RCUK
Since
2002

Qs Rants

Book to Film conversion

Well, what a subject indeed. Until recently good book to film conversions have been a rare thing indeed, and "good" is judged on how the fans of the books react to it simply because to people of haven't read the book its just another film.

I probably haven't seen that many but... I don't care this is my rant and I'm still going to comment. Films like Battlefield Earth - generally acknowledged to be one of the worst films ever made (although perversely I do have the DVD) - comes from one of the best selling Sci-Fi book of all time. How can you take something so good and make something so bad? obviously converting a book to film isn't an easy thing to do since the media involved are vastly different but I think if the right preparations are made and research done then it will either be good or not made at all.
I'm not raggin' on Battlefield Earth totally I just can't think of any others (as my mind likes to say "I don't think you really want to know that", when I ask it for something I actually want to know, but does like to push random pieces of useless information into my conscious whenever it feels like it).

Ok, I had all this other stuff I was going on dribble on about but I'm going to get straight to my point. Interview With the Vampire - one of my all time favourite films. I think its so superb, outstanding performances by everyone, an almost flawless film. And to top it of its faithful to the book. Yes I have read the book, infact I've read all the Vampire Chronicles and some more than once. Of course its not an exact copy of the film, because as I've said it can't be done. But they've included the important things and haven't changed anything major and most importantly the characters are recreated almost perfectly. The only major "error", if that's the right word, that I can think of right now is when Claudia creeps from her coffin to Louis' during the day (I won't say why because if your not a fan of the book then it doesn't matter).
The same rules should apply to all book to film, films - get the important things right. But allot of writers, director, whoever seem to like to change and leave out major aspects of books. What's the point in having a film of a book and then changing characters personalities to a high degree or even changing the ending of a book! You might of just well written a whole new screenplay.

Another example would be, and again the real reason I want to write this, Queen of the Damned, the not a sequel sequel to Interview. QotD is the third in the series of Vampire Chronicles (The Vampire Lestat begin the second) and as of writing this it hasn't been released yet. But I have read a few very alarming reviews of the film because what they've done is taken a great book then thrown it away and made a film based on the blurb on the back cover. what I mean by this is they have basic outline of the book but they've missed out, changed or just completely ignored the details (which I believe make a book) of the characters and plot etc. they've completely altered some of the mythology/lore of the book which, apart from being really *&&% annoying, makes any future films based on the chronicles very hard because they will either have to ignore this film completely (which they've apparently done to the original) or stick to this version of the story. I won't say what I've heard they've changed as it will just piss me of more.

We know it can be done properly just look at the recent Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings, good and great films respectively and also faithful to there source material. Yes I know there are differences but not in the region of , oh I don't know, Frodo falling in love with Arwen for instance (Fans of the Chronicles will understand when they see QotD)

In conclusion leave the Chronicles alone or get Anne Rice to write and direct them. Oh yeah stop fucking around with books assholes!

Addendum
I have now seen the film QotD and it was not as bad as i thought it was going to be. It was much much worse