Best and Worst Hollywood Book Adaptations

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The source discusses sixteen different book adaptations, eight considered to be the best and the other eight considered to be the worst.

The 16 Best and Worst Book Adaptationsin the past 10 years. (2014, October 2). Retrieved  from 

     http://www.cbsnews.com/news/ 

     book-movie-adaptations-gone-girl-hunger-games-harry-potter-twilight-great-gatsby/6/ 

What would you consider to be the worst and the best book adaptation in the filmmaking industry?

"From 1939's "Gone with the Wind" to this week's "Gone Girl," one thing is clear: Hollywood loves turning books into movies."
It has become apparent over time that Hollywood enjoys turning novels into films. But how far is the film industry willing to go to push a movie out of a novel.

"Filmmakers are quick to adapt bestselling novels because the story is already there, and because a quality book often lends to an enjoyable, profitable motion picture."
Of course there is a story there when taking a concept from a novel but that doesn't mean the concept is necessarily a good one for film.

Take two films such as The Perks of Being a Wallflower and Eat Pray Love. The films were both based off of novels of two people attempting to "find themselves". However, The Perks of Being a Wallflower focuses on a confused teenage boy in the midst of high school while Eat Pray Love focuses on an older woman who is basically suffering through her mid-life crisis. Both movies take the audiences along through their journey's of pain, love, and happiness. Except Eat Pray Love was much slower than it needed to be. The film concept was good except it left audiences wondering if Liz(Julia Roberts) would ever reach a self pleasing point.While the 140- minute film may have been too long, The Perks of Being a Wallflower lasts only 105-minutes keeping the attention of audiences hooked.

Both Novels sold strongly but just because they were bestsellers does not mean the film industry needs to adapt them. Eat Pray Love has a beautiful concept to it and the film was long for a reason; to incorporate as much as possible. However, it was not meant to be adapted into a film. The film industry sometimes needs to slow down on the book adaptations and needs to begin incorporating new ideas into Hollywood.

The Support Films have to Offer

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The article creates a discussion on the declining book industry, yet how film seems to be supporting and renewing books.

Film Adaptations Create Hope for Declining Book Industry. (2012, March 12). Retrieved from     https://www.keynote.co.uk/media-centre/in-the-news/display/ 

     film-adaptations-create-hope-for-declining-book-industry/?articleId=794 

Film has been cultivating history for only a century making it seem brief compared to that of print.

But are films saving the book industry? Technology has made it possible for audiences to visualize a book in a matter of two hours instead of taking days, weeks, or even months to read. Now, there are many people that love to read, however there are also many that would rather see the film, or those who would like to read a novel followed by viewing the film adaptation. 

Great Gatsby(2013), is a significant example of the impact that film has on the book industry. Great Gatsby is a classic novel, which was first adapted into a film in 1926 as a silent film, followed by three remakes. When the film was recreated in 2013, technology advances related stronger to audiences than the 1974 remake. Because of the overly glam costumes and emphasis on the lifestyle, audiences curiosity grew. Previews of the movie were marketed everywhere and the ever so popular Leonardo DiCaprio, had his face plastered on every billboard in preparation for the release of the film. Audiences wanted to see the film but of course, read the book before going to the theater. This pattern occurs with many novels creating a sort of assistance for the book industry.

Film has been supporting the book industry now for about 100 years. It becomes evident that film is not saving the book industry as it is still admired by many but that the film industry has continued to support and act as a friend towards the book industry.

"This trend provides a significant boost for the bookselling industry as sales of the original titles receive a large amount of 'free advertising' in the run-up to the film's launch, while books are often re-released, with a new cover of a still taken from the film."

The way films are marketed will create an easy market for the book itself. Films are marketed through previews placed within commercials, on billboards, and throughout public facilities. The film can also create new advancements for the book. Such as the remade covers for novels such as The Lovely Bones and Safe Haven.

Film Technology Innovations

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Dynamic target tracking camera system keeps its eye on the ball #DigInfo. (2013, June 17).      Retrieved 

     from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qn5YQVvW-hQ 

The video introduces a new innovation from Tokyo in which a camera does not need to move manually to focus on a subject but simply, in this prototype, the mirrors move. The camera is capable of tracking the subject no matter how fast the object moves and maintains to keep it centered. This creation would not only be helpful for book adaptations into films such as The Hunger Games or the Divergent trilogy but to all types of film productions.