Rating: 
Summary: Understated adaption of a sci fi classic
Review: The Lathe of Heaven refers to the dreams of George Orr, a seemingly ordinary young man whose dreams shape the waking reality of the world. In fact, his dreams change the entire past, present and future history in such a way that only he and his puzzling friend Manny seem to have any memory of an alternate past after he awakens. Afraid that he may dream some horrible fate upon the world, George turns to drugs for dream suppression --- only to overdose and earn himself court-ordered therapy with appointed psychiatrist Dr. Haber. Haber starts out with the best intentions, but as their dream therapy sessions progress he finds himself believing Orr's fantastic claims, and temptation leads him to manipulate George's dreams for his own advancement. George soon catches on to what his doctor is doing, confronts him, and sets in motion a race not only for his own freedom but the future of humanity. TLOH works on the level of a psychological thriller rather than action-based science fiction. A somewhat surrealistic atmosphere underlies every scene, leading us to question whether or not each incarnation of reality after Geoorge wakes may be yet another extension of his dreaming. The philosophical questions provoked by George's unique situation (Is all reality but a dream? Is Manny even a real person? Is George the defacto God of his universe?) have an unmistakable existentialist slant. I admit to never having read the novel by Ursula K. LeGuin upon which TLOH is based. Therefore, I approached this made for cable TV adaptation with no particular expectations. I thought it was well done for what it was, although by no means could it compete with a high-budget feature film production. Still, the small cast of main actors were exceptionally well chosen for their roles: James Caan was comfortable as Dr. Haber and convinced me that he may well have been a psychologist in another life; Lukas Haas was the perfect innocent; Lisa Bonet, while playing the same character type as always, really seemed suited to the role of coolly mysterious attorney/ dream girl Heather LaLache. In all, the cheerless gray future of @ 30 years from now is realized very plausibly, mainly through set and wardrobe design, with little attempt at "sci-fi-isms" such as robot servants or aliens (which I understand made an appearance in the original version). If you can suspend your disbelief and appreciate toned-down, philosophical science fiction, you will be able to enjoy the Lathe of Heaven. -Andrea, aka Merribelle
Rating:
Summary: Understated adaption of a sci fi classic
Review: The Lathe of Heaven refers to the dreams of George Orr, a seemingly ordinary young man whose dreams shape the waking reality of the world. In fact, his dreams change the entire past, present and future history in such a way that only he and his puzzling friend Manny seem to have any memory of an alternate past after he awakens. Afraid that he may dream some horrible fate upon the world, George turns to drugs for dream suppression --- only to overdose and earn himself court-ordered therapy with appointed psychiatrist Dr. Haber. Haber starts out with the best intentions, but as their dream therapy sessions progress he finds himself believing Orr's fantastic claims, and temptation leads him to manipulate George's dreams for his own advancement. George soon catches on to what his doctor is doing, confronts him, and sets in motion a race not only for his own freedom but the future of humanity. TLOH works on the level of a psychological thriller rather than action-based science fiction. A somewhat surrealistic atmosphere underlies every scene, leading us to question whether or not each incarnation of reality after Geoorge wakes may be yet another extension of his dreaming. The philosophical questions provoked by George's unique situation (Is all reality but a dream? Is Manny even a real person? Is George the defacto God of his universe?) have an unmistakable existentialist slant. I admit to never having read the novel by Ursula K. LeGuin upon which TLOH is based. Therefore, I approached this made for cable TV adaptation with no particular expectations. I thought it was well done for what it was, although by no means could it compete with a high-budget feature film production. Still, the small cast of main actors were exceptionally well chosen for their roles: James Caan was comfortable as Dr. Haber and convinced me that he may well have been a psychologist in another life; Lukas Haas was the perfect innocent; Lisa Bonet, while playing the same character type as always, really seemed suited to the role of coolly mysterious attorney/ dream girl Heather LaLache. In all, the cheerless gray future of @ 30 years from now is realized very plausibly, mainly through set and wardrobe design, with little attempt at "sci-fi-isms" such as robot servants or aliens (which I understand made an appearance in the original version). If you can suspend your disbelief and appreciate toned-down, philosophical science fiction, you will be able to enjoy the Lathe of Heaven. -Andrea, aka Merribelle
Rating: 
Summary: Lathe of Heaven - 2002
Review: The only way this type of butchered travisty will not happen again is to vote with your dollars. This remake, which aired on A&E, is one of the worst efforts I have seen in a long time. Get the original PBS version, also available on Amazon, if you want to get the feel of the real story, or buy the book. Sometimes failure is important to learn to be better and to stop under-estimating the audience. This 2002 production has a lot to teach about failure. Unfortunately, for those of us who know the original production and book, it's an unnecessary lesson that is unbearable to watch.
Rating:
Summary: Don't waste your time
Review: This has got to be the worst remake I have yet to see! If A & E was too concerned with being politically correct to do this correctly, they should have left this alone. As it is they produced a senseless watered down version that made no since because they ignore the fact that it all is a dream world created by George Orr. Where are the aliens, the plague, gray people, etc. While I like both Lisa Bonet & Lukas Haas, neither was suited for this movie. If you want to see this produced correctly rent the original that is finally available after 20 years of petty arguing between the writers and PBS or better yet read the book.
Rating:
Summary: NOT THE ORIGINAL!!!
Review: This is a recent version of the "Lathe of Heaven", not the
PBS version from the early 80's. While the first version was
a wonderfully crafted adaptaion of the original story, this
is a maudline love story that never rises above the mundane. I saw a special preview of this movie at the recent World
SF convention. I went to see it thinking it was the same
"Lathe of Heaven" that I had seen on PBS 20 years ago. A movie
so powerful that although I saw it only the once I still remember
it well. I was thrilled at the chance to see it again. I was
so very disappointed. Nothing about this is worth watching. Buy the 1980 version
instead.
Rating:
Summary: The Snore of Heaven
Review: This is possibly the worst adaptation of a book I've ever seen. I loved this book, but watching this hatchet job was unbearable. I got about half way through, but 62 minutes into it I couldn't take it anymore. The PBS adaptation was well written and convincingly acted, but looked dated. When I saw this in the video store I rented it with high hopes of a more modern adaptation. What I got was a travesty. This is two in as many days, the recent butchery of Tom Clancy's "Sum of All Fears" also coming out this week. Yet, after seeing this trash, Clancy should be thankful Haas didn't get his book.
This adaptation is also about a man who changes reality with his dreams, but beyond that any semblance to the original story is purely coincidental. The acting is somnambulistic and insipid. The actors deliver their uninspired dialogue with all the passion of a canned sardine, with a screenplay that smells like the aforementioned entombed minnow. Any coherent reason for telling this story has been faithfully purged, leaving an empty carcass of about 100 minutes. Life is too short to waste on this tripe. Do something more intellectual with the time, like clean your fingernails, but avoid this travesty like the plague.
Rating:
Summary: A&E's Loathe of Heaven
Review: This is the amongst the worst adaptations I've ever witnessed. Watching it was a complete waste of time. Any resemblance to either Ursula K. LeGuin's novel or the superb first movie from PBS is coincidental. The writer ignores the philosophical and religious undertones of the novel -- captured beautifully in the earlier PBS production -- and prefers a monolithic, one-dimensional telling of a completely different story with entirely different characters, motives and consequences. The acting, if you can call it that, is likewise monolithic and uninspired. Particularly disappointing were Cann and Haas, the main protagonists. Lisa Bonet attempts to rescue some scenes, but the wooden acting by Haas spoils her efforts. The one inspired element of the production, the scenes between David Strathairn's Mannie, is left useless by a lack of reason or context for the character's apparent knowledge. It doesn't help that in the original book and movie this role was filled by one of the space aliens, dreamed up by main character. In the A&E production Mannie is left hanging on a vine unattached to any other of the story's branches. The whole effect is one of confusion instead of focussing the thought provoking ideas presented in both the original novel and PBS's far superior production. My advice is to ignore this turkey. Buy the book and read it, or if you must view a video production, go with the inspired PBS production of 1981. This A&E production is shallow, uninspired and totally without merit when compared with the other sources.
Rating: 
Summary: ease up...
Review: This movie doesn't deserve the terrible ratings everyone has been giving it. You can't compare a movie to the book, it will never be as good. I personally enjoyed this movie a great deal. It is artistic and I like the way it was left open to interpretation. Casting was pretty effective, and the gradual shift in style from the cold and grey beginning to the vibrant end was well done. I would recommend it for anyone who likes a thought-provoking movie.
Rating:
Summary: Horrible, simply horrible
Review: This new version of the legendary PBS movie is a total waste of time. It's awefull. It's boring, slow, dull, and worse of all: NO ALIENS!!!! How could they leave out the aliens?
Do yourself a huge favor and see the PBS version ( which is available here at Amazon ) Or go read the book.
Rating:
Summary: not bad remake/update, decent performance, other was better
Review: This update remake of the Ursula LeGuin science fiction classic,
has half way decent performances, but it's hardly as good as the
original, it's been toned down a bit, it does have an ironic twist. Lukas Haas and James Caan are fine as Orr and the doctor.
Lisa Bonet is cute as Heather. Try to check out the original though, which is a better version.
| 
