The original novel and 1971 movie worked because it was character driven, taught story. Unfortunately the new remake takes so many liberties and turns the whole thing into something else, something way overdone.
For those not familiar with the 1971 move, I suggest you watch it.
Let's compare and contrast: Cast - The original cast was well selected; each character was well defined (quickly) and were believable as scientists. Of special note was Kate Reid, who played Dr. Levitt to the hilt as a sarcastic, "speak your mind" genius. Arthur Hill played Dr. Stone with just the right amount of politics and authority without being over the top.
The new cast was just unbelievable, too "soap opera perfect". Everyone was too beautiful to be believable. The only exception was Rick Shroeder who did well. The rest of the cast was just too overwrought. Also, some of the characters are inappropriately missing or recast to fit a more Hollywood PC beautifulness.
Story - The original story rarely strays outside of Wildfire as the main focus is on the four scientists trying to come to a solution to the problem. The only time we are not in the lab was in the beginning when Stone and Hall go to the town for an up close look and to retrieve Scoop. Other shots included momentary scents of a jet fighter taking pictures of the town, a few scenes in Vandenberg etc. just to move the story along. Because a lot of the threat is implied the viewer is allowed to imagine the degree of horror, doom and destruction in their own mind - which would truly out do any graphic depictions.
the new version is all over the place and the consequences of the spread are magnified - taking away the ability of the viewer to let their mind run wild about what is going on. As I said, this is an unimaginative "in your face" kind of affair.
Special Effects - The original is certainly dated from a technological standpoint as it was made in 1971. Mainframe computers and Electron microscopes the size of bazookas are long gone, but all of this was in vogue and cutting edge at the time it was made. Also though the special effects and technology were very prominent, they are still merely props the characters used to move the story along, not the center of attention.
In the new movie, it is an onslaught of special effects. Everything is again overdone and so in your face that the sense of impending doom is stripped away. The body count is raised for sure and the degree of spread is raised exponentially. Though technologically impressive, the effects seem to be as much of the story as the characters, not a compliment to them.
All in all this unimaginative presentation disappoints and it is certainly way too long. Unlike the compact and tense original, this is nothing more than an overdone "re-imagining" (??) of a timeless gem of science fiction. Don't waste time on this mess
For those not familiar with the 1971 move, I suggest you watch it.
Let's compare and contrast: Cast - The original cast was well selected; each character was well defined (quickly) and were believable as scientists. Of special note was Kate Reid, who played Dr. Levitt to the hilt as a sarcastic, "speak your mind" genius. Arthur Hill played Dr. Stone with just the right amount of politics and authority without being over the top.
The new cast was just unbelievable, too "soap opera perfect". Everyone was too beautiful to be believable. The only exception was Rick Shroeder who did well. The rest of the cast was just too overwrought. Also, some of the characters are inappropriately missing or recast to fit a more Hollywood PC beautifulness.
Story - The original story rarely strays outside of Wildfire as the main focus is on the four scientists trying to come to a solution to the problem. The only time we are not in the lab was in the beginning when Stone and Hall go to the town for an up close look and to retrieve Scoop. Other shots included momentary scents of a jet fighter taking pictures of the town, a few scenes in Vandenberg etc. just to move the story along. Because a lot of the threat is implied the viewer is allowed to imagine the degree of horror, doom and destruction in their own mind - which would truly out do any graphic depictions.
the new version is all over the place and the consequences of the spread are magnified - taking away the ability of the viewer to let their mind run wild about what is going on. As I said, this is an unimaginative "in your face" kind of affair.
Special Effects - The original is certainly dated from a technological standpoint as it was made in 1971. Mainframe computers and Electron microscopes the size of bazookas are long gone, but all of this was in vogue and cutting edge at the time it was made. Also though the special effects and technology were very prominent, they are still merely props the characters used to move the story along, not the center of attention.
In the new movie, it is an onslaught of special effects. Everything is again overdone and so in your face that the sense of impending doom is stripped away. The body count is raised for sure and the degree of spread is raised exponentially. Though technologically impressive, the effects seem to be as much of the story as the characters, not a compliment to them.
All in all this unimaginative presentation disappoints and it is certainly way too long. Unlike the compact and tense original, this is nothing more than an overdone "re-imagining" (??) of a timeless gem of science fiction. Don't waste time on this mess