Rendezvous With Rama

Arthur C. Clarke's Rendezvous With Rama was published in 1972 and so far we have had no film adaptations of this marvellous science fiction novel.  None.  Nada. Zilch.

The story, set over a hundred years from now, is about the arrival in our solar system of a massive fifty kilometer cylindrical spaceship (more or less ripped off in Star Trek: The Journey Home).

It is told from the perspective of the astronauts whose mission it is to intercept and enter the giant spacecraft.  What happens next? Go discover!

Back to adaptations - the occasional computer game does not sate the desire to see this on screen (the big, silver one that is).  Of course the BBC produced its own very worthy radio adaptation of the novel in 2009 which allows the listener to imagine the splendor of space and Rama itself.  However - that just simply is not good enough, is it?

Morgan Freeman was mooted to be interested in a film version of RwR but sadly nothing ever came of it.  Now at last, thanks to Vancouver Film School student Philip Mahoney (sound design) and visual media by Aaron Ross (from a previous project), we finally get a glimpse of just what RwR might look like if given the full movie treatment.

For obvious reasons, Mahoney and Ross were not able to include everything that happens in the novel in this short animation which runs for just over three minutes.  However, they manage to feature some key moments from the novel in this superbly done animation with the main thrust of Mahoney's project being taking the already prepared video and interpolating a new soundtrack upon it..  This was done with full permission (see Aaron's comments below) and - although due to individual interpretation, improves on the original.

It would be marvellous if some Hollywood big wig were to see this and decide to go ahead with creating what, in the right hands, could turn out to be a science fiction movie masterpiece.  Hopefully he would take on Philip Mahoney (showing just how important sound is) and Aaron Ross - with the awesome graphics - to work on (if not lead!) the project.

If you haven't had quite enough - here is a short making of the original film (Ross' project) that we are sure you will find interesting.

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