It seemed like a sure thing…Will Ferrell and dinosaurs, what better way could you bring Krofft productions to the 21st century? Whatever happend, it didn’t work and some momentum was lost. That leaves the question of how to get the next Krofft movie on the big screen. H.R. Pufnstuf and Sigmund the Sea Monster were already in the pipe prior to Land of the Lost, so let’s explore them.

With the recent release of “Where the Wild Things Are”, Spike Jonze illustrated both what to do, and what not to do when mixing low-tech costumes and high-tech effect. The character of H.R. Pufnstuf can learn a lot from Wild Things. Sid and Marty are still costume masters, so expect them to up the anti. They can also learn from the story, as Marty said “Don’t mess with what worked“. Removing the 70s camp, and inserting some 21st century realism without loosing the childhood innocense will make Pufnstuf a wonderful film. A cameo from Billie Hayes is also a must.

Sigmund on the other hand could be tricky. Where Pufnstuf takes place in the magical “Living Island”, the Sigmund story takes place in the ‘real world’. The entire premise is camp. The story and costumes would require an update. Does Sigmund still talk? Does the story take on a Waterhorse style? It would be amazing to see the story of Johnny and his pal Sigmund come to the big screen (music and all), but I just can’t imagine how it would work. Maybe Pufnstuf would pave the way.

One of the problems I see is that Sid and Marty aren’t doing enough self promotion. They are not following the advice of Walt Disney that Sid quotes often, “keep your name above the title”. It wasn’t “Sid & Marty Krofft’s Land of the Lost”, it was “Will Ferrell in Land of the Lost”. Yes, they are releasing more and more of their shows online (Hulu, iTunes, etc), but not promoting it well. They partnered with the already dieing MySpace, which has done nothing for their online presence except associate them with trashy chicks and dudes hoping to hook up (I’m not saying everyone on MySpace is that way, but it is the overwhelming majority).

Sid and Marty, get your name back “above the title”.

” ‘Wild Things’ is very, very good for us,” says Marty Krofft. “We always wanted to do low-tech costumes and high-tech heads. But it’ll be a big difference in tone, of course — we’ll be bright, not dark.”

Also, this marks the first time (that I’m aware of) that Marty admits they went to far with Land of the Lost. That they strayed to far from the original.

“We went with comedy, which got it green-lit. But we didn’t know it was going to go so far in the PG-13 direction and so close to an R rating,” he says of the unfortunate flop. “Our characters are all likable, and we have so much goodwill from our fans. So, now we know: Don’t mess with what’s worked.”

I’m glad to see that he’s had this realization. When I met Marty Krofft this past summer, I really wanted to discuss this exact issue with him, but wasn’t sure he would have been receptive. You can’t turn a family-friendly story of a popular children’s show into a raunchy comedy and expect success. It’s like drinking a beer when you were expecting milk. Doesn’t matter how good the beer is, it’ll taste like crap. (even though in this case it was crap)

Also in the article, Marty discusses plans for Electra Woman and Doctor Shrinker. Both stories would have great appeal if handled properly. Especially EW with the rash of super hero movies at the box office.

Thanks to Shemp DeYoung for pointing me to the article. Please leave your comments below.

Available October 13th, in both DVD and Blu-Ray, hopefully this helps recoup some of the losses on the movie, and Sid and Marty can bring us more of their creations.

The Official Press Release is:

COMING TO BLU-RAY(TM) HI-DEF AND DVD ON OCTOBER 13, 2009 FROM UNIVERSAL
STUDIOS HOME ENTERTAINMENT

UNIVERSAL CITY, Calif., Sept 9 /PRNewswire/ –

OVERVIEW:

Comedic favorite Will Ferrell (Step Brothers, Anchorman: The Legend of
Ron Burgundy) meets the unfettered imaginations of Sid and Marty Krofft
(”H.R. Pufnstuf”) in the hilarious action comedy Land of the Lost, coming
to Blu-ray(TM) Hi-Def and DVD on October 13, 2009, from Universal Studios
Home Entertainment. Inspired by the Krofft-created 1970s television classic
of the same name, Land of the Lost is available on a Blu-ray((TM)) Hi-Def
and single-disc DVD. Both include enough uproarious deleted scenes and
behind-the-action bonus features to keep fans laughing across the entire
space-time continuum.

The Blu-ray(TM) Hi-Def edition of Land of the Lost includes more than
two hours of exclusive bonus content presented with perfect picture and the
purest digital sound available. Land of the Lost on Blu-Ray((TM)) Hi-Def
also features Universal’s acclaimed BD-Live(TM) Center, which allows fans
access to even more content!

Will Ferrell brings his unparalleled brand of outrageous humor to a
strange new world in Land of the Lost, with Danny McBride (Eastbound and
Down, Tropic Thunder), Anna Friel (”Pushing Daisies”) and Jorma Taccone
(”Saturday Night Live”) joining him on an outrageously funny adventure that
crosses time, space – and species!

EXCLUSIVE TO Blu-ray((TM)) Hi-Def WITH MORE OUTRAGEOUS COMEDY FROM WILL
FERRELL AND DANNY MCBRIDE:

— 12 more minutes of deleted scenes with Commentary by Director Brad
Silberling
— Dr. Marshall’s Food Diaries with Commentary by Director Brad
Silberling
— This is Not a Routine Expedition: Making Land of the Lost
— Brad, Sid and Marty: A Conversation with the Kroffts – A retrospective
look at the extraordinary worlds created by the legendary Sid and Marty,
peppered with interviews and show clips.

— BD-LIVE(TM): Access the BD-Live(TM) Center through your
Internet-connected player to get even more content, watch the latest
trailers, and more!
BONUS FEATURES:

Both DVD and Blu-ray(TM) Hi-Def editions of Land of the Lost include:

— Deleted Scenes: With Commentary by director Brad Silberling
— A Day in the Life of a Big-Time Movie Star – Viewers can live the
glamorous life vicariously as Danny McBride offers a moment-by-moment
look at a typical day in his life.
— Devil’s Canyon Gift Shop Commercial and Tour

— Feature Commentary With Director Brad Silberling
SYNOPSIS:

Comedic genius Will Ferrell stars as has-been scientist Dr. Rick
Marshall, who gets more than he bargained for when his expedition takes a
wrong turn into the Land of the Lost. Now, Marshall, with his crack-smart
research assistant Holly (Anna Friel) and a redneck survivalist named Will
(Danny McBride), have no weapons, few skills and questionable smarts to
survive in an alternate universe full of marauding dinosaurs and fantastic
creatures and laugh-out-loud comedy!

CAST AND FILMMAKERS:
Directed By: Brad Silberling
Screenplay By: Chris Henchy & Dennis McNicholas
Based on Sid & Marty Krofft’s Land of the Lost
Produced By: Jimmy Miller, Sid & Marty Krofft
Executive Producers: Daniel Lupi, Julie Wixson Darmody, Adam McKay, Brad
Silberling, Ryan Kavanaugh
Director of Photography: Dion Beebe, ACS ASC
Production Designer: Bo Welch
Edited By: Peter Teschner
Casting By: Avy Kaufman CSA
Music By: Michael Giacchino
Co-Producers: John Swallow, Josh Church,
Cast: Will Ferrell, Danny McBride, Anna Friel, Jorma Taccone

TECHNICAL INFORMATION – BLU-RAY(TM) HI-DEF:
Street Date: October 13, 2009
Copyright: 2009 Universal Studios Home Entertainment. All rights
reserved.
Selection Number: 61106049
Price: $39.98 SRP
Running Time: 1 Hour 42 Minutes
Layers: BD-50
Aspect Ratio: Widescreen 1.85:1
Rating: PG-13
Technical Info: English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1, French and Spanish DTS
Surround 5.1, English SDH, French and Spanish Subtitles

TECHNICAL INFORMATION – DVD:
Street Date: October 13, 2009
Copyright: 2009 Universal Studios Home Entertainment. All rights
reserved.
Selection Number: 61104715
Price: $29.98 SRP
Running Time: 1 Hour 42 Minutes
Layers: Dual Layer
Aspect Ratio: Anamorphic Widescreen 1.85:1
Rating: PG-13
Technical Info: English, French and Spanish 5.1, English SDH, French and
Spanish Subtitles
For artwork, please log on to our website at http://www.ushepublicity.com

Universal Studios Home Entertainment is a unit of Universal Pictures, a
division of Universal Studios (http://www.universalstudios.com). Universal Studios
is a part of NBC Universal, one of the world’s leading media and
entertainment companies in the development, production, and marketing of
entertainment, news, and information to a global audience. Formed in May
2004 through the combining of NBC and Vivendi Universal Entertainment, NBC
Universal owns and operates a valuable portfolio of news and entertainment
networks, a premier motion picture company, significant television
production operations, a leading television stations group, and
world-renowned theme parks. NBC Universal is 80%-owned by General Electric,
with 20% owned by Vivendi.

Are you going to buy the movie? Why? Why not?