Ramayan 3392 AD and Mythic Movies

I had heard about Liquid Comics a few months ago, and promised myself I'd keep an eye on them as they tackle their goal of bringing ancient epics such as the Ramayana to the comic/graphic novel audience. Of course, we have all of one comic store in town these days, and I very rarely get over there, so this eventually slipped my mind altogether. Until Technoccult was kind enough to link to a Wired article on the movie version of Ramayan 3392 AD, that is. Due in 2011, the movie is a collaboration with Mandalay Pictures; let me just say, the teaser pics rock. If that's what the comic looks like, I have got to find that book.

This sort of thing -- updated myths with modern relevance -- has been on my mind again recently, since Evn prompted his loyal strifemongers to ponder casting calls for myth-based movies. All of the entries posted were very cool ideas, with excellent "casting," and most of them prompted me to take notes on more must-track-down stories. (My own entry was based around the stories of Iyansa and Shango, the orishas of storm and war. It won, somehow, sending my brain into meltdown mode. Seriously ... I never win things like this.)

Hm. That's the second thing I've won in the last two weeks. Perhaps I should look into this "lottery" thing. You know, the one where they give you money..?

Honestly, I would love to see any of the proposed ideas made into movies. It blows me away that there is such a wealth of inspiration and wonder in the old stories that has largely gone untapped and forgotten by the modern world. I hope, with the success of Guillermo del Toro's brilliant treatments of mythic relevance in Pan's Labyrinth and Hellboy II, that the tide will be changing in the near future. Not only for the obvious wealth of imagery and effects, but because I want storytellers who are able to successfully tap into the wonder and inspiration and terror of the mythic other that modern life has largely forgotten. I would also like, if it's not too much trouble, an immensely successful writer/director/actor to drop the "Pagan" bomb on Oprah -- in a way that won't immediately cause the Wince of Associated Shame from every Pagan who witnesses it. And also ponies. Because everyone likes ponies.