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Sarah (7799 KP) rated The Snowman (2017) in Movies
Oct 18, 2017
How could this go so wrong?
I've finally come to the realisation that, apart from a few rare exceptions, filmmakers really have no clue what they're doing with book adaptations. I appreciate you cant include absolutely everything from a book, but it should still be fairly easy to adapt an already well received novel into a film. Well apparently with The Snowman it isn't.
They appear to have picked out some of the very basic plot points and loose character identities from the book, and decided to completely rewrite the rest of the story. This'd be fine if it works,but it really doesn't - the book is barely recognisable within this mess.
The characters are underdeveloped and completely changed. Harry, despite being an alcoholic and a bit of an ass, is meant to still be loveable. In this, you couldn't care less about him. Oleg is portrayed as a petulant teenager, Rakel is sidelined and the rest appear to be similar to their book counterparts in name only.
They've missed so many key plot lines out that I could barely understand what was going on, and due to this, there was no intrigue, no tension or suspense. Even a very good cast are given nothing to work with here.
It's unusual for me to be able to find nothing good to say about a film. And it's even rarer for me to want to walk out of a film less than an hour in. The trailer made this film look very good, but it failed miserably.
They appear to have picked out some of the very basic plot points and loose character identities from the book, and decided to completely rewrite the rest of the story. This'd be fine if it works,but it really doesn't - the book is barely recognisable within this mess.
The characters are underdeveloped and completely changed. Harry, despite being an alcoholic and a bit of an ass, is meant to still be loveable. In this, you couldn't care less about him. Oleg is portrayed as a petulant teenager, Rakel is sidelined and the rest appear to be similar to their book counterparts in name only.
They've missed so many key plot lines out that I could barely understand what was going on, and due to this, there was no intrigue, no tension or suspense. Even a very good cast are given nothing to work with here.
It's unusual for me to be able to find nothing good to say about a film. And it's even rarer for me to want to walk out of a film less than an hour in. The trailer made this film look very good, but it failed miserably.
HO
History on Film/Film on History
9.0
Rate It
Book
History on Film/Film on History has established itself as a classic treatise on the historical film...
KatieLouCreate (162 KP) rated Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (2001) in Movies
Mar 12, 2018
I love this film. It is just so magical and innocent at the same time. The world building is great and the effort that went into the making of this film really paid off. It is one of few book to film franchise that I actually enjoy. Sure, the film isn't 100% the same as the book, but it never will be. They are two different platforms.
However, the film itself has some memorable moments and although, for a lot of people I know, this film is one of their least favourite of the series, I think it is one of the best. It is the premise of the entire film. The later films are better in the sense that the plot has thickened, the stakes are higher, and you are more involved with the story-line and the characters. But I could literally quote the entirety of this film, which is something I cannot do with the other Harry Potter films.
However, the film itself has some memorable moments and although, for a lot of people I know, this film is one of their least favourite of the series, I think it is one of the best. It is the premise of the entire film. The later films are better in the sense that the plot has thickened, the stakes are higher, and you are more involved with the story-line and the characters. But I could literally quote the entirety of this film, which is something I cannot do with the other Harry Potter films.
Sonofdel (6291 KP) rated The Exorcist in Books
Nov 7, 2019
Descriptive and Chilling horror
I saw this film many years ago and have meant to get around to reading the book. William Blatty does a nice foreword and explains why the book was written and about the extra character that is in it. Its a gripping read from the very start but be warned it goes into very graphic, obscene and depraved descriptions so if you are easily offended stay away (well it is a book about possession after all). A very good read that keeps you wanting to just read a bit more, good back stories to some of the characters help to explain situations that were not dealt with in the film. The character of father Merrin could have been written for Max Von Sydow (who played him in the film). I would give this four stars as i thought it ended a little too quickly and it would have been better if the ending had been stretched out and explained (like the film).
ClareR (5849 KP) rated Pan's Labyrinth: The Labyrinth of the Faun in Books
Nov 9, 2021
I loved the original film of this book (with the same name), so the thought of a book intrigued me, especially as it was written afterwards. And let’s face it, anything with fairytale connections is on to a winner where I’m concerned.
This book perfectly illustrates the cruelty and despair of the fascist regime under Franco. Ofelia tries to escape real life in her books, but this becomes increasingly difficult for her as her mother becomes more and more ill during her pregnancy. The brutality of her stepfather and his terrible methods of control is seen in the surrounding area and his own home: the lack of care for his wife, the plans to kill the anti-fascist fighters in the woods, and his methods of torture.
Ofelia escapes in to her imagination - or is Pan real? I loved this aspect and the tasks she was given to complete. I really enjoyed how the folktales were interwoven and alternated with real life (which had the harsher conclusions? Fairy tales don’t always have a happy ending), and gave an explanation to the origin of the Labyrinth.
The illustrations were beautiful too, and put faces to the characters - after all, it’s a long time since I saw the film. But this book stands so well on it’s own, and dare I say that you don’t need to have seen the film? Well, no, because I really enjoyed the film! So, read the book, and watch the film - you won’t regret it!
This book perfectly illustrates the cruelty and despair of the fascist regime under Franco. Ofelia tries to escape real life in her books, but this becomes increasingly difficult for her as her mother becomes more and more ill during her pregnancy. The brutality of her stepfather and his terrible methods of control is seen in the surrounding area and his own home: the lack of care for his wife, the plans to kill the anti-fascist fighters in the woods, and his methods of torture.
Ofelia escapes in to her imagination - or is Pan real? I loved this aspect and the tasks she was given to complete. I really enjoyed how the folktales were interwoven and alternated with real life (which had the harsher conclusions? Fairy tales don’t always have a happy ending), and gave an explanation to the origin of the Labyrinth.
The illustrations were beautiful too, and put faces to the characters - after all, it’s a long time since I saw the film. But this book stands so well on it’s own, and dare I say that you don’t need to have seen the film? Well, no, because I really enjoyed the film! So, read the book, and watch the film - you won’t regret it!
Searching for Wisdom in Movies: From the Book of Job to Sublime Conversations: 2016
Book
In this volume, Richard Gilmore explores film as a channel through which to engage in philosophical...
Sergei Paradjanov: Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors
Book
Released in 1965, Sergei Paradjanov's Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors is a landmark of Soviet-era...
Sarah (7799 KP) rated The Light Between Oceans (2016) in Movies
Aug 14, 2017
Not bad but lacking
This isn't a bad film, but I found it a little bit lacking. It seemed too slow paced and cheesy at times, which is strange as having read the book since, I didn't get the same feeling. There are some good performances from the cast, Fassbender is as dependable as always but this just comes across as barely above average. Another film that can never live up to the book.
The Art of Ponyo
8.0
Rate It
Book
Ponyo, loosely based on Hans Christian Andersen's The Little Mermaid, is a hand-drawn feature-length...
Kaz (232 KP) rated I Am Legend (2007) in Movies
Jul 21, 2019 (Updated Jul 21, 2019)
A Good Film
Whilst I don't think this is as dark or delves as much into human psyche and the fight for survival as the original book by Richard Matheson does, I do think that this is a very good film.
Will Smith plays an emotive, believable role. I particularly liked the interaction he has with Sam, his dog. This has a lot of emotional moments, and a few jump scares too
The only negatives I could comment on about this film, are firstly, I didn't like the C.G.I 'infected'. They looked too fake to be scary. Also, I thought the ending to this film was a bit rushed.
Whilst there are some changes from the book, I do think that this is a really good film adaptation
Will Smith plays an emotive, believable role. I particularly liked the interaction he has with Sam, his dog. This has a lot of emotional moments, and a few jump scares too
The only negatives I could comment on about this film, are firstly, I didn't like the C.G.I 'infected'. They looked too fake to be scary. Also, I thought the ending to this film was a bit rushed.
Whilst there are some changes from the book, I do think that this is a really good film adaptation
Maddie (37 KP) Nov 16, 2017