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Monday, March 15, 2010
The Book vs. the Movie
Lots of books become movies, but should they? Please tell us about your favorite and/or least favorite theatrical adaptations.
12 comments:
Gina
said...
The novel True Grit by Charles Portis and the movie True Grit. I highly recommend both.
Without hesitation I would usually say the book is better, but recently the movie Precious changed my mind. I highly recommend reading the book and watching the movie.
Well, my new favorite is "To Kill a Mockingbird" having just read the book. (I know, I know, I'm the only one who didn't read it in high school.) That deficiency has been corrected. The movie was beautifully done and handled the difficult subject matter with grace. Also, Gregory Peck, need I say more? And I loved Scout's little ham suit. I have dozens of other favorites. The Lord of the Rings set: yes, I know the movies were not completely faithful to the books, but I enjoyed them very much all the same. I thought "Atonement" represented the book admirably. "Jurassic Park" strayed far away from the book, but come on - dinosaurs! Real dinosaurs! My favorite Jane Austen film adaptation is the Masterpiece Theatre version of "Persuasion" (2008, with Sally Hawkins). Now, for my thoughts on a couple of disappointing book-to-movie disasters: "The Flanders Panel" was a great book, and its movie version "Uncovered" was bad. I am still waiting for a great version of "The Moonstone" as all others have disappointed.
I agree with Lola - To Kill a Mockingbird is my favorite book into a movie. While the book includes storylines that do not make the film, the intensity and integrity of the book shine through in the film version. If you love this book, be sure to read Mockingbird: a portrait of Harper Lee by Charles J. Shields.
I'll also play Devil's advocate here and list some of my favorite examples of movies I enjoyed more than the book.
The Godfather Though I very much enjoyed reading Mario Puzo’s novel, Francis Ford Coppola’s film adaptation was far superior.
Blade Runner I must have seen Ridley Scott's film dozens of times, and although some scenes are a bit slow, it is infinitely more entertaining than Philip K. Dick's Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?
Last of the Mohicans Michael Mann’s film is leaps and bounds ahead of James Fenimore Cooper's "classic" novel. (I'd wager that Mark Twain would agree if he weren't beastly dead)
To Kill a Mockingbird Honestly, I'm kind of surprised that this example has already been posted, as I have been in some serious knock-down-drag-outs over the subject (most people I've talked to consider it akin to blasphemy). Harper Lee's book was one of my absolute favorites growing up, and as much as it hurts me to say it, Robert Mulligan's film adaptation was better. The casting was just brilliant (the children were perfect and Gregory Peck is Atticus Finch) and the direction was wonderful. I can't remember if I cried when I read the book, but I do know that I weep like a baby every time I watch the scene at the end of the trial, when the negro gallery rises and tells Scout, "Stand up--your father's passin." Powerful book, even more powerful movie.
Books always are better than the movies to me. It's your imagination seeing it in your head, best example for me is The Exorcist; the book scared the daylights out of me and the movie made me laugh.
I second Katrina's comment about the movie making you laugh even if the book was terrifying--long after I read The Shining horrible parts of it would pop into my head sometimes. But, since there is no way I can think of Jack Nicholson or Shelley Duvall as being anything but humorous, the movie did not have the same icewater-in-the-veins effect that the book did.
Yea - Stephen King books rarely (if ever) translate well into movies. I think King can scare the pants of his readers but the movies generally ooze cheese. If pressed, I would actually use the Shining as an example of a success, but I also tend to associate it more with Stanley Kubrick than Stephen King...
Don't forget Stand by Me by Stephen King. I haven't read the book but the movie is a classic: "I don't shut up -- I grow up. And when I look at you it makes me want to throw up!" Dolores Claiborne isn't bad either even though I think Jennifer Jason Leigh overdoes the whole bitter, brooding daughter act.
Other good book/movie duos:
The Princess Bride Dr. Zhivago (okay I haven't read that one) LA Confidential (or that one!) No Country for Old Men (read it but didn't see it)
And I was going to say To Kill a Mockingbird, too. I haven't see the film in a while but I remember getting really into it. I recently reread the book and I got so much more out of it than I did when I had to read it in high school. It was so good it was almost a spiritual experience. And I agree with Hotspur -- Gregory Peck was made for that role.
The movie "Misery" was scary to me, although I didn't read that particular King book. Just thinking about that Kathy Bates character gives me the shivers. I agree, that his books are better than the movies. Watchers by Dean Koontz is a great book, but the movie(s), ugh, horrible. Generally speaking I like the book better than the movie. In fact, some books have been made into movies recently that I don't want to see such as The Lovely Bones and The Time Traveler's Wife. I really liked the books, but the idea of watching the movie has no appeal. Maybe its not fair to say the book is better without seeing the movie. Just worth noting the power of a book, and that imagination going on in the noggin, is strong enough to hold its own. :)
To Hotspur: Couldn't agree more about one of the best movie quotes EVER: "I'd call that bold talk for a one-eyed fat man!" Classic.
We're using this space to talk about our community read title, The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind.
You're Invited to a Community Book Discussion!
A community read is more fun if you come to the discussions! Everyone is welcome, even if you haven't had a chance to read the book. The community read is sponsored by the Walt Danforth Memorial Fund.
Monday, March 1 and 6:30pm.
Monday, March 8 at 1:00pm.
Sunday, March 14 at 2:00pm.
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Sapphire's Push
Sapphire will be speaking at the library April 20th at 7pm. The library has multiple copies of her book Push and will host book club discussions April 5th and 12th.
12 comments:
The novel True Grit by Charles Portis and the movie True Grit.
I highly recommend both.
Without hesitation I would usually say the book is better, but recently the movie Precious changed my mind. I highly recommend reading the book and watching the movie.
Well, my new favorite is "To Kill a Mockingbird" having just read the book. (I know, I know, I'm the only one who didn't read it in high school.) That deficiency has been corrected. The movie was beautifully done and handled the difficult subject matter with grace. Also, Gregory Peck, need I say more? And I loved Scout's little ham suit. I have dozens of other favorites. The Lord of the Rings set: yes, I know the movies were not completely faithful to the books, but I enjoyed them very much all the same. I thought "Atonement" represented the book admirably. "Jurassic Park" strayed far away from the book, but come on - dinosaurs! Real dinosaurs! My favorite Jane Austen film adaptation is the Masterpiece Theatre version of "Persuasion" (2008, with Sally Hawkins). Now, for my thoughts on a couple of disappointing book-to-movie disasters: "The Flanders Panel" was a great book, and its movie version "Uncovered" was bad. I am still waiting for a great version of "The Moonstone" as all others have disappointed.
The only way I acan enjoy a movie adapted from a book is if I see the movie before I read the book.
I agree with Lola - To Kill a Mockingbird is my favorite book into a movie. While the book includes storylines that do not make the film, the intensity and integrity of the book shine through in the film version. If you love this book, be sure to read Mockingbird: a portrait of Harper Lee by Charles J. Shields.
I'll also play Devil's advocate here and list some of my favorite examples of movies I enjoyed more than the book.
The Godfather
Though I very much enjoyed reading Mario Puzo’s novel, Francis Ford Coppola’s film adaptation was far superior.
Blade Runner
I must have seen Ridley Scott's film dozens of times, and although some scenes are a bit slow, it is infinitely more entertaining than Philip K. Dick's Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?
Last of the Mohicans
Michael Mann’s film is leaps and bounds ahead of James Fenimore Cooper's "classic" novel. (I'd wager that Mark Twain would agree if he weren't beastly dead)
To Kill a Mockingbird
Honestly, I'm kind of surprised that this example has already been posted, as I have been in some serious knock-down-drag-outs over the subject (most people I've talked to consider it akin to blasphemy). Harper Lee's book was one of my absolute favorites growing up, and as much as it hurts me to say it, Robert Mulligan's film adaptation was better. The casting was just brilliant (the children were perfect and Gregory Peck is Atticus Finch) and the direction was wonderful. I can't remember if I cried when I read the book, but I do know that I weep like a baby every time I watch the scene at the end of the trial, when the negro gallery rises and tells Scout, "Stand up--your father's passin." Powerful book, even more powerful movie.
@ Gina--
TRUE GRIT!!! YES!!! The exchange between John Wayne and Robert Duvall could be the greatest bit of dialogue ever uttered in a western:
Rooster Cogburn: "I mean to kill you in one minute, Ned, or see you hanged in Fort Smith at Judge Parker's convenience. Which'll it be?"
Lucky Ned Pepper: "I'd call that bold talk for a one-eyed fat man!"
Rooster Cogburn: "Fill your hands, you sunnuvabitch!"
Books always are better than the movies to me. It's your imagination seeing it in your head, best example for me is The Exorcist; the book scared the daylights out of me and the movie made me laugh.
I second Katrina's comment about the movie making you laugh even if the book was terrifying--long after I read The Shining horrible parts of it would pop into my head sometimes. But, since there is no way I can think of Jack Nicholson or Shelley Duvall as being anything but humorous, the movie did not have the same icewater-in-the-veins effect that the book did.
Yea - Stephen King books rarely (if ever) translate well into movies. I think King can scare the pants of his readers but the movies generally ooze cheese. If pressed, I would actually use the Shining as an example of a success, but I also tend to associate it more with Stanley Kubrick than Stephen King...
Don't forget Stand by Me by Stephen King. I haven't read the book but the movie is a classic: "I don't shut up -- I grow up. And when I look at you it makes me want to throw up!" Dolores Claiborne isn't bad either even though I think Jennifer Jason Leigh overdoes the whole bitter, brooding daughter act.
Other good book/movie duos:
The Princess Bride
Dr. Zhivago (okay I haven't read that one)
LA Confidential (or that one!)
No Country for Old Men (read it but didn't see it)
And I was going to say To Kill a Mockingbird, too. I haven't see the film in a while but I remember getting really into it. I recently reread the book and I got so much more out of it than I did when I had to read it in high school. It was so good it was almost a spiritual experience. And I agree with Hotspur -- Gregory Peck was made for that role.
The movie "Misery" was scary to me, although I didn't read that particular King book. Just thinking about that Kathy Bates character gives me the shivers. I agree, that his books are better than the movies. Watchers by Dean Koontz is a great book, but the movie(s), ugh, horrible.
Generally speaking I like the book better than the movie. In fact, some books have been made into movies recently that I don't want to see such as The Lovely Bones and The Time Traveler's Wife. I really liked the books, but the idea of watching the movie has no appeal. Maybe its not fair to say the book is better without seeing the movie. Just worth noting the power of a book, and that imagination going on in the noggin, is strong enough to hold its own. :)
To Hotspur:
Couldn't agree more about one of the best movie quotes EVER:
"I'd call that bold talk for a one-eyed fat man!" Classic.
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