MovieChat Forums > Space Odyssey: Voyage to the Planets (2004) Discussion > Is it just me or...

Is it just me or...

posted 19 years ago by chuckfan
28 replies | jump to latest

If you take these 2 hour-long episodes and watch them back to back, is it not actually one of the better movies you've ever seen? I was just blown away. Everything looked beautiful, and not a SINGLE acting job did I have a problem with. I dunno if this is the nature of british TV, or just a fluke, and an amazing example of what can be done with TV and the right amount of good writing, amazing visual effects, and a story line that had me enthralled from beginning to end.

[–] 19 years ago

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[–] 19 years ago

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[–] fortyfivemike 19 years ago

It is not just you. I just watched the DVD. This is a fantastic program. I was riveted to the TV for the whole two hours. I just wish it was longer.

[–] linguist1967 19 years ago

"I just wish it was longer."

I do too.

Learn a new language, explore a new world.

[–] propsguy 19 years ago

I sort of disagree. If Hollywood had done this it would have been a bloated 10 hour miniseries with lots of stars worried about getting head shots with perfectly coifed hair. Maybe 120 minutes but that's it.

[–] melvin-1 19 years ago

Are you insane? Hollywood would have realy botched it. Their way would have ruined it for us science buffs that don't want fiction and writing for some stars. Unknown or barely known actors and actors were needed. Hollywood prodution costs would have turned it into a flop.

[–] jadegecko 19 years ago

I agree. Though it's not perfect, this was one of the more impressive space pieces I've seen in a long time. I have this bad little feeling that Hollywood would've given the ship an FTL drive, an inertial dampening field, and artificial gravity, and the characters would've been a gaggle of simpering teenagers who would be fighting and bickering throughout whole film... Oh yeah, and the Russian would be a turncoat who would try to blow up the ship.

[–] cljohnston108 15 years ago

I sort of disagree. If Hollywood had done this it would have been a bloated 10 hour miniseries with lots of stars worried about getting head shots with perfectly coifed hair. Maybe 120 minutes but that's it.

Well, the producers of Defying Gravity are hoping for six years!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Defying_Gravity_(TV_series)
http://www.hulu.com/defying-gravity

[–] serenity622 19 years ago

I loved this movie, it was awesome. The only problem I had was the overacting they did sometimes. Like when that guy was talking to the camera man during an emergency, the other guy comes up all pissed off like "get your priorities straight." And another man was so mad he like walks out. And the mission control crew on earth had a lot of bad actors. Plus, the mission control room was pretty stupid. A mission to that extent would have hundreds in the control room, and it wouldn't be pitch black like it was in this movie. But still, awesome movie.

Hey you know whats funny. I always thought that dogs..um..laid eggs. And I learned something today.

[–] beeryusa 18 years ago

It was a great show. The only problems I saw was a little bit of overacting by the actors who were on camera the most. With a TV budget they really don't have time to get pitch-perfect acting, but with a little more time taken to get the actors comfortable in their roles I feel it could have been a little better. I thought the American commander and the Russian character were especially well-played.

[–] dirt-box 18 years ago

BRILLIANT! This is the sort of progeamme I keep my TV for.

[–] cdbr 18 years ago

Thank you. I'm delighted you liked it so much. It took a couple of years to make and we spent a long time paying a lot of attention to the scientific detail. Glad you appreciated it.
Chris Riley
(Producer - Space Odyssey)

[–] steve-1748 18 years ago

Any chance of any kind of sequel ? Just watched it on UK Documentary and it was brilliant. Bit hard to repeat I suppose, but you could have a good crack at a simulated first Mars mission..

Steve

[–] cdbr 18 years ago

Sadly not. The viewing figures in the UK were not high enough for a sequel to be commissioned. We'd written a brief treatment for a sequel setting out into the Milky Way and visiting extra-solar planetary systems, (but that one did suffer from the problems of reality - keeping the crews alive for such long haul expeditions).
Chris Riley
(Producer - Space Odyssey)

[–] 18 years ago

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[–] Geek1984 15 years ago

"6 year without love and sex would drive anyone mad."

Really? Why?

[–] zer0-4 15 years ago

10 out of 10 a must see for any space enthusiast, loved every second of it

[–] cljohnston108 17 years ago

Just stumbled across the book at the library, and was quite simply overwhelmed!
This is the "ultimate detail" Hard SF project I've always dreamed about!
I looked it up on YouTube, and marveled even further.
I then vaguely remembered having seen the DVD at Amoeba*, and wondered why I hadn't snatched this up at that time.
I went back there to buy it, and remembered why: It had a Space Camp sticker on it, and I must've associated it with the execrable 1986 "movie that must not be named" and put it back in the bin.

* http://www.amoeba.com/

[–] traveleternity 18 years ago

I totally agree.

One of the best films/TV series/mocumentary/docu-drama (whatever the hell you want to call it) that Ive ever seen.

One of the most enjoyable viewing experiences Ive ever had, as, like you, I found every aspect of the project entertaining and faultless.

Flawless on all counts. Truly a masterpiece!!

Kudos to everyone involved, well done!

Keep the peace flowing, the love growing and the unity going

[–] shaundee 15 years ago

Great program - congratulations.

[–] mandaid 15 years ago

Quite right, I wish it had been longer. Being British I must say I feel rather proud that we can produce quality like this on what was probably a shoestring budget. I'd would have loved to see what this film could have been like with more funding.