# Book to Movie - Hits and Misses **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 16, 2005, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/book-to-movie-hits-and-misses/326531 "2005-10-16T23:56:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![chefjef](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e480ec/32.png) [@chefjef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chefjef)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2005, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/book-to-movie-hits-and-misses/326531/1 "2005-10-16T23:56:40Z")
So out of recent and upcoming movies that are based on books - what do you think will be good? I can think of the following: The Da Vinci Code Shopgirl Bridget Jones Memoirs of a Geisha (excellent book - the movie has big shoes to fill) Cold Mountain A Civil Action (I was disappointed) I mean there are soooo many more - but these are some recent ones or ones that are about to come out or will be soon - thoughts? Are you someone who likes to read the book before the movie or no? And…what book are you reading/have you read do you think might make a good movie? Ones that come to my mind are: The Traveler (just finished - would be a kickin movie IMO) The Life of Pi (in production I think actually) The Kite Runner (also being made?) something based on a David Sedaris novel Thoughts? ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Rieux](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@Dr.Rieux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Rieux)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2005, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/book-to-movie-hits-and-misses/326531/2 "2005-10-17T01:07:56Z")
I never read _A Civil Action_, but/so I liked the movie. Same with _Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil_. Sometimes I love the book and am disappointed with the movie (Dune), but sometimes I’m happy with the movie (LOTR). ---
**Author:** ![DrFidelius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drfidelius/32/3447_2.png) [@DrFidelius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrFidelius)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2005, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/book-to-movie-hits-and-misses/326531/3 "2005-10-17T01:08:22Z")
I think I should read some more recent novels. “Cold Mountain” is the only one you list that I had read (facinating reworking of The Odyssey but I didn’t think the lyricism came across on screen) although all three women in the house have read “Memoirs of a Geisha.” Is 1996 recent? Because I really think **Striptease** was a shameful use of Hiaasen’s fun novel. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Rieux](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@Dr.Rieux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Rieux)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2005, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/book-to-movie-hits-and-misses/326531/4 "2005-10-17T01:15:30Z")
The only book named by the OP which I’ve read is Shopgirl. I wan to see it because I liked the book and I’m a fan of Steve Martin’s screenwriting (Roxanne, Bowfinger,etc). ---
**Author:** ![Wile\_E](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c37758/32.png) [@Wile\_E](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wile_E)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2005, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/book-to-movie-hits-and-misses/326531/5 "2005-10-17T01:22:42Z")
> [@chefjef](#): > > …And…what book are you reading/have you read do you think might make a good movie? Ones that come to my mind are: > > … > The Life of Pi (in production I think actually) > … > Thoughts? I read this a couple months ago. I think it will be very difficult to translate to the screen but I’ll probably see it out of curiousity. ---
**Author:** ![chefjef](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e480ec/32.png) [@chefjef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chefjef)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2005, 4:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/book-to-movie-hits-and-misses/326531/6 "2005-10-17T04:41:09Z")
Dr. Rieux - LOTR is a great example of a success I think (obviously) but I mean in the sense of book to movie. Sensational. Shopgirl’s cast makes it look like it might be really good - plus Steve Martin was involved with the film as well so I’m sure the screenplay is to his satisfaction. Casting is important I think - because sometimes the casting choice just does not at all match up with who I had pictured in my head. For the book I just finished - The Traveler - I think the casting will be important - especially for Maya. I can’t put my finger on who should play her but we’ll see. For Cold Mountain, the choice of Renee Zellweger bugged me - she just didn’t fit the character of Ruby as I had imagined her. The screenplay overall was okay though. Other thoughts?