“Andromeda Strain” Has Good Premiere Night On A&E - Preps for DVD Release
“The Andromeda Strain” miniseries aired yesterday and will continue to air today on the A&E Cable Network. And, in even more exciting news the DVD of the miniseries will hit the streets beginning next Tuesday, June 3. Ridley Scott (”Blade Runner”) is producing the remake of this classic sci-fi tale based on the best-selling novel by Michael Crichton with his brother Tony Scott (”Numb3rs”).
“The Andromeda Strain,” is an edge-of-your seat, four-hour miniseries about a team of scientists investigating a deadly disease from an alien world that threatens to destroy mankind. It has debuted as an original A&E television event on Monday May 26 and continues tonight - May 27, featuring an outstanding cast that includes Benjamin Bratt (“Law & Order”), Eric McCormack (”Free Enterprise,” “Will & Grace”), Ricky Schroder (“NYPD Blue”), Andre Braugher (“Homicide: Life on the Streets,” “Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer”), Christa Miller (“Scrubs”), Daniel Dae Kim (“Lost,” “Star Trek: Enterprise”), and Viola Davis (“Traveler”).
Directed by two-time Academy Award® nominee Mikael Saloman (”Backdraft,” “The Abyss”) and based on the best-selling novel by Michael Crichton, the DVD will be released as a two-disc set in Dolby 5.1 Surround that combines the complete uninterrupted four-hour presentation with a thrilling behind-the-scenes look at the production.
DVD Features:
AUDIO COMMENTARY from Director Mikael Salomon, executive producer David W. Zucker, executive producer Tom Thayer and editor Scott Vickrey.
TERRA INCOGNITA: MAKING THE ANDROMEDA STRAIN –- A comprehensive, behind-the-scenes look at the making of the miniseries including comparisons to the novel and the original film as well as interviews with the cast and crew.
VISUAL EFFECTS BREAKDOWNS -– A staggering 900+ visual effects shots. This insightful featurette explores a number of key visual effects scenes with in-depth commentary by the visual effects team.
PHOTO AND DESIGN GALLERY
Street Date: June 3, 2008
Price: $29.98
Running Time: 1 Hour 29 Minutes
Layers: Dual Layer
Aspect Ratio: Anamorphic Widescreen 1.78:1
Languages/Subtitles: English
Sound: Dolby Digital 5.1
Question: Why bother watching the miniseries on TV if you can just wait an extra week and watch it on DVD?
This was a bit of a disappointment… the first part (the set-up) was great… the second part (the resolution) falls apart in bad ways. Another sci-fi classic turned into an environmental slap in the face message.
This movie sucked! Science fiction, once a great form of fun escapism has been hi-jacked by political hacks looking for another soapbox from which to peddle their petty agendas, and this is no exception. It has every anti-American cliché known to modern media from conspiracies about the gulf war to government hit men. The number of technical mistakes is far too numerous to mention them all in short bulletin board post, but here are just a few. When the scientists arrive at the town to remove the satellite they make a big show about how heavy it is, but it made almost no crater when it landed. I guess the laws of inertia don’t apply in that part of the country. The F-16 fighter has only one way to deliver a nuclear device, and it is NOT a missile. The F-16 Block 50/52, which the nuclear capable variant, could only deliver a nuclear device via the B61 bomb which looks nothing like the weapon that was wheeled past the waiting pilot, a weapon more like a hellfire missile (it clearly had a camera in it’s nose). And where were the great 3-D views of the plane in flight coming from? It was a single with no wingman. One last thing about the plane - no way it flies low and slow enough to parallel a low flying chopper – it would stall and crash. Not to mention the geometry of the satellite itself – completely wrong for anything designed for flight in space; or the whole idea of a singularity opening, remaining for years and then closing within the confines of solar system without disrupting the orbital paths of any planets. Everyone associated with this project should be ashamed. This was nothing more than agenda-drive tripe clinging to the coat tails of a great story and masquerading as science fiction. The science has more in common with the Greek mythology and the fiction just a vehicle to peddle a jaded view of the U.S. I will not be watching the second half and will tell everyone who will listen not to watch either. Trash, the whole thing was nothing but trash!
Chris in Seattle, how did you see the second half when it has not been shown yet? May 28 at 12:20 am? The second half is airing right now (9:00 pm EST)?
Jack, too bad you could only see technical aspects, must be a joy watching sci-fi or any thing with you. Star Trek must be a bitch with you.
Hey Bob,
Ever wonder why its called science fiction? Maybe if you read a book once in a while instead of watching bugs bunny or what ever other cartoons you call entertainment you might actual appreciate the genre a little more…and just remember you started the personal attacks here, not me!
It was better than the movie.
But the book will always be best.
I read the book, saw the original movie and seen this rendition. As for personal atttack, I stated the obvious that Jack seem to be fixated by pure technical details rather than other aspect of this new version.
As for the new version of this tale, beside technical silliness (as Jack pointed out)…it is horrid. It seem to be an attempt to bring CSI, government and business conspiracies genres with a dash of personal agenda into a feeble attempt as a pilot for “Andromeda Strain: the Series”; battle greed and evil of military and corporate america also invasion with worm-hole aliens. The original movie was somewhat true to the book than this version, and more enjoyable. Two big thumbs down for this glorified tripe.
I do like Bugs Bunny too. Personal attacks wasn’t intended but it was just so heavy on the bad tech details rather than the “fiction” aspect. It was late too. My apologies (I would watch movies with you).
I am a sci-fi fan, and can overlook bad science when the story is great. This rendition is “trash” based on the bastardization of the original story. A sci-fi story turned into a conspiracy-CSI-soapy-drama piece of hype for a DVD and future series. Shame.
The original book and movie were great hard science fiction work but this version threw science and logic right down the toilet.
What was once a story about how different, amazing and dangerous the universe is has been replaced with no logic, time traveling, man-made, intelligent, telepathic, virus. Along with the message that the Military is always EVIL.
It was just the saddest and worst science fiction production in the longest time.
The commercials ruined it as they have ruined most of cable TV!!
Lindy
I had an oppertunity to see it ahead of time so I did. Waste of my time!
Why do people like the original movie? Please, enlighten me.
I saw it after I read the book and found it completely devoid of any of the interest and excitement I got from the novel.
It was more like a documentary than a story.
Hey Bob,
No hard feelings…go Bugs!
I programmed the mini-series on Tivo and all I got was 4 or 5 of the 1st part. Tivo never recorded the 2nd part?? So when can I view that again ?
Doug Okeefe’s spot was the best part in the movie and all he did was kill people. LOL