Top 5 Scenes in Movies Translated From Books by manwithpez

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Top 5 Scenes in Movies Translated From Books

POSTED BY: MANWITHPEZ
UPDATED: Wednesday, April 26, 2006 20:04
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Tuesday, April 25, 2006 10:26 PM

Important people don't do field work.

I know it's odd, I know! But, it can't be any weirder than that favorite word thread I started lo these many years ago. Or that favorite action scene thread either.

So, in no particular order, here's my top 5 scenes in movies translated from books.

1. Lucy Finds A Big Closet: The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe. No matter what you might think of the rest of the film, I was very genuinely impressed with the first scene that Lucy steps through to Narnia in. I remember being a child and reading that book, and seeing that scene played out brought it all rushing back. Its a slow tentative scene, and pitch perfect, in my estimation.

2. Andy Gets Away: The Shawshank Redemption (Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption). The how of it is preposterous. The why of it, less so. Andy Dufresne don't look like much, but there are whole worlds revolving in his brain. One of my favorite films, and one of the best endings ever.

3. The Night Owl Discovery: LA Confidential. I can't imagine being a young police officer and running into such a brutal scene. Five people are taken to the back of a diner and dealt with. The sound and the music make this scene in the movie. James Ellroy once stated that he thought LA Confidential was untranslatable. I'm glad he was wrong.

4. Catch this, Tom.: To Kill A Mockingbird. As far as court procedural scenes go, this is one of the best. The shock of the courtroom as they realize both that they're charging an innocent man, and that one of their own is falsely accusing him. Oh, and the rest of the movie is wonderful too.

5. He's Fryin' Now!: The Green Mile. It is a disgusting scene. The movie never really reveals what Eduard Delacroix's crime was. In the book, of course, it's revealed to be rape, murder, and arson. But, as portrayed in the film, you can not help but feel sorry for the little guy as Percy Wetmore exacts a horrible revenge against Eduard because Eduard made the mistake of laughing at him. A very, very tense scene!

And, too quickly, there's five. Anyone who knows me on here will have automatically deduced that I'll be back with more. A few probably knew who wrote the thread just from the title.

Those are my first top five. What are yours?

And, if you'll excuse me...I have to pee.

Kaylee: "What's so damn important about being proper? It don't mean nothing out here in the black."
Simon: "It means more out here. It's all I have..."

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Wednesday, April 26, 2006 1:55 AM

THESOMNAMBULIST

Hey Manwithpez

Nice idea... Needs some thought as many of my favourite books haven't been made into films yet. However lets see.

JEAN DE FLOURETTE/MANON DE SOURCE:
Has to be the scene where Soubeyan the elder is sitting outside the church talking with an old friend who tells him that his true love had sent him a letter while he was serving in Africa with the army all those years ago... and the rest (but I don't want to spoli it, so go see it)

NOTRE DAME: OK while I'm not a fan of this film I have to say that they did at least capture a great sense of medieval atmosphere in their depiction of Paris. The 1940's Notre Dame film, not the disney cartoon, or the silent starring Lon Channey in the 20's

I'll second your Shawshank Redemption thoughts. Near Perfect.

THE NEVER ENDING STORY - Ok given the era it's not a bad interpretation of the Book, which is FANTASTIC btw, one of the best fantasy books ever writen.

CHRONICLE OF A DEATH FORETOLD : Now in fairness there is no way any director is going to make a film worthy of Gabriel Garcia Marquez'books, however they gave it a fair attempt in this adaptation. More than anything else they did achieve the social ethics that the book was so firmly rooted in. No particular scene stands out necessarily, but the whole isolated community along the river is well realised.

Hmmm thats about for it for now
Cheers
The Somnambulist

www.cirqus.com

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Wednesday, April 26, 2006 8:04 PM

MANWITHPEZ

Important people don't do field work.

What? I'm grateful to Somnambulist for jumping on this one...very much so. But, no one had anything to say beyond that?

What's that? Okay...I'll do 5 more.
In no particular order.

1. Damien Loves His Momma: The Exorcist. I know, I know...a scary movie. Scary book too. And, a fascinating one. It's a pretty close page to screen translation throughout. The one thing that's in the book that's not in the movie is evidence that this might all be in Reagan's head. Its subtle, but its there, and I don't doubt that William Friedkin left it out, so that there was no doubt that a demon (Pazuzu...best demon name ever!) was at work in the little girl. The most chilling parts of the movie, and the book, is when Reagan speaks to Father Damien with his recently deceased mother's voice. Can you imagine? I can't. Read this one if you get the chance!

2. Santino Gets a Lead Salad: The Godfather. Another movie that is fairly close to its source. Santino "Sonny" Corleone's temper is established early on. After he serves a vicious beating to his brother in law for beating his sister, Sonny gets wind that its happened again. So, he rushes off...without guard or heed. And pays a horrible price. The crux of this scene, I thought, was the recently recovered Don Vito visiting the mortuary to tell the man to work all his "magic" so that Sonny can have an open casket. So that his mother can properly say goodbye. Strong stuff in the book, and even stronger, you could say, in the movie.

3. The Inn of the Prancing Pony: The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring. Yeah, you knew it was coming. This is a strange scene in the movie. That culminates in Frodo putting the ring on for the first time. Things look a lot different with that ring on your finger, apparently. Throw the surly Ranger, and an angry guard Hobbit, and fun is had by all. Good stuff!

4. Food Service Terrorism: Fight Club. I enjoyed this book thoroughly. Chuck Palahniuk has a very distinctive writing voice, and no one can do it better. The major difference between the book and the movie that I could see is that the book doesn't seem to forget about Fight Club in deference to Project Mayhem about halfway through. Whoops...wasn't supposed to talk about Fight Club. Guess you'll have to read and watch. You could do a lot worse than picking up any of the author's other books either!

5. Comatose, My Foot!: The Big Sleep. Philip Marlowe! That's all I should have to say. Want more...Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall (Mmmmm...Lauren Bacall). This is one hell of a movie, and believe me...one hell of a fantastic book. Marlowe tails a young woman, just in time to almost witness a murder. The young woman...a rich, pretty thing, is almost vegatative at the scene of the crime. In the book, this scene is much more sordid, and its handled beautifully in the movie. Noir, Noir, Noir!

And, there's 5 more!
Come on Browncoats! What have you got to lose!

Kaylee: "What's so damn important about being proper? It don't mean nothing out here in the black."
Simon: "It means more out here. It's all I have..."

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