I see a lot of comments about the different versions of this movie, but nobody seems to mention the thing that most concerned me about this tolerable disaster film (nearly all these stories about giant asteroids menacing the earth have the same plot, more or less, but I tuned in anyway to see Rae Dawn Chong as the heroic scientist). Watching Michael Moriarty in his role as the general was distracting because he seemed to be having problems playing his part that had nothing to do with the script or the direction. He was walking with a stick, and in the dialogue scenes he seemed to stare straight ahead and deliver his lines with little or no animation. Was he ill? Had he had a stroke?
Reviews
5 Reviews
looking forward to space travel
26 June 2006
Back in 1954, science fiction writer James E. Gunn was speculating over what could motivate the public to accepting space travel. He wrote the short story "The Cave of Night", hoping it might be published in Collier's Magazine, which had recently published a special issue by Wehrner Von Braun about space. In the end it appeared in the February 1955 issue of Galaxy Magazine and was dramatized on the radio program X Minus One.
When it was planned to make a television spin-off of X Minus One, the story was purchased for the pilot episode. This didn't eventuate, and the rights were sold to Desilu who changed the title to "Man in Orbit" (and changed the plot a little).
Lee Marvin is the astronaut and E.G. Marshall one of the scientists planning the first space mission. They wonder whether it is worthwhile cutting corners to send the first man into space. When they decide to launch, worldwide attention is focused on the plight of Lee Marvin's character.
James E. Gunn later wrote: "Science-fiction writers get reputations as prophets. They aren't really in that business. Their intention is to write plausible scenarios about possible futures. Sometimes, by chance, one of them coincides with reality." When the first American in orbit, John Glenn, passed over Perth, Australia, in 1962 the town turned its lights on and off to signal him as he passed overhead. I had a sense of deja vu -- because I'd already seen that happen in this story.
When it was planned to make a television spin-off of X Minus One, the story was purchased for the pilot episode. This didn't eventuate, and the rights were sold to Desilu who changed the title to "Man in Orbit" (and changed the plot a little).
Lee Marvin is the astronaut and E.G. Marshall one of the scientists planning the first space mission. They wonder whether it is worthwhile cutting corners to send the first man into space. When they decide to launch, worldwide attention is focused on the plight of Lee Marvin's character.
James E. Gunn later wrote: "Science-fiction writers get reputations as prophets. They aren't really in that business. Their intention is to write plausible scenarios about possible futures. Sometimes, by chance, one of them coincides with reality." When the first American in orbit, John Glenn, passed over Perth, Australia, in 1962 the town turned its lights on and off to signal him as he passed overhead. I had a sense of deja vu -- because I'd already seen that happen in this story.
Dynasty: The Making of a Guilty Pleasure
(2005 TV Movie)
not that bad
24 April 2006
Contrary to what some die-hard Dynasty fans may feel, this tele-movie is actually a lot of fun to watch if you lived through the 1980s. OK, it's not completely accurate, but this isn't a documentary. It's an amusing look back at a television phenomenon.
Remember William Goldman's book on writing for Hollywood? His summing-up of the film industry was simply "Nobody knows anything." And here we see it in its fullest flower, with producers and writers literally making it up as they go along.
At one point a character says "Shouldn't we give the viewers what they need rather than finding out what they want and feeding it to them?" The American television industry is affectionately but mercilessly taken apart in this movie and I suspect a lot of people in the industry will squirm with recognition at similar artistic compromises they've made.
But that's much too serious a note to end. I can only say that I found this a fun way to spend two hours. Others may disagree, but I saw every episode of Dynasty and The Colbys that was made, and I enjoyed this movie a lot.
Remember William Goldman's book on writing for Hollywood? His summing-up of the film industry was simply "Nobody knows anything." And here we see it in its fullest flower, with producers and writers literally making it up as they go along.
At one point a character says "Shouldn't we give the viewers what they need rather than finding out what they want and feeding it to them?" The American television industry is affectionately but mercilessly taken apart in this movie and I suspect a lot of people in the industry will squirm with recognition at similar artistic compromises they've made.
But that's much too serious a note to end. I can only say that I found this a fun way to spend two hours. Others may disagree, but I saw every episode of Dynasty and The Colbys that was made, and I enjoyed this movie a lot.
delightfully familiar
18 April 2006
From the opening scene, there's a very familiar feel to this story.
I've often been dismissive of Charmed in the past because I had the feeling the writers were making the story up as they went along from week to week. But this week the scriptwriters have decided to make a pastiche of B*ffy the V*ampire Sl*yer and it works very well.
The blonde schoolgirl reluctantly discovering that she's inherited a calling as a guardian of a supernatural relic... All that's lacking is the Watcher's Council.
A lot of fun even for those whose enthusiasm for the show has waned a bit in the last few years.
I've often been dismissive of Charmed in the past because I had the feeling the writers were making the story up as they went along from week to week. But this week the scriptwriters have decided to make a pastiche of B*ffy the V*ampire Sl*yer and it works very well.
The blonde schoolgirl reluctantly discovering that she's inherited a calling as a guardian of a supernatural relic... All that's lacking is the Watcher's Council.
A lot of fun even for those whose enthusiasm for the show has waned a bit in the last few years.
"Poirot stands in awe!"
12 March 2006
Here's a family so dysfunctional that it could have wandered in from one of Simenon's Maigret novels rather than Agatha Christie. The Cloade family are full of rather awful people and as usual the question is which one of them is going to end up face down on the library carpet.
Poirot isn't on stage for a lot of the middle of the story, but when he springs into action he makes up for it.
In retrospect, it's easy to point out some clues which are so obvious that we never noticed them. But then 'twas ever thus with Agatha Christie.
There are a couple of modern touches -- Christie would never have used the word "shit" or included casual references to homosexuality. But they do say every generation re-makes the classics anew.
As always with these made for TV movies, the period atmosphere looks wonderful.
I'm sure the 1930s weren't this agreeable in real life, but they look great here.
Poirot isn't on stage for a lot of the middle of the story, but when he springs into action he makes up for it.
In retrospect, it's easy to point out some clues which are so obvious that we never noticed them. But then 'twas ever thus with Agatha Christie.
There are a couple of modern touches -- Christie would never have used the word "shit" or included casual references to homosexuality. But they do say every generation re-makes the classics anew.
As always with these made for TV movies, the period atmosphere looks wonderful.
I'm sure the 1930s weren't this agreeable in real life, but they look great here.
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