13 Dec 2009

FROM A BOOK TO THE BIG SCREEN.

Where The Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak is a favourite BOOK of mine - an extremely short story (it's only twelve or so sentences long), it's the fabulous illustrations that I really love.

Way back in October (was it really that long ago?) I did a POST about the film adaptation, just released in the USA, where many were reporting that it was way too scary. Released here in England on Friday (the 11th of December), what do our movie-goers think of it?

Well, the general consensus seems to be that the 101 minute film is about 80 minutes too long and instead of being fun-packed, 'Max's adventures have become a sort of emotional travelogue to a land of temperamental monsters with issues to work through (and) as a result, adults will feel like children again, and children will feel like running off and having a wild rumpus in the foyer' - the Guardian's Guide magazine.

Hmm, hoping to see the film over the Christmas holidays, I'll reserve judgement until then.

Another book to be adapted for the silver screen, it had it's premiere here in London last month, is Alice Sebold's The Lovely Bones. I won't go into too many details about the story for fear of spoiling it for those of you who have yet to read it (click HERE for the synopsis if you wish) but, needless to say, the film version isn't going down too well.

Directed by Peter Jackson (of The Lord Of The Rings and King Kong fame) and starring Rachel Weizz, Mark Wahlberg and Susan Sarandon, the film has a PG (Parental Guidance) Certificate and, as such, is missing the major event as occurs in the book.

"Might the fault lie with the source novel? Alice Sebold's best-selling book held up Susie Salmon's (the lead character) innocent fancies as a kind of talisman to ward off evil. It dared to spin a sentimental fantasy out of a grisly tragedy, offsetting the tang of sulphur with the sweet taste of candyfloss. The difference (between this and the film) was that Sebold's novel was not scared to look the central horror in the face.

The screen version, by contrast, is so infuriatingly coy, and so desperate to preserve the modesty of it's soulful victim that it amounts to an ongoing clean-up operation." - An edited version of an article by Xan Brooks, reporting in the Guardian.

Not a film I intend to see, I read the BOOK at my Book Club and was totally unimpressed with it. "The author sets out to use shock tactics rather than any real character development" was one comment I made.

And finally, it had to happen.

Remember my REVIEW of Pride And Prejudice And Zombies by Jane Austen and Seth Grahame-Smith? Well, a film version is in the pipeline (thanks to Husband dearest for that piece of information) - set to star Natalie Portman though very little else is yet known about the project.

13 comments:

Betty Manousos said...

Hi Peety, I made my way to a blog that i really love. I do love your choicies and that movie sounds interesting!
Have a great Sunday!
hugs hugs

Unknown said...

We saw Where The Wild Things Are (my husband and I) and both really enjoyed it. I can see some appeal to children, but it is slow in places -- so kids who are used to lots of action and distraction may find that difficult. But I thought it was really quite well done. Will be looking forward to hearing what you think!

Sandra Wilkes said...

I read Lovely Bones a year or so ago, and although it got good reviews, mine wasn't one of them. I have a review on Amazon. It was different but not my cup of tea. It doesn't surprise me the movies version didn't fly well.

Sheila (Bookjourney) said...

Pride And Prejudice And Zombies? A movie? Oh wow....

As for The lOvely Bones.... I recently listened to it on audio (yet to be reviewed) ad I was not really impressed either. I was actually hoping the movie would be better and help pull my thoughts about this book up and help create a better review but reading what you say here... maybe that is not the case.

A wonderful post today! Very interesting stuff as I love books made into movies!

Áine said...

I hate it when you read a brilliant book and then go to see the film and it's crap :( I hope the next time they re make Where the Wild things are they do a better job :)

Kissed by an Angel said...

Lovely Bones was a very depressing book!! I would not go to see a film based on the book!! I couldn't think of anything worse!!! On a brighter not I am waiting for the Alan Bennett book you mentioned a couple of posts ago to be delivered!!!

xxxx

Myne said...

I didn't read wild things nor see the movie but I have read Lovely bones and would look forward to seeing it. Apart from PP and Z, I hear Breathers which is another Zombie novel I read will be hitting the big screen too.

RennyBA's Terella said...

You open my eyes and interests to new and to me unknown arias - thanks for sharing!

Heather said...

i love 'Where the Wild Things are' refused to read 'the lovely bones' and yet to read 'P&P and Zombies'. Looking forward to the last.

Traci said...

Thanks for the reviews and updates. I ADORE "Where the Wild Things Are" so I have had mixed feelings on seeing the film adaptation. I decided to save the money and wait for the DVD.

As to the "Lovely Bones", the previews looked lush but I had planned to read the book first, though it seems that you didn't muc care for that either.

"Pride and Prejudice and Zomies" is high on my To Read List".

:-)

Jenners said...

I really want to see all of these movies ... I can't imagine the zombie one. And I thought if anyone could pull off "The Lovely Bones," it might be Peter Jackson. I'm dying to see "Where The Wild Things Are." I'm sure the books purists won't like it ... it seems more "inspired" by than anything.

Kelly said...

It's been quite awhile since I read "The Lovely Bones", but I remember I liked it. I plan to see the movie even thought the reviews I've read haven't been that favorable.

Alyce said...

I know I'm in the minority, but I really never liked the book version of Where the Wild Things Are, so I wasn't really tempted to see the movie.