MovieChat Forums > MacGyver (2016) Discussion > Classic example of people that don't "ge...

Classic example of people that don't "get it".

posted 8 years ago by irvintang
15 replies | jump to latest

They're trying to make this into an action show when action shows are already a dime a dozen. MacGyver was never about the shooting and action, it's about the science. Yet, they make the science part with fast cuts and shaky cameras as though they're ashamed of it.

There's a reason why mythbusters were so popular, there are a large number of people that enjoyed science and the wacky experiments they do. If they would only put more emphasis on the science instead of the actions, it would've been a better show.

Now it's nothing more than a cheap shell of its predecessor and an even lamer action show amongst hundreds of other action shows. It's like Michael Bay trying to make a star trek movie......what an abomination.

[–] Rics-EQ2 8 years ago

I don't think the show is horrible, but I do absolutely agree with you. It definitely feels like they are trying to draft behind the success of Scorpion. The problem is, Scorpion beat them to the punch and the do it better. In fact, if you replaced Walter with MacGyver in Scorpion you'd have a better example of a MacGyver reboot.

Now, the old 80's MacGyver would never work in a 2016 setting...but they could do a much better job focusing on the creative and improvised ways to thwart problems.

I'm so hip I have trouble seeing over my pelvis.

[–] blackflag01609 8 years ago

I don't claim to watch "Scorpion", as a matter of fact I wouldn't be caught dead watching "Scorpion" (I don't agree with what Hollywood's idea of a tech hacker/genius is!) but from what I understand from the commercials they are all tech genius's. MacGyver is about into technology as he is into guns - he uses it in his own way but that's about it. How would that make "Scorpion" a better "MacGyver"?

Personally I think that if people would watch this show without their preconceived notions of "it's going to fail" and hold back their "that's not the way I'd do it" you might just discover that it's a bit closer to the original than you thought. How many of you recognized the car battery, jumper cables, nickel was taken from the episode "Trumbo's World" (generator, cable, 2 half dollars)? The world today is much more violent than it was and this show needs to reflect that. You can't expect the bad guys to all be idiots like they did in 1985 (and they did seem to be uneducated in basic science at least!)

[–] Rics-EQ2 8 years ago

I don't claim to watch "Scorpion", as a matter of fact I wouldn't be caught dead watching "Scorpion" (I don't agree with what Hollywood's idea of a tech hacker/genius is!) but from what I understand from the commercials they are all tech genius's.

Well, when if you ever do watch Scorpion you'll see exactly why I said that. First all, only one of them is a "tech genius" (the main character) and he's far from exclusively that. He has one of the highest IQs ever, which expands far far far beyond "tech". He can do everything from build rockets to anything involving chemistry.

Happy (the girl) is a mechanical genius and engineering prodigy. She's all about tools and physical mechanics. There's nothing she does that MacGyver wouldn't do (or try to do). All her contributions to problem solving involve non-hacking/tech. Nuts and bolts and engineering.

Sylvester is a mathematical genius. His contributions are the ability to quickly do complex math problems to solve things. He's computing trajectory and distance and casualty ratios and...well, anything math.

Tobey is a psychologist and behavior annalist prodigy.

Walter is the only tech guy, and again, he solves problems in episodes every bit as often without a computer than he does with one...maybe even more. They solve things using science in all its capacities.

There's entire episodes that have nothing to do with hacking (most of them even). Using their genius and math and engineering to rescue someone in a car trapped over a cliff. Another episode has them rescuing a kid trapped in sinkhole on a beach.

MacGyver is about into technology as he is into guns - he uses it in his own way but that's about it. How would that make "Scorpion" a better "MacGyver"?

There's the problem...it's 2016 and the 80's MacGyver wouldn't/couldn't work. Not when everything in 2016 is ran with tech and computers. That's why they HAVE to have a hacker on the show.

How is Scorpion a better MacGyver? Simple really. They solve things in more scientific ways, don't use weapons, are as far away from combat/violence/confrontation as you can get, and do more MacGyver "make due with the resources you have in the moment" things than the new show could hope to touch.

Also they've already done it. Stop a virus episode? (2:19) Scorpion did it better. Behind enemy lines rescue mission? (2:20) Scorpion did it better.

This new MacGyver uses his little tricks to get past minor inconveniences (elevator door, fingerprints, etc) while the main plot has so far been thwarted by muscle and gunfights and...Jack. Scorpion uses science, math, engineering, improvisation etc to solve every major plotline.

I'm so hip I have trouble seeing over my pelvis.

[–] 8 years ago

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[–] blackflag01609 8 years ago

I still don't plan on watching "Scorpion". I have not seen a commercial yet that had had anything to draw me into liking it. If anything "Scorpion" looks like CBS tried to reboot "Numbers", another show I couldn't get past the promos for.

As long as it has the words "based on" in the beginning I guarantee the creators of the original couldn't care less what this version does, or how alike or different it is from the original. They get a paycheck every time an episode is aired and that is what they care about. It's been 30 years, I seriously doubt that this version of the show is going to harm the original in any way, shape, or form. You control the remote. You control your ability to turn it off. If it hurts you ideas of what the original is I suggest you TURN IT OFF. No-one is forcing you to watch it (or like it).

I think it's time the fans of the original that don't like the reboot go back to the original. I don't understand why you find it necessary to watch and/or complain about shows you can't stand. Maybe that's because I've got enough sense to either turn the channel or read a book instead of wasting my time watching things I don't like.

[–] 8 years ago

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[–] tody711 8 years ago

Scorpion is a far better show. The characters are more interesting. The science is better.

[–] blackflag01609 8 years ago

The show is not coming up with any new ideas to get out of situations. It's borrowing too much from the original show. Your own quote applies better to Scorpion if you some day decide to give the show a shot. I would think a former fellow POI watcher would trust another former fellow POI watcher's judgment when it comes to quality of a show.

I don't trust people at all. Especially people I meet on the Internet.

And just so you know, this 2nd episode that you dislike so much was written by a former POI writer and as you know guest starred a former POI star (the character of which I liked better than Root!). That writer was one reason why she chose to do it, another being she wanted mom points with her 11yr old son. (I put a link to the article over on the POI board)

The show stinks. The constant on-screen descriptions of improvised plans insults the audience.

Don't blame those on me. Try blaming them on the test audience who wanted to see it from Mac's point of view and that's what was suggested.

[–] 8 years ago

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[–] livvy7 8 years ago

Fan of the original. I watched the first episode of this new version. Didn't like it. Won't watch again. I don't "hate watch" programs I don't like.

I'm just here to see how people who have continued to watch are taking it--and commenting along with everyone else.

[–] boxerrebellion 8 years ago

Here's the thing, I sat with two other classic MacGyver fans - in fact we used to watch the original together (one is my husband); we all really wanted to like the show - we wanted it to succeed, to bring us a new generation of MacGyver. The problem is that the new show took the name, it used character names, but that is where the REAL connection ends. Jack Dalton was not and should not be a side kick/partner. He was a PITA who showed up and brought trouble into MacGyver's life on occasion. The new show could have come up with a tie to the past - the new Angus could be the original's son or the son of a good friend. That would have been a way to way to bring the concept into the new century instead of trying to reboot and basically crapping on all that was MacGyver.

What this show is, is something totally different - they should have used different names and not tried to hoodwink the fans of the original into thinking we were getting something carried on. With this subpar writing, effects and hokey-ness, it just needs to go to the same place that all failures go and bring in the mid-season replacement.

[–] sexbunnyalex 8 years ago

Yes, the world is more violent than it used to be--but at the same time, MacGyver just isn't MacGyver though if he isn't MacGyvering his way out of situations, and instead relies on his team. Like when Jack Dalton pulled up to the building with his car--the original Mac would have thought of a way out of there. But the writers instead insist on having this crutch. And it puts MacGyver out of danger entirely.

The appeal of MacGyver is -- HOW IS HE GOING TO GET OUT OF THIS MESS? What tools are there to use that will save him? They basically tried to make it an action show where MacGyver is a spy with a team and Jack Dalton is the real main character but they named it MacGyver to appeal to Macgyver fans. (Without realizing that it's more likely to alienate them if you don't throw them more bones than just a few references to the original)

[–] irvintang 8 years ago

Exactly!! It's what made the original Mac so great......hell....it's even what made The walkind dead great, they just substitute the bad situations with zombies and the science with survival instincts.

This show got too many characters in it, it doesn't allow mac to be in a really bad situation where he needs to improvise. Also, I just think we have bad directors and writers.

[–] jstatser 8 years ago

Reminds me of the way Mission Impossible was made into action movies instead of suspenseful The Sting type con-double con stories of the original series.

The new series Macgyver reminds me more of Burn Notice than the original MacG. We even got George Eads/Jack Dalton as Bruce Campbell/Sam Axe. Sandrine Holt/Patricia Thornton is almost as hot as Gabrielle Anwar/Fiona Glenanne.

"Pardon me while I have a strange interlude"- Marx

[–] jimdarling 8 years ago

"Now it's nothing more than a cheap shell of its predecessor"
~
Did you really expect anything else? Hollywood hasn't made a good "remake" in over 30 years. 😧