| Author | Message | ||
     John Llewellyn Probert (John_l_probert) Username: John_l_probert Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 194.176.105.56 |
We saw this on the weekend and I really liked it. We went in with few expectations, especially as the posters have sold it as an Inception rip-off but it isn't at all - it's romance done the PKD way and done very well indeed. Matt Damon (who's often quite good) and Emily Blunt (who until now seems to have only had one expression but is very good in this as well) are the lovers who must be kept apart because of 'The Plan' but Damon strives to find her by using the shortcuts that exist across New York that can only be accessed by special doors. I haven't read the PKD source story in years & I very much suspect it uses the concept without the core romance but the best PKD movie adaptations have always built on and developed the great man's ideas and this one's a real winner - only hardcore cynics and individuals without a romantic bone in their body need stay away. Nice to see a big budget SF picture with no explosions or hi-tech hardware as well, in fact the most complex piece of kit anyone uses in this movie is a book  | ||
| Stevie Walsh (Stephenw) Username: Stephenw Registered: 03-2009 Posted From: 194.32.31.1 |
I was wondering would this one be worthwhile and might just go and see it tomorrow night now. Thanks, John. The 1954 short story is one of PKD's great headfuck masterpieces imo. | ||
| John Llewellyn Probert (John_l_probert) Username: John_l_probert Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 194.176.105.56 |
Let me know what you think, Stevie - it's certainly one of my favourite movies of the year so far | ||
| Kate (Kathleen) Username: Kathleen Registered: 09-2009 Posted From: 86.137.108.144 |
We look forward to your list of PKD's greatest masterpieces, Stevie. | ||
| Gary Fry (Gary_fry) Username: Gary_fry Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 86.31.133.89 |
Don't encourage him . . . | ||
| Stevie Walsh (Stephenw) Username: Stephenw Registered: 03-2009 Posted From: 194.32.31.1 |
I haven't read nearly all his stuff so wouldn't presume to lol. Could do the short stories though... | ||
| John Llewellyn Probert (John_l_probert) Username: John_l_probert Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 194.176.105.56 |
Subterranean Press are doing his collected short stories in hardback (hurrah!) Volume 1 is out now and Volume 2 comes out in a couple of months. I read them all in the Gollancz paperback editions in 1999 but I haven't had a chance to revisit them since then. | ||
| Stevie Walsh (Stephenw) Username: Stephenw Registered: 03-2009 Posted From: 194.32.31.1 |
Yeah, I have the whole mammoth collection as well and read through them astonishingly quickly a few years ago. Perhaps the most entertaining and certainly the most brilliantly original body of short fiction in all genre literature. Would need to do a bit of research reminding to select my Top 10 as I don't think there was a dull story among the whole five volumes, while the majority remain truly astounding. | ||
| Stevie Walsh (Stephenw) Username: Stephenw Registered: 03-2009 Posted From: 194.32.31.1 |
On JLP's recommendation I went to see 'The Adjustment Bureau' last night and can confirm it as one of the most thoroughly entertaining Philip K. Dick adaptations it has been my pleasure to watch. First time director & screenwriter, George Nolfi, deserves no end of praise for his accomplishments here. The timelessly brilliant short story 'Adjustment Team' (1954) would have made a cracking half hour episode of the original 'Twilight Zone' but any director would have struggled to pad it out to feature length. Nolfi's masterstroke here is in adding a whole new romantic drama storyline that runs parallel to the original one of pursuit, paranoia and one puny individual against the forces of Fate. [Did he just say "romantic drama"!?  ] Yes, I know most genre fans will immediately be groaning and starting to switch off, but, hang on.. miraculously... it bloody well works!! Right from their first brilliantly acted scene together the on-screen chemistry between Matt Damon & Emily Blunt is electrifying, funny and genuinely charming. Almost at once we are made to care for these two people and wish them a happy future together - the quality of the acting is that naturalistic. Then something gets knocked out of whack in the "Chairman's" Grand Plan for humanity and the grim-faced "Men In Black" style operatives of the Adjustment Bureau are sent in to get things back on track - which means Matt & Emily never should have met and, for the sake of Fate itself, their romance must be crushed out of existence with maximum prejudice, by whatever means are necessary <gulp> - as if meeting the woman of your dreams wasn't hard enough! Next thing we know our hero, Matt Damon, in winning form, accidentally stumbles upon the grand scheme, gets a peak behind the curtain at the forces that control our lives, realises what is at stake, and has to grab his woman and run, run and run, against just about the most overwhelming odds it's possible to imagine - and all in the name of Love <sigh>. Sounds like tripe, like vomit inducing bilge, like something you'd rather have red hot pokers inserted in your eyeballs than have to watch - right? Wrong!! It's a brilliant piece of pure escapist fantasy that wins the audience over utterly and will have you on the edge of your seat right to the final scene - rooting for Matt & Emily as if your own fate depends on it! Hooray!!  I bloody loved it. Mark my words this is destined to become one of those sleeper hit cult classics in the years to come. Wonderful cinema!! | ||
| Frank (Frank) Username: Frank Registered: 09-2008 Posted From: 85.222.86.21 |
Steve - Mate, emailed you earlier today. | ||
| Stevie Walsh (Stephenw) Username: Stephenw Registered: 03-2009 Posted From: 194.32.31.1 |
Got your email, Frank, and all is printed and ringbound. Thanks mate!! You and the woman are welcome here anytime. | ||
| Frank (Frank) Username: Frank Registered: 09-2008 Posted From: 85.222.86.21 |
Cheers, mate. Much obliged. |