Books to Movies and Back Again
Thank you, Terrie and Sandi, for replying to that last post and, Jocelyn, I’m impressed you found that excerpt for the next Maximum Ride book. For all you parents who aren’t aware of the Maximum Ride series, it’s written for readers of all ages, from 10 to 110. I’m careful with the language and content and everybody seems to love the books.
Staying on the subject of Maximum Ride, I just returned from Hollywood and can tell you the books are headed to the silver screen. Avi Arad, who made Spiderman, and Sony Pictures will be making the movie-version.
Ironically, just last week I blogged about how movies often aren’t as good as the books, but hope does spring eternal and sometimes movies-based-on-books are pretty good. I think the Harry Potter films, for instance, are entertaining.
And that sparks another idea that may be useful for those of us embarked on turning kids into readers.
Find a movie your kids might be into that’s based on a book. For example, The Spiderwick Chronicles will be out in February. Or The Golden Compass is out now. Or try Holes, which you should be able to rent. The important thing is to find a movie your kid wants to see and to harness their interest by giving them the book before they see it.
Oh, and if you have some suggestions of great books that have been turned—or are getting turned—into decent movies, why don’t you share them? Maybe we can build a list here for us all to reference.
JP
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The Mist was a good movie adoption. Based on the Stephen King story.
I'm so glad there's going to be a Maximum Ride movie! Also, I enjoyed the Harry Potter Movies, and Star Wars. Happy Holidays!
The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe. The Wizard of Oz. Charlotte's Web. Old Yeller. I read The Hobbit when I was a kid. The Little House books were made into the television series. Ditto the Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew. Ann of Green Gables.
And let's not forget Hans Christian Anderson Fairy Tales that so many Disney Movies are based upon.
Funny story, my grandson, Chase and I have a membership to the local playhouse and last year they showed Brothers Grimm's Sleeping Beauty.
Chase was three then, he didn't believe it was the same story. But he enjoyed it very much and so did I.
Terrie
Oh as a side note: Congratulations on them making the Stories of Max into movies.
That's wonderful! We look forward to watching them.
Merry Christmas to you and your family.
Terrie
And More...
Willy Wanka and The Chocolate Factory;
Black Beauty;
My Friend Flicka;
Treasure Island.
I'm sure that I'll think of more. Off topic but fun books for little readers are the Walter, The Farting Dog books.
They're funny.
Terrie
Several Roald Dahl books have been made into movies such as James and the Giant Peach, Matilda and 2 versions of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.
Polar Express
Stuart Little
Lassie
I just had my son finish The Water Horse by Dick King-Smith for the sole purpose of having him read it before seeing the movie. Another book/movie by the same author is Babe: the Gallant Pig.
OK, here's the deal, Maximum Ride is my favorite series. Did I say series? I meant obssesion, and I would really hate it if the movie turned out to be crap, just like Eragon. Now understand me, I don't view the movie for my personal enjoyment, I prefer reading, It's just that, millions of people will see it think it's ok, and move right along to the next big thing, never stopping to read the book, so I think the movie should do some justice to the book so that all the illiterate people out there will really understand Maximum Ride. I'm begging you, do all in your power to stop the desecration!
Izzy, I totally agree!!! I just came in from seeing the movie version of The Water Horse which was good by the way. HOWEVER, it was NOTHING like the book!!! Other than 4 characters names, the location and a very few other minor things the book and the movie were totatlly different.
Saw previews for other books being made into movies: Nim's Island, Prince Caspian, and Inkheart.
Others that I thought of were Peter Pan and Pippi Longstocking.
I really enjoyed "The Devil Wears Prada" but didn't like the movie so much. Kinda strange because I'm a big fan of Anne Hathaway. I also didn't enjoy "Mystic River" in print or on the big screen. The only movie I've ever seen that was better than the book was "Where the heart Is". I felt like the author's style of writing was a little juvenile. I do enjoy Alice in Wonderland and Winnie the Pooh. Seeing the movies have gotten my kids interested in reading th books. I was in Walmart right after the Lord of the Rings books came out and it made me so sad to hear a couple of teenagers say "Look! They've made novelizations of the movies!"
There is one shining example for me of the movie being better than the book: The Princess Bride. I remebered loving the movie as a child, so when I realized it was based on a book, I had to read it. Terrible book! There is none of the fun elements from the movie in the book, with the possible exception of the fire swamp. The movie remains one of my all time favorites, but the book is something I'd skip.
MANY TIMES MY FRIENDS AND I HAVE SEEN MOVIES ONLY TO HAVE ONE OF US TO SAY:"THE BOOK WAS BETTER". THIS HAS ALWAYS BEEN A SORE SPOT FOR ME. IT SEEMED TO ME THAT THE PEOPLE WHO WERE SAYING THAT THE "BOOK WAS BETTER" WERE ATTEMPTING TO POSITION THEMSELVES IN A MORE "CULTURED" LIGHT WHILE THE MOVIE PRO'S WERE INSTEAD OF A COMPARISON WERE SIMPLY LOOKING FOR A GOOD TIME. AFTER ALL ISN'T THE ENJOYMENT OF A BOOK OR A MOVIE ALL ABOUT ENTERTAINMENT? IF IT IS, THEN A 2HR PERIOD OF ENTERTAINMENT CAN HARDLY EVER COMPETE WITH A 20-50HR PERIOD. AND ADVERSLY, THE 2 HR PERIOD THAT IS BETTER THAN A 20-50HR PERIOD SHOWS THAT THE BOOK MUST HAVE BEEN A REAL STINKER!
I think you have forgotten to mention the books of yours that have been made into either movies or television series--such as the Women's Murder Club. Your writing is so awesome for all readers. I don't think you should forget to encourage people to see your own works as well.
I general it seems, the more I love a book the less I like the movie. But that's part of the joy of the book is working to recreate the characters and scenarios as the author brings them to life in your head...
A couple of books to movie I can recall:
A Wrinkle in Time - a great book, especially for tween readers. The movie was pretty good, too (you can find it on DVD).
Two stories that I love both the book and movie of are: Bridget Jones' Diary and
Pride and Prejudice
And don't forget the various versions of Romeo and Juliet and other Shakespeare favorites
I love to read and I have to agree that most movies don't compare with the books but The Green Mile and Shawshank Redemtion by Stephen King have both been just as good as the books they are absolutely two of my all time favorite movies. Forrest Gump was one where the movie was actually better book, the book over exagerated some moments in Gump's life, skip the book.
Well, it makes sense that the more you love a book, the worse the movie seems to you (9/10 times), because you start to think of the book as a sort of valuable gift, and therefore when the movie comes out, you're looking almost completely for ways in which it may have changed or slandered that which has become valuable. For example, my favorite Harry Potter books were also adapted to become my least favorite Harry Potter movies because of how they were cut down. Anyway, I love the books this man writes! I'm only 15, but I've been trying to complete his collection... I have 20-25 done; My favorites are definitely the books in the Cross series.
Sam
I'm sure you've heard of them, but the Twilight book series is wonderful.
My 14yr old daughter read the first book and immediately had me take her to the local bookstore to spend her birthday money on buying the 2nd and 3rd installments, which she finished in a week. She begged me to read them as well (we're both HUGE Maximum Ride fans so I trust her judgement!!) so I gave them a try and found I just couldn't put them down. It was great to find another book series that we can share and discuss together. I love finally being able to share my love of reading with her. We have huge debates on the characters and what we hope their future will be both in the Maximum Ride books and the Twighlight series. Oh, and she loves Fang's blog.
Just had to tell you that the charecter you created-Max-is inspiering! I absoulutley loved reading your maximum ride series you had me laughing my socks of as well as reducing me to tears! I love that she has feelings for fang and the scene where she confronts him about kissing that red haired girl had me tingeling all over I can so relate to her feelings there the whole "I'm not jelous!" the anger and the annoyance at herself as well as total confusion about likeing him and hateing him for being so well fang like about it but still somehow loveing him even more!
What I really wanted to ask is are you holding auditions for Max It would be my dream role and I'd love to have a shot at getting it! I have been desperate to be an actress since age 2 but I kinda gave up after so many people said that it was like impossible to get anywhere Then I read your books and her charecter is just so brilliant I just can't stop thinking about being Max! Sorry to bother you but I just had to know if there was an oppertunity for that audition! Thankyou so much for your time and your amazing books! Jessi
Movies are never as good as the books. Im 12. Im allowed to have an opinion, so here it is: The Harry Potter movies suck, except the first two, they are nothing like the books.
The only movie better than the book is the Golden Compass, which really helps make Lyra look better for the crowd.
In the books shes a total brat.
I really hope that the Max ride movie isnt a sucker, since i love the books. I also hope they stick to the relative story line of the books, otherwise it will be horrible.
Max Ride would be easy to mess up, if the graphics look fake, if there are bad actors, stuff ,like that.
Basically, if yer gonna do this, u had better do it right.
For my sake.
This is sooo COOOLLL!!!They're making a movie