From: Stan <ecfield at comcast.net>
To: WSFA members <WSFAlist at keithlynch.net>
Subject: [WSFA] Re: "Science Fiction Double Feature"
Date: Mon, 27 Aug 2007 18:54:02 -0400
Reply-To: WSFA members <WSFAlist at KeithLynch.net>

> >The record is mixed on written SF making it into film. ENEMY MINE:
> >Hugo-winning story, ENEMY MINE, the forgettable film.John Varley's

Actually, I rather enjoyed 'Enemy Mine'.=20

> >AIR RAID became MILLENNIUM, a so-so film. And lest we forget:
> >STARSHIP TROOPERS.
>
> The RAH fans start foaming at the mouth over that.

Well, what did you expect when they hired a director that was convinced=20
Heinlein was a facist?

> You must have blinked (lucky you) when NIGHTFALL came - and went.

Nightfall was a waste of DVD space. But then again, we might compare it=20
to "Spacehunter: Adventures in the Forbidden Zone" or either one of the GOR=
=20
films that were so bad John Norman has sworn he will never sign another dea=
l=20
with a movie company. Even hard-core GOR fans barfed at them.

> Good film from book? =C2=A0BLADERUNNER was very good film (YMMV), vaguely
> based on PKDs "Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep".

How about 'Serenity'? I thought that was well done. And the SciFi Channel=20
version of "Riverworld", "Dune" and "Children of Dune" were not all that ba=
d=20
either. Too bad that for every one like those, they produce several=20
dozen 'Mutant Alligator in the North Woods' slasher flicks. I've reached th=
e=20
point where the SciFi Channel is proof positive that "...90% of everything =
is=20
crap!"

On the other hand, there are a LOT of good novels that are begging for feat=
ure=20
film treatment. "The Apocalypse Troll" by David Weber is one and "The City=
=20
and the Stars" by Arthur C. Clark is another. Using modern CGI, either one =
of=20
them would not be too expensive to make and are great space operas.

=46or those that like lots of things blowing up, the 'Legacy of the Aldenat=
a'=20
series by John Ringo has plenty to amuse the special effects and urban=20
warfare junkies. Of course, these might take a wee bit larger budget with t=
he=20
large casts. [grin]

In the realm of fantasy, we have the new Lifetime series, "Blood Ties" base=
d=20
on Tanya Huff's characters. The two hour season premier of which was a very=
=20
good adaptation of the first novel.=20

All this means there is some hope on the horizon, but it is NOT with the ma=
jor=20
studios as they are all way too paranoid and run by accountants to take any=
=20
risks.=20

If any one has been watching the wide variety of Star Wars student videos t=
hat=20
have come out in the past few years, we have the talent, imagination and=20
tools... just need to get the dang attorneys and accountants out of the way=
=20
and let them produce. If you don't believe me, take a look at 'The Vorzyd=20
Gambit", "Jango" or "Death Star Repairman". =C2=A0Sure, there will be mega=
=20
flops... but that is the name of the game. =C2=A0

Just my double farthing's worth... now back to lurk mode.

Stan Field