Armchair BEA Day 4 - Book to Movie Adaptations

If there is one thing that I enjoy, is watching book to movie adaptations.  There are times in which I don't get to read the book right away, but do eventually do get around to reading the book.

Here are a couple of my favourites:

About a Boy - I did read the book afterwards and the movie was fairly faithful to the book and it was quite enjoyable as a film

Sense and Sensibility - while there are some aspects of the movie adaptation which seem a little far-fetched (one being Emma Thompson playing the role of a character who is probably 15-20 years younger), it is a pretty good adaptation and had a really good cast (Hugh Laurie is in the film and it wasn't until much later that I was able to recognize him in the film).  I didn't even recognize Alan Rickman when I first watched the film, as I remember him being the Sheriff of Nottingham in Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves

Pride and Prejudice (1995) - Probably my favourite adaptation.  Personally I don't care if there are things that are different, I just really like how the miniseries was able to capture the book very well.  And while Kiera Knightly did a good job as Elizabeth in the movie that came out 10 years earlier, I just feel that this is the best adaptation of the book out there.  Doesn't hurt that I began a life-long love with Colin Firth (I have watched a number of his other movies, including A Single Man, which was excellent).

North and South (2004) - Love this miniseries.  Now I don't know how accurate the miniseries to the book and how much was and wasn't included from the book in the miniseries, but I  know that I just find Richard Thorton gorgeous and every summer I will sit down and watch it again.

Jane Eyre (2006) - Having read the book a number of times, I find it a pretty faithful adaptation. There are a few things that are different in the miniseries than what is included in the book, but for the most part it is pretty faithful to the book and enjoy watching it from time to time.

There are others that I could mention, but since I feel the need for a nap, I am going to stop here.

A Christmas Carol (1951)

Title: A Christmas Carol
Director: Brian Diamond Hurst
Running time: 86 min
Released: 1951

Description: An old bitter miser is given a chance for redemption when he is haunted by ghosts on Christmas Eve. (via IMDb.com)

Thoughts: This is probably my favourite Christmas movie and has been for some time.  I know for a lot of people its something else, but because my dad would often seek out this version of the film, we would usually watch it at some point during the Christmas holidays, usually Christmas Day or Boxing Day.  While I do like the Disney animated version, this is the version that I grew up with as a kid, mind you it was the colour version, but when we did watch the black & white version, it always creeped me out, especially since the shadows seemed more sinister, and it is always the one that I will have a special kinship towards.

National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation

Title: National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation
Director: Jeremiah S. Chechik
Running time: 97 min.
Released: 1989

Description: The Griswold family's plans for a big family Christmas predictably turn into a big disaster.  (via IMDb)

Thoughts:  I had never heard about this movie until about 10 years ago and about 3 years ago, I purchased a copy of the movie and ever since I have watched the movie at Christmas time; it is definitely one of my favourites and can see why it has become a modern Christmas classic.  Recommended.

A Christmas Story

Title: A Christmas Story
Director: Bob Clark
Running time: 93 min.
Released: 2003 (originally released 1983)

Description: Nine-year-old Ralphie desperately wants a Red Ryder BB-gun for Christmas, over his parents' objections. (via Fraser Valley Regional Library)

Thoughts: I had heard about this movie from several friends of mine and had seen a few scenes of this movie and when I finally sat down and watched this movie a few years ago, I got what they were talking about and definitely became one of my favourites.  If you are wondering what my favourite scene is, its the one with Ralphie in the pink bunny outfit.

The Holiday

Title: The Holiday
Director: Nancy Meyers
Running time: 138 min.
Released: 2006

Description: Amanda lives in Los Angeles and is a movie trailer editor. Iris lives in Surrey, England and is a journalist. The two live five thousand miles apart and have never met, but are dealing with the same problem: men. Amanda just broke up with her cheating boyfriend. Iris has pined for her ex. They both come upon a website that advocates home exchange and the two swap houses for two weeks at Christmas - both with a goal to forget their troubled love lives. Love ends up finding them anyways. Amanda starts a romance with Iris' older brother, Graham, a book editor and Iris starts a romance with a friend of Amanda's, movie composer Miles. With new found romance, both their lives change forever. (via fvrl.bc.ca)

Thoughts: I didn't know what to think of this movie, as I had heard that it was kinda formulaic, but after a discussion with friends at a Christmas dinner party on Saturday evening, I warmed up to the thought of this movie and thought it might be something that I would like.  And sure enough we did watch the movie and I enjoyed it immensely.  I honestly didn't know what to expect from the movie and by the time the final credits had rolled around, I actually could say that it was a movie that I would put on my favourites list.  While the last movie that I reviewed will always have a special place in my heart, this movie is perfectly sweet without being too sweet.

Bottom line:  If you enjoy watching romantic Christmas movies, but don't want them to be too sappy, I would recommend this movie.  Its good for a snowy/rainy afternoon/evening when all you want to do is curl up on the couch.   Its also good for a girls movie night as well.  Recommended.

Amanda lives in Los Angeles and is a movie trailer editor. Iris lives in Surrey, England and is a journalist. The two live five thousand miles apart and have never met, but are dealing with the same problem: men. Amanda just broke up with her cheating boyfriend. Iris has pined for her ex. They both come upon a website that advocates home exchange and the two swap houses for two weeks at Christmas - both with a goal to forget their troubled love lives. Love ends up finding them anyways. Amanda starts a romance with Iris' older brother, Graham, a book editor and Iris starts a romance with a friend of Amanda's, movie composer Miles. With new found romance, both their lives change forever. - See more at: http://fvrl.bibliocommons.com/item/show/1472439021_the_holiday#sthash.vLf5POkg.dpuf

Amanda lives in Los Angeles and is a movie trailer editor. Iris lives in Surrey, England and is a journalist. The two live five thousand miles apart and have never met, but are dealing with the same problem: men. Amanda just broke up with her cheating boyfriend. Iris has pined for her ex. They both come upon a website that advocates home exchange and the two swap houses for two weeks at Christmas - both with a goal to forget their troubled love lives. Love ends up finding them anyways. Amanda starts a romance with Iris' older brother, Graham, a book editor and Iris starts a romance with a friend of Amanda's, movie composer Miles. With new found romance, both their lives change forever. - See more at: http://fvrl.bibliocommons.com/item/show/1472439021_the_holiday#sthash.vLf5POkg.dpuf

Love Actually

Title: Love Actually
Director: Richard Curtis
Running time: 135 min
Released: 2004 (originally released 2003)

It's all about love and holiday cheer in London. The Prime Minister is smitten with his caterer; a widower's young son nurses the ultimate schoolboy crush; a writer falls for his Portuguese housekeeper; a devoted wife and mother copes with her potentially unfaithful husband; and a lovelorn American is desperately attracted to a colleague.

Thoughts: I reviewed this movie about two years ago and it still remains one of my favourite Christmas films.  Watched it with my mom last night and she had a blast watching it with me.  Like I said in the previous review, the thing I like about the movie is that its about different kinds of love, whether it be love that is unrequited or love that is starting out or love that comes from being a part of a family and so forth.  My favourite part of the movie are the opening and closing scenes of the arrivals lounge at Heathrow.  I also like how the characters cross paths with each other and how they are interrelated with each other, even if its very loose.


Bottom line: If you are a fan of Curtis' other films, Notting Hill or Four Weddings and a Funeral or a fan of any of the actors in the movie, I think you'll enjoy it (and yes at least three of the actors showed up in the Harry Potter films at some point).

Les Miserables

Title: Les Miserables
Director: Tom Hooper
Running Time: 152 min.
Released: 2012

Description: In 19th-century France, Jean Valjean, who for decades has been hunted by the ruthless policeman Javert after he breaks parole, agrees to care for factory worker Fantine's daughter, Cosette. The fateful decision changes their lives forever. (via IMDb.com)

Thoughts: Normally I save my blog for things that I read, not for the movies based on books/plays/musicals, but this is a special movie, especially since I had just finished the book just prior to seeing the movie.

I loved the movie and as I write this, I am very seriously considering purchasing the movie when it comes out on DVD (and also Lincoln).  Since I had just finished the book, a lot of the plot in the book was still freshly in my head, so it saved me from having to quickly read a brief summary of the book before going to the movie, although I wish that the woman that was sitting near me had, as she was asking her husband quite loudly to explain the movie and it was quite distracting, and if I had been on my own, I would have moved, like the lady on the other side of this individual, not say that her phone went off during the final scene in the movie (people, if you go to a movie, please turn the ringer off, at the very least; it is distracting to those around you that want to watch the movie; there is a reason that they ask you to turn off your phone's ringer before the movie starts).

Anyways, it was excellent.  And even though I hadn't read at least the first 1/3 of the movie in about a year, the story started to come back to me as the film was being played out.  And of course there were things in the movie that were left out from the book.  And granted that its a 1200+ page book, one can be excused for taking somethings out of the story, especially since it was adapted from the musical, which was adapted from the book, I assume.

One of the best parts was that I recognized most of the cast from various movies and mini-series that I have watched over the years, although it took me a bit of time to recognize Sacha Baron Cohen, who portrayed Thénardier.  And no matter how many roles Amanda Seyfried does, she will always be Lily Kane to me.

Hope you get sometime to watch this movie sometime soon, as I would think its going to win some big awards come award season.

Love Actually

Title: Love Actually
Director: Richard Curtis
Running time: 135 min
Released: 2004 (originally released 2003)

It's all about love and holiday cheer in London. The Prime Minister is smitten with his caterer; a widower's young son nurses the ultimate schoolboy crush; a writer falls for his Portuguese housekeeper; a devoted wife and mother copes with her potentially unfaithful husband; and a lovelorn American is desperately attracted to a colleague.

Thoughts:  One of my favourite Christmas films.  It is also one of my favourite films to just sit down and watch for a few hours on a night when I am felling somewhat gloomy and need a bit of a pickup.  One thing I like about the movie is that it shows love in the different ways that it can manifest itself.  While a lot of it deals with romantic love, there is also the love we have for family members and for those that we close to, whether it be through working relationships or through friendships.  Overall, its a good movie that can probably be viewed at any time of the year.

A Christmas Story

Title: A Christmas Story
Director: Bob Clark
Running time: 93 min.
Released: 2003 (originally released 1983)

Nine-year-old Ralphie desperately wants a Red Ryder BB-gun for Christmas, over his parents' objections. (via Fraser Valley Regional Library)

Thoughts: Definitely a favourite of mine.  What I love about the movie is the individual vignettes that occur throughout the film, with the connection that Ralphie wanting a Red Ryder BB-gun no matter what the situation.  Favourite moment is the pink bunny outfit that is sent by a family member for Ralphie.  Love the simplicity of the movie.  Will likely watch this one again before the season is out.

Disney's A Christmas Carol

Title: Disney's A Christmas Carol
Director: Robert Zemeckis
Running Time: 96 min.
Released: 2010

Ebenezer Scrooge begins the Christmas holiday with his usual miserly contempt, barking at his faithful clerk and his cheery nephew. But when the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Yet to Come take him on an eye-opening journey revealing truths Old Scrooge is reluctant to face, he must open his heart to undo years of ill will before it's too late. Includes featurettes, and deleted scenes. (via Fraser Valley Regional Library)

Thoughts: While I still think that the 1951 version with Alastair Sim in the lead role is the best version out there (I know everybody has their favourite version so I am not going to debate everybody on the best version), this one is definitely up there and is probably my no. 2 and it is more accurate to the novel, including things that weren't included in the 1951 version that my family so loves.  It is rated PG, so I wouldn't recommend it to those with young children as there are some "scary moments", especially with the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come (even I got a little freaked out when I first watched this in the theatre), but other than that, I highly recommend it.

A Charlie Brown Christmas

Title: A Charlie Brown Christmas
Author: Charles Schulz
Running Time: 26 min.

Thoughts: I have watched this a number times, at least I did when I was when I was a kid.  But a number of years had passed until I watched it again a couple years ago.  While it is a simple message, in that we need to find the true meaning of Christmas and not focus on the commercial aspects of Christmas as much as we do.  Overall its a great little film that one can pull out year after year and the meaning won't be lost.