The Evolution of Science Fiction discussion

I gripe about how poorly some stories are rendered or evolve when they hit the screen & sometimes it's just the casting. Other times, an actor/actress is so perfect for a part that I'll never read the story again without seeing them. What are your best & worst?

The Marvel Cinematic Universe holds a few examples for me. Robert Downy Jr. plays a perfect Tony Stark & Samuel Jackson is a fantastic Nick Fury, but Marisa Tomei is a terrible pick for Aunt May. The character is supposed to be a little old lady. She's super kind, tragically widowed after being married practically forever, but Tomei is a hottie & that leads to Tony Stark hitting on her. Yuck!

I agree that Green Lantern wasn't nearly as good as it could have been. I think Ryan Reynolds as Deadpool is perfect, but he doesn't fit Hal's personality as I recall it. I was never a big fan of the comics, though.

I didn't care too much for Tom Hardy in Venom, either. I don't know who might have done a better job, but he just didn't seem right.

The Unbreakable trilogy was really well cast. Willis & Jackson were great, but James MacAvoy in "Split" & "Glass" was just incredible. He managed to change his characters so fast & completely it was amazing.

If I watch "The Boys" I am sure I will be disappointed to see anyone other than Simon Pegg as Wee Hughie. The character in the comic was intentionally drawn to resemble him, with his permission. But Pegg is older now, so is playing Wee Hughie's father. Sigh....

Jonathan Harris in Lost in Space. Both the worst choice and the best choice rolled into one. Without him, the show wouldn't have become so campy.

... I could say the same about William Shatner as Captain Kirk.

Jim wrote: "I gripe about how poorly some stories are rendered or evolve when they hit the screen & sometimes it's just the casting. Other times, an actor/actress is so perfect for a part that I'll never read ..."

That does sound horrific! After the MCU film, where they kill a third of the universe I am done with them except Netflix' Defenders.

Gregg wrote: "...they kill a third of the universe ..."

50%, I think. Which reminds me. If you search with google for "Thanos" and then click on the golden glove, (view spoiler)[half of your search results will disappear (hide spoiler)].

I wasn't all that thrilled with the last few MCU movies. As Ed said, it was half the universe that was killed off, but that's not casting, just a bad story. I'm glad it's pretty much done. There were just too many shows to keep up with & I was liking less of them all the time.

Great casting decision: David Tennant as Doctor Who. It was as if David Tennant was born to play the role. I read somewhere that David Tennant when he was a child wanted to play Doctor Who.

Did you know Olivia de Havilland was still alive? She's 103 now. My first memory of her is playing Melanie in "Gone With The Wind" (1939), but she was also a great women's rights activist & the wife of James Cagney in a movie, can't recall the name...

Ed wrote: "Gregg wrote: "...they kill a third of the universe ..."

50%, I think. Which reminds me. If you search with google for "Thanos" and then click on the golden glove, [spoilers removed]."

I don't think the +/-20% matters but you guys are correct:

https://mashable.com/2018/05/03/thano...

Gregg wrote: "... I don't think the +/-20% matters ..."

20% of the entire population of the universe doesn't matter ? I beg to differ. What if one of those had been Olivia de Havilland ?

However, I've not seen the movie and don't want to. Superheros are boring!

LOL!

I don't think all superheroes are boring, but some sure are. I've never cared much for Superman or the Mar-vell (now Captain Marvel) character because they're too powerful & yet still seem to have trouble beating up bad guys. It just seems so fake. I know it's all fake, but there's a limit.

Ronald wrote: "Great casting decision: David Tennant as Doctor Who. It was as if David Tennant was born to play the role. I read somewhere that David Tennant when he was a child wanted to play Doctor Who."
I totally agree David Tenant was great but Peter Capaldi was, for me, the best doctor. I watched Dr Who as a child when the doctor was an irascible old man and nothing ever matched that first series in my mind. I liked all the new doctors but the 12th doctor was the nearest to the doctor I remember.