The Andromeda Strain - Original vs Remake
How does the original vs remake of The Andromeda Strain compare? This week we look at this classic thriller based on Michael Crichton's novel.
SPOILER ALERT - there will be plot elements related to the endings for both movies. If you haven't seen them, go watch them now.
Where to watch Andromeda Strain (current as of 04/27/20) -
1971 - https://hdfy.to/movies/sci-fi/the-and...
2008 - https://hdfy.to/tv-shows/action/the-a...
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“Show Notes”:
0:00:32 - will current pandemic cause us to move back to smaller towns
0:03:06 - how will local businesses survive vs big corporations
0:05:04 - what work from home / co-working spaces will
0:07:08 - changes yet to come after Covid19
What is the Andromeda Strain?
0:09:10 - original Andromeda Strain groundbreaking techno thriller
0:10:20 - how Michael Crichton found his niche combining science and storytelling
0:13:02 - made up citations in the novel that seemed real enough to screenwriter
0:14:20 - l-o-n-g decontamination process combined with weird effects
0:15:50 - life imitating art, e.g. personnel in hazmat suits
0:17:42 - how horror vs thrillers differ - race against time
0:19:30 - what Robert Wise does to keep tension despite minimalist plot
0:20:36 - why choice of woman as one of scientists was so effective
0:22:12 - again tactical nuke considered option
0:23:50 - cardboard generated “CGI” - aka practical effects
0:25:20 - portraying advanced technology that become reality over time, e.g. Star Tre
0:28:06 - why did our government develop internet
0:28:52 ** short break **
0:28:06 - how does Andromeda Strain remake compare to original
0:30:24 - why expectations were high with Ridley Scott producing
0:32:02 - top sin of remakes is overexplaining with dialogue - especially tv movies
0:33:48 - bad use of good actors like Daniel Dae Kim and Viola Davis
0:35:02 - cringeworthy performances that were shown repeatedly
0:36:28 - remake vs original portraying urgency of crisis
0:37:38 - portrayal of military had some accuracy
0:38:26 - why portraying female pilot failed in remake
0:40:24 - how remakes fail with “less is more” e.g. explaining virus with wormholes??
0:42:30 - good ideas with bad execution, i.e. dramatic toss of Ricky Shroeder’s thumb
0:44:20 - Birdemic schlock vs how original portrayed killing lab animals
0:45:50 - soap opera dramatics during a global crisis
0:47:20 - mistrust between different groups
0:48:32 - how human error is often used as story device by Michael Crichton
0:49:40 - classic sci-fi theme of man reaching a bit too far, e.g. Icarus effect
0:50:50 - original vs remake - alien life vs. environmental theme
0:52:10 - why environmental theme was lost in remake
0:54:06 - typical use of conspiracy with NSA thrown in pre- Edward Snowden
0:55:32 - 28 Days Later rip-off scenes was another example of combining too many things
0:56:50 - ultimately characters’ attempts almost did more harm than good
0:58:52 - coming up: revisiting Westworld and rise of Michael Crichton’s career
1:00:06 - writing novels for big screen vs novelization of movies
1:02:40 - Futureworld and Beyond Westworld tv series - canon vs non-canon