Support NeoGAF

[Carcetti]

Why would a kid trust a clown that looks like Satan? Who in their right mind would even talk to this thing? Total garbage design.

Checking now, the original King version is that he looks a lot like Ronald McDonald, then face switches to something that destroys your sanity in 'one clawing stroke'

Plus the kid doesn't really trust him. The sewer smells like circus because of the cosmic evil god powers but he also smells wet and rotten. But he's 6 years old so he's stupid enough.

 

[MagnaderAlpha]

Checking now, the original King version is that he looks a lot like Ronald McDonald, then face switches to something that destroys your sanity in 'one clawing stroke'

Plus the kid doesn't really trust him. The sewer smells like circus because of the cosmic evil god powers but he also smells wet and rotten. But he's 6 years old so he's stupid enough.

Well, if we go by King's description, he looks like a three-way cross between Bozo, Ronald McDonald and Clarabell,...

...and his tuffs of red hair curve upward and to points, like two horns(which is similar to how Bozo's hair went). With Tim Curry's portrayal, you can tell the makeup artist responsible for that design took some cues from Bozo and Ronald. I'm sure a good artist can try to take all three designs and come up with something that might resemble what King was talking about.

 

[Billy_Pilgrim]

Pennywise looks fucking stupid and that's the crux of the whole thing, really. Shame because someone is going to do an amazing version of IT one day.

 

[Mick Swagger]

Wish we got Fukunagas vision for IT.

 

[Spoo]

Wish we got Fukunagas vision for IT.

If the script that was leaked of his work was legit, it ... wasn't too good. Lots of changes not in line with the book at all, and the push to make it NC17 was a dumb call.

I'd just wait and see what happens with this version. Maybe it won't be great, but a trailer should be dropping soon so we can have a more in depth look at the tone here.

 

[plagiarize]

If the script that was leaked of his work was legit, it ... wasn't too good. Lots of changes not in line with the book at all, and the push to make it NC17 was a dumb call.

I'd just wait and see what happens with this version. Maybe it won't be great, but a trailer should be dropping soon so we can have a more in depth look at the tone here.

The book is nc-17...

 

[Astral Dog]

Penny scared me as a kid :'(
Specially the second movie

 

[Tender Joe]

The book is nc-17...

Outside of the dreaded Bev-train scene, what makes you think this?

 

[BlueTsunami]

If the script that was leaked of his work was legit, it ... wasn't too good. Lots of changes not in line with the book at all, and the push to make it NC17 was a dumb call.

I'd just wait and see what happens with this version. Maybe it won't be great, but a trailer should be dropping soon so we can have a more in depth look at the tone here.

I'm all for faithful adaptations but one could look at The Shining and realize the vision the director is passionate about, especially a skilled one, trumps accuracy. I'd rather have a spectacular failure from Fukunagas attempt to this seemingly milquetoast offering.

 

[Stinkles]

The book is nc-17...

Is that even a thing? I mean you can "show" complete dismemberment in an artfully crafted movie with clever cuts and edits. There's one highly uncomfortable "sex" scene which is wholly unnecessary and almost derails the narrative. And SHOULD be cut out. And very little cursing.

And it could be terrifying even as a pg13.

 

[Curt Baboon]

The book is nc-17...

I haven't read the book in ages, but isn't that mostly because of the scene where the kids

Spoiler

end up banging each other?

 

[Spoo]

The book is nc-17...

The book world ain't the movie world.

Honestly, nobody should expect or even want an NC-17 version of the story. The book, which I've read recently, isn't really filmable to begin with what with the children orgy / masturbation sequence, and the copious usage of racial slurs isn't particularly enticing either. The TV miniseries did a reasonable job of being a "best of the clown" compilation; focusing on IT sightings rather than much of anything else, and did so without going beyond what's acceptable in a PG-13 movie nowadays. We know this newer movie will be a darker, R-rated version, with a lot more gore and a few surprises, so that's good enough, I think.

Fukunaga's version, what I can recall of it, had some cool imagery, but other than that went a bit too far off the rails I think. Not the way I'd have people reintroduced to the world, personally. Also, character name changes for no real reason, and some stuff that isn't really here nor there (messing with already fine dialogue, making Pennywise curse a lot more, etc). It's an interesting vision, but still felt kind of alien.

Not looking for slavish adherence to the filmable stuff from the book (fine with moving the timeline to the 80s, for example), but when you say you want to steer inbetween the lines, you should. I'm really hoping the trailer puts to rest some fears about the direction they went with Pennywise; if we can see some of that stuff, with a voice, and some context, and it works, I'll be okay with it. Until then, proceed with caution.

 

[Alebrije]

Eh, I'm sorry but clowns that are designed to look scary, typically don't.

This

Found more scarier this guy

Than

New Pennywise looks bland souless.

 

[AppleSeason]

Looks like something straight from Ghostbusters... 2016 Ghostbusters.

Just do John Wayne Gacy if you want to move away from the Tim Curry version.

 

[zeemumu]

This is exactly what I want out of it.

New pic from the other day:

So

 

[dan2026]

Pennywise should at least look friendly at the start.
He's supposed to lure kids right?

How is the monster in this movie going to lure anything?
I think whoever did the designs missed the point.

 

[Host Samurai]

He's being played by a skinny pretty boy. I'am really not feeling it now. A large middle aged man would have been perfect for the role. Also the design screams "try hard". It needs to be more subtle like Gacy or the 80's adaptation. He literally looks like a Brooklyn's hipster clown complete with a skinny clown suit. This design is not scary is the least bit and this is coming from somebody that thinks clowns are horrifying.

 

[Hilbert]

Pennywise should at least look friendly at the start.
He's supposed to lure kids right?

How is the monster in this movie going to lure anything?
I think whoever did the designs missed the point.

No, sometimes it just wants to terrify kids.

Or do you think a rotting hobo offering blow jobs is alluring to children?

When george first looks into the sewers he sees something evil and animalistic, which turns into a clown. But under the clown there is a sense of evil and rot. It's not nearly as simple as "happy clown lures kids".

Pennywise shows up as evil and terrifying and disgusting far more often then attractive and happy.

 

[Saya]

Goddamnit they're Zack Snydering IT.

Why does he look so generic evil.... a happy semi-normal looking clown is a million times scarier...

 

[Hero_of_the_Day]

Cynicism is easy. I'm trying to keep an open mind.

There is a difference between cynicism and having a negative opinion on something. Of course I hope this is good. But, everytime they put out a promotional pic of Pennywise, I think he looks bad.

Hopefully they just think this is the best way to promote it, and he isn't walking around making super-villain faces the whole movie. I hope, because I love the book. For now, all I can do is respond to what they show me, and it isn't filling me with confidence.

Well, if we go by King's description, he looks like a three-way cross between Bozo, Ronald McDonald and Clarabell,...



...and his tuffs of red hair curve upward and to points, like two horns(which is similar to how Bozo's hair went). With Tim Curry's portrayal, you can tell the makeup artist responsible for that design took some cues from Bozo and Ronald. I'm sure a good artist can try to take all three designs and come up with something that might resemble what King was talking about.

I don't know who Clarabell is, but that thing looks way creepier than what we've seen of Pennywise.

 

[Jarmel]

Fukunaga is a good enough director that I could care less about what changes he did as long as it resulted in a great product. There's more to a movie than just a script and for something like IT, the visuals are key.

 

[Host Samurai]

The Joker even looks scarier and more intimidating than nu IT.

 

[A-V-B]

So

How would a kid get fooled by a clown who looked like this?

 

[Secret Fawful]

Fukunaga's version, what I can recall of it, had some cool imagery, but other than that went a bit too far off the rails I think. Not the way I'd have people reintroduced to the world, personally. Also, character name changes for no real reason, and some stuff that isn't really here nor there (messing with already fine dialogue, making Pennywise curse a lot more, etc). It's an interesting vision, but still felt kind of alien.

That's out there somewhere?

Honestly, alien is exactly what I want from this movie.

 

[Jarmel]

Does anyone have a download link to the Fukunaga script? I'm curious now.

 

[chalkitdown1]

Should've forced Curry to just do it again.

Umm... Probably not a good idea to Google how Tim Curry is doing these days unless you want to be really, really sad.

 

[raindoc]

Fukunaga is a good enough director that I could care less about what changes he did as long as it resulted in a great product. There's more to a movie than just a script and for something like IT, the visuals are key.

visuals are key and script doesn't matter when it comes to turning a bestselling novel into a movie.

c'mon.

 

[Ross61]

I must be in the minority because I was not scared by Tim Curry's version.

 

[Kyleripman]

Fukunaga's version, what I can recall of it, had some cool imagery, but other than that went a bit too far off the rails I think. Not the way I'd have people reintroduced to the world, personally. Also, character name changes for no real reason, and some stuff that isn't really here nor there (messing with already fine dialogue, making Pennywise curse a lot more, etc). It's an interesting vision, but still felt kind of alien.

Then call me crazy but I'm glad this version didn't happen. SK books are often changed to the point of being unrecognizable for very little reason. I'm glad that - so far - this doesn't seem to be happening to my favorite of his works.

Also, anyone got any subtitle ideas for the OT?

 

[Spoo]

That's out there somewhere?

Honestly, alien is exactly what I want from this movie.

I got to it through the (now closed down?) IMDB message boards, where it was being tossed around. I purposefully didn't read the whole thing, because I believe a lot of it may still be used for the current version -- Fukunaga still has writing credit, afaik, so while a lot may have changed I wouldn't expect they'd completely throw it out or anything. Still, I'm sure someone can go dig it up; I just wouldn't know where to go for it now, sorry :\

As far as making it alien, or drastically different, people unfamiliar with the book but familiar with the TV miniseries probably have a lot to look forward to -- scenes that were in the book but not in the series will be here, and some that were in the miniseries will probably move aside to make space for new stuff. Also, while a lot of people are feeling uninspired by the pictures of the new Pennywise, making him younger was in the plan all along (and they would have kept Fukunaga's choice if Poulter didn't have a scheduling conflict, I believe). Without the voice, the sound, and the body language to support the actor, an image just isn't going to get a lot of traction. We should see a trailer for the movie in a few short days at this point (it's registered in the trailer database, I believe, so definitely coming soon).

Also, for what it's worth, Mama was a pretty good movie, and Stephen King said he is very happy with the finished product -- and he's known, I guess, for being brutally honest when it comes to opinions about adaptations of his work (even if he's sometimes wrong in his appraisal).

(As for a thread title, maybe:
IT |OT| Came from outer space!

edit: Oh yeah, as for Tim Curry, I believe he was in consideration for a reprisal early on, but his health has declined drastically after he suffered a stroke

 

[Mahonay]

I must be in the minority because I was not scared by Tim Curry's version.

You have balls of steel.

 

[F0rneus]

Goddamnit they're Zack Snydering IT.

Why does he look so generic evil.... a happy semi-normal looking clown is a million times scarier...

But this is exactly how Pennywise was described in the book. It's the TV adaptation that messed with the design.

 

[Secret Fawful]

When adapting a book, it's best to try to improve on it, not stay rigid and true to it. King doesn't understand that.

 

[Vincent Alexander]

You have balls of steel.

Couldn't stop thinking of this...

But this is exactly how Pennywise was described in the book. It's the TV adaptation that messed with the design.

When he says Zack Snyder, I think it is that they're taking Pennywise and making him much darker and generically evil looking. In the book, Pennywise was charming and alluring to the kids, and didn't always have a sinister grin on his face like these pictures we've seen so far. Really, all I need is one little teaser of this Pennywise with a happy go-lucky smile on his face, and I will be much happier. Surely he isn't going around the whole movie blatantly looking like an evil son-of-a-bitch.

 

[Secret Fawful]

The most frightening thing they could do with Pennywise is to make him child-like, sheepish, or grandfatherly. Something completely non-threatening and comforting until he turns into a monster and devours you.

Imagine the person you love and trust and feel most comfortable around. Imagine the grandparent you loved most if you had that. Now imagine one day that person tries to eat or poison you.

That's what IT should be.

 

[Hilbert]

I have a feeling everyone declaring what IT should be haven't read the book? IT doesn't appear as a friendly clown often. Generally it is rotting, or takes the form of very simple fears. Werewolf, mummy, Frankenstein. If it was around in 2017, it would take imagery from Marvel and DC movies and the like.

The book gives the distinct impression, that it likes the form of a clown more because it is in-tune with childish thinking, then actually because it is luring children. The clown is around for all of Derry's history, even at events where there are no children.

 

[CadetMahoney]

The Joker even looks scarier and more intimidating than nu IT.

I like it.

I mean the term, it should stick.

 

[Vincent Alexander]

I have a feeling everyone declaring what IT should be haven't read the book? IT doesn't appear as a friendly clown often. Generally it is rotting, or takes the form of very simple fears. Werewolf, mummy, Frankenstein. If it was around in 2017, it would take imagery from Marvel and DC movies and the like.

The book gives the distinct impression, that it likes the form of a clown more because it is in-tune with childish thinking, then actually because it is luring children. The clown is around for all of Derry's history, even at events where there are no children.

Our criticism of this new design is that Pennywise the Clown specifically is not supposed to be dark and scary all the time. It takes many forms, Pennywise being one. So yeah, mummies and Frankenstein's monster are inherently scary. Clowns aren't. And when he is in the form of Pennywise, he doesn't look like a Bond villain who is up to no good 24/7 in the book. People would be much happier if they released a photo of Pennywise not looking malevolent. So far, we have only gotten pictures of him looking menacing.

 

[psychotron]

So in the pic, Georgie is reaching toward the sewer. I'm the original, this is the exact point that Tim Curry's face went from happy and smiling to serious and evil, just before the teeth came out. There may still be hope....

 

[Joni]

A year later, they still haven't seen the problem. The fear doesn't come from a scary look, the fear comes from the surprise of the just-off clown turning on you.

Found more scarier this guy

Just imagine how scary he would be when attacking.

 

[Jarmel]

visuals are key and script doesn't matter when it comes to turning a bestselling novel into a movie.

c'mon.

Scripts definitely matter for all films. However there's more to a film than a script and in genres like horror, atmosphere and visuals can be equally important.

 

[Timu]

I must be in the minority because I was not scared by Tim Curry's version.

In the 1st half of the movie he was at least intimidating, in the 2nd half he was just goofing around for the most part.

 

[Curt Baboon]

Umm... Probably not a good idea to Google how Tim Curry is doing these days unless you want to be really, really sad.

Fuck man, I had no idea he's in a wheelchair now. That's awful.

 

[plainr_]

Goddamnit they're Zack Snydering IT.

Why does he look so generic evil.... a happy semi-normal looking clown is a million times scarier...

 

[akira28]

so one is a sinister looking clown

and the other them trying to make a scary clown that is "more" than sinister but inhuman and etc etc.

I prefer the original for creepiness factor. The other one just makes me want my shotgun.

 

[Rhaknar]

 

[Hero_of_the_Day]

I have a feeling everyone declaring what IT should be haven't read the book? IT doesn't appear as a friendly clown often. Generally it is rotting, or takes the form of very simple fears. Werewolf, mummy, Frankenstein. If it was around in 2017, it would take imagery from Marvel and DC movies and the like.

Your feelings are very wrong. Plenty of us have said we've read the book. I (and I'm sure others) have even mentioned how he actually isn't the clown a ton in the book. I'm not sure what that has to do with the conversation on how the clown looks, though.

 

[BreezyLimbo]

You know whats great about this

That the animation of the blanket/cover is the SAME exact one as in the original. That's a nice touch from the CG department.

 

[Flipyap]

You know whats great about this

That the animation of the blanket/cover is the SAME exact one as in the original. That's a nice touch from the CG department.

You can even see Tim Curry hiding behind the new guy, which has deep thematic significance, subliminally acknowledging the fact that the new Pennywise is standing in the original's shadow (it's just a witty gif).

 

[A-V-B]

oh look a photoshop