Movie Better than the Book?

ArrozConLeche · May 14, 2018, 09:34:49 AM

Quote from: Technomancer;1038766Also, "The Outsiders". The FFC movie was dark, gritty, and full of angst and despair, yet still hopeful. The book was very much Mary Sue fiction written by a teenage girl (while I applaud a teenage girl for actually writing a book, much less getting it published, it is what it is)

Top notch movie. It's quite a thing too to see Tom Cruise, Patrick Swayze, Ralph Macchio, Rob Lowe and Emilio Estrada together in a movie. Kinda hard to shake that Stevie Wonder song off as well.

Koltar · May 15, 2018, 01:54:02 AM

Quote from: Technomancer;1038766"The Postman".

Yeah, I said it. Kevin Costner's film version was much better than Brin's novel. The main bad guys base their philosophy on Aaron Burr?? Come on! Who the hell even knows anything about Burr nowadays? And augmented supersoldiers? Sentient AIs (even if they aren't) While the Costner film was an inspiring semi-mythological portrayal of a hero's journey.

David Brin himself has said he Liked the Movie version. He said in interviews that Costner got the mood or spirit of hist story correct.

- Ed C.

Headless · May 16, 2018, 05:00:55 PM

Quote from: Technomancer;1038766"The Postman".

Yeah, I said it. Kevin Costner's film version was much better than Brin's novel. The main bad guys base their philosophy on Aaron Burr?? Come on! Who the hell even knows anything about Burr nowadays? And augmented supersoldiers? Sentient AIs (even if they aren't) While the Costner film was an inspiring semi-mythological portrayal of a hero's journey. Plus Tom Petty!

So you didn't like the Postman by David Brin becuase it was science fiction. And you liked WaterWorld 2 becuase you are a big Costner fan boy.

Joey2k · May 17, 2018, 12:55:07 AM

Quote from: Headless;1039478So you didn't like the Postman by David Brin becuase it was science fiction. And you liked WaterWorld 2 becuase you are a big Costner fan boy.

Maybe it's because I saw the movie before I read the book and was expecting more PA and less SF, although I do think the story in the film was more compelling than that in the book.

And I enjoyed the film in spite of Costner, not because if him. Although it is one of his better movies.

Brin is a good writer, I just didn't care for the story he was telling.

rgalex · May 18, 2018, 01:31:12 PM

Not a movie vs book thing, but rather a tv show vs the books: The 100.

The books are pretty standard YA fiction with not a whole lot going on. I mean, stuff happens but 3 books in and it's only about a month after they land back on Earth.

The tv show breaks free of the YA stuff pretty early on in the 1st season and turns into one of the best post-apocalypse shows on tv. More characters, that are better fleshed out and less stereotypical, action that is sometimes harsh and pretty brutal, a (mostly) well thought out post-apoc society. It is just leaps and bounds ahead of anything the books offer.

Omega · May 19, 2018, 01:32:45 PM

Speaking of YA fiction to film efforts.

I thought the animated adaption of Dragons Blood was pretty good compared to the book.

On the other hand I thought Red Planet changed a bit too much from the book. Its not a bad effort on its own. But it could have been named something else and still stood. Though probably still better than any live action adaption will ever be.

Headless · May 19, 2018, 03:41:14 PM

So disappointed in Red Planet. They should have just had Matt Damon read sciency stuff to the audience for 2 hours and it would have been better.

jeff37923 · May 19, 2018, 04:51:15 PM

Quote from: Headless;1039848So disappointed in Red Planet. They should have just had Matt Damon read sciency stuff to the audience for 2 hours and it would have been better.

What fucking movie did YOU watch?

Red Planet had Carrie-Ann Moss and Val Kilmer. There was no book.

The Martian had Matt Damon and the book was just as good as the movie. I doubt you read the book though, you don't seem to be the type into "sciency stuff" and that is the meat of the book.

Headless · May 20, 2018, 04:08:24 AM

Sorry yes. I was talking about the Martian.

Book was better than movie.

Omega · May 21, 2018, 05:50:47 AM

heh-heh. I on the other hand was talking about the Heinlein novel adaption.

jeff37923 · May 21, 2018, 03:50:08 PM

Quote from: Omega;1040023heh-heh. I on the other hand was talking about the Heinlein novel adaption.

The animated one where they changed Mars to Ares?

Omega · May 30, 2018, 08:51:07 AM

Quote from: jeff37923;1040113The animated one where they changed Mars to Ares?

Yep. Still have the unedited version from its first airing recorded on VHS. (Which sadly may not have survived this long.)

The old Storybook Specials from CBS way back cranked out a surprising number of adaptions of YA books as well. Often with pretty good quality too. The aforementioned Dragons Blood being one.

Omega · August 11, 2018, 03:09:24 AM

And another one remembered today. Ice Station Zebra. The movie is pretty good compared to the book.

And the original movie The Day the Earth stood Still is damn good compared to the short story it is based on. But then they pretty much only retained the general theme.

I am kinda 50/50 on the TV adaption of The Martian Chronicles. The adaption is pretty good overall and more upbeat really. The Earth of the book is alot more bleak when you pay attention to some of the comments made throughout.

Warboss Squee · August 12, 2018, 02:22:19 AM

There is a series of tv movies featuring Tom Selleck called the Jesse Stone series. The books are really good, hut Selleck really sells the character in a way the books don't.

kosmos1214 · August 18, 2018, 12:27:18 AM

Quote from: Warboss Squee;1052632There is a series of tv movies featuring Tom Selleck called the Jesse Stone series. The books are really good, hut Selleck really sells the character in a way the books don't.

sadly they ended BC the network would not commit to more then one movie at A time.