SMBC Comics Forum

Apocalyptus wrote:Sooo just finished watching the Starship Troopers movie, and feel the need to ask the question: why bother to make a movie version of a book if you are only going to vaguely reference some plot points, ignore the message and spirit of the book, and change pretty much everything about the characters except their names?
It's so depressing.

I know what you mean

At least Starship Troopers was an entertaining movie.

Apocalyptus wrote:Sooo just finished watching the Night Watch movie, and feel the need to ask the question: why bother to make a movie version of a book if you are only going to vaguely reference some plot points, ignore the message and spirit of the book, and change pretty much everything about the characters except their names?
It's so depressing.

This is the Ella Enchanted movie to. It was my favourite book growing up, and I'm pretty sure the only thing that stayed the same was characters names, even their entire personalities were changed, along with the entire plot.

They always ruin the books. I just watched the movie version ofThe Great Gatsby, and what a disappointment. It won Oscars, too.

I saw Star Trek (the new one) again last night and that could fit a lot of the same criteria, it's supposed to be based on something else but strays so far from the original material that it doesn't matter. Then again, people liked the new one a lot so I dunno.

I have mixed feelings on the last Star Trek movie. Some parts I really loved and some I really disliked. But I'm grateful it wasn't as awful as Enterprise.

I basically agree with all of that. I'd say that the Star Trek movie was okay, if you take it completely out of context of existing canon (which is basically what they did anyway).

I thought that for a reboot it was awesome. I used to have some interest in Star Trek (more of the TNG variety, but I'm still aware of the original) but that had pretty much disappeared (if not turned into a quiet loathing combined with "what was I thinking?"). And yet I thought the movie was kickass, and I can't wait for sequels.
It did betray the original, but that was fully explained. And while it was kind of easy to go that route, I still bought into it wholesale.



Fight Club as a movie was better than the book. The book was amazing, but the visuals and fantastic direction really made it a little more coherent without betraying a damned thing.

Choke wasn't great. Both movie and book were mediocre, but the movie bastardized the ending of the book, which was about all I felt the book had going for it.

American Psycho was a very difficult read. The movie was better, though. The book was subtle and the pacing was difficult. It felt less like a dissent into madness (like the movie) but like a persistent under-the-surface craziness. Both are valid in their own right, but for entertainment, the book wasn't great, the movie was.

Sphere was about par. At first blush, I thought the movie was absolute horseshit. Going back, however, I like the movie more, and felt that, while there was considerable deviation, there wasn't a betrayal, so to speak.

Jurassic Park, on the other hand, was a joke. Take the first book, splice in a few plot points from the second, and turn it into 3 movies? Yeah....

That's about all I can think of in regards to the book/movies I've read/seen. And I'm sure we've had this discussion before, but that's pretty standard.

Here you go, what's the opinion on Howl's Moving Castle? I didn't read the book until after I saw the movie, and I was flummoxed by the electric guitar wielding 'Howl'.

The Golden Compass was a better movie than book, which is saying a lot since the movie was sub par. The book felt like it was trying to be a kids Lord of the Rings, with more religion and less skill.

Princess Bride was an amazing movie, and an amazing book.

How about Pirates of the Caribbean? It was a better movie than it was ride (I reckon).

Kimra wrote:Here you go, what's the opinion on Howl's Moving Castle? I didn't read the book until after I saw the movie, and I was flummoxed by the electric guitar wielding 'Howl'.

The Golden Compass was a better movie than book, which is saying a lot since the movie was sub par. The book felt like it was trying to be a kids Lord of the Rings, with more religion and less skill.

Princess Bride was an amazing movie, and an amazing book.

How about Pirates of the Caribbean? It was a better movie than it was ride (I reckon).

While the movie wasn't great, I kind of want them to continue the series. Because I'm not sure I'm that interested in reading it.

The Golden Compass? Here is an example of how much I think it's crap as a book: I read the first two books but despite trying many times could never bring myself to open the third to read. It haunts me everyday, that I have a final book in a series and I have not read it. It's like killing everyone in a family but the youngest child. It's not done, and when it is, it usually turns out bad for you.

Whatever Kimra says, it is worth reading the books. They pick up once Philip Pullman gets to talk about knives and such.

Also the film was terrible in my opinion. They didn't get the point of the book and basically made something with a similar story but none of the intelligence of the book.

Cirtur wrote:Whatever Kimra says, it is worth reading the books. They pick up once Philip Pullman gets to talk about knives and such.

Also the film was terrible in my opinion. They didn't get the point of the book and basically made something with a similar story but none of the intelligence of the book.

Really? What did you like about the books? I'm honestly troubled that I haven't liked many books recently. I wonder if my expectations are corrupt and useless now-days.

I found the use of religion that suddenly springs up out of nowhere in the second book (or the very end of the first) tedious and forced. I found the change over of main character to the boy in the second book exceptionally bizarre (I worry who the main character will be in the third book). I also found that despite all the potential in the book for great things, it focused too much on being epic, and no enough of being interesting.

Kimra wrote:The Golden Compass? Here is an example of how much I think it's crap as a book: I read the first two books but despite trying many times could never bring myself to open the third to read. It haunts me everyday, that I have a final book in a series and I have not read it. It's like killing everyone in a family but the youngest child. It's not done, and when it is, it usually turns out bad for you.

That's too bad. I don't know if I'll read it or not. But I kind of want to see what else goes on. But I feel the same way about Jumper and a few others that I can't think of.

Kimra wrote:Here you go, what's the opinion on Howl's Moving Castle? I didn't read the book until after I saw the movie, and I was flummoxed by the electric guitar wielding 'Howl'.

I have this book sitting on my bedside table, about three books down. Damn school, if I wasn't so busy I'd've read it by now. I have never seen the movie either.

Princess Bride was an amazing movie, and an amazing book.

Yes!

How about Pirates of the Caribbean? It was a better movie than it was ride (I reckon).

I'm not sure, it's a pretty good ride.