Have you noticed that lately movies based on books are a hot property? Yet it seems the more overrated the book, the more successful the movie. And the more underrated the book, the worse the movie is (in the opinion of some, I have yet to see "Troy" for myself.)

Cases in point:

Iliad: Great literature, Lousy movie (again this is other's opinions, not mine, yet)
Lord of the Rings: Horribly overrated book, great movies.
Passion of the Christ: Overrated book, wildly successful movie (based on box office take)

The Bible overrated? I don't read it (and I probably should), but I am exposed to it in Church weekly, and there's much to be learned from it. The world would be a better place if people followed the moral concepts in the Bible.

The Bible overrated? I don't read it (and I probably should), but I am exposed to it in Church weekly, and there's much to be learned from it. The world would be a better place if people followed the moral concepts in the Bible.

Book to film adaptations are tricksey at best as Gollum might say. So much
affects what transpires in transferring the printed word to cinematic images:budget, marketing, director, profit participation of principals, actors, location, alteration/modificaton of characters etc.
(Regarding the Passion, Gibson also used a book written by an 18th century nun entitled The Dolorous Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ)

Ocassionally a book to film works: meaning to say that all concerned including the author and the book's fans are pleased within reason of the outcome.

As we are learning with Jack, most of us will probably be unhappy with who DIsney/Beacon chooses as director and actor. And with Disney not really having a solid box office performance thus far, Jack takes on critical importance for Disney's bottom line next year. Should Jack perform well, then undoubtedly a sequel will occur, thereby franchising him. If not, well...

I still believe whomever is chosen will be someone who is up and coming in Hollywood as opposed to an established actor or at least a well known one.
And I cannot stress enough the importance of this person being able to carry the film internationally. If it is a relative unknown e.g someone with a few credits but not a laundry list, then Jack will be marketed as an Avenging Angel/action adventure fellow (sorry Mad American) because these types of films translate more easily to foriegn audiences.

As we are learning with Jack, most of us will probably be unhappy with who DIsney/Beacon chooses as director and actor. And with Disney not really having a solid box office performance thus far, Jack takes on critical importance for Disney's bottom line next year. Should Jack perform well, then undoubtedly a sequel will occur, thereby franchising him. If not, well...

Not real sure how your looking at the Disney thing, but I believe Miracle did fairly well at the box office and should do well the next few weeks in dvd sales. Since I'm a huge hockey fan, this movie has become one of my favorite movies. I was shocked to see Kurt Russell play Brookes and even more shocked to see how well he pulled it off. It's just too bad the Herb couldn't see the movie in completion, he would have been proud.

I do agree with everyone being nervous with the movie though. Very few have pulled off a true transition from book to movie (Shawshank Redemption is one that comes to mind). I usually take book adaptations with a grain of salt knowing that there is going to be changes. I just hope things stay as close as possible to the book (I have faith in ya FPW ).

See, I don't remember Shawshank Redemption being all that close to the novella. The movie is actually better in my opinion. Yes, this is the only real instance I can think of.

See, I don't remember Shawshank Redemption being all that close to the novella. The movie is actually better in my opinion. Yes, this is the only real instance I can think of.

Jaws was a definite improvement over the book. And I think The Godfather did justice to Puzo's novel.

Jaws was a definite improvement over the book. And I think The Godfather did justice to Puzo's novel.

Interesting. I never read Jaws, but that is one hell of a movie.

To tie in Jaws with FPW (Black Wind), there were rumors going around a while back about making a movie of the sinking of the USS Indianapolis, but I don't know what ever became of it. Has anyone heard anything? Every time I watch Jaws, Quint's story fascinates me, and I think "They should make a movie about that."

.........................

I still believe whomever is chosen will be someone who is up and coming in Hollywood as opposed to an established actor or at least a well known one.
And I cannot stress enough the importance of this person being able to carry the film internationally. If it is a relative unknown e.g someone with a few credits but not a laundry list, then Jack will be marketed as an Avenging Angel/action adventure fellow (sorry Mad American) because these types of films translate more easily to foriegn audiences.

Arrgghhhh!!!! Sharp pain...breathe short....please don't let this happen.

But Annice I do beleive you are correct I just wish it wasn't so, Hollywood is very predictable with this stuff....I was joking with a friend the other day that if Hollywood decided to do a Movie on Michael Moorcocks Elric character, Elric would probably be played Michael Clark Duncan (big guy in The Green Mile) or The Rock(can anyone say, the Rock in a remake of "Walking Tall, doesn't matter the true story of Walking tall was about a white guy in the south, had to make it The Rock in Wasshington state)

....who cares that a huge part of the Elric storyline is he is a sickly albino? Thats a small detail that can be changed without effecting the story, and it will draw in more money at the box office....

I can see this happening to Jack and it really disturbs me, but even if it happens I am sure I will be at the opening with bells on. :mad:

Arrgghhhh!!!! Sharp pain...breathe short....please don't let this happen.

But Annice I do beleive you are correct I just wish it wasn't so, Hollywood is very predictable with this stuff....I was joking with a friend the other day that if Hollywood decided to do a Movie on Michael Moorcocks Elric character, Elric would probably be played Michael Clark Duncan (big guy in The Green Mile) or The Rock(can anyone say, the Rock in a remake of "Walking Tall, doesn't matter the true story of Walking tall was about a white guy in the south, had to make it The Rock in Wasshington state)

....who cares that a huge part of the Elric storyline is he is a sickly albino? Thats a small detail that can be changed without effecting the story, and it will draw in more money at the box office....

I can see this happening to Jack and it really disturbs me, but even if it happens I am sure I will be at the opening with bells on. :mad:

And that's what studios want -those of us who have read the book to turn out on opening weekend, propeling box office into the blockbuster realm

sometimes colorblind casting is very effective (see Branagh's Much Ado About Nothing where Washington and Keanu Reeves are brothers) but most times its iffy at best

Re:Will Smith- casting him as Jim West wasn't a good idea simply because
people who had grown up with Robert Conrad couldn't dismiss his interpretation of the character. Smith maybe tolerable in Bad Boys/Independence Day type fare but the Asimov stories seem to me to be more focused on the robots and not on an A list movie star which Smith is, thereby shifting the emphasis of the stories.
For what I, Robot cost, Smith had better hope Asimov's fans exhibit a mininum of curiosity. If they don't, that will be the last of Asimov's robot tales on the big screen.

And I think The Godfather did justice to Puzo's novel.

Ayup. I read the book long before I saw the movie (an oddity in my age group, since the movie was made when I was 4 years old and most people I knew had seen the movie but never read the book), and when I finally did see the movie I was VERY impressed.

The film adaptation of The Sicilian, on the other hand, was simply awful. I clearly remember watching it with my family and them being very grateful that I had read the book so I could tell them what was happening. So disappointing.

Not real sure how your looking at the Disney thing, but I believe Miracle did fairly well at the box office and should do well the next few weeks in dvd sales. Since I'm a huge hockey fan, this movie has become one of my favorite movies. I was shocked to see Kurt Russell play Brookes and even more shocked to see how well he pulled it off. It's just too bad the Herb couldn't see the movie in completion, he would have been proud.

I do agree with everyone being nervous with the movie though. Very few have pulled off a true transition from book to movie (Shawshank Redemption is one that comes to mind). I usually take book adaptations with a grain of salt knowing that there is going to be changes. I just hope things stay as close as possible to the book (I have faith in ya FPW ).

Based on Disney's overall performance to date, their films have not exactly light up the box office: Hidalgo, Drama Queen, Ladykillers, The Alamo, Home on the Range. Hidalgo,Alamo and Ladykillers are busts to put it midly. Miracle did perform well and I appreciated what that team went though to emerge as champions and of course Kurt Russell did not disappoint.

Keep in mind that when a film costs say 80 million AND THAT"S NOT INCLUDING ADVERTISING/PRINTS and only yields roughly 66 million during its run, the studio feels the pressure. That's all I was saying. One film being profitable and 6 not, makes me a bit leery. But who really knows? King Arthur could become their next Pirates and Jack could outperform expectations. I think it can.

Among book to film adaptations I have enjoyed :Careful He Might Hear You, Apt Pupil, The Other, John Carpenter's Christine and of course Brian De Palma's Carrie. Redemption did follow King's novella pretty closely ....
(Note: Michael Sarrazin's version of Frankenstein actually adhered more closely to Mary Shelley's novel which both my mom and I have read and which I do not much care for. However Karloff left such an indelible impression that he is, was and always will be
Dr. Frankenstein's monster)