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[CCBC-Net] books into movies
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From: Steward, Celeste <csteward>
Date: Thu, 15 Nov 2007 09:58:17 -0800
"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."
Perhaps it isn't so much a growing disregard as a poetic license from the creative crew doing the movie.. The plots of the HP novels are rich compared to other simpler (but not less spectacular) stories, such as the Secret Garden. If all those HP threads translated to the screen, people might not want to see the movie. It would be too much. That's why it's such an art to choose books wisely when considering them for film.
Pullman's work can be overwhelming to those seeking mostly thrills and action. There are undercurrents in his work and I'm curious to see how a director will bring those out (or not) on screen.
Celeste Steward, Collection Development Librarian Alameda County Library 2450 Stevenson Blvd. Fremont, CA 94538
-----Original Message----- From: ccbc-net-bounces at ccbc.education.wisc.edu
[mailto:ccbc-net-bounces at ccbc.education.wisc.edu] On Behalf Of Jeffrey Canton Sent: Thursday, November 15, 2007 5:44 AM To: ccbc-net at ccbc.ad.education.wisc.edu Subject: Re: [CCBC-Net] books into movies
While it is always interersting to know what films move different viewers, I'm interested in probing beyond the "I-liked-this, I-didn't-like-that" level and knowing what "readers" think of how films are adapted (staying true to literary text vs. total disregard for the text on which a film is made), what kinds of films are being made (live-action, claymation, full-length-animated, etc.), the kinds of choices that are being made to change text and why
(for example, in terms of casting) and perhaps, most, importantly to me the idea of how the film's intended audience plays out in the minds of "readers".
Why is it, for example, that we can find several fine renderingz of The Secret Garden in film but the recent adaptation of The Dark is Rising trivializes the book to a degree that makes you inclined to wonder why the film was ever made? 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.
What do you think?
Jeffrey Canton
Jeffrey Canton 54 Fenwick Avenue Toronto, ON M4K 3H3 416-469-8290
________________________________________________________________________
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Received on Thu 15 Nov 2007 11:58:17 AM CST
Date: Thu, 15 Nov 2007 09:58:17 -0800
"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."
Perhaps it isn't so much a growing disregard as a poetic license from the creative crew doing the movie.. The plots of the HP novels are rich compared to other simpler (but not less spectacular) stories, such as the Secret Garden. If all those HP threads translated to the screen, people might not want to see the movie. It would be too much. That's why it's such an art to choose books wisely when considering them for film.
Pullman's work can be overwhelming to those seeking mostly thrills and action. There are undercurrents in his work and I'm curious to see how a director will bring those out (or not) on screen.
Celeste Steward, Collection Development Librarian Alameda County Library 2450 Stevenson Blvd. Fremont, CA 94538
-----Original Message----- From: ccbc-net-bounces at ccbc.education.wisc.edu
[mailto:ccbc-net-bounces at ccbc.education.wisc.edu] On Behalf Of Jeffrey Canton Sent: Thursday, November 15, 2007 5:44 AM To: ccbc-net at ccbc.ad.education.wisc.edu Subject: Re: [CCBC-Net] books into movies
While it is always interersting to know what films move different viewers, I'm interested in probing beyond the "I-liked-this, I-didn't-like-that" level and knowing what "readers" think of how films are adapted (staying true to literary text vs. total disregard for the text on which a film is made), what kinds of films are being made (live-action, claymation, full-length-animated, etc.), the kinds of choices that are being made to change text and why
(for example, in terms of casting) and perhaps, most, importantly to me the idea of how the film's intended audience plays out in the minds of "readers".
Why is it, for example, that we can find several fine renderingz of The Secret Garden in film but the recent adaptation of The Dark is Rising trivializes the book to a degree that makes you inclined to wonder why the film was ever made? 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.
What do you think?
Jeffrey Canton
Jeffrey Canton 54 Fenwick Avenue Toronto, ON M4K 3H3 416-469-8290
________________________________________________________________________
____________ Be a better pen pal. Text or chat with friends inside Yahoo! Mail. See how. http://overview.mail.yahoo.com/
_______________________________________________ CCBC-Net mailing list CCBC-Net at ccbc.education.wisc.edu Visit this link to read archives or to unsubscribe... http://ccbc.education.wisc.edu/mailman/listinfo/ccbc-net
Received on Thu 15 Nov 2007 11:58:17 AM CST
