After years in development, a film based on the '80s animated series Voltron is reportedly moving forward. Normally, news about a big-budget movie starring giant robot cats from outer space would make me happy. But not today. Not when the producers of the proposed film are already comparing their project to Michael Bay's bloated Transformers movies. According to THR's Risky Biz Blog, one of the film's producers compared Voltron favorably to Transformers and called it "the personification of the human spirit, a quality that will set this movie apart."
Bleak translation: The robots will have zero personality and we'll fill the movie with irritating human characters that are nothing like their cartoon counterparts and that no one will care about. Oh, and the movie will be "epic." Like two hours too long epic.
With Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen conquering the box-office despite terrible reviews, I guess it was inevitable that Voltron would get a similar big screen treatment. But the project was just released from development hell, and a major studio has yet to sign on. If this thing does get made, let's just hope Voltron doesn't end up humping anybody's leg or peeing on John Turturro's head.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
7-20-2009 @ 3:39PM
Anita said...
If it's an animated (non-cgi, non-live action) voltron, sign me up. Else, just let it die -
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7-20-2009 @ 3:40PM
Anita said...
If it's an animated (non-cgi, non-live action) voltron, sign me up. Else, just let it I'd rather let the project die -
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7-20-2009 @ 3:46PM
John said...
No one ever considers a 'Megas XLR' movie and that makes me sad :(
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7-20-2009 @ 6:24PM
Val said...
Jack Black as Coop would be perfect!
7-20-2009 @ 3:49PM
big werm said...
I'm waiting for Go-Bots and M.A.S.K. to make their big-sreen transitions. With luck, Ang Lee will get one and Michael Bay will get the other. Then we can see Chow-Yun Fat and Jean-Claude Van Dam destroy some more of my fondest childhood memories.
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7-20-2009 @ 4:01PM
Jason said...
voltron robots never had personalities... there were only two, one lion and one multi-vehicular, and they almost always fought giant creatures. But yes, leave the "balls" out of it.
sounds like they're concentrating on the 5 lions, since the multi-vehicles blew chunks. my fear is that they try and do a campy speed racer meets transformers thing.
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7-20-2009 @ 4:41PM
Jake said...
Do I recall incorrectly that the Voltron "robots" were really just vehicles? The cats didn't actually have sentience, nor did Voltron, correct? So why would they have anything more than "zero personality" in this adaptation?
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7-20-2009 @ 4:48PM
Jake said...
Also, when are they going to make Robotech?! THAT would be a kick-ass movie!
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7-21-2009 @ 10:52AM
Rob said...
+1 I'd prefer to see Robotech rather than Voltron. While I was an avid follower of both when I was younger, I think Robotech could translate better into a big screen adaptation.
7-20-2009 @ 5:14PM
Mills said...
Yes, the robot lions were just vehicles that the humans were inside of & controlling them, as was Voltron, (although it was never made clear if all 5 were controlling Voltron's different parts or if the leader black lion dude was solely controlling him)... the robots never had any personality, so why would one expect that in the movie?
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7-21-2009 @ 12:43PM
rick cokely said...
Actually in the Japanese version of the show Voltron was separated into 5 robot lions by a goddess because he became too arrogant. He at one time was a sentient being, but in the American version the witch Haggar was the one that separated the robots which were built by the King of Arus.
Depending on which version of the history they go with, the Japanese or the American the lions could have personality and even voices.
Also the answer the question regarding who controls Voltron when he is fully formed, that would be the Black Lion. The other lions share in some of the responsibility like loading weapon systems activating interlocks, connecting dyna-therms, etc. But his motion and what he is physically doing is controlled by Keith.
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