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Terraziel
Terraziel
Join Date 02/2006
+15

The Andromeda Strain

The 2008 miniseries

May 14, 2008 5:24:04 PM from Sins of a Solar Empire ForumsSins of a Solar Empire Forums
I just finished watching the new version of The Andromeda Strain (It has already aired on UK TV).

How was it? so bad that I have come here to warn others not to waste 4 hours of their life on it. Its both bad TV and bad Sci-fi, and it barely counts as being based on The Andromeda Strain, Here is pretty much how i imagine the plot discussion went

"You know what, this isn't cheesey and cliched enough, what can we do to make it better?"
"How about time travel?"
"ooh, one better, hidden messages from the future"
"or wormholes?"
"Oh, mindless romance?!"
"pointless ancillary characters with no character development that add nothing to the story?"
"how about a vapid eco-terrorism subplot?"
"a corrupt military conspiracy?"
"How about we hire special effects guys who evidently have no idea whats they are supposed to be showing?"
"Great ideas guys, but we probably need to throw in some Scientific jargon to make it seem like it still sci-fi"

Yes it does in fact include all of the above, if that doesn't put you off nothing will.
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Terraziel
SanChonino
Join Date 12/2005
+104
Reply #1 May 14, 2008 5:27:00 PM
from GalCiv II ForumsGalCiv II Forums
WTF.

Wormholes? Hidden future messages?

WHY MUST THEY RUIN THE BEAUTIFUL THINGS OF MY YOUTH!!!!
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Terraziel
Warnstaff
Join Date 04/2003
+1
Reply #2 May 14, 2008 5:42:26 PM
from Sins of a Solar Empire ForumsSins of a Solar Empire Forums
I thought it was pretty good when I saw it about 6 years ago. It seemed to deliver the effect (to me anyway) now that it meant to do when it first came out.

Doesn't have any re-watch value IMO though. A one shot wonder. Not bad for a '60s sci-fi movie.

[EDIT] was there a remake?
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Terraziel
SIR NASTY OF TANG
Join Date 01/2005
+4
Reply #3 May 14, 2008 6:42:54 PM
from GalCiv II ForumsGalCiv II Forums
[EDIT] was there a remake?







I just finished watching the new version of The Andromeda Strain (It has already aired on UK TV).


Could Be !!!!
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Terraziel
Warnstaff
Join Date 04/2003
+1
Reply #4 May 14, 2008 7:26:42 PM
from Sins of a Solar Empire ForumsSins of a Solar Empire Forums
Oh, LOL!

Hmm.. a remake that's not that good.... no surprise there.
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Terraziel
Sarissi
Join Date 02/2007
+4
Reply #5 May 15, 2008 3:38:11 AM
from GalCiv II ForumsGalCiv II Forums
Thank you for the Warning!!!!!

Sounds bad enough that it is disqualified from MST3K, and THAT is going some.
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Terraziel
Sibilantae
Join Date 02/2007
+4
Reply #6 May 15, 2008 4:26:37 AM
from Sins of a Solar Empire ForumsSins of a Solar Empire Forums
Sounds bad enough that it is disqualified from MST3K, and THAT is going some.


Is that even possible? I don't think anything could beat Manos: The Hands of Fate - I mean, they forgot to put in the opening credits in that movie, so the entire opening sequence consisted of people driving through fields with "mounrful" music playing in the background...
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Terraziel
Nequa
Join Date 09/2007
+14
Reply #7 May 15, 2008 7:27:50 AM
from Sins of a Solar Empire ForumsSins of a Solar Empire Forums
WTF.Wormholes? Hidden future messages?WHY MUST THEY RUIN THE BEAUTIFUL THINGS OF MY YOUTH!!!!


Because they cant think of anything new. And now the are digging up all the old classics and remaking them. I mean look at the movies that coming out, Iron man was based on a comic book how long ago? Indiana Jones last movie (the last crusade) was about twenty or therty years ago.
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Terraziel
TFL BigBANGtheory
Join Date 02/2007
+4
Reply #8 May 15, 2008 8:56:27 AM
from Sins of a Solar Empire ForumsSins of a Solar Empire Forums
The original film is class, the 2008 TV-mini series remake is watchable but poor by comparison bar the obvious enhancement in special effects.
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Terraziel
DauntlessAnsible
Join Date 05/2008
+32
Reply #9 May 15, 2008 11:14:31 AM
from Sins of a Solar Empire ForumsSins of a Solar Empire Forums
just read the book. its the only way to enjoy the story. even the origal movie was weak compared to the book.
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Terraziel
Terraziel
Join Date 02/2006
+15
Reply #10 May 15, 2008 12:11:19 PM
from Demigod ForumsDemigod Forums
I don't think it would have bothered me so much if it wasn't still claiming to be The Andromeda Strain, it could have just been another trashy sci-fi mini series (of which there are many) but by claiming to be The Andromeda Strain there are certain expectations of plot and story that they just failed miserably at meeting.
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Terraziel
Sarissi
Join Date 02/2007
+4
Reply #11 May 27, 2008 11:10:13 AM
from GalCiv II ForumsGalCiv II Forums
Well, I actually watched part 1 last night, and it was fairly close to the book.

Please remember that the military did actually engage in biological warfare research on the offensive side. Placing a satellite in space to hopefully get some biological material is an extension of this, and was in the Book.

Bio terror is the hook for getting the Wildfire Facility built.

This is an updated version, where it is updated to the current reality, including scientific knowledge that wasn't available at the time the book was written.

For instance, in historical terms, the 1918 so-called 'Influenza' Global Pandemic started in multiple places around the world, at the same time, and cannot be explained by the Standard Model of Infectious Disease spread. There is evidence to suggest that this may have been of unknown origin. Perhaps the first known case of an 'Andromeda' scenario. This was not Influenza, but a Hemmoragic Fever. Since they did not have the tools that ere developed later on, they did not have much choice, but to pass it off as an Influenza outbreak of frightening magnitude.
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Terraziel
BarneyStinson
Join Date 04/2006
+7
Reply #12 May 27, 2008 11:23:09 AM
from GalCiv II ForumsGalCiv II Forums
Sounds bad enough that it is disqualified from MST3K, and THAT is going some.Is that even possible? I don't think anything could beat Manos: The Hands of Fate - I mean, they forgot to put in the opening credits in that movie, so the entire opening sequence consisted of people driving through fields with "mounrful" music playing in the background...



Haha the best MST3K hands down is Santa Claus vs the Martians. Me and my brother still sing the Patrick Swayze Christmas Song 10+ years later. Priceless.
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Terraziel
Sarissi
Join Date 02/2007
+4
Reply #13 May 28, 2008 10:50:37 AM
from GalCiv II ForumsGalCiv II Forums
Well, I watched the conclusion and found it fitting. I would not call it time Travel, but, a closed Time Loop instead. I think I will pre-order the DVD from aetv.com.

This is more of a Terror film than a SciFi film, including the book. I read the book and saw the original film. If the scenario is too plausible, it is a Terror genre, which Dr. Crighton wrote.
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Terraziel
AJackal
Join Date 01/2008
+1
Reply #14 May 28, 2008 11:54:28 AM
from GalCiv II ForumsGalCiv II Forums
haha hilarious, sounds ridiculous
What a shame, the original was very realistic and the characters worked really well, one of my favorite "little" films.
Cheers for saving me four hours !
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Terraziel
Overseer
Join Date 02/2008
+3
Reply #15 May 28, 2008 1:02:45 PM
from Sins of a Solar Empire ForumsSins of a Solar Empire Forums
good book but terrible movie especially the last half. It remided me of Pathfinder. A potentially excellent film and that was horribally executed. It was good then all of the sudden the film makers were like yeah... we dont care. Yes unfortunately your warning came to late for me.
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Terraziel
Terraziel
Join Date 02/2006
+15
Reply #16 May 28, 2008 3:18:44 PM
from Demigod ForumsDemigod Forums
Well, I watched the conclusion and found it fitting. I would not call it time Travel, but, a closed Time Loop instead. I think I will pre-order the DVD from aetv.com.

This is more of a Terror film than a SciFi film, including the book. I read the book and saw the original film. If the scenario is too plausible, it is a Terror genre, which Dr. Crighton wrote.


Wait, I'm sorry, how is the scenario depicted in the 2008 version plausible exactly? If your just talking about the possibility of a viral outbreak, then that is something Entirely different from something which involves a psychic virus sent back through time.
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Terraziel
Sarissi
Join Date 02/2007
+4
Reply #17 May 28, 2008 5:39:39 PM
from GalCiv II ForumsGalCiv II Forums
If something like this is found in space, by a probe then it does not matter HOW it came to be there. Remember, even in the Book it eventually breached containment.

Let us say that it is brought to a NASA or DoD containment facility for study (not being opened by idiot civilians), and it turns out to be something like in the book, let alone like in the 2008 updated version. How long do you think the containment measures would last?

The possibility that we might bring back something that turns out to be super virulent to earth life was considered and measures implemented before we went to the Moon. The Moon rocks are still in that facility under strict protocols.

It is this very basic premise that is far too real a possibility that is behind the book and both movies. The rest is just fleshing out a story based on this.
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Terraziel
maheshjr2004
Join Date 12/2007
+1
Reply #18 May 29, 2008 12:56:37 PM
from Sins of a Solar Empire ForumsSins of a Solar Empire Forums
Awww I was looking forward to that, does it really suck that bad.?
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Terraziel
Tyndaria
Join Date 08/2008
0
Reply #19 August 13, 2008 9:05:33 PM
from Sins of a Solar Empire ForumsSins of a Solar Empire Forums
They ruined a great story by Michael Crichton? Heresy! Burn the company that made it!
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