I have just seen a teaser for a remake of "A for Andromeda" on BBC4 later on this year. I hope to send a review when I have seen it. I remember watching the 1961 version and, being only 10 years old, it made a great impression on me. I hope the new series lives up to my expectations.
share[deleted]
The first episode is scheduled for Monday 27th March at 21:00. Edition synopsis not yet available. Duration one and a half hours.
shareThe synopsis is now available on BBC web site. http://www.bbc.co.uk/bbcfour/cinema/features/andromeda.shtml
I think the most modern film that explores the same theme is "Contact" dedicated to Carl Sagen of SETI fame. It will be interesting to compare the visions of Fred Hoyle with Carl Sagen.
Is this new version going to be a series like the original version or is it just a one-off programme? I thought it was a one-off but I'm not certain. Whatever the case I can't wait to see it on Monday. I never saw the original, sadly, but this new version certainly sounds great. I just watched all the video clips on the BBC4 site. Looks good. Kelly Reilly is wonderful too, one of my favourite actresses.
"Ack! Ack!! ACK! Aaaaaaack!"
I've a feeling that it's going to be a one-off - a bit like the Quatermass Experiment was last year. Not that that spoils it for me.
I'm too young to remember the original, but have heard lots about it. I'm really looking forward to this.
[deleted]
I've just watched it. I was very disappointed.
Can't stop the signal.
[deleted]
Well I felt that there was too much information in too short a span of time. I'm not saying dumb it down, I like complicated things, but I remember there being huge, sudden leaps that left me perplexed. Maybe I missed it but I never found out the time which is was set. I would normally say the present however there were many costume and technology leaps that would need it to be in the future.
I also understood the director and cinematographer's view with over exposing the film, but it would have been nice to see some kind of contrast when Andromeda was introduced. Also, as good as the shaky 'firefly-esque' camera movement was, I just felt it didn't suit the style of the piece, I think it needed to be more fluid for its style.
Tom Hardy was excellent in his portrayal of John as was Kelly Reilly for Christine/Andromeda. However, what they had to do felt so squashed into the 90min slot. It really should have been put into two parts at least and they could've taken more time. It ended up feeling like a compacted version of the original tv series.
Can't stop the signal.
[deleted]
Someone needs to get them up on YouTube. I love Kelly Reilly
shareThe remake was incredibly poor, and I would recommend everyone who is interested to get the recent Andromeda Anthology DVD released by the BBC - which also contains the entire sequel series 'Andromeda Breakthrough', which is very good and actually adds to the original story. It also explains, ultimately, what lay behind the message in the first place.
The original was so powerful, and the remake just seemed dreary, underwritten and poor. Compressing it into one instalment was very disappointing. The story is multi-layered and very complex, and to be blunt the BBC murdered it. But, I wonder at the wisdom of remaking it. I know much of the original is lost, but the 1961 production is so strong and the acting and characterisation so powerful that any attempt to revise it is almost doomed to failure.
Good on the BBC for trying, but maybe if they actually put some effort into it?
Check out the Italian 1971 remake, A Come Andromeda, available in Italy on video. This is much better, and very true to the original. It's in Italian, but if you've read the book and script it's easy to follow