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u/gadget850 7d ago
I'm still salty about this, and I wrote this long diatribe because I am a fan of the novel this is supposedly based on. I was excited when I first read of the adaptation in StarLog, but ultimately disappointed.
The 1982 film The Beastmaster, directed by Don Coscarelli, is loosely derived from the 1959 science fiction novel The Beast Master by the acclaimed author Andre Norton. While the movie borrows the central concept of a hero with telepathic abilities to communicate with animals, it significantly deviates from the novel's plot, setting, and characters.
Here's a breakdown of the key differences:
Setting:
Novel: The book is set in a post-apocalyptic, interstellar future. The protagonist, Hosteen Storm, is a Navajo veteran of an intergalactic war. Earth has been destroyed, and he emigrates to the planet Arzor, a frontier world where human colonists and a native alien race, the Norbies, coexist uneasily. It has a distinct science fiction western feel.
Movie: The film takes place in a prehistoric, sword-and-sorcery fantasy setting. There are no spaceships, advanced technology, or alien races. The world is one of kings, evil sorcerers, barbarian hordes, and mythical creatures.
Protagonist:
Novel: Hosteen Storm is a thoughtful and skilled Navajo warrior with a deep connection to his genetically engineered animal companions: an eagle (Baku), two meerkats (Ho and Hing), and a large feline (Surra). He is driven by a quest for revenge against the man whom he believes killed his father.
Movie: Dar is a muscular warrior whose birthright as the king's son is threatened by an evil priest, Maax. He possesses a natural ability to communicate with animals: an eagle (Sharak), two ferrets (Kodo and Podo), and a black tiger (Ruh). His motivation is primarily to avenge his destroyed village and overthrow Maax.
Plot:
Novel: The novel follows Hosteen's journey on Arzor as he tries to find his father's killer. He becomes involved in the tensions between the human colonists and the Norbies, using his unique abilities to navigate the dangers of the new world and eventually uncovering a larger conspiracy.
Movie: The film centers on Dar's quest for revenge against Maax, who orchestrated his kidnapping as an infant and later destroyed his adopted village. He gathers his animal companions and allies to confront Maax and his forces in a more straightforward fantasy adventure.
Themes:
Novel: Explores themes of displacement, cultural identity, the impact of war, and interspecies communication within a science fiction context. It delves into the complexities of a frontier society and the challenges of coexistence.
Movie: Focuses on more traditional fantasy themes of revenge, good versus evil, and the bond between humans and animals in a world filled with magic and conflict.
Andre Norton's Reaction:
Andre Norton was reportedly unhappy with the significant liberties taken with her novel. She felt the movie strayed too far from her original story and setting and requested that her name be removed from the film's credits.
In Summary:
While The Beastmaster movie takes the core idea of a protagonist with animal telepathy from Andre Norton's novel The Beast Master, it reimagines the story in a completely different genre and setting. The futuristic science fiction western of the book is transformed into a more conventional sword-and-sorcery fantasy film, with a different plot, characters, and thematic focus. The movie uses the novel as a very loose source of inspiration for its central character concept.
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u/radiant_dirge 7d ago
TLDR. Beastmaster helped define my childhood and lifelong love of fantasy. Conventional. Good day sir!!!
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u/Intelligent_Arm_7186 5d ago
Brian singer...what happened to you my dude
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u/Rebellus 5d ago
You mean Marc Singer
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u/Intelligent_Arm_7186 5d ago edited 5d ago
Marc singer...i dont know why i said Brian..lol. I just saw The Usual Suspects and said the filmmakers name...lol. I miss Marc. He was good.
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u/Appropriate-Peak6561 5d ago
On YouTube you can see Marc Singer as Petrucio in The Taming of the Shrew and he’s quite good in it.
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u/steamboat28 3d ago
loved this movie as a kid. met Singer at a con and dude was a total creep and a jerk. my friends had to drag me shouting away from the booth.
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u/IthinkIknowwhothatis 3d ago
I automatically think of the Community episode where someone’s (Pierce) Halloween costume is the Beastmaster.
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u/Capable-Tell-7197 7d ago
Hey Beastmaster’s On