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Post by omega on Jun 25, 2017 9:38:14 GMT
BIG FINISH CLASSICS » 12. THE ISLAND OF DR MOREAUReleased July 2017SynopsisShipwrecked in the South Pacific, Edward Prendick finds unlikely salvation in the company of Montgomery – a disgraced medic bound for distant shores, in charge of an unusual cargo. Their destination is a mysterious jungle isle where the night is split by terrible cries, and where inhuman creatures walk upright on two legs. When Prendick meets the man who lays down the law, he realises that his nightmare is only just beginning. For this is… The Island of Doctor Moreau. Written By: HG Wells, dramatised by Ken Bentley Directed By: Ken Bentley CASTRonald Pickup (Doctor Moreau), John Heffernan (Edward Prendick), Enzo Cilenti (Montgomery), David Shaw-Parker (Captain/ Constans), John Banks (Mate-LV/ M'Ling/ Satyr-Man), Tim Bentinck (Helmar/ Captain John Davies/ Ape-Man), Daniel Goode (Seaman/ Mate-I, Dog-Man). Other parts played by members of the cast. Note: I couldn't find the thread I'd already set up
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Post by omega on Jun 25, 2017 9:40:10 GMT
Fifteen minute preview at the end of the podcast dated 26/06/2017. Podcast includes an interview with John Heffernan, who plays Prendick in this story.
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Post by whiskeybrewer on Jun 26, 2017 11:16:16 GMT
I'm really excited for this. Its my fave Wells story
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Post by TinDogPodcast on Jun 27, 2017 6:54:02 GMT
This is today's homework
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Post by TinDogPodcast on Jun 29, 2017 7:45:02 GMT
It's very nice indeed.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 29, 2017 13:59:56 GMT
In preparation for this release, I watched the 1932 Island of Lost Souls adaption starring Charles Laughton and Bela Lugosi. Even now, it packs a punch. I think we're in for a treat with this!
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Post by mark687 on Jul 2, 2017 22:03:12 GMT
Thread Bump
Due out Tuesday 4th July
Regards
mark687
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Post by number13 on Jul 4, 2017 7:48:56 GMT
Out now!
Also with extended extras (a first for the Wells range) available for download now.
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Post by IndieMacUser on Jul 4, 2017 12:45:13 GMT
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Post by acousticwolf on Jul 5, 2017 10:19:23 GMT
I pretty much agree with your review. It was very well executed but is definitely of it's time and a little slow. I thought it was funny in the extras where they talked of removing some of the slower parts . Definitely enjoyable, but if I had to rank it out of all released so far it would be third (before First Men in the Moon). Cheers Tony
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Post by kimalysong on Jul 6, 2017 14:54:00 GMT
Honestly this is my least favorite so far. I am finding it a chore to get through. I don't know if I would have enjoyed it more if I was familiar with the book but that certainly wasn't a problem for me with the previous Wells releases all of which I loved.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 6, 2017 15:31:44 GMT
I must say I am enjoying it a lot. But then, I love the book and other adaptions (even the Marlon Brando film!). Possibly my least favourite was The Shape of Things to Come - nothing to do with the sound design or acting, just the story at the centre of it all. Very pertinent for our time, but not hugely entertaining to me. I love this because of the more ovet classic horror elements, the Frankenstein-ery abominations of terrific mad scientist (a very human performance from the excellent Ronald Pickup). Added to this BF's usual wonderful sound design, and I'd place this just behind The Invisible Man in my favourites list so far.
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Post by kimalysong on Jul 6, 2017 15:43:57 GMT
I must say I am enjoying it a lot. But then, I love the book and other adaptions (even the Marlon Brando film!). Possibly my least favourite was The Shape of Things to Come - nothing to do with the sound design or acting, just the story at the centre of it all. Very pertinent for our time, but not hugely entertaining to me. I love this because of the more ovet classic horror elements, the Frankenstein-ery abominations of terrific mad scientist (a very human performance from the excellent Ronald Pickup). Added to this BF's usual wonderful sound design, and I'd place this just behind The Invisible Man in my favourites list so far. Interesting because The Shape of Things To Come was my definite favorite so far. Although I also really enjoyed Invisible Man and The First Men in the Moon . I am just having trouble getting into this one for some reason.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 6, 2017 15:46:34 GMT
I must say I am enjoying it a lot. But then, I love the book and other adaptions (even the Marlon Brando film!). Possibly my least favourite was The Shape of Things to Come - nothing to do with the sound design or acting, just the story at the centre of it all. Very pertinent for our time, but not hugely entertaining to me. I love this because of the more ovet classic horror elements, the Frankenstein-ery abominations of terrific mad scientist (a very human performance from the excellent Ronald Pickup). Added to this BF's usual wonderful sound design, and I'd place this just behind The Invisible Man in my favourites list so far. Interesting because Shape of Things To Come was my definite favorite so far. Although I also really enjoyed Invisible Man and The First Men in the Moon . I am just having trouble getting into this one for some reason. Good that these releases are appealing to people in different ways. I've always loved slow-burning stories, but I realise they're not for everyone. And I have a definite soft-spot for fictional body-horror
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Post by number13 on Jul 7, 2017 23:33:51 GMT
Every release in this Wells series has impressed me and this was no exception. The range is so varied, from quirky lunar voyaging to classic and now-familiar tales of time travel and alien invasion to the breathtaking adaptation of the 'unadaptable' textbook of visions of the future - and two scientific horror stories, a man who became invisible - and this... Wells' novel is the most horrific classic I've read, far beyond 'Dracula' or even 'Frankenstein' from which it draws some inspiration. It has 'adventure' elements - the shipwreck, the hunt, Moreau's death, the fire - but most of the horror comes from the brooding, introspective account of the thoughts of the unfortunate Edward Prendick, trapped in a living nightmare where the human and the beast are blurred again and again. This begins as a moral blurring, when the shipwrecked Prendick and his fellow survivors turn their thoughts to cannibalism. Rescue takes him to that steaming tropical island where Moreau's grotesque 'humanised' animal creations give the blurring physical form. Finally, in his isolation, Prendick begins to blur mentally with the half-beasts, sharing their lives in the dark ravine. He is saved only by the reawakening of his human spirit in sudden revulsion against the half-beasts and by their descent back to their animal natures which make them naturally hostile - all except the faithful dog-man, still 'a man's best friend' despite Moreau's cruelties, a poignant touch in the horror of corruption. Bringing the loathsome reek of Moreau's island kingdom to audio was never going to be easy, when so much of the book depends on the slow building of atmosphere and exploring moral dilemmas around life and creation, but this latest Big Finish Wells adaptation fully lived up to my expectations, Ken Bentley both dramatising and directing. The adventure elements are very well done as expected - that's a splendid audio shipwreck that opens the production - and I was also very pleased by the extent that Prendick's voice (and Wells') from his traveller's tale is used to describe his thoughts and experiences. This does mean the pace is slower than a pure adventure story, but that's only the surface of the novel and I thought the deeper, darker side came through very well indeed. Ronald Pickup gives Moreau all the certainty, arrogance and calm scientific cruelty that I'd expected; a scientist who sees absolutely nothing wrong with his hideous vivisection experiments - except their lack of full success. His star performance is a highlight of the production, but Moreau is present in only a relatively small part of the story. This is mostly Prendick's tale and John Heffernan is excellent throughout his character's long mental journey through a living nightmare, well matched by Enzo Cilenti as Moreau's accessory Doctor Montgomery. The other actors who play the - less usual - inhabitants of the island voice their grotesque characters splendidly. Big Finish productions always have very good sound design and music, and this time I thought they were both exceptional, Howard Carter's music creating an exotic, tropical atmosphere with hints of the style of classic adventure films. Steve Foxon's sound design is superb - that really is a great shipwreck at the start - and equally good at the details like footsteps on the raised wooden floor of Prendick's beach cabin, with the distant thunder of the Pacific surf. And in helping to give life to the voices of dreadful, pitiful creatures that should never have lived at all... (As you will have gathered, I thought this was another outstanding release in the Wells series. I was lucky enough to enjoy listening to it outdoors on what was by English standards a hot, humid day under the high sun of midsummer, almost like being on some island in the tropics... Most impressed that Big Finish can now apparently provide climatic design for their releases too... )
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Post by number13 on Jul 7, 2017 23:55:42 GMT
I must say I am enjoying it a lot. But then, I love the book and other adaptions (even the Marlon Brando film!). Possibly my least favourite was The Shape of Things to Come - nothing to do with the sound design or acting, just the story at the centre of it all. Very pertinent for our time, but not hugely entertaining to me. I love this because of the more ovet classic horror elements, the Frankenstein-ery abominations of terrific mad scientist (a very human performance from the excellent Ronald Pickup). Added to this BF's usual wonderful sound design, and I'd place this just behind The Invisible Man in my favourites list so far. Interesting because The Shape of Things To Come was my definite favorite so far. Although I also really enjoyed Invisible Man and The First Men in the Moon . I am just having trouble getting into this one for some reason. I'm in the interesting position of agreeing with both viewpoints! I was very impressed by 'Doctor Moreau' - it's a novel which made a strong impression on me when I first read it (at slightly too young an age, I would now think) and this adaptation does it really well. And of the range so far, 'The Shape of Things to Come' (which I was quite unhopeful of because of the ingenious but very strange style of the 'novel') was absolutely gripping and is my favourite to date, even though I couldn't have disagreed more with Wells' viewpoint! So pleased I subscribed to this range back in January, for me each one so far has done the novel proud - and they are a most varied set of stories.
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Post by TinDogPodcast on Jul 11, 2017 7:58:15 GMT
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Post by omega on Jul 11, 2017 8:00:47 GMT
Original post edited to reflect the story's release.
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Post by adamelijah on Aug 13, 2017 3:22:46 GMT
I thought it was very well-done. It took its time to build tension. The terror was palpable in the first half. I think it lost a little momentum in the second half. It's definitely a thought provoking piece.
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Post by nottenst on Sept 19, 2017 13:28:13 GMT
Finished it this weekend. I thought it was very well done, but some of the action on the island was confusing - the death of Moreau in particular. The extras were a nice set of interviews
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