| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Downtown |
Posted - 03/20/2007 : 15:26:42
The fact that another story I was eagerly waiting to see put on the big screen (A Sound of Thunder) turned out to be awful hasn't deterred me from hoping that these books will someday find their way on film:
A Canticle for Leibovitz, Walter Miller (quite a challenge for any director with enough guts to take on this story)
The Lorax, Dr. Seuss (animated, of course)
Foucault's Pendulum, Umberto Eco (this will never happen as long as Eco is still alive because he wasn't happy with the film version of The Name of the Rose, and Hollywood would probably demand the ending be changed)
Bound for Glory, Woody Guthrie
The Giving Tree, Shel Silverstein (also animated)
The Horse and His Boy, C.S. Lewis (my favorite by far of the Chronicles of Narnia)
The Dark Tower, Stephen King (with all due respect to Mr. King, I think the elements of this seven volume story can be nicely condensed into a 2.5 hour film)
Now I command the rest of you to add to this list! |
| 15 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| TitanPa |
Posted - 06/02/2007 : 04:33:34
Also Mick Foleys professional wrestling life story should be made into a movie. He had an amazing carrer. You need to read his autobiography even if you dont like Wrestling....WWE style
his book is titled 'Have a Nice Day' |
| TitanPa |
Posted - 06/02/2007 : 04:30:28
Hop On Pop. Now there's a book that needs to be on film. |
| Downtown |
Posted - 06/01/2007 : 21:47:11
I can't believe I forgot "The Fledgling."
Animated or live action, it doesn't matter...but someone's gotta put this childrens' story on the big screen. |
| turrell |
Posted - 04/24/2007 : 17:23:22
I am reading Boomsday, by Christopher Buckley (Thank You for Not Smoking) and it is brilliant. I love political sattire and Buckley is a master of it.
The basic story line is that as the baby boomers approach retirement age, it will completely drain the resources of the government, so in the vain of Swift's "A Modest Proposal", a blogger proposes that the government give benefits to people who voluntarily off themselves and provides a schedule of increased benefits to dependents for doing so. Hillarity ensues. |
| Beanmimo |
Posted - 04/04/2007 : 13:35:19
I must read more. |
| Ali |
Posted - 04/04/2007 : 12:52:37
I like Love in the Time of Cholera, but 100 Years of Solitude is pretentious piffle. I am alone in this view, I know.
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| BiggerBoat |
Posted - 04/04/2007 : 12:33:43
quote:
Originally posted by Se�n
quote:
Originally posted by BiggerBoat
quote:
Originally posted by demonic
I kept thinking - have none of you ever read any Marquez? That's writing.
Absolutely. 100 years might be unfilmable but Love in the Time of Cholera would be majestic. Especially if it wasn't done by Hollywood.
Yep.  Someone like Alfonso Arau (Like Water for Chocolate) would be a good pick for director. But yeah, when I saw demonic's post the other day I started thinking about Solitude, I don't think it would be do-able.
But then, lo-and-behold, check this out, I just added it. 
http://www.fwfr.com/display.asp?id=18451
Did I make this happen just by wishing for it? Do I have...magical powers??
I'm going to find out, I'm going to make a few more wishes. You may see me on the news this evening. |
| Sean |
Posted - 04/03/2007 : 10:25:08
I'm guessing that people would also have had reservations about Like Water for Chocolate until it was made into a movie. But that was a total success in my view. With the right script and director it was done brilliantly. 
I'm also optimistic about Love in the Time of Cholera, the fact that the producer spent three years badgering Marquez for the rights is a good sign, he's obviously passionate about it and believed he could do a good job of it. And the fact that Marquez finally agreed is also a good sign, it's not like he was gonna sign over the rights to anyone. So yeah, I'm actually really looking forward to this one now. It comes out in the USA in November.
I read somewhere that Marquez said he would never in a million years allow anyone to make 100 Years of Solitude into a movie. Not sure how reliable that comment was, but I can't really see anyone trying to film it anyway.
I also read that Marquez is dying of cancer, and is 80 anyway, and sold the rights to Cholera in order to provide some income for the rest of his family after he's gone.  |
| ChocolateLady |
Posted - 04/03/2007 : 10:01:57
quote:
Originally posted by Se�n
Love in the Time of Cholera. Yep, Alfonso doing for it what he did for Like Water for Chocolate, in Spanish etc would have been my choice. It's not likely to 'sound' quite right in English. Not to mention the whole 'feel' of it needs to be Latin American. Looking forward to the first reviews/scores etc.
I just looked at the IMDb on this, and while yes, it might not totally feel right in English, this does look like it could be a marvelous film.
quote:
100 Years of Solitude. You could probably make this one 'look' right, you've got the ageing issue but makeup can fix that. I think the problem would be the constant turnover of characters; just when the viewer was getting to know them they've grown old and the focus is on the next generation. You'd have a 'bonding with the characters' problem. (I think you might have to change a few names too.  ) Having said that, it worked in Sunshine. I'd take my hat off to anyone who could do it properly though.
I'm not sure this could be pulled off - not without a huge amount of voice-over narration, which I'm not always thrilled with.
This put me in mind of the books by Lily Prior which have lots of visuals in them, and especially lots of lucious food references. Those could be made into some very interesting movies.
|
| Sean |
Posted - 04/03/2007 : 02:41:25
Love in the Time of Cholera. Yep, Alfonso doing for it what he did for Like Water for Chocolate, in Spanish etc would have been my choice. It's not likely to 'sound' quite right in English. Not to mention the whole 'feel' of it needs to be Latin American. Looking forward to the first reviews/scores etc.
100 Years of Solitude. You could probably make this one 'look' right, you've got the ageing issue but makeup can fix that. I think the problem would be the constant turnover of characters; just when the viewer was getting to know them they've grown old and the focus is on the next generation. You'd have a 'bonding with the characters' problem. (I think you might have to change a few names too. ) Having said that, it worked in Sunshine. I'd take my hat off to anyone who could do it properly though. |
| demonic |
Posted - 04/03/2007 : 01:52:18
Wow, didn't know anything about this one. I think it should really be in the Spanish language as well - as for the cast - well, we'll see. I'm not all that excited by the line up apart from Javier Bardem.
I think 100 Years could be done. Obviously it wouldn't be easy, but anything's possible, especially with *gulp* CGI. |
| Sean |
Posted - 04/02/2007 : 23:29:07
quote:
Originally posted by BiggerBoat
quote:
Originally posted by demonic
I kept thinking - have none of you ever read any Marquez? That's writing.
Absolutely. 100 years might be unfilmable but Love in the Time of Cholera would be majestic. Especially if it wasn't done by Hollywood.
Yep. Someone like Alfonso Arau (Like Water for Chocolate) would be a good pick for director. But yeah, when I saw demonic's post the other day I started thinking about Solitude, I don't think it would be do-able.
But then, lo-and-behold, check this out, I just added it.
http://www.fwfr.com/display.asp?id=18451
Dunno what to make of it, I really think this should have been a Latin American flick. I hope it's good.
I guess I'll have to see it though, as it's got my hot-babe-of-the-moment Catalina.  |
| Sal[Au]pian |
Posted - 04/02/2007 : 13:19:48
quote:
Originally posted by BiggerBoat
You might be right. I seem to remember that the link between the stories is really quite subtle, and easily missed if you're not paying attention. At least the film maker could draw attention to the connection between the stories. And you'd highlight this feature in the marketing as well I suppose.
Or market it as the reverse and let the links come as a surprise. Once the viewers noticed one they would they be intrigued to look out for others.
quote:
You might like another book I read recently Sal - Remainders by Tom McCarthy. Gloriously weird but progressively so, in a manner that draws you in and allows you to think it's normal. It's his debut book and I think we'll be hearing a lot more about him.
O.K., thanks. I'll look out for it. |
| BiggerBoat |
Posted - 04/02/2007 : 13:17:01
quote:
Originally posted by demonic
I kept thinking - have none of you ever read any Marquez? That's writing.
Absolutely. 100 years might be unfilmable but Love in the Time of Cholera would be majestic. Especially if it wasn't done by Hollywood. |
| BiggerBoat |
Posted - 04/02/2007 : 13:11:42
quote:
Originally posted by Salopian
quote:
Originally posted by BiggerBoat
Surely viewers would get confused when each episode takes place in a different point in time and location though?
That would sort of be the point and would only be the same as the book. Sure, it wouldn't be a mainstream series, but that's fine by me. It could even be marketed as a series of separate stories under an umbrella title.
You might be right. I seem to remember that the link between the stories is really quite subtle, and easily missed if you're not paying attention. At least the film maker could draw attention to the connection between the stories. And you'd highlight this feature in the marketing as well I suppose.
You might like another book I read recently Sal - Remainders by Tom McCarthy. Gloriously weird but progressively so, in a manner that draws you in and allows you to think it's normal. It's his debut book and I think we'll be hearing a lot more about him. |
