Film/TV Adaptions can drive me insane but also make me love that particular version of the story. For example, Chronicles of Narnia. Fantastic soundtracks, brilliant cast, some changes, such as the battle turning into a proper war scene, I approve of. But when they add massive chunks to the story or entirely new elements and change the characters, is absolutely drives me up the wall. The TV series at least follows the original tales more or less precisely, but the acting was a little off. I could start in on other films but I would be here forever. If I ever am lucky enough to have books published and am then even more lucky enough to have them amde into film or TV adaptions I would refuse to allow them rights to do it unless they swore an oath not to add anything massive without checking it is OK with me first. Ranting aside. What are other people views on this matter? Please use examples.
Harry Potter films really annoy me. They started out fine, relatively accurate with acceptable alterations. I accept that the films have budgets and time limitations to stick to. They have to make things more dramatic for the screens and some sacrifices must be made. However, I disapproved of Harry breaking the wand and not fixing his own. That annoyed me beyond words. Other little things annoyed me but I'd be here forever.
The adaptions of the Narnia books were OK to start. Like I said, it's interesting to see a different aspect of the story but it got a bit ridiculous at times and in the last film they made whopping great additions which effectively changed the entire story and it was confusing.
I've read books by Fiona Dunbar and a while ago, they made some into a TV series. Only that really was taking the biscuit because they did not follow the books in the slightest. It was like they took the names of the characters and the idea of a magic cookbook and then created something entirely new, I didn't see the point. I mean they seriously, utterly and totally changed everything. You'd have to read the books and then see the TV series to now exactly how annoying this was for me.
So right Emelia and all the commentators. As examples, the Lord of the Rings books were made into three hour films and purists complained bitterly about how much had been stripped out of the stories. The Hobbit, on the other hand, was shorter than each of the three LOTR books, but has itself been expanded to make three two-three hour films.
The Storm of Swords books which have been turned into Game of Thrones, are similar size to the LOTR books and have been each made into around seven or eight hours of television, again with chunks being removed.
Hopefully your masterpiece will not suffer too much in this process. Give us a post please.
PabloJ.
I agree with you Emelia! My particular pet hate is when period dramas have slushy 'mood music' - the 1995 version of 'Pride and Prejudice' has such WONDERFUL music which was probably very similar to the music that Jane Austen herself would have heard. Other adaptations of her books have completely anachronistic-sounding music which doesn't set the feeling of the period at all. More often than not, it's the more recent adaptations which commit this particular 'crime' - although I did watch a version of 'Northanger Abbey' from the 70s which genuinely featured a saxophone on its score!