CCBC-Net Archives
[CCBC-Net] books into movies
- Contemporary messages sorted: [ by date ] [ by subject ] [ by author ]
From: Monica Edinger <monicaedinger>
Date: Thu, 15 Nov 2007 09:04:00 -0500
On Nov 15, 2007 8:44 AM, Jeffrey Canton <jeffrey_canton at yahoo.com> wrote:
> What kind of reaction does an
> audience who knows a text well -- for example, in the
> case of the Harry Potter books -- have in terms of
> adaptations? I've noticed, for example, with the
> Potter films, a growing disregard for important plot
> points that only make sense if you have read the books
> as well.
As I just wrote, I think the Harry Potter movies are an interesting situation. The first probably had to stick close to the book for fan reasons. They took their greatest stretch with the third one and it will be fascinating to see what happens now with the series completed and the books progressively darker.
I was (for those who know me, understandable) very interested in the recent film adaptation of Charlotte's Web. Parts of it were lovely, but I was disappointed with the ending where they gave into a rather syrupy friendship homily so unlike White and his book. That is --- the movie ended with Wilbur surrounded by his friends in the barn when the book ends with the focus on Wilbur's particular relationship with Charlotte. Still, it was WAY better than the earlier animated version which I refuse to show in my classroom. It was fascinating this year to teach the book as some kids complain (just one or two) that it was too much like the movie and, thus, boring!
Monica
Date: Thu, 15 Nov 2007 09:04:00 -0500
On Nov 15, 2007 8:44 AM, Jeffrey Canton <jeffrey_canton at yahoo.com> wrote:
> What kind of reaction does an
> audience who knows a text well -- for example, in the
> case of the Harry Potter books -- have in terms of
> adaptations? I've noticed, for example, with the
> Potter films, a growing disregard for important plot
> points that only make sense if you have read the books
> as well.
As I just wrote, I think the Harry Potter movies are an interesting situation. The first probably had to stick close to the book for fan reasons. They took their greatest stretch with the third one and it will be fascinating to see what happens now with the series completed and the books progressively darker.
I was (for those who know me, understandable) very interested in the recent film adaptation of Charlotte's Web. Parts of it were lovely, but I was disappointed with the ending where they gave into a rather syrupy friendship homily so unlike White and his book. That is --- the movie ended with Wilbur surrounded by his friends in the barn when the book ends with the focus on Wilbur's particular relationship with Charlotte. Still, it was WAY better than the earlier animated version which I refuse to show in my classroom. It was fascinating this year to teach the book as some kids complain (just one or two) that it was too much like the movie and, thus, boring!
Monica
-- Monica Edinger Newbery 2008 Chair Notable Children's Books in the Language Arts 2007 The Dalton School New York NY edinger at dalton.org monicaedinger at gmail.com my blog educating alice is at http://medinger.wordpress.comReceived on Thu 15 Nov 2007 08:04:00 AM CST
