tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7177193073415704349.post6282667218803832666..comments2024-02-20T10:12:20.623+00:00Comments on The Blog That Time Forgot: An Appeal for Atrocious AdaptationsTaranaichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02176999342965850175noreply@blogger.comBlogger26125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7177193073415704349.post-56715444372809427392012-05-25T07:11:12.408+01:002012-05-25T07:11:12.408+01:00Well, to each his own: I can certainly appreciate ...Well, to each his own: I can certainly appreciate that point of view.<br /><br />Speaking for myself, I don't view adaptations of books I read for the same reasons I read the book in the first place: after all, as you say, you know what's going to happen. I liken it more to a play. We already know the story of Macbeth, for instance, but that doesn't stop me from checking out new and unusual interpretations, seeing how an actor chooses to portray a character, how a director alters the cadence and flow of the narrative. So it would be for me seeing an adaptation of the Conan stories: seeing how an actor handles Conan, the screenwriter deals with Howard, and the director wrangles the story.Taranaichhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02176999342965850175noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7177193073415704349.post-88458984420309094032012-05-14T22:37:25.196+01:002012-05-14T22:37:25.196+01:00I enjoy the Howard stories as much as any Conan fa...I enjoy the Howard stories as much as any Conan fan ("Red Nails" being my favorite), but would much rather have something where I *don't* know who/what the unknown baddie is, *don't* know that the mysterious lost island is not one you want to end up on, *don't* know who's going to betray Conan, and *don't* already know exactly how everything is going to turn out.<br /><br />But I guess I'm just a freak of nature like that or something, I don't know. I tend to take more chances with entertainment media than most who would rather let Roger Ebert tell them what to think.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7177193073415704349.post-73823237203997258632011-06-28T08:03:14.491+01:002011-06-28T08:03:14.491+01:00Try the recent Land That Time Forgot with C. Thoma...Try the recent Land That Time Forgot with C. Thomas Howell, or that classic, Tarzan's Revenge. I could spend the rest of the week coming up with bad film adaptations, but I won't. The main thing I want to see in the new Conan movie is for Momoa to nail the character. If he gets it right, good things will follow.McHaneynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7177193073415704349.post-10419159983103841502011-06-26T15:27:50.038+01:002011-06-26T15:27:50.038+01:00The incredible Hulk tv series
FranciscoThe incredible Hulk tv series<br /><br />FranciscoAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7177193073415704349.post-21802161367038808942011-06-25T20:11:14.095+01:002011-06-25T20:11:14.095+01:00Another example: the 2001 Polish Television serie...Another example: the 2001 Polish Television series titled "The Witcher", kinda sorta based on Andrzej Sapkowski's first two Witcher short story collections but not really. It also holds comparison to "Conan the Barbarian", since it's also bits and pieces from short stories mixed out of order and grafted into a new plot. But it's not as bad, since a few (I think 4) of the 13 episodes actually adapted the stories (two times, quite closely), just in the wrong context.Michalhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02198881279554204600noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7177193073415704349.post-89141405317269017582011-06-25T18:36:40.876+01:002011-06-25T18:36:40.876+01:00Just thought of a good one: the 1996 version of Mo...Just thought of a good one: the 1996 version of <i>Moll Flanders</i>, whose movie poster even read -- I kid you not -- "Based on the Character from the Novel by Daniel Dafoe."James Maliszewskihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00341941102398271464noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7177193073415704349.post-18795435791428354772011-06-25T18:14:31.536+01:002011-06-25T18:14:31.536+01:00How does the 2011 movie measure up? It meets all o...How does the 2011 movie measure up? It meets all of the criteria, more or less, but the plot choices make a big difference.<br /><br />Even if Conan is still orphaned and Venarium, bull neck-breaking, etc. are thrown out, I think being raised by pirates is far more "compatible" than going through slavery, the fight ring/pit, and swordmasters.Martinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05315348028756856231noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7177193073415704349.post-82390754885672727472011-06-24T03:20:15.408+01:002011-06-24T03:20:15.408+01:00Dude, when are you going to get on Twitter?
It'...Dude, when are you going to get on Twitter?<br />It's like mini-blogging. @JohnAKarrAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15186314358152459544noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7177193073415704349.post-58865836410013547982011-06-23T01:29:54.391+01:002011-06-23T01:29:54.391+01:00octopussy, a view to a kill, quantum of solace, di...octopussy, a view to a kill, quantum of solace, diamonds are forever , the man with the golden gun 3/4 of casino royale,are just a small portion of bond films that have characters and plot turns that have little or nothing to do with Ian flemings original stories.not to mention the original stories w brosnan that have nothing to do with fleming whatsoever. I would argue that dr no from russia with love, thunderball and her majesty's secret service are the only faithful adaptations of their source. It doesnt stop there either, bourne was mentioned, as was holmes, but I have a holmes movie where he takes on nazis or russians making a weapon....acd? its nothing new, what it appears to be to me is that when you have a literary series or pulp series based upon a specific character, in most cases the film adaptations tend to be much looser, as the emphasis ( in hollywoods eyes) is the character.Mike Hammer, tarzan, sherlock Holmes were all early victims of this effect, and it continues with bond Bourne Conan etc. It doesnt mean it cant be enjoyable though.its not as if we can conjure the original authors for their input, and how often does hollywood do that when the author is alive(the shining, on flew over the cuckoos nest anyone? the authors hated those films yet they are endearing works of film. but even Connery eventualy grew on Fleming...)I dont know why that happens but it does. and look at batman..people love batman begins and the dark knight, but 1) they are barely faithful to bob kanes batman who was more a pulp character who in some early comics used guns ( on his plane) they are closer to dennis oneils and frank millers version.-marioAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7177193073415704349.post-75982927023457110542011-06-22T18:21:08.714+01:002011-06-22T18:21:08.714+01:00The recent Priest film changes pretty much everyth...The recent Priest film changes pretty much everything but the main characters profession/name.Stevenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7177193073415704349.post-46071701026879169602011-06-21T21:11:27.358+01:002011-06-21T21:11:27.358+01:00I'm not sure if this even counts as an 'ad...I'm not sure if this even counts as an 'adaptation', but anyone who saw <i>Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides</i> expecting it to bear any resemblance whatever to the Tim Powers novel beyond the appearance of a pirate called Blackbeard and a Fountain of Youth was doomed to be disappointed.T. Everetthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17792175853139507757noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7177193073415704349.post-16127673677206520942011-06-21T19:14:04.683+01:002011-06-21T19:14:04.683+01:00One should not neglect to mention the various cine...One should not neglect to mention the various cinematic reimaginings of Lovecraft over the years. And I submit for the most part that "Logan's Run" fits most of your criteria above-a schlocky but enjoyable book that Hollywood attempted ironically to dress up as well as dress down.<br /><br />Brent (bws65@hotmail.com)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7177193073415704349.post-59345558234903335112011-06-21T18:11:12.881+01:002011-06-21T18:11:12.881+01:00"Quite a lot of made-for-TV comic adaptations..."Quite a lot of made-for-TV comic adaptations probably fit as well: Generation X, Justice League of America, Nick Fury: Agent of Shield, etc."<br /><br />Well, to be fair (just slightly) these are generally clear adaptations of the source material. It's just that they're really lousy movies with bargain basement production values. More a case of "the filmmakers should have known better than to try" to adapt something they clearly couldn't afford to do well.Andyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14624614486574035692noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7177193073415704349.post-84906759189755844442011-06-21T16:26:47.922+01:002011-06-21T16:26:47.922+01:00the lisergic adaptation of Blueberry...
Ouch. I ...<i>the lisergic adaptation of Blueberry...</i><br /><br />Ouch. I barely know anything of Blueberry, but that sounds painful!<br /><br /><i>This probably has some more examples:</i><br /><br />Ah, TV Tropes, bless 'em. Yes, some great ones there. I completely forgot about <i>Beastmaster</i> and <i>Damnation Alley</i>, for instance, and I think they count. (Yeah, Thud & Blunder's still bothersome, but they're trying)<br /><br /><i>I think I suggested "Total Recall" as a s0-called adaptation of Philip Dick's "We Can Remember It For You Wholesale" -- an amazing example where they kept the basic specific plot, and yet made it completely untrue to the source in almost every way.</i><br /><br />I'm glad you brought up <i>Blade Runner</i>, as it shows something I neglected to mention: a film need not suffer from being an Atrocious Adaptation. A film can be a terrible translation of book to film and yet still be a fantastic film, just as surely as a good translation of a book can still be an awful film.<br /><br />When I do my review of the Conan 2 screenplay, I'm going to make a point to notice that I'm not against changes if they are worthy, intellectual, defensible changes which improve and enrich the film: I'm against changes that are needless, inferior, damaging or just plain stupid. <i>Blade Runner</i> is a good example of such changes resulting in a worthy film.<br /><br /><i>And speaking of Will Smith, I'd add his "I am Legend," especially in so far as "the philosophy, themes and allusions are sometimes contradictory to the original source material." </i><br /><br />I definitely agree on that front. Even the original ending is completely undercut by the fact there's still a small community of humans left. That said, it manages to retain a semblance of the book's plot, though it's so massively altered I don't know if it would count at all.<br /><br /><i>The Val Kilmer Saint movie.</i><br /><br />I saw it in the cinema, and have to agree.<br /><br /><i>And from the realms of sequential literature, how about we toss in Jonah Hex.</i><br /><br />Hah, well, you'll forgive me if I take your word for it, since there's no way I'm going to see that film for myself given the criticism it's received!<br /><br /><i>(or how about the 90s Avengers movie? GAH!) </i><br /><br />I actually enjoyed that, in the same way I enjoyed <i>Batman & Robin</i>. Horrible film, and obviously a candidate, but I got a morbid sense of glee from its sheer ineptitude. Plus Sean Connery makes just about anything enjoyable for me.<br /><br /><i>Catwoman.</i><br /><br />Great call: completely contradictory origin, biography, character, personality, everything.<br /><br />Made for TV movies and comics... Hmm, I'll have to consider them.Taranaichhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02176999342965850175noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7177193073415704349.post-9194643042638728932011-06-21T16:08:17.668+01:002011-06-21T16:08:17.668+01:00Fantastic stuff, folks!
Guy Ritchie's SHERLOC...Fantastic stuff, folks!<br /><br /><i>Guy Ritchie's SHERLOCK HOLMES comes close, but does not win a cigar.</i><br /><br />Really borderline case, as you say - even though Holmes & Watson bicker like teenage lovers, and Holmes is extremely... different, they still retain a semblance of the ACD dynamic, and Irene isn't far off the mark. The fact that it's an original story also lends itself. I actually think it deserves inclusion, personally, albeit not quite as far from the source as CtB.<br /><br /><i>The BOURNE movies come to mind, though I have not read Ludlum's books I've been told that the films are more different from them than the BOND films are from their original novels. </i><br /><br />I've heard this about the Bourne films too, but I'm not really a Ludlum fan at the best of times, so I can't judge.<br /><br /><i>Johnny Weissmuller Tarzan films.</i><br /><br />Perfect example: the parallels are all there.<br /><br /><i>I haven't read the source material, yet, but I'd bet dollars to donuts that the Kull movie fits the bill. </i><br /><br /><i>Kull the Conqueror</i> is exempt from discussion on the grounds that, in my personal reality, <i>Kull the Conqueror</i> does not exist.<br /><br /><i>I don't remember who directed it or wrote the screenplay, but there was a horrid movie in the late 1980s supposedly based on Isaac Asimov's "Nightfall" that I saw at a drive-in. </i><br /><br />Oh Crom, someone did this to "Nightfall"? *Googles* Oh lord. Yes, this certainly counts too.<br /><br /><i>Disney's *The Black Cauldron*</i><br /><br />Really? You didn't like Disney's *The Black Cauldron*, Taran? I could've sworn you adored it! (bwahahaha)<br /><br />That said, TBC is an interesting conundrum, since although it ostensibly takes characters, events and settings from the books, you sure as hell wouldn't recognize them as they end up on the screen. While I think the divergences are different in nature from CtB - the plot is massively altered and simplified even for a Disney film, as opposed to one the filmmakers just made up out of wholecloth - I would say that the severity of the divergences are certainly comparable. That said, taking elements of other books is uncannily apt to what was done on CtB.Taranaichhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02176999342965850175noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7177193073415704349.post-87696310948104973222011-06-21T13:49:33.622+01:002011-06-21T13:49:33.622+01:00Catwoman. It has a character called Catwoman and ...Catwoman. It has a character called Catwoman and states that it is an adaptation of the DC Comics property but that's it. Completely new title character (not Selina Kyle) and supporting cast. Magic cat powers instead of acrobatic skill; along with an origin story to match. New story, character no longer a thief etc.<br /><br />Quite a lot of made-for-TV comic adaptations probably fit as well: Generation X, Justice League of America, Nick Fury: Agent of Shield, etc. Comics haven't had a lot of respect until very recently. <br /><br />Computer game adaptations probably count as well but they're not really in my sphere of experience. I don't think Street Fighter had much more than the names in common with the game. Mortal Kombat was quite close, however. I don't think the Mario movie was even slightly faithful.Adamhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:AdamBMorgannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7177193073415704349.post-1269082476362531192011-06-21T06:01:08.297+01:002011-06-21T06:01:08.297+01:00The Val Kilmer Saint movie. Other than the fact t...The Val Kilmer Saint movie. Other than the fact that there's a Simon Templar, an Inspector Claude Eustace Teal, and eventually the sign of The Saint, there's NOTHING from Leslie Charteris' original stories. AND they come up with a potted origin story, as with Conan and Solomon Kane! PFUI!<br /><br />And from the realms of sequential literature, how about we toss in Jonah Hex. I'd call it bum-wipe, but it's hard to do that with DVDs (though this movie is worthy of trying it with anyway.)<br /><br />Tex<br />(or how about the 90s Avengers movie? GAH!)Texhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16514613848519711342noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7177193073415704349.post-34140317091896240712011-06-21T02:07:52.517+01:002011-06-21T02:07:52.517+01:00Yup, it did eat it. I think I suggested "Tota...Yup, it did eat it. I think I suggested "Total Recall" as a s0-called adaptation of Philip Dick's "We Can Remember It For You Wholesale" -- an amazing example where they kept the basic specific plot, and yet made it completely untrue to the source in almost every way. And speaking of Will Smith, I'd add his "I am Legend," especially in so far as "the philosophy, themes and allusions are sometimes contradictory to the original source material."Anarchivisthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06599522097057431891noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7177193073415704349.post-42421027040013708352011-06-21T02:06:12.835+01:002011-06-21T02:06:12.835+01:00I agree: some of the Conan stories are absolute fr...I agree: some of the Conan stories are absolute freebies, with exciting and straightforward plot lines that would seem easily adaptable to the film medium. <br /><br />I'm not sure if the Internet ate my other comment or not...Anarchivisthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06599522097057431891noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7177193073415704349.post-962813340118279522011-06-20T19:37:16.451+01:002011-06-20T19:37:16.451+01:00This probably has some more examples:
http://tvtr...This probably has some more examples:<br /><br /><a href="http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/InNameOnly" rel="nofollow">http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/InNameOnly</a><br /><br />(Guess what's in there. Also I am still bugged by that site's page for "Thud and Blunder", after noticing it months ago.)Martinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05315348028756856231noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7177193073415704349.post-1152979929338163762011-06-20T18:29:26.876+01:002011-06-20T18:29:26.876+01:00the lisergic adaptation of Blueberry...
From wiki...the lisergic adaptation of Blueberry...<br /><br />From wikipedia<br /><br />A 2004 film adaptation, Blueberry[12](U.S. release title is Renegade), was directed by Jan Kounen and starred Vincent Cassel in the lead role. However, many purists were appalled by this film.[13] It arguably did not stay true to the action-based, gritty comic, but rather featured an esoteric, trippy presentation of shamanism (if anything, more resembling the MÅ“bius style).<br /><br />FranciscoAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7177193073415704349.post-54021060404112838012011-06-20T17:50:32.228+01:002011-06-20T17:50:32.228+01:00Disney's *The Black Cauldron*. Sure, the Horn...Disney's *The Black Cauldron*. Sure, the Horned King, Taran, Eilonwy, Gurgi Fflewedor Fflam, Dolly and Dallben were there, but save for Taran and Eilonwy, none of the characters looked or acted the same as their book counterparts (Gurgi's a small dog-like animal instead of the big hairy dude from the books, Dolly's become a tiny fairy with wings, fer Christ's sakes!), the story only bore the vaguest resemblance to the source material (there's a cauldron that makes undead warriors and a pig that escapes...that's about it), and the themes didn't match up with the books at all. In fact, it's very much like *Conan the BArbarian*, picking out bits and pieces but adding them to a far inferior story.Michalhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02198881279554204600noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7177193073415704349.post-86253563477749071212011-06-20T15:41:21.922+01:002011-06-20T15:41:21.922+01:00I don't remember who directed it or wrote the ...I don't remember who directed it or wrote the screenplay, but there was a horrid movie in the late 1980s supposedly based on Isaac Asimov's "Nightfall" that I saw at a drive-in. It starred David Birney. I hated the thing because it bore no resemblance to the story other than the concept of an eclipse once every so many centuries. None of the setting or characters were the same. There was also a different adaptation released in 2000, but I haven't seen it, so will refrain from comment.Adventuresfantastichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16907562789681407416noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7177193073415704349.post-73087408944618941382011-06-20T14:44:01.704+01:002011-06-20T14:44:01.704+01:00I haven't read the source material, yet, but I...I haven't read the source material, yet, but I'd bet dollars to donuts that the Kull movie fits the bill. <br /><br />(May god forgive me, but I liked the Kull movie. Perhaps, because I haven't read Kull yet.)Jameshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08192212467523179768noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7177193073415704349.post-39877435912042540182011-06-20T14:36:53.525+01:002011-06-20T14:36:53.525+01:00Johnny Weissmuller Tarzan films. The lot of em. Th...Johnny Weissmuller Tarzan films. The lot of em. The lead character is named Tarzan and his wife is Jane, and presumably he was raised by apes, but none of the Weissmuller films are based on an Edgar Rice Burroughs novel. Jane's a brunette Brit when she should be a blonde American. Tarzan is portrayed as a monosyllabic bumpkin when he should be a multi-lingual prodigy who taught himself to read. There's no chimp named Cheetah in the books, and no adopted son named Boy. In BurroughsTarzan and Jane have a natural child called Korak. Tarzan doesn't live in a tree house. He has estates in Africa and England because he is rich. The movies occasionally throw about some Burroughs references like Opar but none of it is portrayed as it is in the ERB books.Charles R. Rutledgehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14265387377510655973noreply@blogger.com