Top five movies that are better than the novels they are based on:
1. Brazil/1984 (Terry Gilliam/George Orwell)
2. High Fidelity (Stephen Frears/Nick Hornby)
3. The Bourne Identity (Doug Liman/Robert Ludlum)
4. The Devil Wears Prada (David Frankel/Lauren Weisberger)
5. The Pelican Brief (Alan J. Pakula/John Grisham)
Watched/read The Pelican Brief many many years ago, I have a written record that I thought, maybe for the first time, that the movie was better than the book. Rottentomatoes doesn't agree but at least one critic said the movie was an improvement of the book (granted, for John Grisham's, anything probably was). Rottentomatoes does, however, agree about The Devil Wears Prada. Or maybe just Meryl Streep.
I have to say that I love the idea of The Bourne Identity, the book. It's brilliant, thrilling, neat. But... it's old. And the mysterious villain who was once the most feared assassin in the western world, well, he's in jail now.
Brazil is the best unofficial adaptation of 1984 and I love it. But I kinda like 1984 as well. I try to make a point that a movie adaptation doesn't have to, or even shouldn't be similar to the novel (simply because the two media are different and need to be treated differently). I also think that a movie adaptation can be better than the book (it can simply be because the book is not that good, but I prefer the explanation that a book is personal while a movie is a teamwork that can appeal to wider audience). Brazil vs 1984 doesn't help explaining these two points. I squeezed it because I was too lazy to think of other movie/book.
And, as you may guess, this is actually my karma-debt writing on High Fidelity. Love the book. It's funny (Nick Hornby-funny), quirky, Gen-X-ish. Prefer the movie, though. The plot is easier to follow, no dragging repetition and the soundtrack, which is on my top five movie soundtrack, is brilliant.
1. Brazil/1984 (Terry Gilliam/George Orwell)
2. High Fidelity (Stephen Frears/Nick Hornby)
3. The Bourne Identity (Doug Liman/Robert Ludlum)
4. The Devil Wears Prada (David Frankel/Lauren Weisberger)
5. The Pelican Brief (Alan J. Pakula/John Grisham)
Watched/read The Pelican Brief many many years ago, I have a written record that I thought, maybe for the first time, that the movie was better than the book. Rottentomatoes doesn't agree but at least one critic said the movie was an improvement of the book (granted, for John Grisham's, anything probably was). Rottentomatoes does, however, agree about The Devil Wears Prada. Or maybe just Meryl Streep.
I have to say that I love the idea of The Bourne Identity, the book. It's brilliant, thrilling, neat. But... it's old. And the mysterious villain who was once the most feared assassin in the western world, well, he's in jail now.
Brazil is the best unofficial adaptation of 1984 and I love it. But I kinda like 1984 as well. I try to make a point that a movie adaptation doesn't have to, or even shouldn't be similar to the novel (simply because the two media are different and need to be treated differently). I also think that a movie adaptation can be better than the book (it can simply be because the book is not that good, but I prefer the explanation that a book is personal while a movie is a teamwork that can appeal to wider audience). Brazil vs 1984 doesn't help explaining these two points. I squeezed it because I was too lazy to think of other movie/book.
And, as you may guess, this is actually my karma-debt writing on High Fidelity. Love the book. It's funny (Nick Hornby-funny), quirky, Gen-X-ish. Prefer the movie, though. The plot is easier to follow, no dragging repetition and the soundtrack, which is on my top five movie soundtrack, is brilliant.
Gue mau bikin "Devil Wears Batik"....
BalasHapusbatik melulu. songket aja ngapah. ulos. ikat. :P
BalasHapusThe Devil Wears Batik is a novel about a young woman who is hired as a personal assistant to a powerful diplomat, a job that becomes hellish as she struggles to keep up with her boss's grueling schedule and demeaning requests :D
BalasHapusRight on. A diary of a cranky diplobrat :p
BalasHapusHow about if the boss is a parliament member from a powerful party. As the scandal is rising, the boss is become the central of the turmoil (no, I'm not imagining Angie, an older and more grace version with rambut sasakan, ah yes, MG). As the political heat become hotter, as she's the one who deal with all of the boss' business. Turns out, as Miranda, the boss can twist the situation and trick her colleagues into her triumph. The end.
BalasHapusthat's Sammy's Hill meets The Devil Wears Prada #terchicklit
BalasHapus