NationStates Jolt Archive

Ok, so what movies would you turn into a TV show? Me, I'd choose the Matrix Trilogy. However, I wouldn't use the same plot that all three movie had. I'd actually go back to the creation of the Matrix. This is how Season 1 would go.

It would start out in a black void, and we hear The Architect's voice.

The Architect: The first matrix I designed was quite naturally perfect. It was a work of art. Flawless. Sublime. A triumph only equaled by its monumental failure.

Then we start to see code streaming, taking shapes of buildings, etc. Basically the creation of the first Matrix. I'd like to see the first season deal with not only the Heaven, but Hell verison of the Matrix. This would introduce such characters as Seraph, The Merovingian, exiles, etc. At the end of the first season, we'd see The Architect and The Oracle sitting in his room. They're discussing what to do after the failure of the "Hell" Matrix. This is where The Oracle introduce "choice". As the Architect is ready to impliment the "Choice" Matrix, he says "Did we delete all of the programs?" and just as soon as he says that, we see The Merovingian, Seraph, and the exiles hiding out in a Construct, with the Merovingian sporting a smirk.

Season Two would introduce the first "One" and follow his path to The Source.

I'd call it "Matrix: Genesis.

So what movies would you turn into TV series?

Bicycle Thieves. Every week Antonio and Bruno try to steal a bicycle in the vein of Stop the Pigeon.

Bicycle Thieves. Every week Antonio and Bruno try to steal a bicycle in the vein of Stop the Pigeon.
/thread. :D

-snip-

i'm genuinely surprised you chose the Matrix, there ;)

That Matrix idea sucks.

Ok, so what movies would you turn into a TV show?
Not sure I've ever seen any good come out of movie-based TV series, they lack the substance. There are movies I think could use a half-season TV series sequel, or be better told as half- or single-season TV series, but that's it.


If you mean making them as TV series instead, well... Matrix sucked, but the world behind it would indeed not be the worst choice for a lengthier work.

Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance would be a great T.V. show. Just keep the chain reaction of revenge-killings and suicides going until there is only one guy left alive in the whole of Asia.

i'm genuinely surprised you chose the Matrix, there ;)

Yea, ya only have to look at 500 posts by me to know I'm a Matrix fan boy.

That Matrix idea sucks.

No you! Ok so instead of posting for the sake of posting, why does the Matrix idea suck?

Not sure I've ever seen any good come out of movie-based TV series, they lack the substance. There are movies I think could use a half-season TV series sequel, or be better told as half- or single-season TV series, but that's it.


If you mean making them as TV series instead, well... Matrix sucked, but the world behind it would indeed not be the worst choice for a lengthier work.

I enjoyed the movies, but I do think that the Wachowski Brothers could expand on the Matrix universe through a TV series. I didn't really care for the Neo and The One story, I was more interested in The Merovingian, and the "Heaven" and "Hell" Matrix.

Yeah lol.

EDIT: I was yeah lolling to Fiddle bottoms's idea.

Bicycle Thieves. Every week Antonio and Bruno try to steal a bicycle in the vein of Stop the Pigeon.
Quality

Not sure I've ever seen any good come out of movie-based TV series, they lack the substance. There are movies I think could use a half-season TV series sequel, or be better told as half- or single-season TV series, but that's it.


If you mean making them as TV series instead, well... Matrix sucked, but the world behind it would indeed not be the worst choice for a lengthier work.
M*A*S*H

It sucks because of bad name, the worst characters, rubbish plot.

Rocky Horror Picture Show

I dunno how the hell they'd do it, but I would like to see someone make a TV series out of it, if only for the novelty value.

nightbreed... takes up where the movie left off with the breed fleeing into exile. involves their attempts to build and new community and not get killed by humans and that doctor dude... kind of like supernatural in reverse

Star Wars: Clone Wars
focuses on the other Jedi Knights during this time of war. could even extend to the betrayal and see how other Jedi Knights survive the time of the Empire.

Star Wars: Clone Wars
focuses on the other Jedi Knights during this time of war. could even extend to the betrayal and see how other Jedi Knights survive the time of the Empire.

You do know that the movie was already based on a TV show and that that show will be returning?

Already done. Apparently there was a CGI TV series, which is what the film was based on.

EDIT: That's 2 fucking times on this thread.

I'd choose Thunderheart. Every episode, FBI Agent Val Kilmer would go to a new place with a new culture of which he is part by birth and gradually re-discovers as he is immersed in the mystic romanticism. Every episode he 'goes native,' has a spiritual experience, and uncovers a government/corporate cover-up at the thrilling climax.

Not very good, that'd be fairly formulaic and boring.

Underworld. It has serious potential that just gets lost when crammed into the standard movie format.

Not very good, that'd be fairly formulaic and boring.

But every week he'd Get In Touch With His Native Heritage for a different heritage.

Also, no one would ever mention the fact that he does it every week, or that by the end of the show he's like 25% every ethnicity in the country, or that his partners always turn out to be leaders of the government/corporate scandal.

M*A*S*H

That example shows just how hard it is to take films into TV. Look at the magnitude of talent, patience and re-imagination it took to take the book (Richard Hooker) to film (Robert Altman) and then to TV (Larry Gelbart).

In the film, you had Rovert Duvall, Donald Sutherland, Elliot Gould, Tom Skerritt, and a hell of a lot of talented screenwriters. On TV, you had writers Larry Balmagia, Ronny Graham, Gene Reynolds...and even then, the tone of the show changed from the book/film's biting satire to a more preachy switching between comedy and drama (witness the parody of that point in the Futurama episode featuring a robot called the iHawk, which had a switch labeled "irreverent" and "maudlin").

From Wikipedia: As the series progressed, it made a significant shift from being primarily a comedy to becoming far more dramatically focused. Changes behind the scenes were the primary cause rather than the oft-cited cast defections. Executive Producer Gene Reynolds left at the end of Season Five. This, coupled with head writer Larry Gelbart's departure the year before, significantly stripped the show of its comedic foundation. While M*A*S*H continued at a high level, the series' best comedic work was, for the most part, in the past.

Beginning with season six, Alan Alda and new Executive Producer Burt Metcalfe became the "voice" of M*A*S*H. By season eight, the writing staff had been overhauled and M*A*S*H displayed a different feel, consciously moving between comedy and drama, unlike the seamless integration of years gone by. While this latter era showcased some fine dramatic moments, the attempts at pure comedy were not so successful. The quirky, fractured camp of the early years had gradually turned into a homogenized "family," clever dialogue gave way to puns, and the sharply defined characters were often unrecognizable and lost most of their comedic bite. In addition, the episodes became more political, and the show was often accused of "preaching" to its viewers.

While the series remained popular through these changes, eventually it began to run out of creative steam. Harry Morgan, who played Colonel Potter, admitted in an interview that he felt "the cracks were starting to show" by Season Nine, and the cast had agreed to make season ten their last. In the end, they decided to extend the show for an additional year, making for a total of eleven seasons.

<snip>

While the series remained popular through these changes, eventually it began to run out of creative steam. Harry Morgan, who played Colonel Potter, admitted in an interview that he felt "the cracks were starting to show" by Season Nine, and the cast had agreed to make season ten their last. In the end, they decided to extend the show for an additional year, making for a total of eleven seasons.
I grew up watching M*A*S*H and I remember those changes, and I remember thinking it eventually started to lose its own thread. However, could it be suggested that a failure to sustain the joke was inevitable for a "comedy" with "Suicide is Painless" as its theme song? And anyway, in television-land, 11 seasons is nothing to sneeze at. I'd say M*A*S*H can be counted as a successful adaptation.

You do know that the movie was already based on a TV show and that that show will be returning?

Technically, that show focused on Anakin and Obi Wan and concentrated on the area between Episodes II and III.

There are possiblities of untold stories. I can't believe that all the Jedi (with the exception of 3) died. thus my idea is to focus on someone else, someone(s) who survived the betrayal and can thus chronicle their life after the clone war.

Another suggestion is to do the "Dark is rising" series. as a series they could introduce the characters properly and keep it closer to the books.

Is Hot Fuzz a TV show yet?

I'd like to see The Passion of Joan of Arc made into a TV show. Each week would deal with the martyrdom of a different saint, sort of a religious Fear Factor.

Das Leben der Anderen. The ending was far too long in the film, but it'd make a decent miniseries if a bit more content was added to the middle sections of the film.

Das Leben der Anderen. The ending was far too long in the film, but it'd make a decent miniseries if a bit more content was added to the middle sections of the film.
Nah, if someone made a show out of Das Leben it should be done as Law & Order clone. If you thought Arthur Branch was uncomfortably authoritarian, wait till you see what they get up to on Die Aufrechten: Staatssicherheit.

Nah, if someone made a show out of Das Leben it should be done as Law & Order clone. If you thought Arthur Branch was uncomfortably authoritarian, wait till you see what they get up to on Die Aufrechten: Staatssicherheit.
Oh christ that would be bad :D

Technically, that show focused on Anakin and Obi Wan and concentrated on the area between Episodes II and III.

There are possiblities of untold stories. I can't believe that all the Jedi (with the exception of 3) died. thus my idea is to focus on someone else, someone(s) who survived the betrayal and can thus chronicle their life after the clone war.

Another suggestion is to do the "Dark is rising" series. as a series they could introduce the characters properly and keep it closer to the books.

The Force Unleashed video game is supposed to feature the death of several of the surviving Jedi. Lucas Arts supposedly has a live action show set between Episodes III and IV in the works, but I haven't much lately.

Dead Again. Every week somebody is killed with Das Shears!!

A 10-week reality show based on 'The Shining'
10 contestants.
Each week an insane Jack Nicolson chases them with an axe until he catches one.
Last one left wins a clipping of his pubic hair.

I'd like to see a TV series set after the film Gladiator (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0172495/) which follows Djimon Hounsou's character Juba in his efforts to return home and find his family.

I grew up watching M*A*S*H and I remember those changes, and I remember thinking it eventually started to lose its own thread. However, could it be suggested that a failure to sustain the joke was inevitable for a "comedy" with "Suicide is Painless" as its theme song? And anyway, in television-land, 11 seasons is nothing to sneeze at. I'd say M*A*S*H can be counted as a successful adaptation.

That was exactly the point I was making. Look at what it took to make the show a successful adaptation -- legendary writers, award-winning cast, and so forth. Had I somehow screwed up my own tone so badly that it seemed like I was discounting the show?

Another suggestion is to do the "Dark is rising" series. as a series they could introduce the characters properly and keep it closer to the books.

It certainly couldn't do worse than the incredibly bad movie.

Kind Hearts and Coronets

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0041546/

Nah, if someone made a show out of Das Leben it should be done as Law & Order clone. If you thought Arthur Branch was uncomfortably authoritarian, wait till you see what they get up to on Die Aufrechten: Staatssicherheit.The German clone of Law and Order is called "Im Namen des Gesetzes" though. Interestingly enough, it takes place in the same city as "Das Leben der Anderen".

That was exactly the point I was making. Look at what it took to make the show a successful adaptation -- legendary writers, award-winning cast, and so forth. Had I somehow screwed up my own tone so badly that it seemed like I was discounting the show?



It certainly couldn't do worse than the incredibly bad movie.

You mean it takes talented people to make a successful show, and after a long run shows evolve and not every one likes that? The devil you say!

That was exactly the point I was making. Look at what it took to make the show a successful adaptation -- legendary writers, award-winning cast, and so forth. Had I somehow screwed up my own tone so badly that it seemed like I was discounting the show?

I did read it as being a bit like this:

You mean it takes talented people to make a successful show, and after a long run shows evolve and not every one likes that? The devil you say!
Not so much that you were discounting that show but discounting the idea of movie-to-tv adaptations at all on the grounds that they don't hold together well over time.

And actually, really good writers and actors are key to a good television show regardless of whether it is adapted from a movie or not. Leave the movie out of it, and if the M*A*S*H team had not been so good, that show would not have run 11 years and become a pop-culture icon, comparable to similarly legendary shows that had nothing to do with movies.

Conversely, even a shitty movie can be adapted to a good show if the tv team is good enough -- or not, if they aren't. In one of the recent geek-threads about Stargate, I carried on at length about the horrendously craptastic writing of the two Stargate tv shows, but I also hated the original movie, which was just a big, boring, pointless opportunity for Jae Davison to prance around in Egyptian underwear in step one of his three-step career (Stargate to Crying Game to "Jae Who"?) Nevertheless, good tv concepts were pulled out of that movie and could have been used to great effect. Only they aren't being used to great effect because the creative team on those shows doesn't have the chops.

Bladerunner and the Dollars Trilogy

I did read it as being a bit like this:


Not so much that you were discounting that show but discounting the idea of movie-to-tv adaptations at all on the grounds that they don't hold together well over time.

And actually, really good writers and actors are key to a good television show regardless of whether it is adapted from a movie or not. Leave the movie out of it, and if the M*A*S*H team had not been so good, that show would not have run 11 years and become a pop-culture icon, comparable to similarly legendary shows that had nothing to do with movies.

Conversely, even a shitty movie can be adapted to a good show if the tv team is good enough -- or not, if they aren't. In one of the recent geek-threads about Stargate, I carried on at length about the horrendously craptastic writing of the two Stargate tv shows, but I also hated the original movie, which was just a big, boring, pointless opportunity for Jae Davison to prance around in Egyptian underwear in step one of his three-step career (Stargate to Crying Game to "Jae Who"?) Nevertheless, good tv concepts were pulled out of that movie and could have been used to great effect. Only they aren't being used to great effect because the creative team on those shows doesn't have the chops.

*Nods*
M*A*S*H
Buffy
Paper Chase
Fame

all ran for a decent number of seasons and all were baised off of a movie.

Not so much that you were discounting that show but discounting the idea of movie-to-tv adaptations at all on the grounds that they don't hold together well over time.

Mentioning the change in tone over time had nothing to do with being an adaptation, save for what must be done in order to keep the original idea fresh. I was trying to say that it's already hard for a TV show to get made and get a pilot, let alone a schedule slot, and that it takes a phenomenal combination of talent, skill, luck, and probably blowjobs of one sort or another to make it happen.

And actually, really good writers and actors are key to a good television show regardless of whether it is adapted from a movie or not. Leave the movie out of it, and if the M*A*S*H team had not been so good, that show would not have run 11 years and become a pop-culture icon, comparable to similarly legendary shows that had nothing to do with movies.

Conversely, even a shitty movie can be adapted to a good show if the tv team is good enough -- or not, if they aren't. In one of the recent geek-threads about Stargate, I carried on at length about the horrendously craptastic writing of the two Stargate tv shows, but I also hated the original movie, which was just a big, boring, pointless opportunity for Jae Davison to prance around in Egyptian underwear in step one of his three-step career (Stargate to Crying Game to "Jae Who"?) Nevertheless, good tv concepts were pulled out of that movie and could have been used to great effect. Only they aren't being used to great effect because the creative team on those shows doesn't have the chops.

Couldn't get into the show. Movie was popcorny.

Now Farscape, those people knew how to write. And notice who showed up on Stargate when they were available? Ben Browder and Claudia (love the accent) Black.

*Nods*
M*A*S*H
Buffy
Paper Chase
Fame

all ran for a decent number of seasons and all were baised off of a movie.

Agreed -- and out of how many series that were sold, tried or aired in that time? Ferris Beuller's Day Off by NBC, anyone?

One more overlooked example because it was on the then-young USA Network: Weird Science.

I'd like to see a TV series set after the film Gladiator (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0172495/) which follows Djimon Hounsou's character Juba in his efforts to return home and find his family.

That would be a good idea. Aside from watching Russell Crowe die Hounsou was one of the best parts of the film, and it would be neat to see historical events through his eyes as he tries to get home.

On a barely unrelated tangent, rumor has is that they're working on adapting God of War into a film. And guess who's been suggested in the lead role?

Serenity. (Yes, I am, in effect, saying I want Firefly back.:))

Agreed -- and out of how many series that were sold, tried or aired in that time? Ferris Beuller's Day Off by NBC, anyone?

One more overlooked example because it was on the then-young USA Network: Weird Science.

This is a bit like saying that the sitcom is nearly impossible, just look at The Secret Diary of Desmond Pfiefer or Carpoolers...it doesn't necessarily invalidate the source material but rather indicate that a lot of shows fall off after or during the first season.

This is a bit like saying that the sitcom is nearly impossible, just look at The Secret Diary of Desmond Pfiefer or Carpoolers...it doesn't necessarily invalidate the source material but rather indicate that a lot of shows fall off after or during the first season.

True, but way more than that are aborted before being run, piloted, cast, or even considered past the script stage.

This is a bit like saying that the sitcom is nearly impossible, just look at The Secret Diary of Desmond Pfiefer or Carpoolers...it doesn't necessarily invalidate the source material but rather indicate that a lot of shows fall off after or during the first season.

I liked that show myself. There were moments in there I found hilarious personally (such as the cold remedy given to Mary Todd Lincoln), and it was one of only two American attempts at historical satire comedy in the vein of Blackadder.

True, but way more than that are aborted before being run, piloted, cast, or even considered past the script stage.

Again, this is true of all shows from all sources. I should be in LA right now for pilot season where there are a ton of pilots being filmed that most will not even make it to air, much less a series. The source material isn't a factor, except that if it's well known, like a movie, it stands a better chance of at least airing the pilot because it has a built in 'overcome' (the base urge is to not watch something, the overcome is the what is needed to fight the resistance to watch the show or movie-why so many sitcoms are built around comics)

I can think of a number of TV shows that could translate well into movies - CSI, Bones, NCIS, Eureka - given good writers. I can't think of one good movie that would transition to TV without completely trivializing it. And a bad movie is going to be a bad TV show.

I can think of a number of TV shows that could translate well into movies - CSI, Bones, NCIS, Eureka - given good writers. I can't think of one good movie that would transition to TV without completely trivializing it. And a bad movie is going to be a bad TV show.

Bones is based off a series of crime novels so it would be one of the easier ones to adapt into a motion picture.

Again, this is true of all shows from all sources. I should be in LA right now for pilot season where there are a ton of pilots being filmed that most will not even make it to air, much less a series. The source material isn't a factor, except that if it's well known, like a movie, it stands a better chance of at least airing the pilot because it has a built in 'overcome' (the base urge is to not watch something, the overcome is the what is needed to fight the resistance to watch the show or movie-why so many sitcoms are built around comics)
Indeed. A tv show has to be good for tv regardless of the source of its concept. If it doesn't have whatever it is that will make enough people watch it during whatever brutally short grace period is allowed, then nothing else really matters.

I guess then the key to adapting a movie to tv is to know what it is that draws in tv audiences and adapt the movie concept to that, and not necessarily to remain true to the movie concept.

Like, again, the Stargate series (it just happens to be on my brain at the moment, sorry). According to something I remember reading in something like Entertainment Weekly years ago, the producers picked up one aspect of the movie, the stargate itself, and thought, hey, there's a good episodic device we can build a series around. Do the series have much to do with the original movie itself? Only superficially. But apparently that's not a problem because the first series has two spin-offs now, and you can't get away from the damned thing. SciFi seems committed to turning it into their own personal Law & Order. I think the shows suck, but I guess they must have that "tv mojo" to keep enough people tuning in.

Bones is based off a series of crime novels so it would be one of the easier ones to adapt into a motion picture.

Yes, I've read some of them, they're very good. Reichs is a good writer as well as being knowledgeable.

And a bad movie is going to be a bad TV show.Buffy the Vampire Killer.
a bad movie but decent TV series.

This is a bit like saying that the sitcom is nearly impossible, just look at The Secret Diary of Desmond Pfiefer or Carpoolers...it doesn't necessarily invalidate the source material but rather indicate that a lot of shows fall off after or during the first season.
not really. Parker Lewis Can't Lose is a Ferris Beuller rip off. but that was better than the Beuller series (and lasted longer I believe.)

Serenity. (Yes, I am, in effect, saying I want Firefly back.:))
You are, in effect, saying you want Firefly back, only not Wash. You monster.

You are, in effect, saying you want Firefly back, only not Wash. You monster.

minus Wash... but you include the agent. if written properly, he could be rather interesting.

Something based off of Bill and Ted's excellent adventure.

Anything based off of Bill and Ted's excellent adventure.

Something based off of Bill and Ted's excellent adventure.

Anything based off of Bill and Ted's excellent adventure.

Hmmm... something like Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0103365/)?

or do you mean Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0098752/)?

Wow...i didn't even know.

I can die happy now.

I've thought of another good one: The Hitcher. Every episode, John Ryder torments a different person. In the interests of pleasing the purists, the first episode would be set on a lonely, desert highway. Subsequent episodes, however, would feature different means of transportation, including motor boats, personal aircraft, subway trains, tractors and a season finale involving a Segway battle on the mean streets of Bedford, New Hampshire.