The Andromeda Crap

Post by **Dale** » Tue May 27, 2008 8:13 pm

Ok. I really shouldn't be surprised that a 4-hour TV movie remake of "The Andromeda Strain" would kinda stink. The irritating thing is that I'd give the first half a B- or so, which was enough to make me waste two hours on the 2nd half, which was an abomination.

cowtime · Post by **cowtime** » Tue May 27, 2008 8:22 pm

My husband wanted to watch that but opted for "Recount" instead last night. Now that I read your opinion I'm glad since Recount was good.

Thomaston · Post by **Thomaston** » Tue May 27, 2008 9:53 pm

I read a review last week that made mention of some sci fi elements thrown in, about the virus coming from the future through a wormhole, or something along those lines. That was enough for me to pass.

emmline · Post by **emmline** » Wed May 28, 2008 3:45 am

Thanks Dale. Now I'm not sorry I forgot it was on.
Read the book years ago. Liked it. But I kind of figured
there wouldn't be too much of a relationship.

Post by **Dale** » Wed May 28, 2008 5:40 am

Thomaston wrote:I read a review last week that made mention of some sci fi elements thrown in, about the virus coming from the future through a wormhole, or something along those lines. That was enough for me to pass.

Yeah. I wish I'd read the review.

beowulf573 · Post by **beowulf573** » Wed May 28, 2008 6:54 am

As soon as they uttered 'singularity' I knew there was no hope. And yet I watched it to the end anyway.

buddhu · Post by **buddhu** » Wed May 28, 2008 7:22 am

I know it's a generalisation, but I'm tempted to suggest that "remake" was the clue you missed, Dale.

Remakes and sequels (but mostly remakes) do not have a good hit-rate in my experience.

Innocent Bystander · Post by **Innocent Bystander** » Wed May 28, 2008 7:31 am

"Four Hour Made-for-TV Movie" is a clue as well, I'd say.

Flogging Jason · Post by **Flogging Jason** » Wed May 28, 2008 9:31 am

I fell asleep before watching the second part(largely due to libations) but I guess I didn't miss much. I've read the book a couple of times and it's an excellent read. However, the movie didn't do justice to the images the book gave me. I got the sense they were trying to "modernize" the story a little bit since it was written a long time ago(even though Crichton writes with a good eye for the future).

Reading the book is almost always way more exciting than the film versions. I've always been dissapointed by the Hollywood adaptations of Crichton's novels.

I wonder how he feels about it?

Ronbo · Post by **Ronbo** » Wed May 28, 2008 10:58 am

After reading the book, it took me fifteen minutes (no, fifteen seconds), to see where this monstrosity was going. Problem is, I had to go occupy myself by playing music while she watched the whole, sad thing.

Then she had to ask a ton of questions about it, like I knew what the TV producers had done.

Truly, nothing on earth made for television can be anything but an absolute joke. You make programs for eight year olds, then expect adults to watch them. Problem is, there are a lot of adults out here who are eight years old in their minds.

Post by **Nanohedron** » Wed May 28, 2008 11:15 am

I found it by accident whilst channel surfing.

"Run the test on a fresh sample of Andromeda!...*gasp* It doesn't respond like the other. It's like they're communicating, yet it came from an isolated batch. How can this be?"

It's like the Borg, you block. Helloooo...you're in a sci-fi movie....you have seen one before, haven't you? I thought to myself, and went back to watching Jackass.

Thomaston · Post by **Thomaston** » Wed May 28, 2008 3:36 pm

Definitely another example of "if it ain't broke, don't fix it."
And I'll direct you to the mini-series remakes of Salem's Lot and The Shining for further examples (although, in all fairness, those re-makes were actually more faithful to the source material that the originals. They just had no soul).

fearfaoin · Post by **fearfaoin** » Thu May 29, 2008 7:11 am

Thomaston wrote:I read a review last week that made mention of some sci fi elements thrown in, about the virus coming from the future through a wormhole, or something along those lines.

Good grief. Does Michael Crichton sign off on this stuff???