Will Dockery
2004-05-29 06:17:49 UTC
A series of Harlan Ellison adaptations would be nice--- in a Twilight
Zone type format, maybe.
Will
Zone type format, maybe.
Will
Jackson and Walsh did a superb, honest and *faithful* job at bringing "Lord
of the Rings" to the screen. They read the trilogy. They obviouly loved the
trilogy. They ruthlessly pruned and edited the text for the screenplay while
maintaining its integrity... then equally ruthlessly edited their own work.
They also made bundles and bundles of money. Good for them.
With this massive success, you'd think that the major movie studios (and the
indies) and teevee nets would be scrambling all over themselves developing
other projects that are based on good sci-fi and fantasy lit. With recent
advances in CGI technology and corresponding drop in prices for same, the
special FX needed to realize some of the SF visions should be more do-able
and affordable than ever.
But no. Spinoffs, prequels, sequels and vehicles are all there is.
"...Riddick" is a perfect example. "Pitch Black" was very good, and decent
science fiction, too... Vin Diesel (sounds like a gay porno star) was a very
unexpected protagonist. But when that film was over, it should have stayed
over. Diesel can do car chase movies far as I'm concerned.
The problem is that adapting science fiction and fantasy requires
imagination, smarts and a good respect for the source material. Most
American movie and TV producers are dumber and duller than pig shit, can't
or won't read anything longer than a 2-page treatment, won't hire decent
screenwriting talent, and make the assumption that their "vision" is somehow
superior to the original work.
BBC did "Hitchhikers...", "Gormenghast" and "Neverwhere" successfully. The
Disney/ABC "A Wrinkle in Time" was not too bad. SciFi did a creditable job
in its adaptation of "Dune" and "Dune Messiah/Children of Dune".. and then
they delivered that awful version of "Riverworld".
I would suggest that the SciFi Channel/USA make some of the following, but
they're too busy bringing us such fine entertainment as "Python" and "Boa"
and "Boa vs. Python". And their "giant-alligator-of-the-week" movies.
"Blood Music" Even though an "The Outer Limits" episode ripped it off
poorly.
"Ghost Story" Awful movie, great cast. Desperately needs a remake. Maybe an
extended miniseries. Hey, King got "The Shining" remade...
"Vermilion Sands" Ballard. This would make a *great* miniseries... grownup
themes and everything. Very filmable.
"Light at the End" Skipp and Spector. Bicycle messengers vs. vampires. Otay!
Aren't they nascent Sub-Geeners, too?
"A Scanner Darkly" Very paranoid. Oops, won't make it in this War Against
Drugs era.
"Replay" - Ken Grimwood. Better, more romantic than "Groundhog Day".
More "Conan". Maybe "Red Nails". And "People of the Black Pool". Lotsa
action. But no steroid mules as the lead, please.
"Random Acts of Senseless Violence" - Jack Womack. Girls' version of "A
Clockwork Orange". Only scarier. Way too close to present-day reality for
even my comfort.
"Hotel Transylvania" - Yarbro. What a cool period piece this would make.
Sexier than "Interview...", anyway.
Discuss.
of the Rings" to the screen. They read the trilogy. They obviouly loved the
trilogy. They ruthlessly pruned and edited the text for the screenplay while
maintaining its integrity... then equally ruthlessly edited their own work.
They also made bundles and bundles of money. Good for them.
With this massive success, you'd think that the major movie studios (and the
indies) and teevee nets would be scrambling all over themselves developing
other projects that are based on good sci-fi and fantasy lit. With recent
advances in CGI technology and corresponding drop in prices for same, the
special FX needed to realize some of the SF visions should be more do-able
and affordable than ever.
But no. Spinoffs, prequels, sequels and vehicles are all there is.
"...Riddick" is a perfect example. "Pitch Black" was very good, and decent
science fiction, too... Vin Diesel (sounds like a gay porno star) was a very
unexpected protagonist. But when that film was over, it should have stayed
over. Diesel can do car chase movies far as I'm concerned.
The problem is that adapting science fiction and fantasy requires
imagination, smarts and a good respect for the source material. Most
American movie and TV producers are dumber and duller than pig shit, can't
or won't read anything longer than a 2-page treatment, won't hire decent
screenwriting talent, and make the assumption that their "vision" is somehow
superior to the original work.
BBC did "Hitchhikers...", "Gormenghast" and "Neverwhere" successfully. The
Disney/ABC "A Wrinkle in Time" was not too bad. SciFi did a creditable job
in its adaptation of "Dune" and "Dune Messiah/Children of Dune".. and then
they delivered that awful version of "Riverworld".
I would suggest that the SciFi Channel/USA make some of the following, but
they're too busy bringing us such fine entertainment as "Python" and "Boa"
and "Boa vs. Python". And their "giant-alligator-of-the-week" movies.
"Blood Music" Even though an "The Outer Limits" episode ripped it off
poorly.
"Ghost Story" Awful movie, great cast. Desperately needs a remake. Maybe an
extended miniseries. Hey, King got "The Shining" remade...
"Vermilion Sands" Ballard. This would make a *great* miniseries... grownup
themes and everything. Very filmable.
"Light at the End" Skipp and Spector. Bicycle messengers vs. vampires. Otay!
Aren't they nascent Sub-Geeners, too?
"A Scanner Darkly" Very paranoid. Oops, won't make it in this War Against
Drugs era.
"Replay" - Ken Grimwood. Better, more romantic than "Groundhog Day".
More "Conan". Maybe "Red Nails". And "People of the Black Pool". Lotsa
action. But no steroid mules as the lead, please.
"Random Acts of Senseless Violence" - Jack Womack. Girls' version of "A
Clockwork Orange". Only scarier. Way too close to present-day reality for
even my comfort.
"Hotel Transylvania" - Yarbro. What a cool period piece this would make.
Sexier than "Interview...", anyway.
Discuss.