BATTLE OF THE DAMNED (Christopher Hatton, 2013)

[Jox]

Behind the scenes video from one of the stunt coordinators

[Tom]

Besides seeing a bit too much of Dolph's stunt double there, that looks promising. Good to see some crane shots being set up. It does look like they'll be doing a hell of a lot of effects in post. Even down to gunfire, squibs etc. It annoys me that so many movies now just don't have the time to do practical fx in camera.

I'm still hoping this one will be fun though.

[Jox]

Seems to be some good stunts too, remember D said it was his most action-packed film since the 80s or something. I just hope it's a bit more ambitious and less cheesy than say BRIDGE OF DRAGONS which the costumes and post-apocalyptic theme reminds me of...

[bomaz]

Yeah, stunt looks cool and the director seems to be making fine images and "frames".

[Jox]

During final mix


Cover photos (or captures?) on the director's FB page










EDIT:






another stunt team video

[Mosquito]

Seems to be some good stunts too, remember D said it was his most action-packed film since the 80s or something. I just hope it's a bit more ambitious and less cheesy than say BRIDGE OF DRAGONS which the costumes and post-apocalyptic theme reminds me of...

Well his remark instantly makes this my most anticipated Dolph movie of recent months. Well, agreed, BoD was cheesy, but at least it had Dolph showing martial arts like he hasn't done since. Which is a shame. I can only re-iterate: don't give him a gun. Just let him kick and punch. The man is a weapon and he's looking fucking good showing those skills.

[Nathan]

This looks cool as fuck, if indeed it will be one that nobody can take seriously. I agree about the martial arts - some of his best kicks were in Bridge of Dragons and Hidden Agenda and the fighting in SILT is ace. He does a lot of X vs. Y fights now but I'd love to see many more fights in his movies, he was especially good against Adkins in US4. I know that fights are very time-consuming to choreograph, rehearse, shoot and edit. I don't see a huge amount of fighting occurring in BOTD but I'm hoping that he is given a bit more to do with regards to that in TE3.

[Jox]

but I'm hoping that he is given a bit more to do with regards to that in TE3.

If they don't cut most of it like in TE2...

[leigh1975]

Whose choice was it to cut out most of Dolph's role? Simon West? I listened to the TE2 commentary, and he doesn't even really make reference to Dolph...

[Jox]

Let's not over-amplify this:

West does speak a little about Dolph but on a film like that he doesn't much have time to talk about the 4th starring role billed and he is a yes-man blockbuster-maker... To be honest, he doesn't go into any controversies or details about a lot of things, of course including the fact that West didn't get to complete the post-production (was let go during post i.e. the final cut is not his)... (I don't have much more details about it than that)

And it's not most of Dolph's role that has been cut out of the movie it's his action scenes. Everybody's action scenes actually, except Sly and Statham's but maybe more so Dolph's, particularly his anticipated "singing in Swedish fight scene". The whole movie has been trimmed here and there anyway, and you can tell with all the elipses and holes...

Let's go back to topic. BATTLE OF THE DAMNED.

[leigh1975]

Can I transfer this to the Expendabes board????

Back to BOTD... I'm really interested in this, it's the first time Dolph's done a 'big concept' film since the first Universal Soldier, or maybe Dark angel... he works well in those roles.

[Jox]

Can I transfer this to the Expendabes board????

Absolutely. I may move the posts even.

it's the first time Dolph's done a 'big concept' film since the first Universal Soldier, or maybe Dark angel... he works well in those roles.

I thought COMMAND PERFORMANCE already was quite "high-concept" as they call it, and on a big scale for a low-budget flick.

[leigh1975]

Can I slightly disagree?
It would be all about the concept if it was just 'Die Hard with dolph making an appearance in it', however, I do get the impression that CP feels like pure Dolph, and he is just as big as the concept. However, in stuff like US and Dark Angel, he feels like the leading man in an 'idea' film... ok, just thinking about it as I type, let's look at, say, JCVD. His films always seem like vehicles rather than films specifically suited to him... anybody could star in, say, Timecop. However, Dolph seems to slot in to every film he makes without making it an ego trip of a top bill. He doesn't swamp the production with star big-headedness, he treats his starring roles in the way a character actor would in a way, and it always fits. Has Dolph ever been Miscast? No, IMHO. That's why I think he's going to be great in BotD, He won't swamp the project with 'name above the title' bullshit, he will serve the story, same as always.

[Jox]

Oh we just weren't talking about the same thing then. (But "high-concept" has a specific definition in Hollywood, nothing to do with the stars) As for the rest this is too much of a discussion/reflexion for me right now!

[leigh1975]

Oh we just weren't talking about the same thing then. (But "high-concept" has a specific definition in Hollywood, nothing to do with the stars) As for the rest this is too much of a discussion/reflexion for me right now!

I tend to ramble...