I read the book last year and absolutely loved it.
It is funny, sensitive, clever and well written.
Last night we went to see the film and I was very disappointed.
It made the story seem trite and sentimental...
and Anne Gathaway's wandering Yorkshire accent was very distracting.
Usually I'm pretty open minded when I go and see a film. I realise that it is a totally different form of media than a novel and as such it works on different levels. I don't automatically assume a film won't be as good as a book and in fact I usually enjoy a good film as much as any book. But this got me thinking about other films I've seen that just didn't match up to the expectations I'd had after reading the novel.
Captain Corelli's Mandolin.
I thoroughly enjoyed the book all the way through yet the film just didn't capture it for me... even with the rather gorgeous Nicholas Cage!
The Time Traveller's Wife.
Again really enjoyed the book and found it utterly believable.
But the film didn't manage to make me suspend my disbelief and as such it just seemed silly.
But other films of novels work so well.
Girl With a Pearl Earring.
I loved the film and the book. As always a book gives more depth but the film was visually beautiful.
The English Patient
I really struggled with the book. It took me forever to read and I found the prose difficult yet I adored the film on every level - the story was captivating, it was visually stunning, the music beautiful - in fact I think it is one of my favourite films ever.
What film/novel combinations do you like/dislike?
Great post Gina - I agree with you about Cpt C's M, and I loved T T'sW book so much I have avoided the film so far. One film, although I enjoyed it and thought it was well done, that could never match up to the book, for me, was Cold Mountain by Charles Frazier.
ReplyDeleteMy husband cannot read after a stroke, so it is great when a film comes out about a book I've been going on about. I must say the excellent Kate Winslett came up with the goods in The Reader and Revolutionary Road. However I must say the film doesn't usually match the more prolonged involvement you get with a good novel - haven't attempted reading The English Patience!
I loved both the book and the film of "Girl With A Pearl Earring"........ like you said: visually stunning in the film.
ReplyDeleteI loved the film "Remains of the Day" and was glad I did, because the book just didn't "ring true" for me. Looking forward to the new "Jane Eyre" movie, although from the previews, Mr Rochester looks a tad too good looking for how I would imagine him. I suppose film makers can't please all of the people all of the time.
One Day is such a great book- I have such clear pictures in my head of the characters and some magical scenes, so i decided not to see the film in case it spoils it. Sounds like I made the right decision
ReplyDelete'The Constant Gardener' for me was a brilliant read - right from page one I was hooked. I did enjoy the film, although I felt I wouldn't have understood all of it had I not read the book. Like you, I really enjoyed 'One Day' and like Dotty, I am seriously considering not bothering with the film - I think I'll just read the book again instead.
ReplyDeleteOh, I felt exactly the same about The English Patient. Wasn't that potty about One Day even as a book, so am not feeling compelled to see the film.
ReplyDeleteI seldom go to the cinema and haven't seen any of the films you mention. The most recent occasion was to see 'The King's Speech' which I thought was excellent. I also enjoyed the book very much though each told the same story from quite a different angle. It really annoys me when film or TV producers try to improve on a wonderful book and don't succeed.
ReplyDeleteI think Nicolas Cage (and Penelope Cruz) was part of the problem with CCM; sometimes casting has a lot to answer for. The location shots were fab, it was just that wrong actors were in them.
ReplyDeleteAnd don't get me started on remakes (who could forget Steve McQueen in the Thomas Crown Affair?!). Thinking about it, Steve McQueen in anything is ok by me.
Having read a couple of scathing reviews, that's made my mind up - I'm going to read the book and avoid the film. Hated the English Patient in both forms, and much preferred the book versions of Captain Corelli's Mandolin and Time Travellers Wife. I love Nick Hornby books, and enjoyed the film of "About a Boy" unlike the "High Fidelity" adaptation - it was set in North London - NOT the States!
ReplyDeleteVery interesting post, Gina.
ReplyDeleteI always try and read the book before seeing the film, but I saw Atonement first - and loved it. I went on to read the book, thoroughly enjoyed it and felt the film had done it justice. The Girl With A Pearl Earring was a beautiful book and also cinematically beautiful (nothing to do with the gorgeous Mr Firth, or was it?!).
My daughter, a HUGE fan of the Harry Potter books, is of the opinion that the films are just as good, even taking into account the vast quantity of information cut out, by necessity or the films would be a week long!
I'd already decided not to bother with seeing One Day, but you've kinda confirmed it for me.
x
Must admit, I'm always very wary of seeing the film after having read the book as they can often destroy your imagined view of the book. I loved Girl with a Pearl Earring (not read the book). Loved the Time Traveller's Wife but decided not to see the film for the reasons above. Don't generally get to the cinema much but my son has grown up with Harry Potter and these worked beautifully as did Lord of the Rings.
ReplyDeleteThe Da Vinci code was the biggest let down ever!
ReplyDeleteI loved the book, the suspense was brilliant, I couldn't put it down to do anything. The film however was nowhere near as exciting, the ending completely different, so, so disappointing!
Vivienne x
I haven't read One Day and didn't really know much about it until I started hearing adverse comments about the film. I think I'll skip the film and maybe read the book some time.
ReplyDeleteI agree totally that the film of Captain Corelli just didn't live up to the complexity of the book - and as for Nicholas Cage, he's nothing like I imagined CC to be (and does nothing for me).
Snow Falling on Cedars - one of my absolute favourite books - was also made into a film that fell short in every way.
Celia
x
great post! The film version of Possession was an absolute disaster in my view but I can watch and re-watch both Practical Magic and Chocolat, even though they're both rather frothier than the original novels. My favourite text to screen transition is Dancing at Lughnasa, but then that started out as a play. Even my other half was wiping a tear away at the end of that.
ReplyDeleteWow Gina, you've plumbed a rich seam here haven't you? I have never read One Day and had heard mixed reviews about the film so having read your comments I will skip the latter and get a copy of the former.Like Cathy, I am waiting for Jane Eyre and have plans to see it this weekend. It is my all time favourite no matter who is in it. Because cinema is an adventure down here in the sticks I tend to only read the book as we rarely get the chance to see most films until they're on DVD!
ReplyDeletelike Ali I wasn't mad about One Day so won't go to see it. I agree the Harry Potter books translate to film well, I hated the film of PS I love you having liked the book. I read the life and death of Charlie St Cloud, and thought it read like a screenplay, sure enough it was a film soon after....
ReplyDeleteI loved the film the Horse Whisperer but was rather shocked by the graphic nature of the book, which was only hinted at on the film. Had to skip several pages.
ReplyDeleteI was really disappointed by a film called "I am David" which was one of my all time favourite books as a kid. The film just didn't capture the essence of what was going on in David's head as he fled from a concentration camp.
Other kids books I used to enjoy was the Narnia stories. I was okay with the Narnia film but Prince Caspian was a big let down as it was all battle scenes and not much else. The story is much better.
I quite liked the film Captain Corelli's Mandolin so maybe I should now read the book
Agree with you on most of these. Captain Corelli - could NOT get into that book but adored the film. English Patient is one of my favourite films. The Pearl Earring - was two completely different versions but both really good. Do authors [if still living] have NO say in what goes on in the screen play?
ReplyDeleteMy Sister's Keeper - the twist at the end of the book was so unepected and a fab ending but the film was totally predictable and the easy option. Cant understand how Jodi Picoult allowed such a drastic change.
ReplyDeleteI was so disappointed with The Time Traveller's Wife film as I loved the book.
ReplyDeleteThe English Patient is one of my favourite films, I could watch it over and over.
I just watched Eat, Pray, Love - have you seen it? Or read the book? I loved both but then I love watching Julia Roberts! I think I need to go to Italy...
I have decided not to see the film of One Day. I was so disappointed with the Time Travellers Wife that it put me off seeing any films after reading the books although, reading the comments I might give some of the others a chance.I tend to find any book that jumps around with time and place very rarely translates to film.Have just read the article about your Lace project in Embroidery Magazine.Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteKim
I could watch The English Patient over and over again - I usually do not like films once I have read the book they miss so much out very often, or put in bits that did not exist.
ReplyDeleteDidn't like the book Day One, thought it was pretty crap and used it to light the fire. Perhaps I missed something...
ReplyDeleteI usually prefer the book - especially of 19th century literature - they always have to cut so much to fit the loose baggy monsters into the confines of a film or serial that I just get cross about the bits that have been missed out!
ReplyDeletePomona x
Once I've read the book, I usually avoid the movie like the plague. Having said that, I'm a Harry Potter fan was pleased with all the films interpretations. I loved The Girl With the Pearl Earring too.
ReplyDeleteI do enjoy the BBC versions of Agatha Christie's Miss Marple and Hercule Poirot, as well as P.D. James novels with Inspector Dalgliesh. Of course, P.D. James is one of my favs. Thank you, YouTube!
I hardly ever go to the cinema..I went with friends to see Bridget Jones and as we came out we were comparing it with the book and someone else was having the same conversation so we joined in and she'd been to see Harry Potter!
ReplyDeleteI thought 'The Kite Runner' was quite true to the book, and that old favourite To Kill A Mockingbird'.
Oh, and how about 'Th Colour Purple'. A complicated book, and excellent film.
ReplyDeleteMe again...what about 'Perfume'? An amazing riveting horrific book , and the film was almost impossible but they pulled it off.
ReplyDeleteCongratulation on the DVD! I found the film ps I Love You very disappointing after reading the book.
ReplyDeleteits interesting to see other people's views on this. I totally agree Captain Corelli's Mandolin - great book, crap film. I hated the book of the English Patient so will be avoiding the film, as I think I will now with One Day. Although I haven't seen the film, I loved the book of Perfume so may well give the film a try. Other books that have made great films I would say include One Flew Over The Cuckoos Nest, Atonement and To Kill A Mockingbird.
ReplyDelete