"My Sister's Keeper" movie and book... WARNING: spoilers!

[LuvCuteBoys]

So my friend went to see this movie on Saturday with a friend of hers. I knew that I would never go see it because it would be way too emotional and the concept, quite frankly, disgusts me. I'm sure the book is good; I just have a very hard time believing parents would do such a thing.

But anyway, she was telling me that the book ending and the movie ending are COMPLETELY different and that the author even has a message about it on her website.

I don't understand why filmmakers do this

If you're a fan of the book, did you like the movie??

 

[Pomlover2586]

I liked the book.....haven't seen the movie.......because I didn't want to watch the original ending.........but if it ends different I may go see it...............

So how does it end?

 

[BeccaBellePA]

This book is probably my favorite. Ever. Period. So you can imagine how excited I was about the movie. However, yes. I was so disappointed with the movie. Don't get me wrong. The movie was an excellent movie (though I was biting my lip so I wouldn't sob loudly at quite a few parts). But the movie WAS NOT the book! So mad!

I would have perfectly enjoyed (okay, not enjoyed, appreciated) the movie if I hadn't read the book. But I think it was a wasted opportunity to make this movie out of such an amazing book.

Sorry for the vent.

 

[happygirl]

This book is probably my favorite. Ever. Period. So you can imagine how excited I was about the movie. However, yes. I was so disappointed with the movie. Don't get me wrong. The movie was an excellent movie (though I was biting my lip so I wouldn't sob loudly at quite a few parts). But the movie WAS NOT the book! So mad!

I would have perfectly enjoyed (okay, not enjoyed, appreciated) the movie if I hadn't read the book. But I think it was a wasted opportunity to make this movie out of such an amazing book.

Sorry for the vent.

I was afraid it is going to be nothing like the book

 

[ma2jr]

Tear-jerker

 

[Pomlover2586]

OK........but how did it end?? Waiting anxiously.......

 

[MinnieMe87]

OK........but how did it end?? Waiting anxiously.......

Me too!! I didn't want to see the movie because I hated the way the book ended. Now I'm curious as to what they changed!!

 

[BeccaBellePA]

**** SPOILER **** SPOILER **** SPOILER **** SPOILER ****

Don't flame...this is what they asked for!

There's no car accident, the younger sister doesn't die, thus she does not supply the kidney, and the sister with cancer dies. It was still heartbreaking.

 

[Pomlover2586]

THANK YOU BECCA!



I think I would have preferred that ending in the book too

 

[Eeyores Butterfly]

The movie was nothing like the book. It jumped around so much it was hard to tell what was supposed to be present day and what was a flashback. The director felt it necessary to do a whole bunch of montages with music whose lyrics were so comical people in the theatre were laughing at them even though the parts themselves were not funny. Instead of really examining the situation and focusing on the legal aspects (like the book does) it was more like a retelling of Kate's life and Anna almost seemed like a minor character! Julia was completely removed! WARNING: Spoiler in white: I geared myself up for Anna to die at the end and instead they killed off Kate It was an okay movie, but it was not very true to the book at all. Why even bother making it if you are going to murder the book?

 

[BabyPiglet]

I haven't seen it, but I've read the book. So, they changed the ending completely? Why?

 

[LuvCuteBoys]

I knew there would be spoilers, so I warned ahead of time It's all good! I didn't know the ending of the book well enough to explain it, so I figured I'd let someone else do that.

Very weird that it was changed so much. I don't get it.

I'm still seriously bothered by the entire concept of the story. Makes for good drama, but I don't know that I'd be able to watch it.

How did Cameron Diaz do in such a serious role?

 

[BeccaBellePA]

Yeah, Jodi Picoult has a way of bringing out a story in the morally gray areas. Her books always make me think.

But I was really surprised that the main premise of the book (the lawsuit) was more of a side detail in the movie. I was just disappointed how different it was.

 

[CaliforniaDreamin]

**** SPOILER **** SPOILER **** SPOILER **** SPOILER ****

Don't flame...this is what they asked for!

There's no car accident, the younger sister doesn't die, thus she does not supply the kidney, and the sister with cancer dies. It was still heartbreaking.

What is the point of making the movie if the biggest plot elements are left out. The only reason I liked the book was the ending. I will not be seeing this movie. I couldn't believe Jodi Picoult would agree to this.

 

[LuvCuteBoys]

I don't think she had any say in it. There's a message on her website apparently.

 

[Eeyores Butterfly]

What is the point of making the movie if the biggest plot elements are left out. The only reason I liked the book was the ending. I will not be seeing this movie. I couldn't believe Jodi Picoult would agree to this.

She didn't agree to it. Once the author gives away the rights to the book, the studio can do with it what they want. I know Stephenie Meyer was consulted heavily on Twilight, but that is the exception, not the rule. The statement on Jodi's website indicates she is not exactly thrilled with the changes.

 

[Pomlover2586]

Picoults argument is that once the book was sold to the studio for movie making, the studio took over all control of movie editing/filming rights so she had no say what so ever in how it was made, what was changed etc........

Seems a bit odd considering that J.K. Rowling is routinely on the set of ALL the Harry Potter films and has a very big say on what is or isn't cut.....

If it was my life's work as an author being filmed i'd be darn sure I had a say in what was changed/ deleted as it is a representation of my work.....but that's just me

 

[moon]

Posible spoilers
.
.
.
.
.


I haven't read the book or seen the movie, but several of the (movie) reviews say stuff like Anna is somewhat of a "live organ bank" for Kate, providing marrow and blood as needed, and having done this all her life up until she's asked to donate one of her kidneys.

I don't understand this. AFAIK, the marrow is donated and if the transplant is succesful the patient goes on remission. Another transplant may be needed again if there's a relapse, but it's not like Anna would be giving marrow every month or even every year.

As for the blood, thousands upon thousands of people get blood tranfusions from a blood bank. Why would they torture a small child to be giving blood over and over again? I've never heard of a hospital asking a family member to donate blood for a patient.

Is this description of the story accurate? because it seems quite unrealistic to me.

 

[Eeyores Butterfly]

Picoults argument is that once the book was sold to the studio for movie making, the studio took over all control of movie editing/filming rights so she had no say what so ever in how it was made, what was changed etc........

Seems a bit odd considering that J.K. Rowling is routinely on the set of ALL the Harry Potter films and has a very big say on what is or isn't cut.....

If it was my life's work as an author being filmed i'd be darn sure I had a say in what was changed/ deleted as it is a representation of my work.....but that's just me

Most authors don't. The experiences of Rowling and Meyer are by far the exception to the rule. It's probably because those particular series have such big fan followings, not to mention you have a series of movies that are following a story but each one has different directors. Most authors have no say in what happens once the rights are sold and the studios would laugh at you if you requested it! Reportedly, Road Dahl positively hated the original Charlie and the Chocolate Factory but there was nothing he could do about it.

And remember, even though Meyer and Rowling are consulted, they do not truly have a say in what happens and I'm sure there were changes made they did not agree with.

 

[Imzadi]

Here's the Wikipedia link to the differences between the fim & the movie: (Yes, spoiler in link)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/My_Sister%27s_Keeper_(film)

Here is a synopsis for the whole movie: (Yes spoiler in link)
http://www.themoviespoiler.com/Spoilers/mysisterskeeper.html



As for authors selling the rights of their books to be made into films, Stephen King talks about it in his book, On Writing. They do it not only for the extra money, but the name recognition, which helps them sell more books. He wrote for many years before his book Carrie, came out. When it was made into a movie, overnight, he became a household name.

He routinely sells the rights to be made into movies. From what I've heard from his book fans, they routinely massacre almost all those films, so they don't even resemble the books. Doesn't matter - we ALL know who Stephen King is, even if you do not read his books.

J.K Rowling already had more money, power, clout & fan base than God at the time they approached her about making the HP movies. She didn't need to have her books made into movies as other authors do. She had ALL the negotiating power on her side. She could have walked at any time. I'm sure there were massive stipulations to stay true to the books, that they had to agree to from the very beginning, or she probably told them don't even bother having a first meeting.

She's very tight with the rights of her books and what she will and will not allow to happen to them. She has so far not agreed to having the books made into eBooks for Kindles or other readers. She says she doesn't believe in them. She doesn't need the money, so she doesn't have to give in.


The film, P.S. I Love you, with Gerard Butler, barely resembles the book. They added characters in the film, took out others, set the film in NYC instead of completely in Ireland. The main character, (Hilary Swank,) was supposed to be Irish.

In Confessions of a Shopaholic, I heard the main character is British in the book. In the movie, the actress made her American.

Ann Rice HATED the choice of Tom Cruise for Interview With a Vampire. She was very vocal about protesting the choice. She changed her tune once she saw the movie, (and probably as her book sales rose dramatically. :rolleyes