[Do you think books turned into movies do it justice?]

It depends largely on the book in question and the people who turn it into a film.

 

Some book adaptations do little more than pay lip service to the title of the original (I, Robot and I am Legend, for example) but in the hands of people who care about the original work and understand it, some very good films have been made (like The Lord of the Rings films).

 

Most book adaptations usually fall somewhere in between these examples, but there are also some who exceed the original source material and I would single out Stardust for this. Neil Gaiman's novel isn't a bad book, but Jane Goodman and Matthew Vaughan's screenplay has far more magic in it and works far better for me than the book it was based on. I would also say the same about Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire which took a bloated, protracted story and turned it into a tight, well-paced film.

 

 

The Goblet of Fire was difficult to read for me, I just found it so hard to get through. But the movie was great. I agree that they did a great job on that one.

I however do love all of the Harry Potter movies to no end. I can watch them over and over. Sometimes I forget that I am an adult and think to myself " should I be watching these movies so often?"

Then I think I'm sure that there must be millions of adults that watch the Harry Potter movies more then their children. Well I hope.

[Do you think books turned into movies do it justice?]

When making a movie from a book, alot of important information is left out.

I remember when my child was younger and the first Harry Potter movie came out (he had already read the book)

He embarrassed me to no end, when he stood up in a packed theater and stated "They left a part/scene out"

Even children that read notice this, He was so upset.

I always say read the book before the movie that way you can fill in what they don't show.

 

I agree with you on that. I think always reading the book first (when you know there is a book) is a smart thing to do.

I do sometimes read the books after the movie only simply because I had no idea it was a book first.

[Harry Potter Books by J. K. Rowling]

I have watched all of the movies and have enjoyed them very much. The only Harry Potter book that I felt lacked was Order of the Phoenix, I just felt it dragged out for too long and I got bored. Although the movie was ok, it's my least favorite of the series.

 

I wish there were more series with the Harry Potter, maybe from another point of view like Hermione Granger.

[The Casual Vacancy by J K Rowling - General discussion]

From The Bookseller...

 

 

So.. who's going to buy this one? If so, is it because of the author, or the book? And would you pay that much?!

 

I saw a recent interview with her about the book and she describes is as a dark comedy. I'm not sure about this one yet, I will be waiting for reviews first. She mentioned it has things like depression, death, cutting, abuse and I can't seem to find that funny or how you could adapt that to a comedy.

I do have an open mind about the book and will sit on it for a few weeks.

 

I will give her a try. Well, she can't be glued to Harry's robes for all her career, can she? Maybe the book won't be published in Italy, though. We miss so much down here..

 

I agree, I wish there would be more Harry Potter books. I wish she would just keep writing about them and having movies to go with it.

[Hello everyone :) newbie to the forum]

Hi everyone

 

My name is Robin Adolphs and I'm new to this forum and all forums in general. I'm an author with a few children's picture books out myself. I just think when you read a book as a child it shapes you and becomes a part of your identity, and I want to be able to give that children all over the world. Because every child deserves to read a picture book.

 

I thought it would be a good idea to be a part of this and talk to people that actually like to read books and give suggestions. I would love to get to know everyone, specially to the folks that love children's picture books.

 

So hello It's lovely to meet you all and I look forward to talking with you.

 

Warmest regards,

 

Robin

 

 

In-line with my live events, I have 2 Free Kindle Book Promo Offers on Amazon.

 

It's for my books:

 

The Pile Up

http://www.amazon.com/The-Pile-Up-ebook/dp/B008OCFFVU/

and

Yesterday I Played in The Rain

http://www.amazon.com/Yesterday-Played-The-Rain-ebook/dp/B008OCH1D0

 

The Free Promo time starts 25-09-2012 and ends on 29-09-2012.

 

Everyone, particularly those who are parents will have a quality book to share with their children on their favourite Kindle device, iPad or any other device with the Kindle app.

 

All you will need to do, is click the links (as above) provided and just 'click to download' on Amazon.

 

I look forward to hearing the reviews from you.

 

Thank you.

 

Warm regards,

 

 

Robin

 

Hello Robin and welcome to the forum!

 

Thank you. I am enjoying it very much.

[Why do you love reading the classics?]

I do love reading classics.

 

I like reading the old children's stories, for example Peter Pan, The Little Mermaid, The Lion King.

Being a children's author myself, I can't help but read children's classics over and over. They bring me inspiration and joyfulness.

 

They bring back so many memories and are full of happiness. I never get tired of reading them.

[Do you think books turned into movies do it justice?]

Yes The Green Mile was an excellent movie and book. I also like the old classic books turned into old movies, an example is 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea.

 

Would you agree?

[Hello!]

Hi Wes and welcome. All the best with your book. If your thinking of self publishing or looking for some information I would recommend www.bookcovercafe.com (They helped me with everything, very informative website) There is so much great information on the website, I would recommend setting aside 1 hour to look through it all.

 

I am new myself to this forum and so far everyone has been great. I'm sure you will love this forum.

[New Girl]

Hi Gabbie and welcome!

[hi there]

Welcome Frank!

[Hello everyone :) newbie to the forum]

Forgot to mention the inimitable Margaret Mahy, who died recently. Her A Lion In the Meadow is a classic and her writing so imaginative and fun.

 

I completely agree. Also The Man Whose Mother Was a Pirate is a great read.

 

I like your list of favourites, Robin. Glad you're settling in well

 

 

I just looked her up - loved her picture on wikipedia - and her books sound lovely!

 

Thank you very much. I am glad you like my list. I'm sure I will be continually expanding that list. Who are favorites?

[Do you think books turned into movies do it justice?]

I read an article recently where the argument was that short stories make better film adaptations rather than novels, the idea being that the shorter form provides focus on a brief period of time or on a restricted number of characters, and are often written from a first person perspective which lends itself better to the 90-120 minutes of a film.

 

That's an interesting statement. I can see where you are coming from. I'm interested in taking a look at this, do you have an example at all?

[Do you think books turned into movies do it justice?]

I think it also depends on what you see/read first, the movie or the book. I've read books after seeing the movie and been very pleased with both, but most of the time when I see a movie after reading the book, I'm very disappointed. Not always, but usually.

 

For example, one of my favourite fantasy series is the Sword of Truth saga by Terry Goodkind, but after the short-lived TV series based on the books came out, I was hugely disappointed. I get that everyone has a different vision of what book's world is like, and that television/movies are limited in a way that books aren't, but still...

 

Oddly, I really like movies based on comic books! And I find both mediums just as entertaining. Hmm, wonders if she should be embarrased now...

 

Haha, don't be embarrassed I am a fan of the comic books turned movies myself, and have enjoyed both. I also agree with you about what you see/read first which I didn't even think of. I think it does have an impact about how you feel after you have read/watched.

 

I guess when you read the book first you build up the characters in your mind and have your own image of them, when the movie comes out and it's a famous actor, your feelings change a little about the book and that lead you to like the book/movie more or hate it.

 

Also, when you watch the movie first the characters that you see are your first impression and you like the movie based on that. Then when you read the book after the movie the characters you see in your head are the actors from the movie. Would you agree with that?

[Do you think books turned into movies do it justice?]

I always think that it's a very unfair comparison, between books and movies. Both mediums are so very different that it's simply impossible to say one is better than the other. I can see how maybe you like one better than the other, but to say that a book is better than a movie, or vice versa? They're so different, and they work in such different ways.

 

I also dislike the kind of crowd who don't give movies a chance, and only go see them so they can prove their own point, in their eyes. If you're honest with yourself and you know that you won't be giving the movie a fair chance, why bother going to see it?

 

In the end, I also think you can't give a general answer to that question. It depends on the book and the movie. Sometimes I like the book better, sometimes I like the movie better. Sometimes movies do the books they're based on justice. Sometimes they don't really do the books justice, but they're good as movies on their own. Sometimes, the movie is just really bad - but in the end, it depends on each individual case.

 

That is a great response. I read you reply and thought about it for a while, and I agree with you. It does depend on all of those factors. I definitely would not go and see a movie to prove a point, and I agree with you, why bother seeing it at all.

 

There is a happy medium in the case of books and movies. Sometimes I have seen a movie and thought "wow" and find out later it was a book done years and years ago, and have enjoyed it equally.

[Do you think books turned into movies do it justice?]

The Princess Bride is such a brilliant film. It really is a classic that everyone (child or adult) should watch.

 

Fight Club is one of a kind, though I preferred the darker ending of the book. What about The Shawshank Redemption and Stand By Me? I think those movies are better than the novellas, and just seemed to add extra flavor to the story that maybe couldn't be written, I don't know.

 

I agree with you there about The Shawshank Redemption. I loved the movie it was very moving. I just struggled to get through the book for some reason. I just could not feel the emotion and connection in the book, the movie however complete opposite.

[Hello everyone :) newbie to the forum]

Hi RobinA. So your favourite books are your own are they?

 

My favourite young children's authors are the likes of Maurice Sendak, Lynley Dodds, John Birmingham, AA Milne, Dr Seuss, Eric Carle, Leo Lionni, Eric Hill.

 

Yes, I love my own books, they are my favorite.

I also love Hans Christian Andersen these are my favorites :

• The Little Mermaid
  
• The Ugly Duckling
  
• The Tinderbox
  
• The Red Shoes
  
• Thumbelina
  
• The Snow Queen
  
• The Princess and the Pea
  

Also:

• J. M. Barrie - Peter Pan
  
• Michael Bond - The Paddington Bear series
  
• Carlo Collodi - The Adventures of Pinocchio
  
• Michael Ende - The Neverending Story
  
• J. R. R. Tolkien - The Hobbit
  
• E. B. White - Charlotte's Web, Stuart Little, The Trumpet of the Swan
  
• Jules Verne - Journey to the Center of the Earth, 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea
  
• Chris Van Allsburg - Jumanji, The Polar Express, The Garden of Abdul Gasazi
  

These are not in any order. They are pure classics and one day I hope to be in that group.

 

You all have good taste in authors.

 

Hello and welcome to BCF, Robin

 

Thank you so much. I am loving this forum!

 

Everyone is very nice and supportive.

[Do you think books turned into movies do it justice?]

I completely agree that Fight Club was a brilliant book made into a brilliant film. I've never seen anything like it. I don't think any movie will be able to replace Fight Club.

 

Also 20,000 Leagues under the sea was a great book. Very old book but a classic none the less. The original movie was in 1954. Then they re-did a new version of it I think , in 1997?

Has anyone seen both?

 

 

I'm going to watch The Princess Bride. Thank you for the preview. Looks like an oldie but a goodie. They have some good actors in that movie.

[Harry Potter Books by J. K. Rowling]

I loved all of the Harry Potter books and I must say that the movies were brilliant and were how I imagined they would be. The first book is my favorite. Even to this day I love reading it and watching the movie with the kids. There is just something magical that sparks your imagination and even at my age and being an author myself that I love how it is so captivating.

 

I love this series so much! I have read and re-read and loved them even more. In fact I was missing reading it so I went and got The Prisoner of Azkaban from the library again.

These books will never get old for me, no matter how much old I get he he.

 

I agree with you there.

[The Host - Stephenie Meyer]

I've read The host and I LOVED it... I liked how it was unexpected, there were twists and turns and I like reading not knowing what is about to happen.. There was suppose to be a series but don't know if she has decided not to continue with it. Does anyone know if there will be another book?

 

I'm not sure if she is doing another one. I hope so. I also noticed that you profile picture is of the vampire academy, I'm guessing you have read the first book? Did you like it?

[Do teenagers still read books?]

When I was a teenager, my parents would always laugh at how after the short car journey back from the bookshop, I would already be half way through a new book we'd just bought! But you are right, Nollaig, I agree with you on the fact that I was pretty much the only one in my class who would read books which weren't covered in class.

 

However I do think the world is slowing changing, I think a turning point was the Harry Potter and Twilight books that stand out for. Teenagers went crazy for them and I think maybe now they like to read but don't show it, they read in private.

[Your Book Activity ~ September 2012]

Started and almost finished The Joy Luck Club today, think I have one chapter left to go.

 

I hate having one chapter to go in a good book. Sometimes I wont read that chapter for a week because I don't want it to end.

Then when I do and have finished it, I feel a little lost because I don't know what do next. LOL

[Do you think books turned into movies do it justice?]

One that did "exactly what it says on the tin" and lived up to the book incredibly well is The Princess Bride. The only bits that were cut were the "boring bits" that the author mentions during the course of the book as being boring bits that his father cut in the telling, and the only thing that changed was that the sharks of the book bot changed to the shrieking eels 9which was far more exciting!). The cast was phenomenal and everyone's tongues remained firmly in their cheeks, which is exactly where they should have been. So yes, sometimes films do live up to the books on which they're based.

 

Personally, I didn't think much of the Twilight books, so the below par movies bit the bill from my point of view.

 

Hi Kell,

 

Thank you for the reply I enjoyed reading it. I haven't seen The Princess Bride, is it a good movie you recommend? Is it suitable for children?

I have a lot of friends who agree with you on the Twilight books.

 

Sometimes I do like it when they bring out movies, specially when I didn't know it came from a book. So it does serve a purpose. I guess the good come with the bad.

[Do you think books turned into movies do it justice?]

Do you think books turned into movies do it justice?

 

I think it's a very good question. After spending much time thinking about this question I have come to the conclusion that I prefer to read the book and that I don't think turning them into movies do the book any justice.

 

For example: I read the Twilight books a few years ago before the movies and I enjoyed it very much and had a image in my head of what the character were like and looked. Then the movie came out and they left so much out. I mean I still liked the Twilight movies, I must admit I did enjoy them all. But when I look at the book now I don't see my original thoughts anymore. It's all changed.

 

Or how about the classic Journey to the center of the earth? I think they shredded it to bits. Yes the movie in general was entertaining, it just wasn't anywhere near the book. ( I thought)

If we go a bit younger again how about Diary of a wimpy kid? any thoughts on this one? Tell me what your kids thought, would like to get a younger opinion.

 

 

Please tell me you thoughts, what do you think? Do you have any other books to movie examples?

 

 

Robin

[Best book/books of 2012 so far?]

My favorite books are (Children's book category)

• Yesterday I Played in the Rain
  
• The Pile Up
  
• Treasure Island
  
• Matilda
  
• Spot
  

I just feel there is something about children's books that brings back memories and those memories last forever and get passed on through the family.

[Hello everyone :) newbie to the forum]

Hi Robyn. Very nice to meet you! You may want to consider removing your last name, if it is the real one I mean. Just a piece of friendly advice.

 

 

Morning,

 

Yes it's my name. I'm a children's book author so my name is everywhere, my website, Facebook, everything. I'm on this forum to get to know people and talk to people all over the world about children's books and try and spread the children book community. So I can mingle and meet fellow authors and help each other.

 

Warm regards,

 

Robin