Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!akgua!sdcsvax!sdcrdcf!hplabs!sri-unix!reiher@UCLA-CS.ARPA From: reiher@UCLA-CS.ARPA Newsgroups: net.sf-lovers Subject: Re: roll your own sf films Message-ID: <616@sri-arpa.UUCP> Date: Fri, 11-May-84 16:56:32 EDT Article-I.D.: sri-arpa.616 Posted: Fri May 11 16:56:32 1984 Date-Received: Sun, 13-May-84 10:29:51 EDT Lines: 46 From: Peter Reiher I've always thought this a sort of fun way to waste time, so I guess I'll join in. "The Stars My Destination" always seemed to me to be a perfect source for a film, and Robert DeNiro a good choice for the male lead. I don't remember Margaret Avery, so I can't comment on her. Spielberg, though, really isn't the right director for this kind of film. Spielberg has some very strong points as a director. He is a master of action sequences, and does well with suspense. He has a talent for sentimentality, as well. He has not, however, shown any aptitude for morally complex characterizations or the darker sides of human emotions. Since this is the whole point of the book, a different director might be a better choice. The perfect director for this project, in my opinion, Werner Herzog. He is a German director who specializes in films about men with tremendous, usually insane obsessions. "Aguirre: The Wrath of God" concerns a Conquistador who is so determined to find a treasure city in the South American jungles that he winds up killing all of his men. We last see him floating down a river on a raft with only a bunch of monkeys for companions, madly certain that he will succeed. Another Herzog film, "Fitzcarraldo", is probably the most impressive film ever made about obsession. In this film, a man literally drags a steamship over a mountain in the middle of the Amazon, surrounded by hostile natives. Now that's obsession. A far more appropriate film for Spielberg would be "Little Fuzzy", from H. Beam Piper's novel. This is precisely the kind of material that Spielberg excells at, and takes as its source a fine novel, as well. I have no good ideas about casting it, though. Another good film for Speilberg would be Burrough's "A Princess of Mars". Non-stop action in a romantic setting. If Speilberg isn't available for it, George Miller should do well in his place. For those who forget, Miller directed "The Road Warrior" and the only worthwhile episode of "The Twilight Zone: The Motion Picture". (I wonder how many people are under the mistaken impression that Spielberg directed that last episode?) Kathleen Turner, who starred in "Body Heat" and "Romancing the Stone", would be fine as Dejah Thoris, but John Carter is hard to cast. No, Harrison Ford is not even remotely suitable. Errol Flynn or Douglas Fairbanks, Jr. in their prime are more what's required, and their sort is rare nowadays. Technology has finally caught up to the special effects requirements, but now there are no great swashbucklers to play the lead. Peter Reiher reiher@ucla-cs.arpa