Movies of Novels.
I
have read both the Life of Pi, by Yann Martel and The Hobbit, so I will
toddle off to the picture theatre to see their films. When I read the Life of Pi I found the Sixth Sense like
twist at the end threw me out of a great fantasy into a unwelcome reality. But
the more I reflect on that ending, the more I like it. I think knowledge of the
ending will really affect the way I view the film. Whereas those who have not
read the novel, if the film is true to it, will be in for a surprise at the
end, that changes everything you have just watched.
The Hobbit
I
loved the Lord of the Rings novels and movies. I also enjoyed reading The
Hobbit, which is a much slighter novel than the LOR novels. I, like
many, think it is absolutely ridiculous that a 278 page novel has been turned
into three movies. Evidentially the first movie only covers the first six
chapters of the novel. I will go and see the movie, but I don’t expect any
great dramatic moments or insights into humanity. The Hobbit has been receiving mixed reviews, so I am not expecting
much.
Vernon God Little.
Yesterday
I read with astonishment and delight that Booker winner Vernon God Little,
written by Australian DBC Peirre, is going to be made into a movie by Werner
Herzog. Such a movie would be very
topical if it was released now as it is about a teenager who is accused of
complicity in a high school massacre. The book is written from the teenager’s
unreliable POV and is much more than just about the teenager’s involvement in
the massacre. The novel rips into American consumerism and the American media.
If the movie stays true to the novel, conservative Americans are going to
absolutely hate it. It is a novel that has very much polarised readers, you
either love it or loath it. I loved it.
Stephen King
I
have recently read and enjoyed King’s The Dome and 11.22.63. As most of his
novels end up being filmed I am hoping that both of them are turned into a mini-series. The
Dome is about a town trapped under a dome that suddenly appears one day. 11.22.63 is about a school teacher who
goes back in time to stop the assassination of JFK.
Books I Would Like to
See Made into Movies.
I
reckon The Passage, by Justin Cronin, would make one wonderful miniseries, think The Walking Dead, but
instead of zombies, humanity has been destroyed by genetically engineered
vampires. The sequel of The Passage, The
Twelve has been in a lot of best of lists.
The Year of the Flood, by Margaret Atwood,
about the world succumbing to a genetically engineered plague, would make a
terrific movie. It would take a great script writer to adapt it though as the
novel drifts back and forth in time and is told from two distinct viewpoints.
What
novels would you love to see turned into a movie?
2 comments:
My novels. lol
The Hobbit should be two movies at best, three is ridiculous. Worth seeing on the big screen but was never going to top LOTR.
Many novels are optioned and turned into screenplays, especially ones that do well but languish and most are never made. It happens all the time.
Ive heard that Pi is supposed to be quite good. Yet to see Cloud Atlas too.
I think you have to see the Hobbit on the big screen, like the LOTR, it loses a lot of visual impact on television. The Hobbit was okay, but it wont be winning a best oscar picture like the LOTR films did. Some of the dialogue jarred - modern and out of place. The Dwarves seemed too indestructible too. Very slow to start - Jackson had to fill the near three hours up with something.
I got the impression that Vernon God Little was more than just optioned, that they were on the way to making it, but that might now be on hold after the latest school massacre.
Cloud Atlas looks interesting, it is not due here until February.
Watched another very different science fiction movie last night - Never Let if Go - about children raised to be organ donors - more of an art-house movie.
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