Have you ever seen The Neverending Story? OK, so it is a children’s movie, but I loved it. Not because of Falcor, the big, fluffy flying dog, but because it visualized in movie form my love of reading books.
When I am really engaged in a good book, it’s as though I am part of the story. If I am really getting involved in an especially good book, the characters become like friends and you can’t put the book down until you find out what happens to them. Some people say they read in bed and it puts them to sleep. I never read in bed, because I will stay up until 4:00 in the morning to see if all is well with my new found friends in the book. I play out the scenes and cast the characters with the appropriate movie stars and make a movie in my head. And then the book really comes to life, just as Atreyu becomes real to Bastian .
Often I will read and enjoy a book and anxiously await the movie version. Wow!!! Two of my favorite things together. Movies and Books. It like chocolate-peanut butter pie. It’s all good! But sometimes it’s not so good. I am talking about how Hollywood can turn a perfectly good book into a bad movie. Or at least a movie that doesn’t capture the book.
The Blue Stockings Society hosted a Lit Flicks Challenge about this topic. (So I guess I am not alone in this opinion). They also have a great list of movie adaptions you may want to check out. The Guardian’s 50 Best Film Adaptations
Fellow Chick Flicks bloggers, Movie Viewing Girl and Cinema Coquette also have great posts about movie adaptations. Here a just a few of the film adaptions that caught my interest.
Oh! The Disappointment
Cold Mountain
I enjoyed reading Charles Frazer’s National Book Award winning Cold Mountain. The story follows Inman, a Civil War soldier on his odyssey back to Ada, the woman he loves. Nicole Kidman and Jude Law are good as the lead characters. And oh my goodness, when I saw Rene Zellweger’s performance as Ruby. I said to myself, Rene is going to get an Oscar for this. And she did. She was really good. After reading Cold Mountain, Rene was just the way I thought Ruby would be.
But something was missing. Kind of like an under-seasoned stew. You know it doesn’t taste right, but you are not sure if it need more salt or less garlic. But it needs something.
Lost in Translation
Memoirs of a Geisha
Ziyi Zhang (Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon and Hero) stars with martial art mega hero, Michelle Yeoh (Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, Tomorrow Never Dies) in the film adaption of a very popular novel. Everyone was reading Memoirs of a Geisha. I enjoyed the story of a poor young Japanese girl who becomes a Geisha. The insight into this secret world and the culture were fascinating. But somehow, explaining how a poor father could sell his daughters into a life that many people, not of that culture might consider prostitution didn’t come across the way it did in the book. In this case I have to say read the book first.
Sometimes They Get It Right
The film adaptation of Sue Monk Kidd’s novel, The Secret Life of Bees was right on the money. The casting of that ADORABLE Dakota Fanning as Lily was perfect. As was Jennifer Hudson, who proved she really can act in her role as Rosaleen. Queen Latifah, Sophie Okonedo and Alicia Keys turned in stellar performances as the Boatwright sisters. Ok…Yes, some minor plot elements were changed, a few scenes altered and even the final scene was changed slightly. But none of that was enough to alter the story I had read. This was one movie that was just like the movie that played in my head.
Didn’t Read The Book, But Loved The Movie
The Devil Wears Prada
Meryl Street was incredible as the boss from Hell, Miranda Priestly. The book may have been good, but how could you miss seeing all the GORGEOUS designer clothes in this wonderful movie. The Devil Wears Prada is a Chick Flick at its best. Full of wonderful female characters and shoes!
*See the real life Miranda Priestly, Anna Wintour in The September Issue
You Tell Me…
Confessions of a Shopaholic
The Nanny Chronicles
Revolutionary Road
The Reader
What did you think of the movie adaptions of these books? Which movie adaptions are your favorites? I would love to hear your opinions.
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{ 9 comments… read them below or add one }
I found there are some books that Hollywood has managed to successfully turn into films (Lord of the Rings, anyone?). But there are films where, in my opinion, whoever directed them should have probably read the book a few times over in order to get a good feel of it (Harry Potter; Eragon).
Directors/screenplay writers have to cut so much from a 350+ page book to get to a 100 minute movie, they can rarely do justice to the book. Marley & Me worked well, but was still quite different to the great book. The problem with a book is that you’ve already put the movie in your head as you read the book and therefore, the movie stands no chance!
stephen’s last blog post..Race to Witch Mountain (2009)
Loved “Memoir” – did not read the book. I have two beautiful Asian/American granddaughters and I wept a lot in the beginning of the story…..”Bees” – both book and movie captured my imagination and delight.”Devil” – I did not read the book but I lived it as an executive in a highpowered cosmetic corporation in NYC. The movie was so accurate in its portrayal of women caught up in their own importance and in every known status symbol ever invented! The refreshing part was to see the young protagonist break the mold and slam the door on the temptations of fame and power!
Sunrise Sister’s last blog post..Compassion
I love the Notebook, never read the book, but love the movie, so when Nights in Rodanthe started making the rounds, I read the book. When I finished the book I thought to myself “I think this will make a better film”. When I saw the film on DVD I was so disappointed because they had changed a lot from the book and it just didn’t work.
I have read the Twilight series, liked it, but not a fanatic, but I have sworn off seeing the movie (for now) because I don’t think it will be as good as the book.
The Devil Wears Prada was a medicore adapation at best. I read the book and I loved it. When I say loved it I totally mean LOVE IT! I was so excited when it became a movie. It was okay.
If you haven’t read the book you would give the movie a 10 out of 10 but I read the book and the movie was a 5 on 10. They changed details that were really important (like her best friend, the real reason she left Paris, what her boyfriend did for a living). It bothered me, a lot.
I also don’t think that Meryll Streep was the correct actress for the job. Catherine Zeta Jones was much better!
Giftedly Outspoken’s last blog post..Dear Cleaning Lady & Dear Husband:
@ Giftedly Outspoken: I did not read the book, but I enjoyed the movie. But now I will add it to my reading list.
I agree with you on The Secret Life of Bees. The movie was so good it made me cry. I liked the book as well. I have seen/read Confessions of a Shopaholic. I thought the movie was better actually, and there were some differences from the book. The book was just alright for me. You can read my review of that one on The Joy of Reading blog. http://tinyurl.com/c6mm5a
Amy Btw M’s last blog post..Classics Challenge 2009
I would suggest that any Stephen King novel made into a film has been a disaster (except The Shining). Am waiting, quite nervously for the release of “The Time Travellers Wife” starring Eric Bana. As far as books go, it is my all time favourite. Am apprehensive about the movie worlds take on this beautiful love story!
Darling Nikki’s last blog post..Minutiae. It’s my thing!
I quite liked the film adaption of Bridge to Terabithia, I LOVE The Secret Life of Bees.