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Post by toddpolt on Dec 25, 2009 1:32:20 GMT -5
Some books you could tell why they don't become movies, or why the movies are crummy. See Dune, Ulysseus, so on.
Then others, why they haven't made the jump you scratch your head. Consider:
The Hot Zone (Richard Preston) - Famous (at the time at least) 1994 non-fiction best seller, a very gripping, frightening, and well-researched thriller about an Ebola virus breakout in Virginia in the late 1980s. How good is it?
"one of the most horrifying things I've ever read."[/i] - Stephen King
Hot Zone came close to getting produced, with Ridley Scott as director and stars Robert Redford and Jodie Foster, but that collapsed. Ironic enough, the studio that lost out on the novel's bidding rights, Warner Bros., decided instead to produce their own knock-off virus epidemic movie to cash in. Outbreak did however make it to theatres in 1995.
A Princess on Mars - Edgar Rice Burroughs - Written before Burrough's Tarzan books, this was published in 1917 and is considered the mother of the "Space Opera." Inspired future sci-fi literary greats like Ray Bradbury and Arthur C. Clarke, and even astronomers like Carl Sagan.
And the book is straight out classic pulp: Nobody Earth soldier John Carter is teleported to an alien planet, encounters some beautiful (and fights viciously hungry) native creatures, fights some warring bad guys, gets the princess, saves the day, all in a hard day's work.
Yet for some reason that movie never got produced. Apparently in the 1930s, if it had gone forward, the book would have been the basis for the first full-length animated movie but the funders thought audiences couldn't sit through one. A year later, Snow White comes out.
Then in the 80s/90s, you had John McTiernan set to direct a live-action picture with Tom Cruise, and scripted by Terry Rossio/Ted Elliot (Pirates of the Caribbean) but that collapsed too. In recent years, Jon Favreau was attached to direct before he left and made Iron Man instead.
Now I guess Pixar and Disney now have the rights and the movie with Andrew Stanton (Wall-E) and its actually now getting shot finally, for a 2012 release.
But why wait? look at that book's basic plot above. If it sounds recently familiar it should: It's practically the rough premise of James Cameron's new Avatar, and that was no accident.
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Phosphor Glow
Bill S. Preston, Esq.
Is a real girl!
Posts: 19,870
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Post by Phosphor Glow on Dec 25, 2009 1:43:48 GMT -5
I've always been really surprised that The Giver and its sequels haven't been movies.
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livetowin
Dennis Stamp
Just Keep Walkin'
Don't be negatin'!
Posts: 4,430
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Post by livetowin on Dec 25, 2009 1:48:45 GMT -5
I've always been really surprised that The Giver and its sequels haven't been movies. They made a sequel to The Giver? Holy shit!
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Phosphor Glow
Bill S. Preston, Esq.
Is a real girl!
Posts: 19,870
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Post by Phosphor Glow on Dec 25, 2009 1:51:24 GMT -5
I've always been really surprised that The Giver and its sequels haven't been movies. They made a sequel to The Giver? Holy s***! There are two, actually. It's a trilogy. Gathering Blue and Messenger are its sequels. I've only read Gathering Blue...but it was really good.
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Post by rrm15 on Dec 25, 2009 2:13:12 GMT -5
I still want an Animorphs movie.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Dec 25, 2009 2:17:29 GMT -5
Neuromancer, though that's been kicked around for years now. Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser would be great and I think there was talk a couple of years back; an Elric movie, live action Dragonlance movie. The Stars, My Destination, I believe, is in development.
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jh417
AC Slater
Posts: 230
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Post by jh417 on Dec 25, 2009 2:33:02 GMT -5
Some books you could tell why they don't become movies, or why the movies are crummy. See Dune, Ulysseus, so on. Then others, why they haven't made the jump you scratch your head. Consider: The Hot Zone (Richard Preston) - Famous (at the time at least) 1994 non-fiction best seller, a very gripping, frightening, and well-researched thriller about an Ebola virus breakout in Virginia in the late 1980s. How good is it? The Hot Zone (Richard Preston) - Famous (at the time at least) 1994 non-fiction best seller, a very gripping, frightening, and well-researched thriller about an Ebola virus breakout in Virginia in the late 1980s. How good is it? "one of the most horrifying things I've ever read." - Stephen King Hot Zone came close to getting produced, with Ridley Scott as director and stars Robert Redford and Jodie Foster, but that collapsed. Ironic enough, the studio that lost out on the novel's bidding rights, Warner Bros., decided instead to produce their own knock-off virus epidemic movie to cash in. Outbreak did however make it to theatres in 1995. I'm not much of a book reader anymore and no offense to book to movie adaptions, but THANK GOD this book was not adapted to the big screen. It's one of my favorite books and as one of the only ones left on my life of unmoviefied (I know...not a word), I want it to stay like that. I would rather let my mind imagine the frickin horrifying situations in the book then let it get influenced by an onscreen portrayal (as good or as bad as it is). And now, apparently they're doing a movie adaption of The Thief of Always....well, I'm not going to say anything until I see commercials for it. I don't want to make any pre judgements about Coraline...I know the book is catered to the middle school crowd, but once again, still a favorite of mine. Heard the movie was good, but my sister, who had read the book a while back, watched the movie, then reread it afterwards, said the book was a lot better. Friend who watched the movie first then read the book thought the same too. I also went to my school in studio interview with Henry Selleck, the director, and from what I hear, he even added another character in, which generally, I'm not a huge fan of (adding characters in). Oh, and I am aware that Neil Gaiman was on set supervising and whatnot...to me, once it gets on the big screen, it just loses its magic. If course, this is coming from a girl who didn't watch the movie, so what do I know. Rambling post over.
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livetowin
Dennis Stamp
Just Keep Walkin'
Don't be negatin'!
Posts: 4,430
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Post by livetowin on Dec 25, 2009 2:51:52 GMT -5
They made a sequel to The Giver? Holy s***! There are two, actually. It's a trilogy. Gathering Blue and Messenger are its sequels. I've only read Gathering Blue...but it was really good. Well you know the old saying.... You're my boy blue!
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Post by Joe Galt on Dec 25, 2009 7:03:40 GMT -5
I read a book called "The Aztec" and it was excellent.Part of me would like for this book to be made into films.One movie couldn`t do it justice.It would need at least three or four films.However,I donnot think anybody would be willing to spend the time and money on it to make it worthwhile.The movie Apocalypto had some similarities to The Aztec.It is what I enjoyed about the movie. If you like to read a long book;pick up The Aztec some time. Edit: Amazon reviewers seem to share my opinion. www.amazon.com/Aztec-Gary-Jennings/dp/0765317508/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1261742713&sr=1-1
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Post by thwak is T.hawk on Dec 25, 2009 7:11:54 GMT -5
this begins and ends with ender's game.
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lovingway
El Dandy
Crimson and Clover
Posts: 8,135
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Post by lovingway on Dec 25, 2009 7:24:02 GMT -5
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Post by nickcave on Dec 25, 2009 8:58:56 GMT -5
The Dark Tower series has yet to be adapted although they are in the development stages for it now, JJ Abrams is attached and Christian Bale is the rumored favorite for Roland.
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Post by Red Impact on Dec 25, 2009 9:46:46 GMT -5
this begins and ends with ender's game. Indeed, and I'm all the more glad for it.
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Fiddleford H. McGucket
El Dandy
My Mind's been gone for 30-odd years! Can't Break what's already broken!
Posts: 8,748
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Post by Fiddleford H. McGucket on Dec 25, 2009 9:59:43 GMT -5
Someone tried to claim that "Outbreak" was based on "The Hot Zone"
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Jay Peas 42
El Dandy
Totally flips out ALL the time.
Is looking forward to a Nation of Domination Kwannza Special.
Posts: 8,329
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Post by Jay Peas 42 on Dec 25, 2009 10:24:53 GMT -5
You know, for seemingly being in the Public Domain, Lovecraft seems to only get Syfy Saturday and the random Justice Leauge productions of his work. Then again, I don't know who wants to make a film where the moral of the story is usually "Interacial Marriage is a plot by not evil but uncaring alien fish god's non-white cultists," so I suppose the "Influence" is probably the better racket.
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Post by Apricots And A Pear Tree on Dec 25, 2009 11:12:37 GMT -5
I still want an Animorphs movie. Well there was a tv show.Not really that good,I mean come on you cant morph with street clothes on!I do smile when I see Paulo Costanzo in commercials for Royal Pains though. I want Matthew Reilly's books to be turned into movies.They pretty much are written like an action movie.And who wouldn't want to see a movie where a guy has to disarm a Israeli-made missile with a American made Nuclear Warhead aimed at Mecca.And the only way to disarm it is to be within 60 feet of it.In mid air.Oh and Ice Station has a cool Hover Craft chase.And they all have cool grappling hook stunts.Matthew Reilly also owns a DeLorean,so he is just awesome.
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Post by hypnoticgenes on Dec 25, 2009 11:30:58 GMT -5
As a kid, I remember really liking a book called "Stonewords". I always thought it would make a good movie.
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Post by Monster Under Your Bed on Dec 25, 2009 11:39:52 GMT -5
"A Dirty Job" by Christopher Moore is one of my favorite books ever and would make for an amazing movie.
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biafra
El Dandy
Biafra Who?
Posts: 7,617
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Post by biafra on Dec 25, 2009 11:41:37 GMT -5
Christian Bale is the rumored favorite for Roland. Oh GOD no.
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Grendel
Bill S. Preston, Esq.
But ... why is all the rum gone?
Posts: 17,593
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Post by Grendel on Dec 25, 2009 13:14:11 GMT -5
I was always hoping that they would do a movie based on the adventures of James Bolivar "Slippery Jim" DiGriz. I thought The Stainless Steel Rat series of books was done fairly well when I was a young lad.
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