December Rec Roundtable: Books on Film
Dec. 6th, 2018 09:27 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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ladybusinessIt's December: the end of the year and the time of 1000 recommendation lists. We thought we'd get in on the action with some sweet themed recs! It can be hard to get the magic right when taking a book to a new medium, especially film, but these are the films that hit the mark for us.
A Wrinkle in Time had me sobbing in the cinema, it was so good. I have little to no memory of the book, but I don't think that took anything away from the film. It was kind and angry, and every part of Meg's story broke my heart. Her scenes with her dad, especially when she realises he's fallible, absolutely wrecked me. There's so much love and care for people, and so much love for people as they are, especially between Meg and Charles Wallace! It's just a beautiful film.
One of the best comic-to-film adaptations of all time is Scott Pilgrim vs. the World. The movie captures the look and feel of not just this comic book, but comic books in general, so well that it could not be anything other than a comic adaptation. The framing, the pacing, the way the characters related to each other and the screen, are all spot on. As a bonus, the original comic series has many similarities to a videogame in style and structure, and that feel also comes through in the movie—a jump that is notoriously difficult to make. (Also features one of the best small Chris Evans roles of all time.)
"Get the girl to check the numbers," is inscribed on my heart forever, so it has to be Hidden Figures. I loved that the filmmakers understood the importance of focusing on the friendship between Katherine, Dorothy, and Mary, and that it showed them having fun together even in tough circumstances (the "car chase" scene at the beginning is a real winner). I also loved that it clearly demonstrated how hard African American women worked to bring other African American women up the ladder with them, as this was a key focus of the book. All three of the actresses playing the lead roles were just perfect, and, while Katherine's story is clearly at the centre of the film, the stories of all three women are substantially represented (Mary's court case!! Dorothy at the library!!). There are about a billion scenes showcasing the strength, determination, hard work, intelligence, and passion of these women, and the film's dedication to portraying chromatic women with such depth just about killed me. If you haven't seen this film yet, and want a primer on why it's so emotional, I highly recommend checking out this fanvid for a highlights reel of images.
My undying answer to this question will always be The Princess Bride, a slightly sad fact given that William Goldman passed away this year. There seem to be very few people unacquainted with this timeless tale of pirates, revenge, true love and bedrock friendships, but if somehow you still haven't seen it, do yourself a favor and find it immediately. The book is a masterwork in meta-narrative while the film shines with heart, humor, and some of the best acting from some of the best actors of recent generations. I adore this movie.
Listen. I will never get tired of the 2005 Pride and Prejudice. I know a lot of purists love the 1995 mini-series best, and it is, objectively, more faithful to the book in terms of depicting the novel’s events, but I heartily believe that the 2005 adaptation captures more of the book’s spirit. With its economical storytelling, smart adaptational decisions, excellent cast, and sumptuous costume drama aesthetic, it’s a near-perfect movie.
For so long, my answer to this was The Princess Bride, but then I read Holes by Louis Sachar and saw the movie adaption and I was a goner. The romance in the story is so beautiful and heartbreaking and the friendships so pure. I can rewatch Holes on a loop because it's so earnest as a story and the acting by everyone, from Stanley's grandpa to Mr. Sir, was perfect.
Theme for December 6: Book to movie adaptation you love
Susan
A Wrinkle in Time had me sobbing in the cinema, it was so good. I have little to no memory of the book, but I don't think that took anything away from the film. It was kind and angry, and every part of Meg's story broke my heart. Her scenes with her dad, especially when she realises he's fallible, absolutely wrecked me. There's so much love and care for people, and so much love for people as they are, especially between Meg and Charles Wallace! It's just a beautiful film.
KJ
One of the best comic-to-film adaptations of all time is Scott Pilgrim vs. the World. The movie captures the look and feel of not just this comic book, but comic books in general, so well that it could not be anything other than a comic adaptation. The framing, the pacing, the way the characters related to each other and the screen, are all spot on. As a bonus, the original comic series has many similarities to a videogame in style and structure, and that feel also comes through in the movie—a jump that is notoriously difficult to make. (Also features one of the best small Chris Evans roles of all time.)
Jodie
"Get the girl to check the numbers," is inscribed on my heart forever, so it has to be Hidden Figures. I loved that the filmmakers understood the importance of focusing on the friendship between Katherine, Dorothy, and Mary, and that it showed them having fun together even in tough circumstances (the "car chase" scene at the beginning is a real winner). I also loved that it clearly demonstrated how hard African American women worked to bring other African American women up the ladder with them, as this was a key focus of the book. All three of the actresses playing the lead roles were just perfect, and, while Katherine's story is clearly at the centre of the film, the stories of all three women are substantially represented (Mary's court case!! Dorothy at the library!!). There are about a billion scenes showcasing the strength, determination, hard work, intelligence, and passion of these women, and the film's dedication to portraying chromatic women with such depth just about killed me. If you haven't seen this film yet, and want a primer on why it's so emotional, I highly recommend checking out this fanvid for a highlights reel of images.
Chelsea
My undying answer to this question will always be The Princess Bride, a slightly sad fact given that William Goldman passed away this year. There seem to be very few people unacquainted with this timeless tale of pirates, revenge, true love and bedrock friendships, but if somehow you still haven't seen it, do yourself a favor and find it immediately. The book is a masterwork in meta-narrative while the film shines with heart, humor, and some of the best acting from some of the best actors of recent generations. I adore this movie.
Bridget
Listen. I will never get tired of the 2005 Pride and Prejudice. I know a lot of purists love the 1995 mini-series best, and it is, objectively, more faithful to the book in terms of depicting the novel’s events, but I heartily believe that the 2005 adaptation captures more of the book’s spirit. With its economical storytelling, smart adaptational decisions, excellent cast, and sumptuous costume drama aesthetic, it’s a near-perfect movie.
Renay
For so long, my answer to this was The Princess Bride, but then I read Holes by Louis Sachar and saw the movie adaption and I was a goner. The romance in the story is so beautiful and heartbreaking and the friendships so pure. I can rewatch Holes on a loop because it's so earnest as a story and the acting by everyone, from Stanley's grandpa to Mr. Sir, was perfect.
no subject
Date: 2018-12-07 02:12 pm (UTC)But I'd also like to throw in a mention of A Monster Call by Patrick Ness (based on an idea by Siobhan Dowd) & the wonderful film directed by J. A. Bayona, it is just heart-breaking and wonderful.
no subject
Date: 2018-12-09 01:00 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2018-12-12 06:56 pm (UTC)