Books, movies: both are great sources of entertainment and information. I love to read and I love to watch movies. I think I have a pretty decent library for each. However, more books than movies. I can never seem to walk into a book store and come out with nothing. I can spend a good hundred dollars per trip. Books are like a drug!
Anyway, you're probably not reading this to listen to me rant on how much I like books (though, one day I think I might do a post on it. Soungs like it might be kinda interesting. Tee Hee!) but rather, something that could be slightly contraversial. So, here we go!
Alrighty, so, this all started when I went to go see the Watchmen. I haven't read the comic, but that doesn't really matter to me much anyway. Went to see it, thought it was ok and could have dealt a little less with the sex than what it did. Overall, I think I might end up buying it. One day, that is when I can afford to. This began a series of events that led from one thing to another and to the idea for this post. Turning books in to movies! Woot!
I love it when directors and writers and such decide to take a book and turn it into a movie. What a great way to show the ideas of the books. Though, there is something that is SO FREAKING ANNOYING.
Example A: Twilight
Example B: Harry Potter
Example C: The Watchmen
With all of these three examples I have heard complaints about the movie.
"That wasn't even in the book!"
"That's NOT what he's supposed to be like."
"She so didn't do that right. What a horrible actress."
"They didn't finish that scene."
"The completely didn't even put an important character in! They're so stupid."
I hate it when people do that....
What some people don't really realise is that the movie IS NOT supposed to be identical to the book. In many cases, somethings that happen in the book are not really possible to do in a movie. Another thing is that everyone has their own ideas and opinions about the book and that cannot be perfectly portrayed to suit the thoughts of each individual person.
So don't complain! There's no true reason for it. The movies are BASED off of the book for a reason... Not so that it acurately depics the book in second by second action. That would be far too difficult for someone to do. As I see it, a movie based on a book is to capture certain characteristics in people, certain events that happen, recreate certain feelings that the book gives you; it is meant to teach you the same thing the book teaches you, but in a different format and a slightly different setting.
In short. STOP COMPLAINING!!
Monday, March 9, 2009
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Posts
Mmmm, to some extent, I agree with this... but I think it's important to follow the novel or original material as closely as possible. I mean, to some extent, some things need to be cut for it to fit into a movie format, but the moviemakers also must have a responsibility of characterization and, out of respect for the author, to keep it as original to the source material as possible.
ReplyDeleteIf the author is recruited as one of the movie planners, this point is moot - so long as it isn't a bunch of people messing around with their idea as they see fit and slashing or changing things to suit Hollywood fancy (a lot of times, you'll see characters lose their complexity and become stock characters in order to be more readily accessible, which is lame). As someone who has written in the past, if someone took my ideas, characters, plot, and then butchered it to their own liking, I would be extremely not amused. And rightfully so.
I guess what I'm trying to say is sometimes those movie theatre comments are justified - there -are- going to be some discrepancies between movie and source material, that's inevitable. But I always like to see a certain amount of respect and tribute paid to the original stuff and especially, the spirit of the work.
I mean, I understand that the directors have their creative license, as well... but if they truly wanted to exercise it to their fullest potential, they should have written their own movie instead of using other people's material.
And as an example of a movie(s) that was subtly different from the books, but stayed very true to the original story and in fact added conciseness to the mix was Lord of the Rings - condensing over a thousand pages into eight-nine hours is no easy feat, but they did it, and they did it brilliantly. Because they took the time to not half-ass it. ^^;;
I agree with dantaron.
ReplyDeleteSome movies just can't be done. If the book is written as a narrative, or thought process, it can be impossible. In that case, however... Don't use that book!
Lord of the Rings is a great example. They cut two major scenes, but they were true to the movie.
The problem is that hollywood can make more money by basing a movie off of a book? Why? Because millions of people have already read the book. Therefor, they know they have a loyal fan base.
That way, when they ruin the book, we are allowed to get angry. They aren't always "basing" the movie off of the book. They're making the movie OF the book. In that case, it is their job do to the movie properly.
I see what you mean here, but I agree with the others. Sometimes movies directors, writers, etc, cut out important parts of the book. I get they only have so much time and everything, but when too much is changed then it just isn't true to the book. If you are going to use a book to make a movie then you should stay true to it, keep the important stuff. Some people may not believe that everything we think that's important is actually important, and sometimes its the small details that are missed that can change things in a way that someone who isn't a fan of the book wouldn't see. You have to realize that not everyone sees it as a problem to say things about the movie that isn't suppose to eb there or is completely changed. You have to understand other peoples thoughts, just cause you aren't a fan, doesn't mean someone else isn't and that they don't want to see something they love ruined. Yes I get it is just a book, why should people care, but people live for books to bring them into a new world and world of dreams and things they can't obtain, they can be ruined if not done properly in a movie.
ReplyDelete