"Total Recall." "Minority Report." "Paycheck." "Next." All of these films have two things in common: They're all based on a story by legendary science fiction author Philip K. Dick. And they all deviate significantly from the source material. In some cases it's a matter of wholesale changes to the plot. In other cases, it's a matter of tone and emphasis. Frequently, it's both at the same time (Hollywood is never afraid to go big). The main purpose of the tinkering inevitably seems to be to take Dick's always strange and often quite delicate concepts and render them more commercial. Allow me to translate the previous sentence: more running and explosions.
Never inclined to pass up an opportunity to render aid to the industry we love, we here at Word & Film thought we would do some of the legwork for Hollywood's next round of Philip K. Dick adaptations. Some of these methodologies are tried and true, but some are offered in the spirit of helping Hollywood blaze a new path in this lucrative mini-genre.
"A World of Talent"
Philip K. Dick Version: An Earth separatist colony is gradually being taken over by mutants with psionic abilities. The protagonist, Curt, is a precog who has the ability to recognize humans with the knack for mentally canceling out the powers of said mutants. He attempts to gain recognition for these "anti-psi's" in order to nullify the influence of the mutants.
Our Version: In Michael Bay's $200 million blockbuster, the world hangs in the balance as a group of male underwear models, or "psi's," battles a Swedish female volleyball team, or "anti-psi's," for global supremacy. The powers wielded be each group are so astounding that just using them causes the subject's shirt to blow off as a camera swirls around them at knee level. In the thrilling climax, an explosion explodes.
"Galactic Pot-Healer"
Philip K. Dick Version: A man who fixes pots on a totalitarian future earth is summoned by the alien Glimmung to join a multispecies specialist team on a quest to raise a cathedral from an alien ocean.
Our Version: Just look at that title. Do we really have to fill this in? Alright … fine. Jon Stewart steps out from behind the desk and Dave Chappelle returns from wherever he's been for the "Half Baked" sequel that scifi-loving stoners have been so feverishly anticipating. Chuckle and munch along as these two lovable scamps open a "glaucoma clinic" in the Alpha Centauri system. Rob Riggle improvises his entire role as a space cop and almost manages to make the whole thing worth it.
"The Electric Ant"
Philip K. Dick Version: A man injures his hand in a car accident and finds to his shock that his appendage is robotic. He soon learns that he is a robot and his subjective reality is controlled by a punch tape in his chest. He begins to alter his reality by adding punches. After a particularly extensive alteration, he notices that the lives of those around him have also been altered, calling into question whether or not anyone is real.
Our Version: Adam Sandler plays a harried businessman who never seems to have time to attend his children's baseball games or take his long-suffering wife (Jessica Alba) out for a romantic evening. Then he discovers he's a robot who can reprogram his own reality. Faster than you can say "Commodore 64," he's tripled his capacity at the office, made junior partner, and is bearing down on the big quarterly presentation. And yet, somewhere along the way, he discovers that the things he really cares about were right beside him the whole time. Co-starring Kevin James as a chubby guy who falls down. Tagline: "Love was never part of the program."
"Faith of Our Fathers"
Philip K. Dick Version: In a dystopian future, the world is ruled by an atheist Communist government that keeps the populace docile and cooperative through the use of hallucinogenic drugs. The protagonist accidentally ingests an anti-hallucinogen and discovers that the benevolent ruler of earth is actually a homicidal deity from outer space.
Our Version: In a bracing dystopian vision of our world, a malevolent alien deity undertakes a series of nefarious actions that dampen the human spirit and turn mankind into a race of docile sheep. People wander through their lives in a drugged-out haze, unable to tap into their true potential and doomed to lives of quiet desperation. One man heeds the call to rise up and lead the charge against this alien menace. Starring Tom Cruise in a thrilling narrative that has no particular personal resonance for him or his world view so I don't understand why you would even ask that question in the first place. You're being glib.
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