EQ Script to Screen comparison

[Coolhand]

Now that I've read the script so kindly provided by JenGe, I thought it would be interesting to compare the original draft of EQ with what ended up on screen. Were there things people were glad changed, or things they think should have been kept?

I'll start off with one. (Possible spoiler if you havent read the script)

I'm really glad that Wimmer DIDN'T film the Preston Vs DuPoint fight as it appears in the script. I'm sorry, but consistantly shooting someones else's bullets out of the air just doesn't strike me as possible, even for someone like a Grammaton Cleric. I much preferred the "pushing hands" sequence as it was far more believable and I think much cooler as well.
If the bullet shooting sequence was the "Big Finale" Wimmer mentioned he had planned in the DVD commentery, then I'm kinda glad he ran out of time and money. I hope it doesn't turn up in Ultra Violet (although Vampires have faster reactions so it might just work in that. Preston is, after all, still only human.)

Whadda you guys think?

[StarDancer]

I actually think the bullet for bullet thing would have been cool, but I also like how it was done in the final version. I guess it would depend on whether you like the gun part in Gunkata more, or the Kata part of Gunkata. I prefer the Kata. Wimmer did a good blend of the whole thing.

An aside... I would give anything to hear the comments from the 'master' I took a year of Ninjitsu and Tai Chi from about this movie. They typically growled at the gun vs martial artists joke. I'm sure they are growling more loudly now.

[JenGe]

If they do add the bullet to bullet in Ultraviolet that would be OK by me but if Wimmer and Foster have something else in mind I'm game as well.

About the script changes (SPOILERS!!!)...

1. I love everything that was added to the film that is not in the draft script...ie. the execution in the nethers, Preston viewing his wife's sentence, the flashback to his wife's arrest, ... they make the film deeper, more layered, & meaningful.

2. Great calls on the following changes (of course MHO)

- Removal of Jurgen's love for Mary. Three men going for the same girl is a bit much. Are there no other females off the dose in Libria??

- That Mary didn't survive in the end. Added more depth of emotion to the film.

- That Brandt survived instead. Nice little twist!!

- Image of Preston's bloodied hand on the screen of Father. One of the best single shots of the entire film.

- Removal of the dialogue between Preston and Mary just before her incineration. The quiet imagery with the music was so much more effective.

3. I really like that sequence near the beginning where Preston and Partridge confront the man who has just killed his wife but for pacing purposes (especially with those added scenes) I actually think it was a good cut.

[JenGe]

Damn!!! Did I kill another thread??