Books that deserve to be GOOD films...and others that were wrecked. [Archive]

Longshanks

07-18-2003, 07:22 AM

Sure this is already somewhere in some form or the boards, but not here yet :)

What books would you like to see made into decent films, (you know, ones where the script writer/Director has actually read the bloody thing in the first place without going: 'Gee, what a great book - now if only it had a few more explosions, maybe a car chase or two, relocate it to New York, we may have a movie on our hands!' - 'But, err.. sir? This is Jane Austin's 'Emma' we're talking about?' - 'Who's the damn producer here huh? - say, what about a bit of time travel too? Kids gotta love that time travel...' etc ;) ).

Anyway, suggestions please on the back of a postcard.

Mine would be Philip Pullman's 'His Dark Materials' (ok, so I just read it and I'm still buzzing from it) - I guess it's already in negotiation, be bloody surprised if it wasn't.

Also a period-set Lovecraft story would go down a treat, maybe something from Fritz Lieber's 'Fafhrd and the Grey Mouser' series too.

Also your nomination for the WORST adaptation o a book-to-film. (Gotta say 'The Bone Collector' sucked cold sick through a short straw compared to the book :rolleyes: )

Brock Landers

07-18-2003, 07:59 AM

I'd only consider letting someone make my favorite film, THE CATCHER IN THE RYE, if they'd read the book 10 times like I have. There's just no way in hell anyone could ever do this book right unless they were a mega-fan like myself.

Actually, come to think of it, don't make it in to a film. Holden would've hated the idea.....:p ;)

Empusae

07-18-2003, 08:49 AM

Originally posted by Longshanks
(Gotta say 'The Bone Collector' sucked cold sick through a short straw compared to the book :rolleyes: )

Have you read any of his other stuff?

Great stuff all around, esp The Coffin Dancer.

:)

Empusae

07-18-2003, 08:52 AM

To be made. . .

The Dragonlance Chronicles.

The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant.

The Stainless Steel Rat. (this would rock)

The Gunslinger Series.

Insomnia.

The Talisman.

Worst movie from a book. . .

Dreamcatcher *shudders*

Alexander JL

07-18-2003, 08:58 AM

I would like to see A Hundred Years of Solitude made into a series of movies, each one focusing on a specific generation of the Buendia family.

The biggest dissapointment that I remember was Less Than Zero. What a waste of film...

Longshanks

07-18-2003, 09:03 AM

The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant. - not with you on that one sorry - hated the first book, never bothered with any of the others, (mind you I did start it directly after finishing LOTR, so it didn't stand much chance)

The Stainless Steel Rat. (this would rock) - 'Slippery' Jim DeGris! :D - the man rocks big time - not sure who to play him though? Maybe Bruce Campbell? ;)

Have you read any of his other stuff? - alas no, but thoroughly enjoyed the one I did, crap happy ending on the bloody film :mad:

Empusae

07-18-2003, 09:09 AM

Originally posted by Longshanks
The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant. - not with you on that one sorry - hated the first book, never bothered with any of the others, (mind you I did start it directly after finishing LOTR, so it didn't stand much chance)

The Stainless Steel Rat. (this would rock) - 'Slippery' Jim DeGris! :D - the man rocks big time - not sure who to play him though? Maybe Bruce Campbell? ;)

Have you read any of his other stuff? - alas no, but thoroughly enjoyed the one I did, crap happy ending on the bloody film :mad:

You either love Covenant or hate him. . . no middle ground there.

*grin* another follower of DeGris!

Pick up another book or two of his. . . he continues from where he leaves off with The Bone Collector.

Longshanks

07-18-2003, 09:26 AM

Really? There's a sequel? :)

Empusae

07-18-2003, 09:34 AM

Originally posted by Longshanks
Really? There's a sequel? :)

The stone monkey
The vanished man
The Coffin Dancer
The Empty Chair

:)

Laterose

07-18-2003, 09:47 AM

I'd like to see the Wind on Fire trilogy made into movies, but they have to really know the books well.

TyRoss

07-18-2003, 01:35 PM

Personally I always thought the "Incarnations of Immortality" series by Piers Anthony would be interesting movies. And since the first 5 stories are seperate there's no really huge cliffhanger if a movie fails.

And they messed up Sphere and Lost World... badly.

Empusae

07-18-2003, 01:50 PM

Originally posted by TyRoss
Personally I always thought the "Incarnations of Immortality" series by Piers Anthony would be interesting movies. And since the first 5 stories are seperate there's no really huge cliffhanger if a movie fails.

And they messed up Sphere and Lost World... badly.

Oh I had not thought about those. . . good ideas.

And yes they screwed those two up badly.

pixiness

07-18-2003, 01:53 PM

I'd love to see someone do Atlas Shrugged or The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand. Very cool cinematography almost noir-ish 1930s setting... Way cool - would require phenomenal casting

I agree with the Hundred Years of Solitude nomination - but not as sequels - don't know exactly how to do it - but I know John Turturro would be perfect for the role of Melquiades

But the better Garcia Marquez book to bring to the screen I think would be chronicle of a death foretold. Yes, it's a relatively short book - a novella - but in my experience my favorite book to screen adaptations come from shorter reads. (case in point - The Shawshank Redemption - abso-fing-lutely brilliant)

Bad Adaptations -
Lost World, the Kubrick version of The Shining (great movie - doesn't stick to the book at ALL), Mel Gibson's Hamlet, oh the list goes on and on

TyRoss

07-18-2003, 02:02 PM

David Eddings "The Belgariad" would be interesting as well but it's more of a TV mini series I think.

And as for bad book films what about those god awful LOTR movies ;)

(ummm I'm just kidding... no really i was only kidding I love the movies, ummm put down that kn... AHHHHHHHHHH)

Malice

07-18-2003, 02:30 PM

Actually the Incarnations of Immortality is 7 books:
Death
Nature
Time
War
Fate
Satan (technically an ETERNAL, not an Incarnation)
God (technically an ETERNAL, not an Incarnation)

I read most, those would be interesting, but thouse would be hard to do, they would have to be done via a really talented Director.

I would love to see the DragonLance Trilogy done...
By someone like Jackson, since he did LOTR, he was pretty faithful. I think that would be interesting

TyRoss

07-18-2003, 02:37 PM

Originally posted by Malice
Actually the Incarnations of Immortality is 7 books:
Death
Nature
Time
War
Fate
Satan (technically an ETERNAL, not an Incarnation)
God (technically an ETERNAL, not an Incarnation)

I know that. My point was that the first 5 books read as seperate stories that all get tied together with the last two. And yes it would take a great director.

Balrog of Moria

07-18-2003, 03:20 PM

Id like to see Firestarter made into a good movie....There is a really old version of it but it sucks...I'd like to see a good re-make

Godzilla

07-18-2003, 03:27 PM

Sphere definatly deserved better than what it got.

slinger

07-18-2003, 04:40 PM

Originally posted by Brock Landers
I'd only consider letting someone make my favorite film, THE CATCHER IN THE RYE, if they'd read the book 10 times like I have. There's just no way in hell anyone could ever do this book right unless they were a mega-fan like myself.

Actually, come to think of it, don't make it in to a film. Holden would've hated the idea.....:p ;)

We had to do an assignment in school after reading the book on pitching a movie idea. We were in groups and did the presentation. Basically I did all the work, we never did the video portion and the ideas for the cast were terrible. As were for the other groups too.

thebtskink

07-18-2003, 07:21 PM

By the Light of the Moon by Dean Koontz, so-so book, but if tweaked by Hollywood, could be really good.

and make the Discworld series by Terry Pratchett!

Bad Adaptations:

Well, not necessarily BAD, but Catch-22 could use a better movie.
And I want an updated Martian Chronicles with new special effects.

Brock Landers

07-18-2003, 08:07 PM

Originally posted by slinger
We had to do an assignment in school after reading the book on pitching a movie idea. We were in groups and did the presentation. Basically I did all the work, we never did the video portion and the ideas for the cast were terrible. As were for the other groups too.

The casting of Holden Caulfield would be hard, as would the other roles. For some reason I always saw Ian Holm or Jack Nicholson as MR. SPENCER.......

PsychoMike

07-20-2003, 11:44 AM

Originally posted by Empusae
To be made. . .

The Gunslinger Series.

Insomnia.

The Talisman.

While I agree these wold make great movies, I fear that they would get ruined by Hollywood execs. Also most of King's books are too long and complex for a 2 hr movie. They would definetly need a miniserise something like The Stand (but done better). If they make a movie for The Talisman they should also do Black House (makes an important conection to the Gunslinger [Dark Tower] series)
Originally posted by pixiness
I'd love to see someone do Atlas Shrugged or The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand. Very cool cinematography almost noir-ish 1930s setting... Way cool - would require phenomenal casting.

I compleatly agree Atlas Shrugged would be a great period peice (havn't read Fountainhead yet, so I can't comment). I'd love to see this as a 4-part mini-seris, just don't don't cut out the most important part ("this is John Galt speaking").

I can't really think of many other books I'd want to see as movies, mostly I'm afraid that the books would get ruined as a movie.

My vote for worst adaptation: Congo, Lost World, Kubrick's The Shining (the mini-seris was alittle better), there are more I just can't remember them.

Mr.Matinee

07-20-2003, 02:52 PM

The Hitchhikers's Guide to the Galaxy would make a good movie.Something witty,yet massivly appealing.

worst adaptation was the Lost World.Good movie,but not as good as the book.

Mat

07-20-2003, 04:54 PM

There are people who don't like Kubrick's Shining? What is the world coming to? ;)

The Lost World deserved a movie ten times better than the piece of crap Stevey sent out. Wasn't the story in the book interesting enough? And the Sphere movie was okay, but they cut out my favorite part of the novel when Norman enters the Sphere! Why remove such brilliant scenes from the movie?

I think Clive Cussler's novels need a good adaptation. Hopefully they pull through with Sahara. The only other one that was adapted was Raise the Titantic!. That was terrible.

PsychoMike

07-20-2003, 11:27 PM

Originally posted by Mat
There are people who don't like Kubrick's Shining? What is the world coming to? ;)

It's not that I didn't like the movie It's just that the book was so much better. If I'd never read the book I would think the movie was really good.

Longshanks

07-21-2003, 05:47 AM

Originally posted by Mr.Matinee
The Hitchhikers's Guide to the Galaxy would make a good movie.Something witty,yet massivly appealing.

It's in the planning stage - fingers crossed.

Brock Landers

07-21-2003, 05:55 AM

I never read that book - any good?

Longshanks

07-21-2003, 07:02 AM

Very - but the radio series is by far the best version.

Mr.Matinee

07-21-2003, 03:30 PM

I've seen a movie version at the libary,but never checked it out;since my HhGttG obsessed friends saw it and said it was BAD.

Empusae

07-21-2003, 10:08 PM

Originally posted by Longshanks
Very - but the radio series is by far the best version.

You are indeed a man after my own heart.

welty69

07-22-2003, 12:57 AM

Any of the Anita Blake series by Laurrell K Hamilton.......

Any of the post World War 3 series by D. B. Drumm...Traveler(it is out of print but you can do a bit of searching.)

Any of the 3 investigators books...

Longshanks

07-25-2003, 05:16 AM

Originally posted by welty69

Any of the 3 investigators books...

You mean 'Alfred Hitchcock and the 3 Investigators'? Jupiter Jones, Pete Crenshaw and Bob Andrews? Man I LOVED those books when I was a kid - 'Secret of Terror Castle', 'Mystery of the Flaming Footprints' etc - damn right those books need making into a film - they would be perfect! :applaud: :D

Also, the 'Adventure' series - 'Southsea Island Adventure' 'Amazon Adventure' etc - can't remember the kids names, but they were 2 brothers who worked for their Dad's animal-collection business and went around the world capturing animals for zoo etc - not so PC nowadays, but I reaqlly enjoyed the books.

Thanks for reminding me of The 3 Investigators though ;)

Longshanks

07-25-2003, 05:19 AM

Originally posted by Mr.Matinee
I've seen a movie version at the libary,but never checked it out;since my HhGttG obsessed friends saw it and said it was BAD.

It was a BBC series made for TV - done on BBC budgets with BBC FX (think Dr Who) - admittedly the FX let the whole thing down, but it did have the major advantage of actually having the majority of the radio cast in the series - there were actually some great bits - worth watching imo.

welty69

07-31-2003, 01:19 AM

Originally posted by Longshanks
You mean 'Alfred Hitchcock and the 3 Investigators'? Jupiter Jones, Pete Crenshaw and Bob Andrews? Man I LOVED those books when I was a kid - 'Secret of Terror Castle', 'Mystery of the Flaming Footprints' etc - damn right those books need making into a film - they would be perfect! :applaud: :D

Thanks for reminding me of The 3 Investigators though ;)

Anytime!!! I am currently trying to find all the old books and get a collection. I did the same with the Traveler series and it took me a few years and a bunch of used book stores.........

Longshanks...you got me in a mood to do a casting call for the series. Care to help???

KayTang999

08-02-2003, 12:44 PM

Ever heard of Eternal Champion??? What is it about??? I heard they are going to make a movie of this series.

Empusae

08-05-2003, 10:46 AM

Originally posted by KayTang999
Ever heard of Eternal Champion??? What is it about??? I heard they are going to make a movie of this series.

It could be a book by Michael Moorcock.

A lot of his books were about incarnations of a eternal champion. . . and there was one who, sadly, remembered all of the lives of all of the champions past and future.

Glordreen

08-16-2003, 04:04 PM

I would like to see the Sword of Shannara made into a movie, it was an awesome book

Glordreen

08-16-2003, 04:06 PM

I heard that The Elfstones of Shannara is being considered

hpk37067

08-16-2003, 06:27 PM

I heard it was being made. ENDER'S GAME and related books should definately be made into a movie. That book kicked ass.

Mr. TV

08-17-2003, 08:41 PM

Here is a cool story. Stephen King had so many bad movies that came from his books. (pet cemetery to name one), but one interesting story occured when shawshank redemption was made. the screenplay was written by frank darabont. well when King saw and read the screenplay, he was so happy and content with the writing that he sold him the rights to the story and book for only a buck. yep a one dollar cheque was written and given to King. when the movie was made and premiered, it didnt do so well on screen, but when it was released on video, it just took off. it sold so many videos it was crazy. it was one of those films that you had to see, and that was what people were telling everybody. it was a big success on video release. well so what right? whats the point? well Stephen King was so happy with the success with the movie and sales that he gave back the cheque in its entirety back to Frank Darabont. i thought that was so cool when i heard that. what a cool gift from someone like King. i just think that was an interesting cool story. Shawkshank Redemption is one of those movies i can watch over and over again. one of my faves. yep a great movie that came from a book.

Mat

08-17-2003, 08:49 PM

Dune deserves a good theatrical version. The David Lynch's version was okay, but it wasn't close enough to the novel and wasn't that strong as a movie. The Sci-Fi channel version was better, but it didn't look like any of it was in a actual desert and they needed to cut some of it out (Children of Dune was much better.) I'd like to see a solid 3 hour adaptation with good special effects and doesn't stray too far from the original material unless they stray brilliantly.

hpk37067

08-19-2003, 10:20 PM

I agree. DUNE was way too good a book to be made into an okay movie.

Dogbert0228

08-20-2003, 04:35 AM

Still waiting on Rainbow Six... Everything after Patriot Games were decent films, but killed the books... I'd also like to see Debt of Honor followed by Executive Orders, but too many 9/11 parallels...

Jack

08-20-2003, 03:11 PM

The Da Vinci Code would be great....seems like a modern day Indiana Jones...kinda...without the whip...and a little more educational...but still neat!

hpk37067

08-20-2003, 06:32 PM

I just hope they don't make Tom Clancy into anymore movies. I mean, he's a sad author. Just a guy who knows a great deal about military and that sort of junk.

Empusae

08-21-2003, 07:19 AM

Originally posted by hpk37067
I just hope they don't make Tom Clancy into anymore movies. I mean, he's a sad author. Just a guy who knows a great deal about military and that sort of junk.

I would tend to disagree.

His books are full of interesting political play and a fair bit of action as well.

Mat

08-21-2003, 05:52 PM

I never liked any of Clancy's characters. They all seemed a bit stiff.

hpk37067

08-21-2003, 06:42 PM

Originally posted by Empusae
I would tend to disagree.

His books are full of interesting political play and a fair bit of action as well.

Most of it is just that he researches quite a bit. I mean, his plots are really predictable. Like DEBT OF HONOR was the most horrible written work ever. I commend him for his research, but not for the whole story.

Citizen Kane

10-02-2003, 12:17 AM

I would love to see good adaptations of:
The Corrections
A Confederacy of Dunces
Reliquary
Candide (non-opera)

Worst Adaptation: Breakfast of champions....bleh!

Kyroc

10-05-2003, 01:54 AM

Dungeon and Dragons Chronicles would be nice but there is no one in Hollywood that dedicated and Wizards of the Coasts just suck for destroying such a wonderful.(You would have to do the four books though not just the trilogy Dragons of Summer Flame wraps up too much to be left out)

King books = golden
movies based on King books = not so golden(yes there are exceptions)

Mutant Chronicles anyone?

Clive Barker's The Great and Secret Show and Everville

Now that the Lord of the Rings trilogy is done can Petey go back and do the Hobbit?(So Lucasesque)

lotrrotkbpf

10-07-2003, 03:53 PM

one of the worst book to movie was bram stokers dracula. one of the best books ive ever read and one of the worst movies ive ever seen.. when i saw this on the video shelf i had high expectations. hopkins and gary oldman. BIG dissapointment.
dracula the wolfman green mist green bat. this movie was retarded

Macbane

10-09-2003, 02:01 AM

I actually enjoyed Dracula... Keanu Reeves' accent was horrid, but other than that I enjoyed it.

I would love to see a movie version of Dean Koontz's Seize The Night and Fear Nothing. Great books, and I think if done right they could turn out to be very thrilling movies.

prizm

07-05-2004, 10:45 PM

the Elric saga..... i doubt it could be done well though just due to the sheer scale of some of the scenes

maybe the warhound and the world's pain could be done

LegolasIsntSexy

07-06-2004, 01:27 AM

Omerta by Mario Puzo would be good.

And definitely The Dark Tower series. even though I know for sure, NO ONE and NOTHING could do the books justice. and is it just me or would the catcher in the rye be an incredibly boring movie?

IceGambit

07-11-2004, 07:34 PM

Originally posted by Brock Landers
I'd only consider letting someone make my favorite film, THE CATCHER IN THE RYE, if they'd read the book 10 times like I have. There's just no way in hell anyone could ever do this book right unless they were a mega-fan like myself.

Actually, come to think of it, don't make it in to a film. Holden would've hated the idea.....:p ;)

But if done well, I think it would make an excellent movie. I am stuck, though, on who could play Holden. Maaaybe Patrick Fugit from Almost Famous, but probably not.

Vicious

07-19-2004, 11:44 PM

Stephen King's Desperation needs to be a film.

Rotten

07-19-2004, 11:47 PM

Man, they are making it a TV series...the news article is on comingsoon somewhere. I don't know why it's taking them so sodding long I hate it. I HATE IT.

Muffy

07-23-2004, 04:05 PM

Da Vinci Code

PsychoMike

07-23-2004, 11:18 PM

Originally posted by Muffy
Da Vinci Code

Well Ron Howard (Apollo 13, A Beautiful Mind) is planning to direct this movie. Not sure who is going to be staring in it though.

HellaGood

07-24-2004, 01:59 PM

Originally posted by Laterose
I'd like to see the Wind on Fire trilogy made into movies, but they have to really know the books well.

I thought about that too. However, if they do do it then I don't think they should bother making The Wind Singer, just books 2 and 3. Also, Firesong would need quite a bit of editing IMO.

Also, I would like to see:

Mortal Engines by Philip Reeve
The War of the Flowers by Tad Williams

As for His Dark Materials, I think that it is simply impossible to make movies of these without messing them up in some way. My main worry is that he characters are just too hard to cast!

Darth Barth

08-08-2004, 04:36 AM

Someone needs to remake Relic...That book was so cool, but they massacred it as a movie!

madbassist1

08-29-2004, 08:43 PM

cg124

08-29-2004, 09:42 PM

Lets see

timeline would make a great miniseries
also Prey would be a pretty cool movie or minseries

Moridin

08-30-2004, 05:22 AM

The Da Vinci Code would be great....seems like a modern day Indiana Jones...kinda...without the whip...and a little more educational...but still neat!
Langdon is Indy when doing the nerdy-glasses thingie at the University. And yeah, that book would really be a great movie. Also, I've read this cool trilogy some time ago, the Lord of the Rings. Dunno why anyone doesn't do a movie out of it...