Action and Bravo Two Zero some paragraphs are left out. In Immediate Action a whole chapter is also missing
>>By Swedish reader (Friday, 14 Feb 2003 09:49)
Hello again, Swedish reader! Glad to see you're back.
Must ask -- what chapter is missing from your Immediate Action? How did you find out it was missing? Same with paragraphs from B20. And Liberation Day is already out in Sweden?
Very strange this selective editing! I feel bad for you, tho', at least our publishers had enough imagination to put in names for those two!
Of course, you're right to chide us for being so negative about a movie that hasn't even been made. But, then again, I share your disappointment about B20 (and that was BBC, of which I always expect great things!), so I my expectations are very low for what Hollywood will do to the story.
When you found Gnod, did it come up on a simple "Andy McNab" search? It's been several months now since I found and saved this site, so I actually don't remember how I got here in the first place.
>>By am-i-binned (Friday, 14 Feb 2003 12:30)
Re: Lynn, what sort of story line do you see for Nick Stone in Amsterdam. Diamond related or drug related alongside, what, a kidnap situation?
Well, I still like the version I posted on Allreaders a while ago.. If you don’t recall: about the sect leader residing in Amsterdam (it was when we talked about clones) who Nick had to eliminate and he was captured and brainwashed but escaped…To continue: accidentally killing another criminal (pick one from any nation) being chased around in the Red light district.. Oh, story lines enough inspired by Amsterdam’s whirlpool of excitement, crime and melting-pot of races.
Re: The lioness aspect will out
I didn’t think of you as a relaxed purring pussy-cat anyway.
Re: Publisher variations
In my book: Sergei = Sergei, Carpenter = Timmerman, Nightmare = Nachtmerrie and the Kray Twins = Kray-tweeling, Reggie and Ronnie.
I guess Dutch translators supposed we know the Kray’s too or there isn’t any comparison with a Dutch couple. (As a matter of fact I do know the Kray’s but that’s because I was – in a loooooong history- fan of Spandau Ballet, there was a movie about the Kray’s starring the two Spandau brothers Martin and Gary Kemp… as the Kray brothers. If anybody starts laughing now don’t worry – I’m laughing too)
Mmmm, talking about Gary Kemp, he used to be married to Sadie Frost – who’s recently Jude Law’s wife – who could play Nick…. Not perfect but I don’t think any actor would be perfect from my point of view.
Re: You are joking, I hope, on the changes to named persons?
I think it’s a real publisher thing. I talked about ‘power’ of story-tellers. Forget about that. Publishers are people who draw moustaches on perfect photographs. Real power.
Re: US readers would learn a little more about Europe and Europeans
Europe = there’s Europe, Asia, Africa, US etc
US = there’s US
No offence (know me better than that) but this is how US is seen by outsiders. Proof me wrong!
Re: At length she (Sarah) said, "Not a good one for me, Nick. What do you think I should write in my report?"
I thought for a moment. "PMS?"
Dutch version:
I thought for a moment. “Leave church before singing?”
(expression of a certain way of birth control)
It just occurred to me: it’s a man translating. Certainly this one knows more about sex than about PMS. Lucky guy!
Re: why on earth would the US and Australia have those pages but the UK (and Holland) do not!
I send an email to Dutch publisher asking this question (and a few others). If I ever get an answer I’ll let you know.
Re: “Blue Peter”
If you could tell me where (page) it is in the book, I’ll check too.
Re: Swedish Reader: Don´t kill/make Nick retire! I hope for many more adventures for him.
Hallelujah!
Re: Isn’t it a bit early to condemn the movie before we have seen it?
I still had some hope Andy himself could do some good to the movie. Buddy and Am-I-Binned (if I may speak for them) are convinced money will be talking. Crisis Four is just very much the wrong book to start with anyway. It’s a great story but the have to make such great adjustments because of September 11th. Add changes to make a movie based on a book (leave out stuff, alter characters etc,) there’s just nothing left of the original story. I do agree, which I said before, it’s 100% guarantee that people who do start reading the books because of the movie, will not be disappointed!
Re: I (Am-I-Binned) share your (Swedish Reader) disappointment about B20
I wasn’t so disappointed. I think they followed the book real well, it wasn’t romanticised and Sean Bean as Andy McNab was OK (and that’s a compliment since it’s hard to please me when it comes to casting McNab/Stone)
That's it for today, wish you all well and talk soon !
>>By Lynn (Friday, 14 Feb 2003 20:47)
Paul, what does it say in your version of Crisis Four? I thought for a moment. "PMS?" Our version says "PMT" which is weird because PMS is a more common term here.
As for the twins in Firewall, we got the Kray Twins. Up until I read the book I'd never heard of them. I had to go & ask an English guy on my street who they were. I think he was a little confused about why I'd want to know about "them".
And no it wouldn't have suprised me if they used Ned & Dan Kelly..haha!
I'm curious about this "Blue Peter" business too. Please explain?
It's so hard to get your hands on a copy of the movie "B2O" here in Australia, I can't find it anywhere apart from on the net for a small fortune $$. Is it worth chasing it up?
Did any of you see the Four Corners documentary on the B20 mission? It was quite good and tended to substantiate Andy's accounts of the mission. Mal (Stan in the book) has a few interesting things to say, and the production company has a few classy questions for the DoD and the head brass of the Regiment. They of course declined the offer.
Now, the whole business about editing books is a sore point for me. I couldn't believe it when I was in the US and found an Aussie TV show & to my utter disbelief found it was subtitled!!! As if we were speaking Upper Mongolian!! And then on an American base we watched an Intel video and again, it was subtitled quite badly. Am-I-Binned, maybe you can answer this, do we speak to fast, or is the accent that strong? And everybody else, are we hard to understand? I'm fascinated to find out from you all. I personally don't find many accents (English language) vary hard to understand apart from thick Irish accents. I'm a lost cause within seconds of that, I tend to just smile & nod.
So where is Andy McNab (Nick Stone more to the point) going from here? Any takers on plots for his next adventure?
Take care guys, speak soon.
>>By Paul R (Saturday, 15 Feb 2003 07:54)
Hi all, (UK - 13.30 GMT)
How about 'we all' put country of origin/living as header - so that newcomers can see this is a truly mixed bunch of International Andy McNab fans...
Bear with me here but feel free to put me on the right track: I think I misunderstood Miramax copyright purchase of Nick Stone aka Andy McNab:
"...McNab has sold the rights to all 'four' of his novels including the bestseller Bravo Two Zero which, was previously adapted by the BBC..."
The above BBC statement (I assumed) referred to copyright of 3 novels and the autobiography Bravo Two Zero. If that were true, then film-copyright of Nick Stone would only be for the production of said novels. (((...Phew, Nick saved in the nick of time from the Hollywood mince machine = everything in a glossy Holly skin for a mere 3 films..)))
Since that BBC statement there have been rumours in the press and on message boards that Andy McNab has sold the 'sole copyright' of Nick Stone (character) to Miramax, which would mean they could haul in any old hack to write scripts for future Nick Stone movies and totally ignore future or past books by Andy (changing them so much they no longer resemble original plot). As above CF...
I'm no lawyer, but, and this is a big BUT: if the copyright contract (small print) includes Bravo Two Zero then Miramax not only purchased the Nick Stone character, Miramax also purchased copyright of Andy McNab...(ha ha - joke)...That could mean taking control of him and everything he does right down to his being dogged by Hollywood minders and them holding the (now famous) cling-film parcels - to be flushed only via loo' stamped Hollywood.
God only knows what they'll do to remake of AM's time in Iraq, bearing in mind they're changing the plot for Crisis Four so as not to upset the Saudis. (Osama bin Laden a Saudi national) Hmm, can you imagine Hollywood remake of Bravo Two Zero (?) horror of horrors! - all based on present American angst toward 'old Europe' its not backing second war with Iraq.
Picture, if you will: Iraqi soldiers portrayed as French Foreign Legion and German SS interrogators, and all set in some desert netherworld. Yeah, yeah, and of course, Andy won't be a Brit - he'll have the stars and stripes tattooed on his arse, and will reminisce youthful capers in the Bronx...Hollywood movies are always OT on flying the flag, so with that in mind you can bet the music score of Nick Stone films won't include "Viva! Peckham. Viva! Hooky Street"...For those who are not up on London funnies, go to: http://www.davecovcomedy.com/ofah/themesong.htm
Andy knows the score on Trotter's Independent Trading type humour!!!
>>By buddy (Saturday, 15 Feb 2003 14:36)
Good Grief! I can't keep up! And I love it! Unfortunately, due to my work schedule, won't be able to answer questions directed my way until late tonight or tomorrow. In the meantime, I thought of a few more little things to throw into the "publishers/editors" pot....
Continuity -- Andy needs someone to monitor....shall we volunteer?!? (big grin, wink)
In the UK and US versions of Crisis Four and Last Light there are two significant glitches which publishers/editors failed to catch. So I'm wondering if the Dutch, Swedish and/or Australian versions caught them.
Crisis Four:
During initial escape/pursuit, Nick tells Sarah to remove her knickers/panties so that he can hide them along with his t-shirt to throw the tracking dogs off their scent. Done. Later, at the service station, in order to avoid being caught on the security cameras, Nick pulls his t-shirt up over his head as they approach the van they're going to steal. How'd he get his t-shirt back?
Last Light: (this overlaps with Firewall)
Nick: "I was penniless. I'd sold the Ducati, the house in Norfolk, even the furniture, ..." How'd he get his Ducati back (after Firewall) to sell it?
'til soon...
>>By am-i-binned (Saturday, 15 Feb 2003 18:55)
(Holland - Feb 15th 2003)
Re: (Paul) It's so hard to get your hands on a copy of the movie "B2O" here in Australia, Is it worth chasing it up?
Depends on who you ask I guess. I taped it when it was shown on BBC and later on another channel with Dutch subtitles. I saw it several times and I really enjoyed it. If you like the subject it’s a very good movie in my opinion. If you start comparing with Andy’s book I think it was good but not everyone agrees with me. So you can only find out for yourself by trying to get hold of a copy and it’s up to you how much you want to spend.
Re: Did any of you see the Four Corners documentary on the B20 mission?
I haven’t, so I’m interested to hear what those ‘few interesting things’ are.
Re: an Aussie TV show & to my utter disbelief found it was subtitled
LOL. We have this ‘problem’ in Holland too. All TV studio’s/actors/presenters etcetera are in the west of our country with accessory (non-) accent. So if there’s an interview with a person who does NOT live west of Holland they regularly offend the (what they call) ‘The Province’ (read: east-nord-south) by using subtitles. Holland does have dialect which is ‘foreign’ to other people (and would rectify using subtitles) but they subtitle also when those ‘Province’ people speak Dutch. Very patronizing.
Re: do we speak to fast, or is the accent that strong
It’s a bit hard for me to say because English is not my home-language. But any Australian show on TV I can understand as well as an English or American show.
Re: I tend to just smile & nod.
Oops, hope this doesn’t get you into trouble sometimes ;-)
Re: bearing in mind they're changing the plot for Crisis Four so as not to upset the Saudis.
I thought they were changing the plot not to upset Americans because of September 11th.
( “Andy McNab accepts that plans to produce a screen version of his book, Crisis Four, could provoke criticism at a time when the film industry is steering clear of disaster movies following the terrorist attacks on New York and Washington.”)
News articles from october 2001:
McNab has been slated as a co-producer on the future film, alongside Bonnie Timmermann, who has cast more than two dozen feature films.
McNab's publicist said: "The film is still set to go ahead as the novel is basically about the fight against terrorism and good winning over evil."
Miramax confirmed that it had bought the rights to all four books, including his next novel Last Light, out on 4 October. (bbc news oct. 1st 2001)
Miramax denies reports that it is in production on Crisis Four, an adaptation of a novel in which Osama bin Laden attempts to assassinate the president by staging an attack on the White House. Miramax purchased the rights soon after former elite Brit operative Andy McNab published it in 1999. (eonlin.com on oct. 5th 2001)
Miramax Pictures has purchased the film rights to the 1999 novel “Crisis Four” by a British ex-security agent named Andy McNab. In all fairness, I have not read this particular novel, but the article reports that the in the novel an attack is ordered on the White House... By a fella by the name of Osama bin Laden.
This of course, begs the following question: How stupid is Miramax Pictures?
Are people anxious to see movies where the Bad Guys get what’s coming to them? Yes. But are we really ready to see a fictionalized version of the man who murdered 6,000 innocent people try to do the same to our commander-in-chief? Good lord, I hope not. I’d rather concentrate on seeing him get what’s coming to him in real life. Then again, maybe I’m wrong. Wouldn’t be the first time. Maybe it’s time for Freddy Krueger and Michael Myers to roll over and make way for this new American Boogeyman to take his place on the silver screen.
But will all due respect to Andy McNab, I think I’ll just go out and rent “Die Hard” that weekend.
(Blake M. Petit, American and moviegoer 6 oct 2001)
There you go: American Boogeyman !!!!!!!!!!
Re: Hollywood remake of Bravo Two Zero (?) horror of horrors! –
They already shot this movie (and sequels): They’re called Rambo I, II, III, IV, V, VI, etc.
(change of scenery is all in the game)
Oh, they could cast Jean-Claude van Damme as Nick Stone! He’s from Europe…. (and Belgium is very near Britain). Who ever wrote the song “Hurray for Hollywood” ????
Re: Miramax not only purchased the Nick Stone character, Miramax also purchased copyright of Andy McNab
I see the next version of Action-Man coming… He looks exactly like Action Man but he’s got this little black beam where his eyes should be. Accessories: no (laser-)guns or knifes but supermarket-goodies-and-instructions-how-to-make-a-bomb and with Casio Baby G, Timberlands and Gore-Tex sleeping bag.
(and I want part of the profits!)
I’ve read in an interview that (Remote Control) Euan is based on a close friend who is still in the SAS. Wonder who that is.
Re: Continuity -- Andy needs someone to monitor....shall we volunteer?!?
I’m with you
Re: Crisis Four: T-shirt
Oh, Am-I-Binned, you’re so sharp!!
In Dutch it’s a bit confusing. Nick pulls out his shirt (hemd) to get the T-shirt underneath. He hides the T-shirt. At the service station he was just wearing his shirt, but instead of translating it back to ‘hemd’ they translated it T-shirt. Mistake indeed.
Re: Last Light: (this overlaps with Firewall), I'd sold the Ducati
Well, he just talks about paying for Kelly’s treatment. He could be talking in the past.
Till soon,
>>By Lynn (Saturday, 15 Feb 2003 22:45)
There you go again, Lynn, pointing out 'some' Americans don't know their arse from their elbow...
Boogeyman?!!!!! Boogeyman in my book is dancing to the music...
Now if Blake M.Petit was meaning Bogeyman I guess we'd understand better his interpretation of evil-doer...But maybe he meant America dancing to Osama's music!!!
Oh Gawd, Am-I-Binned. I can feel for Andy on cock-up about Ducati, if that's what it was, and not a "flashback"...I did similar in an erotic novel...Heroine wearing high-heels in one scene, a few scenes later wearing high-heeled boots...How that happened was due to "editing" = chapter slicing missing out the bit where she'd showered and changed outfits...
Mind you, if he's using different ghost-writers or typists for the final draft of manuscript, that sort of hiccup happens when the person hasn't read previous novels...It's the same thing as we were talking about off board: getting into the characters head - like Andy knows what he wants but anyone writing/editing doesn't and needs to get inside his head to be able to see and remember everything from his perspective!!!! If they can't then the result will be that of an audio typist ((((((Flat in parts))))))
Missing Knickers - if she was a top-notch agent she'd have a spare G-string in her pocket/bag!!!!!!!
Double portion T-shirt: that many mistakes and you can put it down to Andy McNab has "arrived" in publishing = no longer edited!!!! The attitude of the publisher in question: "He sells on name alone so what the hell if we let slip a few of his balls ups - can't have authors getting above themselves, now can we..."
>>By buddy (Sunday, 16 Feb 2003 10:06)
Hello
Chapter 23 about John McCarthy and Terry Waite is missing in the Swedish version of Immediate Action.
I don´t have the swedish version og B20 so I can´t check exactly what´s missin but the passage about Stan and the drunk monkes and the elephants is missing and the part where Dinger and Andy throw each others tapes away + many many morepassages everywhere.
I borrowed B20 and enjoyed it so much that I wanted a copy of my own. As i thought it unnecessary to buy the same book I bought it in english. When I glanced through it I noticed some paragraphs I hadn´t seen before so I started reading the book from the beginning. Then I had to do the same with Immediate Action...
Neighter Last Light nor Liberation Day are available in Swedish. Firewall was published in Swedish last August. I´ve read the UK-versions. (i´ve bought the Swedish version of Firewall but not read it yet)
Sorry but I don´t remember what words I used in the search when I found this site.
I wasn´t all that disappointed in the film B20. I´ve accapted that movies are never as good as the books so I had small expectations. It´s well worth seeing. If not for anything else so for the interview
>>By Swedish reader (Monday, 17 Feb 2003 08:42)
US (Philadelphia, PA) -- with about 24-30 inches of snow!!!!
Hello, Everyone!
Excellent discussions -- so much to catch up on! Warning, please forgive, I think this will end up being a very long post!
Re: Crisis Four / Miramax / Nick Stone / "sold rights"
Miramax Films has acquired the film adaptation rights to Andy McNab's novel "Crisis Four," along with the rights to the novel's main character "Nick Stone," it was announced today by Miramax -- http://www.stickyfeet.com/news.php?id=28
McNab has sold the rights to all four of his novels including the bestseller Bravo Two Zero which, was previously adapted by the BBC. ... Miramax confirmed that it had bought the rights to all four books, including his next novel Last Light, out on 4 October. -- http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/film/1573878.stm
McNab's publishing house, Corgi, said it was "not simply another novel which had been bought by a film company for development. The deal has been done and it is currently in production, which means the process is several stages down the line," said a spokesman. McNab said the contract was being signed and the script in the process of being written. -- http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2001/10/01/nbooks01.xml
Done Deal, The Archives by J. Roskin, July 2001
Title: Crisis Four
Log Line: British intelligence agent, Nick Stone, is black mailed into either finding, for free, a missing agent who's thought to have defected from the service to aid Muslim militants intent on blowing up the world, or going to prison and losing the 9-year-old girl whose dead parents, left him to care for. Nick finds the woman/agent and they team up to preempt a plan to kill Yasser Arafat and Benjamin Netanyahu.
Writer: David Magee
Agent: n/a
Buyer: Miramax Films
Price: Upwards of seven figures (McNab & publisher)
Genre: Action adventure
Logged: 7/18/01
More: Option. To be based on Andy McNab's novel of the same name. McNab is a British special operations officer who was highly decorated in the Gulf War. Bonnie Timmermann will produce. McNab will get co-producer credit. Miramax has also picked up character rights to Nick Stone, and the rights over time to develop the other Nick Stone novels, "Remote Control," "Firewall," and yet unpublished book.
http://www.scriptsales.com/ArchivesJuly01.html
CNN.com Entertainment, July 18, 2001
Miramax eyes McNab novels
Miramax has also picked up character rights to Nick Stone, and the rights over time to develop the other Nick Stone novels, "Remote Control," "Firewall," and an as yet unpublished fourth book. David Magee will write the screenplay.
The deal comes as McNab is poised for a publishing breakout. A major bestseller in the U.K. and in translation, he hasn't developed a sizable following in the United States. But McNab was recently in New York meeting with agents and may be close to signing with Janklow & Nesbit principal Mort Janklow for American representation.
Re: "disappointment about B20"
As a clarification, I like the BBC B20 but I think what I found lacking will also be lacking in any Nick Stone film. So much of what is special about Andy's stories is what takes place inside his head -- his thoughts, humour, perceptions, explanations of how, why, and wherefore. Whether Andy's or Nick's, narration is the only way to convey those thoughts. Films are primarily visual and very limited in their time constraints, so it's virtually impossible to successfully achieve the impact of knowing what's going on inside Andy's/Nick's mind. In B20, Sean Bean did some narration but so much had to be abridged to conform to the medium.
An example of "lost in the transition": Swedish reader mentions about Andy, Dinger and the tossed tapes -- In the film B20, that scene barely made sense and totally lacked the humour in the book. The only reason I did understand what they were doing was because I had read the book -- hence, disappointed.
As a tangent explanation: The first time I saw Stanley Kubrick's movie 2001 I thought it was visually attractive but a total waste of time--didn't spark any imagination, only voyeur's eye candy. But I was curious so I read Arthur Clarke's book. Absolutely incredible, couldn't believe all the ideas and concepts and what-ifs (kind of the reverse of "a picture paints a thousand words")! So I agree completely with Lynn and Swedish reader, anyone reading Andy's books as a result of seeing the movie will absolutely NOT be disappointed!
Paul, I'd still recommend B20, but you might want the DVD (includes 20 min. interview with AM). DVD is only available right now in PAL format (I think) -- can you play PAL versions? I have the VHS tape version, but it doesn't include the interview -- so I wait. If you can use PAL, watch eBay, prices are sometimes much cheaper there.
Re: "Blue Peter" / Firewall
(It's been a while, could only find one of two passages for now -- so guess what I'll be re-reading soon...)
Chap. 19: ... I smiled my yes-very-funny smile. "Tom, I'm going to show you how to use this stuff." I pointed at the hooks and straps by the settees.
"OK, but one question." He was looking quite serious. I don't see an egg box or an empty washing-up-liquid bottle anywhere..." He looked at both of us to see if we'd got the joke. I didn't have a clue what he was on about, nor did Liv.
"Blue Peter. You know, egg boxes, toilet rolls, sticky-back plastic...."
It was too late for a laugh. "Ah, right, Blue Peter." I'd never watched it as a kid.
Liv still didn't have a clue and clearly wasn't going to wait for an explanation.
Tom watched her disappear into the kitchen. "I even got a badge once."
Re: Who's up to play Nick Stone.... found it!
Times Online, October 05, 2002
....Brad Pitt, Hugh Jackson and Clive Owen have been slated for the role of the hero Nick Stone. (Ooops, I thought I'd also read Sean Bean, but not according to this article.)
Re: Swedish reader's question -- Andy's response to "Soldier Five"
The Guardian, Jan. 6, 2001
.... Although the Ministry of Defence has criticised the genre in public, McNab insists that everything he has written has been submitted for vetting, amended if necessary and then cleared. He says he has never been critical of the military high command in his books, but he does not contradict the accusations in another insider's account of the Iraq mission - Mike Coburn's forthcoming Soldier 5, which recently fought off a legal challenge from the MoD in New Zealand. "The fact is," McNab explains, "that you are paid to do a job and there's a war on. These things happen and that's it."
Re: Dutch PMS/PMT
Lynn, I realized that not only did your translation lose the humour of PMS/PMT, it also misses the humour of Sarah's reply -- "Never mind, we'll just have to come back and try again soon, but not for the next five days." (post-cycle)
Re: Missing Swedish passages -- IA and B20
What were they thinking?! That's worse than the missing Remote Control pages! How fortunate for you to be able to read both languages -- an ability I greatly envy! Although, come to think of it, it wouldn't pay for me to read in Swedish if they're only going to be skipping parts of Andy's writing.... (big grin, wink)...
Re: Aussie accents and subtitles
Paul, I'm not a good judge/gauge -- I seem to have been blessed with a good ear and can usually adapt within a few minutes to most any speaker's accent. I would think though that subtitles are provided on the assumption (and probably rightly so) that most US viewers are too lazy to try to understand anyone else's accents. God forbid we should have to actually pay close attention to what someone else is saying, let alone how they say it! Can't they just learn to speak English! (big sarcastic grin!, big wink)
Re: the Ducati (Firewall / Last Light)
In Firewall (Chapter 12) Nick abandons his Ducati at South Kensington tube station after he's followed by E4 Security from his meeting with Liv. He explains that he'll have to give up his Nick Davidson cover ID and: ... "Worse still, I'd have to bin the bike. There'd certainly be a trigger on it for the next few hours, depending on how important they thought I was. An electronic device might even be attached to it. The only thing that cheered me up was the thought of what would happen to the person who'd eventually steal it after seeing it standing their for a few days. They wouldn't know what had hit them when the E4 team closed in."
Based on this, no way could he have gotten it back to sell....
Re: "Firewall" -- resurrecting old question (one of my earliest postings here)
Who were Valentin's nephews?
This is a real question. I don't know the answer, but I have a sneaking suspicion the answer may be lying somewhere on the editing floor....
Re: Firewall -- other names!
I forgot! The NSA officer (overpowered by Coke can) is "The Wasp" in the US version; in the UK version, he's "The Democrat" -- Why on earth did they make that change?! Democrat makes way more sense in the US than Wasp!
Well, on that note, I think that's just about enough out of me for tonight (or actually morning now), seeing as it's 3:55 a.m.
Tout ziens....
>>By am-i-binned (Tuesday, 18 Feb 2003 09:55)
Ooooh, Clive Owen !!
Now that´s a choice I could live with!!!!
>>By Lynn (Tuesday, 18 Feb 2003 15:46)
Okay, Lynn, you got me to do some homework --
I don't recognize Clive Owens at all, and I think the article I quoted has "Jackson" but maybe they meant "Jackman" (I recognize him from X-Men). Of the two, just on photos alone, think Hugh might be closer than Clive. (Clive reminds me a bit of Connery but it may be because they have him posing Bond-like.) Acting wise, since I've never seen Clive, couldn't say; although I liked Hugh as Wolverine--very intense character in that particular movie.
>>By am-i-binned (Tuesday, 18 Feb 2003 18:23)
I go for Clive - because:
he's british
he's got those profound BLUE eyes
he's got that 'damaged face' look
and I can see him struggling between his affection for
Kelly and hating himself for it at the same time.
I'm sold.
>>By Lynn (Tuesday, 18 Feb 2003 20:58)
Sorry Lynn, I'd cast Hugh Jackman but doubt Andy would want him on set, on the basis that it would be almost a mirror image of younger self!! Non blue eyes can be rendered blue with contact lens', and it's not Andy's face that reveal his wounds! Andy may sound a little brash, but he ain't got BIG EARS!!!
Another reason for picking the Aussie is due to the accent: Aussie's putting on the style sound more "Londoner" than any other regional accent within the UK.
Clive Owen, nah, looks more like Chris Ryan...Plus when CO shouts an order he sounds more suited to a drill sergeant - wrong type of menace (and he hasn't got a heart-stopping whispery voice, equally as deadly)...
It all comes down to the script in the end as to whether the actor sounds convincing, and how good he is at slipping into the skin of the character AM/NS.
What's the saying: don't judge a book by its cover. Yet, that's exactly what Andy wants you to do, so that you're left looking for the wrong man!
Think chameleonic in the nicest possible way!!! (physically)
>>By buddy (Wednesday, 19 Feb 2003 11:33)
Re: What's the saying: don't judge a book by its cover. Yet, that's exactly what Andy wants you to do, so that you're left looking for the wrong man!
AH, you might have a point there. I simply don't like Hugh's looks (no offence) He's got Bambi-eyes but maybe there's Shere Khan inside.... Clive is (by looks) definitely my type
(this is turning into a women conversation - sorry guys) so to make the film interesting if not for the story - than at least by casting Nick...
But hey, if we doubt the influence of Andy with this movie(s), we can discuss this for centuries.... without any effect. Well, it is fun so there is a purpose I guess.
>>By Lynn (Wednesday, 19 Feb 2003 20:12)
Okay then, Ladies, shall we stir things up and bring the Gentlemen in on this?
Any suggestions for the casting of Sarah?
>>By am-i-binned (Wednesday, 19 Feb 2003 20:17)
Any suggestions for the casting of Sarah?
Ashley Judd!!!! Purely for the looks factor. plus you could believe she's a goody until the end.
Am-I-Binned, yep we can play PAL format. thanks for the tips.
speak soon
>>By Paul R (Thursday, 20 Feb 2003 07:30)
Well Paul, we have more in common: I suggested Ashley too
(offboard talking with Am-I-Binned).
I'm going on a (too short) holiday, so talk to you all next week!
Lynn
>>By Lynn (Thursday, 20 Feb 2003 21:06)
I could see Ashley, she's stunningly beautiful and can play deadly serious, too -- but -- she's American! Told Lynn that when I read Crisis Four, my own mental image of Sarah was the actress who played Trinity (opposite Keanu Reaves) in the Matrix. Definitely a different type from Ashley, but attractive, dark, athletic, and intensely serious/deadly. Found her name -- Carrie-Anne Moss -- but -- problem is -- she's not British either -- although she is from British Columbia (wink)....
Buddy, can you give us any UK candidates?
>>By am-i-binned (Friday, 21 Feb 2003 03:50)
Hi all,
Can't take up the challenge on this one. I'm not a movie-goer anymore...Fan of old movies old stars, the modern Hollywood film stars are all so alike - either plastic filled, sick-skinny, and few truly talented among them, or maybe it's just the scripts that are so b****y awful Dallas like...
Had visualised Sarah as svelt, dark, sexually attractive rather more so than stunningly beautiful = sensual in movement, the sort of person who draws covert attention as opposed to outright puppy-dog ogle or dyke leering....
There was an actress in Soldier Soldier a few years back, looked tasty in combats too, can't for the life of me remember her name. Of course, our own Helena Bonham-Carter is a fab actress, has the right public school twang about her, Wouldn't be seen dead without Harrods or Harvey Nic knickers...
Whatever, let's just hope the film is a great success and not to far from original plot, otherwise I imagine Andy would feel ver let down indeed by his agent/s - shafted yet again....
>>By buddy (Friday, 21 Feb 2003 08:54)
Sat **** 15.55 GMT - UK (dateless - brainless - on go slow)
Interesting article in Writers' News: Authors' word Factories revealed:
'Fiction' factories involving 'partnership writing' where big literary names write with the help of less famous authors, who in some cases complete most of the novels, have come under the spotlight.
James Patterson whose series of Op-Center novels were produced by half a dozen ghost-writers. He is reported to have made more than $60 million from them. Alistair Maclean made more than £20 million, and employed assistants to pad out his stories.
Stephen King embraces partnership writing with Peter Straub.
J.G.Ballard, who wrote "Empire of the Sun" and "Crash" condemned the practise. He says it's mercenary, the object of merchandising 'names'. But then, when he wrote Empire of the Sun he was short of dosh, his argument that novel writing is a personal activity, well yeah, for newbies, but even Jilly Cooper has up to three people putting her blockbusters together, and it shows. One can see the joins in the script = different voices...
Andrew Crofts, who makes a "very comfortable living" from ghosting is featured, 'most' , and inputs on the fact that editors don't edit any more, and people like himself at least do a half decent job (his words:"reasonable standard") on a manuscript before it gets to a publisher...Second grade standard if the Ducati is anything to go by...It sounds as though he has so much work on his hands he's out-putting to maximum and bugger the quality!!
See, it does all come down to vanity in the end: the bestselling author trusts the ghostee to do a good job, the ghostee banks on the "named author" not reading finished product with a critical eye, and the publisher just briefly scans end product - more interested in jacket image and riging tills...
>>By buddy (Saturday, 22 Feb 2003 16:02)
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