# The Why isn't this Book a Movie Already Thread? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 21, 2017, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-why-isnt-this-book-a-movie-already-thread/782686 "2017-03-21T14:23:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2017, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-why-isnt-this-book-a-movie-already-thread/782686/21 "2017-03-21T17:26:58Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > A > > I’d like to see at least one Heinlein novel adapted with something approaching fidelity. There are plenty to choose from, CGI has advanced to the point where you can do it justice. All you need to do is not to be lily-livered about it (_Puppet Masters_) or to have your own philosophy get in the way (\*Stormship Troopers[/I). For the record, I think that _Stranger in a Strange Land_ wouldn’t be a good choice. _Double Star_ might… Most of his later Juveniles would work. Door Into Summer? What would NOT work for a Movie (maybe a mini series?) is the Moon is a Harsh Mistress. ---
**Author:** ![Terminus\_Est](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terminus_est/32/3087_2.png) [@Terminus\_Est](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terminus_Est)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2017, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-why-isnt-this-book-a-movie-already-thread/782686/22 "2017-03-21T17:39:02Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > And I’ve long wanted to adapt Fredric Brown’s classic story _Arena_ for the screen. It’s been done wrong often enough. And you can do it justice (without padding it out) as a movie. There was barely enough to make a _Star Trek_ episode. How would you make it a full movie without padding? ---
**Author:** ![Morbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morbo/32/389_2.png) [@Morbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morbo)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2017, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-why-isnt-this-book-a-movie-already-thread/782686/23 "2017-03-21T17:40:04Z")
Iain Banks’ **Culture** novels turned into a series by an HBO or Starz with a large Sci-Fi budget would be my Number 1. Number 2 would be a stand-alone movie of **The Algebraist**. ---
**Author:** ![Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a183cd/32.png) [@Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barkis_is_Willin)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2017, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-why-isnt-this-book-a-movie-already-thread/782686/24 "2017-03-21T17:46:39Z")
_Fevre Dream_, by George RR Martin, could be a great movie. I would also mention _Ready Player One_, by Ernie Cline. But it looks that one will be hitting the [big screen in about a year](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ready_Player_One_(film)). ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2017, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-why-isnt-this-book-a-movie-already-thread/782686/25 "2017-03-21T17:49:54Z")
> [@Terminus\_Est](#): > > There was barely enough to make a _Star Trek_ episode. How would you make it a full movie without padding? There was more than enough to fill the time of the Star Trek episode – which a.) really wasn’t an adaptation – they were already writing it when someone noticed the similarity to Brown’s story; and b.) therefore doesn’t have a LOT of stuff that’s in the story; c.) most notably the ending, which is completely different (No gunpowder from scratch, and what the hero does is different than what Kirk does with the Gorn). You can do it, and to do it justice, you need time. Without letting it drag. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2017, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-why-isnt-this-book-a-movie-already-thread/782686/26 "2017-03-21T17:54:45Z")
I’m a little surprised that more of Clive Cussler’s novels haven’t been filmed. They’re incredibly dumb and clichéd, but they’re very cinematic. Cussler himself is said to be one reason – he makes himself a pain, apparently. It doesn’t help that the only two Cussler movies – _Raise the Titanic_ and _Sahara_ – both tanked. But You’d think, with the already pre-sold market for these a set of well-made movies would turn a decent profit. For that matter, why not the equally outrageous novels of Douglas Preston and Lincoln Childs, both together and separately? So far all they’ve made has been **The Relic** , but I thought that did decently. With the success of the Oak Island series on cable, you’d think that their novel _Riptide_ would do well. (Just stat away from the damned Agent Pendergast books) ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2017, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-why-isnt-this-book-a-movie-already-thread/782686/27 "2017-03-21T18:03:24Z")
Justice for Pern! Dragons fighting thread is cinematic as hell. ---
**Author:** ![Horatius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/horatius/32/3572_2.png) [@Horatius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatius)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2017, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-why-isnt-this-book-a-movie-already-thread/782686/28 "2017-03-21T18:23:35Z")
> [@StGermain](#): > > The Vorkosigan Saga. I always thought that Aron Eisenberg from Deep Space 9 could pull off playing Miles, but alas, he’s probably way too old for the role now. Just watch the last 40 seconds or so of this, and tell me that’s not Miles-like: [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N8hcHXwqPEo) ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2017, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-why-isnt-this-book-a-movie-already-thread/782686/29 "2017-03-21T18:27:51Z")
> [@Jonathan\_Chance](#): > > Justice for Pern! Dragons fighting thread is cinematic as hell. Dragons fighting _dragons_ are cinematic. Dragons fighting thread might not be so. Thread looks like … well … _thread_. If I were filming it, I’d jazz it up somehow. ---
**Author:** ![PapSett](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ecc23a/32.png) [@PapSett](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PapSett)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2017, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-why-isnt-this-book-a-movie-already-thread/782686/30 "2017-03-21T19:23:39Z")
Two of my favorite Stephen King novels have not been made into movies yet- The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon and Gerald’s Game. His books don’t always translate well onto film, and since both of these basically center around a single character, not really sure how they would stack up. Another is his short story Survivor Type, but again, revolves around a single character. And it’s quite possible that what you can conjure up in your mind for these 3 are way worse than anything they could film… ---
**Author:** ![Wednesday\_Evening](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b2d939/32.png) [@Wednesday\_Evening](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wednesday_Evening)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2017, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-why-isnt-this-book-a-movie-already-thread/782686/31 "2017-03-21T19:28:07Z")
> [@Jonathan\_Chance](#): > > Justice for Pern! Dragons fighting thread is cinematic as hell. I came in here to post **Dragonflight.** I’ve been wanting a movie of it ever since I first read it some 30-odd years ago. Occasionally while reading a book I think “Hey, this might make a good movie”. I am currently reading Ted Dekker’s \*\*Circle Series \*\*and had that thought. How about Tad Williams’s \*\*Sorrow, Memoery and Thorn \*\*series? It is a little unwieldly, but a fantastic story. Cut out some of the sub-plots, perhaps? I’m on board with any movie featuring Miles Vorkosigan. It would be so much fun to watch. ---
**Author:** ![Sattua](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sattua/32/11906_2.png) [@Sattua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sattua)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2017, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-why-isnt-this-book-a-movie-already-thread/782686/32 "2017-03-21T19:34:35Z")
**Waverly**. It’s big-screen gold and no one is jumping for it. Not after Braveheart. Not after Fifty Shades of Plaid. Why not? You get to draw and quarter the hero at the end. C’mon, people. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2017, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-why-isnt-this-book-a-movie-already-thread/782686/33 "2017-03-21T19:40:19Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > And I’ve long wanted to adapt Fredric Brown’s classic story _Arena_ for the screen. It’s been done wrong often enough. And you can do it justice (without padding it out) as a movie. This is a rare case where I feel meddling with the story improved it. I like Gene Coon’s ending better than I like Brown’s original. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2017, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-why-isnt-this-book-a-movie-already-thread/782686/34 "2017-03-21T19:43:08Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > This is a rare case where I feel meddling with the story improved it. I like Gene Coon’s ending better than I like Brown’s original. Not me. And I hate the way they fundamentally changed the nature of the story. Of course, I understand why – you couldn’t depict things on TV then with the effects available. Even when Marvel adapted it for the comics they gave the Outsider a T. Rex head (maybe in homage to the Star Trek version). But nowadays you can create the visuals you want with the CGI available. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2017, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-why-isnt-this-book-a-movie-already-thread/782686/35 "2017-03-21T19:46:15Z")
I wish to ghod someone would do _Riverworld_ right, just once. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2017, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-why-isnt-this-book-a-movie-already-thread/782686/36 "2017-03-21T19:48:48Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > I’m a little surprised that more of Clive Cussler’s novels haven’t been filmed. They’re incredibly dumb and clichéd, but they’re very cinematic. Cussler himself is said to be one reason – he makes himself a pain, apparently. It doesn’t help that the only two Cussler movies – _Raise the Titanic_ and _Sahara_ – both tanked. But You’d think, with the already pre-sold market for these a set of well-made movies would turn a decent profit. From what I’ve heard nobody in Hollywood wants to ever work with Cussler again. By all accounts, he is virtually impossible to work with. He insists on complete control over any movie based on one of his works and wants the movie to be made his way even though he has no experience in filmmaking. ---
**Author:** ![TimeWinder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bcef8e/32.png) [@TimeWinder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TimeWinder)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2017, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-why-isnt-this-book-a-movie-already-thread/782686/37 "2017-03-21T19:49:29Z")
Startide Rising. Another space opera that couldn’t be done until recently (dolphins make up a fair chunk of the character base), but would translate fantastically to the screen. ---
**Author:** ![MindsEye\_Watering](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mindseye_watering/32/3619_2.png) [@MindsEye\_Watering](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MindsEye_Watering)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2017, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-why-isnt-this-book-a-movie-already-thread/782686/38 "2017-03-21T19:51:09Z")
> [@TroutMan](#): > > Same story for the top book on my movie wishlist, _Neuromancer_. Multiple stops and starts, and it never happens. Just make the damn movie already. Second _Neuromancer_. Also, _The Moon Is A Harsh Mistress._ ---
**Author:** ![MindsEye\_Watering](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mindseye_watering/32/3619_2.png) [@MindsEye\_Watering](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MindsEye_Watering)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2017, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-why-isnt-this-book-a-movie-already-thread/782686/39 "2017-03-21T19:52:57Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > What would NOT work for a Movie (maybe a mini series?) is the Moon is a Harsh Mistress. Why? ---
**Author:** ![Darth\_Hamsandwich](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4bbf92/32.png) [@Darth\_Hamsandwich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darth_Hamsandwich)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2017, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-why-isnt-this-book-a-movie-already-thread/782686/40 "2017-03-21T19:56:07Z")
> [@PapSett](#): > > Two of my favorite Stephen King novels have not been made into movies yet- The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon and Gerald’s Game. > > His books don’t always translate well onto film, and since both of these basically center around a single character, not really sure how they would stack up. Another is his short story Survivor Type, but again, revolves around a single character. And it’s quite possible that what you can conjure up in your mind for these 3 are way worse than anything they could film… For my money, I’m betting that _The Eyes of the Dragon_ would make a great flick. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-why-isnt-this-book-a-movie-already-thread/782686.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-why-isnt-this-book-a-movie-already-thread/782686.md?page=3)