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What book(s) should be made into a movie and why?
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gerbnl
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Oct 24, 2004, 06:45 AM
 
I'll start off...

1) "Chronicles of Thomas Covenant the Unbeliever" by Stephen Donaldson. Mainly because it's superb fantasy and in my humble opinion way better than the flat one-dimensional story by JRR Tolkien. (but i'd be very happy to see a/some "the Gap" based movie(s) too!).

2) Anything by Iain M Banks, but preferably i'd like to see "the Culture" brought to the screen.

3) "Cyberiad" by Stanislav Lem. Because Lem is (at least) as great as Philip K. Dick.

4) A remake of "Portnoy's Complaint" by Philip Roth (preferably by a European director, Lars von Trier perhaps or Tom Tykwer even). Because the 1972 one is horrible and doesn't do justice to Philip Roth as it should.

5) "The Snake" by Stig Dagerman. (Because: just read the book)

I'll shut up now
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cszar2001
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Oct 24, 2004, 07:27 AM
 
I�d like to see one of Heinleins novels brought to the screen - Friday for example.
Or Broken Angels by Richard Morgan.
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MilkmanDan
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Oct 24, 2004, 07:58 AM
 
A better question: "What good books do we want to be made into horrible movie renditions that are nothing like the book at all?"
     
ender2002
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Oct 24, 2004, 08:24 AM
 
The Da Vinci Code

the book was so bad you could tell it was originally intended for film
     
gerbnl  (op)
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Oct 24, 2004, 08:24 AM
 
Originally posted by MilkmanDan:
A better question: "What good books do we want to be made into horrible movie renditions that are nothing like the book at all?"
Dunno if that question is really better, for starters it is of an entirely different subject matter, although i have to admit it could be an interesting one.

Feel free to start a thread discussing the merits (or lack thereof) of the hollywood movie industry.

I think there's enough potential out there to make compelling movies out of compelling books...

at least you could have mentioned those good books you'd want to save a horrible faith
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voyageur
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Oct 24, 2004, 09:09 AM
 
I just finished reading the new War-and-Peace length tome Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke. It would make a fine movie, if done by the right person. Interesting character conflicts and dialog, black and white magic, historical interest (like War and Peace, set in the Napoleonic Wars, but in England).

Or perhaps it should be a six-part installment, done by BBC television.

And now would some Brit here please tell me whether Strange (the lead character's name) is correctly pronounced Strang to rhyme with "bang", or Strange, as in "weird".
     
Camali
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Oct 24, 2004, 11:21 AM
 
There was a movie made recently that was somewhat similiar to Da Vinci Code.

But one book that I really would like to see is RAMA by Arthur C. Clarke. As I understand it Morgan Freeman bought the rights to it and is producing a film. Although I don't know what the timeframe is for the movie it certainly was a great book!
     
ambush
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Oct 24, 2004, 11:24 AM
 
UH

CATCHER IN THE RYE

But Sallinger doesn't agree
     
phoenixboy70
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Oct 24, 2004, 11:27 AM
 
"the perfume" by patrick s��kind

great story. i just hope they wouldn't mess it up like all of those michael chrichton books.
     
ambush
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Oct 24, 2004, 11:27 AM
 
Originally posted by phoenixboy70:
"the perfume" by patrick s��kind

great story. i just hope they wouldn't mess it up like all of those michael chrichton books.
I like the ending
     
voyageur
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Oct 24, 2004, 12:19 PM
 
Originally posted by ambush:
UH

CATCHER IN THE RYE

But Sallinger doesn't agree
I always wondered why it hadn't been adapted for film. It would make a fabulous one.
     
Kilbey
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Oct 24, 2004, 01:18 PM
 
Lie down with Lions - By Ken Follet.

It could give people a historical reference to Afghanistan. Even if it is fiction.
     
Gankdawg
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Oct 24, 2004, 01:29 PM
 
Clive Cussler's books. They're filming Sahara right now. I'm trying not be judgemental of the actors chosen but it's hard not to be.
     
bradoesch
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Oct 24, 2004, 05:48 PM
 
Originally posted by voyageur:
I always wondered why it hadn't been adapted for film. It would make a fabulous one.
It would ruin the book for me. Once I see the movie the characters I imagined in my head are almost lost forever.
     
gerbnl  (op)
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Oct 24, 2004, 06:04 PM
 
Originally posted by bradoesch:
It would ruin the book for me. Once I see the movie the characters I imagined in my head are almost lost forever.
It's not as if you have to watch it... But it is certainly a downside of movies that it can ruin a book in a very personal way, even if the movie is well made and faithful to the intent of the book.

I, personally, don't like the idea of a 'Catcher in the Rye' movie either, but only because i can't imagine who could pull it off...
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chris v
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Oct 24, 2004, 06:26 PM
 
The new un-cut version of Stranger in a Strange Land. It'd have some awesome sex scenes.

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TheBadgerHunter
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Oct 24, 2004, 06:26 PM
 
I haven't seen a single book that translated well into a movie. Maybe Dune but I wasn't a huge fan of it.
     
TheBadgerHunter
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Oct 24, 2004, 06:28 PM
 
Originally posted by chris v:
The new un-cut version of Stranger in a Strange Land. It'd have some awesome sex scenes.
Go back to watching porn, pervert
     
chris v
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Oct 24, 2004, 06:38 PM
 
Originally posted by TheBadgerHunter:
I haven't seen a single book that translated well into a movie. Maybe Dune but I wasn't a huge fan of it.
No. Well, I thought Dune the movie was horrible, anyway. Sting was just awful.

The Shining is a prime example of a movie that's better than the book, but hey-- Kuprick, Nicholson, how can you lose?

When a true genius appears in the world you may know him by this sign, that the dunces are all in confederacy against him. -- Jonathan Swift.
     
Shaddim
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Oct 24, 2004, 06:40 PM
 
The Hobbit, they might as well complete the circle. Asimov's Foundation series could be great on the big screen too.
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bradoesch
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Oct 24, 2004, 06:48 PM
 
Originally posted by gerbnl:
It's not as if you have to watch it... But it is certainly a downside of movies that it can ruin a book in a very personal way, even if the movie is well made and faithful to the intent of the book.

I, personally, don't like the idea of a 'Catcher in the Rye' movie either, but only because i can't imagine who could pull it off...
I know I don't have to watch it and I have no problem with it being made. Well, maybe a little problem.



This has me thinking about HHGTTG. I haven't finished the trilogy yet and I'm not sure if I want to see the movie or not.
     
Rev-O
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Oct 24, 2004, 09:10 PM
 
Originally posted by gerbnl:
I'll start off...

1) "Chronicles of Thomas Covenant the Unbeliever" by Stephen Donaldson. Mainly because it's superb fantasy and in my humble opinion way better than the flat one-dimensional story by JRR Tolkien. (but i'd be very happy to see a/some "the Gap" based movie(s) too!).

2) Anything by Iain M Banks, but preferably i'd like to see "the Culture" brought to the screen.

3) "Cyberiad" by Stanislav Lem. Because Lem is (at least) as great as Philip K. Dick.

4) A remake of "Portnoy's Complaint" by Philip Roth (preferably by a European director, Lars von Trier perhaps or Tom Tykwer even). Because the 1972 one is horrible and doesn't do justice to Philip Roth as it should.

5) "The Snake" by Stig Dagerman. (Because: just read the book)

I'll shut up now
Iain M. Banks but I would pick "Use of Weapons". Far and away my favorite book of his.

The Hyperion books by Simmons, would be interesting. Tho the sequel(s) Endymion were better.

The Book of the Dun Cow & The Book of Sorrow by Walter Wangerin Jr. Live action preferably (ala Babe ). Amazingly moving books. Half sermon, half fable. Fantastic stuff, but not terribly uplifting.

Red Storm Rising by Clancy. Yah, it's VERY dated. But I just want a high tech war film with a sh!t load of stuff exploding. Hell, The War in 2020 by Peters would work. Or Vortex by Bond. Any near future big scale war book would work. I just wanna see sh!t get blown up on a massive scale.

And for something amusing Florida Roadkill/ Triggerfish Twist (by Dorsey). But it would have to be NC-17 for the sex and violence.
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Kilbey
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Oct 24, 2004, 09:43 PM
 
One movie I would like made into a movie is "The Borne Supremacy". What was put out this Summer with this title as a movie couldn't not possibly have been based on the book.

Oh, and "The Watchers" by Dean Koontz. Made me want to go out and adopt a Golden Retriever.
     
Lancer409
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Oct 24, 2004, 10:03 PM
 
KAMA KAMA KAMA KAMA KAMA .. J/K

i liked dune .. those movies have sucked though ... i hope they make a good one .. lol

No trees were killed in the sending of this message. However, a large number of electrons were terribly inconvenienced.
     
DeathToWindows
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Oct 24, 2004, 10:56 PM
 
Originally posted by voyageur:
I just finished reading the new War-and-Peace length tome Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke. Or perhaps it should be a six-part installment, done by BBC television.
I'm reading it now... lots of potential... I'm thinking along the lines of BBC TV (or whoever did the Pride and Prejudice miniseries in the UK) + WETA digital for effects (Faery, the Sand-Horses, etc.)

In regard to Dune... there have been two versions, neither of which have been perfect; Lynch's 1984 version is far more accurate in regard to the costumes and character-behavior, while the 2000 Sci-Fi Channel Dune and their 2001 Children of Dune have better sets, but dreadful acting (with the possible exception of Serandon) and horrifically incorrect costumes - the Reverend Mother Gaius Helen Mohiem is not described by Herbert to look like the bastard child of Princess Leia and a Demented Wombat!

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olePigeon
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Oct 25, 2004, 01:42 AM
 
Double post. :/
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olePigeon
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Oct 25, 2004, 01:43 AM
 
Lucifer's Hammer would make a f*cking awesome movie.

I was also gonna mention Ender's Game, except they actually are making a movie.


Oh, and Dragons of Summer Flame. Just that one. That'd make a wicked movie.
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Corintheus
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Oct 25, 2004, 03:00 AM
 
I always thought the Peter Straub/Stephen King book "Black House" would make a great movie.

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voyageur
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Oct 25, 2004, 08:33 AM
 
Originally posted by DeathToWindows:
I'm reading it now... lots of potential... I'm thinking along the lines of BBC TV (or whoever did the Pride and Prejudice miniseries in the UK) + WETA digital for effects (Faery, the Sand-Horses, etc.)
Exactly!!
     
Toutgood
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Oct 25, 2004, 08:44 AM
 
Originally posted by olePigeon:
Lucifer's Hammer would make a f*cking awesome movie.
Problem is, we've already had a couple big budget films with similar topics. I liked Lucifer's Hammer though.
     
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Oct 25, 2004, 09:03 AM
 
I'll add another Heinlein nomination: Job: a comedy of justice.

But I think it would offend a lot of people.
     
gerbnl  (op)
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Oct 25, 2004, 03:23 PM
 
Originally posted by SimeyTheLimey:
I'll add another Heinlein nomination: Job: a comedy of justice.

But I think it would offend a lot of people.
Totally forgot about that book!

It could be a winner!


damn! now i have to go to the library to reread it
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AB^2=BCxAC
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Oct 25, 2004, 03:39 PM
 
Originally posted by Rev-O:

The Hyperion books by Simmons, would be interesting. Tho the sequel(s) Endymion were better.
Digital Domain have the rights to the whole quartet of books. Dan even has helped with drafts of the screenplays in the past, I hear. But it's really not even slated for production, it's still looking for a greenlight from a studio.
( Last edited by AB^2=BCxAC; Oct 25, 2004 at 03:52 PM. )
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Oct 25, 2004, 03:40 PM
 
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Oct 25, 2004, 03:47 PM
 
Anything by Lois McMaster Bujold.
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Oct 25, 2004, 04:03 PM
 
I hear bits and pieces about a Wheel of Time series of movies, but considering the incredible mess that Jordan's made of the book series (I stopped reading it after the 8th book), I can't imagine it would get off the ground.
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olePigeon
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Oct 25, 2004, 04:09 PM
 
Originally posted by Toutgood:
Problem is, we've already had a couple big budget films with similar topics. I liked Lucifer's Hammer though.
The part with that skeletal alien snaking it's way around the shuttle? Man, that gives me chills just thinking about it.

Besides, the meteor was only 1/3 of the story.
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Oct 25, 2004, 04:12 PM
 
Originally posted by chris v:
Kuprick


A typo or... ?
     
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Oct 25, 2004, 04:26 PM
 
From A Buick 8. Stephen King. Sweet read.

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Oct 25, 2004, 05:32 PM
 
"the World According to Bob Guccione"...eithet that or "superfudge"....
people ruin everything....
     
turtle777
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Oct 25, 2004, 05:37 PM
 
Originally posted by ambush:
I like the ending
No way to do this well without getting an X-rating.
Very good book though !

-t
     
   
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