If there’s one thing I hate in the world, it’s watching a film adaptation before I’ve read 
the original source material. Let’s be honest here- a huge majority of films are pictorial versions of successful novels. Being a bit of a literature nerd, my most hated thing in the world is watching a director’s version of something before I’ve read the book. The way I see it is – the book obviously epitomes the author’s original intention. A film version is one person’s interpretation of the source material, which I may not agree with. I certainly prefer reading a novel, making my own opinions, then perhaps analysing what another individual has decided they think of it.
However, with 100 films to watch and only 3 discs per month, this mission is already going to take what is officially known as A VERY LONG TIME. If I factor in the possibility of reading epics such as Oliver Twist and Gone with the Wind, this will take me forever and a day (particularly as I can't bloody stand Dickens). So I have made the very unhappy decision that I shall watch these 100 films without reading the book first. The boyfriend will be happy, as he thinks this is an incredibly ridiculous stance to take, but it will be very painful for me indeed.
If I like a film, I shall then insist on reading the book. But this goes against every fibre of my being and the entire mission may fall apart in three weeks. We shall see what happens...
Picture courtesy of Lin Pernille ♥ Photography.
3 comments:
The fact that you don't appreciate Dickens has lost points with me. One less x from me!
xx Anita
I wouldn't say a vast majority of films are based on novels, though there are of course quite a lot. I think in the last twenty years ten of the Best Picture Oscars went to films with an original script with seven going to films based on novels (Two were based on Non fiction books and one on a musical)
Plus just because a film is an adaptation of a novel doesn't mean they can't coexist. Heck The Godfather book wasn't all the good. And then you've got films which have been adaptation by the author of the book. The Princess Bride I think is a great example of this.
And to think I hated doing Media Studies theory work :-)
I'm not saying a film and a novel can't co-exist. I just personally like to make my own interpretation of a book (which is ultimately what the author wants the story to be), and then watch a film. I don't want my opinions of a book to be dictated by what is altered/interpreted differently by Hollywood. It's a personal thing though, I know not everyone agrees.
And Ms A - I bloody hate Dickens. Goes on forever.
Post a Comment