So my recent ignorant puzzlings have turned to Hollywood. I realized, due to my reliable teenage enlightenment, there are many many fantastic books out there, but a lot of them are vague titles compared to the blazing hype movies draw.
I also wondered, how come only a portion of these books make the conversion to movies? It doesn't matter if the movies themselves were successful or not, but what made those books especially fit for film? How come certain books are translated to film while others, despite great writing and plot, are left on the book rack?
The Dresden Files by Jim Butcher, I think, would superbly make the translation. It was well written, has hilarious lines, suspenseful action, even that cliche stunned black guy who gives an awed, "Day-um!" Butcher pulled these things off with flying colors, but I'll drool about him another time.
But I was just wondering how come many beautiful books never see the silver screen? Is it the money angle? I'm sure the movie industry is watching the current trends, but can a great story be blocked by what's hot and what's not? Or does the screenwriting maul a story before it's rejected?
I know there are certain exceptions of course. Some brilliant books would be horrible on screen. I can't imagine sitting through Walden: The Movie. I'm not sure I would make it halfway before stabbing myself with a soda straw to distract myself from the pain. And if there is a movie of it already, well, one can always whore the story into a sequel.
Walden 2 Extreme: Taking Back Transcendentalism!!!
Ah, Thoreau, how you would roll in your grave...
Sorry, I get side-tracked. Anyways, what are your thoughts on the matter? Feel free to add books that would (or would not) be successes as movies.
I also wondered, how come only a portion of these books make the conversion to movies? It doesn't matter if the movies themselves were successful or not, but what made those books especially fit for film? How come certain books are translated to film while others, despite great writing and plot, are left on the book rack?
The Dresden Files by Jim Butcher, I think, would superbly make the translation. It was well written, has hilarious lines, suspenseful action, even that cliche stunned black guy who gives an awed, "Day-um!" Butcher pulled these things off with flying colors, but I'll drool about him another time.
But I was just wondering how come many beautiful books never see the silver screen? Is it the money angle? I'm sure the movie industry is watching the current trends, but can a great story be blocked by what's hot and what's not? Or does the screenwriting maul a story before it's rejected?
I know there are certain exceptions of course. Some brilliant books would be horrible on screen. I can't imagine sitting through Walden: The Movie. I'm not sure I would make it halfway before stabbing myself with a soda straw to distract myself from the pain. And if there is a movie of it already, well, one can always whore the story into a sequel.
Walden 2 Extreme: Taking Back Transcendentalism!!!
Ah, Thoreau, how you would roll in your grave...
Sorry, I get side-tracked. Anyways, what are your thoughts on the matter? Feel free to add books that would (or would not) be successes as movies.