I don't know how much this diverges from the original Foundation story - quite a lot in places I believe. However, coming to it without that subjective view (and I totally get it) the story within this adaptation is in many ways epic. The visuals are fantastic and the actors, characters and overall "feel" is immersive. All of that said it is let down by the usual "Hollywood" (though it is not) childishness when it comes to the portrayal of some details. For example - the classic "stormtrooper" shootouts. One or two of our "heroes" versus a lot of "highly trained" troops in a shootout. Guess what? Our heroes are impossible to hit. Meanwhile they (barely) skulk behind some small flimsy cover and pick off opponent after opponent. Crap. Other things like spaceships in the middle of loads of asteroids - really!? Doubtless someone will say "oh they've got shields blah blah". Nope - it's someone saying "visually it looks cool - don't worry about the details". So - story, acting, visuals - really good. Some of the childish staged bits - less good and a lazy shame.
