Movie Adaptation Burnout - Discuss!

sfgiantsjo

It seems like every book (especially YA) that has modest success these days is very quickly turned into a movie. I know lots of older movies are book adaptations as well, but it seems as though the books are given much more "credit" these days.

Anyhow, are you tired of it? Or do you totally love this trend? Obviously, some movies are better than others, but in general, do you think the books are given justice? Or are the movies mostly just quickly done money generating machines? Do you think it promotes more reading and/or makes it "cool" for people to read? Discuss!

SnShne322

I was thinking about this today.  I couldn't tell if it's been happening more because I'm aware of these books, or if it's really a huge trend.  I mean, 5 years ago, I wouldn't have thought anything of it because I wouldn't have been familiar with them, you know?

I'm not sure I really mind it.  I love a lot of these books, but I don't know that I would feel devastated if they were bad movies.  The books are still good, you know?  There are only a few that I would be worried about.  Like I'm nervous for the Outlander show, but really that's it.

RevJen

I think movie makers are trying to ride the same trend as publishers.  YA is hot so they're making all of them into movies to capitalize on the fan base.

sfgiantsjo

SnShne322 said: I was thinking about this today.  I couldn't tell if it's been happening more because I'm aware of these books, or if it's really a huge trend.  I mean, 5 years ago, I wouldn't have thought anything of it because I wouldn't have been familiar with them, you know?

I'm not sure I really mind it.  I love a lot of these books, but I don't know that I would feel devastated if they were bad movies.  The books are still good, you know?  There are only a few that I would be worried about.  Like I'm nervous for the Outlander show, but really that's it.
I agree with you! I can't tell if I am just hyper aware, or if it really is on the rise. It feels like there are more than there used to be. 

I'm not overly tired of it - yet. I fear I will be soon, though. I just want to enjoy some of the books I read and leave it at that. Granted, I don't have to go watch a movie, but unless I hide my head in the sand, I'm going to see trailers, commercials, etc., and then I am stuck with those images in my mind. I'm easily impressionable, so maybe that's mostly me! 

I do love that I think reading is becoming a super cool thing to do. I LOVE LOVE LOVE seeing gossip magazines printing pictures of celebs caught reading, and even noting what book it happens to be! 

SusieBW

I feel like most movies nowadays are either sequels or book adaptations.  I don't go to the movies very much (like once or twice a year, maybe), so I'm not justified in complaining, but I don't like it. 

I feel like it's a product of the economy - studios know that sequels and adaptation of popular books are a sure thing.  They can't afford the risk of an unknown or indie more than every once in a while.  It makes me sad because I know there are probably a ton of amazingly talented, unknown directors and screenwriters out there with HUGE ideas that just can't get a break in this climate.

ewill7911

I like this. I mean some movies they really do not do the books justice, and others they do. It really depends on the movie/book I suppose. I really enjoyed the Lord of the Rings movie adaptation and did not so much the Twilight movies. I think I enjoyed LOTR because the movies captured the story similar to how I imagined it and was even better then my imagination, whereas Twilight almost disappointed me due to the lack of acting skills by the main characters. It kills me to watch Kristen Stewart (she never closes her mouth).
Over all I do think its a good thing if it gets YA and kids reading.

SusieBW

ewill7911 said:

Over all I do think its a good thing if it gets YA and kids reading.

I do agree with this, though.

RevJen

SusieBW said:

I feel like it's a product of the economy - studios know that sequels and adaptation of popular books are a sure thing.  They can't afford the risk of an unknown or indie more than every once in a while.  It makes me sad because I know there are probably a ton of amazingly talented, unknown directors and screenwriters out there with HUGE ideas that just can't get a break in this climate.

Further to Susie's point, it's about making money for the studios.  I don't think they care about the story so much as they do it making tons of money.

CeeCeeSugaPie

I have mixed feelings about this. I love that it gets more people reading, but I get so disappointed when the movies don't do the books justice. Take out the "I wish they would turn this book into a movie" part, and I think the pic below sums it up for me.

Jliongrrrl

I'm always surprised by the number of people who don't realize that what they're watching is based on a book. Even when it's advertised as "based on the novel by". Same goes for TV shows. Several people I work with are obsessed with The Vampire Diaries and Pretty Little Liars but didn't know they were based on books until we had a discussion about them.

DH thinks movie producers are running out of original ideas. I can't say I disagree with him.

84Lauren

RevJen said:

SusieBW said:

I feel like it's a product of the economy - studios know that sequels and adaptation of popular books are a sure thing.  They can't afford the risk of an unknown or indie more than every once in a while.  It makes me sad because I know there are probably a ton of amazingly talented, unknown directors and screenwriters out there with HUGE ideas that just can't get a break in this climate.

Further to Susie's point, it's about making money for the studios.  I don't think they care about the story so much as they do it making tons of money.

I just want to point out that WE are the ones lining those pockets.  These make more money because more people (like us) go out to watch these movies.  Consumer choices are the driving force behind any trend in marketing, and this is no different.

::shrugs:: I like the trend.  I am a movie-hater for most of my favorite books, but I love to hate.  I still love to see/discuss the movies.

katienichols08

I'm kind of on the fence with the whole thing.  On one hand, I'm glad that, in some cases, we get to see the characters we love brought to life, if the film is done well, but on the other hand, the money grubbing hollywood crap that comes out (aka Mortal Instruments, from what I've heard) that thinks they are going to cash in on the fan base, really deflates me. 

Young_Love

What I'm most burned out on is that all of these recent YA adaptations are using the same crop of actors. I'd love to see some different faces on the screen.

MrsC7

Young_Love said:

What I'm most burned out on is that all of these recent YA adaptations are using the same crop of actors. I'd love to see some different faces on the screen.

WORD. Let's branch out from Shailene Woodley as lead YA actress, shall we?  Please?

EliStar

It doesn't bother me in the slightest. I like options. If the movie sucks, junewhatevs. I still have the book. 

jenndawnp

I enjoy the movies but I'm over them not meeting my expectations.  I watch them with the expectation that they will not be a great as the movie but they still fall short.  It also has helped when I don't do an reread immediately before going to the movie but that just ends in heart break.  

hopecounts

i'm neutral about it. I do wonder if the writer's strike added to the trend in terms of pay for writer's and the fact that the length of the strike put the studio's behind in movie production. I imagine It takes a lot less time and therefore money to have writers work from an existing story the. to write one from scratch. i wonder if it started as a quick way to get moves out and then they found it was profitable and have stuck with it.

pinkybooklover09

EliStar said:

It doesn't bother me in the slightest. I like options. If the movie sucks, junewhatevs. I still have the book. 

Hey. You. Get outta my head.

booknerd226

I'm meh either way, but I do like that people are seeing the movies so I can discuss the movies with them..but I feel like I'm discussing the books. So in my head we're discussing the books and that means I have book friends IRL.

:-B

funkypineapple

I love it but I agree with @young_love, please quit using the same actors over and over again. I don't really care for Alex Pettyfer or that Jamie dude (almost typed chick..whoops)

I love it because it opens these books I love so much up to other people who see the trailers and think "that looks cool!" Then they see the movie and go out and buy the book. 

Hunger Games is a great example. Once the teaser trailer came out it helped me to get friends/co-workers to read the books when I had been trying for a while. I think part of it was "oh, I'm a guy, no YA" but when they saw they had a visual aid to the story, they picked up the books and read them faster than I expected. 

Passanie

I love, love, LOVE this trend! It seems like most movies in years past were geared toward 19-year-old boys and it's nice to get some films that have solid storylines that I'm interested in. I think since the recession, movie makers are probably a little more risk averse, so a movie based on a book is more of a safe bet (or at least already has a built-in audience) than something no one has heard of. I've found that if I have read the book about a year beforehand, I've forgotten enough that I don't do the step-by-step comparison thing that keeps me from fully enjoying the movie. Now if someone would just make a movie out of Ready Player One!

jackiback

I'm shocked to have opened this and not seen comments about how movie adaptations lead to movie tie-in book covers, because we all know that this is the real evil behind the book to movie trend.

pinkybooklover09

jackiback said:

I'm shocked to have opened this and not seen comments about how movie adaptations lead to movie tie-in book covers, because we all know that this is the real evil behind the book to movie trend.

I was in Target yesterday and saw the movie tie-in cover of The Great Gatsby with Leo on the cover. Now I think we all know how much I love Leo, but when I saw it all I could think was, "Ugh...muggles" because seriously how can you NOT keep the iconic blue cover? It's just sick and wrong!

jackiback

@pinkybooklover09 Second Leo mention today and the sun isn't even up yet. Getting started early. I like it.

lizabethann6

It doesn't bother me. In my opinion, the book is always better than the movie so I usually go into the movies with low expectations. Sometimes I'm pleasantly surprised, sometimes not. Either way, I have the book

pinkybooklover09

@jackiback - I'm nothing if not consistent when it comes to Leo.

MrsC7

pinkybooklover09 said:

jackiback said:

I'm shocked to have opened this and not seen comments about how movie adaptations lead to movie tie-in book covers, because we all know that this is the real evil behind the book to movie trend.

I was in Target yesterday and saw the movie tie-in cover of The Great Gatsby with Leo on the cover. Now I think we all know how much I love Leo, but when I saw it all I could think was, "Ugh...muggles" because seriously how can you NOT keep the iconic blue cover? It's just sick and wrong!

@pinkybooklover09 @jackiback I was in B&N the other day and overheard a teenager criticize this exact cover as "like OMG weird. What's with her face?"  Then she picked up the book cover with Leo and squealed.

I fear for the future of humanity.