ROTTEN TOMATOES: Michael Crichton Passes Away (1942-2008) Comments

Michael Crichton Passes Away (1942-2008)

by Jen Yamato | November 05, 2008

Summary

Best-selling author, screenwriter, and director Michael Crichton has passed away at the age of 66. The medical doctor-turned-filmmaker was best known for writing techno-thrillers (The Andromeda Strain, Westworld, Jurassic Park) and for creating the award-winning medical drama ER, now in its 15th and final season. Back to Article

(1-39 of 39 posts) | Reply

Oz_79 writes:
on Nov 05 2008 12:03 PM

Wow! RIP, Mr. Crichton...really enjoyed your books and movies.

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chasetinnell writes:
on Nov 05 2008 12:05 PM

A Great Author, Director, and Screenwriter. Ive grown up with his books and movies my whole life, a very sad day. He will be missed.

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Jen Yamato writes:
on Nov 05 2008 12:08 PM

I remember poring over Jurassic Park and Congo and Sphere as a kid, and Andromeda Strain in particular stayed with me the first time I watched it. But I do wonder what happened over the years...his works seemed to get cheesier and more befitting a telefilm/direct to video flick than major motion picture.

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GRIZ writes:
on Nov 05 2008 12:54 PM

RIP sir, you will be missed! Jurassic Park changed my life.

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HyperionChild writes:
on Nov 05 2008 01:12 PM

I remember seeing "The Andromeda Strain" as a child, and then reading the novel as a teenager. The novel and movie were both pivotal in developing my appreciation for Speculative Fiction.
This news came as a real shock....didn't even know he was ill....I saw him being interviewed a couple of months ago on Glen Beck's CNN Program (before Beck lift CNN) talking about Global Warming and his "Next" book.
Rest In Piece to Michael Crichton and condolences to his family.

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Mike W. writes:
on Nov 05 2008 01:12 PM

In reply to this comment (#2115251)
wow that was really respectful to his legacy Ms. Yamato

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HyperionChild writes:
on Nov 05 2008 01:16 PM

My mistake....he was discussing "State Of Fear", not "Next"

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Eat.Before.We.Eat.You writes:
on Nov 05 2008 01:51 PM

Every Crichton book I've ever read has had an awful ending. When I got finished with Sphere, I actually yelled out, "OH, COME ON! WHAT THE @%&# WAS THAT?!?!?!?" I don't mean to kick the guy while he's down (and by down I mean, you know, six feet under), I just thought I'd make known my contempt for his endings. They suck.

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blattman writes:
on Nov 05 2008 01:54 PM

I loved everyone of his novels. As for Westworld, it still works in todays movie standards. His passing will be noticed. Sigh!

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astrangefish writes:
on Nov 05 2008 02:02 PM

Jen, although of course you are entiltled to your opinion, i have to say that there never has been/never will be be a writer, director, actor etc who ONLY produces excellent work. Occasionallly though, there are those who have produced MANY excellent works and are/will always be giants in their field, of which Michael Crichton is definately one.

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ZiGyStRdUsT writes:
on Nov 05 2008 02:30 PM

Jen was only pointing out that he was trending towards lesser works in the latter part of his career, which is a fair statement. She wasn't belittling the other stuff Crichton did and she didn't say that it's possible to come out with quality work 100 percent of the time.

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nathanpoitras writes:
on Nov 05 2008 02:50 PM

Jurassic Park is one of the most enjoyable things I've ever read, I still remember how excited I was for the movie to come out back in '93. I'll say this though, even the genius of Steven Spielberg wasn't able to live up to the words put down by Michael Crichton. Rest in peace.

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mrshock13 writes:
on Nov 05 2008 02:53 PM

Wow, R.I.P. Mr. Crichton. Your books were absolutely phenomenal, and were some of the books that really got me into sci-fi. Your books made me think about preconceived notions of science and technology, and some of the possibilities of human civilization. You will be sorely missed.

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ledawg1138 writes:
on Nov 05 2008 02:56 PM

Where would we be without Jurrassic Park? R.I.P.

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indiefilmfan2 writes:
on Nov 05 2008 02:57 PM

His books always had great entertainment value. I even liked Timeline, and the film was not that bad. Certainly better than its 11% tomatometer. You will be missed.

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Namtopia writes:
on Nov 05 2008 04:23 PM

NoooooO!!!! I'm still grieving Arthur C Clarke! This is too much!!

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idratherbe8587 writes:
on Nov 05 2008 04:23 PM

Jurassic Park is the reason I am a film major. RIP

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Dachshund96 writes:
on Nov 05 2008 04:32 PM

First book I read from M.C. was The Andromeda Strain. I enjoyed his books because they are very technical in detail and pretty fascinating. Thanks for the good stories.

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Henry Ham writes:
on Nov 05 2008 04:51 PM

JP was the first vhs my parents ever bought. I remember we bought it at Costco and I was super excited.

The End.

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collex writes:
on Nov 05 2008 06:23 PM

Oh ****. That's bad. Now I will have to track down and read the two or three books by him I never read.

I'm also really because his last two book (Next and State and fear) weren't great. Too much fact, not enough story. I would have wished that he went off with a success

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LinoBrocka writes:
on Nov 05 2008 07:18 PM

I read only a few books of his but it's not because I wasn't intersted in them... just got too busy. I read Jurassic Park, The Lost World, The Andromeda Strain, Airframe, Sphere and Eaters of the Dead.

I loved the pacing of Airframe and I thought that The Lost World was better than Jurassic Park. Sphere really gave me nightmares for three straight days and I got sick because of it.

Rest in Peace. and thanks.

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AgentSmith writes:
on Nov 05 2008 07:20 PM

Amaster who left us a really nice legacy... only with the 2 first "Jurassic Park" and "E.R." (although I don't follow the show episode by episode, I like it) it's more than enough. R.I.P.

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LinoBrocka writes:
on Nov 05 2008 07:43 PM

I read only a few books of his but it's not because I wasn't intersted in them... just got too busy. I read Jurassic Park, The Lost World, The Andromeda Strain, Airframe, Sphere and Eaters of the Dead.

I loved the pacing of Airframe and I thought that The Lost World was better than Jurassic Park. Sphere really gave me nightmares for three straight days and I got sick because of it.

Rest in Peace. and thanks.

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Hereandthere writes:
on Nov 05 2008 09:29 PM

Man, this really sucked my day into a metaphorical toilet. I read every one his books growing up in Massachusetts. Michael Chricton was one of the few authors that meshed science, science fiction, and morality into interesting, exciting stories. I really am saddened by this news.

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Jen Yamato writes:
on Nov 05 2008 09:37 PM

I meant no disrespect at all, as you might tell from the article I wrote above. It's just my opinionated observation of his body of work, so you can agree or disagree. Like I said, I've spent many hours of my life enjoying the creative fruits of Michael Crichton, and I'm even more tickled that a movie he wrote and directed himself (Westworld) has a higher Tomatometer than the (awesome) one Spielberg made.

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zetabosio writes:
on Nov 05 2008 10:27 PM

I'm really sad. I was really happy because of the Obama thing (there it goes, I said it), but then the aircrash in Mexico City and now this... I discovered Michael Crichton when a friend told me I should the read the book because it was way better than the movie. I was immediately captured and apalled with the very first chapter of the book... remember the scene of the baby in the craddle? From there, I tried to track almost all his books. I had only done this with Oscar Wilde. After 9 years, I still have trouble getting into planes after reading Airframe. And I'm still in shock after the first guy gets killed in Timeline. I am really sad Michael passed away. Honestly, I was still expecting more to read from him after Next. RIP. Michael, hope to see you over there. Cheers.

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Coyote22 writes:
on Nov 05 2008 11:13 PM

A surprising and sad day. Though I did not agree with everything he stood for in his books, travelogues and other works. I honestly feel that he always stood firm(right or wrong) for what he believed in and never wavered. RIP, Michael.

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CoUcH ToMaToE DoUgIe writes:
on Nov 06 2008 12:29 AM

R.I.P. Michael Crichton- A legend who is preserved forever

equally in our hearts and minds from your countless creations of wonder,

fantasy and science. You will be miss dearly, Mike- Bless you for all the

knowledge and fascination you have provided the masses.

P.S. - Great job Jen Yamato for writing such fitting tribute. You constantly

make this site the freshest place to be...no matter the circumstance.

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Mr. Positive writes:
on Nov 06 2008 03:08 AM

Ugh, another great goes. Jurassic Park got me into computer graphics.

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Kevan B. writes:
on Nov 06 2008 05:18 AM

Sad to see him go, Jurassic Park changed my life and Sphere is one of my favorite novels (although the movie was a disappointment). RIP sir.

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Ashron writes:
on Nov 06 2008 09:41 AM

This may be a red letter day in that Dashund96 actually had a human emotion about somebody and didn't have something derogatory or mean to say. I'm definitely putting this one down in my calendar.

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cwilly writes:
on Nov 06 2008 11:48 AM

The first author that I ever considered my favorite. Im very saddened by this news.

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cwilly writes:
on Nov 06 2008 11:49 AM

The first author that I ever considered my favorite. Im very saddened by this news.

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Moony1313 writes:
on Nov 06 2008 12:16 PM

RIP Michael Crichton. Jurassic Park was my first novel and what got me hooked on reading. Thanks for your years of hard work and great stories!

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Steve R. writes:
on Nov 06 2008 12:31 PM

When I first read Jurassic Park it was before the movie came out. The plot seemed somehow familiar. Then it dawned on me. Mr. Crichton wrote and directed Westworld in the early 70's. Another movie about a theme park that breaks down and the attractions start killing the guests. He swapped out the robots for dinosaurs and had basically the same story. The man was brilliant. I recommend watching the two movies back to back and you'll notice many similarities.

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Michael B. writes:
on Nov 06 2008 03:12 PM

Jurassic Park was the first real novel I ever read. At the time i thought it was the longest book ever (399pp); I was in sixth grade and read it by candlelight, huddled within a cocoon of blankets, during the blizzard of '92. Like cwilly, he was my first favorite author, and I've read most of his novels: from The Terminal Man to Next. He will be sorely missed... rest in peace.

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Roci writes:
on Nov 07 2008 12:53 AM

In reply to this comment (#2115567)
If JP is your reason, you need a larger and more developed film sense. The picture was not as good as many think it was when viewed objectively. The story never worked, really and was glossed over by computer-assisted mumbo jumbo. If you want a better, more solid reference for yourself and MC, I suggest Andromeda Strain. It was a far better story and the effects work (for it's day) was excellent. with JP, you take away the effects and there is no picture. Oy Vey, what do they teach in film schools these days anyhow??

Roci

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zetabosio writes:
on Nov 07 2008 05:23 PM

In reply to this comment (#2116756)
It's one of the books that I haven't read... and you're spoiling it.... ;)

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