Honor Harrington film

[Vertigo]

That is a valid point and is Honor not built quite... chunky as well as tall from here Sphinx heritage? I seem to remember that in the early books I always felt the way she was represented on the book covers seemed a little... well... too slender. But I suspect that is the sort of detail they will drop for a film. The producers are certain to want a 'looker' for the part.

 

[Parson]

I never got the chunky vibe. But it does make sense. I had always thought of her an inordinately strong for her weight. I think more important than size would be command presence. Especially in "On Basilisk Station" this was such an important part of her character. She made people want to be as good as they could be by quietly expecting the best of them. ---- Not an easy thing to pull off I think. ---- It works on me, I hate not living up to others' expectations or my own, but I know many of those that I've tried to lead as a Pastor or a Coach seem to respond more to the (figurative) kick in the back side. Since that's not a part of my natural bent it's always been hard for me to pull that off. And I'm often frustrated by people who think that if you're not "screaming" you're not really committed.

 

[Mirannan]

She doesn't look right for the part (Honor sounds as if she looks vaguely Far Eastern and darkish-skinned) but check out Amazon Eve. 195cm supermodel who has done some acting, but she is blonde. Hollywood producers might, though they shouldn't, be put off by her being a transsexual.

 

[Vince W]

In all honesty I doubt the producers will care about the height of the actress as long as she can play the role well and at least look the part enough if you squint hard enough.

 

[Vince W]

Found Nimitz, I think.

 

[TheDustyZebra]

Well, "cream and gray" he's not, but WOW that's a cat! And I think that's about the size of a treecat, right? Makes you wonder how anybody but Honor (and other heavy-worlders) manages to do the shoulder thing.

I don't think the height will matter, because Hollywood has always been able to make actors as tall as they need to be on film. It's all about angles. (And, as my mother always got a kick out of, boxes -- she saw Alan Ladd being filmed in some Western, when she was young, and he had to stand on a box to kiss the girl, even though he looked 6-ft+ in the movies.)

On the other hand, Angelina is rather anorexic-looking, so I'm not sure if she could pull off the physique.

This Amazon Eve -- it's funny, I've never thought of Honor as being THAT tall, but she very nearly is. I don't think Eve has the right look, though.

 

[Parson]

Vince: That is a monster cat. But Nimitz is supposed to be lithe and that looks like a cat that's been too long in the kibbles. But Amazon Eve would certainly settle any height problems there might be.

D. Z. Of course if I remember correctly, most of the tree cats are in bond pair relationships with Sphinxians, and if they are not they usually carry them in their arms if they carry at all. I remember Honor's maid on Grayson is said to carry the cat because she's too small to let it ride on her shoulder.

In scrounging around the internet I found the interesting idea that Maggie Q play Honor. She has some facial characteristics that would make her an interesting choice.

Additionally on that site was the idea that Honor spoke with a Welsh accent. I don't believe that's right. Anyone remember anything like that?

 

[Vertigo]

No recollection of a Welsh accent for her being mentioned at any time, in fact I think Weber may have steered clear of referring to any accents at all. The only reference to explicit accent that I can think of I would be Captain Oversteegen and his rather affected aristocratic accent.

 

[Mirannan]

No recollection of a Welsh accent for her being mentioned at any time, in fact I think Weber may have steered clear of referring to any accents at all. The only reference to explicit accent that I can think of I would be Captain Oversteegen and his rather affected aristocratic accent.

He did refer to accents, but accents from places in the story. I can't see how referring to someone as having an accent from a place that doesn't actually exist in RL could give offense.

 

[Parson]

I'm with you guys. No accents from real life places. What was the guy drinking anyway?

 

[Vertigo]

Sorry I didn't really express myself correctly. Yes he referred to accents but the only time I recall him attempting to write them phonetically (ie. giving us any idea of their sound) was with Oversteegen's aristocratic accent.

 

[Timba]

The more I have thought about this AJ is not the right actress no matter how much I like looking at her. I have just finished the first 3 books again and Honor is definitely described as thin and her strength and power are always surprising because she does not look that strong. Also she is supposed to look quite young in the early books so maybe a complete unknown would be best, plenty of good looking babes are certainly available. Then if more movies are in the offing the actress can "age" into the role although she never has to look anything other than young and healthy I guess. I think nailing the treecat look might be even more difficult and important.

 

[Parson]

The more I have thought about this AJ is not the right actress no matter how much I like looking at her.

You must have too much time on your hands to spend so much of it thinking about this. But it's nice to have someone come around to my point of view on this.

 

[Timba]

I'm retired, at least partially, so time is no issue. I am currently re-reading the entire HH series, actually I am listening to audiobooks for this and reading it along with the narration. Great fun I must say but it definitely has me thinking about that movie a bit more than normal.

 

[Parson]

I've a few (3?) years before retirement is likely to become a reality for me. I've also just gotten into the whole audio book thing, and I'm quite impressed by it. Especially because I can take my daily walk and get in 90 minutes of reading (albeit a bit slower than I would read) at the same time. Who reads the Honor Harrington books?

 

[Siberian]

I try and fail to imagine how they're going to deal with all the tech infodumps that explain the tactics. Or how about combat with ships that are million kilometres apart? That's totally uncinematic. Now, it might have worked in the TV show but (and I hope I'm wrong) a movie is a losing proposition.

 

[Mirannan]

Dealing with the long range combat is fairly simple, I think. Use some shots of the tactical screens (in which the ships would be depicted grossly out of scale) and some relatively short-range shots of lasers impacting - also some internal shots of the carnage.

As for the matter of an actress for Honor, I recently ran across mention of someone who would fit the bill although she isn't a professional actress at the moment. Google Jessica Pardoe.

 

[Vince W]

Hollywood would simply ignore the books in that respect. Show a few missiles firing and impacting on the walls then masers firing in glorious technicolour fantasy.

 

[Parson]

As for the matter of an actress for Honor, I recently ran across mention of someone who would fit the bill although she isn't a professional actress at the moment. Google Jessica Pardoe.

She certainly has the height and the look. But Hollywood is notorious for casting for reasons other than what the book would seem to indicate the person should look like. Take the Jack Reacher movie for example.

Hollywood would simply ignore the books in that respect. Show a few missiles firing and impacting on the walls then masers firing in glorious technicolour fantasy.

Precisely this!

 

[Mirannan]

She certainly has the height and the look. But Hollywood is notorious for casting for reasons other than what the book would seem to indicate the person should look like. Take the Jack Reacher movie for example.

Precisely this!

Yup. For one thing, it's odds on the lead for an action movie such as this would be black. (Hollywood would expand the action sequences, of which there are some in the HH stories, to make up most of the movie.) And, of course, having a working monarchy and feudal system as part of the story would be right out. They would butcher it. Heck, the Peeps would probably be the heroes!