# The greatest sci-fi movie never made? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 13, 2008, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-greatest-sci-fi-movie-never-made/437431 "2008-02-13T14:56:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2008, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-greatest-sci-fi-movie-never-made/437431/21 "2008-02-13T16:28:34Z")
[QUOTE=vibrotronica] I don’t think either _Ringworld_ or _Rendevous with Rama_ are filmable. They’re both basically exploration stories. To do them right, it would cost $100 million+, and I don’t think there’s enough conflict in the stories to draw enough people to make the cost worthwhile for a studio. They’re basically niche movies. My idea would be to do them animated, which would be cheaper and which would be cool with their audiences. [/QUOTE] Maybe. Actually, there’s also the problem of Louis Wu shagging everything in sight. That would get old pretty quick, I think. ---
**Author:** ![saoirse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5daacb/32.png) [@saoirse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/saoirse)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2008, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-greatest-sci-fi-movie-never-made/437431/22 "2008-02-13T16:29:17Z")
[QUOTE=AtomicDog] You beat me to it. [/QUOTE] +1 ---
**Author:** ![Triskadecamus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b19c9b/32.png) [@Triskadecamus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Triskadecamus)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2008, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-greatest-sci-fi-movie-never-made/437431/23 "2008-02-13T16:30:22Z")
You know, though, thinking about Zelazny, **This Immortal** could be done well, and be a great movie. Hard to cast, though, and the dog would be important. ( I loved the dog.) Tris ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2008, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-greatest-sci-fi-movie-never-made/437431/24 "2008-02-13T16:31:04Z")
**Rocketeer** beat me to it – I’ve imagined how I would film **The Stars my Destination** many times over. The opening, with Gully Foyle seeing the ship coming to rescue him, then suddenly veering off and leaving him to die, would be an absolute KILLER if done properly. It could, and should, be made. I think you could do a wonderful job with **The Demolished Man** as well. The film that could have been made, and should have, was **I, Robot** , with Harlan Ellison’s script (which had Asimov’s blessing). I know we’ve had someone saying it would’ve been a disaster, but I most emphatically don’t think so. It certainly would’ve been better than the film of that name that DID get made. There are plenty of short stories and short novels that I’d love to see developed into films. Heinlein’s **Double Star**. Some of Hal Clement’s short works. Fredric Brown’s short and pithy stories (maybe they could do **Martian, Go Home!** for real, instead of the monstrosity that got made), or Robert Sheckley’s stories (Sheckley’s gotten the Hollywood shaft. Things nominally based on his work don’t resemble it at all, but they’ve ripped him off plenty of times) And I heard Mike Jittlov describe the movie he wanted to make out of his short **The Wizard of Speed and Time** , back around 1980 or so. The film that eventually appeared under that name bore no resemblance to it whatsoever. I think it was his compromise, doing what he could with the inadequate funding he was able to obtain. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2008, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-greatest-sci-fi-movie-never-made/437431/25 "2008-02-13T16:32:59Z")
[QUOTE=Mangetout] Maybe. Actually, there’s also the problem of Louis Wu shagging everything in sight. That would get old pretty quick, I think. [/QUOTE] I dunno, I think the concept of _rishathra_ might resonate with the furry community! 😉 ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2008, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-greatest-sci-fi-movie-never-made/437431/26 "2008-02-13T16:43:53Z")
[QUOTE=saoirse] +1 [/QUOTE] _[hijack]_ I have been seeing this a lot lately on the dope. What does the +1 post mean exactly? ---
**Author:** ![cmyk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmyk/32/3353_2.png) [@cmyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmyk)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2008, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-greatest-sci-fi-movie-never-made/437431/27 "2008-02-13T16:47:17Z")
[QUOTE=KneadToKnow] _Rendezvous with Rama_. It simply could not be done justice, and even if it were, they’d f&ck it up by making sequels. [/QUOTE] [ahem.](http://imdb.com/title/tt0134933/)😃😃😃 \* \*smileys should always come in threes, especially when David Fincher is involved. ---
**Author:** ![Meurglys](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/258eb7/32.png) [@Meurglys](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meurglys)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2008, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-greatest-sci-fi-movie-never-made/437431/28 "2008-02-13T16:47:52Z")
[QUOTE=Mangetout] I would _love_ to see them try to release a SF movie with that title here in the UK. [/QUOTE] For better or worse, it’s been retitled _The Wannek_, although there hasn’t been a new edition in the shops since the change… And if _Jumper_ is a success, maybe they’ll do _Wildside_ by the same author… ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2008, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-greatest-sci-fi-movie-never-made/437431/29 "2008-02-13T16:51:01Z")
[QUOTE=What Exit?] Obviously, “[The Moon is a Harsh Mistress](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=325631&highlight=Moon+Harsh+Mistress)”. Actually, I am serious, this might be the single best book in the history of Sci-Fi. I think it is still relevant today. We got revolution, war, political intrigue, economics lessons, physics lessons, an AI supercomputer, a penal colony, space colonization and lessons in forming revolutionary cells. Laser fight and tossing rocks would be way cool. The characters are fleshed out in quick order. Jim [/QUOTE] I third the nomination. I think this is my favorite of Heinlein’s adult novels, although Double Star might give it a run for it’s money. But that’s like comparing apples and oranges. ---
**Author:** ![cmyk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmyk/32/3353_2.png) [@cmyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmyk)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2008, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-greatest-sci-fi-movie-never-made/437431/30 "2008-02-13T16:56:00Z")
I’m sure it’d be ruined by Hollywood, unless someone with passion like Peter Jackson had for LOTR directs it, but **Hyperion** would be cool to see on the screen. How kickass to see the Shrike and the Yggdrasil in full CG glory. And after CG Society’s CG challenge on bringing about a contest for creating visuals for Bear’s [**EON**](http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/eon/player.php?entry_id=77140) , I think and adaptation might be called for. ---
**Author:** ![Rocketeer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocketeer/32/4437_2.png) [@Rocketeer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rocketeer)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2008, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-greatest-sci-fi-movie-never-made/437431/31 "2008-02-13T16:58:22Z")
[QUOTE=Triskadecamus] **Footfall** could make a fairly good movie. It wasn’t all that good as a book, so no problem with the fan base, either. Gotta add a bit of sex interest, though. The thing about **“The Stars My Destination”** is that some of the best stuff takes place in the dark, or in the minds of the players. Good reading, sure, good cinema, maybe not. Charlise Theron can play Olivia Prestigan, though, and I won’t mind. And Jessica Alba for the telepath chick, whose name I cannot remember. Tris [/QUOTE] Robin Wednesbury. (How pathetically geeky is knowing that?) But Alba’s not suitable; Robin is black. How about Alfre Woodward? ---
**Author:** ![Neidhart](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Neidhart](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Neidhart)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2008, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-greatest-sci-fi-movie-never-made/437431/32 "2008-02-13T17:00:06Z")
Vernor Vinge’s [A Fire Upon the Deep.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Fire_Upon_the_Deep) ---
**Author:** ![OneCentStamp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/13edae/32.png) [@OneCentStamp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OneCentStamp)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2008, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-greatest-sci-fi-movie-never-made/437431/33 "2008-02-13T17:04:43Z")
[QUOTE=What Exit?] _[hijack]_ I have been seeing this a lot lately on the dope. What does the +1 post mean exactly? [/QUOTE] It isn’t unique to the SDMB. It’s just a message board abbreviation for “me, too!” ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2008, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-greatest-sci-fi-movie-never-made/437431/34 "2008-02-13T17:05:11Z")
[QUOTE=Baker] I third the nomination. I think this is my favorite of Heinlein’s adult novels, although Double Star might give it a run for it’s money. But that’s like comparing apples and oranges. [/QUOTE] My favorite is _Time Enough for Love,_ but it would not make a good film. ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Captor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f17d59/32.png) [@Evil\_Captor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Captor)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2008, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-greatest-sci-fi-movie-never-made/437431/35 "2008-02-13T17:10:08Z")
[QUOTE=Bill Door] The advertisements for _Jumper_ make me wish for a screen adaptation of _The Stars My Destination_ . I also wouldn’t mind seeing if someone could bring Zelazny’s Amber series to the big screen. [/QUOTE] No, for _Amber_not a movie. A miniseries. A looong miniseries. Preferably on HBO or Showtime. ---
**Author:** ![pravnik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8edcca/32.png) [@pravnik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pravnik)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2008, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-greatest-sci-fi-movie-never-made/437431/36 "2008-02-13T17:14:03Z")
[QUOTE=BrainGlutton] [_Snow Crash!_](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snow_crash) Lotsa action, lotsa larfs, social commentary\*, and all the SFX can be done by computer because **that’s how it is in the book!** [/QUOTE] I opened the thread to say Snow Crash too. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2008, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-greatest-sci-fi-movie-never-made/437431/37 "2008-02-13T17:22:14Z")
_I, Robot_ would make a great movie, if there were ever one made that had anything to do with the actual book. ---
**Author:** ![RikWriter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/49beb7/32.png) [@RikWriter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RikWriter)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2008, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-greatest-sci-fi-movie-never-made/437431/38 "2008-02-13T17:25:13Z")
[QUOTE=BrainGlutton] [_Snow Crash!_](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snow_crash) Lotsa action, lotsa larfs, social commentary\*, and all the SFX can be done by computer because **that’s how it is in the book!** - Although the parody of H. Ross Perot/L. Ron Hubbard is now a bit dated . . . [/QUOTE] They could turn him into a parody of Ron Paul. ---
**Author:** ![RikWriter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/49beb7/32.png) [@RikWriter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RikWriter)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2008, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-greatest-sci-fi-movie-never-made/437431/39 "2008-02-13T17:27:09Z")
[QUOTE=Triskadecamus] **Footfall** could make a fairly good movie. It wasn’t all that good as a book, so no problem with the fan base, either. [/QUOTE] I thought it was a very entertaining book. ---
**Author:** ![flex727](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/258eb7/32.png) [@flex727](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flex727)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2008, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-greatest-sci-fi-movie-never-made/437431/40 "2008-02-13T17:27:21Z")
[QUOTE=BrainGlutton] My favorite is _Time Enough for Love,_ but it would not make a good film. [/QUOTE] Definitely one of my favorites as well, but I have always wanted Stranger in a Strange Land to make it onto film, though perhaps we missed our opportunity with George C. Scott as Jubal Harshaw. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-greatest-sci-fi-movie-never-made/437431.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-greatest-sci-fi-movie-never-made/437431.md?page=3)