Top Ten Tuesday: Books to Movies

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by the lovely people at the Broke and the Bookish!

Today's topic is Top Ten Books I'd love to see as movies/TV shows. Oh I have a long, long list :-)

I, like many of you other bibliophiles, have some trepidation when it comes to making a book a screen-watchable-thing. We all know the feeling of "NO THAT'S NOT IN THE BOOK," and so when I hear my favorite books are being turned into movies, I feel something like a combination of pure excitement and deathly fear. My babies!

BUT. I entirely understand the struggle of the filmmaker.* There is something inherently different about the image we get in our heads because of words on a page, and the one we get because of what we see on the screen. The director has to somehow translate an image that is different for every single reader into a film that is the same for every single viewer. There's bound to be some disappointment.

*I wanted to be a filmmaker mostly because I wanted to make adaptations of my favorite books the RIGHT way.

For me, an adaptation is successful when it captures the feeling, message, and theme of the book. So that's what I hope happens to these:
(covers link to Goodreads...)

1. The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
Oh gloriousness and beauty. I want to see the circus come to life!
(This is currently in development by Summit Entertainment! *explodes*)



2. The Grisha Trilogy by Leigh Bardugo
I can see the glory of the onion domes and the creepiness of the Shadow Fold.
(Dream Works has got the rights to this one.)

  

3. The Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer
This might work better as a TV series - and though I don't normally watch TV, I'd totally watch this!

    

4. An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir
I read this new book about three weeks ago, and it was lovely and exciting and has potential for sequels! It would make a fantastic action film, but if the sequels are just as good, I'd support a TV series.
(This film is also in development and I think due to come out in 2017! And the book was just published last month - every author's dream.)



5. Jackaby by William Ritter
This has been compared to Sherlock and Doctor Who, so obviously it's film-material. There's a sequel coming out in September, and I'd be fine with this in either movie or TV series form.

 

6. Rook by Sharon Cameron
I just finished this book yesterday. It would make a splendid action-adventure film, swashbuckling and explosive and swoony. I support this fully.



7. Code Name Verity (etc.) by Elizabeth Wein
Strong women, adventure, escape, danger, love, friendship - it's got it all.
(Anonymous Content has got the rights to this one.)



8. The Raven Cycle by Maggie Stiefvater
I am tempted to request a TV (mini?)series for this one, just to fully explore the characters and all that, but really, I think this would work better as a set of films.

  

9. Anything Lloyd Alexander
Yes, I know Disney made that weird, not-very-famous Book Of Three animation. That doesn't count.
And I know the Prydain Chronicles are Lloyd Alexander's most famous books, but some of his other ones are The Best non-western fantasy out there. (Not that there's that much of it out there. Writers - get on it!)
Seriously, if you want a fantasy set in Middle East-ish? East Asia-ish? Ancient Greece-ish? Lloyd Alexander's got it all. And all his heroines are superb. Vesper Holly deserves a TV show.
(Also, his dialogue reads like it's straight from a script - concise, humorous, and perfect for the screen.)

     


10. The Golem and the Jinni by Helene Wecker
This is magical and lovely and heartbreaking and soul-filling. Movie please!



What books do you want to see on the screen? Let me know in the comments and link me your TTT's!

~Sophia

The Divergent Movie

I saw the Divergent movie last night. I'd compare it to the book, but for some reason the book is a bit of a blur for me, so here goes...

It was a decent movie, which is what you can expect from a decent book. Nothing spectacular, but neither was the book. Very entertaining for the moment I was watching it, but probably not going to stay in my mind for very long. Considering the book was the same way, I'd say the movie lived up to the book excellently. You may remember my review on Divergent a bunch of months ago - I mentioned that the book fell into the Good category, but not quite Excellent, which is reserved for books like Les Miserables and LOTR.

I thought again about this whole Faction business. It's a bit illogical to think that anyone would be anything BUT Divergent, isn't it? Shouldn't the non-Divergents be the rare ones? I don't think that there are many people who are well enough defined as one Faction. I know I'd probably be Divergent: a combo of Abnegation and Erudite, and maybe a tad bit Amity. My sister would probably be Erudite and Dauntless. My mom would be Abnegation, Candor, and Amity. NO ONE is perfectly defined. Everyone seems to think that this Faction thing is a perfect system - it's not, it's terribly flawed, and not just because Erudite went bad.

I suppose it makes sense that Erudite would be the ones to go bad - knowledge is power, and a thirst for knowledge could lead to a thirst for power, in certain individuals. And Dauntless going bad also makes sense - the concept of bravery could be convoluted to meaning taking mindless risks and harming yourself or others just because you don't want to be seen as "cowardly." I feel that this twisting of the idea of being brave isn't focused on enough in the movie. It needs to be emphasized - Four stands up for the IDEAL of an honorable, chivalrous, truly brave Dauntless faction; and Eric, his rival, is the personification of the twisted concept of bravery, which isn't true bravery at all, just bullying, which is a form of cowardice. This is an IMPORTANT MESSAGE. You don't have to be careless to be brave.

One thing I LOVED about the movie (which I'm sure the tween girls sitting a few rows down from us didn't) was that they underplayed the romance between Four and Tris. One kiss (very passionate, mind you) was all. And a lot of comfort-hugging. But comfort-hugging just comes with post-apocalyptic battles.
In the book, it seemed like Four and Tris kissed to eliminate their troubles - oh, I'm confused, and worried, and scared for my life? Let's kiss passionately on your bed. That'll make us feel better. But here, their relationship seemed secondary to more urgent matters... like survival and all that.

Oh, and talking about those tween girls a few rows down - they literally screamed and clapped when Tris and Four kissed. Like "WOO WOO WOO" and all that. Gosh. One of them was also curled up sobbing near the end when everyone was dying - which I forgive her for, because I also shed a few tears... that's just what emotional deaths in movies do to me, especially if other characters on screen are crying as well.

I AM looking forward to Insurgent, though that book is slightly even more of a blur for me than this one was (seriously, I can barely remember what happened. I think it needs a reread). I also have Allegiant on hold at the library, but I'm somewhere around number 12 on the hold list, so that might not happen for a while.

~Sophia

Did you see Divergent? What did you think? If not - are you going to go see it?

Catching Fire!

WARNING if you haven't read the book (or seen the movie) there are some spoilers! 

Last night I went with my writing club (which I will post about later) to see Catching Fire. It's been a while since I've read the book, but to the best of my memory, they did the story justice. And - that cliffhanger ending, just like in the book. Gah.

The movie made me cry where the book couldn't. When Katniss and Peeta are on their tour, and they talk to the families Rue and Thresh - I couldn't help it. It was so sad.

(HERE COME THE SPOILERS)

So because I knew the story, having read the books, I was able to notice a bunch of little things that weren't obvious that pointed to everyone (except Katniss of course) knowing the save-Katniss-District-13-etc. plan. It was pretty cool to look for. 

(END OF SPOILERS)

One thing that amazed me was how Beetee's glasses stayed intact THROUGH EVERYTHING. He must have some sort of special glasses. I never saw him wipe them, or anything. I WANT THOSE GLASSES.

In short: it was a good movie, it was close to the book, the actors were fantastic. There were a couple of Finnick-fan-girls in front of us, and when he first came on the screen, one of them shouted, "Woo! Finnick!" When he said, "Want a sugar cube," I heard her go, "Aahhh..." :-P

Looking forward to Mockingjay!

Have you seen Catching Fire? What did you think?

~Sophia

The Hobbit Movie (#2)

Monday night, I went with a bunch of friends to see the second Hobbit film (Desolation of Smaug).

Despite the fact that it was a 10:35pm showing, and that we got home at 2 in the morning, and that I got sick the next day (I'm much better now - thanks for asking!) - it was definitely worth it all.
I've seen a lot of reviews that are saying that this film was better than the first one - and I entirely concur. (Note - I'm not going to try to write a review myself - this is going to be more of a ramble, interspersed with possible fangirling. We'll see...)

Desolation of Smaug somehow had a faster pace than An Unexpected Journey, the first Hobbit movie. It was more compact, more tightly woven. Bilbo was finally getting on his feet as an adventurer - not as nervous about everything, you know? He's not just getting in everyone's way anymore. He's got a sword with a name (the ultimate thing in Fantasy) and he saves his dwarf friends rather impressively. He becomes a true Main Character - he is what the entire story hinges upon. Just like Frodo had better get that Ring to Mordor, it is up to Bilbo to do his burgling and get that Arkenstone. (This isn't the best comparison, by the way. Frodo is obviously on a more important mission, and the motives of The Fellowship can't really be questioned. The motives of Thorin and Co., on the other hand, occasionally can.)

Another huge plus was that almost every single battle had elves in it, which just made it that much more awesome. (I am a big fan of elves - particularly because I am related to one. We are almost certain that my sister has elf-blood in her.) I haven't seen a LOTR movie since last summer, and I always forget just how AWESOME Legolas is until I see him fight again. I must say he makes the battles SO great to watch with all his awesome elf moves. He is clearly up there with my favorite characters. Note that he's not just an excellent archer, but also a spectacular swordsman:



Speaking of elves, they added a new character, not invented by Tolkien. I very rarely say this, so take note of this momentous occasion: I entirely approve. There - I've approved of a change to the original book. What has become of me!?
But c'mon, Legolas deserves a girlfriend, doncha think?



Seriously though, Tauriel is a spectacular character. I really like her. She's a strong elf warrior, but she also is compassionate and has quite a head on her shoulders. She can assess a situation and see where she is most needed.

There's somewhat of a love triangle going on (don't want to give too many spoilers, though), but I really think that it's nothing of consequence. It's just Tauriel being sensible. She sees Legolas can fend for himself, and knows where she is most needed.

Okay, enough about elves.
Time for the dragon.


Spooky looking dragon + Benedict Cumberbatch's voice. Oh, it was perfect. So perfect.
And SO CREEPY.
When Smaug said "I am fire. I AM DEATH!" it gave me goosebumps, it was so creepy. And because it was 3D, sometimes his nose would just be all up in your face and you could see his teeth and...
Well, if I were Bilbo, I would probably have plain out fainted. Seriously.

Talking about the 3D, once someone cut off an orc head, and it came flying at the screen. It made me jump rather high in my seat. There was a part where a bee buzzed up almost to my nose (well, not really, it just looked like it), and I thought, "If I were scared of bees I would be crying right now." Thankfully, I'm not scared of bees. That much.

Okay, back to Smaug. One thing that I didn't get was - why did Bilbo take off the ring so soon? In the book (if I remember rightly), Bilbo remains invisible for quite a bit of his conversation with Smaug. I sort of liked it better when Smaug couldn't exactly see who Bilbo was. (I also haven't read the book since the first movie came out, so my memory's a little rusty.)

So I know that a lot of the movie isn't from the book. There's a lot of added stuff. But I heard somewhere that a bunch of it - all the scenes with Gandalf and the Necromancer and Dol Guldur - are actually from Silmarillion, and this makes me not mind the changes so much. I've never read the Silmarillion, so I can't really judge for myself, but I like consoling myself with the fact that some of the non-Hobbit stuff is at least not completely non-Tolkien.
If any of you have read the Silmarillion - and seen the Hobbit movie(s) - what did you think? Were there a lot of added scenes that weren't pure Tolkien?
I suppose I just have to go and read the Silmarillion myself!

Oh gosh, I just realized I forgot to talk about Bard:



He's a cool fellow, in that he's not on the dwarves' side, but he's not evil either. He just a single dad who wants to support his family, and doesn't want anyone to do anything stupid that would wake up the dragon. He also has a black arrow hidden in his rafters (ahem not in the book ahem). He also has super adorable kids who call him Da. :-)

One whole year to wait until the ending... can I do it? I'm counting on Return of the King at Ravinia Fest this summer to hold me over until There and Back Again.

~Sophia

Have you seen the Hobbit movie(s)? What did you think?