Movies versus Books

[Catlady]

Originally Posted by Tarana

The Princess Bride as a book sucked, IMHO, but they took everything that was good in the book and used it in the movie and then some. Made a fabulous movie.

I think The Princess Bride was a good book, but a much better movie.

Now, Psycho, that was a bad book that Hitchcock transformed into a fantastic movie.

(Could someone please fix the title of this thread? It's making me crazy to keep seeing "verses" for "versus.")

[ZodWallop]

Originally Posted by DuckieTigger

Which version? The 5 hour 3 part tv adaption was quite well done - the single movie version not so much by comparison.

When I talk about the movie version of Dune, I of course mean the David Lynch film.

I appreciate that SyFy tried with the Dune miniseries. At least it wasn't put out by The Asylum (the studio responsible for Sharknado and so much other SyFy dreck). But the mini doesn't hold a candle to the film.

[ZodWallop]

Originally Posted by Catlady

I think The Princess Bride was a good book, but a much better movie.

Now, Psycho, that was a bad book that Hitchcock transformed into a fantastic movie.

(Could someone please fix the title of this thread? It's making me crazy to keep seeing "verses" for "versus.")

I remember liking Robert Bloch's Psycho, though I read it years ago.

[theducks]

Originally Posted by DuckieTigger

Which version? The 5 hour 3 part tv adaption was quite well done - the single movie version not so much by comparison.

I was going to ask the same Q,
I had the Movie on Laser disc and it did only fair to the book? (I read the serial version in Analog).
I got the DVD of the mini-series and I agree, a bit better.

[DNSB]

Originally Posted by Catlady

Now, Psycho, that was a bad book that Hitchcock transformed into a fantastic movie.

Hmmm... personally, I liked the book. Not Robert Bloch's greatest work but worth reading. Asides any author who coined the phrases: "He has the heart of a small boy—he keeps it on his desk in a jar of formaldehyde." and “So I had this problem -- work or starve. So I thought I'd combine the two and decided to become a writer.” gets my vote.

Originally Posted by Catlady

(Could someone please fix the title of this thread? It's making me crazy to keep seeing "verses" for "versus.")

Second the motion.

[Catlady]

Originally Posted by ZodWallop

I remember liking Robert Bloch's Psycho, though I read it years ago.

Originally Posted by DNSB

Hmmm... personally, I liked the book. Not Robert Bloch's greatest work but worth reading. Asides any author who coined the phrases: "He has the heart of a small boy—he keeps it on his desk in a jar of formaldehyde." and “So I had this problem -- work or starve. So I thought I'd combine the two and decided to become a writer.” gets my vote.

I reread Psycho a couple of years ago, and it seemed really creepy--not fun-creepy, but disgusting-creepy; Norman Bates is awful and unsympathetic. Whereas the film is a classic of the genre, and Tony Perkins's Norman is a complex and sympathetic character. Everything in the film is pitch-perfect.

[ZodWallop]

Originally Posted by DuckieTigger

Which version? The 5 hour 3 part tv adaption was quite well done - the single movie version not so much by comparison.

Originally Posted by theducks

I was going to ask the same Q,
I had the Movie on Laser disc and it did only fair to the book? (I read the serial version in Analog).
I got the DVD of the mini-series and I agree, a bit better.

I think the only way you could say the miniseries version of Dune is better than the film is if you are trying to compare their fidelity to the book. And even there, the movie remembered the difference between Muad'Dib and Usul.

Otherwise, there is no way the miniseries bests the film. Casting, production design, acting, directing? Come on, the movie version of Dune does it all better. Plus, David Lynch realized that if you're going to make a movie about a desert world, you probably ought to film in the desert.

I don't hate the miniseries. But better than the film? I don't think so.

I do hold out hope for Denis Villeneuve's take on Dune.

[DuckieTigger]

Originally Posted by ZodWallop

I think the only way you could say the miniseries version of Dune is better than the film is if you are trying to compare their fidelity to the book. And even there, the movie remembered the difference between Muad'Dib and Usul.

I meant how it portrays the book itself. The movie had to compress quite a bit more than the mini series. Usually the higher budget gives a little better result - the mini series wasn't meant for the big screen.

Now there is some Netflix and Amazon original movies that would do well on the big screen, but budget again decides - Amazon and Netflix can afford more, they can even afford to get red numbers occasionally.

[ZodWallop]

Originally Posted by DuckieTigger

I meant how it portrays the book itself. The movie had to compress quite a bit more than the mini series. Usually the higher budget gives a little better result - the mini series wasn't meant for the big screen.

Now there is some Netflix and Amazon original movies that would do well on the big screen, but budget again decides - Amazon and Netflix can afford more, they can even afford to get red numbers occasionally.

I do wish Netflix or Amazon would pick up Dune, as I think the book would translate better as a series ala Game of Thrones. But hey, they're proceeding with the Dune remake and I wish Denis all the best. (Though he got off to a rocky start by saying it would be 'like Star Wars for adults.' I agree with him, but don't upset the nerds, man!).

[j.p.s]

Originally Posted by ZodWallop

I do hold out hope for Denis Villeneuve's take on Dune.

I'm hoping for Jodorowsky's version of Dune to be made. Just flipping through the already existing storyboards would make a decent movie.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jodorowsky%27s_Dune

I usually like David Lynch's work, but I didn't like his Dune.

I'm sure Villeneuve could make a great Dune.

[skb]

Movies vs Books discussion always reminds me of the movie "Lost Horizon" (the 1937 version not the 1973 one). When asked about it, the book's author James Hilton, said the movie was better. And it was, it made a lot more sense plot-wise in many ways compared to the book.

The only other movie I've seen that springs to mind is The African Queen - I didn't enjoy the book at all but thought the movie was excellent (but not terribly true to the book).

I was impressed by the whizzbangery in the Harry Potter movies, but sad that they left important points out (IMO). But, big books, limited time movies. And a lot of people did enjoy them.

Now, with Tolkien, I loved the Hobbit book but was frankly bored by repetition the LofR and haven't seen any of the LotR movies for that reason (although I'm a big fan of Otago where they were filmed).

[Greg Anos]

How about some mystery opinions?

How do the movie versions of Raymond Chandler's novel Farewell, My Lovely stack up? (The 1945 version Murder, My Sweet and/or the 1975 version Farewell, My Lovely)

[ZodWallop]

Originally Posted by j.p.s

I'm hoping for Jodorowsky's version of Dune to be made. Just flipping through the already existing storyboards would make a decent movie.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jodorowsky%27s_Dune

I usually like David Lynch's work, but I didn't like his Dune.

I'm sure Villeneuve could make a great Dune.

Jodorowski's Dune is impossible, but it made for a great documentary (though I got the feeling he was making half his stories up) and gave us The Incal.

Even unmade, his Dune changed Hollywood.

[sealbeater]

Originally Posted by ZodWallop

Jodorowski's Dune is impossible, but it made for a great documentary (though I got the feeling he was making half his stories up) and gave us The Incal.

Even unmade, his Dune changed Hollywood.

I was a big fan of Lynch's Dune. Didn't follow the book too closely after Arrakis but I loved the costumes and set design.

[sealbeater]

A movie that was based on a book that was much much much better than the book is "What Dreams May Come?" I was actually disappointed when I finished the book after seeing the movie.