Movies versus Books - Page 4

NNolan · 07-14-2018, 12:43 PM

Ooooo, I get to rant about The Bridges of Madison County! I saw Oprah interview the author after it hit the bestseller list, and he admitted the photographer was based on himself, but Francesca was not based on his wife. Okay. Then I picked up the book and read it, and Waller went on and on in the book about how the photographer was a god and a shaman and just the greatest thing since sliced bread, and it felt like he wrote a love letter to himself. By the time I finished I hated that book with the fire of a thousand burning suns. The movie, on the other hand, had none of that, so I actually enjoyed it.
Sometimes less really is more.

The other "movie was better than the book" for me was the Gormenghast mini-series versus the Titus Groan books. A picture really is worth a thousand of Peake's words of description.

Sweetpea · 07-16-2018, 05:04 AM

In general, I don't care for movies that were made from a book. Usually, a movie format is simply too short to capture the book (children's books are better for the format, as they tend to be shorter). There are exceptions, most often these exceptions were made where the original writer was still available (like the Harry Potter movies).

I prefer a book turned into a (mini)series. You have more time to capture the book. I loved the BBC mini series of Pride and Prejudice and I really like Outlander. One of my favourites still is Shogun though...

wildhoney66 · 07-16-2018, 07:27 AM

for me while i do love at times seeing a film based off a book. it really depends on the casting. the director and the #1 thing the writer, if the director or writer or both if the director also wrote it is really in love with the story and cares enough to want it to be good than we get a Shawshank Redemption or a Green Mile, Stand By Me. 3 films that really follow the stories they are based of off. than you have

the Harry Potter films where the first 2 films are pretty faithful to the books. but it also helped that those books are really short compared to the later books.

i do love Mini-series as well.. the book i'm reading now it's going to i think the big screen to take a guess 5 year from now. but on how long it is 702 pages with authors note included. it has to be 2 things like around 180 minutes long or 150 about or around there

or a really long Mini-series like The Stand was. though to be fair that's a longer book too.

The Old Man · 07-16-2018, 09:18 AM

Hitchcock's The Birds is more fun than the du Maurier short story but the clever idea belonged to Daphne.

issybird · 07-16-2018, 10:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Old Man

Hitchcock's The Birds is more fun than the du Maurier short story but the clever idea belonged to Daphne.

Oh, I entirely disagree! The story is so much creepier than the film. Also, Tippi Hedren's not much of an actress.

The Old Man · 07-16-2018, 12:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by issybird

Oh, I entirely disagree! The story is so much creepier than the film. Also, Tippi Hedren's not much of an actress.

That's what makes a horse race.

wildhoney66 · 07-16-2018, 04:31 PM

honestly i have never read the book or any of her books but i've always thought the birds was one of Hitch's lesser movies. he's got worse films though The Skin Game for example is pretty bad.

ZodWallop · 07-18-2018, 11:52 AM

Incidentally, earlier this year I read Du Maurier's The Birds and liked it quite a bit. Like The Shining, Hitchcock's movie had almost no relation to the original story. But I enjoyed both the story and the film.

DuckieTigger · 07-18-2018, 10:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by j.p.s

And Mel Brooks' 1976 movie Silent Movie is silent, mostly.

And Schindler's List is B&W, mostly. Talking of which - anyone read the book? Is the book worth it compared to the movie?

DNSB · 07-18-2018, 10:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DuckieTigger

And Schindler's List is B&W, mostly. Talking of which - anyone read the book? Is the book worth it compared to the movie?

I liked the book but never got around to seeing the movie.

pwalker8 · 07-19-2018, 05:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DuckieTigger

And Schindler's List is B&W, mostly. Talking of which - anyone read the book? Is the book worth it compared to the movie?

It's been a long time since I read it, but I remember it as being definitely worth reading. Schindler's List (the movie) and Pan's Labyrinth are example of movies that I thought were exceptional movies, but movies that I would only see once, simply because I found myself so depressed after seeing them. The book didn't effect me the same way.

DuckieTigger · 07-19-2018, 05:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pwalker8

It's been a long time since I read it, but I remember it as being definitely worth reading. Schindler's List (the movie) and Pan's Labyrinth are example of movies that I thought were exceptional movies, but movies that I would only see once, simply because I found myself so depressed after seeing them. The book didn't effect me the same way.

Thank you, that makes sense. I was afraid the book would be similar depressing. I remember after seeing the movie the first time (while in high school) I immediately thought: "Wow, it took an American to make a movie like this? Some German guy should have had the decency to do that a long time ago."

I will check out the book.

ZodWallop · 07-19-2018, 11:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DuckieTigger

Thank you, that makes sense. I was afraid the book would be similar depressing. I remember after seeing the movie the first time (while in high school) I immediately thought: "Wow, it took an American to make a movie like this? Some German guy should have had the decency to do that a long time ago."

You say that like just anyone could have made Schindler's List.

DuckieTigger · 07-19-2018, 08:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZodWallop

You say that like just anyone could have made Schindler's List.

It depends on the message you want to take from it. Is Spielberg emotionally invested and qualified to do that? Yes, absolutely. And he put it off for quite a while, because he didn't think he would be able to make the movie good enough. The way history is taught in the USA is a little bit different than in Germany. The majority of Germans were / are decent people, even the soldiers. How did they not see it coming? That is easy to say in hindsight after you have the facts from both sides. If you hear often enough that they are out to get you, eventually you become paranoid.

Bookpossum · 07-19-2018, 11:28 PM

The book Schindler’s Ark was written by the Australian author Thomas Keneally. He met one of the people Schindler saved, who told him the story.

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07-14-2018, 12:43 PM	#46
NNolan Compulsive Gadget Geek Posts: 395 Karma: 4219324 Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Almost Canada Device: One of each, and two in some cases	Ooooo, I get to rant about The Bridges of Madison County! I saw Oprah interview the author after it hit the bestseller list, and he admitted the photographer was based on himself, but Francesca was not based on his wife. Okay. Then I picked up the book and read it, and Waller went on and on in the book about how the photographer was a god and a shaman and just the greatest thing since sliced bread, and it felt like he wrote a love letter to himself. By the time I finished I hated that book with the fire of a thousand burning suns. The movie, on the other hand, had none of that, so I actually enjoyed it. Sometimes less really is more. The other "movie was better than the book" for me was the Gormenghast mini-series versus the Titus Groan books. A picture really is worth a thousand of Peake's words of description.

07-16-2018, 05:04 AM	#47
Sweetpea Grand Sorcerer Posts: 9,707 Karma: 32763414 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Krewerd Device: Pocketbook Inkpad 4 Color; Samsung Galaxy Tab S6	In general, I don't care for movies that were made from a book. Usually, a movie format is simply too short to capture the book (children's books are better for the format, as they tend to be shorter). There are exceptions, most often these exceptions were made where the original writer was still available (like the Harry Potter movies). I prefer a book turned into a (mini)series. You have more time to capture the book. I loved the BBC mini series of Pride and Prejudice and I really like Outlander. One of my favourites still is Shogun though...

07-16-2018, 07:27 AM	#48
wildhoney66 Zealot Posts: 113 Karma: 20782 Join Date: Jul 2018 Location: Xanth Device: Amazon Fire HD 10	for me while i do love at times seeing a film based off a book. it really depends on the casting. the director and the #1 thing the writer, if the director or writer or both if the director also wrote it is really in love with the story and cares enough to want it to be good than we get a Shawshank Redemption or a Green Mile, Stand By Me. 3 films that really follow the stories they are based of off. than you have the Harry Potter films where the first 2 films are pretty faithful to the books. but it also helped that those books are really short compared to the later books. i do love Mini-series as well.. the book i'm reading now it's going to i think the big screen to take a guess 5 year from now. but on how long it is 702 pages with authors note included. it has to be 2 things like around 180 minutes long or 150 about or around there or a really long Mini-series like The Stand was. though to be fair that's a longer book too.

07-16-2018, 09:18 AM	#49
The Old Man Fanatic Posts: 525 Karma: 1300001 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Keene, New Hampshire Device: iPad Mini, iPad Pro, Fire 8", iPhone, PaperWhite 2	Hitchcock's The Birds is more fun than the du Maurier short story but the clever idea belonged to Daphne.

07-16-2018, 04:31 PM	#52
wildhoney66 Zealot Posts: 113 Karma: 20782 Join Date: Jul 2018 Location: Xanth Device: Amazon Fire HD 10	honestly i have never read the book or any of her books but i've always thought the birds was one of Hitch's lesser movies. he's got worse films though The Skin Game for example is pretty bad.

07-18-2018, 11:52 AM	#53
ZodWallop Gentleman and scholar Posts: 10,988 Karma: 108309641 Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Space City, Texas Device: Clara HD; Nook ST w/Glowlight, (2015) Glowlight Plus, Paperwhite 3	Incidentally, earlier this year I read Du Maurier's The Birds and liked it quite a bit. Like The Shining, Hitchcock's movie had almost no relation to the original story. But I enjoyed both the story and the film.

07-19-2018, 11:28 PM	#60
Bookpossum Snoozing in the sun Posts: 10,137 Karma: 115423645 Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Melbourne, Australia Device: iPad Mini, Kobo Touch	The book Schindler’s Ark was written by the Australian author Thomas Keneally. He met one of the people Schindler saved, who told him the story.

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