In working on another idea for an article, I decided to take a hilt at the subject of how the film adaption of a story compares to the original book from which it is derived.
The 2001: A Space Odyssey saga has long been a favourite of mine, so I decided to base some observations of this topic on the classic science fiction series written by Arthur C Clarke.
It may surprise some people, even those familiar with the original movie, 2001: A Space Odyssey, and its sequel, 2010: Odyssey Two, that there are four books in the saga, the other installments being 2061: Odyssey Three, and 3001: The Final Odyssey.
To further my research I borrowed DVD versions of both films from the local movie library to view side by side. I also had both of the books available for additional reference.
I need not have bothered being so prepared though. As a movie 2010: Odyssey Two, is a very sorry affair. It is a sequel to the original story in name only, and there was very little effort to replicate the mystery or meaning of its predecessor.
Really though, did we need all the non consequential plot elements that were thrown in to try and add much needed tension, that the book achieved effortlessly. The nuclear brinkmanship between the USSR and the USA was probably the most needless such example.
Character development of the majority of the film’s cast was almost nonexistent, and apart from two or three of the Russians aboard the spacecraft Leonov, the remainder were just faces on the bridge, or mere shadows in the ship’s galley.
A number of loose ends were also left unresolved. For instance, what became of SAL, HAL’s twin 9000 series computer sister? Presumably her disconnection and subsequent re-connection went well, as we heard no more of her after that.
Even Arthur C Clarke very kindly, or should I say, compassionately, described 2010: Odyssey Two, as an excellent adaption. It couldn’t get much worse than that.
Don’t get me wrong though, while the movie was less than fun, the book 2010: Odyssey Two was quite different, and made a very worthwhile and well thought out extension to the original story.
There has also been talk, albeit muted, of a third movie based on 3001: The Final Odyssey, which is rumoured to incorporate several unknown elements of 2061: Odyssey Three into its screenplay as well.
This may not be such a good idea though. The whole 2001 series started to tail off after 2010, and I was not really sure of the actual intent behind the last two installments, 2061: Odyssey Three, or 3001: The Final Odyssey.
Even if a third movie were eventually made, there would be little need for me to write an article illustrating how poorly the movie version compared to both these books.
Why?
Well, to be quite honest both these books were so lacking in quality story wise, that I doubt any movie based on them would stand a chance of being remotely worthwhile.
