I have taught the novel several times, and I know it rather well. The novel is infinitely better in every way, but at least the 1980 version attempt is interesting to watch and to compare it to the text.
The 1980 version is flawed as is the 1998 version, but at least the 1980 version sticks to most of the plot most of the time. You can still understand the message Huxley was getting at despite its lapses in terms of adding characters and changing some story details. It helps to have read the novel before seeing it, but to a viewer who has not read it, the viewer would get most of the ideas found in the text.
One big problem I found: Linda was not bloated and old and horrid looking enough. When she returns to the "other place," she hardly looks any different than any other beta female. Also, if she hadn't been given blood transfusions and hormones as in the novel, she would have shown signs of aging. Here she looks like her son's girlfriend, not his mother. The actor playing John also appeared to me to be too old; the character is supposed to look younger.
I did like the fact that this version was much more ethnically diverse. The 1980 version is basically "white bread."
I have shown my students the 1998 version, as I only recently discovered the googlevideo.com site having the second version. I would like to get a copy to show some of this one too.
The 1980 version is flawed as is the 1998 version, but at least the 1980 version sticks to most of the plot most of the time. You can still understand the message Huxley was getting at despite its lapses in terms of adding characters and changing some story details. It helps to have read the novel before seeing it, but to a viewer who has not read it, the viewer would get most of the ideas found in the text.
One big problem I found: Linda was not bloated and old and horrid looking enough. When she returns to the "other place," she hardly looks any different than any other beta female. Also, if she hadn't been given blood transfusions and hormones as in the novel, she would have shown signs of aging. Here she looks like her son's girlfriend, not his mother. The actor playing John also appeared to me to be too old; the character is supposed to look younger.
I did like the fact that this version was much more ethnically diverse. The 1980 version is basically "white bread."
I have shown my students the 1998 version, as I only recently discovered the googlevideo.com site having the second version. I would like to get a copy to show some of this one too.