Darn you Hollywood, from great books come bleh movies

from JoeUser Forums
I've left my TV parked on HDNet Movies today (nice channel, btw) and currently have the showing of the movie: The Firm on. It's an "ok" movie I guess, but one that I really wish had remained more "true to the book." If you've been by my blog before, you may have seen me make positive comments about John Grisham's books in the past. I normally enjoy them a lot, though I will also say that there have been times when he has taken the 'easy way out' in the endings of a few of them.

The Firm was one of the first (the first?) of Grisham's books that was turned into a film. It was given an all-star cast, with the up-and-coming Tom Cruise, Hal Holbrook, Gene Hackman, Jeanne Tripplehorn, David Straitharn, Holly Hunter, Gary Busey and more (including Ed Harris in a bit part). Unfortunately it was also given a completely different ending from the original book. Up until that part of the film, it's actually not that far from the original story in the book.

I understand that there are times when films based on books have to take creative license and some major editing must be done, but the ending of The Firm just seems so anti-climatic and dull when compared to the book that it leaves me feeling the whole movie is just bleh.

Similar problems have happened with other Grisham books, and with Tom Clancy's and others. I wish that Hollywood would figure out to stay truer to the works of the authors they use for inspiration for the movies they make. Perhaps they'd be more enjoyable and I would feel more inspired to go out of my way to visit a movie theatre to "consume their products."
11,142 views 5 replies
Reply #1 from JoeUser Forums Top

There is one maxim in Tinsel town.  Learn it and never be disappointed. 

If you want to see a great movie, DONT READ THE BOOK.

Reply #2 from JoeUser Forums Top
This is something that drives me crazy too. I loved the Firm book. It was a real page turner. Very fast paced and one that you didn't want to put down. The movie maintained some of the urgency but I really didn't understand the need to change th ending. The ending in the book worked.

I haven't seen Memoirs of a Geisha because I know it will be a disappointment after reading the book. I think the only movie that didn't disappoint me after reading the book was Misery but even then I think having his foot chopping off was better than having it smashed. Why do they have to change things like that.

That is another thing that I love about the Harry Potter movies. They can't include everything that is in the books but they still stay true to the books. No major changes or merging of two characters together a la the Stand.

Also I think many movies that come from the book seem to be miscast. Sometimes the actor they put in a part doesn't match the image I had in my head at all.
Galactic Civilizations III
Reply #4 from JoeUser Forums Top
You're righ terp, it seems like Hollywood just doesn't get it: when making a movie based on a book, stay as true to the book as possible. Then fans of the book will be happy because they wan to see a faithful adaptation, and people unfamiliar with the book will be treated to a good story (unless the book isn't any good, in which case they shouldn't be making the film in the first place).

Just look at Lord of the Rings, The Chronicles of Narnia, and Harry Potter (as Locamama pointed out). Each of these was faithful to the source material for the most part, and they were also all wildly successful at the box office.
Reply #5 from JoeUser Forums Top
Well, gone were the days that it only cost 5 bucks to see a show that didnt live up to its expectation. Now, when you get disappointed, you really get disappointed.