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Hey, I've Read That Movie!
Hello everyone,
When I found out I was guest blogging here at Samhain, I had no idea what I was going to blog about. I racked my brain, trying to come up with some idea. Then, last week I went to see The Other Boleyn Girl in theatres and discovered there was something I wanted to talk about.
Books adapted for film.
I love to read—anything and everything. So, when I discover a favorite book is becoming a film, I jump at the opportunity to see it. I go to these movies, fully knowing that I will walk out terribly disappointed by the filmmakers adaptation.
Rarely do these movies live up to their print counterparts. In the instance of The Other Boleyn Girl, I read the book before seeing the film, excited to be seeing this wonderful novel on the big screen. For the most part, I enjoyed the movie but it was nothing like the book. There was so much they changed, so much they left out and that’s what bothers me about filmmaker adaptations. I understand that a script has to be written and it has to be cut to allow for film time, sometimes changed to make the story more interesting (though in some cases, I think the story is interesting enough). Not everything can be included, naturally, but when they are so horribly chopped up…it makes me angry.
When I was younger, I heard that there was a film coming out, based on a novel I had so loved. Queen of the Damned by Anne Rice. I was psyched about this movie. Finally, I was going to see everything my little imagination had envisioned.
Unfortunately, the movie was so botched it resembled nothing of the book. I was so disappointed I wanted to cry. How could they do this?
Now, I will admit that some movies adapted from books have turned out somewhat well. Of course, in my opinion, no movie had yet to surpass the book..
So, how do you feel about books adapted for film? Have you ever come across one that was so horrible? How about one that was really good? Please leave a comment and let us all know!
Much Love Always,
Rose Marie Wolf
www.rosemariewolf.com
I haven’t found many movies that live up to the novel. I hate when they leave out some of the best parts of the book or change the ending. Sometimes the movie is good, but the casting is awful. Lord of the Rings and Silence of the Lambs are a couple of exceptions.
Hi, Rose Marie,
I have to agree with Janet. Most of the films based on movies just aren’t as good as the books. I suppose it’s because the books are so much richer in detail and our imaginations can interact more thoroughly.
Jacqueline Seewald
THE INFERNO COLLECTION, a romantic suspense mystery thriller, from Five Star/Gale
HEY WOMAN!
WHO HAS TIME FOR MOVIES WHEN I COULD BE READING YOUR FANF*CKINTASTIC BOOKS!!! LOL
Linda: Lol, Thanks!
Jacqueline: I think that’s exactly the reason! My imagination is certainly fertile.
Janet: Yes, sometimes the casting can be just awful…I can’t believe I forgot to mention that! In some cases, the actor or actress does not do justice to the character and makes me want to cry.
Thanks for commenting everyone.
My biggest disappointment would have to be the green mile. Loved the book(s) Hated the movie
I usually prefer the book over the movie, because I get to be my own cinematographer and casting director.
Hands down worst film adaptation… Nightfall, originally written by Isaac Asimov, and disemboweled by some hacks, with the worst cast ever, headlined by David Birney (from Bridget Loves Bernie) in the worst fright wig ever worn. Isaac must roll every time it is viewed.
hiya
I prefer books over a movie i can have my own picture in my head and books are far more detailed. plus i can read at my own pace put it down if i have too .
I find I prefer to see the movie first, as with Fried Green Tomatoes… Saw the movie; loved the movie. Read the book; loved the book more. Rather than being disappointed because the film wasn’t as good as the book (which it wasn’t, it couldn’t be) I got to enjoy each for what it was on its own.
My favourite adapations: The Enchanted April; A Room With a View; and Brokeback Mountain.
One adaptation I heard about (but chose not to see) that hurt me to my core was the film “adaptation” of The Dark Is Rising. From what I understand the director either never read it or hated it, because the film bore no resemblance to Susan Cooper’s brilliant, brilliant book.
There are some adaptations that I think do work. ‘High Fidelity’ by Nick Hornby was really well adapted despite the setting being changed from an English one to an American one. I also liked the movie version of ‘Get Shorty’ as much as Elmore Leonard’s book, which is saying something. My husband says ‘Lord of the Rings’ too (I haven’t actually read the books).
I HATE it when a movie version of something is so far different from the book, like a character who dies in the book lives in the movie because they think they need a ‘hollywood’ ending. ‘The Horse Whisperer’ anyone?
I have found that in the past, if I ha read the book, I had a lot of issues with the movie,(Queen of the Damned, Scarlet Letter) if I haden’t read the book and liked the movie, and then read the book, I just enjoyed the book more(Bridget Jones Diary #1..but then read #2 and couldn’t wait for the movie to come out and hated it!) I want to see The Other Bolyn Girl, but now I know not to keep my expectations high.
It’s pretty much a crap shoot. I remember reading Fine Things by Danielle Steele and the book had me in tears when one of the main characters died from cancer. Then they made it into a tv movie and it was awful. Really really bad. Almost always, the book is better. However, and I know I’m in the minority here, I felt the Lord of the Rings movies were way better than the books. With the books, I felt like I was having root canal done on every single one of my teeth. It just plain hurt to read the books.