Author Topic: Movies & Books Into Movies (Read 590623 times)

rosemarykaye · « **Reply #3600 on:** December 29, 2013, 05:29:34 AM »

How many of you have read a book,
then watched a movie that was based on that same book?

Were you disappointed?
Or elated that they hadn't made any significant changes?
Or even surprised to discover the movie was even better than the book?

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Books Into Movies Now on DVD
Recent Movies Based on Books
Books in a Series by Their Authors
Movies Based on the Book

Join us in an ongoing discussion of this very popular subject right now.
Pull up a chair, take off your shoes, pour yourself a cup of coffee or hot chocolate, and join in!

Your Discussion Leader: pedln

Thanks all, and I'm so glad you enjoyed the Victoria Coren programme.

Rosemary

CallieOK · « **Reply #3601 on:** December 30, 2013, 10:54:06 PM »

Marcie, I doubt that my copies of the Mary Poppins books are valuable. They aren't First Editions and I scribbled my name inside the front cover.
I wasn't clear that I meant the "non-Disney" versions. Still can't quite figure out how I should have stated that.

MaryPage · « **Reply #3602 on:** December 31, 2013, 08:40:51 AM »

On the one hand, one has to feel it is a Good Thing that a whole world of fairly deprived children read the Disney and Little Golden Book versions of such as Mary Poppins and Winnie-the-Pooh (which I will always double think, remembering Christopher Robin told his dad it was "Winnie Ther Pooh!"), but I was as diligent as possible at keeping these horrors out of MY home and children's hands. No doubt they encountered them in many other places.

But the ORIGINAL Mary Poppins books with their impossibly perfect illustrations, and, of course, the same about the famous A.A. Milne quartet, When We Were Very Young and Now We Are Six and Winnie-the-Pooh and The House at Pooh Corner; well, perfect Bliss! No one should, in my humble opinion, no, correct that, I do not feel humble in the least in this matter, no one should EVER have been allowed to replace Shepherd's drawings. They WERE. That was it.

To this day I, and one of my daughters, and one of my granddaughters who is not that daughter's daughter, but her niece, well, we are soulmates when it comes to these books. And we can rise up from any gathering and stand together and without any rehearsal EVER or any prompting of any type. recite from memory verbatim almost the entire book of When We Were Very Young plus a great deal from the other 3 books. With Joy and body language.

MaryPage · « **Reply #3603 on:** December 31, 2013, 08:46:10 AM »

A.A. Milne inscribed a copy of Winnie-the-Pooh with the following personal verse:

"When I am gone,

Let Shepard decorate my tomb,
And put (if there is room)
Two pictures on the stone:
Piglet from page a hundred and eleven,
And Pooh and Piglet walking (157)…
And Peter, thinking that they are my own,

Will welcome me to Heaven."

You may or may not know that Shephard also did Wind In The Willows, and his daughter Mary did the Mary Poppins books.

ginny · « **Reply #3604 on:** December 31, 2013, 08:54:17 AM »

It's amazing how often Milne comes to mind, isn't it? Anybody who has read endlessly the When We Were Very Young and Now We Are Six can usually recite them, but what surprises me is how often they come into the mind when least expected. Right now King John was not a good man and no good friends had he is running ceaselessly thru my own mind for no reason whatsoever.

There was a crack in the movie made by PL Travers about Milne, I can't remember now what it was. Apparently she did not care for him? Or? There are some wonderful Disney bios out there on tape, too, I just saw one yesterday. Disney fascinates me and always has. In Disney World, around the corner from Main Street, tucked really into a back alley was a little theater (this is when it opened, I have no idea if it's still there) with a documentary about Walt Disney which was fascinating. One of the documentaries I saw yesterday talked about Travers and Disney, how they both had had rough upbringings but what as fascinating was how differently each had chosen to respond: Disney the eternal optimist and Travers somewhat...how would you describe her? Still, she did make something good out of her disappointment too.

Also startling was the resemblance on film to the actual people. The actress playing her mother might have been her mother, the likeness in the old photos is so strong. Also the brothers in the new film look a lot like the real ones who wrote the songs for the movie, one of whom is still alive, so he could provide invaluable input. For some reason "Feed the Birds" always makes me cry.

Those were very very talented people, and, like Fred Astaire, whose movies have been being featured on TCM for the past week, I'm glad that they are preserved on film, so that people like me, who missed him pretty much, could be amazed at his talent: that man could really dance. I knew he was famous, I knew he would sort of glide about and flit about the room, but the TAP!! The man could really REALLY dance. Without the films, it would be only a memory.

I wonder how much the film industry has really changed our lives.

CallieOK · « **Reply #3605 on:** December 31, 2013, 04:50:11 PM »

MaryPage, thank you for the A.A. Milne quote. I have "originals" (not first editions) of those, too and cherish them.

I enjoy the Disney re-makes but view them as completely separate entertainment.
I've become very aware of movies "based on..." books and do not expect them to be exactly like the originals.

One time, however, I had my 3rd edition copy of "Gone With The Wind" out as I watched the movie with Vivian Leigh and Clark Gable. I was surprised - and pleased - to discover the movie dialog was almost exactly like the book.
Probably would never ever ever see a re-make of that one, though. Absolutely no one will ever be able to match Clark Gable as Rhett Butler.

I've felt the same way when I've seen stage productions of "Grease". I've never seen anybody duplicate John Travolta's "strut".

MaryPage · « **Reply #3606 on:** December 31, 2013, 08:05:54 PM »

HAPPY NEW YEAR AND WISHING YOU ALL OF THE BEST IN 2014.

ginny · « **Reply #3607 on:** January 02, 2014, 05:13:18 PM »

I just saw Philomena, and have ordered the book it came from. I think it's the saddest thing I ever saw and certainly worthy of Oscars everywhere, but it's so sad.

Has anybody else here seen it?

Frybabe · « **Reply #3608 on:** January 02, 2014, 07:29:52 PM »

I am absolutely going to have to read the book and/or see the movie. I read something about the Magdalene asylums last year because a genealogy mystery featured them. Also, didn't Wilkie Collins' The Moonstone have a character that came from one? The girls sent to those institutions were often unwed mothers, but others were sent away for petty infractions or for no other reason than that they were unwanted at home (any good lie or perhaps a little donation to the facility would do to take care of a problem child). And of course, the children had to pay for their sins, real or imagined. And pay they did.

MaryPage · « **Reply #3609 on:** January 03, 2014, 10:04:46 AM »

The War Against Women has been raging ever since some male concocted the story of Eve leading man astray. Scheesch!
I am hoping Philomena will cause some hearts to melt, but hey, women themselves have to wake up to what they are allowing and being a party to before we can make things better around the globe for those of our gender.

Tomereader1 · « **Reply #3610 on:** January 03, 2014, 10:45:23 AM »

There is a movie "The Magdalene (?) Sisters" It is very sad but very good. Available on Netflix

MaryPage · « **Reply #3611 on:** January 03, 2014, 06:16:30 PM »

I saw that, and felt rage and sorrow.

Dana · « **Reply #3612 on:** January 03, 2014, 10:13:26 PM »

I remember:

James James
Morrison Morrison
Wetherby George Dupree
Took great care of his mother
Though he was only three
James James
Said to his mother
Mother he said said he
you must never go down to the end of the town
Without consulting me.

I may not have that quite right......but when I was a psychiatric resident that poem came forcibly into my mind when I was learning about separation anxiety and magical thinking and it is SO TRUE if you read the whole thing. I think that's why he's so memorable, the poems are emotionally spot on for kids, and us all too. He does lose her and it reminds me of a Grimms fairytale, plays into our deepest fears......

rosemarykaye · « **Reply #3613 on:** January 04, 2014, 02:37:20 AM »

Dana - that is fascinating, I never would have thought of that interpretation but of course you are spot-on.

I've seen the Magdalene Sisters - it's excellent and harrowing. These things were still going on in the 1970s, when I was in senior school. Ireland was until recently a country dominated by the church to a degree that few people alive today in the UK will have experienced.

Rosemary

MaryPage · « **Reply #3614 on:** January 04, 2014, 08:30:16 AM »

Yes, James James is one I have go through my head frequently. And King John. And Mary Jane. And the other James, the one who was a snail.

But my most frequent visitor is the John who was a little boy, and not a king.

The poem is entitled: Happiness

John has great big waterproof boots on.
John has a great big waterproof hat.
John has a great big waterproof mackintosh,
And that, says John, is THAT!

pedln · « **Reply #3615 on:** January 04, 2014, 12:45:40 PM »

I've just added The Magdalene Sisters to my Netflix queue. I had never before paid any attention to what it was about, so just kind of glossed over it. It was interesting to see Geraldine McEwan's name there. Hasn't she played Miss Marple in several Agatha Cristie films.

Everyone I've talked to who has seen Philomena has said what a good film it was. Ginny, what is the book that it is taken from?

Have been looking over my much to long queue, noting the "very long wait" for Night Train to Lisbon." Has anyone seen this -- with Jeremy Irons? I think it's either a 2012 or 2013 production. The book sits unread on the shelf. The reviews describe the film as layered, for the thinking adult. Irons plays a Latin teacher.

Tomereader1 · « **Reply #3616 on:** January 05, 2014, 12:57:07 PM »

I think Night Train was just released and is still showing in some theatres locally. So until it is released to DVD, it will be a Very Long Wait!

pedln · « **Reply #3617 on:** January 06, 2014, 03:23:31 PM »

The DVD has been released. Amazon is selling it.

marjifay · « **Reply #3618 on:** January 09, 2014, 08:55:37 AM »

I just went to Yahoo to get my email messages, and Yahoo News had a picture of a young girl, Jessica Alba, a "star" they called her, whom I'd never seen before. Have you noticed how all the young female "stars" today look alike? Put them in a police lineup and you couldn't tell one from another.

Marj

pedln · « **Reply #3619 on:** January 11, 2014, 10:12:22 PM »

I'm glad there's been so much talk about the film Philomena, and the books too. I finally went to Amazon to do a little more checking on it. So this is a story of something that really happened? And this Martin Sixsmith, the author of the book, is the journalist who helped Philomena trace her son? Apparently there are two books. The one by Sixsmith that is the real story, (as a reviewer stated -- 75% about the son and 25% about Philomena) and another book that does not attempt to be accurate. The film, I've been told, focuses more on Philomena than on the son. At any rate, I'm looking forward to seeing it.

ginny · « **Reply #3620 on:** January 12, 2014, 08:58:49 AM »

It's a wonderful movie and the original Sixsmith book IS about the son pretty much but there's a lot there too on Philomena, and it answers some important questions which one has upon seeing the film. The script writing just got another award nomination and it should have, he did a marvelous job with an extremely sad story.

But his book, which I have now and which I skipped to the end on, does explain a great deal, including about Mary the little girl he thought of as his sister. Her reaction was confusing in the movie, I understand now.

I am glad not to be on any judging committee this time, the contenders are really strong for a lot of categories.

That's the third good movie I've seen in a very short time, Philomena, Saving Mr. Banks, and Frozen.

pedln · « **Reply #3621 on:** January 12, 2014, 10:38:28 AM »

I think I mentioned this on SeniorLearn at one of the other sites, but will do so again because I'm finding it useful -- and that is CURIYO.

curiyo is like a Readers' Encyclopedia for the Internet. It's a browser app that gives you additional information. For example, in Ginny's post above Saving Mr Banks has a dashed blue line under it, showing that curiyo has more info. Click on it and it brings up more info about the film.

In my post above Ginny's there is a blue line under Martin Sixsmith and a click brings up tons of info about the man, his personal life, career, etc.

Just google curiyo and it will take you to where you can download it.

marjifay · « **Reply #3622 on:** January 15, 2014, 05:36:22 PM »

I was just reading about the ex-policeman in Florida who shot and killed a man sitting next to him in a movie theater, because the guy was bothering him by texting. There have been times when I would have been tempted to do that when people sitting near me are loudly munching on food or talking during the film. My son says older people are the worst because, being hard of hearing, they shout at each other. LOL

Marj

MaryPage · « **Reply #3623 on:** January 15, 2014, 08:21:22 PM »

If Florida did not have a law allowing people to carry guns in public places, that 71 year old retired policeman with an exemplary record would never have pulled out his gun when he lost his temper. Pity. But in the states that allow carrying weapons anywhere at all, we will all need to mind our manners or risk being killed. Way over the top, and I'll bet the shooter wishes himself dead, at this point. The man killed said he was texting his three year old daughter. Say what?

maryz · « **Reply #3624 on:** January 15, 2014, 09:52:05 PM »

Re that shooting: it was not during the movie. The previews or advertisements were on. The movie hadn't started.

rosemarykaye · « **Reply #3625 on:** January 16, 2014, 04:07:37 AM »

I cannot imagine living in a state where people can carry guns around like that. We do certainly have our share of shooting incidents - often the person has the weapons illegally, or has been given a licence to have them for farming or game shooting and then hasn't been properly checked up on - but I do think we still have fewer incidents than you do.

The big issue in this country - most especially in London and Manchester I think - is knives. All of these gang members carry them and the number of stabbings in London has rocketed. It's nearly always among the groups themselves, not a great threat to the general public, but it's such a waste of so many young men's lives. The sale of knives is supposed to be restricted, but of course they can get hold of them anywhere really. Thankfully there does not seem to be a big knife culture in Edinburgh (so far) although it has its fair share of drug problems.

Yes, texting a 3 year old is rather weird. But not enough to shoot someone, if anything is.

We were at the Filmhouse in Edinburgh recently and behind us were an elderly couple. As soon as the film started the man went to sleep and snored throughout. Being the buttoned up Brits that we are, we just pretended we hadn't noticed. I have been to the cinema once with my very deaf and opinionated mother-in-law (who also snores....) Once was enough :-)

Rosemary

Frybabe · « **Reply #3626 on:** January 16, 2014, 08:45:37 AM »

When I was a youngster, the manager of the movie house I went to patrolled the aisles and would shut the movie off it the kids got to noisy. It worked pretty well to keep the noise and misbehavior down. No sticky messes on the floor or seats, no constant noisiness of kids just wanting to be disruptive rather than watch the movie. When I moved to another area, the first and only time I went to the movie house there was such a shock. The management appeared to be non-existent. The noise during the entire movie made it difficult to hear the show, it looked like no one ever bothered to clean the aisles, and the seats were torn and stained. I kind of remember the kids up front throwing popcorn and standing/climbing in the seats too. It was totally disgusting. Of course, I'm talking about the matinees.

marjifay · « **Reply #3627 on:** January 16, 2014, 11:16:49 AM »

Gosh when I went to movie matinees on Saturday in the 1940s in Omaha, Nebraska, kids were well behaved -- I don't remember any trouble ever. That was when we (under 10 years old) got in for 10 cents. I remember crying when they told me I would be charged 25 cents. Was afraid my folks would think that was too much money. But they gave me the quarters. Walked all by myself about 2 miles every Saturday to the theater (don't think parents nowadays would let an 8 or 9 year old girl walk like that by herself.)

Marj

marjifay · « **Reply #3628 on:** January 16, 2014, 11:29:37 AM »

I was pleased to see that Barkhad Abdi, the Somali actor who played the pirate, Muse, in Capt. Phillips, was nominated for an Oscar for supporting actor. He was great!

I see Tom Hanks was not nominated for Capt. Phillips. I think that was as it should be -- that film belonged to the Somali actors.

I wish Bruce Dern would win for best actor but I haven't yet seen American Hustle with Christian Bale who was nominated.

Marj

marjifay · « **Reply #3629 on:** January 18, 2014, 11:46:01 AM »

I see where Saving Mr. Banks and its stars, Tom Hanks and Emma Thompson, were completely ignored for the Oscar nominations. Apparently the film was not found interesting enough compared with all the exciting films made in 2013. I have not seen it.

Marge

rosemarykaye · « **Reply #3630 on:** January 18, 2014, 01:28:23 PM »

Well I loved it and thought both of them were excellent, but Madeleine was a bit less impressed.

I haven't seen the other films so I don't know how it compares.

JeanneP · « **Reply #3631 on:** January 18, 2014, 07:48:41 PM »

They just passed the Right to Carry gun law in my State. I think it will make a difference with people who have a quick temper and shoot before thinking but doubt it put the crimes up. Every one out to steal, buy drugs, out to murder have them already. Every bank in town as been held up and always they had guns.
Getting the permits very popular with women right now. You have to take a 8 day class. Also the parents of students at the University seem to think will help them I don't. they should not be out were they need protection. Good police depts on Campus.

MaryPage · « **Reply #3632 on:** January 19, 2014, 04:02:38 PM »

Sigh!

Once upon a time, only the police and the military had guns in the highly populated areas, and they did not carry them all the time. Rural families who hunted had shotguns, but never used them for anything else. We thought, when I was growing up, that gun toting societies were confined to the Wild West as pictured in the Saturday matinees, and that those frontier towns had gone the way of the Do Do bird.

The Gun Lobby has been most successful, even to the point of manufacturing and selling tens of thousands of machine guns and automatic rifles to the civilian population. To what end?

The pictures that come to mind when I ask that question make me shudder in unhappy anticipation. I am glad MY END is nigh!

marjifay · « **Reply #3633 on:** January 20, 2014, 09:09:00 AM »

Just watched a terrific 1957 movie from Netflix - PATHS OF GLORY -- with Kirk Douglas and some other excellent actors. Re an incident in WWI where some men were court-martialled for cowardice. It was directed by Stanley Kubrick who directed 2001; A Space Odyssey, Dr. Strangelove, the some other great movies.

Marj

marjifay · « **Reply #3634 on:** January 20, 2014, 09:19:03 AM »

Loved the title of a 1967 Roman Polansky film I saw mentioned on the Turner Movie Channel -- THE FEARLESS VAMPIRE KILLERS, OR PARDON ME BUT YOUR TEETH ARE IN MY NECK. It's available at Netflix.

Marj

Octavia · « **Reply #3635 on:** January 22, 2014, 11:34:12 PM »

I thought texting was a silent thing?
Did young people in other countries roll jaffas down the aisles to infuriate the ushers, who are now almost an extinct breed.
Re The Book Thief, I listened to an interview on the ABC with Marcus Zusak. He was joking about people's reaction to his book. They would come up to him at a Do and say 'Sorry,I just couldn't get into your book', and he would say 'that's okay', but he said they couldn't leave it at that. After a few more drinks, they'd come up to him and say 'It's not that I didn't try to get into it, you know'.
The interviewer and Marcus had a good laugh.
He had some interesting things to say about the writing of the book and how it was conceived. I like hearing about the birth pains.

marjifay · « **Reply #3636 on:** January 23, 2014, 10:14:46 AM »

People seem to like the movie, The Book Thief. But the book was a DNF for me. Just couldn't get interested enough in it to finish it.

Marj

JeanneP · « **Reply #3637 on:** January 23, 2014, 07:39:18 PM »

Same thing for me on the "book thief" wil see the movie if it goes onto DVD soon at the library .doubt I pay the $7 at the show.

rosemarykaye · « **Reply #3638 on:** January 24, 2014, 02:03:37 AM »

Is that a concessionary rate Jeanne? I recently paid the equivalent of $33 for my two daughters (aged 19 and 15) to see The Hobbit.The Edinburgh Filmhouse has cheap prices on Fridays, and even then you are lucky to get away with less than the equivalent of $8.

I often notice how much cheaper everything seems to be in the US. Are there some things that are more expensive than here, or is it cheaper across the board?

Rosemary

Winchesterlady · « **Reply #3639 on:** January 24, 2014, 01:51:45 PM »

Rosemary -- From what I've seen I think things are less expensive here in the U.S. We all complain about the prices but I believe we have it pretty good compared to many places.

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Author Topic: Movies & Books Into Movies (Read 590623 times)