So, the producer for The Man from Earth was not happy with my last post, which is, of course, his right, but I'd like to clearify a few things.
1. I did see the movie. The acting was not that great. I watched it on Netflix on demand two weeks ago, just so we're clear. And I found the part where he claimed to be Jesus borderline offensive/intriguing.
2.Reusing old ideas is too stealing from yourself. I have no problem with you being honest about it, and it doesn't even really bug me, I just found it weird.
3.A lot of the dialog seemed forced and the script seemed a little weak, and then the fact that it was the same concept as one of my favorite Trek episodes ever was not thrilling to me. Had that not been the case, maybe I would have been moved to comment more favorably on the movie, but it was the case, and so I wound up just kind of disgusted, which is my right as a human being/movie viewer. I'm frequently disgusted, by contemporary movies, and by life in general, so don't take this as any special insult.
4. Jerome Bixby is one of my favorite Trek writers.
Actually I was quite happy with your last post and even thanked you for mentioning the film.
ReplyDeleteI should have been more specific, however, when I said "If you haven't seen the movie", I was talking to your readers and not to you specifically, in hopes they still might pick up the DVD after reading your blog.
Finally, for the record, Jerome Bixby started working on the script / concept for "The Man From Earth" before "Requiem", in the late 1950's / early 1960's. The Star Trek episode had been written along the way and although was seen by the public first, was most likely an offshoot of this screenplay. Just to be 100% sure, I'll check with his son who is a friend of mine and comment back.
So let's recap..
1) I was happy with your last post AND this post as well. : ) The mere mention of the film (good or bad... positive or negative), promotes the movie.
2) I apologize if it sounded like I was accusing you of not seeing the film. Again, that was meant for your readers.
3) "Man From Earth" was written before "Requiem for Methuselah", but regardless of what you saw first, he still "reused and old idea".
I don't take any thing you wrote as an "insult". I just like commenting on bolgs and such
Eric