Books2Movies Club discussion

This thread is for movies you have already seen, without previous reading of the books they were adapted from. It might be also good starting point for new reads - if movie was good, why not to see it again after reading the source it came from :-)

Few days ago, I saw a movie called The Hunter. It is a fictionalized story of the hunt for the last tasmanian tiger - and surprisingly too, it is based on a well praised novel of the same name, The Hunter by Julia Leigh. I didn't know that before seeing the movie and now I want to read the book.
I wasn't quite satisfied with the ending of the film, it left me actually puzzled by the solution provided, but the scenery of Tasmania was awesome and the sad allure of the story about the extinct species was more than enough to please me. I truly recommend seeing this film, as the actors were good also - Willem Dafoe, Sam Neill and Frances O'Connor.

I love Forrest Gump - the movie. It has a heart warming story and a great sound track, and it's funny. So after a few bad and emotionally heavy books I finally decided to read Forrest Gump - the book, expecting it to be the same as the movie. Boy was I wrong! It took me some 20 pages (from 179 pages) to realize the book has a completely different atmosphere and a much darker tone than the movie. So, beginning was disappointing, but I won’t stop reading.

Tazitazitazi wrote: "I love Forrest Gump - the movie. It has a heart warming story and a great sound track, and it's funny. So after a few bad and emotionally heavy books I finally decided to read..."

I remember having same feelings with the book - having found the movie great, the book was just mediocre. However, it was so long time ago, I would like to read it again as well as to see the movie. Well, the latter would be sooner I guess ;-)

..

Last night I have seen new Scorsese's movie, really decent Hugo, based on Brian Selznick's The Invention of Hugo Cabret. Although not one of my favourites, Scorsese proves himself again as a masterful storyteller. There is magic in the air -- the design, cinematography and the effects are amazing. And - as it usually goes with me regarding the good movies adapted from the books, I want to read the book too :-)

I've seen Julie & Julia (2009) a few days ago, and had had more time just today to check on the comments about the movie and its real-life characters, and . I myself am not familiar with neither of them, so I found the movie really interesting, especially the parts related to Julia Child. Meryl Streep is absolutely amazing actress. Amy Adams as Julie Powell was cute, even cuter than the real-life authoress, if we are to believe the comments about her and her blog. I was honestly appalled by the amount of negativity directed toward her - I understand if you dislike someone's work, but to say to hate it, that's a bit harsh word to use, isn't it? However, as I am not familiar neither to the Julie Powell's blog where she wrote about her culinary exploits of Julia Child's cookbook, nor to the both authoresses (this word sounds really awful), I'll limit myself just to the movie - which I found really interesting and worth seeing.

Last week I've seen Red Dog (2011). Based on a true story about a tramp dog that was very dear to the whole community in the Australian outback (you may check it on wikipedia of course), but made on a fictionalized version of the story, Red Dog by Louis de Bernières.
To be honest, movie is too cute for me, overly dramatic, the life in the middle of nowhere seems so great (I really doubt that) and hard work they do doesn't look so hard from this movie's perspective. BUT - the characters are likable, the scenery beautiful and you really can't miss with the dog character if you like animals and wish to give your family some nice PG-rated entertainment one rainy afternoon.

Seen few days ago The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel (2011), really charming film based on a novel, later renamed, by Deborah Moggach. I liked it not only for a bunch of awe-inspiring British actors and actresses here united all together, but also for the warm and funny tale about older people and their (un)fulfilled wishes and dreams, about people very often ignored, but very much alive despite the years on their back. Highly recommended!

Yesterday I've seen The Tempest (2010), that bravely changed a lead character of the original source, The Tempest by William Shakespeare from male to female. And I think that it was done superbly - Helen Mirren was never so powerful on the screen as here. The fantastic elements and the music were awesome, but as I've read the play really long time ago, I can't vouch for its faithfulness to the spirit of the play.

and

Watched last weekend:




The Big Sleep, an adaptation of The Big Sleep by Raymond Chandler.
Alcohol, cigarettes and guns. I'm not a big fan of film noir, but it was not bad and had some funny moments too.




The Deep Blue Sea, an adaptation of the play The Deep Blue Sea by Terence Rattigan.
It is a quiet little piece of art, which depicts only one day of a couple who is about to break up.
It managed to get by without sappy or overdramatic scenes (which I actually love) and was still able to grip me from the very beginning.

Beautiful scenery. Cute actors. Awesome Kristin Scott-Thomas... But the whole story seemed superficial. Maybe I'd like the book better -- Salmon Fishing in the Yemen by Paul Torday.

I'm a Grisham fan and I love the movie version of Runaway Jury starring John Cusack and Rachel Weisz.

I'm sure the book is great as well.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter. Without any recommendations, I bought it as my first digital book and read it on my Droid X through a Kindle app in a week. Why? The title alone grabbed my attention, and I had to see how a writer could bring together the Civil War president and vampirism.

I loved the book (more detail later if anyone wants to discuss it), but was more than a little disappointed in this summer's movie adaptation. Only about 10% of the book made it into the film, even though Seth Grahame-Smith wrote both. That was a shame because the novel really made Lincoln's life and the Civil War come alive for me in a way that history class never did. I know, pretty scary that it took vampires - a topic/villain I really care nothing about - to make me learn some history.

The movie is fun if some action and loud noises are all you crave from a cinema experience, but the book is way better.

Brad wrote: "I thoroughly enjoyed reading Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter. Without any recommendations, I bought it as my first digital book and read it on my Droid X through a Kindle app in a week. Why? The ti..."

I've seen The Conspirator some time ago and found it very interesting.
I'm not an American and have no clue about American history, but Abraham Lincoln seems to be quite an icon to the Americans (even another Lincoln movie will be released next month).

If the book is historically correct I'll most definitely read it.
Who can resist some badass vampires anyway? :D

Equus, based on the play Equus by Peter Shaffer. He even wrote the screenplay for this movie.
It's about a 17 year old boy who ends up in a mental hospital, because he blinded six horses.
While we are gradually exposed to the things which led him to do this, the doctor in charge is questioning himself if the way, how society "cures" mental ill people, is the right solution.
I would recommend that movie to people who are interested in psychology or the human mind in general. But be aware it contains nudity and the blinding of the horses is shown too.

Last night I took a break from all the activities, watching an old fashioned horror film - with surprisingly spicy scenes with one certain Underworld heroine - Haunted, made 1995. While special effects were trite in regard with today's technology, the ending a bit cheesy, overall storytelling was quite effective. Of course, it is based on James Herbert's classic horror novel, Haunted.

If I can name biographies, its Oscar wining movie which accounts just only about 20-25% of the book.

Kalisetty wrote: "If I can name biographies, its Oscar wining movie which accounts just only about 20-25% of the book."

I had this book some years ago, but real life went crazy and I gave it away unread.

However, I love, love, love this movie and would still be interested in reading the book.
Would you say it would be an enrichment to read the book, or did the movie cover all the interesting parts?

I would love to read it, it's one of my favorite movies and I would love to learn more about the actual circumstances.

I'm summoning the courage to read The Hours

But before that I have to read Mrs. Dallaway

I really like both movies and am curious about the books.

Dodo wrote: "Kalisetty wrote: "If I can name biographies, its Oscar wining movie which accounts just only about 20-25% of the book."

I had this book some years ago, but real ..."

Like You said yes, its really an amazing movie but to my surprise they twisted (never admitted in some cases)too many facts in his life only to make Nash's character more likable (It didn't matter much to Nash though, he visited the sets regularly and made his contribution to the crew as usual). I would surely recommend you to read the book, its bit heavy since its some 460 odd pages long but Im sure by the end of it you will find it really inspiring and worth spending time. (But I caution you few parts are really disturbing, especially his hospitalization days). Here is the link for my review- http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/... only if you find it useful. Good luck. :-)

You can add one more awesomest among the awesomest movies and Oscar nominee to the list. :-)

In the last few days I've seen Zen TV mini-series (2011), based on three Aurelio Zen novels by Michael Dibdin, in TV series order:
01 - Vendetta, 02 - Cabal and 03 - Ratking.

Now, I liked series enough to see all the episodes, but I couldn't accept the whole British cast, otherwise superb, playing real Italians. It was pretty obvious they didn't translate well in that field, after all, they are genuine Britons -- they couldn't catch the mannerisms, expressions, ways of talking and walking Italians have. I've been in Italy couple of times (living across it), but for those unacquainted with their peculiarities, it's enought to see only one episode of Italian Il commissario Montalbano (1999– ) series, based on superb Andrea Camilleri's mystery novels, to know what I am talking about. It was fun ride anyway.

Two days ago I read Legends of the Fall, all three novellas in it. The one I least liked was exactly the title novel, and the one I liked the most was Revenge. Although it is impossible to like any of the characters in every Jim Harrison's story, the stories are well told. This one, Revenge, was especially good. The only complaint I have is that women in Jim Harrison's stories do not speak and act much and even then are incomprehensible. Love in his stories is purely physical. When men in his stories fall in love, they fall in love with sexual aspects of their women.
The movie however, depending on which version you saw (director's or theatrical), had ambiguous success in translating that story to the screen. I saw director's cut, but read afterwards what were the differences with the theatrical cut. Director's cut is faster paced, and more oriented toward their physical love affair, while theatrical cut fleshed out better all the sides of the story, the lovers' and the betrayed husband's. I think director's cut is more faithful to the story. Yes, there's more sex in it (thankfully the fast forward button saved me of these otherwise arduous fifteen minutes of my precious time), but I don't think Harrison's take on their love is any different. The romance was scarce, at least I didn't feel it, and I actually thought how annoying these characters are. The woman married the man thrice her age, and we should compassionate with her. Why? If she were forced to it, I would. The main hero betrayed his friend -- he may be evil, but hey, I didn't know that gives you a free pass to take his wife away from him. Not to mention he was obnoxious all the way toward everybody who tried to help him. I had actually a terrifying thought -- Tibey was definitely twisted soul, and obviously very dangerous enemy, but he was really the only character who actually followed a code of honor. The point of the story? Beware of love - it makes fools and lovely corpses of everybody.

I saw Predestination last night. Now that was weird experience. If anything, it made me awfully curious to find and read the story it originated from, All You Zombies by Robert A. Heinlein.

Zeljka wrote: "

Seen few days ago The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel (2011), really charming film based on a novel, later renamed, by Deborah Moggach. I liked ..."

I loved this film, and I see they are making a sequel with most of the same actors.

deleted user wrote: "Equus, based on the play Equus by Peter Shaffer. He even wrote the screenplay for this movie.
It's about a 17 year old boy who ends up in a mental hospital, because he b..."

As I recall, it also hints at bestiality, no? Which does not offend me, by the way, I'm just sayin'. Horses are very erotic as symbols and in actuality, and I remember the movie as very daring.

Last week I was sentimental and revisited an old favourite of mine, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (1954). I had no idea that this musical was based on a short story, The Sobbin' Women by Stephen Vincent Benét. That's definitely going to be my nomination for our new quick reads!

I didn't know that either!

I saw this Korean movie last night - Silenced (2011). It is based on the book by Gong Jiyoung (apparently not yet translated to English), that related the fictionalized version of the horrific case of mass sexual abuse at a school for the deaf in South Korea. You should watch the movie. It will anger you and move you to tears at injustice and horror of corruption and indifference toward victims in small communities. Let's not pretend this happens only somewhere far away - I recall such a case in my own country, I think nothing came of it and newspapers stopped reporting about it, because so many notable figures were indirectly involved in. It happens everywhere, we just don't know about it. Victims - children, disabled people - are powerless and easy targets for perverts. That's why we need independent agencies, such as human rights supervisors and news investigators.

Last night I watched If Cats Disappeared from the World (2016) and cried my whole heart out. I didn't expect the movie to be so deeply emotional. It is a story about a young man who discovered he has not much time left, and started pondering about his relationships and things connected with them. Cats included. We do not actually see the end of his life, the emotions and tears come through his journey to the past and present time.
It didn't surprise me then that this movie is actually based on the book. I must find it and read as soon as possible: If Cats Disappeared from the World by Genki Kawamura

Looks like its really cheap in Kindle format> https://amzn.to/39xr1mf

Also, I had crossed bath with the movie but didn't see it. Anything with cats is always a huge plus for me lol

And with that recommendation, I put it in my immediate watch list. Also, you might already know it, but if you like Asian movies and series, Viki might be a great discovery.

Lorena wrote: "Looks like its really cheap in Kindle format..."

It isn't for me yet, but I bookmarked it, so hopefully I'll be notified when the price drops :)

I didn't know about Viki, looks interesting! Might check some content soon :)

I'd like to mention a series of really good Danish crime novels that are also adapted to screen, Department Q by Jussi Adler-Olsen. I read the first five books in the series, and watched the first two movies. If you like gritty thrillers and dark humor, and do not mind subtitles, this might be just the right thing for you, both the books and the movies.

Last night our open-air cinema showed the movie Dark Waters (2019).

Wow. What a shock. This is a must-see movie. I was so clueless.

I knew that, if not treated with extreme caution, the synthetic chemical compounds humans created for our domestic and industrial uses (can) seriously affect our health and our environment, but I had no idea the people behind this (and probably many others) chemical giant were consciously, for almost half a century, poisoning their employees and the whole world for the profit. They were totally aware that their product is a long-term (actually completely non-degradable) poison to everyone even before going into the mass production.

Please, even if you cannot see the movie, take a few minutes of your time to read this article that the movie is more-less based on:

NY TIMES feature, by Nathaniel Rich: The Lawyer Who Became DuPont's Worst Nigthmare

A Promise (2013) is a movie based on a Stefan Zweig's novella Journey into the Past. For a romance, it was quite a passionless movie, however, my guess is here the point was how restrained their love was because of their sense of duty toward their other loved ones. Not to mention it realistically portrayed how difficult is to get back to the same feelings after the passage of so much time. Even though it was weird to watch these scenes with our modern eyes. Not every person is the same, and the women in the past were more likely to retain their feelings longer simply because they were more housebound, and socialized less than men. Rebecca Hall was beautiful and very suitable for the role of the young wife torn between two different kinds of love, and Alan Rickman was a perfect fit for a husband impossible not to like and sympathize with. Richard Madden was a very handsome object and subject of desire, albeit he could have been more expressive. The only time I felt there was an emotion in his bearing was when he smiled. Too constrained even though that was (probably) a part of the point of the story. I'd like to read the story itself.

Last night I watched an Australian thriller starring Eric Bana, The Dry (2020), based on the book The Dry by Jane Harper. It was really good movie; slow paced but it was worth it. I'd like to read the book too. It seems Aaron Falk, the main character in this movie, appears in two books so far, so it would be great to have Aussies make a second movie with Bana returning as Falk :)

I had no idea how brilliant the play was until I watched its new adaptation An Inspector Calls (2015) a few days ago. Even though the play was written decades ago, and it is set in the years before the first world war, it is still so fresh and timeless in the themes tackled. There will always be class inequality and callousness, especially the notion that our actions do not have consequences and effects on the other fellow human and other beings. I loved the mystery of the inspector himself and how everyone (in and out of the play) interprets his presence differently. I have my own opinion too, however I do not wish to spoil your viewing / reading. I highly recommend it.

To add my grain of sand to the list... The new adaptation of The Witching Hour called Mayfair Witches is very good so far! Unlike Interview with the vampire which sucked, for me as a hardcore book lover that achieved almost-peak adaptation with the previous movie, this one has really maintained the core of the novel. I would really recommend it to anyone that likes Anne Rice's books. :)

Lorena wrote: "To add my grain of sand to the list... The new adaptation of The Witching Hour called Mayfair Witches is very good so far!..."

Thanks for the info! Didn't see that one in the releases.