Our Social Media Manager Belinda tells us what she thinks:
We all know that feeling. A book you just LOVED has been made into a movie and you simply can't wait to see it. The actors they're using aren't exactly how you imagined them but still, you're clutching your popcorn in excitement as the lights dim and the music starts.
But then the movie opens and they've simply removed the crucial first scene from the book and the heroine's hair is done all wrong and not at all how you pictured it. And then the movie unfolds further and you can't help making a mental note of all the flaws and things that are different from the book. You feel that in some way its spoiled the book for you and you reflect that maybe it would have been better if you hadn't seen the film, because then someone else's view of the book wouldn't have tainted your version, the best version, the version in YOUR head.
I've felt this way about most books turned into movies. Most but not all. Gone with the Wind, that was a goodie. Lord of the Rings - also a winner. The Help, which was out at the end of 2011 and is now winning all kinds of awards (Golden Globes, Screen Actors Guild and nominated for some Oscars) was one of the best "books-turned-into-movies" that I've ever seen. I wept like a baby. If you haven't read it, DO and then get hold of a copy of the movie - you'll be thanking me.
Another movie that's been nominated for an incredible six Oscars is War Horse, the children's classic by Michael Morpugo. The film is directed by Stephen Spielberg, who said himself that "it was a story that needed to be told". Interestingly, the book has sold more copies in the UK in the past 2 weeks than it has in the past 25 years it has been published, all due to the hype around the movie!
And finally, Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close is also up for some Oscars and the movie will be releasing in SA cinemas at the beginning of March. Jonathan Safran Foer's tale about a nine-year-old who lost his father in the September 11th attacks will have you reaching for the tissues, so be prepared!
Even if you are more of a book-lover, there's no denying that movies significantly raise the profile (and sales) of the author, which can only be a good thing. Hollywood is BIG business and if just a little of that gold dust can reach the shoulders of lowly authors and publishers, well, we're happy with that. So happy reading this February and happy watching too!