When great books become eh movies. . .

I was perusing the upcoming film list and I must ask- are we as a society losing our creativity? Or are we simply taking the easy road to imagination?

 Because most of these movies are either

A)     being adapted from already successful  books.

B)      Sequels to movies no one thought would be a success

C)      Or old movies being re-released in 3D

For instance:

Perks of being a Wallflower- original book published in 1999, read by yours truly in 2003.just now being made into a film

Resident Evil: retribution -> this is like the 5^th one in a series fast becoming BORING! Especially with the unoriginal plot that to me seems to just keep going on.

The re-release of Finding Nemo, (a movie which I absolutely love, adore and can quote) in 3D. Just so the audience can see this movie but with a new “experience.” The only difference I see is that things will be coming at you.

Side note: as a person who wears glasses more often than contacts I abhor the 3D experience, for the main reason is that those damn glasses never sit right over mine. Also I hate moments in the film where they purposely make things jump out at you JUST to remind you that the movie is indeed in 3D.

NOW

I am not saying that I absolutely hate EVERY movie to come out that has been based on a book, because there are books that just scream make me into a movie! But never has there been a movie that screams make me into a book!

I feel that people skip over the "reading" part and say to themselves "if it’s any good they will make a movie out of it." But in most cases the amazing detail, and one’s own creative interpretation of a book is simply lost in the main streamed simplified visualization that never lasts as long as you want?

For example I am of a generation that literally grew up with Harry Potter. I read every book within days of it coming out, and I along with many others attended every midnight premiere I could.

But of course there is the one common criticism whenever someone cuts up 600+ pages into a 2.5 hour film à details get cut, side characters never make it to casting, and the movie goers who haven’t read the books get a watered down version of a masterpiece.

ON THE FLIP SIDE

                No rom-com movie will or ever should be detailed out into a book, because come on who can take a decent sized book about a character who tracks down the guys who she has slept with, trying to find the one, just because she doesn’t want to pass that number? Uh not this girl.

                There will always be movies that are simply perfect in the film media, and require from me, an avid book-aholic the more in depth detail only a book could give. And then there will always be movies that for me need no accompanying book.

                My example is the film Death at a Funeral. (The British version, which incidentally is the original version as well. That is a rant for another time.) This film had just enough detail, depth to the characters, and dark humor, that at the end of the movie, I couldn’t imagine it being portrayed any other way. (I highly recommend you watch it.)

                But what if I had read a book that this film was based upon first? Would it have changed my views? Would the two brothers even want the same career?

THE END

All I really wanted to impart is that 99.9% of the time the book is better than the movie.

So read the book, encourage you kids to read the books before watching the movies.

                Let them imagine what the characters look like not be shown by Hollywood standards.

And remember if you publish a novel it may take over a decade for it to make it to the big screen. So don’t let that be your end goal.

~Tricia