Talk to Me Tuesday is a brand new weekly meme where we will discuss anything (and everything) literary-related in an open forum of honesty. Questions for the next week will be posted one week prior to the post on the Features page. If you'd like to participate in this weekly feature, simply create your post, link back to me, and add your post to the wonderful Mr. Linky below. Have fun, and have at it!
This week's question: What is your take on book to film adaptations...do you have a favourite or least favourite?
It's no secret. I love books, but I also really love movies. So, when I find out a book I love is becoming a film, naturally my first reaction is to be ecstatic, but then I remember the nature of Hollywood and the "creative liberties" that are often taken in films. Sometimes they work for me. Other times they make me leave the theatre fuming...or laughing hysterically at just how ridiculous the changes were. Overall though, book-to-film adaptations are bit of a hit or miss with me. I either love them, or I just love to hate them.
I think that the Harry Potter film series is a perfect example of adaptations done right. While I thought the first film was blashphemy and the second film was just a smidge better, they definitely raised the bar with the next films in the franchise. Honestly, yes, I've read the books so many times that when I see something omitted I want to pull my hair out, but the creative liberties they take have been done rather well. They balance the story with the overall theme and actually develop the characters. And, hey, if J.K herself gave them her stamp of approval, that's good enough for me. In the realm of contemps, I think my favourite book to film adaptation would have to be either A Walk to Remember or Atonement. Both were incredibly well done and well acted, despite a few deviations the story in the book. Other runners-up for me would have to be The Notebook (yes, Nicholas Sparks, you win), The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch & The Wardrobe, and Legend of the Seeker (even if it WAS just a TV show...I'm pissed it was canceled.)
Then, however, we have the absolute opposite end of the spectrum where the films decide it's necessary to take a beautiful book, butcher it and rip it shreds, stomp on it, then watch it crash and burn on a giant screen. The prime example of this for me would have to be Dear John. This is one heck of a beautiful book (like all his stories), and I was so excited to see it, but I left the theatre having laughed my way through it. The only moment I felt any emotion at all was for John's father. They brushed aside the whole aspect of the letters and the relationship between the characters to make it into some skeezy little Hollywood romance. And despite the fact that Channing's abs are pretty much box office gold (and drool-worthy eye candy), I hated the film. Other book-to-film adaptations that really didn't work for me were My Sister's Keeper (they just massacred the end), The Lovely Bones, The Lightning Thief, I Am Number Four and (go figure) The Last Song.
Jamie at The Perpetual Page Turner said, "I think they are VERY hard to do with all the adapting that needs to be done. Sometimes if you stick too close to the book it can sometimes not translate well into a movie. And sometimes it seems like they take out all the things that MAKE the book."
Ashlie from Bookish Novelties said, "I think my fave adaptation is To Kill A Mockingbird."
Avery from Avery's Book Nook said, "Pride and Prejudice (the newer version)... I actually prefer the movie over the book..."
Want to weigh in and do your own Talk to Me Tuesday post for this week? Go ahead and link up!
