Movies "loosely" based on original books...

Lucky3623 · 02-09-2009, 02:39 PM

Wow... so I am *reading "I am Legend", and am almost done with the book.

The book is soooo much different than the movie. I know of a couple of other movies that don't come close to the original books, but why do they stretch movies THAT far? At best I would say that the movie is "loosely" based on the book. Yeah, they have to add in some filler to the movie, but to go almost completely in a different direction? I am not dissappointed in the book or the movie, but you would think the movie actually included key details from the book... I should have read the book before I watched the movie.

Does this ever bother you?

*reading - actually I am listing to the Audio book. I hate to read, because it puts me to sleep in about 10 minutes, and I am illiterate.

Trip · 02-09-2009, 02:50 PM

There has been plenty of adaptations of "I am legend." Some close to the book than this movie. These are called reimaginings. They typically suck, but so do most movies that are based off books. Books tend to be better because everything is in your head and you control the visuals through imagination.

fnfalman · 02-09-2009, 02:57 PM

Same thing with I, Robot.

Some books don't lend themselves to making direct movie plots too well.

The Omega Man with Charlton Heston was another I Am Legend book-to-movie deal.

Lucky3623 · 02-09-2009, 03:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trip

There has been plenty of adaptations of "I am legend." Some close to the book than this movie. These are called reimaginings. They typically suck, but so do most movies that are based off books. Books tend to be better because everything is in your head and you control the visuals through imagination.

I can understand that... but this is like taking Snap, Crackle, and Pop, and giving them the 3 main roles in a new remake comedy...The Shining.

fatbuckRTO · 02-09-2009, 03:07 PM

In the case of Will Smith's "I Am Legend," the original ending was much closer to the book ending. Test audiences panned it for being such a downer, so they re-shot the ending that made it to the screen.

Deep introspective melancholy sci-fi isn't for everyone, and almost certainly not for summer blockbuster audiences.

Papa_Complex · 02-09-2009, 03:39 PM

Two words: Johnny Mnemonic

Mr Lefty · 02-09-2009, 03:48 PM

yeah I read/listened to the book too... I liked the movie... loved the book... but yes... they're two different stories... different locations, different endings... the theme is pretty much the only thing that's the same.

fatbuckRTO · 02-09-2009, 06:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Papa_Complex

Two words: Johnny Mnemonic

I still think Starship Troopers takes the cookie. They not only made Dizzy a woman, but she slept with Rico. Homonecroerotica for the motherfucking lose. Not to mention the utter lack of goddamn suits. Lame...

Papa_Complex · 02-09-2009, 07:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fatbuckRTO

I still think Starship Troopers takes the cookie. They not only made Dizzy a woman, but she slept with Rico. Homonecroerotica for the motherfucking lose. Not to mention the utter lack of goddamn suits. Lame...

Yeah, they screwed the pooch on that movie pretty thoroughly too. You forgot that they gave Rico a race-change operation. At least they chose a good set of tits for the part.

Potential spoiler.....

In fact the set of tits that they chose to play Dizzy also played what was supposed to be the hero in Johnny Mnemonic. Imagine Dina Meyer in skin-tight leather, Prada pumps, and a duster, with permanently implanted mirror sunglasses lenses over her eyes, and razor sharp fingernails leading a virtually inept Keanu Reeves through the dark streets of The Sprawl, one step ahead of a harmless looking Japanese tourist, who happens to be a Yakuza assassin with a monofilament whip in his thumb tip.

Johnny gets the crap out of his head and Ms. Meyer leads Yak-boy to the home of her friends, the Lo Teks. The Lo Teks also aren't like in the movie. They hate technology. Period. In fact the only technology they have is the plastic surgery that they use to make themselves look more animalistic and their "killing floor"; a place where they settle their differences. The killing floor is a series of support cables that have been wired up like a massive electric guitar. Think Thunder Dome that makes it's own soundtrack.

That is the final scene of the short story; 'Molly' the 'Razorgirl' killing a deadly Japanese tourist with culture shock. THAT is a story.

Why the fuck is Hollywood so scared of female heroes? It's one hell of a well-written story. Sucks you right in.

derf · 02-09-2009, 07:53 PM

I just finished a graphic novel version of i am legend.

The graphic novel was a loosely based adaption of the smith version, which was loosely based off the book. You can imagine how much different the comic was than the book

02-09-2009, 02:39 PM	#1
Lucky3623 Official Thread Killer Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 554	Movies "loosely" based on original books... Wow... so I am reading "I am Legend", and am almost done with the book. The book is soooo much different than the movie. I know of a couple of other movies that don't come close to the original books, but why do they stretch movies THAT far? At best I would say that the movie is "loosely" based on the book. Yeah, they have to add in some filler to the movie, but to go almost completely in a different direction? I am not dissappointed in the book or the movie, but you would think the movie actually included key details from the book... I should have read the book before I watched the movie. Does this ever bother you? reading - actually I am listing to the Audio book. I hate to read, because it puts me to sleep in about 10 minutes, and I am illiterate.

02-09-2009, 02:57 PM	#3
fnfalman Europhile Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: SoCal Moto: Aprilia RS125, Aprilia SR50 Factory, Aprilia Tuono, BMW Rockster, KTM 990 Adventure Posts: 1,875	Same thing with I, Robot. Some books don't lend themselves to making direct movie plots too well. The Omega Man with Charlton Heston was another I Am Legend book-to-movie deal. __________________ *Cogito Ergo Vroom - I think therefore I ride*

02-09-2009, 03:07 PM	#5
fatbuckRTO This is not the sig line. Join Date: Dec 2008 Moto: Be prepared. What? Oh, moto... Posts: 1,279	In the case of Will Smith's "I Am Legend," the original ending was much closer to the book ending. Test audiences panned it for being such a downer, so they re-shot the ending that made it to the screen. Deep introspective melancholy sci-fi isn't for everyone, and almost certainly not for summer blockbuster audiences. __________________ This was no time for half measures. He was a captain, godsdammit. An officer. Things like this didn't present a problem for an officer. Officers had a tried and tested way of solving problems like this. It was called a sergeant. -Terry Pratchett, Guards! Guards!

02-09-2009, 07:53 PM	#10
derf token jewboy Join Date: Nov 2008 Moto: CBR 900, KLR ugly ass duckling, Gas Man Posts: 10,799	I just finished a graphic novel version of i am legend. The graphic novel was a loosely based adaption of the smith version, which was loosely based off the book. You can imagine how much different the comic was than the book __________________

02-09-2009, 03:39 PM	#6
Papa_Complex Nomadic Tribesman Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Brampton, Canada Moto: '09 ER-6n Posts: 11,150	Two words: Johnny Mnemonic

02-09-2009, 03:48 PM	#7
Mr Lefty TWFix Legend Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Denver CO Moto: 01 BMW F650GS Dakar Posts: 15,677	yeah I read/listened to the book too... I liked the movie... loved the book... but yes... they're two different stories... different locations, different endings... the theme is pretty much the only thing that's the same.