my thoughts about the UFO movie...

The concept and designs of the original UFO series were brilliant!I loved this show in reruns as a child back in 1972.In retrospect as an adult,I feelthe writing from show to show was not very strong(in my opinion).Of courseI didn't realize this shortcoming as a child being drawn into the overall concept,visual appeal,and production of the series.

Plot development is why I am so excited about the movie remake of UFO.
It has concerned me that the balance might flip from the original series with the movie remake.I'm sure the plot will be developed and expanded.The writing will be better including new answers to old questions about the original series.However,The big question deals with retaining the feel of the original.Casting and set,vehicle,and costume design defined the shows feel.Failure to get it right will alienate old fans of the T.V. show,pure and simple.

I don't quite understand the view that an updated 70s period design (actually more of a late 60s influence) would not be acceptable to audiences.It's a mistake to attach a stigma to the era in which the show was produced.Whatever time in which it was produced,The U.F.o. series "is what it is" and the look of the old show was so "right".There's no reason to reject the environment of the original.It's the writing that will determine if the new movie is acceptable to a new audience.

The one picture I've seen of the new Interceptor is very encouraging!The older vehicle was one of the most beautiful sci-fi ships ever designed in my opinion.While impractical,its single firing missile gave the craft a dynamic and exciting feel.The new design looks to have possibly replaced the missile with some sort of rapid fire gatling gun type pod.Hopefully they will come up with an equally dynamic operation to the new crafts weapons firing system.I loved the rounded contours and futuristic look of the original Interceptor.From seeing the darkly obscured teaser rendering,this looks to havebeen retained in the new design.

In the late '70s with Star Wars,Battlestar,etc.,craft design changed to only utilitarian layouts dispensing with style all together.I was so happy when the product Enterprises interceptor from the old series was released.Evenif I had never seen the show,I would have bought this model.It's curves are so appealing.A new movie without a craft of this appeal would just not have the feel of the original.

Costuming also is of great concern to me.The nehru style collars were very effective to impart a look of importance to those with position within theSHADO organization.Its my hope this will be seen in the movie.Also the useof color for different rankings should be incorporated to a greater extentthan in the original show.It was detail like this that helped the originalStar Trek to attain cult status to the point fans actually began to make their own uniforms.The importance of thought being put into these elements cannot be overstated.

For me,The costumes of moonbases female operatives are probably the most critical things to get right.In my opinion the silver suits used in the old series were absolutely perfect!I feel that these are a MUST for the new movie.Could they be modified and still have the same appeal?Perhaps,if very thoughtfully done.Could a new design work as well?Maybe,but they should reallyagonize over such a change.Also,It has occurred to me that the purple hairin the old series could be explained by the women operatives being not from our earth.

It goes without saying that casting is extremely important.The two movie cast members chosen so far are very good choices in my opinion!However,the selections of a new Straker and Gay Ellis are of even greater importance!I wonder if these will be as good.Recently,I found an image of a female who just seems right to me for the part of Ellis.She is evidently a model(mostly nude from what I can tell)named Ala Passtel.I don't know if she could act.Coincidentally,after a web search I found her to be known as "Gabriella" on some sites.Though not exactly looking like "Gabrielle Drake",I see an essence of her that could fill the part nicely in my opinion.She would also fill a silver suit like no one else on this planet!Heres a picture link:

http://www.onlifezone.com/2019129

Whatever casting and designs eventually appear,this is probably the most anticipated remake of a series for me.The other was the Prisoner remake (which was horrible).Everything I've seen and heard of the new UFO movie so far leads me to believe that this remake just might work!











 


 






 

Well said Art!

Yes UFO was brilliant in design and so different from anything else that the Andersons had made. Although Captain Scarlet had its dark moments and occasions when the Spectrum team failed in their mission, they never touched on the personal lives of their characters who were always two-dimensional. I always felt it was a pity that the writers didn't explore Alec Freeman a little more. A truly enigmatic character and a great loss to the series inthe last episodes.

The 'hardware' in the new film doesn't worry me too much; technology changes and a new updated UFO would change as well, and lets face it, some of theUFO models were not exactly innovative! I did like the Interceptors - one of the main 'toys' and I personally think the new design could work.

The main worry I have is that the writers might just go the way of the producers of Thunderbirds Are Go and the Frakes film. Both films focussed on peripheral characters, and Frakes introduced unknowns such as Brain's son, aswell as getting the ages totally wrong. By doing so he alienated the vastmajority of Thunderbirds fans.

I am concerned that UFO will focus mainly on Foster, who was, certainly in the second part of the series, a foil for Straker. Foster was brought in toprovide the 'beefcake' I think the phrase was then, although he was never as good an actor as Bishop. Again, Foster was a very two-dimensional character, certainly not developed sufficiently to be the main focus in the new film.

The one thing I do know, and I am sure many UFO fans will support me on this, is that without a decent Ed Straker, playing a lead role, hopefully with Alec Freeman as well, the film will be a dead duck. All the fabulous technology and SFX in the world won't be able to save it.
 
Yes, lets have the silver lycra, still practical after all these years, andthe purple wigs - why not! And decent cars, and even Nehru suits - still timeless and with a hint of the military, but the story has to follow whereUFO led - thought-provoking story lines with a focus on the fight against the aliens -and with the characters we came to know and love!
>
>

On Thu, 04 Feb 2010 04:14:10 -0000
"art" <[hidden email]> wrote:

> I don't quite understand the view that an updated 70s period design
> (actually more of a late 60s influence) would not be acceptable to
> audiences.It's a mistake to attach a stigma to the era in which the
> show was produced.Whatever time in which it was produced,The U.F.o.
> series "is what it is" and the look of the old show was so
> "right".

But what was "right" in 1970 isn't necessarily right in 2010. To me it
makes no sense at all to try to recreate the faux-futuristic 1970 feel
of UFO. I really do think that it would be unacceptable to a modern
audience. It just wouldn't make sense. The 40-yr old period feel would
be inexplicable and incongruous.


James

On Thu, 04 Feb 2010 10:36:28 -0000
"Lightcudder" <[hidden email]> wrote:

>
> The one thing I do know, and I am sure many UFO fans will support me on
> this, is that without a decent Ed Straker, playing a lead role,
> hopefully with Alec Freeman as well, the film will be a dead duck. All
> the fabulous technology and SFX in the world won't be able to save it.
>

Don't really agree with this either .. while the film wouldn't work with
the Paul Foster we already know as lead character, because - as you say
- he is not well-developed or three-dimensional, there's no reason that
the new film's Foster can't be. As UFO fans though, I agree that we'd
rather see the focus on a complex and conflicted Straker that we recognise
from the TV series. But the wider audience doesn't necessarily need that.

I think I'll probably approach the new film, if indeed it happens, in a
similar spirit that I enjoyed the Mission Impossible films. Just forget
the original inspiration, and enjoy it for what it is.

James

On 10-02-04 3:36 AM, Lightcudder wrote:
> The one thing I do know, and I am sure many UFO fans will support me on this, is that without a decent Ed Straker.

Nice analysis. Straker's role would have to depend on marketing focus
groups in Hollywood.

Will Smith would be a good bet, as he's done "sci-fi" before. There are
a lot of black actors that could effectively do the role of Straker,
shall I name them?

- Samuel L. Jackson (that might be a good one - does nasty well)
- Sidney Poitier (that would be f*cking amazing)
- Denzel (standard hero, wouldn't be a bad choice)

I vote for Sidney Poitier, myself. I don't know if he'd be willing to
work on such a project, but, hey, it'd be really cool if he did.

Paul

Good suggestions - but would they look good with the hair colour! and that is a key factor!
 
Strakre without blonde hair would be like having Virgil Tracy a redhead! Now Alec Freeman could be played by one of your proposed actors! I think thatmight work better? But there again, I'm biased!
LtCdr!
 

--- On Sat, 6/2/10, Paul Bowers <[hidden email]> wrote:


From: Paul Bowers <[hidden email]>
Subject: Re: [SHADO] Re: my thoughts about the UFO movie...
To: [hidden email]
Date: Saturday, 6 February, 2010, 11:30


 



On 10-02-04 3:36 AM, Lightcudder wrote:
> The one thing I do know, and I am sure many UFO fans will support me on this, is that without a decent Ed Straker.

Nice analysis. Straker's role would have to depend on marketing focus
groups in Hollywood.

Will Smith would be a good bet, as he's done "sci-fi" before. There are
a lot of black actors that could effectively do the role of Straker,
shall I name them?

- Samuel L. Jackson (that might be a good one - does nasty well)
- Sidney Poitier (that would be f*cking amazing)
- Denzel (standard hero, wouldn't be a bad choice)

I vote for Sidney Poitier, myself. I don't know if he'd be willing to
work on such a project, but, hey, it'd be really cool if he did.

Paul









     

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

I'd agree, if Poitier wasn't 83.

--- On Sat, 2/6/10, Paul Bowers <[hidden email]> wrote:


From: Paul Bowers <[hidden email]>
Subject: Re: [SHADO] Re: my thoughts about the UFO movie...
To: [hidden email]
Date: Saturday, February 6, 2010, 5:30 AM


 



On 10-02-04 3:36 AM, Lightcudder wrote:
> The one thing I do know, and I am sure many UFO fans will support me on this, is that without a decent Ed Straker.

Nice analysis. Straker's role would have to depend on marketing focus
groups in Hollywood.

Will Smith would be a good bet, as he's done "sci-fi" before. There are
a lot of black actors that could effectively do the role of Straker,
shall I name them?

- Samuel L. Jackson (that might be a good one - does nasty well)
- Sidney Poitier (that would be f*cking amazing)
- Denzel (standard hero, wouldn't be a bad choice)

I vote for Sidney Poitier, myself. I don't know if he'd be willing to
work on such a project, but, hey, it'd be really cool if he did.

Paul








[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

I guess it's telling that I'm old when I remember him as being 50-ish.

And, by the way, in the old days we used to tie onions on our belts, but
that was OK because the ferry in those days only cost a nickle. That
worked for awhile until we had to repair the boats that were damaged by
dolphin attacks. I remember it well, but in those days you couldn't just
walk around town without special shoes. Back then, the shoes had to be
made by a special pe...what? Huh? Lunch?

OK, back to what I was saying. In 1924, there was the onion belt
revolution. I fought against it initially , but later

=========

OK, maybe I should go to bed before this gets even more ridiculous.


Paul


On 10-02-06 4:17 PM, Jeffrey Nelson wrote:

I think STTNG'S Michael Dorn could pull off a good Straker.  

Allen

Paul,
Yes, Poitier would be awesome! And he still looks trim and fit at 83, which not many can claim. I'd vote for him as Straker! And probably fall in love with him too!! (I remember being shocked at how easy it was to fall inlove with an older Connery in Medicine Man!)  
Yours,
Denise

--- In [hidden email], Paul Bowers <pbowers@...> wrote:
> I vote for Sidney Poitier, myself. I don't know if he'd be willing to
> work on such a project, but, hey, it'd be really cool if he did.
>
> Paul

Tom Selleck?

He's an imposing, attractive "older" leading man. Maybe he has white
hair now, too.

Could be that he's too busy still driving that 328 in Hawaii though.

Magnum was the coolest PI ever, closely followed by Jim Rockford.

Paul


On 10-02-07 4:31 PM, Neesierie wrote:
> Paul,
> Yes, Poitier would be awesome! And he still looks trim and fit at 83, which not many can claim. I'd vote for him as Straker! And probably fall in love with him too!! (I remember being shocked at how easy it was to fall in love with an older Connery in Medicine Man!)
> Yours,
> Denise
>
> --- In [hidden email], Paul Bowers<pbowers@...> wrote:
>> I vote for Sidney Poitier, myself. I don't know if he'd be willing to
>> work on such a project, but, hey, it'd be really cool if he did.

Paul,
Tom? Cute? Yes. Imposing? Not a chance!
Yours,
Denise    

--- In [hidden email], Paul Bowers <pbowers@...> wrote:
>
> Tom Selleck?
>
> He's an imposing, attractive "older" leading man. Maybe he has white
> hair now, too.

Wasn't it a 308 GTS???
 


--- On Sun, 2/7/10, Paul Bowers <[hidden email]> wrote:


From: Paul Bowers <[hidden email]>
Subject: Re: [SHADO] Re: my thoughts about the UFO movie...
To: [hidden email]
Date: Sunday, February 7, 2010, 6:15 PM


 



Tom Selleck?

He's an imposing, attractive "older" leading man. Maybe he has white
hair now, too.

Could be that he's too busy still driving that 328 in Hawaii though.

Magnum was the coolest PI ever, closely followed by Jim Rockford.

Paul

On 10-02-07 4:31 PM, Neesierie wrote:
> Paul,
> Yes, Poitier would be awesome! And he still looks trim and fit at 83, which not many can claim. I'd vote for him as Straker! And probably fall in love with him too!! (I remember being shocked at how easy it was to fall in love with an older Connery in Medicine Man!)
> Yours,
> Denise
>
> --- In SHADO@yahoogroups. com, Paul Bowers<pbowers@ ...> wrote:
>> I vote for Sidney Poitier, myself. I don't know if he'd be willing to
>> work on such a project, but, hey, it'd be really cool if he did.








[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Thanks Jeff, I stand corrected. I lost track of Ferrari naming schemes
after the 348 (the BB512 is still most beautiful car ever. Well except
for the recent Aston Martins. And the McLaren F1. And the 2000-era BMW
740i, pre-Bangle).

Denise, the guy's almost as tall as Marc.

Paul


On 10-02-07 6:37 PM, Jeffrey Nelson wrote:
> Wasn't it a 308 GTS???

I've been thinking that Rupert Penry-Jones would make a good Straker....

 

Cheers,

Mary
 


To: [hidden email]
From: [hidden email]
Date: Sat, 6 Feb 2010 04:55:39 -0800
Subject: Re: [SHADO] Re: my thoughts about the UFO movie...

 



Good suggestions - but would they look good with the hair colour! and that is a key factor!
 
Strakre without blonde hair would be like having Virgil Tracy a redhead! Now Alec Freeman could be played by one of your proposed actors! I think thatmight work better? But there again, I'm biased!
LtCdr!
 

--- On Sat, 6/2/10, Paul Bowers <[hidden email]> wrote:

From: Paul Bowers <[hidden email]>
Subject: Re: [SHADO] Re: my thoughts about the UFO movie...
To: [hidden email]
Date: Saturday, 6 February, 2010, 11:30

 

On 10-02-04 3:36 AM, Lightcudder wrote:
> The one thing I do know, and I am sure many UFO fans will support me on this, is that without a decent Ed Straker.

Nice analysis. Straker's role would have to depend on marketing focus
groups in Hollywood.

Will Smith would be a good bet, as he's done "sci-fi" before. There are
a lot of black actors that could effectively do the role of Straker,
shall I name them?

- Samuel L. Jackson (that might be a good one - does nasty well)
- Sidney Poitier (that would be f*cking amazing)
- Denzel (standard hero, wouldn't be a bad choice)

I vote for Sidney Poitier, myself. I don't know if he'd be willing to
work on such a project, but, hey, it'd be really cool if he did.

Paul

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]




     

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

An easy to make misidentification, as the 328 and 308 look almost identical.  The only reason it HAD to be a 308 is that the 328 wasn't made until like 1985, and Magnum started a few years before that.  : )
 
I certainly won't argue with your taste in cars.  In addition to the ones you mentioned, I am still partial to the brute force look of the various iterations of the old Lamborghini Countach.  Probably because it wasthe first exoticar/supercar I fell in love with as a teen.
 
 
--- On Sun, 2/7/10, Paul Bowers <[hidden email]> wrote:


From: Paul Bowers <[hidden email]>
Subject: Re: [SHADO] Re: my thoughts about the UFO movie...
To: [hidden email]
Date: Sunday, February 7, 2010, 8:06 PM


 



Thanks Jeff, I stand corrected. I lost track of Ferrari naming schemes
after the 348 (the BB512 is still most beautiful car ever. Well except
for the recent Aston Martins. And the McLaren F1. And the 2000-era BMW
740i, pre-Bangle).

Denise, the guy's almost as tall as Marc.

Paul

On 10-02-07 6:37 PM, Jeffrey Nelson wrote:
> Wasn't it a 308 GTS???








[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

On Sun, 07 Feb 2010 02:52:42 -0700
Paul Bowers <[hidden email]> wrote:

Hi,

Can you let me know what you were drinking and how much it costs?

Thanks
James

On Sun, 7 Feb 2010 19:10:33 -0700
MARY VERES <[hidden email]> wrote:

>
> I've been thinking that Rupert Penry-Jones would make a good
> Straker....
>


Damian Lewis wouldn't be bad. Can do an American accent as well,
if necessary.

Hi guys
I'm not sure if these names have been brought up yet but how bout John Simm as Straker there's a fairly strong resemblance. Phil Glenister as Alec
And Michelle Ryan as lt Ellis?

Terry

Sent from my iPod

This cionversation is getting almost as lively as the ones on Tracy Island Writers forum! I always fancied Vigo Mortinsen as Straker - (probably splelt it wroong!) excuse spelling sna typo- have drops in my eyes and look likesomeone out of avatar right now biut without the blue skin ! Can't see properly _ and I haven'thad any alcohol - rats!


--- On Mon, 8/2/10, James Gibbon <[hidden email]> wrote:


From: James Gibbon <[hidden email]>
Subject: [SHADO] Re: my thoughts about the UFO movie...
To: [hidden email]
Date: Monday, 8 February, 2010, 10:16


 



On Sun, 7 Feb 2010 19:10:33 -0700
MARY VERES <veres_mary@msn. com> wrote:

>
> I've been thinking that Rupert Penry-Jones would make a good
> Straker....
>

Damian Lewis wouldn't be bad. Can do an American accent as well,
if necessary.








     

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]