John carter of Mars Concept Weapons

Emanuel · 9th June 2015, 12:36 PM

Hi everyone,

I am always amazed at the impractical weirdness produced in fantasy art when it comes to weapons. Whether in movies or games, we see big, heavy, clunky chunks of steel with weird spikes everywhere. I also wonder that artists don't take more inspiration from actual historical weapons.

Well I just stumbled on concept art for Disney's john carter of Mars movie: http://conceptartworld.com/?p=13007 produced by artist Seth Ergstrom. This fellow seems to know a few things about South-East Asian weapons (Filipino in particular)

Have a look at the way he incorporates panabas, garabs and other pieces in his work.

Emanuel

VANDOO · 9th June 2015, 04:31 PM

A INTERESTING TOPIC AND FUN LOOKING AT THE SITE AND ALL THE TROUBLE THEY WENT TO DESIGINING ALIEN WEAPONS, COSTUMES, LANDSCAPES AND SUCH. I GUESS ARTISTIC LICENCE OFTEN DEMANDS THAT WEAPONS TAKE ON A VERY LARGE FIERCE AND BARBARIC APPEARANCE ESPECIALLY IN SCI-FI . THUS A TOMAHAWK INCREASES IN SIZE 10 FOLD WITH SPIKES , FEATHERS TEETH AND BONES HANGING OFF IT FOR THE MOVIES.

LONG AGO I HAD POSTED SOME OF THE WEAPONS USED IN THE XENA TV SERIES THEY HAD SOME REALLY STRANGE ONES .

Kubur · 9th June 2015, 04:38 PM

Have a look at Gladiator, you will see some Ottoman arms and armour...
The best are the 50ties and 60 ties movies, look at Taras Bulba, they played with real old swords and guns, but they fired with copies.

Rick · 9th June 2015, 04:38 PM

Make you wonder if the guy lurks in our Ethno forum . lol

Ian · 9th June 2015, 09:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kubur

Have a look at Gladiator, you will see some Ottoman arms and armour...
The best are the 50ties and 60 ties movies, look at Taras Bulba, they played with real old swords and guns, but they fired with copies.

About 15-20 years ago there were several of the Taras Bulba swords that appeared on eBay for less than $100 each. They were rehilted 1850s US cavalry swords. I bought one just for grins, and the blade was the real deal. The hilt was a cast metal piece.

Ian

drac2k · 10th June 2015, 02:21 AM

About 15 to 20 years ago, I also bought on Ebay several Chinese Pole arms;one of the major movie houses was selling off it's stock.They were real and inexpensive ;items that they had had for years which they probably bought from Bannermans for little more than nothing.

Battara · 11th June 2015, 01:16 AM

Thank you for bringing this up. I love that movie and loved the books, even now.

And then to have a Philippine connection!

kronckew · 11th June 2015, 11:04 AM

the john carter series long swords were described by ERB more like longish side swords. in spite of the gravity being less, the length is still governed by how long your arm is, and whether you can sheath/unsheath it. a human could carry & use a longer tharkish sword, but much like a two handed earth sword, would have to carry it over his shoulder w/o a scabbard. or on his animal mount or air car. for an earth human the extra weight would not matter much.

JC's leaps were a bit exaggerated tho in the film. liked his doggie tho (actually a martian lion)

the film ones look distinctly filipino influenced with a few extra claws and hooks to add alien-ness. the double ended ones are just silly. (as is the starwars/star trek versions) no one in their right mind would use one, even with four arms. they are a solution looking for a non-existent problem. i see a katar in there too, somebody in the props dept. must have an indian connection

.

Roland_M · 11th June 2015, 02:18 PM

Hi Emanuel,

Interesting topic. Thank you for showing the pictures.

The catapult looks a little like an european hunting crossbow and is for sure very effective against ... birds.

Regards Roland

9th June 2015, 12:36 PM	#1
Emanuel Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 1,242	John carter of Mars Concept Weapons Hi everyone, I am always amazed at the impractical weirdness produced in fantasy art when it comes to weapons. Whether in movies or games, we see big, heavy, clunky chunks of steel with weird spikes everywhere. I also wonder that artists don't take more inspiration from actual historical weapons. Well I just stumbled on concept art for Disney's john carter of Mars movie: http://conceptartworld.com/?p=13007 produced by artist Seth Ergstrom. This fellow seems to know a few things about South-East Asian weapons (Filipino in particular) Have a look at the way he incorporates panabas, garabs and other pieces in his work. Emanuel Attached Images

9th June 2015, 04:38 PM	#4
Rick Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 6,262	The Weapons Make you wonder if the guy lurks in our Ethno forum . lol

11th June 2015, 02:18 PM	#9
Roland_M Member Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: Germany Posts: 523	Hi Emanuel, Interesting topic. Thank you for showing the pictures. The catapult looks a little like an european hunting crossbow and is for sure very effective against ... birds. Regards Roland Attached Images

9th June 2015, 04:31 PM	#2
VANDOO (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: OKLAHOMA, USA Posts: 3,138	A INTERESTING TOPIC AND FUN LOOKING AT THE SITE AND ALL THE TROUBLE THEY WENT TO DESIGINING ALIEN WEAPONS, COSTUMES, LANDSCAPES AND SUCH. I GUESS ARTISTIC LICENCE OFTEN DEMANDS THAT WEAPONS TAKE ON A VERY LARGE FIERCE AND BARBARIC APPEARANCE ESPECIALLY IN SCI-FI . THUS A TOMAHAWK INCREASES IN SIZE 10 FOLD WITH SPIKES , FEATHERS TEETH AND BONES HANGING OFF IT FOR THE MOVIES. LONG AGO I HAD POSTED SOME OF THE WEAPONS USED IN THE XENA TV SERIES THEY HAD SOME REALLY STRANGE ONES .

9th June 2015, 04:38 PM	#3
Kubur Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Posts: 2,145	Have a look at Gladiator, you will see some Ottoman arms and armour... The best are the 50ties and 60 ties movies, look at Taras Bulba, they played with real old swords and guns, but they fired with copies.

10th June 2015, 02:21 AM	#6
drac2k Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Posts: 1,174	About 15 to 20 years ago, I also bought on Ebay several Chinese Pole arms;one of the major movie houses was selling off it's stock.They were real and inexpensive ;items that they had had for years which they probably bought from Bannermans for little more than nothing.

11th June 2015, 01:16 AM	#7
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,139	Thank you for bringing this up. I love that movie and loved the books, even now. And then to have a Philippine connection!

11th June 2015, 11:04 AM	#8
kronckew Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Room 101, Glos. UK Posts: 4,150	the john carter series long swords were described by ERB more like longish side swords. in spite of the gravity being less, the length is still governed by how long your arm is, and whether you can sheath/unsheath it. a human could carry & use a longer tharkish sword, but much like a two handed earth sword, would have to carry it over his shoulder w/o a scabbard. or on his animal mount or air car. for an earth human the extra weight would not matter much. JC's leaps were a bit exaggerated tho in the film. liked his doggie tho (actually a martian lion) the film ones look distinctly filipino influenced with a few extra claws and hooks to add alien-ness. the double ended ones are just silly. (as is the starwars/star trek versions) no one in their right mind would use one, even with four arms. they are a solution looking for a non-existent problem. i see a katar in there too, somebody in the props dept. must have an indian connection .