Ask Mike: From page to screen
Hey Guys,
I love seeing movies based on books I’ve read. 90% of the time I end up disappointed, but it’s still fun to see how Hollywood interprets the written word. And while a great number of best sellers have been adapted for the big screen, there are more than a handful of all-time classics that have never been filmed. I came across a question from John, who wanted to know what’s the most famous book never to be made into a movie.
Responders chimed in with their thoughts. One community member wrote that “The Quran,” one of the most widely read books in the world, has never been made into a movie. Another wrote that Jane Eyre was never made into a film, although that’s not exactly true. According to IMDb, the Bronte novel has been adapted several times.
In my humble opinion, the most famous example of a book not being made into a movie is “The Catcher in the Rye.” I looked into why Hollywood has never had a hand at the classic and discovered that author J.D. Salinger is the reason. Once upon a time, Salinger allowed one of his short stories, “Uncle Wiggily in Connecticut,” to be filmed. Apparently, he was “appalled” by the finished product (called “My Foolish Heart“). From that day forward, he kept Hollywood away from his creations, even though he certainly could have cashed in.
An interesting article from CBC explains that Salinger’s refusal to sell his book hasn’t stopped Hollywood from exploiting his creation, Holden Caulfield. Indeed, there are dozens of films that feature a character who is basically a carbon copy of Salinger’s angst-y protagonist. Several movies the article cites: “Rushmore,” “Charlie Bartlett,” “Igby Goes Down,” “The Graduate,” and “Juno.”
Do you guys have a favorite book that has never been made into a movie? What is it? And if so, who would you cast? Leave a comment below and let me know. Who knows? Maybe somebody from Hollywood is reading. (If so, please note that I’ll gladly sell the movie writes to “Ask Mike” for a bag of potato chips or best offer).
Thanks for reading,
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Mike, I am in chemistry and I am having some problems with it, do you think you could help me or stir me in the right direction?
Wicked- It’s an amazing play and book, but it has no movie.
The Sword of Truth novels by Terry Goodkind. The draw you in. They change the way you feel. They change the way you think about people, life, love. After reading these books you will never be the same. As far as who I would cast? I wouldn’t know where to begin. The shoes might be too big to fill.
Hmmmm………. I like Digital Fortress by Dan Brown. A lot better than Angels and Demons, but less popular.
Well Harry Potter 5 was a big disappointment, the Da Vinchi Code too.
stuff by jane austen
-angelina jolie for the heroines
-idk …
The Dark Tower by Stephen King. Clint Eastwood as Roland.
I think lord of the rings was wonderfully written and taken and put into a tremendous movie by Peter Jackson. Can’t wait for The Hobbit to come out
How could you forget Lord of the Rings, or Star Wars? Both good movies, good books, and they are both based off books. How had this not been commented on?
Well, up until a few years ago it was ‘The Lord of the Rings’ by Tolkien so now the only thing I’m waiting for is ‘The Hobbit’ which I know was in the works but haven’t heard updates.
“The Lovely Bones”, I cant remember the author. But that was just an amazing book and would be a great movie.
“Where’s Waldo”
I would love to see these books made into movies:
Jubilee by Margaret Walker
She’s Come Undone by Wally Lamb
The Coldest Winter Ever by Sister Souljah
The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver
One of my favorite books (and I have many, just ask my hubby), is The World on Blood by Jonathan Nasaw. It is set in California, and pits Nick Santos, now in remission, against James Whistler, an avid user. User of what? Why Blood of course! This isn’t Stoker’s vampires. These guys are sipping the red stuff and getting high like it’s a drug. As the book takes place in the early 90′s I would have Christopher Eccleston as Whistler (as Whistler has an accent), and Eric McCormack as Nick. (Nick is gay, and Eric played a gay man WONDERFULLY on Will and Grace).
The thing is it’s a little too erotic for the silver screen, but oh my, it is a great read.
Wow am I the first to post a comment? I would go with Robinson Crusoe. Although they made a movie version where he goes to Mars, I think the real story would be a lot better. I would cast Sylvester Stallone as Robinson!
“Holy War” by John Bunyon
There’s the Twilight Saga, which will come out later. I can’t wait for it.
And…
The Last Battle by C. S. Lewis
The Greatest Salesman in the World by Og Mandino
Leaders by Richard Nixon
The reason some really good, informative, or best selling books are not made into movies are for the very reason (at the risk of sounding cheesy or cliche,) that simply movies are never as good as the books. In the same way when you hear a song-you get your own idea of what you hear and “where it takes you” mentally. Then you see the music video and your image of the “music” is not lived up to. With the exception of the video “Return to Innocence.” by Enigma. It shows exactly what the song brought to my mind. There are a few short stories by Stephen King that I think would make good movies. “Survivor Type” is one, and “Nona” is another. I am not sure if “The Sicilian” by Mario Puzo was made into a movie or not but when trying to read it, I don’t get a mental picture of the area, and all of that that I would if it were made into a movie.
Is there a movie of 1984? I’m guessing there is, but if it sucks, they should totally do a remake, with all the technology these days it would be so totally freaky! I love that book! Or how about a movie of Animal Farm… casting that pig from Babe… hmmmm…..
I’ve always loved last of the breed by louis l’amour and always hoeped that would be made into a movie. i reread it every year.
Not a classic (yet), but the Odd Thomas books by Dean Koontz. Just enjoyable reading that would make for enjoyable watching.
The Bartimaeus Trilogy also has my vote.
As far as classics go, I’d have to say The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein (not necessarily feature length though!), A Farewell to Arms, and the Great Gatsby. Anything by Hemingway or Fitzgerald, really.
Those may have already been made into movies, but if so, I’m not aware.
I would love to see an adaptation of two novels by Frank Yerby. The Dahomean, and A Darkness at Ingraham’s Crest are both amazing stories that I re-read bi-monthly at least! The two novels combine to create an epic story of a man’s life from boyhood as the second son of an african tribal chief through adulthood as the chief of the same tribe with many wives, and on into his life all the way across the ocean as a Slave on a plantation in the American south, but still a man! The novels were written in the early to mid 1960’s, but the story is timeless.
As the hero in the movie, I would cast Djaimon Hounsu—he just seems to have the carriage and bearing that I imagine Wes/Hwesu would have.
As his wife Nyasanu, I would choose Jada Pinkett Smith,
For his wife in America I would choose Halle Berry
Pamela would be Kyra Sedgwick
Beau Bob would be Beau Bridges, and his father would be Lloyd Bridges, the other son would of course be Jeff Bridges!
I really feel that this movie would set the Motion picture industry on its ear for quite some time! There are so many plot twists, and surprises that no one would get bored or predict what was going to happen unless they had read the books beforehand! If these were made into a film, they would clean up at both the Academy awards and the Golden Globes!
whear do you get sea monkeys from
just say NO!
“Dances with Wolves”. I read books, lots of them. This one had the distinction of a ‘perfect wrap’ ending, and it was changed in the movie.
“Stays home, or leaves home” from book to movie. Absolutely unforgivable alteration! Absolutely unforgivable in RUINING a movie I would never have watched, but for the book. Someone tell me the endings were not what I saw! UNFORGIVABLE FAUX PAS. I’m pretty sure, I stopped reading books then. Probably the last book I ever read. Pretty sure, in fact.
On board a ship there are only so many books at sea. I went out of my way to see this one after reading it to see how they dealt with the language differences. Suitably impressed, I frothed at the mouth screaming incoherently at the ending of the movie.
THE END OF THE BOOK DOESN’T END LIKE THE MOVIE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I’m still upset about that. F*ing ruining the perfect ending?!? Go die. Apparently, I’m still miffed about that. Yes, I got bent about it. I’m still bent about it.
looking for movie ideas mike?
I think Does My Head Look Big in This? by Randa Abdel-Fattah would be an excellent movie! ^^
Don’t forget “The Good Girl” with Jennifer Aniston and Jake Gyllenhaull, for The Catcher In the Rye!
Even though Disney made a cheesy version of it, I would like to see a serious movie made of Jules Vernes’ “20,000 Leagues Under the Sea”. (A movie that closely follows the story-line of the book.) Even though “Journey to the Center of the Earth” was recently made, it, too was a little silly and strayed from the book. Can you imagine what special effects could do with “20,000 Leagues” with todays’ technology? It would be awesome!
um…..Has “Uncle Tom’s Cabin” been made into a movie? I read the book but don’t remember a movie.
I’d say you are right about it being The Catcher in the Rye, that’s a good observation.
I was wondering why they never made a movie from the book ‘Bookends’ by Jane Green. i think it’s movie material and that there are a lot of movies like that book so it’s possible that they could make the movie. But why didn’t they do that earlier? I’m dissapointed. “Bookends” is a great book and it’s almost similar to the TV show “Will & Grace”. I’m just saying.
I agree with you completely – “Cather in the Rye” is probably the most famous film-adaptation-less novel. I have wondered about that ever since finishing the novel … so thank you for this post!
Oh, please allow me to add that I am quite glad to happen upon someone who feels the same excitement for book-to-film that I feel.
My favorite book that has never been made into a movie -at least as far as I know- is “Dragonseye.”
By the way, one movie I think you should see is called “Misery.” It is adapted from a book by Stephen King. It is really an amazing movie.
Well for me its not a single book thing,its a series of books.
Its the series “the asteroid wars” by ben bova.
Those 4 books are my all time favorites,mainly cause they give you so many characters to love and hate,and a few to just absolutely loathe.
Another would be rendezvous with rama by Arthur C.Clark.
I don’t have a favorite book that hasn’t been made into a movie, but it’s pretty interesting to think that some books haven’t…
The Master and Marguerita, by Mikhail Bulgakov(1936). A masterpiece, known worldwide.
Dean Koontz’ “Lightning” is an excellent book that should be made into a movie. I’m surprised it hasn’t already with it’s sci-fi/romance/thriller/time-travel elements which are so popular right now. Not sure who I’d cast since I haven’t read this book since I was a kid.
hey how about a bag of potato chips mike
How about “Before I die”, not exactly a classic, but brought me to tears.
The books that I can think of are travesties of the book.
One was Beastmaster by Andre Norton. The only thing that resembled the book was the title.
Another was The Lensman by E.E. (Doc) Smith again the only thing that matched was the title.
I would like to see both remade as the author wrote them.
i love movie but one thing i hate it its my face hehehe just a jock i love to paly cricket really ok then bye take care
have a good day and be happy in your life
am I the first comment? awesome.
I think the Quaran was a good point.
I was thinking catcher in the rye too! kudos!
Are u really Mike Myers?
Hell, Drag me to it
I would never want any more of my favorite books being made into movies. I was beyond ” Appalled” when I saw Eragon being made into a movie. They shouldn’t even be making Eldest right now. The only books that they turned into movies that were good was The Lord Of The Rings, And apparently Twilight was good to because I haven’t heard anything negative about it. I’m exited about the remake of Alice In Wonder Land though, but I want to read the book first over the summer. My favorite book that they haven’t made into a movie is a book called the The Last Book In The Universe, and I hope Hollywood keeps there filthy hands off of it to, after Eragon Hollywood should just stay away from any famous piece of litterateur PERIOD!!!
Also I was a fan of IT to, that movie wasn’t scary, it was disturbing. Exactly like a Steven King movie should be.
Sue Grafton’s series of books – “A is for Alibi” – etc.
30-something Kinsey Milhone is an intriguing character. BUt I think I read that Ms. Grafton will not agree to a movie. Oh well, the books are great.
I also liked the Mitford series by Jan Karon and think they would be a fun series of movies or tv shows. Not sure of her feelings on the matter though.
Yes it’s called A Great and Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray. It’s a teen fiction trilogy with the same appeal as Twilight and Harry Potter combined. It has a pretty large fanbase and im sure that the mere mention of it turning into a film will bring about the same out of nowhere hype that Twilight did. The tale in a sense is more like Harry Potter though; it takes place in a boarding school and there’s a lot of magic stuff involved (except they’re not wizards).
The Warrior Heir.
Taylor Lautner as Jack.
Thats all i’ve thought of!
Can’t wait for the Cirque du Freak movie. I hope they don’t screw it up.
I love the book Walk Two Moons by Sharon Creech. I am not sure who I would cast though. I would love to see this brilliant novel on screen!
i would love to see ‘extremely loud and incredibly clode’ by jonathan safran foer be put on the big screen. i can’t say for sure who might melt our hearts as Oskar, but maybe in this case going with an unknown would work best. the is absolutely one of the best books i have read in many many years.
A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini. But today I learned the movie rights have been purchased! I’m excited to see how it works as a movie, but at the same time I worry that it will ruin my view of the amazing book. I agree that the Catcher in the Rye would have made an interesting movie, Shame. I loved Holden.
Agh! A lot of great Spephen King’s books haven’t been
made into movies. It’s suckish. Because he’s a great author.
I think the Circle Trilogy by Ted Dekker (Red, Black, and White (a prequel Green is coming out this fall), should be movies, like the Lord of the Rings Trilogy, the story is a picture of hopelessness, an alternate realm of reality, and a suprising mix of drama, light headness, love, and evil. The end will leave everyone speechless!
One of my favorite books is “To His Excellency Thomas Jefferson: Letters to a President” by Jack McLaughlin. The way people treated a president in Jefferson’s time is totally unimaginable now. If you wanted to talk to him you might write him a letter or just knock on his door! And chances were very good that he would get to see him or he would write you back. A fascinating and little-known time in U.S history I think.
WK
The Jungle by Upton Sinclair
The “Uglies” series by Scott Westerfeld would be AMAZING. As for the actors, I have no idea… I probably would need to re-read the books and maybe get some ideas in mind.
I have always loved The Crystal Cave by Mary Stewart, and it goes into a series on Merlin & Arthur that is well written.
Many Dean Koontz haven’t been made into movies and ALL the ones that have suck. But, I would have to say the Dark Tower series with Johnny Depp as Roland
I think “The Hobbit” came out as a movie years ago!
I also think “Wicked” was adapted from “The Wizard of Oz!” – Am I correct or not?
Holden Caulfield is the weirdest character in all of literature, except maybe the characters in “Frannie and Zoey,” also a very strange book. I really do not understand J.D. Salinger – his writing makes no sense!
I used to love all the “Nancy Drew” books, but I only saw one movie about Nancy Drew, and that was not based on any of the books in the series. I think my favorite was “Mystery of the Hidden Staircase.” “Hidden things” (like the staircase in Anne Frank’s Diary and the “Hidden” room in the strange movie that came out a few years ago about the man who had gone up to the mountains to get away from the “Monsters” and the kids moved into that old house where he used to live) fascinate me!
I would like to see more movies done with strong female characters – whether adults or children! I do not like seeing movies with women portrayed as “victims” that men “rescue.” We are in another era now since the Fifties, but people in the movie business STILL stereotype women! (That movie two or three years ago about the woman on the lake whose jealous male acquaintances decided to “do her in” was THE MOST REPULSIVE MOVIE I EVER SAW! I want to see a “Superwoman” movie or a heroine from another era! – How about a bio of Helen Hayes and her acting career? – or Katherine Hepburn? – they were distinguished ladies! What about a story featuring Margaret Thatcher of England? – or Golda Meir of Israel? And wouldn’t it be cool to see a bio movie of someone like Eleanor Roosevelt? – who was a beacon to an entire generation of women who believed in having an opinion about national policy? What about Susan B. Anthony? – we don’t see any movies about her!!!!
I am SO TIRED of silly male-oriented movies, and car-chase scenes, and slapstick, or fighting men, or alcoholic and drug-abusing men, or other stuff like that! It is time for Hollywood to acknowledge all the women who made this country great! – or to portray women who influenced their spouses in some way!
One of the best books I ever read was Anna Lee Waldo’s Sacajawea. I don’t think that was ever made into a full-screen movie, although there is a kid’s DVD offered by the Native American Crafts Catalogue that comes out every December! It is a true dramatic story that holds your attention every minute, and it shows a female character with true strength and fortitude!
There are also some fantastic Hispanic writers, whose work is extremely dramatic and unusual.
I’ve so far seen about three or four movies with Mexican characters, and I’ve loved every one of them!
There was one last year called “The Other Side of the Moon,” which had too short a “run” in the theatres! – an excellent story and great acting! I also was moved by “Like Water for Chocolate” and “El Gringo” and “A Walk in the Clouds!” — More! More!!
Besides “Mississippi Burning” (pretty scary!), the best Afro-American movie I ever saw was “Sounder,” and the second best was the one that came out last year with Denzel Washington, about the college kids who were on the Debate Team. That was excellent! More! More!
Lastly, I would love to see a story about some person’s efforts somewhere to combat Racism against all Minorities in the U.S.A. – maybe a history of the American Jewish Committee or the Joint Distribution Committee or the growth of the NAACP
(with Dr. King and Jesse, of course), or the history of Cesar Chavez and the UFW, or a movie about the growth of the Indian Tribal Nations when they re-organized after “The Trail of Tears” or “Wounded Knee” movements.
Educational TV has some fantastic documentaries, which make me wonder why the movie theatres do not! I would rather sit home on a Saturday night and watch one of their documentaries than see most of the “junk” at the movie theatre!
Tonight, we went to see “Up!” at the theatre.
It was most assuredly the best cartoon I have seen in quite a while! – very original, and a “cliff hanger!” We never knew what would happen next, and the personalities of the characters were amazing!
I love a big surprise on the screen!
I also liked that movie a few years ago with the little girl who wrote stories for the newspaper about the families during the Depression, and whose mom took in some very strange “Boarders” who tried to rob everyone of their precious jewels! That was a good story and very realistic!
Lately, I have been thinking of writing a book.
I already have four unpublished novels that need to be typed over again on a computer and printed and sold.
I don’t want anyone else to “Edit it,” because once they do, the story will be so “changed,” and no one will understand the situations involved. So I think I will “self-publish” and see where it goes from there!
At least one of the four would make a great movie, I am sure!
I think we can do better than Holden Caulfield, unless some genius like Steven Spielberg or Ron Howard can make more sense of him than the book did!!!
He is the STRANGEST character in literature, I do believe! And his life was so AIMLESS! Movie-goers need some POSITIVE ROLE MODELS – ESPECIALLY KIDS! All any of us can do with Holden is to laugh at his misfortunes or cry that he is SO HOPELESS!!!!
well atm im on the floor looking up at my vast book collection trying to pick… i think maybe Looking for JJ by Anne Cassidy..its about a little girl who did something terrible when she was younger and its all catching up with her as she struggles to become a normal adult..i think i would choose Jodie foster to play her if she was younger lol but anyway =[ saorse ronan would be my second choice(dunoo if i spelt that right…darn irish names =p )
Frank E. Peretti is my favorite author. I am not sure if any of his novels have been made into movies but the two I would love to see made into movies would be:
This Present Darkness:
~ For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood. But against the rulers. Against the authorities. Against the cosmic powers over this present darkness. Against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Ephesians 6:12 (ESV)
Piercing The Darkness:
~ The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. John 1:5 (ESV)
Both, based on spiritual warfare.
What is the title of this “indie”/asian movie?
it was similiar to death note and i had netflix, it was recommended to me because i liked death note. but i cannot remember this one! it was an asian {chinese or japanese} conception/production, but in english, about a game significantly rich people play wherein they control this city a woman lives in. a cyborg {large robot/biological massive creature} tries to help her, in life you see his massive form, on the internet, he is a young asian man. he leaves her a construct of himself when he is destroyed while he is still trying to help her find the answers she’s looking for.. it’s been a while since i’ve seen it.. and i am only half sure it is a woman who is the main character, she lives with her parents, or at least continues to visit them in the country
Ok, I take that back. There are some movies out taken from Frank E. Peretti novels. I was having a “duh” moment, lol. Two of them are “House” and “The Visitation”.
Ok, hollywood needs to get their filthy hands off of my favorite books, unless they’re gonna follow the book closely. My favorite book that hasn’t been made into a movie would probably be either the host by stephenie meyer, or graceling, can’t remember who its by, or A child called it. Can’t you just imagine the awareness it would cause? Read read read a child called it. I think they m ade a documentary about it bbut they need to make a real movie about it. Ok, for the host i would have:
Melanie- Sophia Bush
Jared- Drew Fuller or jensen ackles
Wanda (pet)-Kristen Prout
Ian- Matt dallas
Jeb- Robert Duvall
Jamie- Logan Lerman
Sharon- Amber Tamblyn
Kyle…idk
For graceling i have no idea who should be Po but i think kiera knightly could pull off the graceling we all know and love.
A child called it idk whoshould be david but it should be a movie. Srry, i can get obessive…
OOOOH!!! I JUST REMEBERED! THE UGLIES SERIES BY SCOYY WESTERFELD!!! DO IT DO IT PLEEEEEEEEASE HOLYWOOD BUT GO WORD FOR WORD! there is not word i would change. read it! ok, so i can go past obsessive…
Also, night world series, the looking glass wars, everlost, hatchet(love love love), redo eragon, and thats about it. Whew! i’ve been saving those up for a while now. So i’ll just go about my buisiness.
OH! and heir apparent, IF they dont go all cheesy on it. now im really done XD
Sorry but I don’t know how on earth you can say the characters in films like Juno and Charlie Bartlett are “carbon copies” of Holden Caulfield!!
Sure there are a few similarities but there are similarities between lots of characters. I don’t think that those characters are “copies” of Caulfield. I’m sure there were many books before “Catcher in the Rye” that had a similar character too!
I think that Artemis Fowl (by Eoin Colfer) should be made into a movie. It’s extremely entertaining for teenagers and some adults would love it too, provided they don’t mess it up like they did with Harry Potter. I feel that Artemis is seriously underappreciated, hopefully a movie will get people to read the books…
I could have sworn they made “Catcher in the Rye” into a movie.
I also heard they maybe making a Dark Tower movie. I never read that series and I cannot see how they could squeeze that into a movie.
I would like to see Terry McMillian’s Mama into a movie or another John Grisham book to screen
I’d like to see them make the rest of the Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy books in to movies. Yeah they ruined some things in adapting the first movie. Probably because they think the U.S.wouldn’t get the British humor so they just dropped it. It’s really a shame. If people wouldn’t get the humor then too bad for them.
Oh and there was a movie made for TNT on Animal Farm and they DESTROYED the ending. I’m not sure if tehy made it worse or scarier though.
C. Williams: The Sword of Truth novels by Terry Goodkind are the basis for a TV series Called “The Legend of the Seeker. It can be viewed on HULU.
Kate: I WATCHED the hobbit at least 15 years ago. Several years later, I read the Lord of the Rings trilogy. The Lord of the Rings movies come years later.
As a rule, I find the better the book, the more disappointing the movie. The same goes in movie to book adaptations. MOST things just don’t work in both formats.
Warriors, the(to us, the teens) highly acclaimed book seris hasn’t been considerd. Hope Hollywood is reading this!
I would love to see Og Mandino’s “The Greatest Miracle in the World” then a sequel “The Return of the Ragpicker”.
Also, possibly not a movie but a series on “The Canterbury Tales. Chaucer’s description of the people going to church then informing us of the real people behind the church attire. We are all human, however Chaucer’s writing is extremely funny in this book of Tales.
A thought just came to me, this might actually work better as a play.
Catcher is one that would be good also, along with some other books mentioned.
Although not a classic “The Reader” would have been one I would have recommended, Hollywood beat me to it. I have not seen the movie, as I heard Hollywood honed in on the physical relationship entirely too much. This is the only book I have ever read that I have actually yelled at the character or even cried telling the lead character what to do. I didn’t want to give anything away here in case someone wants to read the book.
I had to read this book during the summer before starting college. During orientation we divided into groups to discuss the book. It is a good, and easy read.
Good Omens, by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett would make an awesome post-apocalyptic comedy.
If the movie was made exactly like the book, it will be a boring movie precisely.
GOD I ACTUALLY CAN’T STAND THE HYPE AND HYSTERIA SURROUNDING TWILIGHT! Ughhh! The books were V good and so was the movie, I just feel like the appreciation of the film and book is more about R.Pattinson rather than the actually story. Just get over it already. He’s not that amazing looking and the only reason he’s thought to be is because of the character he plays… SHEESH.
Where The Wild Things Are, is being made into a movie.. HOLD THUMBS THAT IT DOESN’T DISAPPOINT!
That’s an interesting question. Of course, the Qu’ran could never be made into a film: many muslims would regard it as offensive to portray the Prophet (pbuh) on screen and I can’t see anyone volunteering to fill that role.
Some very fine novels which have never been made into films as far as I know are the gripping psychological thrillers of the pioneering twientieth-century British witch and psychoanalyst Dion Fortune. These would seem to be prime candidates for film adaptation, but it is fair to say that even the novels, including “The Sea Priestess”, “Moon Magic” and “The Goat-Foot God” are hardly well known, and certainly not nearly as well-known as they deserve to be. No one writes like Dion Fortune anymore, alas.
Congratulations on your blog, which I see is well frequented. What a shame we have nothing like this on Answers Italia.
Regards,
David (aka Cosimo on Answers)
I really think someone ought to make a new movie version of Brave New World and make it…ya know. Good.
I would love to see The Hunger Games made into a movie
well at first i thought i had a few
like fingersmith and the woman in white, but they have been made for tv shows…
but then i thought of birdsong, now that is an excellent book, and for those who do not read i think a film version would interest many many people with its amazing story
When a book I, or someone I know, have read gets turned into a movie, it’s hard to watch with a full room of people. You see, I hate it when a book I have read gets turned into a movie because the director sucks, excuse my language, at directing. Everytime I watch a movie that has been a book I have read, the director always doesn’t do his job well. Take twilight for example, I used to like it, now I don’t, mostly because of the movie and the other obvious reasons. So, no book I have read should be turned into a movie.
godfather
The Odyssey has technically never been made into a movie…there is Troy that covers part of the Illiad, but no Odyssey
The most famous book made into a movie was hands down “Gone with the Wind”
Personally, I think that the Percy Jackson series by Rick Riordan should be filmed.
Jitterbug Perfume was an excellent book but was never made into a movie. I would most likely cast johnny depp as Alobar, Morena Baccarin (Inara from Serenity) as Kudra, Owen Wilson as Marcel, and im not sure about the rest of the characters. it was a great book.
Thank God they are making a Percy Jackson movie…
I agree. They need to redo Eragon and not screw it up.
Two classics by Hemingway come to mind when mentioning classics not made into a movie: The Old Man and the Sea and The Sun Also Rises. I think that The Sun Also Rises would be a fantastic movie as it has elements of romance, action, and it is also a historical period piece. Whoever owns the rights to this needs to make it into a movie now!
Hostage to the Devil by Martin Malachi. He was a former priest who was an exorcist who wrote about 5 cases. The stories were well written an extremely disturbing mainly from a psychological point of view. He never sold the rites because Hollywood would turn it into some trashy, special effect monster flick.
Dante’s Inferno can never be translated to screen either.
I’m gonna have to say that I used to read the books in the “Shannara” series by Terry Brooks back in the day (The Sword of Shannara, the Wishsong of Shannara, etc) and I always used to think that it would be awesome to see Allanon and the crew running around on screen. Kind of like Lord of the Rings, I guess. But those always made me think they’d be awesome….
C. Williams, The Sword of Truth series has been bought by Sam Raimi and Rob Tabert with Disney/ABC studios. The TV series is called “Legend of the Seeker’. It just finished its first season this month, and from what I’ve read online, they are greenlit for a 2nd season.
This is one of those cases where they are deliberately not following the book, but creating their own stories. They are even taking pre-existing plots in the book and re-doing them in a completely different fashion. Most Goodkind fans are appalled by the changes.
The producers initially wanted the author involved in the production, and that’s why he agreed to sign over his copyrights, so he would be involved with the casting, script, etc. But then they later cut him out of everything. He is no longer a part of any of the creative processes. And in so doing, we have a completely different interpretation of the novels, if you would even call it that. It’s not so much of an interpretation, or translation but a complete “Frankenstein” version. They’ve taken characters from Pillars of Creation, Blood of the Fold, all later books, and put them in the first season (which is supposed to represent the main plot of the first book).
I envy the situation of Lord of the Rings, where you have a director/producer who is completely in love with the books, wants to show the books to the masses, and puts all his efforts into telling the book. He wants to show Tolkien’s legacy. Then we have Legend, where the producers are simply trying to profit and ride Terry’s success. I don’t see that they have any passion for the books at all. That is what is missing from this TV show. A passion for what really went down in the books.
I would like to see an accurate adaptation of John Irving’s “A Prayer for Owen Meany.” The 1998 film “Simon Birch” was supposed to be based on this wonderful book, and it won several awards. But I hated it and wondered if the filmmakers had even read the book.
As far as casting, I don’t know many child actors, but would probably cast Aaron Hart as young Joe Wentworth, and Ryan Gosling as the adult Joe. I would cast Peter Dinklage as the grown-up Owen Meany.
Anyone who saw “Simon Birch” and was touched by that film would be blown away by an accurate adaptation of my favorite book, “A Prayer for Owen Meany.”
i disagree that artemis fowl should be made into a movie. the books started off good but got boring and jumbled as they went along. i totally agree that Eragon was an absolutley disgraceful interpretation of a great series. Lastly i think the books “the midnighters” and”the bartimeaus trilogy” should be made into movies.
As a student of film, I realize the importance of Hollywood screwing up awesome books.
One book in particular that I love is The Coma, I think, by Alex Garland. It’d be sort of hard to screw up, I think (I hope). It’d make a killer movie, though.
It’s about this guy’s state as he’s in a coma. He lives in his head, in this crazy place where weird stuff happens. I could see it filmed in the style of The Science of Sleep, actually. Mm…
I’d like to see a remake of A Clockwork Orange.
Well, beyond Jurassic Park, there haven’t been any adaptations of Michael Crichton books. I would go see a well-done adaption of Prey, State of Fear or Next. Also, the classic novella “Anthem,” by Ayn Rand, has for some reason never been adapted (at least to my knowledge). That would be awesome, with Hayden Christensen as Equality 7-2521/Prometheus.
house of night series, P.C Cast
Vampire acadmey,
Mercy Thompson series,
Goddess of summoning series P.C Cast
Icemark series (now that would be an intersting movie)
One of the reasons why they have not been made into movies is not because of budjets, or actors, it that it is very hard to make words come alive. It takes a lot of work for a director to make a movie and not ruin the book. Look at harry potter, they were very close and turn out to be a great film. Now, Twilight needed some work.
May Bird in the Ever After
The Anybodies
“The Quran” has been made into a movie. There were riots all over the Middle East too. It was released in the USA back in 1977 under the title “The Message.”
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mohammad,_Messenger_of_God
Titans By:tim green
The host by stephenie meyer. It was boring in the beginning but it got better later on.
Enders game by orson scott card
‘So You Want to be a Wizard’ is a Book which I Want to see made into a Movie. It’s the 1st Book from the Series ‘Young Wizards’.
Although I heard the Movie is already being Planned but it make take years before I hear some Actual News about it. I think it’s a Great Series, and the First Book (Followed by the Rest) Should be Made into Movies.
I read the Entire Series of ‘Young Wizards’, Consisting of about 9 Books at the moment I believe, aobut 3 or 4 Times! It’s a Great Read. One of my Favorite Book Series Indeed.
I wish that “Emma” by Jane Austen could be re-made. It was already made into a movie with Gweneth Paltrow in the 90s but it was absolutely awful!
I also wish “Mansfield Park” could be made into a movie. I have a feeling that it’s already been made into a BBC made-for-TV movie, but I would like to see a true Hollywood creation!
The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan.
It’s a great Young Adult/older kids book that has funny characters and a really good story line.
It NEEDS to be a book =)
the sicilian was made into a movie starring of all ppl christopher lambert from the highlander films and it was very good imo. the wheel of time series by robert jordan there are 12 finished books and one on the way being written posthumously. it would give the lord of the rings a run for its money if done right. and i am a huge fan of tolkein so dont be hatin on me lol
The obvious choice is War and Peace, quite possibly the best-known novel of them all, which could not ever be put on screen.
I would like to see the Foundation Trilogy by Isaac Asimov. Several people have looked at it and said it can’t be done. I don’t think it would make a good movie but it would make one heck of a series.
So would the Lensman Series by E.E. (Doc) Smith.
The Town That Forgot How to Breathe, by Kenneth J. Harvey (a ghost story/psychological thriller that takes place in Newfoundland, Canada)
The Stolen Child by Keith Donohoe (a changeling/missing child tale)
Both could make phenomenal movies (if they were done right).
Anne McCaffrey – Dragonriders of Pern
Piers Anthony – Xanth novels
Bio of a Space Tyrant
Tarot
I say Hollywood should leave books alone. They screw everything up because they think they can make it better.
How can people possible comment on things they know nothing about????
SoBe – Star Wars was NOT a book. George Lucas wrote it as a screenplay.
Dan Bears – Besides, Jurassic Park none of Michael Crichton’s books have been made into movies??? Really? What about – The Great Train Robbery, Disclosure, Rising Sun, The Andromeda Strain, The Terminal Man, Congo, Sphere, Timeline???
I’d like to see Jonathan Littell’s The Kindly Ones make it to the screen but Hollywood like sto put their own stamp on things as they think they are making it better when, in fact, they are making it worse.
There’s a fun chick lit series that I know thousands of us wanted to see made into a film – for awhile there were lists on the website for casting suggestions, but it never came to be. The Janet Evanovich series about Stephanie Plum – hapless bounty hunter, sometime girlfriend of good guy/bad boy cop Joe Morelli and a big thorn for ‘hunk, the mysterious’ Ranger (a kind of para military guy that shakes her up every time he shows up). The cast of characters are amazing – Lula, former ho and now rides shotgun; Grandma Mazur, who set a funeral home on fire and always is just as likely to take off to Atlantic City as she is to check out the latest guest at the funeral home. The way these books are written is absolutely hilarious – I’ve never read books before while laughing out loud. I’ve cast this film in my mind about four years ago – Sandra Bullock as Steph, Bobby Canavale as Morelli, Benjamin Bratt as Ranger, Sherri Shepherd as Lula, Steve Buscemi as Uncle Vinnie (the bail bond agency owner, and I won’t even tell you what he does with ducks), Dan Lauria as Steph’s dad, Debby Reynolds as Grandma Mazur. I once met a couple of women in a bookstore in Albuquerque and we got to talking and we all were in agreement about the casting. These books are just begging to bring the character to life on the big screen. And for the record, we even have a couple of replacement options in case the main stars weren’t interested. Marisa Tomei as Steph, and Saverio Guerra as Uncle Vinnie, Scott Foley as Morelli. Geez, I’d love to see these guys in a film – it would make my day.
I think Joe Wright, who made the most beautiful Pride and Prejudice, should continue with the Austen books. I don’t think I was ever so moved by a film – and even had the thought that a man could feel the way he did to put such heart into the film. My favorite story of Austen’s is Persuasion – it is just begging to be made again, even though such a lovely BBC version was made with Ciaran Hinds and Amanda Root.
The first Narnia book, “the magician’s nephew,” and I rather enjoyed “a horse and his boy” as well.
I’d love to see an adaptation of “the elemist” by K.A. applegate
I think the book, “Generations__Growing Up on White Oak Creek,” c@1946, should be made into a movie. The nonfiction novel was written by Teressa Captain over a period of 10 years. Interesting! I need a publisher! Thanks, Teressa
Some films are actually better or at least legitimately different but still excellent. “Slaughterhouse 5″ was a fine book but a fantastic film. “A Clockwork Orange” is another. “The Godfather” (the first one) is one of the great films of the 20th century while the book is simply excellent pulp fiction. So sometimes the medium is the art (Marshall, where are you, boy?)
A film adaptation of Duma Key, Stephen King, would be awesome of executed properly. Same goes for CELL, by the same author.
I would love to see all of Tamora Pierce’s Tortall novels made into movies! Especially the Trickster duet.
They say they’re making The Mediator series into a movie, but so far there isnt a lot of info. Hurry up on it please!!!!
And the Faerie Path wouldnt be a bad film. I think it’d be like a live action Disney Princess film thingy. =D
I think that James Ellroy’s The Big Nowhere would make a great movie. They have made a couple of movies of his LA Quartet; I hear that George Clooney has been interested in White Jazz for some time. 3 main people to cast in Nowhere: Mal Considine-Harvey Keitel; Buzz Meeks-Robert Duvall; Danny (Brown?)-Peter Saarsgaard. Keitel and Duvall are a little old but great characters for the parts.
Elmore Leonard’s Pronto which is about a good-ol-boy, Stetson-wearing, cowboy, Federal Marshall who far from being in over his head, teaches the bad guy a thing or two about ruthlessness-Mark Ruffalo to star.
I haven’t read every single comment so I’m sorry if this has already been said, but someone really, really should make an Artemis Fowl movie. And make it properly I mean, not just ruin a trove of absolutely class fiction like they did with Eragon.
Another book that I think should definitely be filmed ( it almost feels filmy when you read it) is the Harry Dresden series. Brililant stuff, cracking adventure and almost purpose built for the big screen.
As to who I would cast for it… Taylor Kitch for Harry, Sophia Bush for Susan, and possible Charlise Theron for murphy.
Irina has already mentioned one book I would love to see a movie made of,”Good Omens “, by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett. Truth be told, any book by either author, would make an excellent movie, with proper treatment. Also, totally different genre, “Hanta Yo” by Sue Beebe. Very deep story about the Lakota Souix.
Some other books by Anne Rice would make great movies, such as The Mummy (originally created for a movie but turned into a novel) and The Mayfair Witches series
I wish every1 could say I love you and we wouldn’t get hurt if they don’t love us back! It happened to me!!!!:)
Check out the song you belong with me by: Taylor Swift :!”!!!!! on you tubee
Mike,
I was wondering if you have read Caravans by John A. Michener.
I need to know what happend in the first 3 chapters…
=D
Mansfield Park has been made into a movie. Check your blockbuster.
How about the most widely read, never been out of print book–The Holy Bible.
Sure there’s “The Ten Commandments” and “The Passion of the Christ”, but do you realize how much more there is?!
I agree with Dean Koontz’s ‘Lightning’ as a book that should definitely be made into a film (but only if handled properly!). Been hoping for years! Three actors off the top of my head for the lead: Alex O’Loughlin, Christian Bale, and perhaps Daniel Craig of Bond fame. Also more of Clive Barker’s work like ‘Weave World.’ With CG now, it would be totally cool/insane. Stephen King’s Dark Tower series should be filmed, absolutely!! Yes, for CELL, also. (BTW, I liked the adaptation of of Stephen King’s The Mist — but the ending was inaccurate [not how the novella ended] and too cliche. Final mention: The List of 7 by Mark Frost — excellent late 1800′s period mystery with just the right amount of murder and the macabre.
You won’t see any more Dean Koontz books made into movies because of the way they butchered Watchers. Ditto Robert Heinlein.
Frankly, unless you are going to be Zack Snyder-Watchmen about it, you shouldn’t make a movie from a book. Books are too deep–the good ones at least–to make into good movies.
Take Jurassic Park. Jurassic Park the book was about chaos and hubris and earning knowledge vs. buying knowledge. It was about how fragile man’s control over the world is and how great he THINKS it is. And the movie was about dinosaurs in a theme park.
Robert Heinlein’s Starship Troopers was about freedom and patriotism and why people fight and go to war. It was about honor and courage and individualism and duty. It contained huge long passages about what things have value and why, and what things don’t. And the movie was about a war in space against monsters.
Dean Koontz’s Watchers was about hubris and the perils of blindly following biotechnology to its ends without considering the consequences. It was also about love and friendship and courage and honor and sacrifice. And the movie was about monsters.
What I would like to see is television adaptations of books. They do this in England. They pick a book and film it to last a half or full season, six or 12/13 weeks. There is plenty of time to develop characters and truly develop stories as they were intended to be told. Masterpiece Theater and Mystery have been showing some of the results for years.
I would like to see any of John Sandford’s “prey”novels made into movies. I think Mark Harman would make an excellent Lucas Davenport.
Nelson DeMille’s “Cathedral”
Richard Bach’s “Illusions: The Adventures of a Reluctant Messiah”
The Coldest Winter Ever by Sister Souljah. The rights are still up for grabs though! I may just have to buy them and make it myself!
Santiaga: Terrance Howard
Mrs.Santiaga: Joy Bryant
Winter: Kyla Pratt
i love the book unwind. this book would do soo great as a film!
QB VII
Honestly, Piers Anthony’s Xanth series would be a welcome movie attempt. It wouldn’t even require much effort to make it.
My favorite book to movie would have to be ‘Into The Wild,’ it’s really the only one that got it right. Reading the story alone is enough to make you feel attached to Chris, but seeing it on film, I just thought it was really well done.
Also, the most recent Willy Wonka movie got a lot of crap because people were comparing it to the one from the 70s, but I prefer the latest one, its just like the book, and I think it would have made Dahl proud. It was weird…but it was good!
Dean mentioned James Ellroy’s The Big Nowhere. I’d like to suggest another Ellroy novel, American Tabloid, a sprawling fictional account of the events leading up to the Kennedy assasination. Years ago, Bruce Willis bought the rights to the book for development as an HBO mini-series. As for casting:
Peter Bonderant – Willis
Kemper Boyd – Jeff Bridges
Ward Littel – John Cusack
Another novel that people say is unfilmmable, but has been rumored for several years to be in the works is Cormac McCarthy’s Blood Meridian. Casting ideas:
The Judge – Daniel Day-Lewis
The Kid – Emile Hirsch
Glanton – William Hurt
As far as remakes: A redux of Sergio Leone’s classic horse opera Once Upon A Time in the West.
Jll McBain – Monica Belluci (Claudia Cardinale 1968)
Frank – Tom Hanks (Henry Fonda)
Harmonica – Viggo Mortensen (Charles Bronson)
Cheyenne – Jeffrey Wright (Jason Robards)
The most famous book ever, the Bible, has never been made into a movie as such. I am not a “born again Christian”, so to speak, and I think that the work would be tremendously cumbersomem but I must say that this is an unproduced publication for the big screen to my knowledge.
Um, well in terms of good reads for young adults, I think books that were written by Sharon Draper should be considered for film adaptation…ooh and Go Ask Alice, that would be a great film partially because I think it would be influential to young people about drug use and promiscuity.
The Catcher in The Rye was the first book I thought of before I saw that was the answer. That is my favorite book and I know it is a classic and JD Salinger wouldnt allow it to be a movie. While I think it has potential for a movie, I have seen some pretty good books get ruined as movies so it may be a good thing.
I’m glad that people have already mentioned “Eragon”. There is only one word to describe this movie: FAIL!
I just found out yesterday that “The Picture of Dorian Gray” is being made into a movie. Whenever I’ve read the book I picture Ben Barnes as Dorian, and it turns out he’s been cast as him! Ahh:) im happy, but I just hope they don’t screw the movie up.
I would love to see C.S. Lewis’ THE SCREWTAPE LETTERS made into a movie. That would be very interesting to watch.
The Hardy Boys. I really enjoy the books. I understand there was once was a TV show, but no movie YET. I really hope there is one soon… Just pick a random book of the original 58 and make a movie. I don’t know who could be a Frank or Joe Hardy though.
Hmm, I really loved Holly Black’s “Tithe”, “Valient”, and “Ironside”.
They already made a movie of the Spiderwick Chronicles but that’s more for kids.. the other books’ more for teens.
Me and some friends all agree the Night World series is practically made for the big screen. It has good character descriptions, witty dialogue and fantastic plots. Even if the movie isn’t made well, it’d be hard to mess them up. (Nine/Ten books total, that would make for a good long saga)
I’ve read all the Harry Potter books, the Twilight series, the Da Vinci Code and Angels and Demons and i think the books are always better. I also think Digital Fortress is Dan Brown’s best story and that it should be made into a movie.
Honestly I think the best Stephen King book ever was The Talisman ( co – written with P Straub ) that would be an sweosme movie, and there’s always the sequal angle using Black House. I would also like to see Wally Lamb’s books be made into movies. I’d also like to see The Dresden Files by Jim Butcher made into movies ( yes I know there was a short lived tv series-but the characters did not live up to the books)Now as far as “dissapointment movies” My biggest has to be The Notebook movie. The novel ( in my opinion ) focused more on their relationship after Allie developed alzheimers – which really touched me. The movie focused more on their love story when they were young. I hate it when the movie “takes a different direction” than the book. I find normally whatever I really liked in the book was either omitted from the movie or overlooked.
How about a story with a lady that travels for 30 years. And all the trouble she gets into. Me, and you would not believe the stories, and the places I have lived.You laugh, cry and maybe even be frightened.
I am obsessed with seeing movies based on books -and I always have to read the book first- in fact, I will read a book just to see the movie and compare the two. I find that short stories make much better movies than novels, because there is more room for interpretation and less room to leave things out (like in a novel). Take The Shawshank Redemption, for example – what an excellent movie based on a short story!
novels I like are not movies (at least not that I know of) Hawthorne’s House of the Seven Gables, Radcliff’s The Italian, and Austen’s Northanger Abby (there are LOTS of Jane Austen book inspired movies, though)
My favorite book is The Great Gatsby – and yes it has been a movie, but the casting was so bad I don’t really consider it lol
i don’t think they made Johhny Tremain into a movie. that would have been a nice story.
YES!!!! I KNOW AN AMAZING BOOK THAT HAS NOT BEEN MADE INTO A MOVIE!!!
Heavier Than Heaven by Charles Cross
It’s the Biography of 90′s Rock Icon Kurt Cobain, and it is amazing. I think it would be a great film if it were to be done artisticly.
I hire one of these Directors… Oliver Stone, Joel Cohen, Peter Weir, David Fincher, Frank Darabont, Marc Forester, or someone along those lines.
I’d cast these actors….
Kurt Cobain- Joe Anderson
Courtney Love- Tara Reid or Scarlotte Johansen
Dave Grohl- Scott Green (from Last Days)
Krist Novaselic- James Van Der Beek
Ahole MTV Exec- Paul Giamati
I’d aim the movie in kind of a dramatic direction with some comedy in certain areas and fast paced action with the concert scenes.
A Confederacy of Dunces written by John Kennedy Toole. several attempts to put this excellent book to film have come to naught.
The Alchemist by Paulo Cohelo.
The boy should be Joe or Nick Jonas!
there are many books adapted to movies that turned out great like Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas and No Country for Old Men.
i agree that they should adapt the dark tower series into a movie with johnny depp as roland. also don quixote would make a fantastic movie.
i got a ? ok it’s what do super man die for email me or the answer
My favorite book of all time….”The Perks of Being A Wallflower” by Stephen Chbosky. There’s a catch though, I hope to keep it that way. A lot of the book is the main character Charlie’s personal thoughts and feelings that can easily be misconstrued on screen. I’m not saying that I don’t like book to movie translations, because I’m willing to bet I’ve got at least 20 on my DVD shelf right now, but that one is sacred to me!
I was actually going to say The Catcher in the Rye! And yes, it’s a shame that it will never be made into a real movie, but the book is still more than enough.
The Forever War by Joe Haldeman
who is john galt
Liz E, they’re making a movie of The Lightining Thief. But, I would think Hobbit or Beedle the Bard
I think that the Dark Elf Trilogies or the Icewindale Trilogies (Both follow the same characters), would make great movies if done well.
“The Destruction of Mount Doom” by J. M. D.
During The War of the Ring, based on the fable by J.R.R. Tolkien, the volcano Mount Doom is the site of a massacre. Rings were given to the people of Middle Earth by the dark lord Sauron who hid his identity and true intentions. He promised to give them power but the rings were really cursed. The kingdoms of Middle Earth began to fall. When the betrayal was discovered by the leaders of Middle Earth, an alliance was formed to bring about the destruction of the cursed rings, the dark tower, the dark lord, and the volcano of doom. An army of men and elves marched against the dark lord Sauron, defeated the armies of the enemy, captured the one ring, and defeated Sauron. But when Isildul found the ring he did not destroy it. Lord Elrond lead Isildul into Mount Doom but Isildul kept the ring and doomed himself. He was ambushed by the forces of Sauron as he patrolled the countryside. Lord Elrond and the elves prepared to leave for Valinor.
The narrative continues. The one ring is picked up by Gollum. Gollum loses the ring and Bilbo Baggins finds the ring. Bilbo hides the ring for sixty years. Bilbo leaves the ring in the Shire for his nephew Frodo. Gandalf discovers that the ring in Frodo’s keeping is the one ring taken from Sauron by Isildul in the battle on Mount Doom. The ring survived for centuries. The dark lord Sauron did not die. The dark lord lived through the ring which is why it must be destroyed. But the one ring can only be destroyed in the fires of Mount Doom where it was made. A fellowship forms to travel to Mordor, the land of the enemy, and destroy the ring. Frodo becomes the ring bearer. His friends protect him as they travel through Middle Earth searching for a route that will take them secretly into Mordor and up to mount Doom. Ents destroy Isengaard, an enemy stronghold, while the armies of good and evil battle on the open plains. When this path is found Frodo and his companion Samwise are able to sneak into the mountain and throw the ring into the lava, where it burns and melts away. The ring is destroyed. The dark tower falls. The power of Sauron has been broken. Sauron is again banished. Giant Eagles rescue Frodo and Sam, carrying them to safety.
The destruction of the cursed rings was important to break the power of Sauron. The destruction of the dark tower was important to break the power of the enemy. Defeating the enemy in battle also weakened the enemy. But the enemy used many tricks to survive, such as by using seeing stones. These seeing stones first belonged to the rulers of Gondor and Rohan. But in the hands of the enemy they became weapons through which he channeled evil power and gained control of the hearts and minds of weak victims. The seeing stones were recovered and returned to Gondor. But the volcano survived. The volcano was only partially destroyed by the tremors and eruptions that followed the destruction of the ring and the tower. This was the next target for the people of Middle Earth. Sauron used whatever haunts were at his disposal, which was why he was able to forge the cursed rings in the first place. The volcano was the forge. But the lava flows made the volcano a hard target to march against with pixes, pikes, and axes. Otherwise the armies of Middle Earth would have brought the mountain down along with the tower. Another problem were the random bands of raiders that roamed Mordor, making any such expedition difficult. But all was not lost. Much of the power of the enemy was in fact destroyed.
After the war many people tried to get as far away from the volcano as possible. Many of the elves sailed for Valinor. The Hobbits returned to their Shire. The Kings returned to their Kingdoms. It was possible that the Ents could reach the mountain of Doom with the strength to bring down the mountain, but there is some question about their dwindling numbers after the war. It is possible that the Ents, like the race of men, simply returned to their homes on the forest to replant and rebuild. As the years passed by, the land trembled. Tectonic plates under the ocean floor split and the continents began to drift. The Mountain of Doom, located in the land of Mordor, now what is known as Western Europe, drifted into the sea and came to rest on the Eastern shores of Africa, now what is known as Mount Killomanjaro. The mountain drifted miles from its original location and now haunts another people.
The volcano was a hard target because a massive build up of explosives was needed to successfully bring it down. Such explosives were rare in the old world but are now very plentiful. Natural weathering brought down about a third of the mountain, so the shape of the volcano is now smaller than when it first shot columns of ash and lava onto the land. Lava sources also change so that it is possible that lava activity has slowed or even halted because of the different location. What is certain is that the rock itself remains. For this epic to be complete, the volcano must be brought by down by a skilled demolitions team.
hi,when i was reading your question and prompting to answer it and waiting for the screen to open,i had only one answer catcher in the rye.
I would like to see The Thorn Birds by Colleen McCullough turned into a movie. Sure, it has a mini series but I think it would be amazing to see it on the big screen.
The sisters Grimm (the greatest book ever!)
and Searching for dragons! (also greatest book ever!)
I answered that question also, or whether it came from ‘John’ or not I don’t recall; sometimes questions like this one are asked more than once. I also said:
“The Catcher in the Rye.” I didn’t feel particularly humble then, it seemed fairly obvious to me: most teachers in one grade or another ask/tell their students to read this widely known book. Glad we agreed.
Yes, “The Thorn Birds by Colleen McCullough” is an interesting book to read.
The Mortal Engines series by Philip Reeve should be made into a series of films. That would be awesome. And Frozen Fire by Tim Lott would be good.
I LUV the Harry Potter books, but the movie was a big dissapointment. It was supposed to be witty and serious, with laughter sown beetween the scenes, but instead it was a BIG JOKE!
I can’t wait for the MM Ride books to come out as a movie.
The first three books rocked, but then they destroyed the rest of the series. There is supposed to be a movie coming out sometime in 2010, but it’ll probably suck. Until then, it is an awesome book without a movie.
Maximum Ride rocks!
Jurrasic Park 1 2 and 3!!!!! i luves them and Jaws 1 2 3 and 4!!!!! best movies ever!!!!
I know one Martina Cole book got made into a kind of drama (The Take) but I wish they would make “Faceless” into a film! Drama’s arent long enough and cant fit in all the detail of her great storylines!
The Catcher in the Rye is my favorite book. A lot of people seem to think that if a book is good, a movie based on it would have to follow suit. Not true. Some books should never be made into movies, because the style of writing that made the book great, and the imagery conveyed in the book could never translate well to film, regardless of what any film “expert” might think. I have that much more respect for Salinger for not allowing Hollywood to ruin his work.
As far as books I’d like to see made into movies, A Confederacy of Dunces by John Kennedy Toole and Good as Gold by Joseph Heller could be great movies if done right. But that’s a big “if”.
Tamora Pierce has written some excellent books. I wish they would make the Beka Cooper series into a film or something.
actually to someone who commented on the lovely bones, it has been made into a movie, im not sure when the release date is but you can look up the trailer on youtube:)
I LOVE the Mortal Instruments Series and although I would dread the outcome, I would love to see it in film.
I have to say… The Silmarillion. I don’t know how they’d make a single movie out of it (it’s similar to the Bible in that aspect), but I’d love to see it. And I’d pick completely unknown actors and actresses for the cast; I’m tired of actors who mold the character to be a version of themselves instead of the other way around!
PS Funny how many people misread your question and answered with books that HAVE been made into movies (and more than once, too). LOL!
i saw the boy in the striped pajamas. awsome movie and awsome book…
but they have a TON of books i wish could be made into movies. one like If I Should Die Before I Wake by Han Nolan i believe is a historical fiction with a wicked ending!!
Its based about the Haloucoust and about this Jewish named Chana who is trying to survive while a Nazi (a group who kill jews) named Hilary is in a coma and having memoires which are not hers but of Chana’s, and soon toward the end she is realizing how Jewish people are not much different from people in the Nazi.
Yeah, confusing. Anyway if you read all that you might as well read the book.
Luv it, read it, film it!