Movies based on TV Shows

[srinivas1015]

I'm planning on buying Star Trek The Original Series and the Motion Picture Collection.
This got me thinking, what are some other movies based on TV Shows? Which adaptation is better in each case? Pros and Cons?

We can use this thread to talk about movies based on TV shows and how they fare as a movie alone and how they stand when compared to the show, etc.

One that I can think of :

Lost In Space

TV Show>>>>Movie

Pros of the movie:
1)Bigger budget, which meant better VFX (though dated now).
2)Them getting lost in space 'voluntarily' was better IMO

Cons of the movie:
1)Doesn't have the feel/atmosphere of the TV show at all.
2)The casting is all wrong. Penny is a brat, Will is too young and what were they thinking casting Joey freakin Tribianni as Don?!?
3)Plot is convoluted and gets a little boring.


Lost in Space IMO not only doesn't compare to the TV Show, but also fails as a standalone movie. The only redeeming points for me are the take-off sequence and the final sequence where they pass through the core.

[Pauliesr]

Land of the Lost was one also. I never watched it though so don't have any pros or cons for ya.

[charlieray1]

Geez, there have been hundreds -- and most not too good!

Dragnet, Bewitched, The Honeymooners, the Star Trek movies, The Brady Bunch movies, Twilight Zone, the Addams Family movies, The A Team, Charlie's Angels, Dark Shadows, Inspector Gadget, Mission Impossible movies, Mod Squad, Sgt Bilko, all the SNL movies, (Wayne's World, Coneheads, MacGruber, etc), Wild Wild West, Maverick.

There are tons of them.

[srinivas1015]

Originally Posted by charlieray1

Geez, there have been hundreds -- and most not too good!

Dragnet, Bewitched, The Honeymooners, the Star Trek movies, The Brady Bunch movies, Twilight Zone, the Addams Family movies, The A Team, Charlie's Angels, Dark Shadows, Inspector Gadget, Mission Impossible movies, Mod Squad, Sgt Bilko, all the SNL movies, (Wayne's World, Coneheads, MacGruber, etc), Wild Wild West, Maverick.

There are tons of them.

I know, thought we could use this thread to compare various adaptations rather than just list them .

The M:I movies are more 'Tom Cruise movies' rather than Mission Impossible movies (especially Ghost Protocol which felt like a generic action movie). Same goes for The A Team which felt like a typical summer action movie.

[i007spectre]

How about the other way around movies that spawned TV shows. For me Stargate is at the top of that list. From one movie came three series and over 10 years of seasons.

[Guydowood]

M*a*s*h -

[Talon884]

Originally Posted by i007spectre

How about the other way around movies that spawned TV shows. For me Stargate is at the top of that list. From one movie came three series and over 10 years of seasons.

Don't forget ... Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea, good movie and series.

[ZoetMB]

There are several reasons why most movie adaptations of TV shows suck:
- you can do a lot more plot development over a number of episodes than you can in a 2-hour movie

- because it's expected that movies will be "bigger", movies tend to be comprised of lots of action pieces and explosions rather than character development or thought-provoking ideas. This is especially true in the case of the Star Trek movies.

[carpenyx]

Originally Posted by i007spectre

how about the other way around movies that spawned tv shows. For me stargate is at the top of that list. From one movie came three series and over 10 years of seasons.

+1.

[Scottie]

Traffic

[EricJ]

Originally Posted by ZoetMB

There are several reasons why most movie adaptations of TV shows suck:

There should be one basic criteria:
- Does the movie do a sufficient job of explaining the concept and appeal of the original that it would make you WANT to watch the series, if you'd never seen it in your life? -

In the case of The Flintstones, Scooby-Doo or The Brady Bunch Movie, the answer would likely be "no".
Maverick, X-Files:FTF and The A-Team, however, did get me curious enough to look up Netflix.

Originally Posted by charlieray1

Geez, there have been hundreds -- and most not too good!
Dragnet, Bewitched, The Honeymooners, the Star Trek movies, The Brady Bunch movies, Twilight Zone, the Addams Family movies, The A Team, Charlie's Angels, Dark Shadows, Inspector Gadget, Mission Impossible movies, Mod Squad, Sgt Bilko, all the SNL movies, (Wayne's World, Coneheads, MacGruber, etc), Wild Wild West, Maverick.

There are tons of them.

To separate the essentials into useful categories:

1) Best TV Movies with Original Cast:
- Star Trek II, IV, VI
- Star Trek: First Contact
- X-Files: Fight the Future
- Mystery Science Theater 3000: the Movie
- The Naked Gun
- Batman: the Movie (1966)
- Sesame Street: Follow That Bird

2) Best TV Movies with Recreated Cast
- The Addams Family
- Maverick
- Star Trek ('09)
- The Avengers (Fiennes/Thurman)
- Speed Racer

3) Best Indirect/Abstract Interpretation of Show Concept w/o Direct Imitation
- The Untouchables
- Mission: Impossible I
- The Fugitive

4) Let's Face It, They Never Even WATCHED the Darn Thing in Their Whole Sorry Lives
- Wild, Wild West
- Dark Shadows
- Lost in Space

[csdot]

Serenity is one of my favorites unless that doesnt count because its a continuation of the series

[s2mikey]

Originally Posted by csdot

Serenity is one of my favorites unless that doesnt count because its a continuation of the series

Yeah, that was a good flick and better than the very solid TV show. But, for this thread it might not count seeing as its really just a sequel or ending to the show.

[srinivas1015]

What about Miami Vice? I like the movie but never saw the original show. How does it compare?

Also, the Star Trek mvies taking a more serious turn might not have been a bad thing.. though I'm looking forward to begin watching TOS for the camp factor .

Star Trek WTF Moment - YouTube