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Is it difficult to make classical literature into good movies? And what the best
Posted on 5/12/15 at 7:44 pm
Posted on 5/12/15 at 7:44 pm
I understand classical literature is a pretty nebulous term - lets say for the purpose of this discussion it's defined as one of those books they assign in high school or college or that is on one or another of the top 100 lists out there.
Seems like relatively speaking you don't see a lot of these made into great movies - I can't think of any Hemingway, Fitzgerald, Dostoevsky or even Mark Twain made into great movies.
I think it may be that many were made into movies long ago and we don't watch old movies as much as we read old books.
A couple that I can think of that have been made into good movies:
- A Christmas Carol
- To Kill a Mockingbird
Seems like relatively speaking you don't see a lot of these made into great movies - I can't think of any Hemingway, Fitzgerald, Dostoevsky or even Mark Twain made into great movies.
I think it may be that many were made into movies long ago and we don't watch old movies as much as we read old books.
A couple that I can think of that have been made into good movies:
- A Christmas Carol
- To Kill a Mockingbird
21
Posted on 5/12/15 at 7:47 pm to Methuselah
Mark Twain would be considered racist today. His stories couldn't be made without some major revisions.
Posted on 5/12/15 at 7:48 pm to Methuselah
Good movies? Yes, difficult.
Good TV shows?
I think an issue is - as always - ratings and money and longevity. I think you could take a novel like Brothers Karamazov and execute it over two 13 episode seasons. All of the small things going on in the book could be included. Hell, look at how dry and long-winded Downton Abbey is and somehow it's still interesting to a degree.
But would people watch Brothers Karamazov? Would producers be okay with a show (if successful) ending after a few seasons?
Good TV shows?
I think an issue is - as always - ratings and money and longevity. I think you could take a novel like Brothers Karamazov and execute it over two 13 episode seasons. All of the small things going on in the book could be included. Hell, look at how dry and long-winded Downton Abbey is and somehow it's still interesting to a degree.
But would people watch Brothers Karamazov? Would producers be okay with a show (if successful) ending after a few seasons?
Posted on 5/12/15 at 7:50 pm to Methuselah
I never read the book, but I really like the 2002 version of The Count of Monte Cristo
Posted on 5/12/15 at 7:52 pm to Methuselah
It's difficult, but it's been done many more times than you're allowing.
The major difficulty is something we discuss here whenever a book is adapted to film, whether it can be faithful and entertaining in an original way.
One way around that is to take influences from classic lit and interpret through modern originals. We see far more adaptations in film than we think about.
The major difficulty is something we discuss here whenever a book is adapted to film, whether it can be faithful and entertaining in an original way.
One way around that is to take influences from classic lit and interpret through modern originals. We see far more adaptations in film than we think about.
Posted on 5/12/15 at 7:52 pm to StringedInstruments
quote:
I think you could take a novel like Brothers Karamazov and execute it over two 13 episode seasons.
Good point. It seems like Dostoevsky would translate really well to a series - sort of like True Detective kind of thing.
Posted on 5/12/15 at 8:33 pm to Methuselah
The Last of the Mohicans.... the original Hawkeye.
Posted on 5/12/15 at 8:36 pm to WAY2GOLSU
Pride and Prejudice.
Posted on 5/12/15 at 8:49 pm to Martini
And Zombies
Posted on 5/12/15 at 8:51 pm to Methuselah
I think the original Frankenstein deserves a modern remake. All the studios are trying to do with it is frick it up into something it's not.
Focus on the madness of Victor and his obsession to create the Monster...it could be a great flick if they stop making shite like I'Frankenstein.
Focus on the madness of Victor and his obsession to create the Monster...it could be a great flick if they stop making shite like I'Frankenstein.
Posted on 5/12/15 at 10:34 pm to tigerfan84
quote:
I never read the book, but I really like the 2002 version of The Count of Monte Cristo
I was the same way for a long time. I read the book and after reading it, that movie is dead to me.
Posted on 5/12/15 at 11:28 pm to Methuselah
It was often done in the past, and some of them are pretty good. The problem you run into with modern audiences is that the draw of movies like this is seeing what a director does with a story they already "know." And so few people nowadays are familiar with the original works, so that appeal isn't as strong.
Posted on 5/12/15 at 11:36 pm to TNVolinSpain
quote:
I was the same way for a long time. I read the book and after reading it, that movie is dead to me.
I actually liked the movie a lot better. It's one of my favorites.
There was a really well done The Sun Also Rises back in the 50's? Also, I thought the Great Expectations movie from the 90's was a good movie, even though it cut out a major character.
Posted on 5/13/15 at 12:08 am to Methuselah
quote:
Is it difficult to make classical literature into good movies? And what the best
I think it's almost impossible. Classical lit is so detailed and lengthy that it's hard to fit it into a film that will hold attention. That being said, I liked East of Eden as a film, but it's a huge departure from the book. And I think that's the catch -- you have to make concessions. If it can be done tastefully, you can make a quality film.
The book is my favorite of all time and basically 20 billion times better than the film.
If you want to adapt classical texts, you're almost better off taking short stories like "The Birthmark" and fleshing them out. Fleshing. Birthmark. That may have been an unintentionally bad pun. Regardless, short stories are adapted better, IMO.
Posted on 5/13/15 at 8:03 am to Matisyeezy
It is difficult because there are some things that just cannot be portrayed adequately on film. It's especially difficult if the novel is written in the first person because film is a third person medium. It's the main reason To Kill a Mockingbird works well as a movie. The writers changed the point of view. It becomes a movie about Atticus and the trial instead of Scout's story about coming of age and loss of innocence.
The latest version of Jane Eyre was really good. The Malkovich-Sinise version of Of Mice and Men is damn near perfect. And Mel Gibson's Hamlet was a fantastic adaptation for modern audiences, even though a huge chunk of the play was cut.
The latest version of Jane Eyre was really good. The Malkovich-Sinise version of Of Mice and Men is damn near perfect. And Mel Gibson's Hamlet was a fantastic adaptation for modern audiences, even though a huge chunk of the play was cut.
This post was edited on 5/13/15 at 8:05 am
Posted on 5/13/15 at 8:05 am to Methuselah
Hard to condense a good classic into a movie.
Posted on 5/13/15 at 8:23 am to Methuselah
quote:
Hemingway
To Have and Have Not & The Killers are both great movies.
Posted on 5/13/15 at 8:31 am to Brosef Stalin
quote:
Mark Twain would be considered racist today.
You clearly don't read any Mark Twain.
Posted on 5/13/15 at 8:34 am to tigerfan84
quote:
I never read the book, but I really like the 2002 version of The Count of Monte Cristo
I think I'm in the minority on this one, as everyone seems to think pretty highly of the movie. I read the unabridged version of the book (which I wish I hadn't, it was long as shite and a frickin chore to get through. Almost wasn't even enjoyable after a certain point) and I thought the movie left a lot out. Which is understandable of course, since they can only squeeze so much into less than 2 hours. I can't remember exactly since it's been a while, but I think I recall they also changed the ending a little bit as well.
Posted on 5/13/15 at 8:36 am to Methuselah
Wizard of Oz was a great movie; The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes seems to be easily adapted.
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