I've been thinking about this after recovering from my horrified shock when I found out the Janet Evanovich books were being filmed starring Katherine Heigl as Stephanie Plum. I just cringed inside, being an avid fan who had for years cast in my head the actors I felt perfect for the roles. Heigl was not in the list. However I will give her the benefit of the doubt and see the movie anyway, fingers crossed.
Bringing something successfully from the page to screen is a hard task. Especially if fans of the books are militantly picky like me! However here is a list of movies that I feel made the transition successfully, even if not altogether faithfully.
Top book to screen adaptations
1. Pride and Prejudice (Jane Austen) BBC's 1995 version-Amazing production. The only gripe I have is I would have liked to see Elizabeth and Darcy's conversations at the end of the novel brought to life. A charming scene omitted.
2. Lord of the Rings (J.R.R Tolkien) New Line Cinema's 2001 version (yes too much fighting and too much Arwen. BUT I include it for Jackson's brilliant vision. The trilogy does an excellent job with some artistic omission. Plus Sean Bean. I rest my case)
3. To Kill a Mockingbird (Harper Lee) 1962 Gregory Peck- A brilliant adaptation of a brilliant book.
4. Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (J.K Rowling) Warner Bros 2001- I thought it was a charming adaptation. The later films lost much of that initial charm but the first movie was a truthful and thorough job.
5. Fight Club (Chuck Palahniuk) 20th century Fox, 1999. A faithful adaptation which the author praised himself. The movie did not shy away from the difficult and uncomfortable themes explored in the book and it became a cult movie.
Bringing something successfully from the page to screen is a hard task. Especially if fans of the books are militantly picky like me! However here is a list of movies that I feel made the transition successfully, even if not altogether faithfully.
Top book to screen adaptations
1. Pride and Prejudice (Jane Austen) BBC's 1995 version-Amazing production. The only gripe I have is I would have liked to see Elizabeth and Darcy's conversations at the end of the novel brought to life. A charming scene omitted.
2. Lord of the Rings (J.R.R Tolkien) New Line Cinema's 2001 version (yes too much fighting and too much Arwen. BUT I include it for Jackson's brilliant vision. The trilogy does an excellent job with some artistic omission. Plus Sean Bean. I rest my case)
3. To Kill a Mockingbird (Harper Lee) 1962 Gregory Peck- A brilliant adaptation of a brilliant book.
4. Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (J.K Rowling) Warner Bros 2001- I thought it was a charming adaptation. The later films lost much of that initial charm but the first movie was a truthful and thorough job.
5. Fight Club (Chuck Palahniuk) 20th century Fox, 1999. A faithful adaptation which the author praised himself. The movie did not shy away from the difficult and uncomfortable themes explored in the book and it became a cult movie.
%26ID%3D264&usg=__UYIRgVUwkH4G0hp-S3Ed7hQeaFY=&h=525&w=319&sz=156&hl=en&start=5&zoom=1&tbnid=Cl9d2gujzYeQoM:&tbnh=132&tbnw=80&ei=zcslT-SfG6W3iQfQ743RBA&prev=/images%3Fq%3Done%2Bfor%2Bthe%2Bmoney%2Bbook%2Bcover%26hl%3Den%26gbv%3D2%26tbm%3Disch&itbs=1){kind=link}
2 comments:
The movie One for the money has received terrible reviews in the U.S. so it will be very interesting to see if it impacts of whether more of her books will be filmed. I too love this series and think it would work better as a tv show instead of trying for a Hollywood blockbuster. Janet Evanovich has asked on her website for years who fans would like to play the main characters in her books. Sandra Bullock was often chosen as Stephanie Plum and The Rock as Ranger.
I am also dreading the Lee Child film adaptation with Tom Cruise as the main character Jack Reacher. He is not who I picture as Jack.
Oh too bad. I posted on Evanovich's site and picked Sandra Bullock (in her younger days) and the Rock! Was always confused as to Morelli though. Jack Reacher has worried many people but my hope is that Cruise is so big with such good backing and production values that maybe he will pull it off. We just need not think about the 6in difference between him and Reacher!
Post a Comment