Andromeda Strain Mini-Series

[Kahlessa]

You may have heard that there is going to be a new mini-series based on The Andromeda Strain. There is now a website with video clips that was just put up today:
www.aetv.com/the-andromeda-strain/

It is a Ridley & Tony Scott production two-night event “coming this spring on A&E”. By that I imagine we will see it in April or May.

Here’s the IMDB link for the mini-series:
www.imdb.com/title/tt0424600/

[Kahlessa]

The Andromeda Strain will premiere on the A&E channel on Monday, May 26. The second part will probably air on Tuesday, May 27.

[Lukaran]

There's also a website www.whathappenedinpiedmont.com/

It looks like a ficticious website to promote The Andromeda Strain, like the ficticious company website www.nextgencode.com was created to promote Next.

[Kahlessa]

May 21, 2008 16:58:32 GMT -5 Lukaran said:

There's also a website www.whathappenedinpiedmont.com/

It looks like a ficticious website to promote The Andromeda Strain, like the ficticious company website www.nextgencode.com was created to promote Next.

I saw that, but I don't want to read it until after I see the program.

Here's an interview with the screenwriter Robert Schenkkan:

This Modern Plague
By Bill Florence, Starlog, June 2008
www.starlog.com/fearful_feature.php?id=2290

Here's an excerpt about Michael Crichton:

According to Schenkkan, Crichton wasn’t involved this time (he frequented the set of the first film, and even had a small cameo). “I would love to meet Michael,” the screenwriter says. “He’s a busy person. I gather he was happy for us to go off and do this.

[Kahlessa]

The DVD of the 2008 mini-series can be purchased here:
store.aetv.com/html/product/index.jhtml?id=118100

[Kahlessa]

Here's the link to the section about the novel on Crichton's official website:

www.crichton-official.com/books-andromedastrain-history.html

[Lukaran]

I forgot about it and I missed it! But it's going to be out on DVD next week so I'll rent it then.

[Kahlessa]

I somewhat liked this version of The Andromeda Strain though I don’t know that I like it better than the original, or even as well. I thought the reporter angle didn’t really accomplish what it should have. Plus they decided to include an environmental cautionary aspect that was certainly not part of the novel or the 1971 film.

I noticed that this version incorporated elements from some of Michael Crichton’s other novels, especially Prey. While I was watching, I thought:

“The Andromeda Strain meets Prey meets Sphere meets State of Fear.”

I’ll write more later. Now I’m reading the novel again.

[Kahlessa]

The more I think about it, the more I realize that wanting to like it isn’t the same as liking it. Now that I’m reading the novel again, I’m reminded how good the 1971 film was. I think this was a missed opportunity. The original film had a focus that this version lacked. They could have dug deeper with what we know about science now, but instead they opted for numerous distracting storylines and blowing things up.

I also wonder if the creators of this version of The Andromeda Strain wanted to twist Crichton’s story into an environmental cautionary tale in part to get back at him for his skeptical views on climate change.

On the whole, I expected better from something with Ridley Scott's name attached to it. But at least more people will discover the Michael Crichton's excellent novel and the 1971 film because of this version.

[Kahlessa]

So far the only people who seem to have really liked this version are those who have not read the book or seen the 1971 film. I think when you’ve had steak, it’s very tough to settle for hamburger. At least this will inspire people to read Crichton’s novel and hopefully, discover his other books as well. Though I wonder how much they will enjoy it since it is so different from the A&E version.

Many times a mini-series can be better than the original, because it has the time to explore more details from the book. The mini-series of Stephen King’s The Shining was better and truer to the book than the Stanley Kubrick film. The same can also be said of the mini-series of East of Eden starring Jane Seymour, and the one of Jane Eyre starring Timothy Dalton. The Andromeda Strain could have been a very intelligent and exciting exploration of the novel. Instead they went for special effects, strange and irrational tangents, and an obvious political agenda. What were they thinking? I really have to wonder.

[Eleanor]

I agree that a mini-series can be better than the original film, especially if it's from a book. Gone with the Wind was so long that it was the length of a mini-series before TV even existed. They just had an intermission at the theater. I remember seeing Gone with the Wind in a theater as a child. Now they never have intermissions. Either you sit through a 3 hour + film, or they make two films out of the book these days. Or in the case of The Lord of the Rings, three movies.

[Kickup]

Jun 6, 2008 10:56:34 GMT -5 Kahlessa said:

So far the only people who seem to have really liked this version are those who have not read the book or seen the 1971 film. I think when you’ve had steak, it’s very tough to settle for hamburger. At least this will inspire people to read Crichton’s novel and hopefully, discover his other books as well. Though I wonder how much they will enjoy it since it is so different from the A&E version.

Many times a mini-series can be better than the original, because it has the time to explore more details from the book. The mini-series of Stephen King’s The Shining was better and truer to the book than the Stanley Kubrick film. The same can also be said of the mini-series of East of Eden starring Jane Seymour, and the one of Jane Eyre starring Timothy Dalton. The Andromeda Strain could have been a very intelligent and exciting exploration of the novel. Instead they went for special effects, strange and irrational tangents, and an obvious political agenda. What were they thinking? I really have to wonder.

I think that sometimes the answer is pretty simple. The producers want people to watch so they can make money. How do they do that? By guaranteeing their advertizers a certain number of people will be watching. The more advertizers with deep pockets you can convince to advertize = more profit. You guarantee the advertizers that people will watch by providing all the Hollywood glitz, gore, blood and blowups you can pack into a four-hour show. It's what audiences demand these days, unfortunately; not about quality of production, fairness or trueness of story. It's about making money. Just my simple opinion here. Sorry not much intellectualizing, but Hollywood doesn't care much about that, does it? It's all about the money.

[Kahlessa]

Hollywood has always been about making money. That’s nothing new. And it is possible to make a film or mini-series that is entertaining as well as intellectually engaging. But it takes creativity and vision, two qualities that were lacking in the creators of this version, which I’ve come to think of as Andromeda Strained. The science was so dumbed down I don’t think they even consulted a scientist.

As I’ve said, I had high expectations based on Ridley Scott’s name being attached to the project. He’s one of my favorite directors and a true master of the cinema. But he only served as executive producer, which means he invested money in it and let others actually take charge of the project. Now when I see his name attached to something, I’ll find out whether Ridley Scott is actually directing the project before I decide to see it or not.

I can’t imagine he’s too happy with Andromeda Strained. It’s been slammed by just about everyone except for young people who haven’t read the novel or seen the original film. I wonder how people who liked Andromeda Strained will respond to the novel when they read it. Will they gain an appreciation for Michael Crichton’s work or will they be disappointed that nothing’s getting blown up?

From everything I’ve read, Michael Crichton was not involved in the Andromeda Strained at all. It was his first hit novel and I’m sure he sold the rights without attaching conditions to it. That means unless he pays to get the rights back, he has no control over what kind of film or mini-series someone might make from it.

[Kickup]

Hi Kahlessa,

I'd have to agree with you, it could have been a great film with Ridley Scott's involvement as director. And for sure it could have been made with much more sophistication, artistry and science. But who cares anymore? How many intellectuals are out there bothering to go see most of the schlock (schluck?) that comes out of Hollywood these days? I guess the producers don't care how classy their films are as long as they make money. What's more important to them than that? But Ridley Scott... ? I'd expect more of him, you're right. When I saw his name I thought of Kingdom of Heaven. Andromeda Strain was far from that. Would a producer spend the money on an award-winning script writer if s/he knew the film could make just as much money without one? I wonder...

[Kahlessa]

Well, something just arrived in the mail that will help me discover what the makers of Andromeda Strained were thinking. I entered a sweepstakes for The Andromeda Strain remake at www.sfuniverse.com and I was one of the two winners! I received an Andromeda Strain Prize Pack which contained:

• An Andromeda Strain t-shirt
  On the front of the t-shirt is “Please help me find everyone__” and on the back is “whathappenedinPiedmont.com”
  
  
• DVDs of the 2008 mini-series and the original 1971 film
  The 2008 DVD has four hours of bonus features, including a documentary about the making of the mini-series, as well as audio commentary by the director, two of the executive producers (not Ridley Scott), and the editor.
  
  
• The Andromeda Strain novel by Michael Crichton (paperback, 2003 printing)
  

I was surprised to see a small plastic bottle fall out of the package. The label reads “The Andromeda Strain Antibacterial Handsanitizing Gel”. Too funny!