I vaguely threatened to write a ‘High Horse’ post on here. Time to follow through.
*cracks knuckles*
Ready?
I read an article the other day which said (rumoured) that The Great Gatsby is going to be made into a movie (again) reportedly with Leo Dicaprio and Tobey Maguire as Jay Gatsby and Nick Carraway, respectively.
I immediately choked on my coffee when I read that (which is a form of blaspheme reserved only for special occasions) and severely scolded my laptop for delivering such a nuisance of information.
The GREAT AMERICAN NOVEL. Made into a movie? Bah, I say, BAH!
Now, I know (before you all can get a word in) that The Great Gatsby has been made into a movie before, starring a then-little-known Robert Redford, which resulted in a shit film and catapulted Redford’s career toward stardom (and legend). The film (see the word ‘shit’?) was absolutely ripped apart by critics, and while I haven’t seen the original, I reckon that the critics felt a little bit the same way that I do about this book being immortalised on the silver screen, which may have tanked the film before it even got to the cinema.
(Oh, I’m very wordy today.)
In the past, I’ve had a huge problem with books being made into movies. And while I admit to sometimes being a big hypocrite, let me tell you that I wish that I was always right about this.
First of all, let me point out that I detest the aspect of Hollywood that is lazy. By lazy, please know that I mean ‘Come up with your own ideas and stop ripping off ideas from successful and imaginative writers.’
It all started for me, when I read The Lovely Bones, by Alice Sebold.
Loved it? Oh yes. In fact, ‘love’ is not a strong enough word to describe my feelings for it.
Of course, shortly thereafter, it was made into a movie, directed by Peter Jackson.
I was furious. How DARE they? How could they possibly make a movie out of such a beautiful book and do it any justice at all?
Out of sheer defiance, I never saw the movie. I have since (for the purpose of this article) added it to my LoveFilm list. But too bad, it hasn’t arrived yet. I shall, however, post an update when I do see it, to answer my own questions.
Thirdly, I think that making a book into a movie is just an instant buck. A money-maker. It makes me view Hollywood as not a public service entertainment industry bringing beautiful and thought-provoking art to the masses, (and let’s face it: The Expendables comes nowhere near that idea) but as a corporate money-grubbing machine.
Show me the money!!
Ok, that’s fine. We all know that’s what Hollywood is all about, and that’s ok. Make some money.
But DO NOT ruin some of the most beloved books of all time in the process.
Another point to be made is that it encourages lazy readers. You can argue this with me, but I’ll argue your side first.
Subpoint A: Why read the book, when I can just see the movie?
Yes, that is what some people are thinking and inevitably do. This is true. As a character in a play-turned-film once quipped,
I don’t read books, ’cause if they’re any good, they’re gonna make ‘em into a miniseries…
Sadly, this is a true statement.
Subpoint b: However, this is the part where I turn devil’s advocate on myself and say…
Yes, sometimes people see a great movie and turn around and buy the book.
I’ve done it. [ gasp ]
And I’ve been grateful to the movie industry for introducing me to some new favourites. I bought:
- The Reader (though haven’t seen the movie),
- I Am Legend just to see how the book was different from the movie, and promptly fell in love with Richard Matheson
- Push (film: Precious) by Sapphire, which I thought was a brilliant book (not seen the movie).
- …and others.
So, yes, there is something to be said about a film bringing a great book into my life. I admit that.
One aspect of the ‘book vs movie’ debate is the idea that people should appreciate the movie and the book separately, as two entities. Yes, I agree with this. It’s two different mediums, and should be appreciated differently.
But have you tried it? It’s hard!
Most of the time, when I see a movie based on a book, I can’t help but think things like, ‘Well, they left out the part where…’ and other such criticisms. I can’t help it. It happens.
Conversely, I think the same thing when I read a book I’d originally seen as a movie.
As this debate continues in my own head (and while I try to untangle as much of it as possible), I shall leave you, until part two, with these questions:
- Can you give me a list of movies that you loved as books which didn’t quite live up to your expectations?
- Can you give me a list of books that you loved as a movie which didn’t quite live up to your expectations?
And I shall return soon with the next part of my rant debate.
The other side of the coin is that some people will get exposed to the story who otherwise wouldn’t have. I don’t intend to ever read the Great Gatsby, I’m a slow-ish reader, I don’t have very much time to read these days and I have far too many other books I want to read and I’m not entirely sure that I’d like it from what little I’ve heard of it.
I would however be happy to sit down and watch a 1.5 to 2 hour movie about it. I may not get to experience the magic of the verse or the great wit engendered within (I assume there is great wit within), but at least I get to know the story.
Personally while I enjoy great writing, I read books for the stories, I find it very hard to re-read a book I’ve already read and I find it really hard to read a book when I’ve watched the movie, even though I know the book is probably better than the movie I suffer from I-already-know-what-happens-itis. I get bored and I space out as I have a very short attention span. so there are not very many books I’ve read having seen the movie. I’ve also read very few books which have been turned into movies, I usually spend the whole movie moaning about how “That’s not what happens in the book” or “They missed out Tom Bombadil!” it actually detracts from my enjoyment of the movie as I cease to operate in mindlessly enjoy movie mode and start operating in nitpick the movie to high hell mode.
Either way watching something I’ve read or reading something I’ve watched tends to ruin the 2nd experience of the media for me completely.
I doubt I’m very normal in this respect though…
I can see the ‘I-already-know-what-happens-itis’; I get that sometimes. But it doesn’t happen often when a really good film/book comes around. I have a tendency to get a bit of the obsession which is a part of the ‘I-don’t-want-to-say-goodbye’ variety.
Actually, I’m a little jealous that you can enjoy one or the other, without letting the suspense of ‘I wonder what the [film]or[book] is like’.
The Great Gatsby is good, and not that long. You should try it
On the other hand I know two people who have seems films then gone on to read the books and totally loved them, gone on to read the series of books but still enjoy the film interpretation. As Omar says, you can enjoy both as long as you understand the constraints and joys of the mediums involved. How are those Potter films doing?
I’m not saying that a person has to choose one or the other. I’m positive we’ve had this discussion before and agreed that, yes, the series of which you speak is equally good in print and film.
My main point is making the movie for the sake of making it is not necessarily the right reason.
And Potter? Well, I’ll be getting to that anon…
I love the Great Gatsby – I re-read it on holiday a few months ago, and if anything I found it even more powerfully sad than the first time I read it.
If I was to cast this upcoming film… Oof, it’s tricky. Gatsby’s such an iconic character that I can’t imagine many people playing him. DiCaprio’s not a bad actor, but I can’t warm to him for some reason. And I’m afraid I’ve watched Spider-Man 2 too many times to see Tobey Maguire as anybody other than friendly neighbourhood Peter Parker.
I tried to write my dream Gatsby cast list was here, but I couldn’t cast Gatsby or Daisy. If those two don’t have chemistry the film will be worthless…
I can only think of a few cases where the film improves on the book. For me, two of those would be Fight Club and especially The Prestige. The film version of the latter ditches an unnecessary modern-day framing story and ramps up the tension, dropping heavy symbolism everywhere. I like that sort of thing. Even Scarlett Johansson couldn’t ruin that one.
Talking of heavy symbolism, the comic book Watchmen was adapted earlier this year, and the movie is a horrible mess compared to the book. A 12-part miniseries would have been a better fit for that story, but even then there’s a lot of stuff (the pirate story, arrr) that could never be translated to film effectively.
I don’t mind seeing films adapted to books so much, because it’s often fairly easy to forget the film version. Especially if it bombs. (The Golden Compass, for example – though I’ll probably be irritated to remember Nicole Kidman as Lady Coulter if I ever re-read that one…)
American Psycho is another book-to-film conversion that went really well. And we could go back to The Big Sleep and Double Indemnity, I guess…
Argh, I’ll be thinking about this all night! Great post, looking forward to part 2.
As far as the rumoured cast for The Great Gatsby goes, I think Tobey Maguire might be a good fit for Carraway. I immediately thought back to his portrayal in The Cider House Rules (also a book to film adaptation), and he does the quiet and introspective role pretty well.
Leo…jury’s still out. I think he’s a good actor, and he’d definitely commit to the character; but like everything he ends up in, I’ll just have to see it myself before I decide.
I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but rumours abound that Amanda Seyfried is on the runner-up list. Though those pesky rumours aren’t specific enough to say whether she’ll be playing Daisy or not.
You’ve pre-empted a future post about movies that have improved upon the book; Fight Club was near the top of my list! But you’ll see that post soon enough…
Totally forgot about The Golden Compass. I’ve read almost all of the series, but have never seen the movie, as I was told it gives away some of the last book.
The reason I never finished the last book? I loved the characters so much, I didn’t want to say goodbye.
Oh, I could do a whole separate post about graphic novels in movies, but I think that may require my watching Sin City again. Plus, I’ve yet to read a graphic novel, so my expertise would be in serious question. Fancy doing a guest post?
Oh, Amanda Seyfried seems so young for the part… I was thinking more along the lines of Marisa Tomei and Jennifer Connelly. Though I’m not sure the latter could capture the slightly ditzy feel I get from Daisy. I could picture Amanda Seyfried as Jordan Baker though. (That said, I’m not sure I can take her seriously ever again, knowing about that tattoo on her foot. If you haven’t seen it, have a Google and prepare to be amazed/confused/amused.)
I’d be happy to write a guest post, but I can’t make claim to any great expertise on the subject. I could always write something, if you want, and you could chop and change it to your liking. And of course feel free to reject it if it doesn’t work out. I wouldn’t be offended. (Well, unless you laughed at it, and told all my friends how silly I was. I’d probably burst into tears, then.) Let me know what you’re thinking you’d want to see, and let’s hope my writer’s block lifts a little!
Oh dear. That tattoo. Wow. Um. Ew.
Still don’t know what part she’s up for, but I think you’re right that she’d be ok as Jordan Baker. I don’t really know who I’d want as Daisy though. I’ll have to think about that one…
I would love it if you would honour me with a guest post. But don’t stress about it; just let me know.
[...] …creates « Books v movies: Me and my high-horse say, ‘Neigh’ [...]
If i am going to watch a book to film i have to have read the book first – otherwise it ruins my enjoyment of the book somewhat.
Good book to films i think are when the film leaves out a lot of detail but capture the essence, although i guess that only works if you have read the book first too…hmmm
Do you always read the book before seeing the film? Or has there been one where you though, ‘eh, I’ll skip it this time.’
My problem is that sometimes I don’t know that a movie was adapted from a book until I’m in the cinema. Then I’m all ‘Dammit!’
[...] my final point, which will also reference previous posts is this: Hollywood, you miserable, unoriginal, money-vultures, please for the love [...]