TO make reading the comments easier, I have started a second page. Please feel free to send me YOUR comments at glambert@zoo.uvm.edu.

Keep those cards and letters coming!!!

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I just checked out the info re. the movie on the home page. Did anyone else catch the credits of this writing team? Oy. Short Circuit? Wasn't Ghost Dad one of the biggest loxes of all time? With a track record like these guys I think we can expect the worst.

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Excellent comments have been made concerning the Smith issue and the concensus is clearly thumbs down. But let's not take the historical accuracy thing too far. Remember, we are talking about The Wild Wild West here, that bizarre universe from the imagination of Michael Garrison. How about this-- Will Smith as West's partner on a special mission while Artemus is on assignment in Washington until the last reel? Ah yes, but we get back to the problem of casting James T. West...

Gibson was great when he recreated TV's best-known western anti-hero. Leave it at that. Have Willis play Sergeant Saunders, not West. Cruise blew it with Mission: Impossible. He should never get another chance to touch a 60s classic. Look, Hollywood will quite likely destroy this concept like they did M:I (why not have West try to assassinate President Grant?) unless they manage miraculously to blend the creative teams that gave us The Fugitive, Silverado, and The Adventures of Brisco County, Jr. Perhaps West could be played effectively by Jeff Fahey or Keannu Reeves... Or Dennis Quaid. (nah...)

The only hope is if they forget box office and stay true to the series vision (don't count on it). Why not turn Artemus Gordon over to Mandy Patinkin (watch The Princess Bride again; I rest my case). As for James West, cast an "unknown" talent who can fill the screen with machismo, strip to the waist and fight without an editor's help. Let's face it. West was always a bit "thin" in the character category. I believe Robert Conrad played him that way (in service to the concept, but to the detriment of his career). He played the Garrison fantasy hero as a fearless man of action with nerves of iron who made women melt. Conrad immortalized in motion makes Bond look like an English bureaucrat. Recast that? Good luck!

One last suggestion-- It's 1901, a new century... Vice President Teddy Roosevelt learns of new and devastating weapon in the hands of a raving madman. By God, isn't there a Secret Service agent that can handle it? Fade to the High Sierras, where a silver-haired James West runs a posh resort and spa with the beautiful daughter of his late partner Artemus Gordon...

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Agree with comment about Hollywood's obsession with the use of so-called big names. Casting is absurd. Realize no one could fill the shoes of Conrad & Martin, but how about Rob Estes(Silk Stalkings) & Scott Bakula(Quantum Leap). As for Dr. Loveless, how about Danny DeVito? A far better choice for director would be Wolfgang Petersen(Air Force One) than the over-the-top style of Sonnefeld.

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Since they're taking liberties with the original characters (i.e. JW will be an acknowledged black), a better question might be: What physical deformity (other than dwarfism) might make a workable element of MQL's psyche ? (And then who would play the part ??)

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If they're getting Will Smith for Jim West, the logical choice for the Loveless role is:

Gary Coleman

"It takes Diff'rent Strokes to rule the world, Mr. West."

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Here is another chance for Hollywood to ruin a great thing. And believe me they will. How can anyone in their right mind cast Will Smith to play James West? Alec Baldwin (maybe) If he worked out) But Will Smith? Who'm are you kidding? Is the studio on drugs or what? Take it from Robert Conrad's reaction...He sees the picture...Hollywood is full of idiots...

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I'm very glad to see that I am not the only one who will avoid this movie like the plague. A black James West? Why not a black actor playing the part of George Washington? When is this insanity going to end.

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Wild Wild West has been and always will be my #1 series of all time......To have Will Smith play James West sickens me.....it is close to blasphemy......The original series can never be duplicated of course...but this is an absolute joke....I will never watch the movie....The people in Hollywood making these decisions must be wallowing in drugs and delusions....The only reason they tabbed Will Smith for this role is economics....money....He is the hottest young star at the moment....James T. West he is not.....But, the Hollywood machinery still turns....and the new generation of kids watching this mockery of a movie probably won't know any better. I will. By the way.....many (if not all) of my family and friends feel the same way I do but are afraid to articulate their views for fear of being called a racist......which could not be further from the truth.....but that fear keeps their (and probably many more) views silent. I will never buy into this Holloywood B.S. The original series is where it's at and if they can't do a decent job in casting this Movie, then to hell with them, and I'll watch the reruns and videotapes......which I would have done anyway.

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Will Smith as James West!!! NO!!!! I can't believe it! Absolutely the worst selection in the history of Hollywood. George Clooney as Artemus Gordon -- A+!

I am shocked beyond compare with the selection of Will Smith in the lead. I don't want Hollywood re-working the WWW to fit the "politically correct" 1990's. Leave the show in it's origins. We really won't be seeing the original James West in this movie, because James West was not black. Would Hollywood cast Brad Pitt as Sugar Ray Leonard? How would it have appeared if Angela Bassett played Loretta Lynn in "Coal Miner's Daughter"? It just won't be the same.

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I have been a WWW fan for over 30 years and I must unequivocally say that I am both excited about the upcoming movie and, at the same time, I am extremely disappointed about the possibility of WILL SMITH playing the role of James West!!!

Will Smith is a great actor, but not for this role!!! There are too many fans out there who have very fond memories of the original series and would like to keep these memories as close as possible to the original type of casting. I think George Clooney is an excellent choice for Artemus Gordon. Val Kilmer could even be Artemus, especially after seeing his great performance in "The Saint." Here are my suggestions for West:

l. Mel Gibson

2. Patrick Swayze

3. Tom Cruise

4. Kevin Costner

PS: I think that Robert Conrad absolutely deserves to have a major role in this movie, not just a cameo.

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Will Smith is a fine actor/comedian in his own right but James West he is not. Robert Conrad is still one of the sexiest men around. His physical attributes, cockiness, and that wonderful smile all made him the only James West. I can't think of any current actor who could do the same for the role. As for Artemus Gordon, Ross Martin was a man of unusual talent and sex appeal in his own way. His role would be much easier cast but NOT George Clooney OR Mel Gibson.

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Give me a break. Not because he's black, but because the West role requires a former Civil War officer and high ranking agent. All very improbable four short years after the war. Hollywood does that with roles. They don't necessarily cast the best person for the specific role, but instead put an A-list player in it - right or wrong. They have learned their lesson in one role though. The unknown Pete Karjanis, ancestor to Alexander the Great, will portray the ancient conqueror in the upcoming TNT/Greek government mini-series. The last movie was made with Richard Burton in the title role....it was a flop. This guy is Alexander in looks and attitude. Should be great. So they miscast one and cast correctly in another. It's a wash.

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As I'm sure you must have heard by now,last night on the Late Late Show with Tom Snyder,Barry what's his face,mentioned that his next film will be W.W.West starring {ugh} Will Smith as James T. West.It really upset me to hear from "the horses mouth" himself, that Smith is going to play my man West on the big screen.Sheesh!I'm the fellow who named his son James T. {after West and Kirk},now when he's older my nightmare is that his buddies will say,"Hey, your named after that guy Will Smith played in that movie"!?!?! I'll remind him {and his friends}that there is only one, James T. West,and Will Smith definitely ain't him! Personally, I will not go see the movie,just like I won't go see "The Avengers" film.Growing up,I loved those 2 shows;{great casts,etc.}I won't let those Holly weird bastards taint my child hood memories of these programs.

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After carefully reading and contemplating everyone's opinions, I feel the people against having Will Smith or George Cloony or any other bigheaded moron who got lucky as a movie star playing the roles of the charming, intelligent, and charismatic special agents Jim and Artie are absolutely, 100% correct! Now don't get me wrong, I think that Will Smith is a great actor when it comes to playing a comical role (MIB or ID4) but as the legendary James West he just doesn't cut it. And then there's George Clooney who's "blockbuster hit's" include such fine works as One fine day and Batman and Robin (Ha!). I agree with the people who say that for the time period an African American agent would not get the kind of respect as a white man (seeing as how it is being set directly after the civil war) because blacks at that time were still being persecuted by those jerky racist white's. Of course those foolish crapheads at the WB studio's would try and cast people like Will Smith and George Clooney for the role's of Jim and Artie. It isn't a mystery why Robert Conrad turned down any role since this movie is inevitable to fail miserably because of the shoddy casting.

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There's only one man that can make that movie worth watching, and that's Robert Conrad. If he's not in it, it will be a waste of time. I also agree with the person who believed that his son, Christian, would be a good James West. It looks like it's too late for that, though. Too bad!

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Will Smith as James West?!?! I can't believe it. Please cast someone else!! Even as a fairly new WWW fan, I know that Smith would not be an ideal James West, race nonwithstanding. I certainly wouldn't see the movie with the current projected cast, and after browsing the other responses, I am sure I am not the only one. My first reaction to reading about the movie was elation, but after discovering the proposed cast, it is now rejection. I sure hope someone comes to their senses!

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what a miscast!

I dislike what they've done soooo badly not only will I not go see the WWW movie, but I'll boycot all future movies by that production co., director and producer. I like W. Smith just fine in his other movies but they may as well cast Shaq as Dr. M. Lovelace.

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I think this movie will be a flop like most of the remakes if will smith is playing Jim West, Yes he is a good actor but I don't think he should be playing that part to much of a change.

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Looking at the comments, I have to agree that at first light Will Smith doesn't fit the role that is ingrained into the character of Jim West. However, as an actor Will Smith does have the talent to pull it off. Rather, look at the credits of those would make the movie (writers and director) and I see 'hokie' predominant in it.

All you fans, don't get lost with who plays the character. Remember, casting takes place well after the movie's conception. Look more at the role he will be cast into, the script he will read, and at the direction he will be given. The Wild Wild West was a serious show with some banter and levity thrown in, not the opposite. And the opposite is what I think is forthcoming.

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Yes, I too was surprised to find out that Mr. Smith was to be cast as James West. As a LONG time fan of this amazing show, I can tell you now that this will not fly well. Not because I think Mr. Smith has no talent, on the contrary. I just happen to think he's wrong for this particular part. I can also suggest by the tone of other concerned fans that Mr. Smiths color has has much to do with it.

I myself am a black man who on many occasion has fantasized being in the role of Mr. James T. West. The problem is that after following this show for many years, It's difficult imaging it being diverted from it's original concept. Let's face it, Mr. Conrad and Mr. Martin were a PERFECT combination as well as a tough act to follow. I send my plea to the director to PLEASE reconsider the casting of this movie. in other words please listen to us, the fans.

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If you have any comments you would like to add, please mail them to Me. I will add them as fast as I can!