Reviews by Heidi - The movie or the book?! That is the question.....

I'm not sure how I missed this yesterday~ maybe because I was so excited about all the responses I was getting to the sign language question! More comments still gladly accepted on that post~ I'm really enjoying reading all your responses, ideas, and advice!

Celluloid

1. In your opinion, what is the best translation of a book to a movie?
2. The worst?
3. Had you read the book before seeing the movie, and did that make a difference? (Personally, all other things being equal, I usually prefer whichever I was introduced to first.)

And, by all means, expand this to as long a list as you like. I’m notoriously awful myself at narrowing down to one favorite ANYTHING. So, feel free to list as many “good” or “bad” movie-from-books as you like. (Heaven knows that’s what I’ll be doing….)

And, here's my response:
1. Well, I thought that "Pride & Prejudice" was a wonderful movie. But, I have a confession to make, I haven't read the book (yet). So, I'm only going by what I've heard and read others say. I'm reading Sense & Sensibility now; and if they're anything similar at all, then I'd say they did a good job with the movie.
Another one that I thought was very true-to-the book was "Sarah Plain & Tall" by Hallmark.
2. We enjoy the "Love Comes Softly" series of movies. However, they are NOTHING like the books. It disappoints me, I must admit. The books were good, and would have made great movies, without all the changes that were made to them. That being said, I am looking forward to the movie adaptation of Beverly Lewis' "The Redemption of Sarah Cain"~ it's scheduled to hit theaters in late August and is also being produced by Michael Landon~ so I'm anxious to see how book-like it will be. Another movie that wasn't much like the book was "Flicka". Have you read the book? If so, then you know that the main character is a boy in the book and a girl in the movie~ what's up with that?!
3. The girls and I have a new rule~ book first, then movie. I've found that if you see the movie first, it's so difficult to read the book afterwards. So, we're doing books first, then rewarding ourselves with the movie afterwards~ that way we can be a better judge of the movie's book-likeness (is that a word?!) Gracie is reading "Sarah Plain & Tall" for reading right now~ we'll watch the movie after she's done. I'm reading "Sense & Sensibility" and will move it up in my Netflix Queue as soon as I'm finished.

Good questions! If you've answered them on your blog, let me know~ I'd love to read your responses too!

I am often disappointed by the movie version. I thought The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe movie was well done, despite its minor deviations from the original story. As far as Anne of Green Gables goes, I think I like the movies almost as much as the books even though they mix story lines and characters up quite a bit!

I think that will be my next Tag me Tuesday I really like those questions and the answers. I agree with Love comes softly. My first disappointment with it was the age of Missy! But is is a good movie if you have never read the books.

Because of Jesus, Bobbie

I like the Love Comes Softly series. I'm glad I didn't read the book first. I hate when the movie doesn't follow the book.

I haven't seen any of the other works you mentioned, but I did see the old movie version of Flicka starring Roddy McDowell. It was a wonderful movie.

I've no kids, so I'm definitely not a home-schooler. You can find me at www.cjreading.blogspot.com.

cjh