[Brazelton] Richard Matheson

filmfanatic · Jun 24, 2013

Richard Matheson, the author that wrote such stories as:

Steel
I Am Legend
The Incredible Shrinking Man
What Dreams May Come
The Splendid Source
Hell House
A Stir of Echoes
Somewhere in Time
Little Girl Lost
Nightmare at 20,000 Feet
Death Ship
Dance of the Dead
Button, Button
Born of Man and Woman
The Likeness of Julie
Prey
The Creeping Terror

has passed away today. A moment to reflect upon the ingenious and interesting stories that he had written.

ThatNickGuy · Jun 24, 2013

What Dreams May Come is one of my favourite books. Even though he hated the movie adaptation, I loved it, though funny enough for entirely different reasons than the book.

Dave · Jun 24, 2013

Whoa. I had no idea he did some of those. RIP, dude!

drawn_inward · Jun 25, 2013

I read A Stir of Echoes and I Am Legend nearly 20 years ago. I picked them up at the same time at a used book store because the owner thought that I would dig them based on what I had been buying. She was right. They were great. Kind of lame movies but great books.

RIP

fade · Jun 25, 2013

I have a really negative opinion of What Dreams May Come--especially the book (though I bite my tongue about it because I know Nick likes it). However, I do like I Am Legend and a couple of the others. Sorry to hear it.

Emrys · Jun 25, 2013

PatrThom · Jun 26, 2013

The only one of these I have seen/read is the movie adaptation of The Incredible Shrinking Man.

--Patrick

ThatNickGuy · Jun 26, 2013

fade said:
I have a really negative opinion of What Dreams May Come--especially the book (though I bite my tongue about it because I know Nick likes it). However, I do like I Am Legend and a couple of the others. Sorry to hear it.

Fade doesn't like something? I am shocked. Shocked, I say!

But to be honest, I'm actually interested to hear your thoughts. I don't have anything against opposing views. The movie, which has a very special place in my heart, wasn't exactly universally loved.

filmfanatic · Jun 26, 2013

PatrThom said:
The only one of these I have seen/read is the movie adaptation of The Incredible Shrinking Man.

--Patrick

If you want to see a bit of a shorter format of adaptation, I suggest going through the Twilight Zone and watching some of the episodes based on his work.

PatrThom · Jun 26, 2013

Oh, I've seen other things (like his "Star Trek" episode). I just meant of the things listed.

--Patrick

filmfanatic · Jun 26, 2013

Understandable. It was just a suggestion.

It truly is incredible the writing that he pulled off. Even his weaker stories still had interesting ideas to them. For example, I consider "The Creeping Terror" to be one of his weaker stories but its plot concerns the idea that Los Angeles is a living organism, spreading like a virus with palm trees moving eastward and people becoming obsessed with their image, cars and playing tennis.

Bubble181 · Jun 27, 2013

filmfanatic said:
Understandable. It was just a suggestion.

It truly is incredible the writing that he pulled off. Even his weaker stories still had interesting ideas to them. For example, I consider "The Creeping Terror" to be one of his weaker stories but its plot concerns the idea that Los Angeles is a living organism, spreading like a virus with palm trees moving eastward and people becoming obsessed with their image, cars and playing tennis.

Wait, wasn't that just a documentary?

And it is sad he's gone. With a bit of luck, now well get a PKDick-like movement to make decent movies out of his short stories....

Yoshimickster · Jun 27, 2013

While he may have passed, that awesome gremlin Twlight episode he wrote will be referenced for years to come. RIP.

fade · Jun 28, 2013

ThatNickGuy said:
Fade doesn't like something? I am shocked. Shocked, I say!

But to be honest, I'm actually interested to hear your thoughts. I don't have anything against opposing views. The movie, which has a very special place in my heart, wasn't exactly universally loved.

The book was ... very different. Mostly metaphysics wrapped in a thin story veneer. The movie was one of those that intentionally tries to pull your heartstrings, to the point where it overwhelms the story and becomes the movie's whole reason for existence. At that point, in my opinion, it becomes painfully obvious--almost like trolling for sadness. It's been a while, but there were some glaring holes in the movie's own logic, too. Can't recall them off hand but I remember going, "but you just said x, and suddenly it doesn't apply?" That being said, it was beautifully filmed. But you know--opinions. I can see its appeal

ThatNickGuy · Jun 28, 2013

fade said:
The book was ... very different. Mostly metaphysics wrapped in a thin story veneer. The movie was one of those that intentionally tries to pull your heartstrings, to the point where it overwhelms the story and becomes the movie's whole reason for existence. At that point, in my opinion, it becomes painfully obvious--almost like trolling for sadness. It's been a while, but there were some glaring holes in the movie's own logic, too. Can't recall them off hand but I remember going, "but you just said x, and suddenly it doesn't apply?" That being said, it was beautifully filmed. But you know--opinions. I can see its appeal

And you know, I actually agree with you on both accounts. I actually like the metaphysic exploration in the book, even though yes, it takes front seat to the story. And the movie is definitely an emotional roller coaster. It hits me particularly personally because of Annie's depression and suicide, which is why I watch it every year on the anniversary of my mental breakdown back in 2000. I wind up crying my eyes out the whole way through, so my liking it is a lot more personal than the average movie watcher.

That said, again, I still totally agree with your thoughts.