Marshall, Will, and Holly …
Oh those Saturday mornings were never so good as when the Krofft’s live-action adventure series Land of the Lost was on. Now all you children of the ’70s (me included) can relive the glory days when the big-screen remake starring Will Ferrell — currently filming on multiple sound stages at Universal Studios — hits theaters next summer.
USA Today has posted the first official image from the film of the Sleestaks, a species of reptile-like humanoid aliens with big insects eyes and a one-horned head. Director Brad Silberling (Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events) fought to keep the human shape of the species the same as the original series, only much sleeker, as opposed to going with CGI rendering.
One change they did make for the villainous aliens is that they draw quills from their spines and fire them like arrows, instead of toting their original weapon, the crossbow.
In the television series, a massive earthquake hits while Rick Marshall and his two children, Will and Holly, are out rafting, sending the family plummeting down a waterfall into an alternate dimension inhabited by dinosaurs, monkey-like cavemen called Pakuni, and of course, the Sleestaks.
In the big-screen remake, Ferrell revamps the lead role of Rick Marshall, only this time, he’s a disgrace paleontologist and trapped in the strange world along with his assistant (Anna Friel) and obnoxious co-worker (comedian Danny McBride). The alien world remains the same, as is their mission to survive in the hostile environment while trying to return home via giant crystal.
While the original series was humorous, thanks to all that 1970’s kitsch, it wasn’t meant to be funny. With the casting of Ferrell and the elimination of the family element, this remake most definitely will be comedy most likely in the vein of the The Brady Bunch movies.
Land of the Lost is scheduled to arrive in theaters July 17, 2009.
I think “Land Of The Lost” by Dr. Steel, would be a great addition to the soundtrack.
Comment by 19-K — August 7, 2008 @ 1:03 pm