The Movie Is The Movie, The Book Is The Book

by Jeffrey Dale Starr

Last Friday I watched Ender's Game and I thoroughly enjoyed it. It must be noted that I never read the book.

But should that matter? Does my opinion of the movie not carry much weight because I haven't yet read what is considered one of the greatest sci-fi books ever written?

It's a tricky question.

When it comes to film adaptations of books, the results vary. You have great books made into dreadful movies (2010); you have so-so books made into fantastic movies (Jaws); and you have cases where both the movie and book were great (The Silence of the Lambs, The Hunger Games).

I understand the frustration of the book-fan who cries, "the movie is nowhere near as good as the book!" It's the same frustration I felt when Nirvana went on to world fame...I loved the band but I was upset that Pixies weren't getting credit as the creators of the genre. The anger that fans of the book feel is based more on the perceived snubbing of the book than the merits of the film, I think.

Another common complaint from the book fan is that the movie left out passages from the book, or made some changes to the plot.

This is where the title of this article comes in: the movie is the movie, the book is the book. Books are not movies and vice versa.

A recent example of this dilemma is the Lord of the Rings trilogy. Hardcore fans want to see every tidbit from the books on the screen. Trouble is, this would necessitate a 7-hour movie (as it is, the uncut version of Return of the King gets close to that running time.) If your desire as the book-fan is that more people will read the book you love, you're shooting yourself in the foot if you end up with a movie considered unwatchable by the masses.

I have to admit, however, that I get frustrated when plot points are changed for no apparent reason. For example: in The Hunger Games, how Katniss acquires the Mockingjay pin was altered for the movie. I can't imagine how the movie benefited from that variation.

But then again, someone who enjoyed the movie and hasn't read the books might accuse me of being a crybaby. And he might be right.

I do think, though, that some stories should not be rushed. A perfect example of this is Pride and Prejudice. Jane Austen crafted some of the finest dialogue ever conceived in her masterpiece, and a two-hour movie simply does not give that novel the time and breathing room necessary to develop properly. Which is why the Colin Firth miniseries will always be definitive.

Books That Should Not Be Filmed

Then there is a different category - books that should never be turned into movies.

These are typically books that are heavy on narrative and writing style. One of my favorite authors is Kurt Vonnegut. But every adaptation of one his books is a disaster. What makes a Vonnegut novel great isn't so much the story, but the unique way that the author expresses himself.

I guess, conversely, you could say the same thing about highly visual directors. Who wants to read The Tree of Life: The Novel?

Other books that have failed in this regard: The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy; anything written by Hunter S. Thompson.

In conclusion, I guess it's best to view movies and books as two entirely different art forms that should stand on their own merits.

If you loved a book you might love the movie, but I wouldn't count on it.

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Jeffrey Dale Starr is a world traveler, oil painter, and owner of mobile software company Purple Falcon.

Best In Role

Some literary and cinematic characters are so solid that they keep getting revisited time and again (with varying levels of success.)

Here is my list of what I consider to be the best portrayals of some of these iconic roles.

Sherlock Holmes Jeremy Brett This is by the far the toughest one. Benedict Cumberbatch, Johnny Lee Miller, Basil Rathbone, etc etc have all done masterful work as the world's greatest detective. But Brett embodies the most important element of Holmes: he's an antisocial weirdo. Brett's odd facial expressions, sudden outbursts and grouchy disposition suit the character beautifully. Side note: Martin Freeman is my favorite Watson.

Captain Bligh Charles Laughton Trevor Howard and Anthony Hopkins both did a great job with their own unique takes portraying the captain of The Bounty. But Laughton made the character unbearable. And his arrogance and defiance when set adrift in the lifeboat is perfection.

Bruce Wayne Christian Bale I don't know if Bale is the best Batman...not sure we've even seen that yet. But as Bruce Wayne, it's hard to top Bale. He really seems like a tortured, obsessed guy. And he played the vapid rich jerk part very well.

Superman Christopher Reeve No contest. Christopher Reeve was the living embodiment of Superman straight off the page.

Mr. Darcy Colin Firth Many wonderful actors have tackled this role, but no-one captured Fitzwilliam Darcy so naturally as Firth. And the 1995 miniseries is the definitive Pride and Prejudice.

Robin Hood Errol Flynn It was a tough decision between Flynn and Kevin Costner. Just kidding.

Jedi Ewan McGregor With deference to Liam Neeson, Alec Guinness and Samuel L. Jackson - McGregor embodies what I expect a Jedi to be. He's elegant, poised, daring, focused. And not a whiny teenager.

Kenneth Branagh Hamlet I don't know which role has been played by more characters...Sherlock Holmes or Hamlet (or The Doctor.) Sometimes Hamlet is portrayed in a hammy, over-the-top fashion. Sometimes it's a modern, abstract take. But Branagh's portrayal just seems real. And the movie itself is by far the best portrayal of the world's most famous play ever filmed.

Marlon Brando Fletcher Christian Being the greatest actor of all time, Brando's portrayal of (fill in the blank) is probably the best. But I especially like his take on Mr. Christian. In the beginning of the movie he's a bit of a selfish fop. But he starts to evolve as a person when he sees the mistreatment of his shipmates and fully blooms as a human being in Tahiti.

Musketeer Oliver Reed There have been numerous versions of The Three Musketeers and countless portrayals of each musketeer. But Reed's performance as Athos in the 1973 film is perfection. Oliver Reed was a force of nature - his performances in The Devils and as Bill Sikes in Oliver! are disturbing and unforgettable.

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Jeffrey Dale Starr is a beer enthusiast, oil painter, and owner of mobile software company Purple Falcon.