Comments on: Books to Film

By: Cindy

Cindy — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 02:50:23 +0000

That’s very good advice, Natalie. I’ll try my best to follow it (experiencing each independently of the other). MSK, I read *just* before the movie, which didn’t help.

By: Natalie J. Damschroder

Natalie J. Damschroder — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 01:32:42 +0000

First experience with not hating the movie because I’d read the book was The Hunt for Red October. I loved the movie, read the book, and was much happier with the secret kept in the movie–it made it more suspenseful.

Since then, I’ve gone both ways. No Harry Potter movie would ever be acceptable, because I love the books too much, and they’re too rich. I’m able to divorce how I feel about the movies but have to watch them at least twice. The first time it’s “that was changed, that was changed, that works okay, no they DI’N'T!” LOL

Overall, though, I finally learned to let go and just try to encapsulate each experience independently of each other, if you know what I mean.

By: Cindy

Cindy — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 16:54:23 +0000

Teresa, I think I’m going to have to start following your M.O. and read the books after the movies. Like I said, though, the problem is not knowing which books will get made into movies.

That’s nice to know you enjoyed YA-YA the movie. I thought it sucked, after having read the book first and totally enjoying it.

I’ve seen GIRL but never read the book.

Sigh, Penny is having email problems on her website, and now I am, too. My first indication was when I stopped receiving email notifications of comments to this blog, which are supposed to forward from my website email to a private one. My forwarders aren’t working on either website, and mail is bouncing on Penny’s website. I’ve been moved up to a level 3 technician, but now with the long weekends, I’m hearing from NO ONE.

Argh.

By: Teresa

Teresa — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 14:53:45 +0000

I’d way rather see the movie THEN read the book. Had I read YaYa Sisterhood first, I’d have been HORRIBLY disappointed in the movie, which I quite enjoyed. And yes, it can drive me crazy when they change major aspects of the plot when adapting a book to film.

One movie that worked really well was The Girl with the Pearl Earring – it was pretty faithful to the book and was gorgeous to look at too (didn’t hurt that Colin Firth plays Vermeer *g*).

As for being able to separate film versions from the novel, I can do that with some, it just depends on the quality of the film. Gone With the Wind, for instance, does cut out some subplots and 2 of Scarlett’s children, but somehow it still works – capturing the essence of Mitchell’s story. And given it’s still nearly four hours, it’s a good thing some editorial decisions were made!

By: Cindy

Cindy — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 13:45:58 +0000

Hi Edie,

I didn’t read THE HORSE WHISPERER so had no idea they’d changed the ending. This is the problem with reading – it teaches you things!!

DH and I want to go see PUBLIC ENEMIES, too. I remember watching a movie about Dillinger when I was a kid. I was totally enthralled.

By: Edie

Edie — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 12:27:54 +0000

I haven’t read the book and will probably see the movie when it’s on cable. (I’m looking forward to Dillinger! Johnny Depp, yum.) I read your spoiler, and really like the book ending.

The Horse Whisperer. It was really pretty good, but I hated the ending in the movie, which they also changed. I understand why they changed it, but still … And I couldn’t sympathize with the lead actress, Kristin Scott Thomas.