I am returning with my new feature... Why I love which takes place on Wednesdays. Today's proclamation of love concerns Movies based on Books.
If you want to play along, feel free to grab the image (there is a button on the right sidebar now) and link your post in the linky. Here goes.
LINKY INSTRUCTIONS:
When naming your link, please choose the name of your post. Mine would say "Why I Love...Book Blogs."
Please link directly to your post and not your blog.
Please participate :)
Why I Love...Charlotte's Web
By now everyone knows that I am a really big sappy person who is a sucker for Happily Ever Afters (HEAs). Usually I'm very critical of movies based on books. I mean let's face it. When making a movie based on a book, they are often forced to leave a bunch of stuff out. It's like reading an abridged book. Who does that? But there are a few examples of movies that just really got it right. One of my favorites, just happen to be Charlotte's web.
In case you don't know, Charlotte's Web is a children's book and the 1973 movie version is a cartoon. Charlotte is a spider and Wilber is a pig who doesn't want to be slaughtered and eaten ( I know gory right). Now I love Charlotte because she is so smart and nice. I mean keeping a pig from being eaten is a pretty big task. There are a few things that I think every movie adaptation must get right to hit it out of the ballpark like they do with Charlotte's web.
First, they have to get the characters and their voices just right. It is one thing to get some popular and gorgeous actor/actress to play the part to draw in big numbers at the box office and it is another thing to stay true to the character in the book. In the movie, I think they got her voice (Debbie Reynolds) just right.
Second, they can't do some random interpretation (i.e. True Blood). I think the best adaptations stay true to what people love about the book. Of course you have to leave things out but you can't leave out important characters (i.e. Water for Elephants) and you can't place a character that plays a limited role in the book to play a major role in the movie (i.e. Something Borrowed). Charlotte's web does a fantastic job of this. They manage to showcase the other animals, give them voice, but the directors/writers/whoever keep the focus on Charlotte and Wilber (am I a nerd or am I a nerd?).
If they manage to get those two things right, I think the movie has hope. The rest should fall into place just like Charlotte's web. Just thinking of this movie makes me smile. I love how they don't change the book much of all and it really fits all audiences. Oh and everyone loves a little additional music and singing right?
"Chin up, chin up
Put a little laughter in your eyes
Brave it, save it
Even though you're feeling otherwise
Rise up, wise up
Make a little smile begin
You'll be happy hearted
Once you get it started
Up with your chinny chin chin!"
And I truly miss old-school cartoons. All the technology around these days are impressive but sometimes it is just too much.
Anyways...even if you think I'm a huge dork, I've attached a trailer for your pleasure. Watch it, you'll love it :)
