Speaking of Movies...

[NickNack]

Bill and I saw "Minority Report" two weeks ago. Tom Cruise + Steven Spielberg = :???: I haven't figured out what the fuss has been about. All I can say is that maybe Phillip K. Dick's short story was a little TOO short. Special effects and all --- I never got that expected RUSH.

Then, to make matters worse, I stopped at the video store yesterday. Being Bill and I are sci-fi lovers, I picked up this DVD titled "Imposter". The roster of actors was not bad: GARY SINESE, VINCENT D'ONOFRIO, MEKHI PFIFER, TIM GUINEE. Imagine my horror as the opening credits roll up and I read: "Based on a short story by Phillip K. Dick." Need I say more? Maybe Hollywood should leave this man's stories on paper.

[keefelc]

Thanks for the warning Nicky! I've been wanting to check out the movie since the reviews have been pretty positive. I'll be sure to only catch it at a matinee.

[markydefad]

Well, Nicky, the Philip K. Dick novel "Do Androids Dream Of Electric Sheep?" was the basis for "Blade Runner". And THAT movie has cult status...so, Hollywood keeps going to that well.

The same criticism could be made of Stephen King. How many lousy movies have been made out of his stories?

"Minority Report" has received extremely good reviews from most critics. The only major complaint has been about "the ending". I have not seen it yet, so I can't really comment.

The Gary Sinise flick was roundly roasted by the critics when it opened. Haven't seen it, either.

_________________
Make My Feet Wanna Dance!

Markydefad

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: markydefad on 2002-07-10 22:34 ]</font>

[HustleBaby]

On 2002-07-10 22:32, markydefad wrote:

The same criticism could be made of Stephen King. How many lousy movies have been made out of his stories?
_________________
Make My Feet Wanna Dance!

Markydefad

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: markydefad on 2002-07-10 22:34 ]</font>

Hollywood LOVES Stephen King! From the beginning he was crowned the "king of horror" and they always seem to jump at the chance everytime he comes out with a new book. Let me see if I can remember all of his movies:

1.Carrie - my favorite
2.The Shining - 2cd fave
3.Cujo - good
4.Pet Cemetary - part 1 good, part 2 not good
5.Christine - okay maybe good
6.Sometimes They Come Back - it was okay
7.It - good, the clown reminded me of Freddy Kruger.
8.The Tommyknockers - okay
9.Creepshow - part 1 Great, part 2 was okay
10.Sleepwalker - horrible!!!!
11.Children of The Corn - another favorite
12.The Stand - fairly good I guess
13.Thinner - okay
14.Maximum Overdrive - horrible!
15.Cat's Eye - horrible!!!

*DISCO DELIGHT*


<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: HustleBaby on 2002-07-10 23:35 ]</font>

[keefelc]

Don't forget "Misery" and "Stand By Me" - some of the more decent movies made from Stephen King material.

[NickNack]

On 2002-07-10 22:32, markydefad wrote:
Well, Nicky, the Philip K. Dick novel "Do Androids Dream Of Electric Sheep?" was the basis for "Blade Runner". And THAT movie has cult status...so, Hollywood keeps going to that well.

Interesting you should mention "Blade Runner". In my entire life, I can only remember walking out on a movie ONCE. Guess which won? :roll: I didn't know this was from his work. Guess it's safe to say I must not be a Philip K. Dick fan. Take my previous critiques with a large grain of salt.

[Nano]

Wasn't "Total recall" based on a Philip K. Dick book? That was OK for me.

About King movies, I'll stay with "Carrie" and "Stand by me", with honorable mentions for Kubrick's "The shining" (that Jack face!), Cronenberg's "Dead Zone" and Reiner's "Misery". The biggest problem is, no Hollywood director goes gore enough, and the others are not good enough...

[NickNack]

I used to be a Stephen King fanatic. I've mellowed with age so now I'm just a semi-avid reader. Personally, I think the majority of his books have been destroyed when brought to the big screen. Although I always go to see what they've done, I always walk out like, 'so what'. My biggest disappointment -- Kubrick's "The Shining". His version sucked, sucked, SUCKED! (And not in a good way!) It was seeing this movie with Bill when I realized it was a majority of non-King readers who liked these movies. Bill still thinks Kubrick's movie is one of the best he's ever seen. Meanwhile I sit there thinking... "Why did he change that?" "What's this crap?" "Where did this scene come from and why did he cut that out?" I guess it comes with the territory when you read the book first and think it's excellent. As far as Jack Nicholson's demented performance, well, that's one of the biggest problems I have with the movie. He plays the character as 'losing his mind' as opposed to having it taken over, manipulated and eventually destroyed. And the ending was bogus!!

Enough ranting --- any Dean Koontz fans out there? Hollywood screws up his work, too.

[Nano]

Probably you're right Nick, the problem is I'm too much of a Nicholson's fanatic!
About King's books, he also goes from the good to the ugly. Some faves: "Salem's Lot", "The shining", the first short stories book, "The 4 stations" (specially "Apt pupil"), "The dead zone", most of "Misery" and "Dolores Claiborne".
In the ugliness I count "Cycle of the werewolf" and that serialized book on the prison cell (the Tom Hanks movie). I have "Bag of bones" but still can't dare to read it. It's fear... of frustration!
By Dean R. Koontz I read only a book called "The vision", many years ago. Can't remember what it was about, but it was quite good.

[Mixmachine]

Nick you walked out of 'Bladerunner'? Sacrilege! :lol: This is my favorite Science fiction movie, I've seen this movie countless times, I can't wait for the SE DVD rumored to be relealed at the end of this year, hopefully we'll get to see the deleted scenes and all 5 different version material in one Director's cut.
As far as 'Ocean 11" it was full of holes, but entertaining, no repeat viewing for me though.

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: Mixmachine on 2002-07-12 00:34 ]</font>