[SFRA-L] more on PKD and the movies

[Easterbrook, Neil]

And this, the final paragraph of Gary Westfahl's review (http://www.locusmag.com/Reviews/2011/03/philip-k-diminished-a-review-of-the-adjustment-bureau/) of TAB:


"There is one line in the film, more so than any other, that perhaps sums up why Hollywood adaptations of Philip K. Dick are so problematic: discussing his plans to elude the system’s agents, Norris suggests an “improvisation” and Harry is pleased, explaining “We have trouble with that.” For as I have argued elsewhere (commentary here<http://www.locusmag.com/2005/Features/03_Westfahl_RAH_PKD.html>), Dick was one of the great improvisers of science fiction, happy to begin a story without knowing how it would end and letting it find its own conclusion; in contrast, improvisation is the one thing that contemporary filmmaking cannot tolerate, since every single move must be carefully planned and road-tested before allowing a film to reach theatres. Even as I speak, members of the Adjustment Bureau are surely hard at work, transforming other Dick stories into palatable entertainment for the masses, but to really understand what this singular writer had to say, one may always need to read his original works."
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