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Post by hondobrode on Nov 30, 2016 20:35:29 GMT -5
Ok, so way back in the early 80's, as I was discovering fandom beyond the newsstand, thanks to The Comic Buyers Guide and Bud Plant, Valerian was something that Bud recommended in his catalog. European sci-fi and the few panels I saw looked really good.
Bought the 3 different graphic novels he had and fondly remember reading them on the carpet in our basement next to our wood burning stove with a soda. Some of the best memories of my life.
These were the only 3 albums from Dargaud-USA.
It's been roughly a third of a century since then, but, I remember being very pleased with them.
As more and more European work migrates to Comixology, I'll definitely be getting more of them.
Valerian (Dane DeHaan) and Laureline (Cara Delevingne) are special operatives for the government of the human territories charged with maintaining order throughout the universe. Valerian has more in mind than a professional relationship with his partner – blatantly chasing after her with propositions of romance. But his extensive history with women, and her traditional values, drive Laureline to continuously rebuff him. Under directive from their Commander (Clive Owen), Valerian and Laureline embark on a mission to the breathtaking intergalactic city of Alpha, an ever-expanding metropolis comprised of thousands of different species from all four corners of the universe. Alpha’s seventeen million inhabitants have converged over time – uniting their talents, technology and resources for the betterment of all. Unfortunately, not everyone on Alpha shares in these same objectives; in fact, unseen forces are at work, placing our race in great danger.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 30, 2016 20:44:49 GMT -5
The movie looks great. Right in Besson's wheelhouse.
I read the first volume of the comic and wasn't blown away, but enjoyed it enough to add a couple more to my forever growing to-read pile.
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Post by hondobrode on Nov 30, 2016 22:09:28 GMT -5
Welcome
Love the Doc Savage avatar as well
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Post by Deleted on Nov 30, 2016 22:20:42 GMT -5
Welcome Love the Doc Savage avatar as well Thank you on both counts. |
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Post by Dizzy D on Dec 1, 2016 5:58:03 GMT -5
I saw the trailer and it probably be a good movie, but DeHaan looks too young compared to the Valerian from the comics. I'm trying to imagine him in Métro Châtelet or Brooklyn Station and I just can't see it.
Also disliking the way they change the relationship between Valerian and Laureline with him constantly hitting on her and she rebuffing him. The thing I love most about the comics is the relationship between the two of them, which lacks the usual Hollywood love-hate relationship. I'm trying to compare Laureline's usual attitude to things to anybody in comics, but can't think of any other character that is really like that. She rarely gets angry (in her first appearance she is transformed into a unicorn and when she is returned to her regular form, her reaction is that it was an interesting experience).
So I guess another Constantine? Entertaining movie, but don't compare it to the source material.
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Post by hondobrode on Dec 2, 2016 18:08:02 GMT -5
I don't know the source material nearly as well as you Dizzy, but am enjoying what I see, as well as what I read years ago.
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Post by codystarbuck on Dec 12, 2016 12:49:07 GMT -5
Besson turned me on to actually reading Valerian, after seeing the Dargaud-USA albums in a local shop (untouched) over a couple of years. When the Fifth Element came out, Byron Preiss, via his iBook imprint, published The New Future Trilogy, reprinting three of the then-more recent era albums, including the one that Mezieres worked on, when Besson stopped production to film Leon. Besson changed his script and hero after seeing the album and the flying taxi (the hero originally worked in a robot factory. After that, I hunted down all of the Dargaud-USA volumes and started getting all of the Cinebook editions, once they picked up the rights.
The original volume is a bit light; but it grows as it progresses, as Pierre Christin and Jean-Claude Mezieres get a handle on their characters and let their imagination go.
Besson is capturing the look and Fifth Element had the sensibility and I sense much of it here. The romantic stuff is probably more of a concession to film audiences, to make it more commercial. Hopefully, it doesn't go too overboard with that.
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Post by Roquefort Raider on Dec 12, 2016 14:55:54 GMT -5
I'm trying to compare Laureline's usual attitude to things to anybody in comics, but can't think of any other character that is really like that. She rarely gets angry (in her first appearance she is transformed into a unicorn and when she is returned to her regular form, her reaction is that it was an interesting experience). Very well said. Laureline is, like, the only adult in the whole galaxy and she shows a tranquil maturity lacking in most action heroes. As you so rightly points out, she doesn't even need to get angry to get things done, since her personality is usually sufficent to convince everyone to do what she says. It was funny to see Valerian evolve over the years of their relationship; at first he was still trying to be the main dude, the one who calls the shots, but eventually he seemed to accept that he was basically the muscle and she the brain. I hope the Shingouz are in the film... There were three aliens shown in the trailer who could have been them, but if that's the case I"m sorry their original appearance was changed. |
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Post by codystarbuck on Dec 13, 2016 14:15:36 GMT -5
I'm trying to compare Laureline's usual attitude to things to anybody in comics, but can't think of any other character that is really like that. She rarely gets angry (in her first appearance she is transformed into a unicorn and when she is returned to her regular form, her reaction is that it was an interesting experience). Very well said. Laureline is, like, the only adult in the whole galaxy and she shows a tranquil maturity lacking in most action heroes. As you so rightly points out, she doesn't even need to get angry to get things done, since her personality is usually sufficent to convince everyone to do what she says. It was funny to see Valerian evolve over the years of their relationship; at first he was still trying to be the main dude, the one who calls the shots, but eventually he seemed to accept that he was basically the muscle and she the brain. I hope the Shingouz are in the film... There were three aliens shown in the trailer who could have been them, but if that's the case I"m sorry their original appearance was changed. I think a comparable character, in a different setting and style of adventure is Modesty Blaise, though Modesty is more mired in violence. Christin and Mezieres engage more in allegory, which lets Laureline be more of a voice of reason and peaceful solutions. |
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Post by hondobrode on Jul 21, 2017 23:40:55 GMT -5
This isn't getting very strong reviews though at least they're saying that the effects are cool.
Taking Brother Beavis and sister-in-law Beth to this tomorrow.
Even more excited for this than Wonder Woman, which was a really solid movie.
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Post by coke & comics on Jul 22, 2017 0:32:54 GMT -5
I thought it was great. I've only read a few of the albums. Not the expert like some here, so I'll leave it to the likes of DIzzy to compare to the comic.
But it was just a gorgeous film. It begins with two vignettes as prologue, and both are just excellent. There's a really cool inter-dimensional action scene. And it's just filled with cool aliens and worlds, mostly in the titular City of a Thousand Planets.
It has weaknesses in character and story. The story is slight. The acting is surprisingly lackluster. Clive Owen, Ethan Hawke and Rutger Hauer all phone it in. The romance was obnoxious. But the weaknesses all seem minor compared to the sheer scope and awesomeness of the worlds being built.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 22, 2017 4:47:59 GMT -5
I saw this movie late night and I've wanted to share my first thoughts about it. I echo coke & comics exactly and I've was blown away by the sheer imagery of this movie that lacks substance and thoughts. I wear hearing aids and I've actually enjoyed it better without the sounds and treat it as a silent movie. I haven't read of the any of the books yet; but I just felt it was very confusing at first watching the first 20-30 minutes with sounds and after I turned off my hearing aids - I've just watched the movie as it is and started enjoying the visual effects and spectacular views of a City of a Thousand Planets. |
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Post by codystarbuck on Jul 22, 2017 18:33:02 GMT -5
I haven't seen it yet; but, based on reviews, it appears Besson (who is more of a visual stylist than a character builder) is focused more on capturing Jean Claude Mezieres' imagination, than Pierre Christin's. Those who have seen the film and read the books correct me if that seems off base. The trailers certainly conveyed that. Even the best reviews seem to favor visuals over story and character. I still want to see it though. Thing is, The Fifth Element got similar reviews, yet I thought it did a great job with character and I enjoyed much of the humor in it. That felt like Valerian, with the Incal mixed in (especially with Mezieres and Moebius working on conceptual designs).
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Post by hondobrode on Jul 23, 2017 0:16:59 GMT -5
Exactly sort of feels like James Bond meets Star Wars meets Avatar in a good way.  I too have read the reviews which I think unfairly criticize the acting and story. Go at least for the incredible visuals and if you pay attention and attempt to follow the story I think you'll be surprised. All three of us very much enjoyed it and I'm hoping for a new franchise here. It's certainly much more worthy than many others. Blobby alien gangster bosses  Running from giant monsters  Alien snitches  Bad guy soldiers  and FYI, the source material was published a decade before Star Wars came out. Honestly, it gave me chills similar to what SW did years ago. |
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Post by codystarbuck on Jul 23, 2017 20:52:53 GMT -5
 Mezieres created this, way back, poking fun at how much Star Wars "borrowed" from Valerian. The translations is to the effect: "Fancy meeting you here!" "Oh, we've been here a long time." With The Fifth Element, many reviews said they couldn't make heads or tails of the story; but I couldn't understand that. It lays it out pretty well. Dune had reviews like that, and was also called the worst film of the year. It had a lot going on, a ton of backstory and some obtuse scenes; but, I got Dune immediately and I hadn't read the books, at that point. I think film critics aren't willing to do the work, when it comes to analyzing the story to figure out things that aren't completely overt. Problem is, the same is true with the mass audience. Genre fans are more willing to do that, because of their love for the genre. Sci-fi and mystery fans like to piece together the puzzle. Other people just want to see if they blowed up, real good! |
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