If you could turn your favorite book into a movie..

[Trillian]

Okay, if you could have complete creative control of the film adaptation of your favorite book, how would you do it? What style of film would you use? What actors would you cast to play the characters? OR, would you not do it at all? And if not, why not?

I think that I would do Edward Abbey's The Monkey Wrench Gang. I'm not sure about the style, although an old-west tone would be appropriate. I would cast the characters as follows.

Jack Mormon - Gary Oldman ( he can be anyone)
Bonnie Abbzug - Kate Winslet
Seldom Seen - Robert Carlyle
Doc Sarvis - Robbie Coltrane
George Hayduke - Henry Rollins

[JBI]

I wouldn't. Movie versions 99/100 times are inferior.

[Oniw17]

I don't think that the Republic would make a good movie, most of it is just talking. However, I wouldn't mind somebody making a mvie out of Keith Taylor's Bard. I would cast Shaun White as Felimid mac Fal; Connan Stevens as Tosti; Mark William Calaway as King Oisc; and Vanessa Ferlito as Regan. I'm not sure about the style, and of course, I would never make a movie.

[Mockingbird_z]

Afterdark by Murakami would make a good film I think.

[AwayAloneAlast]

I think it'd be really interesting to see a stage version of Paradise Lost. I don't know how it would work, and it would require a production of the highest genius, but if it could be pulled off--man, what a triumph!

[Mockingbird_z]

2 Antiquarian
Keira Knightley as Anna Karenina? well did you see her in Doctor Zhivago?
I dont think Keira can play a russian woman, she is too English-like (though I have nothing against the English or Keira's talent). i think the best role she has played was Lizzy Bennet (Pride and Prejudice).
i think French actrees Juliette Binoche (sorry dont know the right spelling of the name) might play Karenina.

[rachel_bookworm]

The Color Purple by Alice Walker is my favourite ever book, which is already a film. I think Whoopi Goldberg really plays her beautifully. And I like the comical feel to Albert.

Hmm, I think if I had a choice of the film i would most definately NOT turn into a film, it would be Jane Austen's Mansfield Park, as no one would come to see it! :p

[Bakiryu]

Ender's Game would make a pretty good indie movie. Also Twilight by Stephanie Meyer.

My other two favorite books Eragon and The Hitchhikers' guide to the galaxy, have been already made into movies, but oh god, they sucked!

[Dark Muse]

I would really like to see The Legend of Nightfall by Mickey Zucker Reichert made into a movie, and I think Johnny Depp would be perfect to play Nightfall

[bazarov]

Anna Karenina was black haired. Maybe Catherine Zeta Jones or Monica Bellucci, they also look much stronger than Kiera.

[PeterL]

Bored of the Rings Would be an excellent movie, and it would be best as a mix of amimation and live actors.

[Tournesol]

I think I would love to see 'The Crysalids' [John Wyndham] come alive on screen, but only if the director does it well. Nothing must be left out!

I don't know his name, but the little dude who acted in 'Spiderwick Chronicles' [and he was in 'Nanny McPhee' as well], he would play David really well.
And Dakota Fanning is the only precocious little girl I can think of to play Sophie Wender.

[Mockingbird_z]

Is there a film based on Orwell's 1984?
would you like it to be? (I guess the Hollywood would make out of it a sunning thriller)

[Luce]

There is a film entiteld "1984" with William Hurt.

[Mockingbird_z]

thanks.=)
when was it shot?

[Mojo_08]

Brave New World. But I have no idea who I would cast as anyone. Apparently there have been two film versions of this classic novel done in Britain, but I've never been able to find the video in a video store, or even online. Odd. Is it being censored here in Homeland USA?

I'd like to see Denis Johnson's Resuscitation of a Hanged Man filmed. My first thought for English, the protagonist, would be Ben Stiller....but does he do serious roles? Probably better would be Robin Williams. He has that perfect combination of tragi-comic heft to play Leonard English. Maybe Angelica Huston as Leanna? No, she's probably too old now. Someone like her, though. Dennis Hopper as that crazy vet that English meets while moonlighting as a DJ in Provincetown. It'd be a hard novel to transfer to film, because so much of the story is English's philosophical and religious introspection.

[antiprefix]

I think a lot of movies destroy the integrity of the work. Sin City, although based on a series of graphic novels, was well done.

Hmmmmm, I'd like to see more Raymond Carver stories made into films. Shortcuts, a collection of his stories, was already made into an extremely successful/critically acclaimed film.

[Pseudōnumos]

I'm not so sure about directing film adaptations of some of my favorite novels, but I would love to have some control over a new film production of Beckett's Waiting For Godot. My first time through the play gave the dialogue such an intense sporadic, fast-paced rhythm that contrasted and basically lurched when the stage directions called for pauses and prolonged silences. I think the play loses a lot in just that when productions have Estragon and Vladamir converse at a conventional speed, as all the productions I've seen have done. I'm wondering if I'm alone on this one? I'll have to give the casting some more though, but I do know I would stray away from everyone looking like a chimney sweep.

[Sarasvati21]

I wouldn't do it. I am always disappointed with others' ideas of what the book should be, and I'm sure I would disappoint people with my version. I wouldn't want to limit people's imaginations to only what I see when I read.

[Joreads]

I would love to see The Road made into a movie. I get the feeling it would be just as powerful on film as in print

[kelby_lake]

There is a film entiteld "1984" with William Hurt.

There are 2 versions of this and apparantly a third on the way...

I'd do 'Giovanni's Room'

[Sir Bartholomew]

i'd turn Persuasion to this contemporary filipino movie (like what they did in Clueless) but harsher. i would end the movie with Anne running after Wentworth after reading his letter and give a Breakfast at Tiffany-ish ending (with the rain and cat and all). all the songs would be from Saint Etienne with their Jack Lemmon in the final credits.

[valleyjune]

[QUOTE=Bakiryu;545556]Ender's Game would make a pretty good indie movie.

I agree, it would be perfect and probably the second part of the trilogy, as well. John Malcovich for sure for some elderly role. I could not imagine anyone I know for young Ender, though.... :confused:

[johann cruyff]

I watched the adaptation of The Trial with Orson Welles a few days ago and didn't really like it - I also watched the movie based on The Death and the Dervish(produced in Yugoslavia) and was quite disappointed - it made me realize that no book I love can be adapted into a good movie:(

BTW,has anyone seen that Crime & Punishment movie with Patrick Dempsey(I didn't really know about him before that,and a friend of mine told me he's apparently very popular these days?)? It also features Ben Kingsley IIRC...anyway,that film was decent - the only C&P movie I saw,though.What is the best movie adaptation of this book anyway?

[waryan]

There is a film entiteld "1984" with William Hurt.

I think a 1984 movie is also coming out in 2009


Maybe even more so.

Also THE ROAD movie I think is coming out this year.

[Woland]

The Hawkmoon series by Moorcock would make a visually stunning movie.