fastidium

If you’re like me, you like to read books before they get made into movies. More times than not, a book doesn’t translate well because character development and plot movements are so intricate that a book is the only medium that can capture it all. Other times, movies actually enhance a book’s story. For example, in my opinion, Philip K. Dick books make better movies. Blade Runner and Minority Report are much better conveyors of the philosophical questions brought up in their corresponding written form. And then, often times, movies aren’t anything like their original books because of technology differences (I, Robot), time periods (e.g., the Bourne movies), or because a book gets gutted of its original message (e.g., Starship Troopers).

I enjoy dissecting movies and their corresponding books because (1) it helps you understand the process that screenwriters go through, and (2) its just plain fun. In addition to several this past summer (Stardust, Bourne Ultimatum), this fall season includes the following three movies being adapted from books.

No Country For Old Men

November 2007
The Coen brothers are back with this adaptation of Cormac McCarthy’s story about Llewelyn Moss, a Texas man who goes on the run after finding a case of drug money. Newsweek is already lining up to call it an instant classic. The movie stars Tommy Lee Jones, Josh Brolin, and Javier Bardem.

The Golden Compass

December 2007
Pullman’s “His Dark Materials” trilogy is often categorized as young-adult but I think its just because it reminds so many people of other Parry-Hotter-like books. Of course, making the first book The Golden Compass into a movie is an attempt to get at the Lord of the Rings audience; Pullman is often times referred to as a modern-day Tolkien. I think that’s a stretch but the books are great. I don’t think the movie will be as good so make sure you read the book first. Whenever I talk with people who have seen the LOTRs movies but haven’t read the books, I tell them that they saw a very good highlights reel of the story. Its just too long to get the sense of how long the journey to Mordor is with three well-made movies (even as long as they are). The same probably goes for The Golden Compass.

I Am Legend

December 2007
This is the third time this book about a man-made plague wiping out humanity by Richard Matheson (What Dreams May Come) has been made into a movie, this time with Will Smith. Matheson is also the writer who had the biggest influence upon Stephen King. Here’s hoping they don’t change the plot that much and it becomes another I, Robot. It looks like they’re also going to release an IMAX version.