Okay, I see your point.

However, I still dislike the Blomkamp-bashing: calling him a hack, his works crap, etc. It smacks of bitterness. Maybe he wasn’t ready to make Halo or a feature film yet, but calling him a hack is simply ridiculous. Even before his role in Halo was announced, Blomkamp was getting rave reviews around the ‘net for his short films. Honestly, you and John Camera’s blogs are the only places I’ve read such negative comments about him.

Also, “Yellow” may have lacked much of a narrative (it was a shoe commercial, after all), but “Alive in Joburg” definitely had one, even though it was loose. What’s wrong with having the audience fill in the blanks? Should he have come out and blatnantly had the narrator say “the aliens are Africans this represents APARTHEID”? And “Tempbot” had a narrative as well.

I really don’t care about a Halo film at this point. As I said before, I consider franchises to be an ephemeral thing. But Blomkamp-bashing is ridiculous because the guy definitely has potential, he makes a good visual look that should be in movies, and he shouldn’t be insulted out of sour grapes gathered from the failure of the Halo project.

The hierarchy exists in a model of proven skills and experience for a reason. Let these guys earn their stripes on lesser films that in themselves can be good, but that the reputation and financial stability of a studio are not hinging upon.

I am not saying this guy shouldnt pursue his career, but I dont want some major studio taking a chance on him with a movie I want to see done right.

Taking a chance on Snyder wasn’t a huge gamble. A Zombie movie has a limited demographic anyways. If he fucks it up, no big. And honestly the studios NEVER expected the success they got with 300. So they were not taking chances there either. Getting lucky with one good film might label you as worthy, but even Snyder has yet to prove himself beyond 300.

Maybe Watchmen comes out and we say, Gee I thought he was good… what happened?

And I didn’t criticize Bomkamp’s choice of context. “Mossad Commandoes Hunting an android in shanghai” could make for a great movie (or video game – exchange the cultures and its been done already), but who is to say this idea is going to be delievered right? Neill can make the android look cool. That much we know. According to your argument, he would make a better writer than a director.

Of course. But what I’m saying is that just because a director is a nobody doesn’t mean that they can’t make good films.

Again, consider Snyder himself. Just exactly was he doing before he made The Dawn of the Dead? Who’s to say that there aren’t capable, visionary directors outside of Hollywood and the big leagues? Perhaps it’s time that some studios take some big risks instead of calling in the same old Uwe Bolls and Michael Bays of the world.

And to be honest, I don’t care about Peter Jackson and I don’t care about the Halo movie. Film rights are ephemeral. If Kerry Conran’s Halo film in 2012 is a giant disaster then I’ll just wait five to ten years for the Microsoft Studios remake. Honestly- if The Hulk, of all films, can be rebooted, then there’s hope for any fanboy’s franchise. Video game movies will eventually become legitimized much like superhero movies have this year, even if Halo isn’t the one to do it.

I’m defending Blomkamp because the guy truly makes some cool stuff. There’s not a lot of interesting sci-fi films in recent years. His faux-documentary style isn’t too shabby- I’d love to see a World War Z sort of film made by Blomkamp.

Anyways, who can call a film about Mossad commandoes hunting an android in Shanghai “crap”?

One side blindly said “Jackson Likes him so he has to be a god among men!” and then worshipped anything with blomkamps name on it out of association.

The other side actually watched his shorts, reviewed his work and said “how does THIS GUY deserve to handle Halo?”

Even Microsoft said to Jackson “get a realistic budget, and get a real director or the deal is off” In the end? Deal was off.

Its not just me, and its not just this site. The guy doesn’t deserve the praise and studios are not willing to take a dive for him.

People just assume that is some well known director vouches for someone that they like doesn’t automatically mean they will have the experience or eye to pull it off.

And you hear about the exceptions to the rule BECAUSE they are the exceptions to the rule. Personally I wouldnt trust a big budget name film in the hands of someone who has directed a commercial and some self produced shorts. That is a lot of money to gamble on the reputation of someone who doesnt know how to do it.

Would you trust a pilot to operate your DC10 because he had played an insane amount of Microsoft Flight Simulator? Just because you think he is good, doesnt mean he can handle the big leagues.

Also, I can understand the unhappiness Halo’s fans have about the passing of the film, but why all of the anti-Blomkamp stuff? It’s not his fault Peter Jackson wanted him beyond anyone else.

And again, I point to the example of Zack Snyder (and his new protege, Matthijs van Heijningen) of someone who jumped from making commercials to handling a huge big budget Hollywood film involving a beloved franchise.

Lots better stuff coming out of there, though rarely the same level of effects.

He is a 3d effects artist who found himself curled up in Jackson’s lap. Nothing more.

I have friends currently IN film school doing their BFA that are producing better than those.

And sir, please do not presume I havent seen his dribble and already formed an opinion on him based entirely on a body of his works before presuming I haven’t.

He is a talented animator and effects guy. But I have yet to see anything truly great or inspired out of him.