barry@ames-lm.UUCP (05/04/84)
[]
The years since "Star Wars" have been fat ones for SF film
lovers. Lots of good things to see (especially if you're not *too*
choosy[:-)]). But have you noticed how few of "our" favorite SF books
get made into movies? Lots of original screenplays, but rarely a
"Dune". If you're like me, you have some pet candidates for SF books
you'd like to see on that silver screen, stuff you know would knock
'em dead at the BO (that's showbiz talk for box office)... well,
here's your chance to tell the world what it's missing; what SF
book/story would you like to see become the next big-budget,
brilliantly directed-and-acted film extravaganza? Why? Who would you
cast for what? Who should direct?
Rather than simply sitting back and waiting for the inevitable
and overwhelming popular response to this fascinating question, I'll
go ahead and kick this off myself. I nominate "The Stars My
Destination", by Alfred Bester. It has all the action and visual
splendor any "Star Wars" fan could ask for, and a proven plot (it's a
pretty direct lift from "The Count of Monte Cristo"). The pace is
headlong, yet the story has more levels than just the up-front
action. Opportunities for spectacular SFX are many: the Burning Man,
flashing from place to place; the New Year's Day atomic attack on New
York City, seen through the eyes of Lady Olivia, who is blind except
in the infrared region; the guests at Presteign's party arriving in
every form of conveyance known to man.
And the costumes! Period clothes from every period, side by
side. Architecture huge and Baroque. The desolation of space. And a
man with the face of a tiger.
Steve Spielberg should direct, I think. Casting I'm less certain
of; probably Margaret Avery ('Heather LaLache' in "The Lathe of
Heaven") as Robin Wednesbury, possibly Robert DeNiro as Gully Foyle.
OK, your turn, netland! You, too, can be a producer!
Kenn Barry
NASA-Ames Research Center
Moffett Field, CA
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Electric Avenue: {dual,hao,menlo70,hplabs}!ames-lm!barrygrw@fortune.UUCP (Glenn Wichman) (05/07/84)
[not quite S-F but...]
If there is one series I would like to see translated to celluloid,
it is Zelazny's Amber series. It would have to be directed by someone
who has a good feeling for motivation & character, AND a good sense of
epic fantasy (no easy task). Art direction would need to be given to
someone with a GREAT imagination! [unfortunately, it'll never happen.
After what Hollywood did to Damnation Alley, Zelazny will never sell
movie rights again]. This could even be a made-for-TV-epic...
As for the cast, that takes some thought...it's been a while since
I read the books, so I don't remember the minor characters too well.
...but here goes...
Corwin . . . Mel Gibson
Random . . . Sting
Oberon . . . Marlon Brando (if you could get him) or Sean Connery?
Eric . . . . Malcolm McDowell
Dworkin . . Burgess Merideth
-Glenn