I wish Harlan Ellison would just die already...

[Tom Hendricks]

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr-esq/harlan-ellison-sues-claiming-foxs-235987

He suing another movie that supposedly ripped him off again. Having read Harlan's stories he's trying to suppose they are ripping off, I can only concluded he is senile. Listen Harlan is an okay writer. No where near as talented/influential/creative as he believes in his mind. I wish he would just go away, really.

He probably will sue me for writing this clamming I stole it from him.

 

[Gov Kodos]

He is a cranky bastard, that's for sure. However, if someone takes my truck, I expect to be paid for its use. If Harlan can show that the ideas of the film are clearly taken from "Repent Harlequin..." he certainly is entitled to be paid for their use.

 

[CorporalCaptain]

@OP:

Have you seen the movie too? Or read the screenplay?

Have you seen the end of The Terminator recently? You know, based on the facts of that situation, his name is there for pretty good reasons.

What about the facts of this case?

 

[OmahaStar]

Nothing good can come from a thread with this title. It's inflammatory and tacky, not to mention tasteless.

 

[JarodRussell]

Nothing good can come from a thread with this title. It's inflammatory and tacky, not to mention tasteless.

So far, the thread behind the title looks good. And regarding tasteless... that boat has sailed on this message board long time ago.

 

[Broccoli]

 

[Misfit Toy]

He is a cranky bastard, that's for sure. However, if someone takes my truck, I expect to be paid for its use. If Harlan can show that the ideas of the film are clearly taken from "Repent Harlequin..." he certainly is entitled to be paid for their use.

This. OP, you are remarkably uninformed on this issue.

 

[Myasishchev]

I actually almost wrote the same thing, but decided better of it, because it was just a knee-jerk reaction to an attack by a creator I don't like upon a creator I do. However, it is better and far wiser to withhold judgment in such matters unless one is well-informed on the facts and the law. I mean, I haven't even read the pleadings, let alone "Repent Harlequin."

P.S. "The City on the Edge of Forever" sucked.

 

[JarodRussell]

It's ironic. All I've read about him is how he complains about stuff. Supposedly Roddenberry rewrote his script for City on the Edge of Forever, James Cameron stole his ideas, the I, Robot producer supposedly dismissed his script without having read it, etc, etc... he's probably not going to be remembered for his works.

 

[davejames]

The problem is, just like with comedians who get blamed for "stealing" jokes, it's hard to think of ANY scifi idea that hasn't already been thought of by another scifi writer, somewhere.

Hell, there's probably a Silver Age comic book writer who came up with a similar idea even before Harlison did.


That said... I have to admit the similarities here DO seem pretty glaring.

 

[doubleohfive]

Hate on Harlan all you want. Wishing him dead though? Really?

 

[Greg Cox]

It's ironic. All I've read about him is how he complains about stuff. Supposedly Roddenberry rewrote his script for City on the Edge of Forever, James Cameron stole his ideas, the I, Robot producer supposedly dismissed his script without having read it, etc, etc... he's probably not going to be remembered for his works.

You should try reading his actual books and stories. His works have been celebrated for decades now, and with good reason, above and beyond any gossip about his legal battles.

 

[TremblingBluStar]

That said... I have to admit the similarities here DO seem pretty glaring.

Especially given they took names directly from the story. I'd have to read the story and see the movie to make up my mind, but if the writer of the movie were planning on stealing from Ellison, why wouldn't they at least change things like common names?

Off topic, but that poster with Justin Timberlake looks silly.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

I don't see the similarities. In the film, people have the ability to live forever (because the aging gene has been deactivated) but must now actually *purchase* years for their lives - if they don't, they'll run out of time and die. Otherwise their lives are basically left to live as they see fit.

In Harlan's story, none of this happens. Everyone's lives are regulated to the Nth degree, and everyone has to do everything according to a precise schedule (being late is considered a high crime)... if you deviate from this, a certain amount of time is deducted from your lifespan. The ultimate punishment, reserved for the worst crimes, is immediate death. Unlike the world of the film, people are not immortal by design.

Those don't seem that similar, do they? Not to me, anyway.

 

[Procutus]

It's ironic. All I've read about him is how he complains about stuff. Supposedly Roddenberry rewrote his script for City on the Edge of Forever, James Cameron stole his ideas, the I, Robot producer supposedly dismissed his script without having read it, etc, etc... he's probably not going to be remembered for his works.

You should try reading his actual books and stories. His works have been celebrated for decades now, and with good reason, above and beyond any gossip about his legal battles.

What Greg said. I've been a fan of Harlan's work for years and had the pleasure of meeting the man in 1988. As someone trying to get my own work into print, I would hope that if someone made flagrant use of an idea or concept of mine, that I would be compensated in some manner.

It's been years since I read 'Repent'; now might be the time for me to pull it off the shelf for another look.

 

[Lost Periphery]

The problem is, just like with comedians who get blamed for "stealing" jokes, it's hard to think of ANY scifi idea that hasn't already been thought of by another scifi writer, somewhere.

Hell, there's probably a Silver Age comic book writer who came up with a similar idea even before Harlison did.


That said... I have to admit the similarities here DO seem pretty glaring.

Davejames, can you point out the similarities? I really don't see them.

 

[TremblingBluStar]

I don't see the similarities. In the film, people have the ability to live forever (because the aging gene has been deactivated) but must now actually *purchase* years for their lives - if they don't, they'll run out of time and die. Otherwise their lives are basically left to live as they see fit.

Sounds like a rip off of Logan's Run (the film, not the novel).

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

^ No, because in Logan's Run (book and film) nobody lives forever.

 

[JD]

^Yeah, I just watched LG for the first time a couple hours ago (and loved it BTW), and other than the fact that both are sci-fi movies with a man and woman on the run because people are after them.
As for Ellison, I have kinda mixed feelings on him, on one hand I admire him for not letting people get away with crap, but at the same time I think maybe he goes a little overboard with this stuff. I think people might take his claims a little more seriously if he didn't do this stuff constantly. It just seems like every time I hear about him he's pissed about something somebody did, or somebody's pissed about something he did.

 

[Broccoli]

I, for one, want to hear Dennis's opinion on this matter!