A Scanner Darkly

[TheSpacePope]

A novel by Phillip K Dick, now a movie.

This was an excellent movie. The visualizations were reminiscent of Waking Life, and I believe the same crew did this one. This, hands down, was one of the best Book to Movie adaptations that I have ever seen. Great acting all around. Even though I dislike Winona Ryder and Keanu Reeves as serious actors, they really shined on in this movie. Plus, the animation was excellent, and as I said, it was a great adaptation from book to movie. Read the book if you want to first, although it is not nessesary.
AWESOME MOVIE ALL AROUND.
Did anyone see it, like it, love it, hate it?

Anything?

[Phobic]

I greatly enjoyed the movie, The visual effect was cool and well done, and the story was interesting to follow, although it was kinda wierd. I must say that it was very depressing, I left the theatre think "damn, life sucks."

But as long as you're not prone to depression, its a great movie, one of the better ones to come out this year. I'll have to pick up the book and read it, when I have the time.

[Funka Genocide]

For one thing (unimportant really in the context of this subject, but still I think it bears mentioning.) I am a little bit tired of everyone putting down old Keanu, and to a lesser extent Winona Ryder. I think they've been entertaining for the good part of their careers, and they've given the world some great characters. It just seems like an illogical backlash from a community (ie: internet comic forum types) that should be singing the praises of the man who brought us the single greatest representation of a transcendent "Nerd" in history. He was better than Plato for God's sake, he could fucking fly!

..and he knew kung fu!

My personal annoyance aside however, I just recently saw A Scanner Darkly, and I immediately fell in love with everything about it. I love the narrative and the strange, paranoid, over-intellectualized dialogue that led you down the path of the main characters mental disillusion. The book this movie was based off of is definitely now number one on my must read list, and it seems likely that the adaptation is a brilliant one, as you've said. I'm a fan of inventive multi media, and the animation style used for this movie simply took my breath away. The seemless integration of lifelike character animation and surreal insane transformations did a lot to draw me into the reality of the characters, at odds with their own perceptions.

I foresee this movie becoming a modern classic, and at the least a cult hit. I think Keanu Reeves did an excellent job in the lead, much like he always does. There must be some reason they keep handing him these jobs after all...

[TheSpacePope]

The book this movie was based off of is definitely now number one on my must read list, and it seems likely that the adaptation is a brilliant one, as you've said.
I read the story as part of a compendium called Counterfit Unrealities. It has 3 stories in it that are all awesome.
Just to give you a bit of background on Phil. He is the author that the movie Minority Report was based on.

And the traslation is awesome. The book obviously has more detail, and there are some character swaps, but it was awesome nontheless.

and my case against keanu consists mainly of "A Walk in the Clouds". XD

[Whale Biologist]

My best friend has seen it, and says it sucked.

However, just the fact that it's a 100% rotoscoped Phil Dick movie, I AM GOING TO SEE IT!

The problem with books of that nature is they translate VERY poorly to cinema. The book is a commentary, and commentaries often make for dry, sparse, boring movies. Either that, or they go the suspense route, and as such, suck all the commentary out of the movie, leaving you with nothing. This director has done some great stuff, though, so I must go find out for myself.

[TheSpacePope]

The problem with books of that nature is they translate VERY poorly to cinema. The book is a commentary, and commentaries often make for dry, sparse, boring movies.
I was wondering that too, however, I was surprised.

My best friend has seen it, and says it sucked.
He probably thought Mortal Kombat: Annhilliation was the best sequel ever. XD

[Whale Biologist]

No, he and I see very eye-to-eye on movies. He's the one who turns me onto awesome movies that I miss, but he also hates Keaneau. He might have been a little colored going into it.

Besides... ROTOSCOPING!! FOOTBALL!!