[HPFGU-OTChatter] Books to movies to books was Re: What should we do next?

[Sheryll Townsend]

>> Potioncat:
> > But making a movie for an audience who is already fans
> of
> > the book is harder.
> 
> Ali
> I think that's exactly the problem right there. For
> someone like
> Steve Van, who doesn't care to read the books, he can
> take the movies
> unto themselves, judging them against their own internal
> logic/story.
> Contrast that to most of us who see the movies and books
> existing in
> contrast to each other, we can't judge each medium by
> itself so we
> always find things wanting here or there. It's
> especially a big
> problem for HP because the books are now done but the
> movies aren't.
> We can nitpick about what was left out in one movie (versus
> it's
> corresponding book) but what if it comes back in another
> movie where
> it's more convenient for that medium to have it there?
> 
Sheryll:

Very true that those who've read books on which movies are based are a much harder audience to please. I like Ali's point, though, that things we may have missed so far in the movies could well make their way into those yet to be seen. Considering the time allotted by making DH as 2 films, it's entirely possible that some of us will be happier with the end results than we may anticipate. I'd count myself among those hoping that the added time for the last movie will allow for the addition of bits missed so far.


> Alla:
> 
> But the thing is, I don't do that. I mean, yes I  often
> do find 
> myself wishing that filmmakers would include storylines
> they would 
> cut out, sure, as fan of books it is indeed inevitable.
> However, once 
> I get over that fact, I do try to give movie it is fair
> chance and if 
> movie stands out on its own, I would still say it is a good
> movie. 
> The only thing I would insist on that this movie has
> nothing to do 
> with the book, you know?
> 
> I would never say the movie is bad simply because it does
> not reflect 
> the book in detail, except one thing – I think if movie
> does not 
> reflect the book, while it claims it does, it is a lie on
> filmmakers' 
> behalf, unfair capitalizing on the name of the book (any
> book) that I 
> know and love.
> 
> I would call the movie bad, if I consider the acting bad,
> if I 
> consider the visuals bad, the storyline not watchable, etc,
> etc. 
> Again, Bourne movies, I certainly would not call them bad,
> just 
> having very little to do with the books.
> 
> Although having said that, yes, sure there were couple of
> times when 
> to me the story in the book was so much richer that maybe
> that 
> influenced me. But again, that was mainly disgust that the
> book was 
> butchered so badly and they still wanted fans of the books
> to come 
> and see - The Seeker comes to mind again. 

Sheryll:

Same here, I'm perfectly okay with declaring a movie good on its own merits. I think I'll almost always prefer the rich detail of books but have no problem enjoying a film for what it is if its well done.
> 
> Ali:
> <SNIP>
> As such, I've come
> up with a rule for myself: if I know of a movie coming out
> for a book
> I want to read, I shall hold off on reading the book. I did
> this for
> Twilight (and enjoyed the movie more for it) and will do it
> for Neil
> Gaiman's Coraline - don't know why but I can ignore
> the movie for the
> book but not the reverse.
> 
> Alla:
> 
> Oh yeah, for me I try not to reread the book if movie is
> coming.
> 
Sheryll:

Count me in on this one as well. I really hate to see a movie soon after I've read the book. It makes it far too obvious what the differences are and allows me no end of nitpicking over what's been left out or what changes have been made. I'd rather read or re-read the book *after* seeing the movies so as to be able to get as much enjoyment from the film as possible without making comparisons. Much easier to appreciate the film for what it is that way.

Sheryll


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