I know it's rare for movies to be as good as books especially because a lot of times we don't get to connect with characters more deeply since movies can't quite capture the main character's inner feelings and thoughts.
but were you ever reading a book and started picturing it with real scenes and people and thought "this would eat sooo bad if it were a movie"?
(it doesn't matter if the book wasn't a 5 star read.)
by BM-0325
18 Comments
McCarthy’s Red Meridian. Might be better as a miniseries. I know that it is being attempted, I hope it can be pulled off successfully.
Salammbo. It was written before cinema existed but every description is so cinematically perfect. Probably in the style of 300.
Stephen King’s The Institute — it’s got Stranger Things vibes and like much of his work would probably translate well to screen.
The virgin blue by Tracy Chevalier has all the elements for a good movie.
I’m halfway through The Blue Castle by L.M. Montgomery and I wish there was a movie or short series made of this book. You really root for the protagonist and the scenery is so beautiful. It’s really a book I want to live in. I believe a film adaption was in the works but nothing came of it
I have exactly that with The People Next Door by Tony Parsons. The whole time, I was like “This would have worked great as a movie”. Mostly because despite the premise, it is not going that deep, especially I can imagine what Roman went through, was incredibly poorly done. It is somewhat explained in his behaviour (like he just fully denies something is wrong because he just NEEDS the safe space) but one panic attack in the store is not enough and I actually found his character far more interesting than Lana, whose behaviour was strange and I felt she was not well written either. Given the book switches between points of view between them, it is strange.
That said, I really thought as a movie script, this could have worked and I can imagine any two actors would have a field day with these characters – because they are not that well described in the book and there are not too many “inner thoughts” as you say, I can imagine any skillful actors could make this work by just body language or expressions
For some reason, I fancasted Emily Blunt and Tom Hiddleston for Lana and Roman but I can imagine with the right esemble, this could be sort of “Knives out” type of a movie.
And the thing is that the book is not particularly original or good but I think I just enjoyed it for this very reason.
If it makes sense 😀
Mistborn could be one hell of a block buster.
The Legacy of Heorot had me going, This would actually work better as a movie. Alien action movie of Starship Troopers (the movie) with colony building social drama in between.
I’ve always wanted to see a *good* movie version of The Talisman Ring by Georgette Heyer. it has all the elements: strong story, engaging characters, natural dialogue. atmosphere, intrigue, romance, comedy. and smugglers!
James Baldwin’s Another Country. Wouldn’t be a blockbuster but I can imagine a killer cast in an Oscar-worthy drama.
John Boyne’s The Heart’s Invisible Furies. I was thinking it could be of the same vein as Fellow Travelers
Lord of the rings…. oh wait it already is a perfect movie.
One of my favourite books is The Dark is Rising Series. They tried to make a film of it about 10 years ago and made a proper hash of it.
I’d like someone to make a decent film of every book.
A Little Life. Although, of course, the subject matter may be difficult to portray especially the abusive childhood scenes and the non-linear retrospection may be challenging to depict.
Okay there was already a BBC adaptation and I think it does a great job and is very true to the book… But because it’s my favourite, I’m still going to say Tipping the Velvet by Sarah Waters. I also think Affinity, same author, could be made into a beautiful mystery drama
Sinouhe the Egyptian by Mika Waltari. We need a good modern movie about ancient Egypt.
In the Distance by Hernan Diaz.
most carl hiassen books. flush, chomp, wrecker, skinny dip, skin tight