Books to Movies --> what should be next?

[littlemissattitude]

I think somebody should go back and do Clive Cussler's "Raise the Titanic" again. I read that book when it first came out, ages ago, and loved it. I was so entranced with it that I stayed up 'till I finished it - about four in the morning, if I recall correctly. The whole time I was reading, I just kept thinking, this is going to make the best movie.

And then they made the movie, and it was the worst piece of dreck I've ever seen. But I still think it would make a really good movie. So, I wish someone would give it a try.

 

[polymorphikos]

Although I realise the thread's a bit cold, I decided to revive it to tell anyone who didn't know that Paramount's doing A Princess of Mars. IMO, this will be freaking awesome. My only fear is that Robert Rodriguez, who is directing, will stick to his hyperactive style and make a cheesey action movie rather than a sprawling, grand, visually beautiful and very traditional piece like the book, which is probably one of the five finest adventure novels I've ever read.

 

[dwndrgn]

I've never heard of A Princess of Mars. Who is the author and what is it about?

 

[polymorphikos]

Edagr rice Burroughs wrote it in 1911, and it is effectively the Conan of the sci-fi world. It inspired all the stories about strange alien worlds and dashing, swash-buckling heros, and principly revolves around John Carter, an ageless Confederate who doesn't remember his childhood and had no mother, and is essentially all the great aspects of a warrior incarnate, passing out in a cave and awakening on Mars, where he is captured by fifteen-foot green hexapods and wins the heart of a fair, copper-skinned princess. It's very good.

 

[Esioul]

Hmm.... sounds a bit cliched if you ask me. Although if it was written so long ago things probably copied it and created the cliches.

Well, if they're making the Iliad into a film, 'Troy', why not the Aeneid next? And a film about Cicero, please.

 

[Jayaprakash Satyamurthy]

Edgar Rice Burroughs' John Carter novels are perennial favourites of mine - you really should give them a try, esioul - just park your brain and head out for some thrilling adventures on old Barsoom!!!

I hope the movie does justice to the sheer pulp kick of the book!

 

[littlemissattitude]

Here's a bit of Edgar Rice Burroughs trivia for you all (yeah, I know, this isn't the trivia thread; however this would not have the context over there that it has here). The town of Tarzana, in southern California, was actually named after Burroughs's most famous creation, Tarzan. However, for a long time, his Tarzan books were banned from the library in Tarzana - because Tarzan and Jane were living together without being married.

 

[Xanadari]

This is just wishful thinking, but what about OSC's Ender series? Though I'm sure if it were done, somone would screw it up beyond belief.

Also, Jack Whyte's The SkyStone series. This one if feel would be incredible if made into a movie, properly done of course.

Though I feel that both sets would more likely be better suited as a mini-series, due to the fact that in both cases there are many books and go into quite some detail.

 

[mac1]

How about a decent Brave New World movie that actually stays true to the ethos of the book, and has the budget to do it justice. If they can make LOTR a movie, then surely Brave New World would be possible now.

P.S. please dont mention that hideous affront to Huxley that was the film with Leonard Nimoy in it!

 

[littlemissattitude]

This is just wishful thinking, but what about OSC's Ender series? Though I'm sure if it were done, somone would screw it up beyond belief.

Actually, there is a film based on Ender's Game/Ender's Shadow on the drawing board. IMDB has it slated for 2006. According to OSC's website, the screenplay is currently in second draft phase and German director Wolfgang Petersen is attached to the project. Petersen has previously directed films such as "Das Boot", "Enemy Mine", "In the Line of Fire", "Outbreak", "The Perfect Storm", and the upcoming "Troy".

So, just keep sending good vibes that everything holds and the film goes forward in good time.

 

[polymorphikos]

How about Raymond E Feist's Magician? One of the best fantsy novels ever, and it'd make a great mini-series a la Merlin.

 

[nemogbr]

Many of the books series mentioned I would dread seeing on film. I loved the LOTR and the Harry Potter films, but I wouldn't push my luck.

I suppose it would take a very dedicated director/producer or you'll end up with the scenario similar to Anne Rice and her reaction to the film "Interview with a Vampire".

 

[Barraketh]

I think that the Fortress series by C.j . cherryh should be turned into a series of films like lord of the rings because she has the talent and writing abilities and if peter jackson considered this job and read one of her books he may see the possiblities of theses books becoming movies. well thats what i think anyway

 

[Brian G Turner]

Hi Barraketh, and welcome to the chronicles-network...even if you are a southerner.

 

[Ahdkaw]

A possibly little known science fiction novel by Richard Paul Russo, called Ship of Fools (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0441008933/104-7945458-6928706?v=glance), a truly fast-paced and, in places, horrific story. Very true to the idiom (wrong word? probably) 'Curiosity Killed the Cat'.

Although the first review on Amazon doesn't give it the credit I think the book deserves. Maybe I just like crap books, or can't tell the difference? Heck I enjoyed the bloody thing.

 

[angrybuddhist]

I would like to see "The Stainless Steel Rat" and "Bill, the Galactic Hero", both written by Harry Harrison, on the big screen.

 

[Hypes]

I'd very much like to see some work by Hamilton on the big screen such as his Night's Dawn trilogy, or his Fallen Dragon book.
Most of all, however, I'd like to see a filmatization of China Mieville's Perdido Street Station, or alternatively his sequel-of-sorts: The Scar.
Both would be suitable for this purpose, I believe, but then again, as history has showed. Don't put it past Hollywood to butcher a masterpiece.

I see Douglas Adams is moving to the big screen, too! British production, at that. I have high hopes.

-Hypes

 

[nemogbr]

How about a decent Brave New World movie that actually stays true to the ethos of the book, and has the budget to do it justice. If they can make LOTR a movie, then surely Brave New World would be possible now.

P.S. please dont mention that hideous affront to Huxley that was the film with Leonard Nimoy in it!

I never even knew that they did film Brave New World, I know of "1984" being filmed and there was much discussion about the film.

Is it just me or do others also see these books as connected?

 

[Myla Starchild]

I think the Belgariad/Mallorean would make great movies. A lot of the roles would be pretty hard to cast, but I think they did a good job with LOTR for the most part, so I think they could do it.

I agree with Hypes (welcome to chronicles-network btw ), China Meiville's books should be made into movies, I'd like to see The Light Ages by Ian MacLeod as well.

I've heard they're planning to make a trilogy of Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials, which I'm pretty angry about. His Dark materials are my fave books ever, and I really, really don't want to see them butchered by Hollywood. They'll just stick all kinds of Hollywood values in it and it will, in a word, suck.

 

[Hypes]

Thanks. I wonder how they would portray Isaac van der Grimmnebbulin, of course. Might prove a bit difficult for the casting crew. Overweight actors aren't exactly available in great quantities. Nor very well received by the general audience, either.