Have you ever had a favorite book made into a terrible movie? I’m sure we’ve all had this experience at one time or another. I can’t count how many times I’ve heard or said ‘The movie was ok but the book was much better.’ The limitations of a script and the general time constraints on a movie make many books very difficult if not impossible to put on film. No matter what, someone’s favorite scene from the book will not end up in the movie.
I have been happily surprised over the years. The Lord of the Rings movies come to mind. In my opinion Peter Jackson and company got those movies right. But he also had the luxury of three movies in which to tell the story. On the other hand, I felt that the Harry Potter scripts/movies tried too hard to hew precisely to the books. There was no room to compress or expand the areas that could help make the movies better. I understand that this was especially true of the early Harry Potter movies where JK Rowling had final say on just about everything.
Fans of graphic novels have seen their favorites get the movie treatment too. I don’t know that these fare any better than other books. At least with a non graphic novel the movie makers only have to contend with someone’s idea of what a person or locale looks like. With a graphic novel or comic book there is a well known image that has to be brought to life.
I for one would love to see the Lee Child Jack Reacher books made into movies. I think they would translate to the big screen pretty nicely. All in all I’m usually pretty apathetic about news of a favorite book being made into a movie. What about you? Have you seen movies based on a book that got it right? Or has it usually been a case of what were they thinking? Any current books you think would make a great movie? Thoughts?
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May 21st, 2010 at 8:46 am
I’ve just started reading Robert Ludlum’s Bourne series–something I’m doing after watching the movie series and loving them.
We purchased two of the books (Identity and Ultimatum) from Half Price Books’ dollar rack a while ago and I figured I’d eventually read them but was in no real rush being that I saw the movies. But this plan was moved up when a friend, who recommended the John Sandford Prey series years ago, mentioned how the books’ story lines differ greatly from the movies.
Now, for comparison I recently finished one of Lee Child’s novels (Killing Floor) and it took me over a month to read even though I was picking at it here and there ever since I took my trip to Seattle where I read most of the novel. I started this one on Tuesday and I’m over half-way through it… It’s that good–or I’m that big a fan of the Bourne series.
Now there have been plenty of other books I have read and then saw the movie only to be crazy disappointed…in fact this fits most of the movies I have seen where I read the book first except for Running With Scissors.
May 21st, 2010 at 8:57 am
t,
have you read all of lee childs reacher series? if they translate into movies who would you like to see play jacks character?
most if not all of movies we’ve seen based on books make me get ahold of the book to see what i missed.
bb
May 21st, 2010 at 9:04 am
bb,
Bruce Willis–although he is aging.
Jason Statham–if he could drop his accent.
May 21st, 2010 at 10:02 am
I like the guy who played The Punisher for the role of Reacher. Thomas Jane? Don’t get me wrong, I like Jason Statham and Willis too for that matter, but neither one bring to mind Jack Reacher’s physical presence for me.
May 21st, 2010 at 11:10 am
Worst movie ever from a book: Dogs of War (Fredrick Forsythe). The movie is awful. The book was great.
Jack Reacher: Vin Diesel or The Rock would fit the bill from a physical point of view, although I am not sure they are up to the acting portion, or if they can pull off the right feel. Aging, tough, rough around the edges, brutally smart, etc. Bruce Willis was the first name that came to mind for me, but I think he is a bit old now for the early Reacher (Probably a great fit for the Reacher of the most recent novels), and I dont think he has quite the sheer physical brutality.
Other options for me would be Michael Clarke Duncan or Jeffrey Dean Morgan.
May 21st, 2010 at 11:28 am
The Lord of the Rings movies are awesome. I had a friend in college who would buy the “longer” movies, which he felt did a better job of doing the book justice. Maybe Harry Potter could release a longer version of the movies, with previously cut scenes. The LOTR extended version were like, 4 hours long, but still good if you have the time. I think thats the biggest problem with book to movies. You have a very detailed book and try to cram the story into a 2 hour movie, obviously you have to leave some things out.
May 21st, 2010 at 9:42 pm
Well, not having read any of the books, I’m gonna throw out a Jack Reacher actor as Kevin Durand. From his work in various character parts in movies and LOST, I’d say he can act, certainly better than Vin Diesel. And he is a big guy. Assuming you can get by the fact that he’s a Canadian.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ugldWzoF6Rc&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qGoF4G8_G7Y&feature=related
May 22nd, 2010 at 9:31 am
I agree with Tearitup on the LOTR and Potter adaptations — the former was excellent, while the latter was faithful to a fault for the first few movies (but it seems to have improved).
I’ve found that older movies overall tend to be better adaptations of novels. The Maltese Falcon comes to mind, as does The Great Gatsby.
And sometimes, even a classic work of literature can be greatly improved in movie form. The best example I can think of is The Last of Mohicans — fantastic movie that deviates from the novel quite a bit, but definitely for the better.
May 22nd, 2010 at 9:29 pm
I dont think Kevin Durand would be a great fit for Reacher. I like Durand as an actor, but I dont think he is much of a fit for Jack Reacher.
May 23rd, 2010 at 8:34 am
anyone like vince flynn’s hero mitch rapp? a bit different than reacher but action packed books.
bb
May 23rd, 2010 at 11:06 am
The only books I’ve read of any discussed are the Potter books.
I’ll throw out the recent Percy Jackson movie as a ridiculously bad book-to-movie metamorphosis.
Usually I am able to separate the book from the movie, and keep my expectations that the movie is a different story from the book.
May 24th, 2010 at 7:51 am
Just finished the latest Jack reacher book, 61 Hours. Man…. WTF!
May 24th, 2010 at 8:15 am
SG – I’m just finishing up Killing Floor, the first in the series and have 61 Hours up next. I started reading Reacher in the middle of the series and have gone back and forth to catch up. I’m not sure how Killing Floor landed as the last of the earlier novels I had left. I’m looking forward to 61 Hours and I hope you meant that WTF in a good, the novel left me wanting more, kind of way.
May 24th, 2010 at 10:35 am
I have not read 61 Hours yet, as I for some reason thought it did not come out until June. Off to Barnes and Noble tonight I guess.
SG, you did not give us your idea for the actor to play Reacher in the movie franchise.
May 24th, 2010 at 12:28 pm
Tear it up – I thought the book was great, although I had key parts figured out very early on and it was frustrating waiting for Reacher to figure it out. I won’t elaborate on my WTF other than to say…WTF! It is my opinion that we get to see Reacher as a much more 3 dimensional figure in 61 Hours.
Chad – I thought I did. I either didn’t submit it, or it got lost in the ether. In any event, I think Gerard Butler could do a pretty good jub as Jack Reacher. I think Dwayne Johnson was a good suggestion too though.
May 24th, 2010 at 1:35 pm
Thanks SG, I’ll be reading it this week.
June 1st, 2010 at 1:33 pm
bb – I don’t recall reading any of Vince Flynn’s Mitch Rapp novels. What is the first book in that series? Do they need to be read in order? I was thinking that the Steve Berry books might make good movies too. I have the Paris Vendetta loaded on the Kindle and up next to read.
June 1st, 2010 at 3:45 pm
transfer of power was his first.
http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/f/vince-flynn/
you should read them in order. he ages as the books go on. i heard him in a interview about bringing in another character to sort of pass the reigns.
you’re spot on with steve berry. i think his books are an excellent history lesson along with a good fictional story. i haven’t read his latest yet.
bb
June 3rd, 2010 at 7:37 am
SG – Ok I agree WTF and there is not much chance of this one being made into a movie. :)
Thanks BB. I’ll see if Transfer of Power is available for the Kindle.
October 20th, 2010 at 7:53 am
New Reacher book just came out. “Worth Dying For”. Started the read last night. Thankfully, it turns out my WTF was much ado about nothing.
October 20th, 2010 at 10:07 am
I’m going to start Worth Dying For tonight. Can’t wait.
March 4th, 2011 at 9:23 am
From: http://www.startribune.com/entertainment/movies/117398028.html
Sorry but I just don’t see Davenport looking like that–especially not in the middle of the series.
March 4th, 2011 at 9:23 am
From Wikipedia for Lucas Davenport: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lucas_Davenport
March 4th, 2011 at 10:40 am
That’s always the hardest part of a favorite book or series getting made into a movie, getting the casting in the film to come close to the casting in our heads. I’m trying to recall a time when I felt the casting really came close to what I thought the character should look like. I’m drawing a blank right at the moment.
One of the worst for me was when Chevy Chase was cast as Fletch. I really liked those books and the way that was played was just awful IMO.
March 4th, 2011 at 11:01 am
I agree with TIU. That’s the hard part of seeing a book you like made into a movie.
A few that jump to mind that hit the mark:
Tommy Lee Jones and Robert Duvall in Lonesome Dove
John Travolta in Get Shorty
Timothy Olyphant in the series Justified (He is actually better than the books imo)
Denzel Washington in Man on Fire
Jeff Bridges and John Wayne in True Grit
Harry Potter – whatever his name is.
Hugh Jackman as Wolverine (do comic books count?)
And a few that missed it horribly:
All of the casting for the movie “The Dogs of War”
John Travolta in Battlefield Earth
Ben Affleck in The Town
I am sure both lists could be very long, just a few off the top of my head.
March 4th, 2011 at 11:30 am
I agree on Timothy Olyphant in Justified. Although the character in the books is older I love how the character has been brought to the screen. That’s all around a great TV show. It also helps that Elmore Leonard is involved with the production of the program. I also thought John Travolta did a good job with Chili Palmer in Get Shorty. Good examples of things that worked.
March 4th, 2011 at 11:42 am
I always have pictured Lucas Davenport simliar to some of the illustrations of the “Gunslinger” in the Dark Tower Series. Perhaps Hammil is being picked for a different role?
March 6th, 2011 at 9:17 am
I’ve only read five or six of the books (this having been one of them; as I have not read them in order), but I think Harmon could work really well in this role. To me, having a 100% accurate physical portrayal is less important than an actor that can capture the essence of the depth of the character, and I think Harmon can pull that off.
June 14th, 2011 at 11:37 am
OMG! Tom Cruise is in talks to play Jack Reacher. WTF!
June 14th, 2011 at 12:07 pm
Everyone he is on the screen with would have to be in a hole, or he would have to be on a box all the time. I recently saw the movie Knight and Day with him in it, and it only re-enforces my thought that he would be a terrible actor to play Reacher.
I can’t see how he would work. So much of Jack Reacher is his physical presence. I can only assume it would be in name only with a completely different take on the character.
June 14th, 2011 at 12:24 pm
I think he would be the worst choice for this part.
June 14th, 2011 at 12:30 pm
Tom Cruise?!?!?!?! And they wonder why they don’t make money anymore.
June 14th, 2011 at 12:33 pm
Tom Cruise would be simply awful.
June 14th, 2011 at 12:40 pm
Chad: I think you meant to say, “Tom Cruise is simply awful.”
June 14th, 2011 at 1:29 pm
He has not always been awful. He is perhaps a little bit of a kook, but some of his early movies were great.
My guess is that they saw him in that movie where he was a hit man and somehow think that he can bring some sort of a sense of menace to the roll. Personally, as noted above, I dont see it happening. He is not a big, physically imposing, tough guy. We have all noted different people we think might be interesting. After seeing Fast Five, I truly hope they dont go with The Rock, although I sort of find him entertaining. I do like Vin Diesel at times, and I think he has the physical stature as well as that sort of old weathered look that I see when I think of Reacher.
An interesting take, and one they might draw from, was Denzel Washington in Man on Fire. If any of you have read the book, the character in the book was a sort of washed out tough former military guy. When I saw that Denzel was going to play the part, I first thought it did not translate, but he did a great job I thought. Denzel Washington is an actor on a whole different scale than Tom Cruise. While I would love to see a series of Reacher movies, I hope they dont go with Tom Cruise.
August 2nd, 2011 at 2:45 pm
Well, I am officially dismayed. Tom Cruise has been signed to play Reacher.
“One Shot” begins shooting September 27, 2011, in Pittsburgh. Christopher McQuarrie to direct, based on his screenplay. I would have preferred Jason Statham.
August 2nd, 2011 at 2:55 pm
Tom Cruise as Reacher!?! No f#@%g way! Dwayne (The Rock) Johnson would be better… or almost anyone else. Crap!
August 2nd, 2011 at 4:57 pm
ack…. isn’t he nearly 50? I get the feeling they’ll just have to go with a reboot before they even did a single film. Effectively taking the story and morphing it to fit the man with the big ego.
August 2nd, 2011 at 9:01 pm
That sucks.
December 5th, 2011 at 7:23 pm
An interview with Lee Child: http://www.charlierose.com/view/interview/12023
December 5th, 2011 at 11:47 pm
Thanks for posting that Bill. Good interview.
February 10th, 2012 at 8:52 am
Production is wrapping up on One Shot, the Jack Reacher movie starring Tom Cruise. Is anyone planning to see it when it hits theaters? I might see it on DVD but I’m still on the fence. Not sure if I can watch Tom Cruise as Jack Reacher. Maybe I’ll surprise myself and love it. Doubtful, but you never know.
February 10th, 2012 at 8:56 am
I definitely won’t see it in the theater however I do play to see the new Bourne movie even though Damon isn’t in it this time around.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jSzy9qQ3mDE
February 10th, 2012 at 9:30 am
The new Bourne looks great. The new Denzel Washington movie looks good too, Safe House.