Books to Movies

This is a fairly hot topic right now, I'm sure, considering the fact that one of the biggest sensations since Twilight just hit the movie theaters this past weekend. Yes, I'm talking about Hunger Games again.

Interestingly enough, having just finished reading Mansfield Park (and watching this movie rendition of it), coupled with seeing Hunger Games right on the 23rd, the topic of books-to-movies is on my mind, and I have lots to say about it.

I'll begin with this bit of information about me: I love movies.

I'd like to modify that and say I love good movies, and only some genres of good movies, but just in general, from a creative standpoint, a well-done, beautifully photographed movie never fails to captivate me. In fact, I'd go so far as to say that if I didn't want to dance, write, or be a mommy, I'd direct movies happily for the rest of my life.

That being said, you can imagine how I anticipate/dread/feel about books-to-movies.

First off, I think there's not enough knowledge among people about what it takes to make a good movie. The pacing, the acting, the music, the photography-- all of it, so important! In the case of taking a (well known, or not) novel, and putting it on the screen, many people expect to see it done with perfect faithfulness to the book. And it isn't. Once they've been disappointed, they will not have it happen again. After all, movies should match the book perfectly. Every detail should be immaculate. IT SHOULD WATCH LIKE IT READS.

Right?

Wrong.

Fact is, it just doesn't work like that. Hunger Games, as a novel, reads a specific way. It's gripping, it's fast, it's in-your-face... all that jazz. If you tried to take that and put it on the screen exactly as its written, dialogue, descriptions and all, you'd have a long, poorly paced, fairly boring movie. Just think about it. Read a couple pages out loud to yourself, and imagine you see a movie panning out.

At the end of the day, it'd be nothing like your favorite, well-done movies.

This is the point I see so many people missing.

Sure, Peeta's eyes are blue, not brown. (I do confess to bellyaching about that. I mean, in this day and age of technology, couldn't someone have fixed that!?) Prim doesn't have anything to do with Katniss's Mockingjay pin. The muttations are supposed to have dead-tribute-colored eyes. The Avox girl has a role... in the book. But pacing-wise? Importance-wise? These things are details. In a movie, they would slow and clutter. And as we all know, we're an entertainment-obsessed culture, and if it's not fast enough or gripping enough or attention-grabbing enough, we lose interest.

Books are one thing, movies are another.

Movie-makers supply what's in demand.

Anyway, all that to say, before you complain about all the flaws of a director's vision for a book-inspired movie, step back, and view it from their more experienced eyes. Try to look at them as two separate works of art: the book, and the movie. I'm not saying there's an excuse for the sheer awfulness of the Eragon movie, nor am I defending actor-Harry Potter's blue eyes, or the fact that this version of Mansfield Park is so unlike the novel, it shouldn't even have the same title. (In its defense, it only says it's inspired by the book. And it IS fabulous, all this-isn't-true-to-Jane-Austen issues aside.)

All I'm saying is that we need some more perspective. An awareness that novels and movies are two very different things. They're each paced differently, created differently, and often made for a different market and audience. If we can keep these things in mind, we won't be so disappointed when we leave the theater. (Or the TV room, if you're a Netflix junkie, like me.)

That's about all I've got for today. Have a marvelous Saturday!

Best Part of Today: Knocking off ALL my chem homework, thus freeing myself for SPRING BREAK WEEK!
Currently Craving: French Vanilla ice cream.
Music Pick: "Mozart Symphony 29 (2nd movement)" by Mozart (duh!)

I'm Reading: Haven't decided... just finished "Divergent" by Veronica Roth

WIP: Blink re-writes (?? words) ON HOLD!

Appreciating Spring

The (completely un-edited) sky yesterday. BREATHTAKING!

Happy Spring, everyone! I know, I know, it's been spring for a couple days now. But it's never too late to spread the cheer, right?

I wanted to talk about a few things that I'm hoping to change in the future, as well as what's been up, and I figured my latest favorite picture (<= it's right over there...) would compliment it all perfectly. Or at least lend its beauty for your enjoyment.

Firstly, I saw Hunger Games last night. Yes, I did go on opening day, and stood in a line that was sadly empty of fan-gear-clad-people-less (I stood out proudly in my Hunger Games T-shirt), but had no shortage of braids. All I can say without spoiling it for you is that YOU SHOULD SEE IT. I agree with Suzanne Collins that the book and movie complement and enhance each other. It's one of the most well-done book-to-screen adaptions I've seen, possibly ever. Aside from Peeta's brown eyes, I don't have much to complain about.

Secondly, and kind of back on the subject of blogging and being late, I'd like to commit to blogging at least 3 times a week. It struck me the other day talking to Taryn that some people are actually really dedicated to their blogs, and that most of my posts are apologies for NOT blogging. I want this to change. So, starting Monday, you'll hear from me more often. If it ever becomes too much, just tell me to stop. Or you could just not comment. Eventually, I'll get the hint.

Finally, I've been in a very stressful place in my life lately that's made online things of all sorts trickier. Writing, Write On!-ing, Tweet-ing, and Facebook-ing are all being pushed to the bottom of my priority list as my graduation creeps up on me, and as I struggle to get all my credits in a row, and get that diploma. And when I say struggle, I mean struggle. There's a lot to do, on top of trying to adjust to a new work schedule, and unfortunately, the creative things will just have to wait. There will be time in the summer.

SO, that being said, if I've been a bit of a no-show for lots of things (including this blog, for that matter) you know why. It's not an excuse, but it's a reason. I've got to go out with a bang. (And by bang, I mean an "A")

I've by no means covered all the "changes" I meant to talk about, but I'll have to save it for one of my 3 posts this coming week.

Until then, thanks for reading, and have a Happy Saturday!

Best Part of Today: I don't even know. Root beer Zevia?
Currently Craving: A CUPCAKE.
Music Pick: "Secrets" by OneRepublic

I'm Reading: "Mansfield Park" by Jane Austen (STILL! But loving it.)

WIP: Blink re-writes (26,803 words)

What Characters

HI. This is me, posting, NOT a bajillion years after the last time I posted!! I am so proud of myself, hehehe.

Anyway. A few nights ago I had a breakthrough. Two, actually.

First, one of my MCs in Defiance, Varesa. She's supposed to be really awkward. Slightly comical, even. I've been having trouble bringing out that part of her character while writing. There were moments when I thought I had nailed it, only to be disappointed because it would fade again.

Until it occurred to me...I should try to write her like I think when I'm hyper. I am not awkward––I hope...––but I do have a completely random thought process, and it's ten times worse when I'm hyper. If I could channel a bit of that into Varesa, maybe it would work?

YES. It did. I didn't really make her random, so much, but somehow, SOMETHING finally clicked. It was beautiful. I still need to get to know her more, but I'm on the right track. It is happifying.

The second win of the evening come from me procrastinating (SEE, good things DO come from procrastination!). I was googling an actor from an old show I used to love, and instead, I found this picture of a boy. A boy that, given a few shades of auburn in his hair, is my other MC's love interest. I have been trying and trying to find a proper picture for him, because I love having pictures of my characters. If I can't find one, I usually let it go. But with Thane, I couldn't. I would find pictures that had one aspect of him, and they would catch my attention, but they weren't quite right. I needed to find the right one. (It was sort of becoming an obsession.)

And boy, is this one great. I can forgive the hair being off, because the hair is wrong on basically all the photos I find, since I always seem to have unusual aspects. But the rest? Perfect. It has made me a very happy girl, finally having a photo to glare at when Thane isn't getting along.

So, two tiny things––things that have varying degrees of visible importance to the eventual completion of the book––are all it takes to make me feel like I won the lottery of my life. But even if they are small, they are important. It's the little things that keep me excited about writing this story. The little things that remind me that I love it when I want to throw it off the nearest bridge.

What little things keep you in love with your story?

On a side note, I saw The Hunger Games movie last night. Ooooh my GOODNESS. If you've seen it, did you like it?? (No spoilers :P) And if you haven't...you should do that. Nowish.



Twin Moment of the Day: Hunger Games movie. We loves it. (That is presumptuous of me, since she hasn't seen it yet so I *could* be wrong. But I seriously doubt I am.)
On my Mind: Latin homework.
Listening to: Someone is sweeping in the other room.
Grateful for: Sleep. Sleep is nice sometimes.
Wanting: The weekend!
Writing: Defiance! (41,830)

My Thoughts on Hunger Games

With March sneaking up fast, and the advanced movie ticket sales blowing Twlight's out of the water, I've been overdue to blog about The Hunger Games, both the books (all 3 of them), and the upcoming movie. So, here's my Hunger Games story.

I first read The Hunger Games in late 2009, I think it was. My first impression was how ugly the cover was, and my second, that I probably wasn't going to like it. This was because, in general, I don't like post-apocalyptic stories of any kind, so the bit on the jacket-flap about being set in the "ruins of North America" made me skeptical.

The first few pages actually didn't hook me right away. In all honesty, if it weren't for the line where Gale hints at his feelings, I might have even put it down. Not permanently, of course, but put it down all the same. I didn't. From the reaping on, I was grabbed (and dragged) by the throat through this breathless, non-stop story that left me gasping for air, and for more.

I read Catching Fire as soon as I could get my hands on it, and was left gasping, and even growling, a second time. Only this was worse, because Mockingjay wasn't out yet. So I tried to put it out of my mind, and obsessed whenever it found its way there anyway. I squealed over the cover when its image was released -- such a pretty shade of blue! -- but to be completely honest, at this point, I was anxious to read for Peeta and Katniss. All I really wanted to know was if Peeta would win her over. If everything would be okay between them.

At long last, Mockingjay was released, and it was mine. I curled up in a squishy armchair, in a very quiet room, and I didn't move (except maybe to eat) until I was done. Slight exaggeration, but really! It was intense. I may or may not have cried and spoken out loud at the pages more than once, demanding they say something else. I finished it a little frustrated -- I mean, how abrupt was that ending?? -- but satisfied.

From this whole experience on, I've considered myself a fan. Actually, I did after reading the first book. I have a Hunger Games t-shirt (oh yeah!), I'm going to see the movie right on the 23rd (unfortunately no one would go with me to see it at midnight on the 22nd), and I will re-read all 3 books (happily) any time the mood takes me.

So what is it that draws me to this trilogy? What was it that evoked such emotion? In all honesty, I don't know. Perhaps it's just that I'm a romantic deep down inside, and something about Peeta's devotion, through thick and thin, touched that place within every girl that wants the same. Perhaps it's something about her writing style, how fast and present and in your face it is. I'm leaning toward the first.

No, I don't think she's the Best Writer Ever. It's not my Favorite Book In The World. But I do really love it, and, whatever its faults (as picked out by all the smart people on Goodreads), it works. It does what I want a story to do-- grabs me, tugs on my heart strings, and doesn't let me go until the last page. I LOVE these things in a story. The things that make you forget the world. And Hunger Games definitely did that for me. (It also sent me into a "Why can't all boys be like Peeta?" phase for a week or two after reading each book.)

As far as the movie is concerned, I can't wait to see it! I think Gary Ross has got the vision, and that he's cast some talented actors. I'm already prepared for the differences from book to script. All that's left to do is to see if it lives up to my expectations. I think it will.

That being said, I'm very happy for Suzanne Collins right now. She's in a place that a lot of writers dream to be in-- sitting pretty on the loads of cash that comes with bestselling novels, and watching as fans of her book buy tickets (by the thousands) to see its movie. That's got to be so rewarding.

Well. That's my two cents, really. I'd recommend Hunger Games to anyone who's looking for what I've described-- a fast-paced, gripping novel with a love story people like me (read: romantic, not-a-big-fan-of-over-described-hot-boys) will really enjoy.

Hope you've all had lovely Mondays!

Best Part of Today: Wandering through nature, soaking up every detail.
Currently Craving: Gelato. (I may or may not be heading out to buy some now.)
Music Pick: "Primavera" by Ludovico Einaudi

I'm Reading: "Mansfield Park" by Jane Austen

WIP: Blink re-writes (0 words)

Hunger Games Trailer!

It's finally here!!

After missing the live version on Good Morning America, I scoured the web until I found it. May I present, the Hunger Games trailer.

March can't come fast enough.