The new Flash Gordon series

Werekoala · May 28, 2007, 03:10:41 AM

Quote from: KoltarI'd rather share my space with Kara Thrace.

- Ed C.

Yeah, well.

Not a big fan of "re-imagining" - sounds like code for "taking someone else's idea and doing whatever we want with it after they're dead" to me".

beejazz · May 28, 2007, 03:23:32 AM

Quote from: WerekoalaYeah, well.

Not a big fan of "re-imagining" - sounds like code for "taking someone else's idea and doing whatever we want with it after they're dead" to me".

If people want to do that with my ideas when I'm dead, I'll be flattered... or maybe I won't, being dead and all.

I'm only okay with it on the condition that it doesn't suck.

Sosthenes · May 28, 2007, 03:58:35 AM

Quote from: WerekoalaYeah, well.

Not a big fan of "re-imagining" - sounds like code for "taking someone else's idea and doing whatever we want with it after they're dead" to me".

Erm, considering how much the original BSG stole, especially from a little-known sci-fi flick released in '77...

And yeah, Dirk Benedict sucks. He's one tiny step above Jan-Michael Vincent.

Werekoala · May 28, 2007, 01:38:25 PM

Never said he was Olivier. Never said BSG was "original" (ask a Mormon sometime). Just saying, if you want a dark, gritty futuristic war between the last handful of survivors of the human race and relentless machines, why not make your own (Terminator anyone?) instead of taking was was a fairly hopeful, if hokey, series that wasn't terribly successful on its own and using the name and little else?

When do we get the dark, gritty Sanford and Son reimagining? Doc Rot, get on it pal!

Sosthenes · May 28, 2007, 01:55:06 PM

Quote from: WerekoalaJust saying, if you want a dark, gritty futuristic war between the last handful of survivors of the human race and relentless machines, why not make your own (Terminator anyone?) instead of taking was was a fairly hopeful, if hokey, series that wasn't terribly successful on its own and using the name and little else?

Because that sells nowadays? Don't get me wrong, I'm not a big fan of the new series, either. I started out liking it, but it quickly lost all humor and descended into heavy-handed political allegory. And they ran out of budgets for effects and space battles. Plus way too much Lost influence. Or is that Twin Peaks influence?

But those are faults of the particular implementation, I don't have anything against well-done re-imaginings. I'm happy to see something in a new light, as long as there _is_ something new. The real costs of an exodus like the Galactica was going through certainly is an interesting angle. But well, it's the sci-fi channel, so my expectations weren't that high from the beginning.

RPGPundit · May 28, 2007, 01:57:15 PM

Pretty well all "reimaginings" suck, if they are of the "newer! edgier!" variety, and especially if they're of the "now politically correct!" variety.

It doesn't help that usually re-imaginings are done by people who HATED the original, and want to "do it right"; to teach those uppity fans what they should really like.
Like what Bruce Baugh did to Gamma World, for example.

The new Dr.Who series is an example of a new version of an old series done RIGHT, because its NOT a "re-imagining". Its the original story, updated; not revised, not PC-ized, not "this is not your father's Dr.Who!", etc etc. ad nauseum. Its the real thing. Dr. Who the way people always liked him, only with shorter episodes and better special effects.

RPGPundit

Sosthenes · May 28, 2007, 02:03:39 PM

Quote from: RPGPunditPretty well all "reimaginings" suck, if they are of the "newer! edgier!" variety, and especially if they're of the "now politically correct!" variety.

Examples besides BSG? I guess you didn't like the LotR movies, too?

Can't say anything about Dr. Who, never was that popular around here, and I'm not willing to watch 20 seasons to keep up. If I remember right, it had something to do with rolling trash cans and scarves...

Aos · May 28, 2007, 03:35:20 PM

Quote from: SosthenesI guess you didn't like the LotR movies, too?
.

How can you beat nine hours of weepy hobbits? That's a fucking good time.

Sosthenes · May 28, 2007, 04:07:46 PM

Krishna, how I hated that part in the books... I just wanted to go out there and hit Professor Tolkien over the head with a Hemingway novel.
(although from a pure weapons perspective, Tolkien novels are much superier to Hemingway novels, of course)

Drew · May 28, 2007, 04:11:37 PM

Quote from: AosHow can you beat nine hours of weepy hobbits? That's a fucking good time.

Yeah, all those massive battles were completely superfluous...

Werekoala · May 28, 2007, 05:29:17 PM

Quote from: SosthenesExamples besides BSG? I guess you didn't like the LotR movies, too?

LotR movies were not a "re-imagining" they were an adaptation of novels. A "re-imaginng" would have aliens instead of hobbits and elves and such, and spaceships, and be set in a galaxy-spanning tableau.

Like Babylon-5.

RPGPundit · May 28, 2007, 09:31:40 PM

Quote from: SosthenesExamples besides BSG? I guess you didn't like the LotR movies, too?

Can't say anything about Dr. Who, never was that popular around here, and I'm not willing to watch 20 seasons to keep up. If I remember right, it had something to do with rolling trash cans and scarves...

Well no, LoTR was pretty close to the source, but most other recent re-imaginings of older films and TV have been pretty godawful, as have the "Ultimate" versions of classic comic heros.

Even Star Trek: Enterprise was a "reimagining" of a sort, and it sucked ass.

As to Dr.Who, you don't need to watch 20 seasons. The new series is only 3 seasons old, about 30 eps so far. You can start from season 1 of the new series without having to have any previous knowledge of Dr.Who at all. That's another thing that was brilliant about it; its a continuation of the original series that doesn't depend on viewers already knowing a shitload of canon.

RPGPundit

RPGPundit · May 28, 2007, 09:32:45 PM

Quote from: WerekoalaLotR movies were not a "re-imagining" they were an adaptation of novels. A "re-imaginng" would have aliens instead of hobbits and elves and such, and spaceships, and be set in a galaxy-spanning tableau.

Like Babylon-5.

Or would have made sam and frodo gay (which, frankly, wouldn't have been too hard to do), Strider a woman and Legolas an asian; just because. Then it would have made Sauron "not such a bad guy, really" who just had a difficult childhood and was really striking back at the people who had polluted his people's land or some shit like that.

RPGPundit

Sosthenes · May 29, 2007, 02:00:22 AM

Quote from: RPGPunditWell no, LoTR was pretty close to the source, but most other recent re-imaginings of older films and TV have been pretty godawful, as have the "Ultimate" versions of classic comic heros.

My hatred of the "Ultimate" Doctor Doom knows no bounds, but the LotR certainly fulfilled your criteria. It was definitely edgier and darker than the source material and more politically correct (women actually doing something other than fancy needlework).

Stumpydave · May 29, 2007, 03:44:07 AM

Now I prefer the "darker, grittier" tone taken with these redo's. I prefer the Ultimate universe to Marvels mainstream. I can't stand the black/white morality of older shows because it seems so blatantly false and artificial.

So I'm looking forward to Flash - especially if they use Queen's song.