Random Buzz

By bballchica1106 on May 28, 2008 at 05:08:49 PM [Rating: +4]

I think its cool sometimes, but when they make movies like the golden compass, it disappoionts me. I also hate it when people just watch the movie and not the book but think that they can discuss the book like they have read it.

By historyheroine on May 28, 2008 at 05:11:32 PM

I agree with the above comment. I also think that there are some books that would make excellent movies, if done correctly, but do we really have to make every book on the earth into a movie?

By midnighttwilight on May 28, 2008 at 05:21:45 PM

I can't wait until the Twilight movie but i am nervous that the book won't be as good as the movie and it will change the way i look at the characters and scenes. I just hope the Twilight movie (or any other good books being turned into movies) stays true to the book and characters.

By bookgrobie on May 28, 2008 at 06:13:43 PM

I agree with what others have said. I think that sometimes they try to make a book into a movie just because the book has been successful. I always try to read the book before I see the movie and I almost always like the book more.

By thebookmuncher on May 28, 2008 at 07:12:11 PM

it depends on how well-made the movie is. for example, lord of the rings was AMAZING. opposite example, eragon kinda sucked :(

By TheBookworm on May 28, 2008 at 07:58:30 PM

I sometimes wish that I was the screen play writer so that I could interprete the book correctly.  My family really enjoys the Harry Potter movies.  I think they are great apart from the books, but after reading the books I wish they didn't leave so much out.

Has anyone else read The Counte of Monte Cristo?  I read the book and couldn't wait to see the movie, but after the first half hour I turned it off.  I can't believe how much they changed that awesome book.  I would have loved the movie if the hadn't said it was based on The Counte of Monte Cristo. 

On more than one occasion though the movies inspired me to read the books.  Like The Seeker, Harry Potter, and Eragon.  They were all better books than movies, but without the movies I would never have read them.  So movies can be good for the book even if the movie was a terrible flop.

By bookworm08 on May 28, 2008 at 09:38:42 PM

Well, some movie adaptations are fantastic: take HARRY POTTER, for example. I loved it because it made the book's scenes come alive--and the casting rocked! Like The Bookworm said above, it inspired me to want to read the actual books! And Little Women was fabulous as well. The movie was sosososo realistic and close to the actual novel. And my mom saw ATONEMENT and said it was one of the best movie adaptations she's seen. CHARLOTTE'S WEB was great, too. Then there's the terrible movie adaptations. I've heard about Eragon and The Golden Compass. Sooooo many people were looking forward to their fave books being turned into movies, and then they were both a big flop. And there's also the movie that changes EVERYTHING about the book. Like the Princess Diaries! I love the movie, but the book was waaaay different. I guess they had to change everything to make it G-rated...  Also, CONFESSIONS OF A TEENAGE DRAMA QUEEN was soooooooo different from the book (I liked the movie better). LOL. 

By je55 on May 28, 2008 at 10:18:50 PM

I totally understand how disappointing it can be when you go to see your favorite book turned into a film and realize that nothing is the same.  I think that's part of the cost of changing mediums though-- for example, I'd feel really sorry for the screenwriter who had to adapt J.K. Rowling's 800+ page manuscript into a complete film.  Imagine how long the film would be!

I agree with thebookmuncher--the film version of the LotR trilogy was PHENOMENAL.  I never even read the books before seeing the films, and only got hooked because my friends were so gung-ho about it.  I think that's a perfect example of a positive effect of films: that they can move people to read a book they had never considered reading before.

By Tears_of_Grey on May 29, 2008 at 12:55:13 PM

It's alright sometimes, it helps solidify characters sometimes. Other times, like Eragon, it's stomach-churning.

By nenbookworm on May 29, 2008 at 03:28:29 PM

First of all, no movies are ever as good as the book, simply because the images you get when reading are YOURS, not some directors.  Some are alright take the first Harry Potter Movie(though even that is a stretch) and some make me want to pluck out my eyes i.e. Eragon.  There are others that I refuse to see like The Seeker (if you can't keep an awesome  name like "The Dark Is Rising," then the movie is not going to be worth the trouble).  Whatever the  case most book geeks will tell you, that they will always go and see one of their favorite books on screen, just to see if they got it right.  I personally want a really amazing version of the Garth Nix Abhorsen trilogy.  Now if they do it they're going to have to cast all awesome unknown actors, make it at least 3 movies spanning about 9 hours, and get amazing special affects supervisors.  I'm personally really worried about the Libba Bray series which is being turned into a screenplay as we speak, I'm just crossing my fingers that it isn't...well Hollywoodified.  Anyway now my rant is done, Happy reading.

By ibteen on May 30, 2008 at 12:44:43 AM

As a rule, I hate it when the books I love get adapted into movies, but then there every so often you'll find something special. I hadn't read the Harry Potter books before the movies came out, they were too young for me, or so I thought. I was turned onto reading the most important new series of my generation. The Lord of the Rings was another amazing surprise (I thought I was not nerd enough to read this series, I was wrong. I AM NERD ENOUGH!). But then there are the movies that make you loose all hope in humanity. Case in point Blood and Chocolate, possibly the worst movie adaptation I've ever seen. Also if you are ever inclined to watch The Dangerous Lives of Altar Boys without first watching the movie should step back and read the book FIRST.

ToucanSinger on May 30, 2008 at 06:30:39 PM

Most of the books I enjoy are fantasy. They wold be really hard to turn into a movie without it being incredible cheesy with terrible special effects. When I found out that Inkheart was being made into a movie, I was both excited and terrified. I love the book and I really didn't want to see it ruined by cheesy effects whenever someone came out of a book (think sparkles and disney music in the background). I'm still kind of apprehensive about seeing it next January.

By Ladytron on May 31, 2008 at 04:52:05 PM

It's definitely great to see a movie you love come to life, but when it's butchered like Blood and Chocolate, it can make you upset.

I guess it's really just luck of the draw. I think some people who are incharge of making the movies sometimes use their creative license too far.

By justcallmegeorge on May 31, 2008 at 05:10:53 PM

i think it all depends on how they do it. if they do the movie completely different from the book then i think it was a waste. except for movies like the princess diaries. that one was ok. it's crazy how many books are being turned into movies though!! i guess hollywood just can't think of any more ideas : P

By LivLovesBooks on June 1, 2008 at 12:09:02 PM

I love having books made into movies unless they screw it up. Eragon and The Golden Compass are examples of two amazing books whose movies were completely skewered. I think that if the movie people do it right, it is really neat to see things you've read about come to life on the screen but that's only if they do it right. I have my fingers crossed for the Twilight movie. It seems like it's going to be great and I'm looking forward to it a lot. I think that if I had to pick a book to be made into a movie, I would really want to see How To Be Bad as a movie. That was a hilarious book and I think that a good movie would make the whole story that much more real and entertaining.

By Erica on June 1, 2008 at 02:17:26 PM

It depends on HOW theym ake it. Say, Eragon well they basically murdred that one. But I think HP 1 was amazing, after that they stunk, but I thought the first one was awfully close to the book or as close as you could make it. It also depends ON the book, some are so long it's impossible to make a single movie out of it, so Like what they're doing with Terry Goodkind's Sword of Truth series coming ouit this fall :D is making it a mini series so there's 22 epdisodes for just the first book cuz these books are 1000 pages long and it was be a fiasco trying to make it a movie, take Eragon movie and times it by like 10 :P

By naturexgrl on June 1, 2008 at 11:03:44 PM

It's upsetting sometimes because they often change good scenes from the book. If they were to make it into a movie, why not just follow how the books goes? Anyway, I was really hoping they'd make A Great and Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray into a movie. Omg, I'll be dying to see it!

By bookreader4 on June 2, 2008 at 12:53:13 PM

I just don't read the book for a few months before I go and then I can enjoy it.  I really don't mind seeing the movie version, even if they do cut parts out.  It's just nice to visually see it.  It doesn't change anything about the book for me.

By barngal on June 2, 2008 at 06:52:55 PM

I think that it is great that they are starting to turn books into movies, I mean movies started as adaptions of litereature. However I think that when they make a movie out of a book they have to respect it, they shouldn't change to setting, characters, or plot to make it more interesting. One thing I do hate when they make books into movies is when they totaly miscast a character. I would love to see the Gemma Doyle trilogy, In or Out series, Squad books, Bewitching season, Bad Kitty, and Mermaid park addapted into movies! All in all turning books into movies is great as long as they respect the book and give it the honor it deserves.

Rainfeather on June 3, 2008 at 04:56:48 PM

I HATE IT HOW ALL OF MY FAVORITE BOOKS HAVE BEEN TURNED INTO MOVIES THAT I BET MY COUSIN'S GECKO COULD MAKE A BETTER VERSION OF! AFTER I SAW THE GOLDEN COMPASS I WENT AROUND COMPLAINING TO ALL MY FRIENDS ABOUT IT.

Rainfeather on June 3, 2008 at 04:59:56 PM

I SPEAK THE TRUTH!

By Lilith on June 3, 2008 at 07:24:43 PM

Sometimes it's cool when you find out one of your favorite books is getting turned into a movie. I always think "Wow cool, It's gonna be a great movie" Cause u can see it in your head when you read. But then, you see the movie, and sometimes you get upset over who they got to play the charaters or what they changed or took out.

Harry Potter, was "still" a fav book of mine, I thought they did good. They people they got were cool, but 3-5 I was pretty upset with, for alot of things were missing.

I still am worried about TWILIGHT, I can't see Robert as Edward... or Taylor as Jake.

So, yeah, I've kinda learned to hate it when a fav book of mine gets turned into a movie.

Or back then, I read the book TWITCHES. I got happy when I heard a movie was coming, but got mad when i heard it was disney, and saw what they did.

Or with Eragon, UGH!!! I was so happy to go see the movie opening day.... Well that changed when i saw it. My friends thought it was cool "they  didn't read the book" and i was upset.

BOOKS or MOVIE????.... Books!!!!

By gradster1 on June 3, 2008 at 08:02:00 PM

I think Hollywood should focus on doing a movie correctly, no matter what it takes, instead of focussing on getting movies out there as fast as possible to make money - of course, that's the whole point, though, so it'd be hard to convince them otherwise.

/gradster(1)/

By Justg0ttasing on June 4, 2008 at 12:52:05 AM

For me it really depends on the book. I admit, I AM excited to see Twilight and see their take on what Washington looks like. Since most of it was filmed in Portland rather than here in Washington...

Anyways, certain books I think would be fantastic movies, while others would be terrible. For example, I think it was good to make Harry Potter into a movie, just so people know how to pronounce certain names and see certain things, but then again how much they changed it is bad.

I really just think it depends on A) Yourself and how you interpret the book and B) If the book has enough 'action' in it to catch a persons attention.

By Elvenstar on June 7, 2008 at 06:59:28 PM

I am a very visual person, so I understandably love movies. Good movies, that is. And if a book I liked gets turned into a movie, so much the better. I like reading books because 1) You get much more insight into the characters than you do in a movie, and 2) With books, I can see a movie in my head and not have to worry about how 'fake' anything was, because, after all, your imagination has no budget. And I love watching movies based on books because I love to see how someone else interpreted the book. Though, ever since I went to see Eragon, I've become a bit more wary of book-movies. I never thought someone could mangle a story that bad. I'm still recovering. The best book-to-movie adaptation, in my opinion, is Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone. Sure, they left some stuff out, but, overall, it's a good movie, which is the absolute best you can hope for in a book-movie.

tymairalee on June 10, 2008 at 02:16:12 PM

i love reading the books more than actually going to see the movies because there is alot that directors cut from the books or change so that, in their eyes, the movie is better. i have read Twilight and i loved it but i'm anxious to see how they did it in the movie. i have seen the trailer for it and it almost looks disappointing.

By Yzzil on June 11, 2008 at 12:09:50 PM

I think its good tha Hollywood makes the books into movies. But most of the Directers have not read the books, you can not expect the movie to be as good as the book. I have to agree that books that turned movie such as Eragon do often go bad, but I think its a little extreme if you say you won't watch the movie because the book HAS to be better. If nothing else go see the movie and throw popcorn at the screen at the bad parts, or just laugh. I have to say that (for me atleast) there have been quite a few really good books that have turned into movies like Lord of the Rings and Blood and Chocolate.

Bluemoon on June 12, 2008 at 08:53:09 PM

I was dissapointed with the movie Aquamarine.I loved the book but the movie didn't match it.I loved the Nania movies and although they changed some stuff I loved the movies!

By katie on June 12, 2008 at 11:30:23 PM

 people who are horrible readers deserve to see great stories as much as readers do, but producers tend to take out to much information that was in the book(harry potter  1,2,3,4,and5 were dissapointing.)

MyraStryke on June 14, 2008 at 02:54:26 PM

My take on the whole "book to movie" thing is rather grim. I admit, some book-movies turn out rather well, such as the Lord of the Ring trilogy, and Narnia, but I absolutely hate it when the people (whoever they are) who turn the book into a screenplay, try to make it so the audience can "relate" to the characters. HELLO!!!! It's the author's job to establish the relationshp between character and reader! Not some jerk screenplay writer who thinks that by creating a romantic relationship between two main characters they'll make the characters more audience friendly!!! The main reason I can't stand this, is because in the process of doing this, they completely alter the original book's plot (i.e. Eragon)

By Ethrohil on June 18, 2008 at 10:17:10 AM

I loved watching Lord of the Rings, but I hated watching Eragon.  I guess making books into movies could be both good and bad, depending of how you lookat it.  You see, of course when a book is made into a movie you expect it to be exactly like the movie.  But, when it says 'based on__________", it doesn't necessarily mean they're going to get the whole thing right on target, exactly like the book.  But on the other hand, it's supossed to be exactly like the book or else it ruins the real story for everyone else who hasn't read the book. 

I liked watching The Outsiders too.  It was exactly like the book. Even the dialogue was basically taken from the book.  I guess making movies into books went better before we hit the 21st century (not including Lord of the Rings).

By riverlullaby on July 3, 2008 at 06:18:25 PM

I think that making a book into a movie can be a good thing if only for the fact that it gets more people interested in the book. People who would have never read the book otherwise, will read a book just because there is a movie to go along with it.

Now, I'm not saying that all of the movie versions of books are great. I'm not saying that at all. (Just thinking about Eragon and Ella Enchanted will keep me from ever saying that. I'm not saying that they're bad movies either. If you haven't read the books, some movies can be really great (Eragon), but if you have read the books, it makes you want to walk out in the first five minutes. (Isn't it sad when in only takes about 5 minutes to ruin a movie?)

When you watch a movie based on a book, I think you have to take a step back and try not to judge the movie based on the book... Though, I will admit, that's not always what I do (if you couldn't tell by my bitter feelings towards Eragon and Ella Enchanted... why they had to go and destroy two perfetly good books... but that's another rant for another time...) YOu know what they say: Do as I say, not as I do...

And I don't remember who said that some people will go and see a movie just to see what they got right and wrong, but they were right. That's why I've seen a lot of the movies that I have. You just can't help but find out. Sure, you're mostly going to get upset when you say, see the wrong people killing the wrong people (*cough cough* Eragon *couhg cough*), but you can't shake the curiosity and you have to go see the movie.

Another reason I go and see the movie is out of respect for the author.

So yes, movies from books are good, but they're bad too. Well, that's my oppinion anyway...

By SakuraGirl on October 14, 2008 at 02:15:32 PM

I know they're making Stargirl into a major motion picture, and I'm excited about that; but the only film I've ever seen that I thought was worthy of the book was Matilda. Usually directors cut scenes or bits or dialogue that I thought were indispensible to the book and that drives me crazy. I'd like to see one of Joan Bauer's books made into a movie (any one) or Walk Two Moons.