MovieChat Forums > Robinson Crusoe (1997) Discussion > worst book adaptation ever.

worst book adaptation ever.

posted 19 years ago by dio52
6 replies | jump to latest

this movie flat out sucked.

the book was more or less an excuse to claim that christianity in general, and protestantism in particular, is superior to every other religion in the world and that british culture is superior to that of any other country. those whose lives he saved were all considered servants for life (except the captain of the ship that saved him) and he was their master, not their friend. for those reasons, the book disgusted me. still, the only thing that remained from the book were the names of the two main characters and the fact that they were on an island near the carribean. the nature of the relationship was completely altered, all the characters except friday were cut, and the entire nature of crusoe's being on the island was completely unrelated to the book. I can understand that a literal translation of the book would probably be met with protests for the extreme bigotry and xenophobia it portrays, so I have to ask: why even bother making a movie out of such a book if you have to gut it and replace it with action sequences and macgyver-esque booby traps?

[–] 19 years ago

[deleted]

[–] dio52 19 years ago

You only say because you're ashamed that you're too ignorant to understand my point.

[–] lwhewell 19 years ago

The book is one of my favorites. The movie was good compared to other film adaptations I have seen.
I do not see in the book all that you "read" into it, but I must admit, I do not look for fault, I accept what others have written as their story.
I see this as a very powerful story of how a man grew both spiritually and emotionally as the course changed his life. Autruism is so difficult to hold on to. It's a wonderful story of a man's emotional and spiritual growth.
In your notices of Christianity, protestantism, servants, masters etc. you forgot women! Such a great romance story without a woman! How unjust is that? Again I love the book. This movie is a good adaptation, but I have never seen a movie that is even nearly as good as the book (if the book is good.) Stories of emotions and growth do not transfer to the screen well--they need words (thoughts)--not pictures.
What you wrote tells me A LOT about you.

[–] citizenkristen 19 years ago

Unfortunately, I have yet to see the film but what Dio said really didn't make any sense. Yes, Robinson Crusoe definitely dragged quite a bit but it was a great novel for its time. Whether you liked it or disliked it, you should read Friday. It's just a retelling of the whole story. Definitely a great book, much better than the original and more modern.

[–] cjaysmith 19 years ago

RC is often credited with being the first English novel (Don Quixote is earlier but it's in Spanish)so saying it was a great novel "for it's time" is slightly redundant. I also suspect your statement that Friday is the better novel has more to do with its 'message' being in tune with our time while Defoe's 17th century attitudes seem archaic and shameful. It's a bit like voting for someone because he shares your moral values rather than because he'll actually be any good at ru(i)nning the country.

Returning to the title of the thread I'd say that most of the Bond movies outdo RC in terms of adaptations that have become adapted out of all recognition.

Yours, Colin.

PS: It is possible to love 'La Belle et La Bette' & 'Hot Shots: Part Deux.'

[–] cjaysmith 19 years ago

Curious. dio25 said "the book was more or less an excuse to claim that christianity in general, and protestantism in particular, is superior to every other religion in the world and that british culture is superior to that of any other country. those whose lives he saved were all considered servants for life (except the captain of the ship that saved him) and he was their master, not their friend. for those reasons, the book disgusted me."
Well the book certainly wasn't an exscuse for anything of the sort. I suggest you look here for some reasonable opinions: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0375757325/qid=1110323507/sr=2-1/ref=pd_bbs_b_2_1/103-9226093-1598266

Anyway; objecting to a book because it reflects the social mores and values of the time it was written seems rather foolish. My own opinion on the book isn't valid. Got halfway and gave up on it. Crusoe spent far too much time feeling sorry for himself and worrying God for my taste. Might watch the movie later this week on TV.
Colin.