There are three groups of people. Those who watch a movie and then seek out the book. Those who watch a movie and then never read the book. Then those who are still waiting to watch a really good movie because they have the book in their TBR pile. Me? I’m buried under a long TBR list in category number three. Which category do you fall into?
Movies Inspired by Books
Welcome to this weeks #MFRW (Marketing for Romance Writers) 52-
week Blog Hop. The topic is My Favorite Movies Inspired by Books.
This took some grappling for me until I realized it didn’t mean that I thought the movie was better than the book. Because if that was so, I’d have nothing to list. (First love= books)
Despite adamantly admitting my love for movies, I don’t believe they can capture all that a book can. I think that’s because a book allows you to tap into your imagination, and most movies don’t match up to how I’ve envisioned the characters. They cut something out, or they change something in the story.
Cut to the Credits
If I watch a really good movie I’ve zone in on the credits to see if it was based upon a book. I then shake my fist in the air in validation to my author peeps and shout out credit to the author to my amused—or uninterested—family members. If the movie was good, the book must be awesome.
A few #movies came pretty darn close to, or even exceeded, the capabilities of my imagination. Share on XOldies But Goodies- An Introduction to Romance
- Gone with The Wind- I struggled with loving and hating the relationship of Scarlett and Rhett but regardless, I couldn’t stop reading and/or watching.
- Romeo & Juliet- It might’ve been because I read and watched this when I was pretty close to the hero and heroine’s age- but it displayed just how timeless true love could be.
- Spoiler Alert– (if you live under a rock and are unfamiliar with this movie.)Â I still got mad when they died. I do like a HEA.
These were probably the first books and movies that introduced me to
the wonders of romance. I might’ve been the only kid in my class not cringing when the teacher made us watch Romeo & Juliet after we read the book.
Horror-ific
It’s no secret that I love Stephen King. I’ve brought him up time and
time again as one of my favorite chilling authors. It’s also a well-known fact that Stephen likes to make a cameo appearance in most of his movies.
So when I watch the movie, or television mini-series, I’m always keeping an eye out for a sneak peek of the author. Here are two of my favorites.
- The Shining– because- wow–I know people who refuse to watch or read this creepy creation- but I love it.
- The Stand –The only book I’ve read more than once. Although every bit of this massive tome couldn’t fit into the movie, they did a great job.
Magic Masterpieces
- Two words- movies– Harry Potter. Okay, that might be three words. But really, need I say more? The way the books are crafted together still amazes me and the theatrics when they were brought to film opened new doors in my imagination.
- The Lord of the Rings. I adored these books as a teen. I even typed up the poem about the rings and hung it on my bedroom wall. No, that’s not weird. Ahh…hem...Also, the effects of the movies were pretty spectacular.Â
Follow the #MFRW Blog Hop to discover what the other author’s favorite movies that were inspired by books.
Hey Maureen – great movie choices!!!! About Romeo and Juliet – i saw an interview with Nora Roberts once where the interviewer asked her about Romeo andJuliet being the first romance play/story written. Nora almost took the chicks head off! She said, emphatically, “Romeo and Juliet was not a romance. It was a tragedy. They died, for Christs’ sake! No romance ends with the hero and heroine DYING.”” I was laughing and yelling “YOU go, girl!” at the tv so hard.
lol- WTG Nora!
I really do love Gone With the Wind, although I didn’t include it on my own list. I’m not sure why. It’s one of the best character studies ever written, I think. Scarlett is so delusional through most of the book/movie, it’s almost painful 🙂
lol, I agree Sherry. I had a hard time liking Scarlett, but loved the story. Thanks for visiting.
I’d say I’m a mix of your groups. There have been movies I’ve watched then read the book afterwards. Twilight comes to mind because my daughter (who was in middle school at the time) assured me the books were better than the movie after I complained and complained about it after having to take her and her friends to see it. I wasn’t a particular fan of the books either, but it was better than the movie. LOL
Then there’s my list of movies in my post. For my top choices I’ve not read the books associated with them and admittedly probably won’t.
People think I’m crazy for not only living in the south, but in Georgia, but I’ve never read or watched Gone With The Wind. I’ve toured the Margret Mitchell house as a Girl Scout field trip. Does that count?
Meka, I read the Twilight books and liked them but the movies- well. The characters were nothing like I envisioned them. Although “Jacob” onscreen looked better than I envisioned him, lol. Thanks for visiting!
I have to admit, the only Stephen King movie I’ve seen is Firestarter, and loved both book and movie:) I also loved Pet Cemetery and Thinner, but had no desire to see either movie. I started reading Christine, but broke up with the guy before I could finish it.
I’ve forgotten about some of those Stephen King movies, Kenzie. I have watched them all- but most of the books are better. Thanks for visiting!
Great choices.
I’m kind of in between your groups. It all depends… Sometimes I read then watch the movie or the other way around. I saw the movie Romeo and Juliet with my first love at a drive-in. Being young and in love, we stayed to watch it over again. We both cried at the end, twice. I didn’t think about Gone with the Wind for my own list, but should’ve. Nice list, Maureen.
I guess I’m one of the few who has read Gone With The Wind. It was interesting how different it was from the movie (for example: Scarlett marries and has a son, is widowed, and marries again before she ever gets serious with Rhett Butler). That’s why I usually read the book and don’t see the movie. It ticks me off when they change things!
Robin, I agree- the movies usually can’t compare. I enjoyed the book (Gone with the Wind) as well. Thanks for visiting!
I’m in all three of your categories, Maureen. Ultimately, the problem is too many books and too little time. I was thinking this morning that I’d like to go somewhere for a month with my bag of books and my loaded Kindle and catch up.
The Lord of the Rings movies are way better than the books, IMHO, if only because you don’t have to wade through 30,000 pages of boring descriptions. The opposite is true of The Hobbit, though; it’s better than the movies.
Great choices. I loved GWTW and the Harry Potter books. Not much into Horror though.