Book-to-movie adaptations!

[jcsk88]

Considering the success of several book-to-movie adaptions e.g. "The Lord of the Rings", "Harry Potter", "The Golden Compass", "Narnia" (not to mention "Twilight") etc, I thought this would be an interesting question to pose:

Would you like your book to be made into a movie? Do you think your story could be better told through moving pictures, or do words sufficiently describe the events of your novel? Have you ever felt that a movie did not do justice to a particular book you've read?

In my opinion, Peter Jackson did a pretty good job with "The Lord of the Rings", but some of the "Harry Potter" movies were disappointing in their portrayal of J.K. Rowling's masterpiece. As for my own novel, "Chronomancer", I certainly wouldn't mind a movie made out of it, but only if it stays true to the plot and characters. If, at the end of the production, I can no longer recognise the story that I was trying to tell, then all of it would have been for naught.

And that's just about enough of my thoughts. What are your opinions on this topic? Fire away!

[Bowie20049]

In my opinion, some books cover too much information to crunch down into 2 hours or less.

I'd like to see my book be turned into a series, instead of a bunch of movies. That way, I can add or take out whatever I need during the series' run.

[Majyk]

I've thought about this before.

In my opinion, some books cover too much information to crunch down into 2 hours or less.

I agree.


Generally, I don't mind movies made from books, although if it was a book I really liked and they cut too much to make the movie, it's harder for me to like the movie.

As for my own novels, I'd love to see any of them made into a movie, but only if it was going to be exactly like the book. I like to focus on what my characters are thinking often enough, though, which wouldn't translate onto a movie very well. But I'd love to actually be able to see some of my battle scenes and stuff.

[Quietus]

I could almost swear we had this discussion somewhere already...
Anyway, I would love to have a novel to be translated into a movie. Though everyone involved would get pretty irritated with me because I'd be there every step of the way, critiquing how they're acting to how it is in the book.

With others, however, some have been incredibly disappointing. It's like video-game movies, some are done brilliantly and others are atrocious.

[jcsk88]

A television series does sound like a preferable option. It's just that, more often than not, movies have access to bigger budgets, and so, the quality of the product tends to be that much better. I've seen some real cheesy acting and FX on television series, and I wouldn't want my book to go that way either.

[Bowie20049]

What about animated series?

[jcsk88]

Ah... that's an interesting alternative. Square Enix would be my best bet.

Animation would make it easier to deliver the scene of a sci-fi or fantasy book adaptation, but what about realistic stories? There would be no added advantage to go for animation in those cases.

[Jack]

Personally I would love for my novel to be made into a film, or a series of films (it's a big novel). A series would be good too, though they have a lower budget and tendency to be cancelled half way through there run, which bugs me a lot.

[Zombified]

I've seen a shitload of movies that were superior to the novel. And I've seen some movies that are just as good as the novel as well.

It really comes down to the screen writers. If they decide to keep faithful to the novel, usually good things happen. It's when these people start taking things out and changing things that everything gets messy.

[Carraka]

A SONG OF ICE AND FIRE >>> TV SERIES on HBO!!!

Watch it. After the pilot is approved.

... and I think it's genius. The books were always meant to be TV series. Sort of. The formatting of multiple POVs is perfect, the books are too long for a feature-length film, George R. R. Martin is involving himself heavily in the process, and the casting is fantastic and this is fantastic and I am fantastically happy happy happy

[miss_smiley]

Hmm...

I thought they did a pretty good job of Lord of the Rings and the first Narnia movie. (The second one was quite disappointing - it completely changed the plotline! Gah!)
But on the whole, most of the books I've seen turned into movies are really quite disappointing.

And I don't think my book would adapt well to film or TV - it's a little hard to do without adding the thoughts running through their minds. Besides, there's a lot of hidden clues - things that aren't important until the last moment, and I have the sneaking suspicion that they'd miss them...
Of course, that could just be me being paranoid... :P

[Shaun]

Yes, I'd love to have my book turned into a movie. Yes, it would work.

As for movies that didn't do justice: The latest Harry Potter is a prime example. They changed the book so much that the ending actually doesn't make any sense. None whatsoever. In the book, there is all sorts of sense floating around. The movie? Not so much.

[jcsk88]

I'd love to see the Abhorsen trilogy on the big screen. I can imagine it already... the bells, the Dead, free magic constructs, the nine gates of death.

And not forgetting... <-- Mogget!

[miss_smiley]

O.o
I, too, share your vision.
Ah, if only, if only...

[jcsk88]

I was watching TV the other day and came across "The legend of the Seeker" based on the novel "Wizards first rule". It was filmed in New Zealand and I thought the quality of the production was quite impressive. It seems high fantasy needs good locations and sets to pull off. I haven't read the book, but I am inclined towards buying/borrowing it as the story looked quite interesting. Just thought I'd add this to the discussion and see if anyone has felt compelled to read the book after watching a film or series based on it.

[miss_smiley]

Yes - when I was in...I think it was grade 9... I decided to read Ella Enchanted, after watching the movie.

They'd completely changed the plotline, so I'm glad I didn't do it the other way round. ^^ Good book, though.

[Majyk]

I read Ella Enchanted a few times before the movie came out (it was very loved, and is now falling apart). So for me, I hated how they changed the movie.

A few months ago, I saw a movie called Stardust. It was made from the novel by Neil Gaiman. I'm still not sure which one I liked better, but the movie made me want to read the book.

[jcsk88]

Yes! I watched Stardust in cinema as well. I quite enjoyed the movie, but I've never read the book. I heard they made the movie a little less violent so as to appeal to the younger audience. Apparently the unicorn wasn't simply burnt to death.

[Shaun]

Legend of the Seeker was terrible. Horribly cliche, boring, and just downright pointless. Everything about it was campy and absurd.

Bleck.

[jcsk88]

Ok, I'll take the word of a reviewer. I shall not waste my time then...

[Shaun]

The only good part of the series was the wizard (Zed, I think). He's...charming, but he doesn't get enough screen time and they bogged him down with crap dialogue halfway through the first episode. But I will forever remember the scene of him standing naked at night with a chicken clutched over his crotch...

[jcsk88]

Hmmm... I can only guess at how he got into that situation. I'm surprised no one brought up Animorphs! I remembered reading somewhere on this site that Animorphs was practically a childhood staple among most members. I know there was a series on Fox TV? But that was before I had cable, so I never got the chance to catch it. I think the chronicles (e.g. Andalite, Hork-Bajir, Ellimist) deserve a movie made out of each of them. I'd love to see an Andalite tail fight!

[miss_smiley]

Eh. I wasn't too fussed on Animorphs. Didn't like 'em much. I was much more interested in "Creepy Weird Stories", the series they used to show on ABC here. If you've never heard of it, it was kind of like horror stories for little'uns - very tame, but kind of freakish. ^^

I'm quickly reversing to "Stardust". The book was very...interesting. If you like Jasper Fforde's stuff or you liked parts of the movie "Brothers Grimm", you'll probably like it. Lots of references to old legends and such and quite well-written, word-craft wise. A little too narrative in places for my liking, but I did enjoy reading that one.

I read that one after the movie too. ^^ I have since gotten hooked on Neil Gaiman... *damnabbit...*

[jcsk88]

I didn't like "Brothers Grimm". Throughout the entire movie, I couldn't help but get the feeling the two guys were trying too hard to be goofy/funny.

[miss_smiley]

:P Not the acting. The storylines - how they weaved stories into the history of the story being told. That's what I meant.

[Shaun]

The movie for Stardust was actually really good. It's not a perfect adaptation, but it really works in movie form.

[Iridescence]

I've no idea how old this thread is, but I'll contribute anyway. :P

As far-fetched as it seems, I would love for my novel to made into some big production -- television series (preferably animated -- that would be awesome), movie, or series of movies (since the novel will be extended into a series). As for the quality and fidelity of the movie(s)/television series, I would simply leave it up to the interpretation of the director/producer/whoever is in charge of these things. I would consider it an honor that my books had been made into popular productions at all -- the smaller details would come later. I would only care if the movies/series affected the way people think of my books -- for example, the Harry Potter phenomena. Sure, some aspects of the movie were crappy and didn't stay true to the plot -- but the movies didn't affect my love of the books whatsoever. So, even if the movies/series based on my books are not quite that good, as long as they don't affect the popularity of the books, I wouldn't care.

Besides, I've heard that authors don't have much say in the making of the movies/shows based on their books. Supposedly, once the author agrees to having a production made based on their book, it is all up to the director. Is this true?

Oh, and one more question: why are there so few animated movies based on books? Would you rather have your books animated, or with real actors in real sets?

[Shaun]

Actually, there are a hell of a log of animated movies based on books. Just look at Disney. They alone have taken all sorts of printed stories and turned them into movies.

[miss_smiley]

Although they've also changed them to be kiddie-friendly... :glare:

[jcsk88]

Disney's probably more concerned with the merchandise they sell from their movie productions than anything else.

As for Iri's questions, I'm not too sure about the director-author relationship, but from what I see with Stan Lee in the Spiderman movies, I'd say be contented with doing a cameo appearance. I don't have the slightest idea of who I would cast as my characters for a live-action movie adaptation of my novel. Big names don't necessarily mean good acting anymore. Maybe animation is the way to go...

[Iridescence]

Disney's probably more concerned with the merchandise they sell from their movie productions than anything else.

As for Iri's questions, I'm not too sure about the director-author relationship, but from what I see with Stan Lee in the Spiderman movies, I'd say be contented with doing a cameo appearance. I don't have the slightest idea of who I would cast as my characters for a live-action movie adaptation of my novel. Big names don't necessarily mean good acting anymore. Maybe animation is the way to go...

I agree. I imagine my characters as animated, not real people. And animated movies are getting even better these days. If I could have an animation director produce my books as movies, I would hope for Hayao Miyazaki. The man is a genius. :) And he adapted Dianne Wynne Jones' book Howl's Moving Castle.

[miss_smiley]

*le gasp!*
I love that book... :love:

[Elisa]

I've heard that Howl's Moving Castle, the movie, is excellent but haven't had an opportunity to get a hold of it. What's it basically about?

[miss_smiley]

*shakes head* Go get the book out - it's awesome, and it explains better than I ever could. :P

[Bowie20049]

Apparently, directors are accused of not following the original book/work of literature enough, and get bashed for it.

Apparently, what's-his-face who directed the Watchmen was bashed because he followed the comic book too much.

So what can directors do to make a super-successful adaptation that doesn't suffer from too much adaptation decay and unoriginality?

EDIT: I wasted my 1000th post on this?!

[Shaun]

Bowie: The problem with Watchmen was that they were adapting a comic book relevant to people in the 80s and forgot that none of that is relevant to people today. You ended up with a movie that made little sense because most movie folks didn't understand the historical context. They should have updated the movie for today's audience.

[Jack]

Zack Snyder was a massive Watchmen fan and he wanted the movie to please fans like him, who new the novel inside out. If they had updated the movie for today's audience, they would have had to scrap the whole Cold War America/Russia theme, which would have killed the plot.