PKD - The Movies

biodroid

A.D.D.
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I just recently watch Total Recall again and thought it was an excellent movie. I also liked Minority Report. Just wondering if my memory serves me correct if Screamers (little robots living below the sand with blades that cut you up if you make vibrations) is also PKD story. Are his stories action packed like the movies or are they just hyped up for the screen. I have seen Blade Runner long ago but can't really remember it. I think I found it slow going too.
 
The following are all films adapted from PKD novels or stories:

Blade Runner - Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?
Total Recall - 'We Can Remember It For You Wholesale'
Screamers - 'Second Variety'
Impostor - 'Impostor'
A Scanner Darkly - A Scanner Darkly
Paycheck - 'Paycheck'
Minority Report - 'Minority Report'
Next - 'The Golden Man'
 
There are one or two action scenes in Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?

Second Variety are sf horror like and have more action scenes then you expect from PKD.

In general there are almost never action scenes in his books. If you want action oriented sf stories stay clear from Philip K Dick !!

Paycheck,Minority Report, 'We Can Remember It For You Wholesale for example hollywood made up almost every action scene in the movie versions.

Its hollywood they take even PKD stories and make action movies of. Except the stories i mentioned you wont see action in his stories in general !
 
Can't be. The Director's Cut is 116 minutes. The Final Cut is 117 minutes.;)

Differences:
Removal of lots of the voiceovers.
Corrected numbers of skinjobs that got fried (in the Directors only 5 of the 6 replicants where accounted for).
Unicorn sequence is improved.
Tyrells death is more gory.
And lots of other so minor improvements it's hard to see them.
(Just found that Wikipedia has a good list of the changes)
 
I am looking out for the film adaption of "A Scanner Darkly" as I've heard that it's one of the best adaptions of PKD's work and also I liked "Waking Life" which was another of Richard Linklater's films that uses a similar production style (also influenced by PKD).
 
Can't be. The Director's Cut is 116 minutes. The Final Cut is 117 minutes.;)

Differences:
Removal of lots of the voiceovers.
Corrected numbers of skinjobs that got fried (in the Directors only 5 of the 6 replicants where accounted for).
Unicorn sequence is improved.
Tyrells death is more gory.
And lots of other so minor improvements it's hard to see them.
(Just found that Wikipedia has a good list of the changes)

Like i said,I must have blinked! 1 minute between the two,hmmm. Now you mention it I do think I noticed more blood in the Tyrell death scene but I tend to look away at such things,especially eyes. The thought of anyone doing that to me makes me cringe big time. Can't bear the thought,just kill me quick! Unicorn scene,not sure I got that. Its supposed to imply that Deckard is a Replicant because he dreams of a mythical creature. It not existing meaning that its an implanted memory? You know now I've written it down I can see it. He's not dreaming of a unicorn (he's awake at the time) its a memory!
 
I am looking out for the film adaption of "A Scanner Darkly" as I've heard that it's one of the best adaptions of PKD's work and also I liked "Waking Life" which was another of Richard Linklater's films that uses a similar production style (also influenced by PKD).

Not a bad film for a comic strip type adaptation. I don't normally like that and found myself wishing it were a 'proper film' but it was pretty good.
 
I bought A Scanner Darkly but i haven't seen it yet.

Blade Runner, Possibly one of the greatest SF films ever. I still like the original cut to be honest.

A lot of people slated Screamers, but for a cheapy film, it wasn't too bad.

I enjoyed Total Recall, but i though the ending on the short story was Oh, so much better.
 
I picked up "A Scanner Darkly" the other day, will probably watch it tomorrow. Also taped "Paycheck" when it was on TV the other day. Shall report on both when I've watched them.
 
I've watched "A Scanner Darkly" and I thought it was a very good adaption. A few bits missing from the book and events glossed over but generally very good.
 
... Unicorn scene,not sure I got that. Its supposed to imply that Deckard is a Replicant because he dreams of a mythical creature. It not existing meaning that its an implanted memory? You know now I've written it down I can see it. He's not dreaming of a unicorn (he's awake at the time) its a memory!

In one scene Edward James Olmos twists a matchstick or piece of paper into a tiny unicorn and later when Deckard remembers the unicorn the implication is that EJO knew it was an implanted memory. I bought the bluray package with all 5 (as of now) versions and it only shows up in two or three of them.
 
My understanding of 'Total Recall' is that the sequence where he freaks out when being given his 'secret agent' memory implants (because he is actually a secret agent) was a later addition following test screenings. In the 'original' you go straight from him 'going under' to waking up in the cab, and thus the entire film from that point is (possibly) all the implant. There are hints at this in the final version (eg the girl he chooses for the fantasy is actually who subsequently appears) and he does get the girl, save the planet and kill the bad guys.
 
I have read the short story Screamers are based on called Second Variety, it was scary as hell. Its a horror version of killing machines working for humans going really wrong.

I was pleasantly surprised didnt know PKD could scare.
 

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