Philip K. Dick should get a fair deal.

[The_voice_of_reason]

I just saw Minority Report and I was wondering why it is that nobody can make a good movie out of a Philip K. Dick story?

I mean he is one of the greatest sci-fi authors in the world but that doesn't stop movies like Total Recall and Bladerunner being made out of his stories.

[FS]

What's wrong with Minority Report, Bladerunner and Total Recall?

[kellychaos]

Originally Posted by FS

What's wrong with Minority Report, Bladerunner and Total Recall?

They're not bad if you haven't read the any of Dick's work but the movies tend to dumb down the plot and/or ideas that are cause for introspection and are the soul of the original short stories. Think of movies like "Catch-22" or "Slaughterhouse 5". Some literature just doesn't transfer well to film. You have to admire the director/producers for trying to bring good work to life but if you can't do it justice, leave it alone. :/

[ziggytrix]

Blade Runner is so loosely based on Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep that they should each be judged on their own merit. They're both excellent, in my opinion.

I can't speak for We Can Rember It For You Wholesale, as I haven't read it.

[Bennett]

All of those are short stories to movies, too. Have there been any movies taken from any of his full-length works?

[The_voice_of_reason]

Originally Posted by Bennett

All of those are short stories to movies, too. Have there been any movies taken from any of his full-length works?

Actually Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep is not really a short story I would put it in the catagory of novella.

[ziggytrix]

I just don't see the complaint. Blade Runner was fucking awesome.

[Bennett]

I stand corrected.

Blade Runner was definitely the best, I think the problem with the other two is that Hollywood tried to turn them into blockbuster action flicks with Arnold and Cruise, when they really are social commentary and satire. Look at how Minority Report relates to the "preemptive strike" we just witnessed.

Kwato was top-notch though, cracks me up every time. That and "benny, screw you!!"

[Protoclown]

I like all three of those films, and I never really expected them to follow the original stories all that closely.

If you look at them on their own merit, I think all three of those movies are pretty good, each in their own way.

[pjalne]

I thought The Impostor is underrated. Haven't read the book, but I enjoyed the movie. Could be my expectations.

And I agree that Do Androids... and Blade Runner can be enjoyed on an equal level. While the movie is only inspired by the book, it really grabs the spirit of the original. Perhaps the freedom you get from not having to push the original storyline around was the reason that the creators of Blade Runner could keep the mood.

[The_voice_of_reason]

I think my problem is i expect too much. I want these movies to not only be good movies but also have all the elements that made the stories so great. These movies may be good but I'll never be able to appreciate them.