Literature you'd like to see made into film. This thread was coming sooner or later.

[N D Hill]

What are some good books you'd like to see made into movies? I know for me at least, I have an instinctual fear when it comes to movie adaptations. Mostly because what I picture in my head tends to be so much different and suited to my own tastes (with a few exceptions). Plus I just hate to see things compressed to fit an alloted time when I know a story was originally much more expansive. The phrase "the book was better" isn't said so often for nothing.

In any case though, what would you like to see made?... Just assume they'll do a good job.

I'd like to see:

Dr. R. Bakker's 'Raptor Red.' A book set 120 million years ago through the eyes of Utahraptor. It's actually much better than it sounds.

Tolkien's 'The Hobbit'
Do I honestly need a reason? It shouldn't be done like the LOTR movies though. It was a childrens book and should be done as a childrens movie.

[Sinix]

Vonnegut's "Cat's Cradle" or Palahniuk's "Survivor".

They were going to make Survivor until it got scrapped because of 9/11. I think I heard they were gonna make a Cat's Cradle movie sometime.

I wouldn't mind seeing some cyberpunk based movies.. but I can't picture it being done well... like "snow crash" or "vurt"

[.cfb]

Chapter 23 from "Grapes of Wrath." The part about the indian.

Fahrenheit 451

A GOOD rendition of Battlefield Earth. Not a shitty one.

[grinn]

Dune

not some crappy old movie..or some cheap thing on scifi (though it wasnt all that bad)

I am talking..big budget..starwars/lord of the rings style DUNE

[wassermelone]

Originally posted by Exo Dr. R. Bakker's 'Raptor Red.' A book set 120 million years ago through the eyes of Utahraptor. It's actually much better than it sounds.

Tolkien's 'The Hobbit'
Do I honestly need a reason? It shouldn't be done like the LOTR movies though. It was a childrens book and should be done as a childrens movie. [/B]

Agreed. Raptor Red was a great book.

Oh... and you might just get your wish on that second one. Peter Jackson has signed on for The Hobbit after he finishes his remake of King Kong. I don't know what style he is going to make it in... but hopefully he will want to keep the style (IE children's book) for it.

Other books that I think need to be made into a movie (if that said movie turns out to be good that is):

Terry Pratchett:
Any one of them. I am not sure how easy it would be to keep his style... but they have done off the wall humor before. For example... Princess Bride and Catch 22.

Mossflower by Bryan Jaques:
Probably the most popular children's series before Harry Potter. Sure, Redwall is the one everyone reads... but Mossflower is truly the best writing out of them. It would probably end up just a fun summer movie though.

The Golden Compass by Phillip Pullman:
Hell. Make all the His Dark Materials series. Another children's book... but really a truly excellent series that anyone can love. You can read so much more into it if you are older.

Brightness Reef by David Brin:
Sure... its scifi. But... its not your usualy scifi. No easy access Star Wars here... this is a intelligent man's scifi. Character driven rather "ooo ah" driven. In fact, you would have to make the whole series for this one too. The NEW Uplift Trilogy. While I like the first trilogy, the second trilogy was much better.

-toasty

[cotron]

The "Ice and Fire" Series by George RR Martin... it'd be like a 70 hour movie though

[wassermelone]

Originally posted by cotron
The "Ice and Fire" Series by George RR Martin... it'd be like a 70 hour movie though

I was thinking that... as it is an excellent story so far. An unpredictable series to say the least. I would never have thought that a pseudo fantasy political/war novel would be so good. But, yes, I came to the same conclusion you did. They would NEVER be able to make the movie unless it was 20 movie series, and thats for whats out. Who knows how many more books are in the series.

-toasty

[Erik]

Tshai (Jack Vance)
Foundation Trilogy (Asimov)
Ringworld (Larry Niven)
Heorot (Larry Niven)

Numerous other scifi thingies of course...

[Rockhead]

I know that they are supposedly working on this already but where in all this time has ENDER'S GAME been and the rest of the series. This "book to movie" has been long over due. I'd also like to see a good and accurate translation of any of Crichton's books.

And what about Battle Chasers?
And what about someone doing justice to a video game to movie, Halo could be awesome. Metroid and Spy Hunter are in the works.

[Scubasteve]

I would like to see Michael Moorcocks Elric Saga books on the big screen.

[acid]

jennifer government, by max barry...

[kgb]

Would love to see another Chuck Palahniuk book made into a film. Even though this might not be considered literature but fiction nonetheless.

[ElvisMcVegas]

American Gods- this was suck a good book...also written by Neil Gaiman, so maybe tim burton should direct?

[Lono]

Lullaby by Chuck Palahniuk. same guy who wrote fight club.


survivor is good too but i think lullaby is stronger.

-Lono

[N D Hill]

I just thought of some more that would be absolutely perfect as movies.

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy series would excellent if they were done right.

[Prometheus|ANJ]

It would be cool to see some shorts/novels by Asimov/Clark/Simak/etc. I don't think the longer stories would translate into movies that well though.

[Elwell]

Originally posted by Exo
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy series would excellent if they were done right.

We'll have to wait to see if this qualifies as "done right". I think it's a good sign that they're being so transparent so far, though.

[Marcatili]

grinn- i agree i've always wanted to see a big budget proper job of Dune...the Children of Dune series wasn't bad though

Lono- i reckon Lullaby was stronger than Survivor too...and I think it had a very 'sellable' idea which is what the studios like to take into consideration.

I've always wanted to see Neuromancer as a film but it would be hard to do it well...also I think it might be a bit past it's time now

that'll do

[Blind]

Originally posted by Exo
Tolkien's 'The Hobbit'
Do I honestly need a reason? It shouldn't be done like the LOTR movies though. It was a childrens book and should be done as a childrens movie.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but Peter Jackson has already signed to do this film after he finishes King Kong in '05.

[Nimrod]

I heard Ridley Scott was involved with movie versions of His Dark Materials series. Awesome books, everyone should check them out... It's Paradise Lost for Kids!

[SinisteR]

I believe they should turn the Baldur`s gate series into a movie. There`s enough there to make one. But not about the Player Character, just another one of the Bhaalspawn.

But to me, the game is pretty much literature. The fighting is just a coincidence.
BUT... not reallife, just animated.

[0kelvin]

I would love to see Stephen King's Dark Tower series on screen. It would be so damn hard to get right, though. They would have to find someone who loved and understood the books on the same level as Peter Jackson with LOTR (and also happened to be a competent filmmaker).

It would also be quite difficult to split up as well. You couldn't really make 7 movies, one for each book, because some of them just aren't suited for that. At least with Harry Potter, each of the 7 books are encapsulated neatly into their own story that takes place in the greater arc, but the Dark Tower series is closer to LOTR whereas it's one long story that's been split up.

It's not a challenge I'd want on my plate, but I'm sure someone out there could pull it off.



0kelvin

[softdrawer]

I loved Cyrano de Bergerac on screen with G. Dep.

I wish i could see a better movie version of Hamlet. They made a few that were ok, but never a master piece for my part. I found Hamlet 2000 quite interesting tho.

Also Macbeth... is there a movie about this one ? I don't think i've ever heard of one.

[SinisteR]

MacBeth has been made into a movie. We got it forced down on us in English class.
It was a real old one though.

[fukifino]

Ever since I was a kid I always wanted to see the War of the Lance series turned into a movie trilogy.

Of course, after seeing how bad the Dungeons and Dragons movie was, I lost all hope. But then LotR came out and my hope was restored. It's a series I'd like to see done right, A La LotR...but I know it'd never be done. Still...it's a dream.

[frosty]

Roger Zelazny Amber series only the first 5 books though.

All of Terry Brooks novels.

Rob Howard's Tales of Turlogh the Black and Cormac series.

John Norman's Gore saga, with less S & M please.

Any Asimov.

Also like to see Alien mated with Solaris = intelligent action movie.

[WildSpruceMoose]

Every book released by Blizzard Entertainment except the diablo ones. Their games already have such a movie feel to them and the stories easily translate into a movie.
-Liberty's Crusade
-Shadow of the Xel-Naga
-Speed of Darkness

-Day of the Dragon
-Lord of the Clans
-The Last Guardian

-The Well of Eternity

[RoamDog]

i didn't read anything, so sorry if was posted already and if it was.
awesome!

but anything by David Gemmell should be made into a movie!!!

[Sammy]

I'd like to see a nice version of 'A Wrinkle In Time' made for children.

[N D Hill]

I'd like to see a nice version of 'A Wrinkle In Time' made for children.

They recently had that on ABC as a made-for-TV movie. It absolutely sucked. Everything about it. Disney took one of Madeline Lengle's greatest books and made the most half-assed and ill-concieved effort in making it.

here are some pics from it. http://www.scifisuzi.com/ellendubin/wrinkle.htm

Don't let the article fool you. It really was quite terrible.