7.08.2005
movies from books
Today's New York Times presents an editorial-type article about movies that are made from books and which sometimes overshadow said books. They use the old standards, What's Eating Gilbert Grape?, Jaws, and now War of the Worlds. But there are so many movies out there made from books which have less obviously overshadowed the book. Yet many people would rather not go to the library to pick up a volume. Among my favorites are these:
• Blade Runner. Based on Phillip Dick's story Do Androids Dream Of Electric Sheep?, Blade Runner isn't able to include all of the nuance of Decker's emotions, nor does it realize the deep yearning of the androids to be human as well as the book. Yet most people wouldn't even know that Blade Runner was based in literature. Still, the one thing that Blade Runner does really well is to give voice and form to the terrifying new world of the Dick's prose. The architecture, lighting, and culture are all so vividly shown on screen that it's impossible (and unhelpful) to excise those images when reading the book.
• Troy. OK, now here's one where I didn't see the movie because I'm too fond of the book. Or rather, books. As I understand, there are bits of the Aeneid and Odyssey in here, but the majority of the story is cribbed, poorly, from the Iliad. It's one of those movies I'll probably rent later on to see what the hype was. My old college advisor from Princeton was interviewed on NPR saying that it was fun and that she liked all of those shots of Brad Pitt, so if Prof. Fantham can see past the Hollywood tripe, then so can I.
• A Clockwork Orange. This is one of my two favorite films. It really captures the struggle between good and evil, between learned and innate behavior, and still serves as a fierce commentary on our times. Unfortunately, many people are turned off by the movie and don't even consider the book. Or they open the book and find all of the pseudo-slavic slang confusing. But the sad part is that A Clockwork Orange (the movie) is not a good film representation of the book. It's a great movie on its own, but as a retelling of the book, it's off. This is because of the complex relationship between the British author and the editor of the American version, who left out a very beautiful and moving last chapter which redeems the main ultra-violent character because he didn't think it would fit with American sensibilities. This was the copy that Kubrick picked up and transformed into film.
• A Room With A View. This is my other favorite film (strange juxtaposition, I know). The movie, made by the team of the late Ismail Merchant and James Ivory, is a nod to the E. M. Forster novel, with the actual chapter headings written out in beautiful script. I love this movie because it's poignant without being cloying, sweet and funny without being terribly ridiculous, and overall because I'm a bit of a romantic who really likes Florence.
Of course, there are many other books turned movie, but these are just the ones that really hit me personally. In reference to the article, I am also really excited to see Charlie and the Chocolate Factory with Johnny Depp, which I think is going to be hilarious and dark and wierd. I can't wait. Work now. Back in the afternoon, probably.
• Blade Runner. Based on Phillip Dick's story Do Androids Dream Of Electric Sheep?, Blade Runner isn't able to include all of the nuance of Decker's emotions, nor does it realize the deep yearning of the androids to be human as well as the book. Yet most people wouldn't even know that Blade Runner was based in literature. Still, the one thing that Blade Runner does really well is to give voice and form to the terrifying new world of the Dick's prose. The architecture, lighting, and culture are all so vividly shown on screen that it's impossible (and unhelpful) to excise those images when reading the book.
• Troy. OK, now here's one where I didn't see the movie because I'm too fond of the book. Or rather, books. As I understand, there are bits of the Aeneid and Odyssey in here, but the majority of the story is cribbed, poorly, from the Iliad. It's one of those movies I'll probably rent later on to see what the hype was. My old college advisor from Princeton was interviewed on NPR saying that it was fun and that she liked all of those shots of Brad Pitt, so if Prof. Fantham can see past the Hollywood tripe, then so can I.
• A Clockwork Orange. This is one of my two favorite films. It really captures the struggle between good and evil, between learned and innate behavior, and still serves as a fierce commentary on our times. Unfortunately, many people are turned off by the movie and don't even consider the book. Or they open the book and find all of the pseudo-slavic slang confusing. But the sad part is that A Clockwork Orange (the movie) is not a good film representation of the book. It's a great movie on its own, but as a retelling of the book, it's off. This is because of the complex relationship between the British author and the editor of the American version, who left out a very beautiful and moving last chapter which redeems the main ultra-violent character because he didn't think it would fit with American sensibilities. This was the copy that Kubrick picked up and transformed into film.
• A Room With A View. This is my other favorite film (strange juxtaposition, I know). The movie, made by the team of the late Ismail Merchant and James Ivory, is a nod to the E. M. Forster novel, with the actual chapter headings written out in beautiful script. I love this movie because it's poignant without being cloying, sweet and funny without being terribly ridiculous, and overall because I'm a bit of a romantic who really likes Florence.
Of course, there are many other books turned movie, but these are just the ones that really hit me personally. In reference to the article, I am also really excited to see Charlie and the Chocolate Factory with Johnny Depp, which I think is going to be hilarious and dark and wierd. I can't wait. Work now. Back in the afternoon, probably.
