Saturday, May 26, 2012

How many times have you read a book, loved it, read it again, continued to love, it and when you heard it was being turned into a movie, felt the utmost excitement at seeing something you enjoyed so much put on the screen? It's happened a lot lately: Hunger Games, Twilight Saga, Harry Potter, Perks of Being a Wallflower, Secret Life of Bees, those Nicholas Sparks books, etc. It seems screen writers have run out of original ideas, so they have to make their money on books that already have a following of fans. 


Typically, when I love a book and then see the film, I'm utterly disappointed. Some key scene or event is left out due to time, hiring extra actors, or the story has been changed so much, the scene is no longer needed. Either way, it seems that movie studios are dead set on ruining our favorite books. 


Well, I've finally found the exception to the rule. I have a deep love for science fiction fantasy, something I can lovingly blame on my husband. In my dive into dorkdom, I fell in love with the Lord of the Rings trilogy. It is the most recent translation of all the typical archetypes I've grown to love in greek mythology: the quest, the fall of the hero, the loss of innocence, etc. I've been on a Stephen King kick since the end of last year and decided a month or so ago that I needed a break. So, I took my students' advice, and decided to read a book to a movie I love, The Fellowship of the Ring. For once, I can say that the movie is better. While I will admit I am only 2/3 of the way through the novel, I am struggling to get through it. I've learned more about the eating and sleeping habits of Hobbits than I ever thought was natural to know about. I will say the movie is very different from the book. From right away, the book takes a much different path in taking the reader to Bilbo's birthday party, from which he departs on his final adventure, than the movie did. And, the movie did it better. 


I realize, being someone who is vehemently angry every time I see a coveted book turned into movie and I spend the next week ranting about the differences and how the movie ruined the book, I understand what I say is blasphemous. But please, if you haven't read this book, give it a try. Just give it 100 pages. I bet you'll understand where I'm coming from. 




I'd love some suggestions to other movies turned to books that perhaps I haven't read. I'd like to test the theory that perhaps I was too invested in the movie to appreciate the book, or if reading about the eating and sleeping habits of Hobbits really is that annoying. 



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