Book Adaptations

Punam and I watched 'Time Traveler's Wife' the other day. While we were watching it I remembered many moments in the book that the movies narrative omitted or glossed over. Because of all the things that were left out the movie sucks. It's so sparse it doesn't make that much sense, never really gets going. The book is great. Watching the movie gave me a burning desire to reread the book which I'm almost done with for a second time. It's so good! The seamless interweaving of an exciting time-travel story with an endearing romance. I don't like romance as a genre in general but every now and again I'll find one I love. Like 'The Village' which I classify as a romance-thriller.

It's hard for book adaptations to work. Some thoughts.

1. Adhere To It. If you adhere to the books as much as possible the movies will be pleasing. Like the Harry Potter series. They don't deviate and only leave stuff out if it has to be done. Watching the Harry Potter movies is very similar to reading the books. The same idea and experience is conveyed.

2. Take Creative Licence. Take the book as an idea for a movie. Shawshank, Stand By Me, The Shining etc. If the screenwriter uses the book or short story as an idea for their movie most of the time it works. You can build off of an idea and still make a cohesive idea of your own.

3. Don't Do In between. A lot of things in between don't work. They are filled with holes and gaps. They are in a nebulous place that's not one thing or another. In these cases it's obvious a choice hasn't been made. Like Garp, Great Expectations, Beowulf etc. The idea of the book is good or great. They option the screenplay but the person/persons involved have no idea how to convert it. The idea has to be changed, you can't cut and paste.

Books have such a bigger opportunity to create a world, develop character, and build. Movies don't have that and we need to recognize that. There's simply not enough time to do as much. Because of that you need to adjust not simply cut things so much so that a plot makes a vague kind of sense. It's a delicate art, I'm not saying I'd be good at it, it takes finesse.

Can't wait for 'The Hunger Games' movie.