The Illustrated man (1969)

[lester1/2jr]

  I'm pretty much so a big time devotee of the non star trek/ star wars variety sci fi, particularly twilight zone through, say,  70's drive in era (phase 4).  This was one of those movies that I saw as a kid that stuck in my mind and i have always wanted to see it.    Once I realized what it was I had to force myself to watch the 2 or 3 movies that had already been sent in my queue I was so excited.  I have insatiable movies cravings occasionaly.  Like, one time I just had to see a movie of a big extended european family eating a feast of some kind out in their fields, like at a marriage or something.  I wandered around the video store till I actually found one!!  I can't rememebr what it was called but it was pretty good.  Another time I had to see Joey Wang flying in  Chinese Ghost Story.  That's all I wanted at of life at that moment.


                                  The Illustrated man is not rememebered as a great film.  The complaints against it are justified namely these aren't A list Bradbury stories.  At the same time,  there was a reason it stuck in my head all these years.  Sure, the concept is weak but the directionion itself is superb as is Rod Steigers acting.  I just liked the feel of it,  kind of like a spaghetti western or a kung fu movie with two guys fighting in a field for like an hour.  A hazy laid back vibe where you can feel the summer heat and then occasional bursts of dramatic action.  At least for the first half it's pretty impressive till it sort of falls apart.  touches of greatness here and there if not a classic


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UvawDcq1YHk&feature=related

[RCMerchant]

I seen it loooooooooong ago...on TV in the early seventies. Rod Stieger is always great...and the book was excellent (it's Bradbury!) I'll have to try and catch it again. I know the feeling about "MUST SEE" movies...I went through hell and highwater to secure a copy of Al Adamson's SATAN SADITS in the early 90's...I bought it from a bootleg company-VIDEO VORTEX. I wasn't disapointed! It cost me over 20 dollars! 

[Javakoala]

I love this movie.  I was a huge Bradbury fan and when I saw this, I was a bit blown away.  It caught the essence of Bradbury's work, though Stiger's character is a bit darker than what you usually find in the stories.

I enjoyed the way he rolled "skin illustrations" off his tongue.

Christ, now I have to find a copy somewhere.

[lester1/2jr]

The DVD had an extra about how they did the tattoo that I didn't watch.  It also had a preview for "the dukes of hazzard: the begining" a recent low brow take on the famous tv series.  so you get a great movie and a way to babysit a retarded infant for a few minutes all in one.

[Monster Jungle X-Ray]

Its a pretty enjoyable movie I thought, Rod Steiger was good. I particularly like the part about the endless rains. Here is a picture I took at Planet Hollywood in Atlanta of The Illustrated Man.

[Jack]

The perfect thing to watch on a Sunday morning when you're a bit hung over and the first caffeine of the day is getting your mind all tingly feeling - like I am now    Could'a told you that keeping a pride of lions as backyard pets would have some drawbacks.  Love that house.  Why doesn't the future look nearly as cool as they envisioned it back in the '60s?