MovieChat Forums > The Tournament (2010) Discussion > tournament vs button man

tournament vs button man

posted 14 years ago by s-rippin
10 replies | jump to latest

We haven't had the tournament released in the uk yet but the plot seems very close to the 2000AD series The Button Man? A group of assassins, mercs and ex military types are hired by rich business types they hunt each other down in a controlled area and either kill each other or take a mark, (finger), to prove they have bettered an opponant. There were rumours of a film and the series was published ages ago. There was a situation where Harry X's 'rider' tries to set him up to keep him in the game, (similar to te reent death race), Harry uses ex military contacts to track his rider and kill him. Could be coincidence, Shock and Hardware all over again?

[–] codebreaker2001 14 years ago

I don't know about "The Button Man," but I think "The Tournament" follows in the standing competition/battle genre that reaches as far back as the 1920s with the publication of "The Most Dangerous Game" by Richard Connell, which continued with the Stephen King novel "The Long Walk". Other material also include the novel "The Running Man" (also by Stephen King), "Battle Royale" written by Koushun Takami (which was adapted into a film and that adaptation having its own sequel), leading into more recognizable productions and titles, such as "Mean Guns", the recent "Death Race" (a remake of "Death Race 2000") and "The Condemned."

But this one's eating my popcorn!

[–] eisirt 13 years ago

Don't forget The Avengers episode 05x12 "The Superlative Seven".

[–] twelveboar 14 years ago

I was thinking the same damn thing. Arthur Ranson and the writer ( pat mills? John Wagner? I forget ) kept creative rights to a Button Man film and I was hoping this could be it. Nevermind. One of my all-time favourite 2000ad strips- the first series anyway.

[–] Skutter-2 14 years ago

I can see the similarities but the whole hired killers battle to the death for a prize scenario isn't exactly original and wasn't done first by Button Man. Even in terms of 2000ad series the Strontium Dog story The Killing was as close to this in terms of plot, Sci-Fi trappings aside, than Button Man, which was mostly one on one contests with the occasional multiple opponent battle (Really only on a larger scale in the sequels). Plus the taking of 'markers' in The Tournament wasn't part of the game but simply the proclivity of one of the characters, though I wouldn't be surprised if it was a reference to Button Man.

I wouldn't mind seeing a Button Man film though as it would make a corker of a movie and was even drawn in a cinematic way by Arthur Ransom.

[–] s-rippin 14 years ago

I think 2000ad intimated that it was in discussion but as yet no sign. I know it is not the first to have a similar idea but the plot is so close I can't help but feel there's a bit of influence at play, remember Hardware and Shock, (although Richard Stanley says he was inspired by a dream). I just get a bit wound up when a film is toted as a completely original idea, Inception is a recent case in point, the film 'Dreamscape' could almost be a prequel in it's ideas and themes. How does the old saying go? In Hollywood there are only 7 storylines, less in Disney's case....doesn't mean I don't enjoy the films though. Although I must admit I'm not sure about 'Enter the Void' which I saw last week, enjoy is probably not the right word.

[–] Skutter-2 14 years ago

True enough, I wouldn't be surprised at all if Button Man was an influence on The Tournament, the stuff with the markers did seem like a nod, but there wasn't enough similarity in my mind for there for me to see it as anything more than that, especially given it's an already well used plot. I can't recall that much about Shock/Hardware but I think there were a few points of very specific similarity, weren't there? Enough for the makers of Hardware to be forced to give some of acknowledgement to Shock? Being totally original is hard- given the amount of material produced for art and entertainment over the years the likelyhood of someone coming with a similar idea in some way, shape or form is pretty good. I'm usually happy to settle for ground that is at least not too well trodden and ultimately happy if the work is well executed (No pun intended) even if it isn't completely original.

I believe Button Man is listed as being in development on IMDB but I don't hink that means much- I remember seeing mention of Button Man movie in 2000ad years ago, or at least of the movie rights being optioned, and I think there was some talk after A History of Violence came out.

[–] 14 years ago

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[–] nick-774 14 years ago

I have spoke to the writers about this very issue and actually their original plan was to make "The Quick and The Dead with suits and stilettos", but with a controversial, almost horror/sci-fi edge like Death Race 2000. They knew they would get comparisons with Battle Royale too, but they had never heard of the Button Man or Mean Guns when they started the project, and The Condemned and DOA and Shooting Aces all actually came out after The Tournament was written (in 2005) and was well into preproduction. But like you say, these 'last man standing' fight to the death stories are well trodden territory and there will no doubt be more of them to come. Hopefully with a new take on it each time.

[–] s-rippin 14 years ago

yep
can't argue with that...On the subject of shock, they put a mini comic of the original future shock story in with the recent blu ray release, it's about 90% the same, the ending is different but the general idea is there, (still enjoyed the film though). I was originally interested in the film cos of the Fields of the Nephilim's Carl McCoy being in it, Stanley directed two of the Neph's videos, the video for Preacher Man could have been set in the Cursed Earth of Judge Dredd fame, especially the bit at the ferry where Dredd meets Tweek. Thinking of 2000ad stuff, Karl Urban as Dredd? Could be interesting, most people seem to think 45 mill is a bit tight for the project.
I think I would rather watch an 'influenced by' or 'borrowed heavily from' film than a too soon re-make. I am sure 'Let Me In' wil be well made but 'Let the Right One In' is too recent to be remade. I'll think I'll have a bash at some scripts/stories.
If you want to see some 'gorilla' film making with no budget, check out 'The Soldier' and 'This PLace' on you tube. They are bu th now defunct Smudge Film Productions.

[–] Skutter-2 14 years ago

I might have to give Hardware a watch again. I recall watching a crappy VHS copy of it years ago but can remember very little of it. And, yeah, I'd rather see amovie that isn't totally orignal and wears it's influences on it's sleeves than yet another remake. I can kind of see why studios would want to remake older or foreign language material in order to do things that couldn't be done before or make the material more accessible (Though I'm perfectly happy to watch older and foreign language stuff myself) but the remaking of popular movies from 20-30 years ago is just silly. I'll be interested to se how the new Dredd movie turns out. 45 mil does seem low for the kind of movie it is but at least it sounds like the makers have some respect and liking for the source material this time round, which is half the battle.