Books to Movies and Expectations

Over the weekend, I saw quite a few disappointed Tweets and FB posts about the Beautiful Creatures movie, and possibly an equal amount of praise. The difference seems to be between those who loved the book vs. those who hadn't read it, or were just okay with the book. I haven't read the book (I'm currently listening to it on audio--difficult for this visual girl, but it makes me take longer walks when I'm trying to concentrate on a story), so I quite enjoyed the movie. I didn't know what to be looking for. My brain was not searching for the differences, or waiting for my favorite scene that may or may not have translated.

I had zero expectations aside from being entertained.

(I will now take this pause to say WOW! Ethan was such a FUN character. I'd see it again just to laugh at his lines.)

I like to think that even if I had read and loved the book, I still would have enjoyed the movie for what it was. I think when it comes to movies made from books, you have to consider them two different things. Creations from two different people/groups of people. I flipped this way-of-thinking switch several years ago after watching an interview with the author of P.S. I Love You. She basically said: The book is my baby. The movie is someone else's baby, based off of my book.

Then again, maybe it's just my personality to be able to separate the two. I will admit to being nervous before seeing The Hunger Games adaptation, but despite the differences, I was entertained. I was moved. I enjoyed it. The book and the movie are two different things, and I'm perfectly fine with that.

And I understand that for some, flipping that switch might not be quite that easy. But there is a bright side for you to consider. Even if the movie tanks, the book sales still go up, and that's never a bad thing for anyone.

Tradition!

This time of year when the weather starts cooling off and decorations start going up, I like to bring out the movies that set the mood. Here are some of my seasonal favorites.

Fall:

You've Got Mail
Meet Me in St. Louis
The Nightmare Before Christmas
Hocus Pocus
Casper

Christmas:

Meet Me in St. Louis (yes, again!)
White Christmas
Desk Set
Borrowed Hearts (I THINK this is a Hallmark movie)
The Most Wonderful Time of the Year (Hallmark)
Prancer
The Holiday
Little Women
While You Were Sleeping

Really, this list is probably the tip of the iceberg. I'm a sucker for holiday movies. I don't get the Hallmark channel, but every year my Mom records all the movies she thinks I'll like and we marathon them for weeks. What movies are must-sees for you this time of year? Anything I need to add to my list?

Heightened Reality Trickery

HRT: 
A curious type of deception that presents symptoms when exposed to larger than life scenarios such as written works of fiction, television shows (see also Hallmark, Lifetime, ABC Family, Korean Dramas, Scripted Reality, et al.), movies and stage productions. Symptoms include: brighter colors, selective hearing, rapid pulse. Prolonged exposure may be hazardous.  

In books, we're perfectly okay with the flowery things the hot guy says because, well, he's hot and the whole story has set us up to root for him to say these flowery things so when he finally does we CHEER! We swoon! We melt! But if someone said similar things to us in person, we'd probably roll our eyes and walk swiftly the other direction, mumbling something that sounds like What a pansy.

Then there's TV. Take this season of The Bachelor, for example. Bachelor Ben, very normal looking to the eye, the California-wine-maker-next-door type. He's gone YEARS being a regular guy, grocery shopping and pumping gas in his car just like the rest of us. Suddenly he's on television and thousands of women who now think he's the most beautiful thing that ever walked the planet claw over each other just to get to him. Did that happen to him every time he went to the grocery store before he was on TV? No. The reality has been heightened and the minds of the people have been TRICKED. (I'm not speaking out against him as a person, just demonstrating what HRT does)

These things are all constructed to bring out our emotions, to get us addicted, to make us feel like it's love. The build up of tension and tingly words in the stories we read. The driving music during that scene where the forbidden lovers are shouting at each other in the pouring rain. The guy you wouldn't look at twice out in public that's now on stage with his guitar and suddenly your legs are jelly.

Handy often (lovingly and jokingly) says, "You live your life in the movies, don't you?" or "You live inside your books." *snicker*giggle*snicker* I like to escape to my gushy heightened reality as much as the next person (okay, maybe more). It's not that I'm running from anything, but it's like having the best of a million worlds. In my heightened reality I've survived The Hunger Games! I've gone to school at Hogwarts! I've been a freaking PRINCESS! In my actual reality... I'm the wife to the sweetest guy in the world, I'm a daughter, a dog mom, daughter- and sister-in-law, aunt, friend, a writer who writes her own heightened realities, photographer, crafter, and pizza eater. Who says I can't have it all?  

How about you? Do you let yourself get swept away?

What's up with all the movie photos released?

As much as I love seeing pictures from the upcoming Hunger Games movies, doesn't it feel like they're releasing quite a few of them? Especially seeing as they're still filming? And now there's a teaser trailer coming out this Sunday?? Despite my interest, I can't help feeling that it's a tiny bit premature.

We're seeing this a lot lately. The Twilight movies, The Hobbit, Snow White and the Huntsman. Is this a new trend in movie promotion/hype or has it been going on for a while and I'm just now noticing?

What do you think about this mini-spoilery? Does it seem like too much too soon, or does it help you get excited?  

Crushing on Snape

**If you haven't read the Potter books or have yet to see the newest movie and plan to, you might want to stop reading right here.**

I went to see the final Harry Potter film last Friday with one thing on my mind: Snape.

Okay, so I also had "I CAN'T BELIEVE THIS IS THE LAST ONE" on my mind, but ever since I finished book 7 at 2:30 in the morning in July of 2007 with soaking tissues EVERYWHERE, Snape has burrowed in my heart. 

Alan Rickman played Severus Snape brilliantly throughout the entire series, so I had no doubt his big scene in the finale would prove heartbreaking. It was. Even now, days later, I'm not really thinking about Harry finally sticking it to Voldie, I'm still thinking about Snape; the greatest closet romantic ever written.  

Over and Over and Over

This week, I've taken to putting in movies while getting some things done around the house (another round of Spring cleaning), and I've had a problem. I have a stack of movies I like to watch over and over and over, and I end up staring at them all, unable to pick which one to put in next.

Do you have favorite movies that you could watch over and over again? Here are some of mine:

 

The 2009 BBC version of Emma with Romola Garai and Michael Gambon (Dumbledore!). I love everything about this miniseries. The acting, the story, the Knightley. I recently purchased the soundtrack to write along to, and every time I hear it, I want to pop the DVD in and watch it again!

Favorite quotes: "I suppose you've come to tell me off about the Chinese." -Emma

"Badly done, Emma." -Mr. Knightley

Lost in Austen. What a hilarious swapping of Elizabeth Bennet and modern day Amanda Price. She throws off the whole storyline of Pride and Prejudice, confusing Bingley, Darcy and Wickham. Watch this one with the subtitles--they talk SO fast! Still waiting for the soundtrack to be released!

Favorite quotes: "Are you very angry about my fishy tales?" -Wickham

Amanda: "I can't dance this sort of dance."

Darcy: "Nor I. Together we shall make a shambles. But we shall do it with such authority that everyone will stare at us to learn the step."

--

Amanda: "You're so relentlessly unpleasant! I just can't get at the real you!

Darcy: "Madam! Behold, Fitzwilliam Darcy. I am what I am. If you find yourself unable to get at an alternative version, I must own to being glad. I despise the intrusions of a woman so singularly dedicated to mendacity, disorder and lewdness. They repel me. You repel me. You are an abomination, Madam. Good afternoon to you."

Amanda, after Darcy leaves: If I dream about him tonight, I shall be really angry! ...I'm going to dream about him. Well, I hope in my dream you choke! Hateful man!"

This is my favorite version of Pride and Prejudice, probably because it was the first one I saw, and it kind of started the madness of my love for these types of movies.

Darcy: "Are you rejecting me?"

Elizabeth: "I'm sure that the feelings which, as you've told me, have hindered your regard, will help you in overcoming it."

Darcy: "Might I ask why, with so little endeavor at civility, I am thus repulsed?"

Elizabeth: "And I might as well enquire why, with so evident a design of insulting me, you chose to tell me that you liked me against your better judgment!"

I grew up watching the Back to the Future trilogy, and I never get tired of it. It's SO well done. The twists of the story, the acting, the effects. The whole thing is brilliant. Sadly though, we may be more than four years from hover-boards (the "future" portion takes place in 2015. I'm sure back then it seemed very far away!).

"There's that word again; 'heavy'. Why are things so heavy in the future? Is there a problem with the earth's gravitational pull?" -Doc

"The justice system works swiftly in the future now that they've abolished all lawyers." -Doc

"Crazy drunk pedestrians!" -Red

I don't know what it is about this movie exactly, but I watch it all year, not just at Christmas time. I've always been a fan of Kate Winslet, but she does fantastic with her character in The Holiday, and I want to be friends! I also have the soundtrack to this one!

"You look like my barbie." -Olivia

"You, I can tell, are a leading lady, but for some reason you are behaving like the best friend." -Arthur

Mr. Hobbs Takes a Vacation. There are so many little moments in this gem that could pass you right by without notice. Jimmy Stewart is a comedic genius. 

"This whole place is really lousy with birds." -Mr. Hobbs

Mr. Turner: "You haven't done much walking, have you, Hobbs?"

Mr. Hobbs: "Only since I was about four years old." 

If you haven't noticed yet, I'm a big fan of the old movies (thanks, Mom, for introducing them to me at an early age). Desk Set is so witty, and I've seen it dozens of time, but I still find new bits to laugh at. In this movie, the ladies in the reference department of a TV network are fearful for their jobs when a computer is brought in to help them work faster. And yes, the computer takes up half the room!

"More power to you! You may be lonely, but more power to you!" -Bunny

"It has usually been my experience, when a car cruises around the block, slowly, it has usually been my experience, that they are mostly just looking for a place to park." -Bunny

One of my favorite Monroe movies ever. HILARIOUS seeing the beautiful Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon try to pass themselves off as women to avoid mobsters.

Joe: "Forget about the whole thing, will ya? Just keep telling yourself you're a boy."

Jerry: "I'm a boy. I'm a boy. I wish I were dead. I'm a boy. Boy, oh boy, am I a boy. Now what am I gonna do about my engagement present?"

Joe: "What engagement present?"

Jerry: "Osgood gave me a bracelet."

Joe: "Hey, these are real diamonds!"

Jerry: "Of course they're real! What do you think, my fiance is a bum?" 

--

Jerry: "Will you look at that! Look how she moves! It's like Jell-O on springs. Must have some sort of built in motor or something. I tell you, it's a whole different sex!"

Joe: "What are you afraid of? No one's asking you to have a baby!"

--

Joe: "But you're not a girl, you're a guy. And why would a guy want to marry a guy?"

Jerry: "Security!"

--

Jerry: "Now you've done it! Now you have done it!"

Joe: "Don't what?"

Jerry: "You tore off one of my chests!"

So there are seriously way more movies I could watch nearly daily, but I'll have to share them another time! 

Captain Jack Sparrow Returns

Handy and I went to see the latest Pirates movie on Sunday, in 3D, no less. That was actually a surprise. The price was astronomical. The kid handed us two packages of glasses and I looked at him like he was crazy. "It's in 3D?"... "Um... yep." 3D is pretty neat, until you get so used to it you forget that it's supposed to be special. Not sure it was worth the extra $, but what can you do?

It may seem a little over-the-top to try and squeak out more than a trilogy from a movie franchise, but admit it. You've missed this:

Our favorite pirate is back. He's a little more beaten up and sun-bleached than before, but he's still up to no good, and we love it. (And I may or may not be a little more heavy handed with my eyeliner this week... just for funsies. I work from home, who's gonna know?? ;)

Out of the new additions to this film (mermaids, Angelica, Blackbeard, and Philip), my favorite would have to be the mermaids.

I wasn't sure what to expect with them, but I thought they were incorporated well and I especially love the new character Syrena (pictured above with Philip). 

I honestly didn't miss Will and Elizabeth at all, though I did keep expecting that pirate with the fake eye and his buddy to turn up at some point. They didn't. 

The score is similar to the last three Pirates movies, but there is quite a bit of latin flavor to the new one, which I am loving. Since I like to write to movie soundtracks to keep myself from singing along or accidentally typing out the words, I added this soundtrack to my collection this morning. And BONUS: there are even seven remixes that seriously make me want to dance (or get into a sword fight...). 

Of course, the ending was open enough for another, and apparently they are working on a script for a fifth. But Mr. Depp wants to keep these movies special, and not just keep pumping them out just to do it. I know I'd keep going to see them, so hopefully the script to the new one will be so rockin' he won't be able to say no. I just hope that if he says no, they won't try to make them without him. That has disaster written all over it.   

Have you seen it yet? Did you enjoy it as much as I did?

   

Red Riding Hood and I am Number Four

I'm posting over at booKrushed today with a review of the book Red Riding Hood and a blurb about the movie I am Number Four. CHECK IT OUT!

And don't forget to enter my Birthday Bash!

Yesterday was a great birthday! My mom and I grabbed lunch and went to see I am Number Four, then spent an hour or two in Borders (mine is NOT closing, thank goodness), and I picked up Candor and Anna and the French Kiss as birthday gifts to myself! And I may or may not have been up until 3am last night reading AatFK.... I had to get to a stopping point. Which apparently didn't come until page 219. Words cannot express how much I love this book. Sigh. must. finish. today!

Hubs got me the Bruno Mars CD I've been asking for! I could swim around in the stream that is his voice.... it's beautiful. He also got me a $25 gift certificate to Borders, so it seems I have even MORE books in my future!!!! :)

The Book or the Movie?

It's not a new thing for books to be made into movies, but look how much more often it's being done since the success of Harry Potter and Twilight.  In the YA genre alone, we know The Hunger Games movies are in the works, The Mortal Instruments series, and Incarceron just to name a few.

What do you think about this sudden rise in books to movies?  Do the movies help bring life to the characters you already love, or does it take away from the magic of the story for you?  Can you enjoy them separately from each other?

The author of P.S. I Love You, Cecelia Ahern, addressed the creative liberties movie-makers take when her book was turned into a blockbuster.  She said she had to get it in her head that the book was her baby, and the movie wasn't.  Certainly if the AUTHOR can come to terms with it like that, we, as readers and viewers, could too.

But what if the cast is off? What if the acting is bad? Will it ruin it??

What if the cast is perfect, and the acting is incredible? Will it make us forget about the book and watch the movie instead?

I've been thinking about books vs. their movie counterparts, and came up with a little list.

Title:                                                  Preference:

The Harry Potters                              Love them both
Confessions of a Shopaholic             Movie
The Time Traveler's Wife                 Movie (sorry, folks!)
A Walk to Remember                       Book
Twilight                                            meh... I like that the movies have live boys, but... meh
Love Story                                        Book
The Count of Monte Cristo               Book was good! Movie was better!
Pride and Prejudice                           Movie(s)
Marley and Me                                  Movie was surprisingly good! Book is still better!

Ahead to 2011 -- Back to the Future

It almost sounds space-age doesn't it??  2011?? Are we seriously already here?  You see kids walking around in letter jackets for class of 2013 and you think, it CAN'T BE.  

In one of my favorite movie trilogies, Back to the Future, Marty goes to 2015 (in Part II).  Back in the 80's, with the way technology was developing, they probably really thought we'd be in hover cars by then, and that we could rehydrate food in a device like a microwave and enjoy a large, pre-sliced, steaming hot Pizza Hut pizza.  We laugh at this now, because we are certainly more than 4 years from that sort of advancement, but they did nail a few things.  Flat panel TVs that take up entire walls, thumb print security systems, voice commands, etc.  Still waiting to be able to fly my car around (could you imagine the accident rate! Not to mention insurance!).

So looking ahead to this next year, what are our expectations? Have any goals?

It's really hard to believe we're at this point again where we talk about New Year Resolutions.  I always say I don't want to make any because I rarely follow through with them, but there are definitely a few things I'd LIKE to accomplish this year.  Though I'm not eager to share them because they sound too similar to last year's and I'm pretty sure none of it got done.  Sigh.

If you're into books (as many of my followers are), check out Stephanie's list of books coming out in 2011.    I'm definitely waiting on some of these.  

There are also movies coming out in 2011 that I'll definitely be seeing: 

Water for Elephants - After I read the book, I seriously didn't think I'd go see this movie (especially because of the Reese/R-Pat pair up), but I just watched the trailer, and it looks sort of good (and the soundtrack sounds awesome).

Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides - Though I'm not much of a Penelope Cruz fan, this movie is all about CAPTAIN JACK SPARROW and that's enough for me.  Check out the trailer, it looks pretty good :)

The Green Hornet - Now, I'm not always into superhero movies that don't include RDJ or Christian Bale, but this one looks a bit hilarious.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part II -- Can't wait for the trailer for this!

Breaking Dawn -- Because there's no NOT going to see it.

What Gets You in the Mood?

For Thanksgiving?!  Get your mind out of the gutter ;)

I'm on the hunt for movies that make you feel the coziness that Autumn is supposed to bring.  Houston doesn't see much of a fall scene, so I have to encourage the season along with lots of pumpkins, leaves, and orange lights, and it doesn't hurt to pop in a movie I love watching this time of year. 

In October, I try to watch The Nightmare before Christmas, Hocus Pocus, Casper, and Meet Me in St. Louis. 

December gets LOTS of movies!  Meet Me in St. Louis (AGAIN!), It's a Wonderful Life, Borrowed Hearts, Miracle on 34th Street, The Holiday, Little Women, that cheesy movie where the woman gets pulled into her dryer to an alternate reality.... the list goes on and on!  And yes, I love those silly Lifetime Christmas movies... and the ABC Family ones.

But November usually gets You've Got Mail, and.... and.... and what???  Thanksgiving movies are seriously lacking!!  What do you watch this time of year?  What puts you in the turkey and cranberry mood?

Couples on the Big Screen!

Have you noticed a theme this week??? 

COUPLES!

Sure this would have been good to do in February, but this Angel/Buffy thing has me all in a tizzy, and thinking about other couples I love.  Here are some of my favorite on screen couples! (in no particular order)

1) Jenna and Matty - 13 Going on 30 - this is one of my favorite chick flicks.  Jenna basically sees what her future would be like with life long friend Matty always just out of reach.  Will she get to right the wrong before it's too late???  Sigh.

2) Christine and Raoul - The Phantom of the Opera - I was impressed with the movie version of this musical.  Emmy Rossum is a doll face, and Patrick Wilson has the most amazing singing voice.... I have the DVD and the soundtrack. :)

3) Amanda and Mr. Darcy - Lost in Austen - Words cannot describe how much I love this mini-series. Yes, it's long, but it's so great. Amanda is a modern day girl that trades places with Elizabeth Bennett and the story goes topsy turvy.  Hilarious, dramatic, romantic... LOVE IT. LOVE THEM!

4) Emma and Mr. Knightley - Emma (BBC Mini-series) - This is an amazing adaptation of Jane Austen's Emma.  The actors are all PERFECT for their roles, and Emma and Mr. Knightley are PRECIOUS. I watch this over and over again. 

5) Aragorn and Arwen - Lord of the Rings - I read somewhere that this was THE moneymaker of all big-screen couples.  Women all over the globe sat through orcs and hobbits and sword fights just to see if these two would make it.  (Personally... I liked the action... (and Legolas Greenleaf, hello--why didn't he get a girl?))  But I loved the drama of their fight to stay together.  And their costumes were purty.

6)  Danielle and Henry - Ever After - I adore this movie.  It's a sweet retelling of Cinderella, with the lovely Drew Barrymore and an even lovelier man with an accent. ;)

7) Grace and Bob - Return to Me - Did Bonnie Hunt just do an amazing job with this movie, or what?  It's such a heartbreaking movie... but lovely.  

8) Kathleen and Joe - You've Got Mail - Once you get past how much the name Kathleen doesn't really fit Meg Ryan, you really root for these two to figure out they have been emailing each other.  Such a cute story.  I watch it quite often, but especially during the holiday season.

9) Lucy and Jack - While You Were Sleeping - One of my ALL-TIME favorite movies.  Bill Pullman was in his prime, and the chemistry between him and Bullock was priceless.  Love love love rooting for this couple throughout the movie.  It's witty, romantic... sigh.

10) Jane and Joe - Summer Stock - Such simple names... but so not a simple relationship.  She's engaged to a fuddy duddy, he's dating her sister--but they have more in common with each other, don't they?  Yep!  This is one of my favorite old musicals.  Gene Kelly and Judy Garland were tops.  They don't make em like they used to.  I love me some Gene.

BONUS!) Sabrina and Linus - Sabrina - There is just something about this movie... sure Harrison has gotten old by this point, but I'm completely hooked.  I rooted for Linus all along, despite Greg Kinnear's stellar performance (as in everything he does) as David--he does have the best drug induced lines though: "Do the dry cleaners have your car?..... How do you get there?"

Alice in Wonderland

Down the rabbit hole...

I just saw Alice in Wonderland (in 3D) today, and I have to say, it completely exceeded my expectations. This is such a beautiful movie. It's impossible to describe how it made me feel.
I mean, just look at the world Tim Burton has created:

It's such an interesting story of Alice's return to Wonderland--though she doesn't remember being there before--to help defend the inhabitants from the Red Queen. Parts are funny, parts are sad, everything is beautiful. Gorgeous. I can't get the images out of my head.
Mia Wasikowska (pronounced vash-i-kov-ska) did an incredible job. Several times I had to remind myself that she was not Claire Danes--she looks a lot like her!
I expect great things from this young lady!

My favorite character from the movie:

The Cheshire Cat. I loved the animation of this guy... the way he just floats around and evaporates... so incredibly cool.

You may want to brush up on your Jabberwocky before seeing the film, though. You'll pick up on a lot more if you are a bit familiar with some of the terms. I'll highlight a few of them here:

Jabberwocky
by Lewis Carroll

'Twas brillig, and the slithy toves
Did gyre and gimble in the wabe;
All mimsy were the borogoves,
And the mome raths outgrabe.

"Beware the Jabberwock, my son!
The jaws that bite, the claws that catch!
Beware the Jubjub bird, and shun
The frumious Bandersnatch!"

He took his vorpal sword in hand:
Long time the manxome foe he sought—
So rested he by the Tumtum tree,
And stood awhile in thought.

And as in uffish thought he stood,
The Jabberwock, with eyes of flame,
Came whiffling through the tulgey wood,
And burbled as it came!

One, two! One, two! and through and through
The vorpal blade went snicker-snack!
He left it dead, and with its head
He went galumphing back.

"And hast thou slain the Jabberwock?
Come to my arms, my beamish boy!
O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!"
He chortled in his joy.

'Twas brillig, and the slithy toves
Did gyre and gimble in the wabe;
All mimsy were the borogoves,
And the mome raths outgrabe.


Of course, Johnny Depp is ever-brilliant, but at times it seemed as if he didn't know if he was the Mad Hatter or Jack Sparrow. Maybe I've just seen Pirates too many times and forget that Jack's mannerisms are, in fact, Johnny's. The Hatter changed accents so often, so as to affirm his "madness" I'm assuming, that it was difficult to follow his goal at times. He also said quite a few phrases I couldn't understand. I suppose this was intentional... but it was a bit irritating.

On the whole, the story was interesting and exciting, the acting was good all around, the characters were sympathetic, the COSTUMES WERE INCREDIBLE (I want Alice's red dress), and the animation was top of the line (see it in 3D!).
And as always, musical genius Danny Elfman envelops the story with a gorgeous score.

I recommend it to any Tim Burton fan, because there was no doubting for even an instant that this was his work.

Well done. Loved it. Lived up the the hype.