“Asimov’s Foundation” — isn’t.

[LonestarOne]

I was really looking forward to this series, but after watching nine episodes, I must conclude, it is not Asimov’s Foundation. It’s just Goyer’s Basement.

When “Foundation” Gets the Blockbuster Treatment, Isaac Asimov’s Vision Gets Lost

The TV version of the classic sci-fi saga sidelines its source’s most pressing questions about power and precarity.

www.newyorker.com

 

[cpnotebook80]

I agree - it’s like hard to put those books into screen and maybe hbo would redo it correctly one day crossing fingers

 

[400]

I am avoiding the other thread at the mo. Not watched it (yet). I got as far as the first book, I have the second book sat on the shelf since 87 but not read it as I struggled with the first (I picked up on book one recently to re acquaint myself with the story pre Apple release). But personally, if the series were to follow the book, I would find it as dull as dish water.

Sacrilege I hear? Well, I think there is a wide gap between paper and screen at times, 2001 was pretty much hand in glove with the film with a few differences but then something like Hitch Hikers Guide flowed between the various formats and each is good in its own right and Dirk Gently is very well done on the screen (OK, going to give the HHGTTG film a 5/10). Though another authors par excellence "Night Watch" is an absolute mess on TV with some excellent bits in the middle but blink and you miss them.

I can live with changes from the book to screen in many cases. This is one series I would struggle to see follow the book exactly. I hope I enjoy it when I get to watch it.

 

[AL2TEACH]

very good article about Foundation. for those that want the book to be a movie, it's not gonna happen and let Asimov explain it to ya.

How Foundation preserved Asimov’s big ideas while bringing the story to vivid life

Ars chats with showrunner David S. Goyer and science adviser Kevin Hand.

arstechnica.com

 

[LonestarOne]

very good article about Foundation. for those that want the book to be a movie, it's not gonna happen and let Asimov explain it to ya.

Asimov isn’t explaining anything. He’s too busy being dead.

Goyer isn’t Asimov. He’s just a hack comic-book / video-game writer, and I don’t care what excuses he makes. Denis Villeneuve shows that it *is* possible to adapt an “unfilmable” science-fiction novel without dumbing it down and butchering the plot. No matter what Goyer says. Dune is getting a far better reception from audiences and fans than Goyer’s hacked-up Foundation is.

 

[Bodhitree]

I watched the whole series, and I have to say I thought it was an ok effort. It didn’t quite have the scope of the books but it was a lot more personable than I remember the first book being.

 

[AL2TEACH]

Asimov isn’t explaining anything. He’s too busy being dead.

Goyer isn’t Asimov. He’s just a hack comic-book / video-game writer, and I don’t care what excuses he makes. Denis Villeneuve shows that it *is* possible to adapt an “unfilmable” science-fiction novel without dumbing it down and butchering the plot. No matter what Goyer says. Dune is getting a far better reception from audiences and fans than Goyer’s hacked-up Foundation is.

the author himself admitted that he wrote strictly for the printed page, and he always refused invitations to adapt his work for film or TV. this what the dead guy stated not Goyer.

 

[LonestarOne]

the author himself admitted that he wrote strictly for the printed page, and he always refused invitations to adapt his work for film or TV. this what the dead guy stated not Goyer.

You know not what you are talking about.

Asimov did not refuse invitations to adapt his work for film or TV. He allowed his good friend Harlan Ellison to adapt “I, Robot” as a motion picture. That was never made, unfortunately, but the script was later published in book form. He created “Lucky Starr, Space Ranger” as a TV character, then adapted his adventures into a book series when the TV network passed on the show. He co-created the TV series “Probe” starring Parker Stevenson. I could go on, but I’ve made my point.

 

[AL2TEACH]

You know not what you are talking about.

Asimov did not refuse invitations to adapt his work for film or TV. He allowed his good friend Harlan Ellison to adapt “I, Robot” as a motion picture. That was never made, unfortunately, but the script was later published in book form. He created “Lucky Starr, Space Ranger” as a TV character, then adapted his adventures into a book series when the TV network passed on the show. He co-created the TV series “Probe” starring Parker Stevenson. I could go on, but I’ve made my point.

from the same article, "But Asimov was more than happy to let others adapt his work to a new medium, and he was wise enough to expect that there would—and should—be significant departures from the print version."

article stated he refused to adapt his work...

 

[400]

Well, episode 1 under me belt. I like it, similarities in plot lines to the book, this is a diversion from print I can like and keep me looking for the next episode. It really had to drift from the book.

 

[zobby]

I really enjoyed it. Never read the books.

 

[rambo47]

Movies based on books rarely measure up. Dune was the same way. So was Starship Troopers.

 

[400]

Movies based on books rarely measure up. Dune was the same way. So was Starship Troopers.

I have not seen the new Dune, but the 80's film is rather terrible but I have it in my collection cos Dune. The TV series, whilst devoid of budget, is rather good if you can get past the budget.
I enjoyed Star Ship Troopers and though it went away from the book, it was a good romp (the others ones are absolutely dire no matter the seed if the idea). I wouldn't say measuring up is the aim for many, it is what can you do with it as a start of an idea. LOR is superb and also bad in places as is The Hobbit (Dune cross over?).

Contact I thought was good though never read that book and Blade Runner noticeably different from the book but still in there with the book as is I Robot. Though Watchmen I found absolutely tedious and couldn't finish the film.

I would love to see Alistair Reynolds Revenger or Revelation Space etc. or Peter Hamilton lobbed at the screen, or rather TV series much like the Expanse.

 

[rambo47]

I have not seen the new Dune, but the 80's film is rather terrible but I have it in my collection cos Dune. The TV series, whilst devoid of budget, is rather good if you can get past the budget.
I enjoyed Star Ship Troopers and though it went away from the book, it was a good romp (the others ones are absolutely dire no matter the seed if the idea). I wouldn't say measuring up is the aim for many, it is what can you do with it as a start of an idea. LOR is superb and also bad in places as is The Hobbit (Dune cross over?).

Contact I thought was good though never read that book and Blade Runner noticeably different from the book but still in there with the book as is I Robot. Though Watchmen I found absolutely tedious and couldn't finish the film.

I would love to see Alistair Reynolds Revenger or Revelation Space etc. or Peter Hamilton lobbed at the screen, or rather TV series much like the Expanse.

LOVE The Expanse! I thought The Martian was a great movie too. Yeah, the book was even better, but that movie stands on its own.

 

[MacGizmo]

Asimov did not refuse invitations to adapt his work for film or TV. He allowed his good friend Harlan Ellison to adapt “I, Robot” as a motion picture. That was never made, unfortunately, but the script was later published in book form.

iRobot was made into a movie starring Will Smith back in 2004. I thought it was a pretty decent movie.

 

[400]

iRobot was made into a movie starring Will Smith back in 2004. I thought it was a pretty decent movie.

Indeed but the book is a series of stories collated that deal with morals etc. all distilled into a film. I liked it. Actually preferred this over Foundation. (book that is)

 

[ackmondual]

I really enjoyed it. Never read the books.

I too never read the books, but I anticipate I'll enjoy it none of the less.

EDIT: Finished watching this! I liked it, and looking forward to the next season! I'm told that if the books were adapted into a TV series, it wouldn't fly, as the books' pacings are far too slow for the format.

I enjoyed Star Ship Troopers and though it went away from the book, it was a good romp (the others ones are absolutely dire no matter the seed if the idea). I wouldn't say measuring up is the aim for many, it is what can you do with it as a start of an idea.

I liked a few of the CGI versions of Starship Troopers, but YMMV. They were better than the 3 live action ones (although those weren't high bars to clear)