Recently, I AM NUMBER FOUR has become the talk of the town due to the movie release 2/18/11. This is absurdly quick from the book release date, which was August 2010. So close, in fact, that some are saying the movie idea came before the book.I’m not sure how much merit that rumor has, and in doing a few Google searches, I couldn’t find anything to substantiate it, but it did get me thinking. There are many YA books being made into movies: HUNGER GAMES, WICKED LOVELY, SHIVER, among others.
There have been many books in our past adapted into movies: HARRY POTTER, PERCY JACKSON, TWILIGHT, FOREST GUMP, THE GODFATHER, and lots of Stephen King and Nicholas Sparks. It has become such a trend that I venture to say most of the movies out are in some way based upon a book. This is great news for authors and publishers a like as it adds lots of $$’s to the books brand as well as $$’s to future books by that author and in that series.
I think we can all agree it’s a good thing. But here’ the question I have: How many movies (adapted from books) did you actually enjoy? How many did you enjoy close to as much as the book?
I absolutely loved the latest HP move: 1st half of Deathly Hallows. It is probably the only HP movie that didn’t disappoint me compared to the book. Now did I enjoy the others? Absolutely. I like the first 3 movies quite a lot.
I like the movie adaptation of THE NOTEBOOK. I like THE SHINING. I like (don’t go crazy) the Keira Knightley PRIDE & PREJUDICE
What about you? Are most book adaptations disappointing to you? Are there any you really enjoy?
M.B.
I really liked MY SISTERS KEEPER in book form, but when I saw the movie, I was like WTF?! They totally changed the ending, and to me, the ending is what made the book so WOW!
ReplyDeleteI understand that screenwriters have to take liberty with book adaptations (unless you are a superpower like JK Rowling or Stephenie Meyer), but ya...I would say that if I've read the book first, I'm more often than not disappointed.
There have been plenty of movies that I've seen and loved before reading the book, and now I likely won't read. The only time I've consciously seen a movie and then gone and read the book was with SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE. The book (called Q and A) was great, but I think the movie was actually better!
P.S...did you follow all that controversy around James Frey and I AM NUMBER FOUR a couple of months ago? A whole new topic all together, I know :-)
I really enjoyed the HP movies, but I love the books so much more. I try to remember that movies can't measure up to books--at least in my mind. I think we have to rate them separately from each other. I haven't seen Percy Jackson because I loved the books and the previews looked so far from the book's story line. I could be wrong because like I said, I didn't see the movie.
ReplyDeleteLaura - Yes, the James Frey thing was...what's the word... :)Did you know Suzanne Collins is helping to write the script for HG?!
ReplyDeleteKelly - Thanks for stopping in. I haven't seen the Percy Jackson movie either and for the same reason. I do agree movies and books are two totally different things and should be judged separately.
I almost never enjoy the movie if I've read the book, but Harry Potter is the exception to the rule. I love all the book and all the movies. Maybe not equally, but I think the movies capture the world of HP really well. Nothing is lost.
ReplyDeleteI'm with you, the last HP was my favorite. Seems like if they could have made all the books into 2 movies then they wouldn't have strayed so far? Hmm. Oh well. I'm worried about The Hunger Games not living up but since Collins wrote the screen stuff/script then maybe?
ReplyDeleteMelissa -- Yeah, I tend to agree. I find if I've never read the book then it's okay, but if I've read the book I tend to be disappointed.
ReplyDeleteColene -- Thanks for the follow! Yes, I am sooo hopeful Collins will help HG be spectacular. That book is so gruesome that I wonder if they'll tone it down to stay PG-13. I hope not!