Comments on: Turning Books Into Movies

By: Sarah B.

Sarah B. — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 22:03:38 +0000

I saw Prince Caspian, it was good but alot different from the book. basically in the book its a long walk and a short battle and in the movie its a short walk and a long battle. so if you don’t think about all the things they changed it was really good! :]

By: JC

JC — Wed, 14 May 2008 16:59:38 +0000

The Secret Life of Bees - great book and it is coming out sometime soon with Dakota Fanning as the star. Great casting call I believe. Read the book first, I think that should always be the case.

By: Debbie

Debbie — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 04:20:26 +0000

I have not heard of most of the books.

One book that is an all time favorite and I think would make a great family movie is Understood Betsy. Bessie and I read it years ago and Gabe and I just finished. I cry everytime…love it.

It is often so disappointing to me how the mess up good books, so maybe I hope they don’t.

By: Aunt Kate

Aunt Kate — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 01:14:02 +0000

MY MY MY. AK

By: tina

tina — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 00:24:48 +0000

We are soooo excited to know Ember is being made into a movie! After we finished it, we all thought we would like to see it as a movie.
And Leah and I both thought the Giver was an excellent book and would make a great movie.

Leah was terribly disappointed in the movie made from the book Eragon, but we are hopeful for these two.

Certainly you know Where the Wild Things Are? Classic children’s book, in fact, I may be able to recite most of it still.

I have seen the book The Memory Keeper’s Daughter. Read a quick blurb on the back and would like to read it. Before seeing any movie.

Have you seen Betsy and the Emperor? I think it was a Sonlight book for one of the cores. Good book, would make an interesting movie, giving a different slant on Napoleon too.

Hope the ones we are waiting for come to Chiang Mai.

By: Tim

Tim — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 17:19:44 +0000

I haven’t heard of more than a small handful of books on that list … I guess my reading list is somewhat narrow. We’ve read City of Ember (thanks, Tina!) and the kids have spoken well of Despereaux.

Liz, Prince of Foxes is Samuel Shellabarger’s best effort, not unlike a Sabatini novel. Kathy thought you had read it … ?

I’m looking forward to Prince Caspian, although I have to brace myself for fear they will botch it. The most recent The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe movie was pretty good, I thought.

Traditionally, I’ve been very disappointed with books made into movies — so often it seems that the screen writer misses the major themes of the book, or decides they aren’t relevant (or cool enough).

I would really love to see a good version of the book of Acts in movie form. The Visual Bible folks, who did such a great job on Matthew, seem to have gone for a low-budget effort on Acts, narrating much of it when they could have shown a lot of the action instead.

By: Ronnica

Ronnica — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 16:10:39 +0000

I love the first Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants movie, but I’m not excited about the second one. I felt like the first movie hit just the right spot. I’ve also read all 4 of the books, which are okay. I didn’t feel like they were appropriate for teenagers, or at least younger ones.

I’ve heard of quite a few, but have read very few of the books. I’ve wanted to see the Kite Runner for awhile, though I know it will be SAD like the book. The one I am excited about is Prince Caspian. Can’t wait!

I agree with you about the Jane Austen books and movies. Wonderful. I can’t think of any book right off hand that should be a movie that isn’t. Most of my favorites are classics and were made into movies long ago, though maybe they should be redone.

By: Liz

Liz — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 15:25:27 +0000

I’ve only heard of 11 of those. I’m with you on trying the book first. Then one can criticize the movie with such self-righteous confidence! (I’ve never heard of Prince of Foxes, by the way.)

By: Classic Mama

Classic Mama — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 14:51:28 +0000

I love the book “The Giver.” I taught it to seventh graders when I taught English (Language Arts) at a public school. I was able to discuss with the kids how important human life is and how we have no right to throw it away. It was really amazing because THEY were the ones who came up with that statement, not I. This book opened thier eyes to many, many things and caused them to question.

By: Not the Queen

Not the Queen — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 14:41:14 +0000

I absolutely LOVE the Tale of Despereaux. It’s a children’s book, therefore appropriate for the whole family. My husband and I used it for a read-aloud between the two of us (he’s an elementary school teacher). If your kids are ever going to watch the movie (which I’m thrilled they’re making! I didn’t even know!), they must read the book first. It is so cleverly written!