MOVIES BASED ON BOOKS

What's your main source of ideas? Is it from gossip, news and magazines, eavesdropping, dreams or reading novels?

Film adaptation through books is the transfer of the work or the story to a feature film. This method is popular because the book or the author already have a following that equals an audience which ensures that it will not fail before the market.

From a book to a film, it takes the combination of a genius, innovation, and the nature of the book itself. Some directors and script writers tend to twist these stories and come up with other ideas to spice them up while others give the audience all they have read. One can choose to retain the story's name while another can change it. Just like watching films, reading is a way to escape reality and other times put yourself in someone else's shoes. I think motion picture is more passive than reading its novel. 

Well, let me assume that you've read (or heard) the likes of William Shakespeare, Jane Austen, Charles Dickens, Anthony Burgess or Ian Fleming who created characters we cheer and jeer on these days. I mean, if not for Ian Fleming we'd never have a James Bond to relate to. 

Some of these films include:

 ROMEO AND JULIET (1968)- This is a William Shakespeare's tragedy of two lovers whose death brought together their feuding families. The story has been filmed in different genres (for example in operas and animations) with different directors around the world. However, Franco Zeffirelli's feature version is considered best due to its accuracy and realism from the set to costumes. 

 THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION (1994)- Frank Darabont adapted The Shawshank Redemption novella from Rita Hayworth. Despite Frank changing the classical film by expanding the plot and characters it did not lose the weight of the story. 

GREAT EXPECTATIONS (1946) - David Lean translated Charles Dicken's book to screen  despite its length and a big cast but it has never lost taste till date. 

 LITTLE WOMEN (2019)- Greta Gerwig came up with something beautiful with her adaptation of Louisa May Alcott's classic novel, Little Women. Greta added a slight twist though when she placed Jo as the author and this made the story feel new despite its originality.

CHILDREN OF MEN (2006)- It was based on P.D.James, the film Children of Men. 

 12 YEARS AS A SLAVE (2013)- It was adapted from a slave memoir from Solomon Northup. The film, by Steve McQueen, gained popularity and was awarded the 44Th  greatest film since 2000. I'd say it may not be the easiest film to watch at first but it will catch your attention fully.

Other films I might recommend are:

Psycho (1960) by Joseph Stephano and directed by Alfred Hitchcock

After (2019) by Anna Todd and directed by Jenny Cage

The Hunt For Red October (1990) by Tom Clancy and directed by John McTiernan

Fatherhood (2021) based on Two Kisses for Maddy: A Memoir of Loss  and Love by Matthew Logelin and directed by Paul Weitz

Those Who Wish Me Dead (2021) by Michael Koryta and directed by Taylor Sheridan

Maze Runner (2014) by James Dashner and directed by Wes Ball

Hidden Figures (2016) by Margot Lee Shetterly and directed by Theodore Melfi

 

*My next feature will be on series you watch but you did not know are based on books.