From The Seattle Times:

 

CLONUS director says he's seen this clone story before

 

By Mark Rahner

 

Seattle Times DVD writer

 

Here's an irony alert — and a lawsuit alert: a new movie about clones appears to be an uncredited clone of another movie.

 

Director Michael Bay's new science-fiction blockbuster has drawn comparisons to the '70s classics "Logan's Run" and "Coma." But "The Island" looks so much like 1979's CLONUS a.k.a. PARTS: THE CLONUS HORROR (available on DVD from Mondo Macabro, $19.95) that its director says he may seek a federal injunction to stop THE ISLAND's distribution.

 

"Clonus" is an obscure cheapie with a fascinating premise, best known now because of the ridiculing it took in a "Mystery Science Theater 3000" episode. Viewing one after the other will make you do a double take.

 

In Bay's movie, the closely monitored, mod-clothed, naive residents of a futuristic colony win a lottery to go away to a promised land called "The Island."

 

In "Clonus," the closely monitored, mod-clothed, naive residents of a futuristic colony are chosen to go to a promised land called "America."

 

In both movies, a male resident goes on the run when he discovers that the promised land is a lie, and that he's part of a colony of clones being grown to harvest their organs when the rich human originals ail. Both feature an evil scientist keeping his project a secret from the public at all costs by sending assassins after the runner.

 

Reached at his home in Ashburn, Va., "Clonus" director Robert S. Fiveson said Wednesday that he'd sneaked into a preview screening of "The Island" the previous night. "I went in hoping and praying that it was enough different than 'Clonus' so that I could just put my mind at rest and move on, but I can't. Because astonishingly enough, it not only seems to rest on the very skeleton of the film, ... there were enough (similarities) in the movie in the first third that I thought this cannot be happenstance or casual."

 

Fiveson said he'd known about the numerous Web sites and message boards that have been pointing out the similarities — even of some specific shots: "Subplots, characterizations, even down to the butterfly getting through the filter! And the chase scenes were almost in the same order and same locale."

 

What went through Fiveson's head as Bay's movie unfolded?

 

"I was thinking 'Jeez, this looks so much better than my movie. I wish I had the money.' "

 

"Clonus" cost $257,000. "The Island's" budget was $120 million.

 

Press materials for "The Island" tout its "original screenplay," which an enthusiastic Steven Spielberg sent to Bay. The story is credited to Caspian Tredwell-Owen, who co-wrote the screenplay with Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci. There's no mention of Bob Sullivan, who wrote the "Clonus" story and co-wrote the screenplay with Ron Smith, with an "adaptation" credit going to Fiveson and Myrl A. Schreibman.

 

Although he's been talking with lawyers, Fiveson said he doesn't know what he wants from "The Island" filmmakers or its studio, DreamWorks. "I'm not in this to make money, frankly." However, he said, "I wouldn't mind if this thing went to a jury trial at all."

 

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Hmm...maybe they'll copy the original TF movie :)

 

Oh no, I've got a bad feeling we'll be seeing "Robot Jox" redone and claimed to be an original TF script. :(

 

I wish they'd cancel this TF movie idea right now. It's a bad idea and as much as I would like to see it succeed, I just know they're going to be TF into a laughingstock with this project. That bozo who said yesterday that the original G1 voice actors were basically hacks ticked me off and this article goes to show you how low some people will sink in their quest to be "original". And this is the same crew working on TF. No thanks, I'll pass. Please, please let the project die a merciful death BEFORE it goes any further.

 

Chris

please STFU

:pfx

HR, be nice.

 

I'm even more doubtful of the TF movie now...if Bay's little more than a hack, well...maybe someone else should handle it. Doesn't help that most of his movies have been TERRIBLE.

Honestly, I don't think that Don Murphy is stupid enough to plagerize the script for "robot jox".(I recall that movie, and so did a lot of other folks. It had the guy who played the human cop in the series "alien nation" as achilles, the main character of the movie.) Usually, studios are VERY careful of what exactly they can use from other sources, and what they can't.

 

Also, I'd like to believe that with the effort and time being put into this, that sdomething good will come out of it. All we can do is wait and see. And if we don't like the movie, well, then we merely need never watch it again.

man Mystery Science Theater 3000 rocked its a shame its not on TV any more here

 

on topic Bay did not write the movie so how was he to know its alot like an older movie and the new TF movie will rock tho bashing the old voice actors was teh ghay

The original VO team was far better than most cartoon voice actors today...

You know, they could have avoided this whole Blotpile by calling the movie a remake.

You know, they could have avoided this whole shitpile by calling the movie a remake.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

yeah, that'd bring in the audiences in droves.

 

BTW it's a real bummer that all this stuff is happening with the TF movie b/c now people won't take it seriously anymore......

 

.........

 

 

 

 

 

 

:rofl

They can only call it a remake if it redoes the original story.

 

As for the original voice talent, I say let them do it if it makes the movie work. Otherwise, get people that will make it work. The key word here should be "believability", insomuch as can be fostered in a setting where giant robots that transform invade the earth. (and your bank account via your child seeing it on TV for $49.95! :D  )