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From: barb@oliven.UUCP (Barbara Jernigan)
Newsgroups: net.sf-lovers
Subject: Re: SF movies [was Re: Emeny Mine]
Message-ID: <467@oliven.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 18-Dec-85 18:14:38 EST
Article-I.D.: oliven.467
Posted: Wed Dec 18 18:14:38 1985
Date-Received: Sat, 21-Dec-85 09:09:48 EST
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Organization: Olivetti ATC; Cupertino, Ca
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> :From catacombs of Castle Tarot:        Chuq Von Rospach 
> sun!chuq@decwrl.DEC.COM                 {hplabs,ihnp4,nsc,pyramid}!sun!chuq
> 2001, by the way, is truly a special case. Not only is it a film done at the
> same time as the novel, but I also nominate it as the only SF film that was
> BETTER than the book was. Anyone else want to add new nominations?

Secret of NIMH is *much* better than the book.  I've seldom been so disappointed
in a book!  There is *no* real conflict!  As for good translations of books
to movies:  Watership Down is very good, as is The Last Unicorn (but then,
Beagle wrote both book and screenplay).  (And Zero Mostel as Keehar in the
former -- should have gotten an Oscar!)(But then, I'm prejudiced.)

As for the problems of book and movie, is a problem of medium.  An author
has a comparatively easy pace to tell his/her story.  He/she can play 'games',
allowing the reader *inside* the characters' heads, and he/she has no SPX
budget to constrain him/her.  (There is a Shelly Berman -- I believe -- spot
on the advantages of radio over television that illustrates this quite well.)
Given a movie, with a budget, with certain 'laws' of capability within that
budget to pull off believable Special Effects, and with a two or so hour 
limitation, you have some very interesting problems.  A novel into a true-to
its-origin good movie seems almost a contradiction in terms.  What do you 
leave out?  (I'm sure most of us >ththhtbbbbt!< at condensed versions of
"good" books.)  And what do you do with a governing marketing/decision dept.
who doubts that 'quality' will 'play in Peoria'?  

I don't mean to say that good movies from existing written formats (novels,
short stories, etc.) are not impossible -- indeed, there are a few examples
to the contrary; but they are difficult enough to produce to be flamed
unlikely -- as we have >shudder< seen.

Perhaps, someday, quality such as we crave will be the norm.  But, having
spent a couple recent sick days spinning the channels past the Game Shows,
Soap Operas, and afternoon Cartoons, I have my fears.  We are then left to 
support, as we can, those endeavers which *do* adhere to our needs for 
quality.  Perhaps, someday, someone will listen.  (Or I'll make enough $$$$ 
to do it myself!)(We're all entitled to a dream or two.)

Barb

Shoot for the stars -- you'll at least make the top of the mountain.