Thursday 5 January 2023

As Good as the Book?

 Many years ago, I read the then new book, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone to a large class of grade three students. I loved it and they loved it and I did different voices according to how I imagined they would sound. Hagrid used to make my voice quite hoarse after a while. Then the movie came out. I was wary because I loved the book so much that I didn't think I even wanted to see the movie. However, when I did see it, I was thrilled because the movie was just how I imagined the book to be, right down to Diagon Alley and the inside of the school. 

I think that is perhaps the only time a movie was created from a book that I was deeply familiar with that got it right. I have read many books over the years and some have been made into movies, or television shows, but they disappointed me every time. I suppose that is normal, as we create our own movies in our minds as we read. We decide what each character will look like, what they will sound like, the "feel" of the setting, the details, the nuances. 

For those of you my age, do you recall when they created the television series about girl detective Nancy Drew? It was so wrong on just about every count. I wasn't young anymore when the show was produced, but Nancy was wrong, the time period was wrong, everything was wrong. It was so disappointing.

I have enjoyed reading Janet Evanovich's numbered murder mysteries set in New Jersey with bond agent Stephanie Plum and her on again off again romances with her Jersey Italian boyfriend and dangerous Cuban partner in catching criminals. Then a movie was produced and the disappointment was enormous. The casting agent clearly had not read any of the books. Any of you familiar with this?

I wonder how the readers of Ian Fleming's James Bond series of books felt when they watched any of the subsequent movies? Which Bond was the correct one? Did the movies capture the books plots, villains, clever gadgets the way they imagined?


The reason I am thinking about this topic is something on I saw on the guide as I was looking through the channels on the tv. I saw something that said Will Trent. I kept scrolling through, looking for something I might want to record to watch later. The name kept niggling in the back of my brain and so I went back and looked at the info on this programme. Ah ha! Will Trent is the name of the main character in a series of crime books by the author, Karin Slaughter. I've read all of her books so far featuring this character and liked them quite a bit. Oh no, I thought. What will this be like? How can they create a series that captures storylines of all these books? 

Well, I set it to record and watched it a day later. Did they choose the correct Will Trent? Mmmm, no. He should have been more awkward, taller, and more vulnerable. And honestly, I don't think he was Spanish in the books. But he is now. They did get the dog correct, though. Betty, the chihuahua is the way she was portrayed in the books. 


I think perhaps the series, Shetland, based on the great books by Ann Cleeves was right on the money. I think their casting made sense and the setting was perfect. 

Chime in if you can relate to any of these, or if you can think of other movies or tv shows based on books that you read first, and then watched later. Were you pleased or disappointed? 

40 comments:

  1. My film going experience of recent years has taught me to treat films of books as totally different entities and I leave any pre-conceived ideas of how I think a film should be at the cinema door. This enables me complete objectiveness about the film. I never read a book after a film if I haven't already read it. The film is enough especially if I enjoyed it. I have never seen a Harry Potter film or read a Harry Potter book and don't think that is ever going to change.

    ReplyDelete
  2. We just got caught up on Shetland - it's an all time favourite series. I have not read the books. Vera is another favourite series & I did try reading the books but on this one, I chose series over book. IMO the director does make all the difference of book going to movie & I am probably alone in the camp that think the fabulous Harry Potter books only transferred nicely to movies in maybe the first 2 or 3 movies. I haven't read any Will Trent books. ... Mary-Lou =^..^=

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I hadn't thought about the Vera books / series. I have read all of those and have seen some of the episodes.

      Delete
  3. I would agree regarding Shetland - this is the only one I have watched but I think the whole series has been very well done.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Patio Postcards, above, reminded me of the Vera series, also written by Ann Cleeves. Have you seen any of those?

      Delete
  4. I agree that most movies/series based on books fail to capture the magic of the original work. But every once in a while, they improve on it. A case in point is "Bridget Jone's Diary," in my opinion. The original book's plot was dramatically improved by the screenwriters simply by making her two competing romantic interests simultaneous and not sequential. Plus Renee Zellweger managed to make Bridget's character charming instead of just supremely annoying.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh, that's a good example. I have not read the book.

      Delete
  5. I was just thinking about this the other day as I read that Louise Penny's books set in Three Pines will be made into a series. I love those books but don't get Amazon Prime so probably won't see it...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Well, actually, I'm glad you brought that up. They did make a movie of her very first book, Still Life, and it was another one that was disappointing. I thought they chose a very incorrect Inspector Gamache.

      Delete
    2. I agree here, the Inspector is not how I pictured him from the book.

      Delete
    3. I just watched the series on Amazon - 8 episodes. The characters weren't as I had pictured them in my mind. At least some weren't, including Gamache. But I think the series was pretty well done and now Alfred Molina is Gamache in my head!

      Delete
  6. Haven't seen a film in ages, but one old one comes to mind in terms of miscasting. I've (repeatedly) listened/read all of Patrick O'Brian's sea novels (20, or 21 if you count the last unfinished one) about the unlikely friendship between a British naval captain, Jack Aubrey and an Irish-Catalan surgeon, Stephen Maturin, set during the Napoleonic Wars. The audio versions were among the (massive number of) books that helped me survive decades of a daily hundred mile car commute, so I had very specific ideas in my mind about the look and sound of these two characters. Only one movie was made--a compilation of action from three of the O'Brian books. It was Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World (2003). Aubrey was played by Russell Crowe, whose selection I could accept, but Maturin was played by Paul Bettany who simply did not/could not fit my vision of the character. Could never get past that bit of casting.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. A lot of these are movies I see on tv, as I don't really go out to see movies much anymore either. I recall that Russell Crowe movie, but I don't think I ever watched it. Now I need to look up who Paul Bettany is!

      Delete
  7. I will agree with Ann Cleeves' Vera and Shetland series. I would also add David Suchet cast a Poirot (Agatha Christie) and Joan Kickson as Miss Marple. There were some John Grisham novels I so enjoyed that (for me) failed when translated to screen; notably The Client. On the other hand, I think I preferred the Brother Cadfael series over the books. Also the Poldark series over the books. There are a some books I'd love to see made into movies or series, including books by author Sandra Dallas. --Elise

    ReplyDelete
  8. I have to admit, I am not a Poirot fan at all. I thoroughly enjoy Miss Marple, but Poirot just rubs me the wrong way. I've not seen any of the Poldark series. Now, I shall look up this author, Sandra Dallas you mentioned.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh yes to Poldark series over book, the (remake) with Aidan Turner. Forsyte Saga series over book, with Damian Lewis as Soames Forsyte!!. Now I've revived up to watch Forsyte series again ... =^..^=

      Delete
  9. I did enjoy Poirot with all his little oddities. And I enjoyed Miss Marple. You would enjoy the Poldark series... the scenery alone is wonderful.
    One book series that comes to mind that they did into a TV series and I think they did a good job with is "The Outlander". Loved the books and was doubtful about the TV series, but was pleasantly surprised.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. See this is why I love asking for comments! I had not thought of Outlander and the following books. Yes, the series does a good job. Not the Jamie from my mind but I heard that the author had a lot of say in how the series was created.

      Delete
  10. Absolutely agree that the Harry Potter films were exactly how I imagined the characters and places when I read the books. (My daughter made me read them!) I saw Shetland on the screen before I read any of the books so the characters will always be those that were featured. Same with Outlander. And James Bond will only ever be Sean Connery for me!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Well the Outlander series does take a huge amount of time to read (those are some beefy books!), so just watching the series is probably the way to go!

      Delete
  11. Yes, so many times I have read something and then seen a movie of it and I am deeply disappointed.

    ReplyDelete
  12. I have to start Shetland. I think Vera casting is pretty good, too. But I've been disappointed many a time on book-to-film casting. It's one reason I hesitate to watch the Three Pines series. Even Louise Penny didn't seem all that pleased with it or how her characters were drawn for the series. I made the mistake of reading Guernsey Literary...Potato Peel Society and then watching the movie right after. It wasn't that it was badly cast but it was just not the book -- too many edits, for time, I 'm sure. But that's when you go the mini-series route. I've liked Branagh's Poirot movies -- but he's not mine (or maybe even Agatha's) Poirot. I hate to let it go and look at it as something unique to itself.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes, I would recommend the Shetland series (do you mean the books, or are you wanting to watch it? either way it's very good).

      Delete
  13. Nathaniel Parker in the first Three Pines TV movie was badly miscast. Alfred Molina portrays Inspector Gamache perfectly in the new series. Three Pines seems only to be inhabitated by the characters in the story, no cars passing by, empty cafes and sidewalks and a lack of background sounds normally heard in a small town. On the whole I am disappointed by book to film adaptations. To Kill A Mocking Bird being an exception

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hang on , wait, there’s a new series?? How do I not know this? Maybe because I don’t have any streaming channels besides Netflix.

      Delete
  14. Yep, Nancy Drew as a TV series was and is all wrong.

    I think the Three Pines Series is new on Netflix. I really enjoyed it. But then I have not read the book...

    God bless.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Devoured all the James Bond books in my early twenties. The first couple of movies were good, the rest . . . bah. Sean Connery was the only James Bond close to my imagination. Loved all the James Herriot books, did not like the TV series at all. We read aloud all the Laura Ingalls Wilder books when our daughter was young, never saw the TV series but know Pa Ingalls did NOT look like Michael Landon! Generally, one would think movies would be better than books, but I've not found it to be so. Have always thought my own imagination was not that vivid, but maybe it is. :o)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh yes, I read all the “Little House” books too. We used to watch the tv show- it was one that would make my dear tear up occasionally!

      Delete
  16. Oh, I forgot to mention "To Kill a Mockingbird." That was as good as the book. No doubt because of Gregory Peck!

    ReplyDelete
  17. Many years ago a good friend of mine took me with her to see Janet Evanovich do a reading with all the characters. It was a hoot. Then Evanovich stayed to sign all of the books. Amazing lady.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. If you ever get to see her in person, it's so worth it. Very funny and that wasn't even the genre I worked in. My friend did. So glad she took me.

      Delete
  18. I always read the book first and then watch the movie. Quite often I'm disappointed with the film. Janet Evanovich's book that was turned into a movie was definitely one of them! It was pretty awful. I read quite a few in that series and I was excited to see a movie made. But it didn't turn out well. Anyhow, I stopped reading the series after x number of books but I was just thinking about her books the other day and contemplating continuing them. I just might!

    ReplyDelete
  19. I completely agree with To Kill A Mockingbird. Of Mice and Men was exactly as I pictured it. I also enjoyed the Anne of Green Gables adaptations. The Harry Potter movies were pretty good. Please never watch the adaptation of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight done in 2021. Horrible.

    ReplyDelete
  20. Some, yes, are complete disappointments. Grapes of Wrath comes to mind. We have watched a lot of Shetland but didn't read the books. Talk about atmospheric though! One that I thought was really spot on was All Creatures Great and Small. I had just re-read the books last winter, then watched the series and was impressed with how well it was done.

    ReplyDelete