Literary Adaptations
Since the beginning of time (okay, not really), a lot of books have been adapted into movies. A lot of people like this idea because they think they don’t need to read the book anymore or they’re just happy to see their favorite books come alive on the big screen. But there are some people, though, who are not happy with the film version because of the director’s changes or it wasn’t what they had in mind.
There are some directors who have succeeded in adapting the book, and some who have failed miserably. Who succeeded? Who didn’t?
1. Lord of the Rings
Peter Jackson had a dream, when he was 18 years old, of adapting this literary masterpiece into a first-class movie. Decades later, he was able to make his dream into a reality. It was not an easy job, and that is probably why Jackson decided to make the three books and films continuously to focus on making it work. In the process, he created a classic.
2. A Walk To Remember
I did not like the book at all. It spent too much time describing a lot of unnecessary stuff. It was a good thing the movie did not do the same and gave us a clearer picture of the characters’ love affair. To tell you the truth, I don’t remember if the movie resembled the book in the slightest way. All I can remember is that I had to force myself to read the book, but I loved the movie because of its visual storytelling. It’s a 50-50 thing, so it’s best to read and watch at your own risk.
3. Twilight
I wasn’t expecting much from this movie. And I already had trouble getting used to it because of the wrong casting. When I watched it on the big screen, I knew what to expect it, and it was a movie to satisfy the book’s teenage fans. It obviously was made in a hurry and clearly unfocused. If the studio had given the director and writer more time to develop the screenplay, then it could have been good. But it wasn’t. I just hope they do better with the next one.
So, what’s your favorite movie-from-a-book? Did it turn out the way you wanted it to? Or was it better than you expected?
