Comments on: End of Week Links O’Plenty http://www.variousandsundry.com/2008/12/05/end-of-week-links-oplenty/ Wii, iPod, Blu Ray, DVD, TV, and So Much More Thu, 11 Mar 2010 15:13:43 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Matthew M http://www.variousandsundry.com/2008/12/05/end-of-week-links-oplenty/comment-page-1/#comment-192901 Matthew M Fri, 05 Dec 2008 18:34:07 +0000 http://www.variousandsundry.com/2008/12/05/end-of-week-links-oplenty/#comment-192901 The FOUNDATION trilogy ... well, the original three books, anyhow... are classics in terms of ideas, plotting, and intrigue over characterization and dialogue (two things Asimov himself admitted were not his strong suits). I love them to death (along with the Robot stories and novels), but filmable? That's a TALL order... the books are really a collection of inter-related short stories taking place over centuries. In a perfect world, FOUNDATION would be an HBO series (or maxi-series) in which every aspect of Asimov's world (and Hari Seldon's plans, as well as The Mule's disruptions) could be fully explored. Heck, if you wanted to you could incorporate the Robot stories as part of the backstory, although the way Asimov did it was a bit forced... Otherwise, you end up with something as wholly unsatisfying as Will Smith's "I, Robot", which was LITERALLY Asimov-In-Name-Only. I'll never forget seeing the first trailer for that movie and hearing my jaw hit the ground as I saw Smith being attacked... *ATTACKED*... by hordes of robots. The brilliance of Asimov was shown time and time again, when he came up with a wealth of stories that posited mysteries or philosophical dilemmas that were held WITHIN THE CONFINES of the Three Laws. The movie, in a typical Hollywood simplistic manner, simply just did away with them as necessary. Sorry for the rant. I'm a bit fanatical when it comes to the Good Doctor! The FOUNDATION trilogy … well, the original three books, anyhow… are classics in terms of ideas, plotting, and intrigue over characterization and dialogue (two things Asimov himself admitted were not his strong suits). I love them to death (along with the Robot stories and novels), but filmable? That’s a TALL order… the books are really a collection of inter-related short stories taking place over centuries.

In a perfect world, FOUNDATION would be an HBO series (or maxi-series) in which every aspect of Asimov’s world (and Hari Seldon’s plans, as well as The Mule’s disruptions) could be fully explored. Heck, if you wanted to you could incorporate the Robot stories as part of the backstory, although the way Asimov did it was a bit forced…

Otherwise, you end up with something as wholly unsatisfying as Will Smith’s “I, Robot”, which was LITERALLY Asimov-In-Name-Only. I’ll never forget seeing the first trailer for that movie and hearing my jaw hit the ground as I saw Smith being attacked… *ATTACKED*… by hordes of robots. The brilliance of Asimov was shown time and time again, when he came up with a wealth of stories that posited mysteries or philosophical dilemmas that were held WITHIN THE CONFINES of the Three Laws. The movie, in a typical Hollywood simplistic manner, simply just did away with them as necessary.

Sorry for the rant. I’m a bit fanatical when it comes to the Good Doctor!

]]> By: Rob Postuma http://www.variousandsundry.com/2008/12/05/end-of-week-links-oplenty/comment-page-1/#comment-192896 Rob Postuma Fri, 05 Dec 2008 17:44:23 +0000 http://www.variousandsundry.com/2008/12/05/end-of-week-links-oplenty/#comment-192896 H:LotS's Melissa leo for an Academy Award - how cool is just the possibility of that. While never the showcase superstar that Andre Braugher was, on repeat viewing - you notice the subtlety and complexity of her amazing her acting ability really was. Hell, in one episode, she played both herself and her sister - and most people after having watched the episode, had no idea that she was playing BOTH roles and it wasn't someone else. She played the part realistically - as a flesh and blood female cop - rather than just a 38d secretary wth a gun ( as was often potrayed both then and now ). Unfortunately, not being the typical tv-fantasy, is probably what lead up to her being unceremoniously canned off the show, when they decided they wanted better ratings. H:LotS’s Melissa leo for an Academy Award – how cool is just the possibility of that. While never the showcase superstar that Andre Braugher was, on repeat viewing – you notice the subtlety and complexity of her amazing her acting ability really was. Hell, in one episode, she played both herself and her sister – and most people after having watched the episode, had no idea that she was playing BOTH roles and it wasn’t someone else. She played the part realistically – as a flesh and blood female cop – rather than just a 38d secretary wth a gun ( as was often potrayed both then and now ). Unfortunately, not being the typical tv-fantasy, is probably what lead up to her being unceremoniously canned off the show, when they decided they wanted better ratings.

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