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Post by Steve Roberts on Apr 1, 2006 12:27:36 GMT
Were we watching the same programme? The dialogue was appalling - unbelievable and loaded with exposition. The acting was at best average and there was no sense of people actually having any kind of relationship with each other, just uttering the lines of the dreadful script in a sort of half-interested manner. David Haig was *dreadfully* miscast and totally unbelievable. The soundtrack was the worst musical plagiarism I've ever heard - go listen to Cliff Martinez's score for the movie 'Solaris' and you'll understand. The plot was so full of holes you could have driven a bus through it - for example, just what was a biologist doing working on an electronic eavesdropping project? We really should expect better than this. If the BBC feel we're happy with that level of tat, then they're going to carry on churning it out on BBC4 budgets as long as they want. We should be fighting for big-budget remakes written by proper writers (not producers!) for a BBC1 or 2. I really hope the same team don't get commissioned to do any more, I would hate to think of something like 'The Road' being wasted on them. Steve
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Post by Dave Andrews on Apr 1, 2006 13:56:56 GMT
I watched it again on Friday evening and began to wonder if it were actually an edited version, and that actually this 2006 production had originally been longer. There were several places where the ideas seemed to jump on a bit, as if a plot point had been missed or edited out.
E.g. the name 'Kaufman' appears in the credits, but I don't think it was mentioned in dialog; you would need to know the original (tv or book) to know that he was the American agent Bridger meets on moor.
Or again: you were left to infer that the disc that Andromeda takes from the wall safe and throws on the fire is the 'message'; in the original that action is a major plot point.
On the other hand it may have just been a product of the severe pruning of the (1961) original, and they just didn't have time to properly introduce each plot point.
Couldn't agree more about the presence of Dawnay; she didn't appear in the original until (probably, it's a long time ago) the end of Ep.2 or some time in Ep.3, after the 'hydrogen atom energy levels' bit occurs, when she happens to be visiting with the Prof (he's written out in this).
And I'm told by an ex-army (Lt.Col) friend that no British Army officer in civvies at work would wear a dark shirt and black tie; it would be a light shirt, with a regimental tie !
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Post by Andrew Doherty on Apr 2, 2006 10:15:47 GMT
To Steve Roberts and others (including Mr Barfe and Mr Piper). I would have much preferred the adaptation of Nigel Kneale's story, broadcast last April, as well as this April's 'A for Andromeda' production to have been kept in their original serialized formats. Just to say that I believe last year's effort to be better, though, obviously, not as good, and both for the same reason. Ask yourself this question: How can a production in six episodes be reduced to a single play lasting ninety minutes and not suffer as a result? Not using the original music as well as the original script was a mistake. But, many of the readers of this web site have been spoilt for having seen the original productions. The plain fact is that these adaptations of the originals at least give a nod in the direction of earlier (and more successful) television programming. BBC4 is making a good contribution (leaving aside the grim 'TV On Trial' fiasco of the previous year) to television of the past. Of course, there was one final drawback with respect to the remake in question; no Julie Christie! Yours,
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Post by Greg H on Apr 2, 2006 17:04:10 GMT
yeah, terrible thoughtless mistake about the colour of the tie, thinking about it that was one hell of a heartless thing to do. Totally ruined my enjoyment of the show really I dunno, ties aside, I suppose I see the cup as being half full. It was nice to see a pretty much forgotten show getting a remake, lets face it, A for andromeda isnt exactly on the lips of the general population, we are a minority. So it was nice of the BBC to throw us a bone and give us a remake. It was also nice of the heartless piece of trash whose been hoarding episode 6 to give it back to the fans of the show. Thanks, you heartless, episode hording piece of human refuse Anyway, I am glad that a new piece of british sci fi has been made, even though it may not have been perfect, its nicer to have it than not to have it. The cup is half full.
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Post by Laurence Piper on Apr 3, 2006 12:03:00 GMT
To Steve Roberts and others (including Mr Barfe and Mr Piper). Don't know how I come into the equation, Andrew - I don't have BBC-4 myself and so haven't even seen the new Andromeda (although from what I am hearing about it, i'm glad I haven't. Sometimes it's better to leave a classic well alone...)
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Post by Andrew Doherty on Apr 3, 2006 16:09:59 GMT
My mistake, Mr Piper.
I have had BBC4 for a year and it has produced some very interesting programmes in this period. I think I can recommend the channel.
By the way, I would say that the original productions were of their time. So, if these stories are to be remade in the future, they must be based on the original scripts.
This year's 'Missing, Believed Wiped' will give a clue or two as to the way a drama from the late fifties / early sixties should be produced. Also, there will be a much better opportunity to see Julie Christie in, what I think, was her first (major?) television appearance.
Yours,
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Post by ron on Apr 3, 2006 17:24:41 GMT
Although I've read about the original programme I havn't seen any of it yet. Watching a recording of the BBC4 version the basic idea about the signal from space comes across quite convincingly.
The noise from the computer was a good idea but not the build up of the background music. It would have been a nice touch to have with small breaks where the original episodes were.
In using the computer to develop biological weapons rather than to detect missile attacks the military is made more agressive and it changes the relationship they had to the scientists and the aliens. Good to have a remake, but the original story seemed to have more charm.
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Post by Steve Boyce on Apr 6, 2006 16:01:37 GMT
For what my opinion's worth, I was very disappointed by this. I had the impression that the entire point of the original series had been completely lost on the production team, who seemed to think it was an alien invasion story. And that disco ball thing - oh dear. On top of that, if you're going to cut stuff, why not cut the entire discovery of the signal and start off with the computer already built. Then you've got time to half-way explore the real topics. Always assuming you've grasped what they are, of course.
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Post by Dave Andrews on Apr 19, 2006 12:35:45 GMT
Does anyone know if the 1972 Italian (RAI ?) version 'A come Andromeda' ...
a) still exists ? b) was ever printed with subtitles (or even dubbed) ?
Apparently it was 5x55mins, and the names in the cast list make it look as though it might be fairly faithful to the original story.
Could C4 or C5 be persuaded to give it an airing ? (For pure academic comparison purposes ... of course !)
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Post by Steve Boyce on Apr 19, 2006 18:21:00 GMT
> Does anyone know if the 1972 Italian (RAI ?) version 'A come > Andromeda' ...
> a) still exists ? > b) was ever printed with subtitles (or even dubbed) ?
To (a) Yes, and has been released on VHS, and as you say is quite faithful to the original
To (b) Not afaik
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Post by Frederick Thompson on May 8, 2006 14:48:22 GMT
BBC Four will be screening "The Face of the Tiger" at 10.40 for the first time since 1961 according to their schedule.
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Post by Frederick Thompson on May 8, 2006 16:35:08 GMT
Sorry, I left out that it will be Saturday 13th May at 10.30.
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Post by Dave Andrews on May 13, 2006 14:06:45 GMT
Just seen on Restoration Forum that this TX has been 'pulled' due to problems with performing rights clearance.
BBC4 website confirms
What a b***** !
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Post by Greg H on May 13, 2006 16:56:15 GMT
oh man! That is a killer! that really sux!!!! Well, we will get to see this sooner or later!
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Post by Greg H on May 13, 2006 16:57:25 GMT
Oh yeah, and on the topic of the Italian version, a very good idea would be to find someone who can speak Italian, and get them to help us make a subtitle file that can be viewed with the series. Peoplke do this a lot with Japanese movies, its quite a big scene
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