I haven't read the Harry Potter series so I can't compare, but even if the movies were a stand alone Ron's development was bad. It's clear in the first two movies that he's meant to be Harry's best friend and an overall important character, but as the movies progressed he was such an ass (for no reason??) and it felt like his only relevance to the plot was to provide some ~teen drama.
It's a shame when a novel with little to no romance is adapted into a movie with romance as a focus. It feels forced, awkward, and most of all takes away from the original plot.
I don't know if you can but something that helped me, was listening to audiobooks. Something about someone else reading the descriptions of things helped better define them in my head.
I find your answer about which movies got it wrong interesting, because there are a lot of films that I think have a lot going for them and I want to like them so badly, but they just aren't that good! A couple that really bother me that way are Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, Stardust, and Ella Enchanted.
- Do you typically enjoy films that are based off of books or do you avoid them? It depends on whether I read the book or not, or if it's a type of book I'd read. So it depends :D Some movies based on books that I've loved, I didn't read the book till later (Little Women) or I never read the book (Something Borrowed).
- Would you rather read the book or watch the movie first? I'm not sure... Usually books that get made into movies are books I wouldn't read in general
- What are some example(s) of films or movies based on books that got it right? The 1994 versions of Little Women and Black Beauty
- What are some example(s) of films or movies based on books that got it wrong? The Bone Collector... UG just horrible
- If you see a film based on a book does it make you want to go and read the book? Again, depends on the movie and/or book but not usually no.
You're right, that is a pretty good adaptation of Little Women! I forgot it on my list. Claire Danes' performance in particular really stood out for me.
I always love media about sisters, 'cause I have 3 of my own, lol.
Its funny because I didnt read Little Women until I was in graduate school! The older black and white verison is good too but I like th 94 verison better. Did you hear Michale Weatherly (of NCIS fame) is goinf to be producing a verison foe CW? It sounds horrible to me and i worry itll ruin the book's name
I don't think I've ever read the full version, actually! LOL! I had (well, still have) an abridged version that was given to me by an elementary school teacher as a birthday gift.
I think I vaguely remember hearing something like that... I don't... pay a lot of attention to what happens with the CW, lol.
- Do you typically enjoy films that are based off of books or do you avoid them? This has more to do with the story than anything else. For example, "based on the book by Nicholas Sparks" = heck, no, I'm not gonna see it. But I love speculative fiction, and so a lot of fantasy & sci-fi films are on my to-see list.
- Would you rather read the book or watch the movie first? Movie first. There's always more detail in books, and they have the ability to get more inside the characters' heads, so there's always details I would've liked to see in the movie that just didn't make the cut.
- What are some example(s) of films or movies based on books that got it right? The Lord of the Rings, Jurassic Park, The Princess Bride, The First Wives Club, The Princess Diaries, Holes, Mrs. Frisby & the Rats of NIMH, The Hunger Games, Choke, Gone with the Wind, The Running Man, almost all Jane Austen adaptations are good -- especially Pride & Prejudice (2005) & Clueless.
- What are some example(s) of films or movies based on books that got it wrong
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omg The Cat in the Hat. I'm so torn on this, because I disagree and agree! I'm definitely not a fan of the adult humour thrown in for cheap laughs, but I also feel like because production went this direction it's not a "wrong" adaptation since it's not 100% based on the books. I hope that made some sense lol
What about The Hobbit do you think they got wrong? The love triangle got under my skin, but other than that I think it was still fairly well adapted.
I didn't even know there were movies based off Dean Koontz novels!
We won't even show The Cat in the Hat in our classroom (of 4th-6th graders!!!!) because they absolutely get the blatant adult humor in it. And besides that it's just not good, IMO.
Oh, god, that love triangle. I wasn't even thinking about that! It's just bloated all to heck with unnecessary stuff they added from the appendices in order to stretch it into 3 movies (and to add in popular characters from the LotR trilogy...), when there simply isn't 3 movies' worth of material. It was successful as a franchise in that I'm sure they made a ton of money, but as standalone films, there isn't even a clear narrative thread amongst them. Like, there's a reason why fan edits of The Hobbit have become such a big thing online.
They are always so poorly cast and so poorly written, it breaks my heart. Fucking Phantoms, man. I LIKE THAT CAST, but NOT FOR THESE ROLES!
I'll admit I'm biased when it comes to LotR & The Hobbit, so I've never really thought that much about it although, like I said, the love triangle was just ridiculous. There's this one thing that bothers me a little though and it's the fact The Hobbit seems much more toned down (drama wise) and humorous compared to LotR. I know they're separate stories, but it doesn't sit right with me that The Hobbit doesn't blend well into LotR.
Ben Affleck lmao I might watch it just for the heck of it. I looked up the movie adaptations and they're all under 6 out of 10, yikes.
Don't mind me. I'm just making up my own questions.
- Are there any movies that you liked more than the book? There are people who say the book is always better than the movie but there are some instances where I like the movie more than the book. I've never successfully been able to get through Princess Bride but I love the movie. I like the Hunger Games movies because we're able to get out of Katniss's head and see the far more interesting things going on around her.
Drive is actually one of the few movies that I watched the movie before reading the book and I think I actually liked the movie more. Yes, there are some aspects of the book I'd wished they'd stuck closer to but I love that the movie gives you no background of this character. In the book you actually learn about his past and where he came from but the movie leaves it much more mysterious and unexplained and I like that for this particular story.
- Would you like to talk about endings?I feel like the number one way to piss me off when making a movie adaptation
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I haven't read Hero because my friend (whose opinions I trust since we have similar taste) thought it was just 'meh.' I'd definitely be interested in a movie or tv show, though.
I agree, The Princess Bride is definitely one of the few movies that is better than the book by far (though I do like the book!).
Hero is really one of those books I've been meaning to reread and reevaluate now that I'm older. It probably isn't all that great but I'd argue that it's important. Queer superheroes are something we don't have nearly enough of.
Also, I would like to take this opportunity to inform you that every time I see that icon I think it says I beer in the trap which I find hilarious each and every time.
Definitely, I agree. But I'm also past the point of throwing money at something just because it's representation. There's a weird sort of stagnation in LGBTQIA+ fiction in which we see only a handful of the same characters/stories over & over. And I'm a big believer in voting with my wallet, so I feel like I'd be contributing to that stagnation, you know? It's kind of like when a group of people were saying on Tumblr that if you support trans women, you HAVE to watch Sense 8, or else you'll be letting down trans characters and people everywhere, and we'll never get to see trans characters or trans creators again! And I just. ::shakes head::
Haha, now I can't unsee it! I was trying to make it look like Nicki's jewelry from her video.
- Do you typically enjoy films that are based off of books or do you avoid them? Not at all, if I like a book I usually want to see the movie. Mostly to enjoy the story in a visual way I guess.
- Would you rather read the book or watch the movie first? Usually I read the book and then watch the movie. The book is the source material the movie would be based on after all.
- What are some example(s) of films or movies based on books that got it right? I recently saw Paper Towns which was well done. And in the same vein, I think The Fault in Our Stars also was done well. The Hunger Games are pretty much done well too. I mean there's always something to nitpick on but so far I think they have done a great job with the series. Gone Girl worked as well on the screen as the paper too although there were some changes. I really liked what they did with Wild as well.
- What are some example(s) of films or movies based on books that got it wrong?Can't think of any right now so I'll just talk about things that annoy me. I hate bad casting, I
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I hate when they cast somebody that looks completely different than the description in the book.
That is my biggest pet peeve about casting too! For one example, in Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy Trillian was described as having dark hair and brown eyes and looking arabic. The original dramatization, which stayed really faithful to the book(s) in almost every way conceivable, cast her as blonde haired and blue eyed and it annoyed me because that's obviously based on the idea of what beautiful is "supposed" to be. But she's practically the only female character and they fucked her up!
In the Giver the book, they make a big deal out of Jonas having blue eyes and that it's extremely rare and the actor has brown eyes and the Chief Elder has blue eyes. Colored contacts exist! They wouldn't even have had to change actors or anything!
ANYWAYS... now that I've gotten that off my chest lol
I can't say anything about the two examples you gave but I completely and utterly understand you ;) It's just so annoying! As you say, colored contacts are a thing. Same for hair dye or even wigs if needed. I just don't get how they can ignore something like eye color or hair color when it is distinctively described in the book and also has a significance for the story...
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It's a shame when a novel with little to no romance is adapted into a movie with romance as a focus. It feels forced, awkward, and most of all takes away from the original plot.
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I don't know if you can but something that helped me, was listening to audiobooks. Something about someone else reading the descriptions of things helped better define them in my head.
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It depends on whether I read the book or not, or if it's a type of book I'd read. So it depends :D Some movies based on books that I've loved, I didn't read the book till later (Little Women) or I never read the book (Something Borrowed).
- Would you rather read the book or watch the movie first?
I'm not sure... Usually books that get made into movies are books I wouldn't read in general
- What are some example(s) of films or movies based on books that got it right?
The 1994 versions of Little Women and Black Beauty
- What are some example(s) of films or movies based on books that got it wrong?
The Bone Collector... UG just horrible
- If you see a film based on a book does it make you want to go and read the book?
Again, depends on the movie and/or book but not usually no.
( ... )
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I always love media about sisters, 'cause I have 3 of my own, lol.
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I think I vaguely remember hearing something like that... I don't... pay a lot of attention to what happens with the CW, lol.
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- Would you rather read the book or watch the movie first? Movie first. There's always more detail in books, and they have the ability to get more inside the characters' heads, so there's always details I would've liked to see in the movie that just didn't make the cut.
- What are some example(s) of films or movies based on books that got it right? The Lord of the Rings, Jurassic Park, The Princess Bride, The First Wives Club, The Princess Diaries, Holes, Mrs. Frisby & the Rats of NIMH, The Hunger Games, Choke, Gone with the Wind, The Running Man, almost all Jane Austen adaptations are good -- especially Pride & Prejudice (2005) & Clueless.
- What are some example(s) of films or movies based on books that got it wrong ( ... )
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What about The Hobbit do you think they got wrong? The love triangle got under my skin, but other than that I think it was still fairly well adapted.
I didn't even know there were movies based off Dean Koontz novels!
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Oh, god, that love triangle. I wasn't even thinking about that! It's just bloated all to heck with unnecessary stuff they added from the appendices in order to stretch it into 3 movies (and to add in popular characters from the LotR trilogy...), when there simply isn't 3 movies' worth of material. It was successful as a franchise in that I'm sure they made a ton of money, but as standalone films, there isn't even a clear narrative thread amongst them. Like, there's a reason why fan edits of The Hobbit have become such a big thing online.
They are always so poorly cast and so poorly written, it breaks my heart. Fucking Phantoms, man. I LIKE THAT CAST, but NOT FOR THESE ROLES!
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Ben Affleck lmao I might watch it just for the heck of it. I looked up the movie adaptations and they're all under 6 out of 10, yikes.
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- Are there any movies that you liked more than the book?
There are people who say the book is always better than the movie but there are some instances where I like the movie more than the book. I've never successfully been able to get through Princess Bride but I love the movie. I like the Hunger Games movies because we're able to get out of Katniss's head and see the far more interesting things going on around her.
Drive is actually one of the few movies that I watched the movie before reading the book and I think I actually liked the movie more. Yes, there are some aspects of the book I'd wished they'd stuck closer to but I love that the movie gives you no background of this character. In the book you actually learn about his past and where he came from but the movie leaves it much more mysterious and unexplained and I like that for this particular story.
- Would you like to talk about endings?I feel like the number one way to piss me off when making a movie adaptation ( ... )
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I agree, The Princess Bride is definitely one of the few movies that is better than the book by far (though I do like the book!).
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Also, I would like to take this opportunity to inform you that every time I see that icon I think it says I beer in the trap which I find hilarious each and every time.
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Haha, now I can't unsee it! I was trying to make it look like Nicki's jewelry from her video.
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Not at all, if I like a book I usually want to see the movie. Mostly to enjoy the story in a visual way I guess.
- Would you rather read the book or watch the movie first?
Usually I read the book and then watch the movie. The book is the source material the movie would be based on after all.
- What are some example(s) of films or movies based on books that got it right?
I recently saw Paper Towns which was well done. And in the same vein, I think The Fault in Our Stars also was done well. The Hunger Games are pretty much done well too. I mean there's always something to nitpick on but so far I think they have done a great job with the series. Gone Girl worked as well on the screen as the paper too although there were some changes. I really liked what they did with Wild as well.
- What are some example(s) of films or movies based on books that got it wrong?Can't think of any right now so I'll just talk about things that annoy me. I hate bad casting, I ( ... )
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That is my biggest pet peeve about casting too! For one example, in Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy Trillian was described as having dark hair and brown eyes and looking arabic. The original dramatization, which stayed really faithful to the book(s) in almost every way conceivable, cast her as blonde haired and blue eyed and it annoyed me because that's obviously based on the idea of what beautiful is "supposed" to be. But she's practically the only female character and they fucked her up!
In the Giver the book, they make a big deal out of Jonas having blue eyes and that it's extremely rare and the actor has brown eyes and the Chief Elder has blue eyes. Colored contacts exist! They wouldn't even have had to change actors or anything!
ANYWAYS... now that I've gotten that off my chest lol
TL;DR I too hate bad casting decisions
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