sometimes, it's better to not have read the book first

[thehefner]

I should have started with the movie, enjoyed it for all the strong fun enjoyable qualities that I--somewhere, objectively, deep down--realize it possesses. I mean, the book wasn't a brilliant literary classic, but I loved how 3D the characters were, how morally gray the whole thing was, how it was damn hard to tell throughout who was the hero and who was the villain. I love good, fleshed-out characters that defy stereotypes.

What do we get here? A Rambo who's not absolutely bugfuck insane and divorced from humanity, slaughtering dozens of cops with a bloodthirsty ferocity that would make Jason Voorhees flinch? The flawed-but-sympathetic Sheriff reduced to the stereotypical "We don't like yer types in my town" caricature as only Brian Dennehy could refrigeratorally embody? The whole metaphorical parable about the generation gap between the youth and the older "establishment," neither of whom is totally right nor wrong, stuck together as the war is brought directly to America... all that shunted aside for an escapist underdog action flick?

Again, not saying that the book was a masterpiece or anything, but by comparison, the movie is like a cat that's been neutered, declawed, and had every tooth ripped out of its mouth, then saddled with Jeph Loeb-ian Hollywood dialogue.

Damn it. Not even man-god Chris Mulkey can save this experience for me. Ugh.



Ever have that experience, where you can't separate the book from the film, even when the film is actually pretty good in its own right? That you could really enjoy the movie if you hadn't read the book first? I sometimes wonder if that's the way I should have handled V FOR VENDETTA.

Man, I dunno why I should get worked up over this. It's bloody Rambo, for god's sake. I'm gonna go read more POPEYE, that'll chill me out.

Comments

[droidboy010101.livejournal.com]

I liked Dune (the David Lynch film) until I read the books then I cursed (except for the casting.) But for years I'd do the wierding attack on my sister... SHHHHAAAAAAAA-ztuuooook!

[thehefner.livejournal.com]

Yeah, as I do plan to read DUNE one of these days, and I love David Lynch, maybe I should watch the film first. Or not at all.

And then there's the CHILDREN OF DUNE movie, with that asshat Steven Berkoff's legendary delivery of "Send! Men! To summon... wwwooooorrrrrmmmmsssssss."

Where's the video for that? Ah! Here it is!

http://warren-ellis.livejournal.com/2007/03/09/

[droidboy010101.livejournal.com]

I think that's the sci-fi equivalent of "Ass-to-Ass"... wonderfully over the top. I actually liked those Sci-Fi renditions of the Dune stories. And it had wee Jimmy McAvoy before his recent rise with Last King of Scotland and Atonement.

[spacechild.livejournal.com]

For he IS the Qwizat Haderach!!

[droidboy010101.livejournal.com]

DUHN! DUHN!... DA DUHN! DUHN! DUHN!... DA DUHN!

[mirthical.livejournal.com]

DUNE!!! I can't believe I haven't forced that book on you before!

I think it's a good rule in general to watch the movie before reading the book, because 99 times out of 100, the book will be so much better.

And sometimes, that 100th time, the book and the movie can co-exist without one spoiling the other.

[thehefner.livejournal.com]

The risk of seeing the movie first is robbing oneself of the power of a certain moment that works well in the movie, but works really well in the book. Know what I mean?

Yes, DUNE is very much on my reading list. The bits I've heard of the Scott Brick CD version makes me consider buying a CD player adapter for my car. But right now, I've just started book 3 of AMBER.

[mirthical.livejournal.com]

oh, I found book 1, and was much relieved. it had gotten pushed behind the other books on the shelf.

[thehefner.livejournal.com]

Good! Hate when that happens.

[spacechild.livejournal.com]

Yeah, you should have seen the movie first.

You'll just have to separate the two, and remember that the movie continues on into other stories, which will end with the new film. Do it to prepare for the new one!!

[thehefner.livejournal.com]

Well, I enjoyed Part II far more, although in an increasingly dumb way. The parody in UHF was hardly parody at all.

Yeah, you need to read the book, to also prepare for the movie. Then we can be on the same level.

[spacechild.livejournal.com]

You think THAT will put us on the same level, my little friend?

Just kidding.. faux-pretentious.