h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I think Catwoman has something here. Instead of always going on about how the film didn't do the book justice or lost important characters or situations, let's be more positive. Let's look at actors who do portray their literary charcters in a consistent manner in a film adaptation (although your vafe, Viggo Mortensen admitted he hadn't read LOTR! He caught up on some of it via the BBC radio drama, along with otehr cast members Brian Sibley - who scripted it for radio and wrote the film companion - told me at a book event).

But why not expand a little on this excellent idea? Why not have several awards categories for book to film adaptations? One I was thinking about would be the 'Spirit of the Book' award. This could go to movies such as Ghost World, which does vary a bit from the orignial graphic novel, yet retains much of the flavour and story and atmosphere (largely thanks to director Zwigoff co-writing it with the author/artist, Daniel Clowes).

Obviously a film is not going to be long enough to include everything in even a medium sized book, but a good writer and director and actors will try to keep the main narrative and flavour. For instance, Neil Jordan's Interview With the Vampire has the wodnerful Gothic charma nd seductive pose of Anne Rice's novel, whereas the dismal Queen of the Damned is just a rapdily-slung together piece of MTV style nonsense.

As a huge movie buff who is also a bookseller and reviewer this is obviously something I am interested in. Any other suggestions for book to films?

ByronV2

I don't have anything really useful to add, except that the pages:hours ratio of Harry Potter so far means that Goblet of Fire will be 7 hrs long. Meaning they'll have to reduce it, cut out more bits, and generally be annoying.

(wish I had read Interview with the Vampire first)

Well, Catwoman, at least Peter Jackson seems to be doing a pretty good job with Lord of the Rings, so there is some hope in the world! Although on the other hand, Neil Gaiman once told an audince in my bookstore about the script he saw for the proposed Sandman film. He has no input as DC sold the rights, he only gets to see a script. He said it was the worst piece of junk he had ever seen, opening with the lines "ha, ha, pitiful mortals, you think bullets can harm me? The Lord of Dreams?" He fervently hopes it will stay in turnaround production hell forever

Not a good opening line.
(wondering what they'll do with HHGTTG if it ever happens)

Addition to list: Emma Watson and Rupert Grint (but definitely not Daniel Radcliffe)

Do you think we should have awards for the worst book to film translations? You know, in the spirit of the Golden Raspberries? Who could we nominate for that, I wonder? I was almost going to say Queen of the Damned for this year, but considering the book is pretty silly too, I suppose not.

It's have to be worst deterioration from book to film, who can make the worst film out of a good book.

I would definitely nominate Ralph Bakshi, for his version of Lord of the Rings. I'm actually watching it of my own free will- I must be going mad!