Good books equal bad films?
Discussion
Just reading the "other interest" thread which has moved to an autopsy on Bram Stoker, it occurs to me that some really good books dont translate. There are probably many reasons, bad script, direction or a general misunderstanding of the story.
I've alsways been shy of watching a film of a good book as I think that you have pictured the scenary and characters already in your imagination.
Anyway, three from me, good stories that just left me cold when filmed.
1) Dead Zone
2) The Beach
3) American Pshyco
Yours? Or opposites?
I've alsways been shy of watching a film of a good book as I think that you have pictured the scenary and characters already in your imagination.
Anyway, three from me, good stories that just left me cold when filmed.
1) Dead Zone
2) The Beach
3) American Pshyco
Yours? Or opposites?
...hmmm...Raify said:
I preferred the film of American Psycho to the book. I couldn't stand the beginning of every chapter describing every tiny detail of clothing everyone was wearing, how much it cost and where it was bought.
I agree. I have also waded through another of Ellis' books, Glamorama, and at the end of 400 pages I still didn't have a clue what was going on!
I also think the trouble with a really good book into film, is that the time constraints of film can really limit the storytelling ability. Quite often, turning it into a TV drama series works better - without giving it too much thought, Iain Banks' Crow Road, and William Boyd's Armadillo are two books I really like that have had a succesful TV drama treatment.
I'd also agree that I thought the film treatment of American Psycho was pretty impressive - it would have been atruly horrifying film to actually watch, if they'd stuck to the book. The black humour and violence just out of shot was just about perfect for me.
American psyco a bad film?
My god man its a work of genious. Christian Bale is bloody amazing in that film. instantly images and lines from that film just came flooding back
"Is that a rain coat? YES, YES IT IS " then carries on about huey luis
" see that? thats Bone with a copperhead type" talking about his card
"You
ugly bitch I'm going to kill you and play with your blood"
In fact I'm laughing to myself now just thinking about it. his reaction to anyone elses buisiness cards is priceless.
Damn it I feel a play.com monent coming on
>> Edited by pesty on Monday 20th February 15:09
My god man its a work of genious. Christian Bale is bloody amazing in that film. instantly images and lines from that film just came flooding back
"Is that a rain coat? YES, YES IT IS " then carries on about huey luis
" see that? thats Bone with a copperhead type" talking about his card
"You
ugly bitch I'm going to kill you and play with your blood" In fact I'm laughing to myself now just thinking about it. his reaction to anyone elses buisiness cards is priceless.
Damn it I feel a play.com monent coming on
>> Edited by pesty on Monday 20th February 15:09
s2art said:
OTOH 'Dambusters' not a great book (though not the authors fault as too much was still classified when he wrote it). Great film!
I quite like the book, has a lot more stuff that they did after the dambusting missions like the tallboy earthquake bombs etc.
Ben
p.s. How about the Godfather as an excellent book and film
pesty said:
American psyco a bad film?
My god man its a work of genious. Christian Bale is bloody amazing in that film. instantly images and lines from that film just came flooding back
"Is that a rain coat? YES, YES IT IS " then carries on about huey luis
" see that? thats Bone with a copperhead type" talking about his card
"You
In fact I'm laughing to myself now just thinking about it. his reaction to anyone elses buisiness cards is priceless.
Damn it I feel a play.com monent coming on
>> Edited by pesty on Monday 20th February 15:09
Problem is probably the effect the book had on me. I had never read a book that made me
a) literally throw across the room in mid paragraph (child in park scene)
b) roll over and "have" the missus without warning (three up scene) before the gore of course
Film just didnt have the same effect (phew, says wife!)
I have not read the book. better order that as well.
When I read it now I will see Bateman as Bale and probably laugh all the way through. Perhaps seeing the film first may enhance the book? theres a conroversial statement.
Another book which many people say made a bad film is Dune. In that case I saw the film first then read the book.
I liked the film and I liked the book.
must go now I have some video tapes to return
When I read it now I will see Bateman as Bale and probably laugh all the way through. Perhaps seeing the film first may enhance the book? theres a conroversial statement.
Another book which many people say made a bad film is Dune. In that case I saw the film first then read the book.
I liked the film and I liked the book.
must go now I have some video tapes to return
Jurrasic Park, great book, lost a lot of the good stuff in the film (films always seem to short)
Bourne Identity, Average book, the film was actually better as they didn't try and follow it exactly like the book, just took the general idea and updated it and essentially rewrote it to work better as a film, which I thought was actually better than the book.
The Bourne Supremacy was a better book and a good film as well, though in fairness the book and film had almost nothing in common.
Films usually fall down when they stick to the book too closely then have to leave out big chunks of story or have to try and adapt the thoughts the character has, which can be difficult to do in film, but is often used in books.
For example, The Shawshank Redemption was an average movie compared to the book IMO.
Bourne Identity, Average book, the film was actually better as they didn't try and follow it exactly like the book, just took the general idea and updated it and essentially rewrote it to work better as a film, which I thought was actually better than the book.
The Bourne Supremacy was a better book and a good film as well, though in fairness the book and film had almost nothing in common.
Films usually fall down when they stick to the book too closely then have to leave out big chunks of story or have to try and adapt the thoughts the character has, which can be difficult to do in film, but is often used in books.
For example, The Shawshank Redemption was an average movie compared to the book IMO.
Too many great books and bad films to name for me! (The Running Man being one that springs to mind - actually a very good book by Stephen King).
On a more positive note though, the notable exceptions for me are:
Day of the Jackal - great book - great film
"Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep" by Phillip K Dick is a great book, and Bladerunner, though not entirely sticking to the plot of the book, was a great film too
(The Running Man being one that springs to mind - actually a very good book by Stephen King). On a more positive note though, the notable exceptions for me are:
Day of the Jackal - great book - great film
"Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep" by Phillip K Dick is a great book, and Bladerunner, though not entirely sticking to the plot of the book, was a great film too
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