See the Movie ~ Read the Book

The Grass Harp

2017-11-12T22:45:00.001-08:00

The Grass Harp added to See the Movie Read the Book Directory under Dramas and Documentaries.

Based on the story by Truman Capote.

"This film is based on Capote's bittersweet memoir of him as a boy spending his time with two maiden aunts, Laurie and Spacek. The fine cast is headed by Laurie as the more pixilated of the two ladies. There are some rough edges, but it's worth a look," reports The Films of the Nineties.

Movie: The Grass Harp

Book:The Grass Harp by Truman Capote
The Films of the Nineties
Dramas and Documentaries

Murder on the Orient Express

2017-11-08T09:55:00.000-08:00

Murder on the Orient Express added to See the Movie Read the Book Directory under Dramas and Documentaries

Based on "Murder on the Orient Express" by Agatha Christie.

The 2017 film, opening November 10, is a remake of a 1974 film based on Christie's 1934 novel in which thirteen strangers are stranded on a train where everyone's a suspect for a murder. Inspector Hercule Poirot must race against time to solve the puzzle before the murderer strikes again.

Movie: Murder on the Orient Express
Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie.
See the Movie Read the Book Directory
Dramas and Documentaries

Odd Thomas

2014-03-20T23:09:00.002-07:00

Odd Thomas added to See the Movie Read the Book Directory under Dramas and Documentaries.

Based on the novel by Dean Koontz, the first in a series of seven books, six of which have been published.

The motion picture starring Anton Yelchin, Willem Dafoe, and Addison Timlin was directed by Stephen Sommers

Movie: Odd Thomas
Book: Odd Thomas by Dean Koontz

Dramas and Documentaries
See the Movie Read the Book Directory
Title Search

Starship Troopers

2014-01-21T22:27:00.004-08:00

Starship Troopers added to See the Movie Read the Book Directory under Classic Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror.

Based on the novel by Robert Heinlein.

"Sometime in the distant future four young people are caught up in the war between Earth's World Federation and an alien insectoid race, the 'Bugs,' which has attacked Earth by hurling asteroids at its cities," reports The Films of the Nineties.

Movie: Starship Troopers
Book: Starship Troopers by Robert Heinlein
The Films of the Nineties
Classic Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror

The Pelican Brief

2014-01-20T22:01:00.000-08:00

The Pelican Brief added to See the Movie Read the Book Directory under Classic Dramas and Documentaries.

Based on the novel by John Grisham, this is the story of a law student (Julia Roberts) who uncovers the plot behind the assassination of two Supreme Court justices. Denzel Washington plays the journalist who comes to her aid, helping her survive when her detective works gets too close to explosing the culprits.

As with most Grisham novel adaptations, "the wrapup doesn't live up to the promise of the beginning," according to The Films of the Nineties.

Movie: The Pelican Brief
Book: The Pelican Brief by John Grisham
The Films of the Nineties
Classic Dramas and Documentaries

Soundtracks by John Williams.

2014-01-01T21:23:00.002-08:00

This 4-CD set offers a comprehensive collections of film music by one of the 20th century's greatest composers, John Williams.

The compilation traces 40 years of film music, performed by The City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Paul Bateman, Nic Raine and Mario Klemens. There are 45 selections from 36 films, including:

Sugarland Express
Jaws
Close Encounters of the Third Kind
Raiders of the Lost Ark
E.T

Indiana Jones and The Temple of Doom
Indiana Jones and The Last Crusade
Empire of the Sun
Always
Hook
Jurassic Park
Schindler's List
Amistad
Saving Private Ryan
A.I.

Minority Report
Catch Me If You Can
The Rare Breed
Jane Eyre
The Cowboys
The Poseidon Adventure
Towering Inferno
Family Plot
The Fury
Superman
Dracula
The River
The Witches of Eastwick
Born on the 4th of July
Presumed Innocent
JFK
Harry Potter And The Philosopher's Stone
Harry Potter And The Chamber Of Secrets
Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace
Star Wars: Episode II - Attack Of The Clones
Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope
Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back

The Music of John Williams:40 Years of Film Music
Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror
Classic Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror
See the Movie Read the Book Directory

The Borrowers

2013-12-14T22:56:00.003-08:00

The Borrowers added to See the Movie Read the Book Directory under Dramas and Documentaries.

Based on "The Borrowers" series of books by Mary Norton. The Films of the Nineties describes this as a "so-so rendition of the tales from Mary Norton's popular books about a race of tiny people known as "Borrowers."

The family Clock, all borrowers, must foil the plans of a greedy lawyer (John Goodman) who plans to raze the house they share with a normal-size family in order to build his "Pottersville."

Movie: The Borrowers
The Complete Adventures of The Borrowers by Mary Norton
See the Movie Read the Book Directory
Kids and Family

Shattered

2013-08-28T21:18:00.001-07:00

Shattered added to See the Movie Read the Book Directory under Dramas and Documentaries

Based on the novel "Shattered" (previously published as "The Plastic Nightmare") by Richard Neely.

Tom Berenger stars as an amnesiac disfigured and robbed of his memory in a car wreck who begins to suspect his near-death was no accident.

"When Berenger wakes up in a hospital, his faithful wife (Greta Scacchi) is there to console him, showing him pictures of their life together. Somehow he senses there are more problems here than his amnesia."

~ The Films of the Nineties

Movie: Shattered
Shattered by Richard Neely
The Plastic Nightmare by Richard Neely
See the Movie Read the Book Directory
Dramas and Documentaries

A Time To Kill

2013-06-14T21:40:00.002-07:00

A Time to Kill added to See the Movie Read the Book Directory under Classic Drama & Documentary.

Based on the novel "A Time to Kill" by John Grisham, this is a racially charged drama about a young Southern attorney (Matthew McConaughey) who defends a black father (Samuel L. Jackson) after he kills two men who raped his young daughter. Sandra Bullock plays the passionate law student who serves as McConaughey's legal aide.

"Grisham certainly can set up a good story, but his endings, as is the case with this movie, are disappointing."
~ The Films of the Nineties

Movie: A Time to Kill
A Time to Kill by John Grisham
See the Movie Read the Book Directory
Classic Dramas and Documentaries

Titanic Town

2013-04-26T15:38:00.004-07:00

Titanic Town added to See the Movie Read the Book Directory under Dramas and Documentaries.

Based on the book "Titanic Town" by Mary Costello.

This is the story of a Belfast housewife who takes up the peace cause, which causes her family trouble with IRA sympathizers.

"(Julie) Walters and her family live in a Catholic neighborhood of a West Belfast town famous as the place where the Titanic was built. She's a feisty housewife who tries to become a peacemaker."

~ The Films of the Nineties

Movie: Titanic Town
Titanic Town by Mary Costello
See the Movie Read the Book Directory
Dramas and Documentaries
Classic Dramas and Documentaries

This Boy's Life

2013-04-19T21:00:00.001-07:00

This Boy's Life added to See the Movie Read the Book Directory under Dramas & Documentaries.

Based on the book "This Boy's Life: A Memoir" by Tobias Wolff.

"in an acting triumph for the three leads, troubled teen (Leonardo) DiCaprio hopes for a better life when his mother (Ellen) Barkin marries (Robert) DeNiro. They move to a small town in Washington where DeNiro browbeats and physically thrashes the lad. This intriguing character study is a true story based on writer Tobias Wolff's autobiography."

~ The Films of the Nineties

Movie: This Boy's Life
This Boy's Life: A Memoir by Tobias Wolff
See the Movie Read the Book Directory
Dramas and Documentaries
Classic Dramas and Documentaries

Flawed But Still Powerful: Les Misérables

2012-12-21T19:40:00.001-08:00

"[Director Tom] Hooper and his production team decided the cast members should sing the songs live, as opposed to adding them later in a state-of-the-art recording studio. That decision certainly adds urgency to the visuals, but it very much works against [Russell] Crowe, who pales in comparison to the multi-talented [High] Jackman and seems more frustrated than evil in his screen time as the blindly brutal enforcer Javert.

"Hooper also starts the $61 million film with a digitally created dock scene with shockingly fake backgrounds.

"In a stage setting, Les Miserables quickly energizes viewers as we’re close to the action and feel part of the young rebels gathering to fight back against the monarchy. The screen version robs viewers of the thrill of watching the actors create stage magic." [phillyburbs]

~ "Les Miserables adaptation still powerful"

by Lou Gaul

Les Misérables by Victor Hugo
Movie: Les Misérables
Dramas and Documentaries
Classic Dramas and Documentaries

She

2012-12-04T19:40:00.001-08:00

She added to See the Movie Read the Book Directory under Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror

In this 1935 adaptation of H. Rider Haggard's classic adventure novel, producer Merian C. Cooper (best known for directing King Kong) changed the setting from Africa to the Arctic.

A group of explorers, led by a dashing Randolph Scott, sets out in search of the legendary "flame of life," a mysterious force that bestows immortality like the fountain of youth. Their perilous journey takes them to the heart of a remote glacier where they are taken captive by the beautiful but impossibly cruel She, played by Helen Gahagan.

A colorized version of the 1935 film was released on DVD in 2008 that includes previously unseen deleted scenes.

Movie: She
She by Henry Rider Haggard
See the Movie Read the Book Directory
Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror
Classic Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror

One Soul, Many Worlds: Cloud Atlas

2012-11-21T04:41:00.002-08:00

"Cloud Atlas is all over the place, intentionally. It follows six completely different stories, in genres from science fiction to crime thriller to romance. As with the novel, there are six movies within the movie, set in the past and the future.

(David) Mitchell thought his novel would never make it to the screen: the size of the cast it would take. It doesn't cost a writer a dime to add a character, but it can cost a filmmaker a lot to add an actor to a cast. The Wachowskis (Lana and Andrew Wachowski) got around the problem by having actors play as many as six completely different roles. Tom Hanks, Halle Berry and Hugh Grant, among others, are transformed to the point of being unrecognizable through Hollywood makeup and costume magic.

By casting it this way, Mitchell believes, the filmmakers also made it easier for viewers to understand his concept, of one soul moving through the many different worlds.." [npr]

~ When 'Unfilmable' Books Make Memorable Movies

by Elizabeth Blair

Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell
Movie: Cloud Atlas
See the Movie Read the Book Directory
Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror

Missing Morgan Freeman: Alex Cross

2012-11-07T19:08:00.001-08:00

"Morgan Freeman played Alex Cross in the first two adaptations of this series, Kiss the Girls and Along Came a Spider, but he declined a third. Instead, the role goes to Tyler Perry, a younger actor who is enormously successful within the US and largely unknown beyond its borders... Tyler Perry disappoints in the title role...
This adaptation betrays both Patterson's original novel and the spirit of the two earlier films. The original plot has been put through a Hollywood meat grinder." [BrisbaneTimes]

~ It's just not the same without Freeman

by Paul Byrnes

Cross by James Patterson
Movie: Alex Cross

See the Movie Read the Book Directory
Dramas and Documentaries

Classic Dramas and Documentaries

Title Search

Lincoln

2012-10-26T21:38:00.000-07:00

Lincoln added to See the Movie Read the Book Directory under Dramas and Documentaries.

Based on the book Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln by Doris Kearns Goodwin, the motion picture directed by Steven Spileberg opens in November.

Starring Daniel Day-Lewis, Sally Field, and David Strathairn, the movie focuses on the 16th president's final tumultuous final months.

Movie: Lincoln

Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln by Doris Kearns Goodwin
See the Movie Read the Book Directory
Dramas and Documentaries
Classic Dramas and Documentaries

My Dog Skip

2012-10-25T10:29:00.002-07:00

My Dog Skip added to See the Movie Read the Book Directory under Kids and Family.

A classic boy-and-his-dog movie, this film is based on author Willie Morris' own childhood memories, poignantly illustrating the struggles of growing up.

Movie: My Dog Skip
My Dog Skip by Willie Morris
See the Movie Read the Book Directory
Kids and Family
Kids & Family Classics
Title Search

Shuffling Meager Storylines: Cloud Atlas

2012-10-24T17:54:00.003-07:00

"As a plausible solution to realizing the nested narratives of David Mitchell’s 2004 nightstand-warmer, this two-and-half-hour feature adaptation is not the worst imaginable.

"Cloud Atlas The Major Motion Picture shuffles among the meager storylines/settings — a colonial slavery saga, a futuristic corporate dystopia, a '70s paranoid gumshoe story, a drawing-room romance of musical rivalry, some caper involving a railroaded editor, and, coming full circle, a post-apocalyptic return to prehistoric tribalism — with an impressive hit rate for visual matches, editorial cross-referencing, and occasional humor. If it’s not the book, it’s a little like keeping six mediocre books going at once — or finger-bookmarking multiple pages in a Choose Your Own Adventure."

Cloud Atlas: It Could Have Been Worse!

by Nicolas Rapold

[TheLMagazine]

Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell
Movie: Cloud Atlas

The Reader

2012-10-13T09:37:00.002-07:00

The Reader added to See the Movie Read the Book Directory under Dramas and Documentaries.

Based on the novel of the same title by Bernhard Schlink, The Reader tells the story of teenager Michael Berg in post-WWII Germany as he engages in a passionate but secretive affair with an older woman named Hanna. Eight years after Hanna's unexplained disappearance, Michael is stunned to discover her again as she stands on trial for Nazi war crimes.

This is a haunting story about truth and reconciliation and how one generation comes to terms with the crimes of another. Kate Winslet won an Academy Award and a Golden Globe for her performance as Hanna. Actor David Cross played the role of Michael Berg.

Movie: The Reader
The Reader by Bernhard Schlink
Dramas and Documentaries
Classic Dramas and Documentaries
Title Search

The Perks of Being a Wallflower

2012-09-29T10:39:00.003-07:00

The Perks of Being a Wallflower added to See the Movie Read the Book Directory under Dramas and Documentaries.

This is a rare instance where the director of a movie based on a novel is also the original author. Stephen Chbosky's book was published in 1999. The film is now in limited release and not yet available on DVD.

The film follows a shy high school freshman named Charlie (Logan Lerman) as he meets a pair of outgoing seniors named Sam (Emma Watson) and Patrick (Ezra Miller), with whom he becomes good friends.

Movie: The Perks of Being a Wallflower

The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky
See the Movie Read the Book Directory
Dramas and Documentaries
Classic Dramas and Documentaries

Starved for Inclusion: Hunger Games

2012-04-19T12:19:00.000-07:00

"I can’t say for certain this adaptation of Suzanne Collins’ The Hunger Games was or wasn’t spot on, I can say how it felt when watching it play out on the big screen. And to me, it could have and should have been better, given there was always going to be a possibility of audience members that never read the book.

"Given the overall unbalanced story and lack of introduction to the apocalyptic world that consumed “The Hunger Games,” I can’t imagine any hard core fan of Collins ‘loving’ this adaptation. Sure, it will get more positive reviews that negative, but that doesn’t mean it’s good."

'The Hunger Games' feeds, but ultimately starves

by Marcus Eger

[Examiner]

Books Into Movies: Satantango

2012-04-05T09:46:00.000-07:00

Mesmerizing with its descriptive prose, miserably mired in melancholy, and profoundly apocalyptic, the first novel of László Krasznahorkai - now available in English for the first time, thanks to a dedicated translation by George Szirtes - inspired Hungarian filmmaker Bela Tarr's seven-hour, black-and-white epic by the same title.

Structured like a tango, the chapters of the novel are numbered one to six, and then six to one. A complex story line that defies summarising follows a group of people living in an unnamed and seriously decaying village in what strongly resembles late Soviet-era Hungary as they alternately wait for and pursue some ominous, inexplicable reckoning.

Is theirs a dance with the devil, Satantango, or a dance to keep the devil at bay?

Books Into Movies: Satantango
Outrider Books
Outrider Reading Group
See the Movie, Read the Book
Drama & Documentary
Novels and Other Fiction
Submit a Book for Review
Book Store

Thor

2012-03-26T16:41:00.000-07:00

Thor added to the See the Movie Read the Book Directory under Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror.

Thor, the movie, is an adaptation of the classic Marvel comic by Walter Simonson.

Thor by Walter Simonson
Thor Collectibles
See the Movie Read the Book Directory
Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror
Title Search

More Time for the Game Maker: Hunger Games

2012-03-23T12:21:00.001-07:00

"The book is told in first-person and the movie is a third-person narrative, readers didn't get to meet some of the characters featured more prominently in the movie.

"For instance, the game maker - who plays a very limited role in the book - gets a lot of screen time. Wes Bentley plays Seneca Crane as an overconfident genius who takes pleasure in setting up the games themselves.

"His game, however, falls apart in both the book and the movie, leading to a conclusion that has two tributes emerging from the battlefield, not one. Very little is made of this in the (first) book, but in the film, the game maker faces a great punishment for his failures.

The Hunger Games: 10 Differences Between the Movie & the Book

by John Hanlon

[screentrant]

Salmon Fishing in the Yemen

2012-03-02T19:55:00.000-08:00

Salmon Fishing in the Yemen added to See the Movie Read the Book Directory under Comedy.

Based on the novel of the same title by Paul Torday, this movie opens March 9.

In the book, a middle-aged man from London takes on the ill-fated task of introducing the sport of salmon fishing into the Yemen River at the request of a mysterious sheikh. The satirical novel pokes fun at many aspects of British society.

Movie: Salmon Fishing in the Yemen
Salmon Fishing in the Yemen by Paul Torday