A Sound Of Thunder - Will Ray Bradbury's Poignant Story Be Ruined?

[Craig]

Posted: 8/26/05 at 6:29pm

A Sound Of Thunder is one of my favorite short stories. I wonder if the screen adaptation will be a bloated film barely resembling the story or if it will capture the more subtle yet dynamic aspects...

[mominator]

Posted: 8/26/05 at 6:30pm

I am scared that it might end up like AI

[Craig]

Posted: 8/26/05 at 6:35pm

Well my fear is that it's a short story turned full length film. And the story is amazing - but not one that, in my opinion, would be told well in 90+ minutes. It's not that complex in narrative. The lesson and parable told is important and amazingly well executed in the story - something that, I fear won't translate because in film you need bigger moments...

I fear it will be more like jurassic park meets timeline meets butterfly effect (which ironically took it's name because of the premise which pays homage)

[Plum]

Posted: 8/26/05 at 6:45pm

Considering the example of Asimov adaptations, I'd say you have reason to be afraid.

[BlueWizard]

Posted: 8/27/05 at 1:10am

I fear it will be more like jurassic park meets timeline meets butterfly effect (which ironically took it's name because of the premise which pays homage)

That's certainly what the trailer looks like. Don't have high expectations.

[Cruel_Sandwich]

Posted: 8/27/05 at 1:12am

Phillip K. Dick films don't really fare too well either other than Blade Runner.

[sabrelady]

Posted: 8/27/05 at 11:00am

One of my favs too Craig . Much of Bradbury's writing has an almost poetical quality to it and I don't think it will translate to the screen.

[Kringas]

Posted: 8/27/05 at 11:24am

Funnily enough, I was just thinking about this story the other day (I had no idea it was being made into a movie) and couldn't remember the name. Thanks!

[Craig]

Posted: 9/1/05 at 6:46pm

Here's what I feared... (from variety)

Every bit as bad as advance buzz has indicated, Peter HyamsPeter Hyams' long-delayed "A Sound of Thunder" finally arrives in megaplexes just in time to provide an appropriately downbeat end to a disappointing summer season. It's a clunky and cheesy disaster that doubtless will fast-forward to bargain bins at homevid outlets.

Loosely based on a story by Ray Bradbury -- very, very loosely, no doubt - pic is cautionary yarn about the dangers of time travel. In 2055 Chicago, Time Safari, Inc., uses cutting-edge technology to zap wealthy customers back to the Cretaceous Era for the chance to hunt dinosaurs. Everything is supposed to be rigidly controlled - just like at "Westworld," right? -- to ensure nothing that occurs during a blast to the past can alter the flow of history and evolution.

(continues)
http://www.variety.com/av_result.asp?articleid=VE1117928033&nid=2562

[TheActr97J]

Posted: 9/1/05 at 7:14pm

It's a real shame... it's a great story that deserves a much better treatment.

[Craig]

Posted: 9/2/05 at 11:30am

Worse review (but funny) on CNN:

(CNN) -- That sound you hear while watching "A Sound of Thunder" is actually audience members thundering toward the exits in an effort to get away from this ghastly film.

People at the studio screening I attended began fleeing after 10 minutes -- and they got in for free. Indeed, while the credits rolled I heard a guy shout out, "I want my money back."

Based on a story by renowned sci-fi writer Ray Bradbury, "A Sound of Thunder" has sat on a shelf at Warner Bros. (like CNN, a unit of Time Warner) gathering dust for two years -- and it should have stayed there. In fact, Bradbury should be given James Bond's license to kill and mow down the three screenwriters -- Thomas Dean Donnelly, Joshua Oppenheimer and Gregory Poirier -- who wrote this piece of junk.

The movie's basic premise isn't bad, but the dumb script, combined with Peter Hyams' inept, heavy-handed direction, has mangled the original story beyond recognition.


(continues) http://www.cnn.com/2005/SHOWBIZ/Movies/09/02/review.thunder/index.html?section=cnn_showbiz

[Borstalboy]

Posted: 9/2/05 at 11:51am

Nice Bradbury Article

[TonyInATL]

Posted: 9/2/05 at 1:51pm

I saw a trailer for this movie on TV, I think, and while its name deviates from the title of Mr. Bradbury's short story (which is actually "A DISTANT Sound of Thunder"), I wondered if it was based upon the same. Frankly, I thought the trailer looked a little cheesy, so I didn't hold out a lot of hope for the movie. I think it was probably done better on The Simpsons.

[Craig]

Posted: 9/2/05 at 2:06pm

Tony - are you sure that's the title? According to Amazon at this link, it isn't.

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0060785691/ref=pd_sbs_b_3/104-0014250-0868738?%5Fencoding=UTF8&v=glance

In either event - I'm skipping this one. Maybe I'll put on the cutesy "The Electric Grandmother" instead..

[broadway86]

Posted: 9/2/05 at 11:35pm

I have heard that this is, by and large, the worst film of the year.

[Plum]

Posted: 9/2/05 at 11:38pm

Worse than Stealth? Worse than Monster-In-Law? Even worse than Deuce Bigelow: European Gigolo? Impressive.
Updated On: 9/2/05 at 11:38 PM

[TonyInATL]

Posted: 9/3/05 at 1:54am

Gosh, you know Craig, I stand corrected. I could've sworn I remembered the title containing the word "distant", but I haven't read it since junior high, so I'm going to have to plead senility.

[POLisPOL]

Posted: 9/3/05 at 2:43am

The movie opened a week ago here, in spain... and.... it's one of the worst movies I've ever seen.
Not only the plot is terrible, but the special fx, the music, the photography are TERRIBLE. And the worst thing: the actors... Ben kingsley... WHAT HAPPENED TO HIM??????