Turning books into movies

[Karel]

It seems like everytime I turn around these days, they are turning books into movies. I was intrigued when I found out Memoirs of a Geisha is coming out in December. Is it just me noticing this or has it been going on for a long time and I'm just realizing it now?

Do you think turning books into movies is a postive thing or are we turning our kids into lazy readers because now all they have to do is see the movie?

 

[C.Ann]

Personally, I prefer to read (and always did as a child too), but what I find now is that when they turn a book into a movie they either change things around a bit - or leave quite a bit out - so I go and buy the book anyhow!

 

[Sparx]

I have a rule. 99.99999% of movies made from books suck. the .0000001% rule is Jaws. Sorry, but that book was just bad.

I always read the book first, then see the movie.

 

[Skylarr29]

I think it is making kids into lazy readers. The books are always sooooo much better and I hope one day when I have children that they will read all the classics and not just pop in a movie.

 

[goofygirl]

I think it is making kids into lazy readers.

I don't agree. Look at Harry Potter. Kids are eating up those books! Then, they see the films.


I am looking forward to Memoirs of a Geisha. I know The DaVinci Code will be a movie in 2006, I read the book and curious to see if it translates to film well or not.

 

[Glynis]

I actually use the movies as an incentive to get my daughter to read. We started with "The Wizard of Oz." I bought her the book, and told her that as soon as she had it read I would have a surprise for her. Well, she tore through that book, and about a week later told me she was done. That weekend, we had a "Family Fun Movie Night." DD told her younger siblings about the book while we had a dinner of "haystacks." After dinner, we pulled out the sleeper sofa, grabbed our comfy pillows and watched the movie while eating "emerald city cookies" and "ruby slipper punch." It was a hit!

Since then, she always reads the book first and then we'll see the movie (in the theatre if it's a first run, or at home with special treats if it's an older movie). It's worked for us. DS is starting to read, and is looking forward to his own experiences.

 

[bicker]

Books have always been a common foundation for films. The Wizard of Oz was published in 1908, 30 years before the film was made. Even Birth of a Nation, one of the first major films, was based on a novel written 10 years earlier.

 

[powellrj]

I think its a great way to get kids to read. My DD will want to read the book after she sees a movie she enjoys, and now she looks for books that she wants to read when she hears there will be movies so she can read the book before she sees the movie!

 

[va32h]

Making films out of books is not a new trend at all - and in the early stages of the film industry, very necessary.

Movie adaptations cannot be as lengthy, inclusive, or in depth as a book; filmmakers just can't get away with a six hour movie!

Many books that are made into films are not "for" kids, so I don't see how their existence makes kids into lazy readers.

I used to work in a bookstore, and whenever a movie came out that was based on a book, sales of the book increased significantly. I think that the two mediums feed off each other.

It doesn't bother me when filmmakers change elements from the book - I know subplots will have to be cut, characters combined, etc. Sometimes I like the movie's version of events better.