All products are BRAND NEW and factory sealed. Fast shipping! 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed. Sales tax, where applicable, is included in the sales price.
Latest 6 Reviews Here is what people are saying about the The Lathe of Heaven
"Excellent story"
2009-08-16
- Reviewed By User: A2EGSW95NKVDDZ
One of my favorit all time movies. It rates up there with ONCE UPON A TIME IN THE WEST. The ending is a little confusing and even the writer was not sure what the ending meant but it is fun to discuss with your friends and try to figure out.
Ursula K. LeGuin is among the most literary of SF writers. Her stories center on human strengths, faults, and dilemmas. Fantasy elements in her story just highlight these traits, never becoming the story in themselves.
This adaptation of her famous novel presents George Orr, a normal enough guy convicted of some minor drug infraction. When he shows up for court-ordered therapy, the reason for the drugs comes out: he takes them to sleep without dreaming. His dreams terrify him, not as nightmares would, but only after he awakens. Those bizarre images from dreamworld logic turn out to have changed the real world in their image - and changed them so completely that all of human history changes, too, in ways the let George's new world make sense. Only George remembers the old world as well as the new.
Dr. Haber takes on George's case and quickly discovers the truth of George's power. I'm sure everyone agrees, there's plenty in this world that could be improved. Haber sees it his god-given duty to make those improvements, using technological control over George's dreaming mind. A classic story of scientific hubris follows, with blind disregard for many warnings signs along the way. One can almost imagine George and Haber as two discoverers of fire: the one seeking only a way to put it out, the other determined to set the world abalze.
This 1980 movie was probably put together in the late 70s. It carries many marks of that time, including some [[ASIN: B00004VVNB Logan's Run]] visual styling, bell-bottoms, and Brutalist architecture. I doubt mere coincidence in the close fit between the Brualist research institute that Haber creates for himself and his brutal approach to George and to the world in general. This modest movie succeeds well, despite minimal effects and total lack of guns'n'chases action. Perhaps it lacks the delicacy of LeGuin's original, but offers plenty to the thinking viewer.
-- wiredweird
"a movie from my memory"
2008-11-24
- Reviewed By User: A1YJ0L5N6GLO0C
I remembered this movie from when it was on TV and have looked for it since. The quality of the movie is weak, poor lighting not much spent on props or special effects. It looks more like a play on stage being recorded. The story line however and much of the acting carries the poor cinematography. I am glad to add it to my sci fi collection.
I watched this movie on PBS when I was 11 years old. I'm 40 now and believe me this movie has stuck around my memory since then.
I dont even truly think then I understood what the backstory of the movie was about but it was one of my first forays into Science Fiction and I do know that i watched it several times when it aired and still loved it. That and Doctor Who:) I love you PBS:)
A very good science fiction story, but the video quality is not as good, obviously as per the backaging information. This story is a good one for Hollywood to pick up and re-do using a bigger budget. It certainly is a worthwhile classic to have.
This is a classic work that will be very difficult to view only once. I will not repeat the plot as many reviewers have, you get the idea if you've read all the reviews. No matter how many times I view Lathe, I find something new that can be drawn from the story. Even with the lack of video quality and dated effects, I can completely suspend my disbelief simply because the story is so compelling. Do we not all dream and wake only to find the world has changed around us as a result of what we have dreamt? Isn't there a part of us that would like to set the ills of the world right, and haven't we all been on the wrong end of the best laid plans of mice and men? The story really has no villains, only circumstance. On some level there are parallels with the gothic novel "Frankenstein", the conflict between morality and science, experimentation with noble intention without thought of consequences. You decide what the story means. Le Guin won't tell you in her interview. Just a word of caution: be careful what you wish for.
Last updated: Nov 23, 2009 at 12:44 EST. Pricing information is provided by the listed merchants. GoSale.com is not responsible for the accuracy of pricing information, product information or the images provided. Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on amazon.com or other merchants at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product. As always, be sure to visit the merchant's site to review and verify product information, price, and shipping costs. GoSale.com is not responsible for the content and opinions contained in customer submitted reviews.
Expedited Available
"Excellent story"
"Thoughtful cautionary tale"