More Musing on Adaptations

[Joywitch M. Curmudgeon]

--- In HPFGU-Movie at y..., caliburncy at y... wrote:

> And VERY rarely, an adaptation comes along that sticks to the 
source 
> material well enough, but also *improves* on it in such a way that 
> the adaptation is in many ways superior to the original.

I don't think that this is at all rare.  Seems to me that a lot, 
probably most movies are taken from books, and its not that unusual 
that the movie is a lot better.  Off the top of my head I can think 
of several great movies made from less-than-great books, starting 
with The Godfather, a fantastic movie made from a very mediocre piece 
of pulp fiction, The Wizard of Oz, The Shining, Gone With the Wind, 
and well, I'm sure I'll think of six more as soon as I send this.

> So, is a successful adaptation one that:
> 
> * Most directly reflects the source in every sense (letter and 
spirit)
> ---Meaning that the best adaptation is the one that is the most 
> literal transferrance from one medium to another
> 
> * Improves upon the source, even at the expense of resemblance to 
the 
> source
> ---Meaning that the best adaptation is the one that does the most 
to 
> reinterpret the source in a positive fashion
> 
> * Adds something fresh and new to the source, without conflicting 
> with the original spirit of the source
> ---Meaning that the best adaptation is the one that gives people 
> already familiar with the source some new insight into the source 
> (like fanfiction does for some people)
> 
> * Makes the best example of that adaptation's medium, completely 
> ignoring comparison to the source altogether
> ---Meaning that the best film adaptation, for example, is also the 
> best film, period

Yes, all of these.  I don't say this to be obnoxious, but all of 
these types of adaptations serve a purpose and will be preferable to 
different people.  Personally I prefer the films that involve some 
combination of the last 2 alternatives, but not everyone is looking 
for a movie which stands on its own merits.  Many people prefer the 
exact translation of a book to another media, with no changes.  There 
is no way to determine which type of adaption is "best."  However, I 
think we can say that -- well, at least I can say -- that only when 
the adaptation does more than simply "adapt" will a truly great movie 
result.

--Joywitch