That movie. That damn, wonderful movie.

[lapis_lazuli615]

Heinlein is a staple of Science Fiction. One of the Grand Masters, inventor of the waterbed and the waldo, he is sacred. There are a certain number of books - about three - that old hands will toss newbies to give them a feel for Heinlein.

Being one of the gateway books into Heinlein, The Puppet Masters is a War of the Worlds era story about an

Comments

[lordrexfear]

That co-ed shower scene features some great nudity too.

Jake Busey rocks in that flick too almost as much as NPH. Neil isn't in the shower scene though, so Jake gets a nod a bit.

Man, memories. You pulled a good bad movie out from the head indeed.

[lapis_lazuli615]

Some GREAT nudity... if you're into that kind of thing. ;) What I like about it the most, I think, is that those in the scene are completely unconscious of the nudity. It's just how things are.

Agreed, Jake Busey actually is QUITE good in ST. As good as his dad, pre-motorcycle brain damage. (side note: I went to IMDB to confirm he is, in fact, Gary's son, which he is, and learned that Jake is one year to the day younger than me. Cool!)

I really do love this movie. If the other Heinlein fans could just ignore the title and enjoy the romp, they'd be much happier.

[adoptedwriter]

Stranger in a Strange Land sounds interesting. AW

[lapis_lazuli615]

Stranger is probably Heinlein at his finest. He sat on that idea for years and when he finally wrote it, it was long and Some people don't like it - it tends to polarize folks wrt Heinlein - but you may. Give it a try!

I would also suggest The Moon is a Harsh Mistress. Also one of his finest hours.

[halfshellvenus]

I'm not a Heinlein fan (I might be an anti-fan based on "Stranger in a Strange Land"), but this was an interesting read! You know your Heinlein and its movie equivalents (and where the pitfalls are of even attempting to convert the books to movies), but for something that a lot of fans might hate, you've abstracted the spirit of what the book made you feel into a test of whether the movie pulls off the abstraction well enough.

That's hard to do, but it's kind of like how I feel about The Accidental Tourist. Love the book, and though Geena Davis's portrayal of Muriel did not match how that character worked for me in the book... the gestalt was still basically the same as the book. That is incredibly rare!

[lapis_lazuli615]

In fact, I do know my Heinlein. I'm sure there's more to know - and I would have LOVED to have met the man himself - but I've spent many years reading him, collecting his books and movies made based from his work (I even have a copy of Destination: Moon, which was by far ahead of its time as far as special effects because Heinlein - himself an engineer - was scientific consultant on the movie and wanted it RIGHT! :) )

Yes, the movie's not the same. Is it the same feel, the same gestalt? I think so. There are some (many) who do not.

Also, any sequels? They did not happen. Just sayin. :)

[orockthro]

Despite him being a classic, and my own love of Sci Fi, I've never read him! I tend to find old-school Sci-Fi pretty dated whenever I try. Nor have I seen Starship Troopers all the way through, but I feel like it is so culturally known I don't have to, lol! I'm glad you enjoyed it. I know for many it became a parody. But it was intended honestly, I think, and I think you were right to adjust your expectations. :)

[uncawes]

Dina Meyer for eye candy, definitely.
Clancy Brown was the most realistic drill sergeant I've ever seen in any movie.
I haven't read the book, but the movie is one that I like to pull out from time to time and watch, without having to dissociate it from the book.
Glad you're able to enjoy both for their own merits

[lapis_lazuli615]

Dina is definite eye candy, as well as a badass soldier in this one.

Have you not seen Full Metal Jacket? Or are you talking about the bit where he shows he cares about his recruits, just not in front of them? (I actually was going to suggest that part of his ability as a drill sergeant was his voice, and then I found out he's the voice of Mr Krabs from Spongebob Squarepants. So I retract that. lol)

I haven't given you Troopers to read yet? ACK! How have I missed that one?? Or have I given it to you and you've not read it yet because of the movie implications?

[lapis_lazuli615]

There are some things I find him dated on. Some social mores from his time period (rare, but occasional) and some technology. But I've recently been re-watching Friends with my daughter. And, honest to god, I'm laughing my ass off about the corded (and cordless) phones and the schticks played off of those. Talk about dated technology, right? But they're still funny.

Heinlein was a hard sci fi writer. He was VERY good at looking forward and seeing which way technology would leap. He and his wife would work days plotting navigation that literally ended up as a one paragraph part of the story, but he wanted it to be right. And as I said, he INVENTED the waterbed and the waldo for his stories. You might give him a try. I wouldn't suggest starting with Starship Troopers tho, the book itself can be a little preachy. Possibly The Moon is a Harsh Mistress?

[poppetawoppet]

STARSHIP TROOPERS IS A MASTERPIECE

I love that movie

[lapis_lazuli615]

YAY! :)