I just read the book a couple weeks ago and really enjoyed it. So I bought the movie, it wasn't terrible I guess.
But this, from my experience, has the MOST differences from book to movie that I have come across. Pointless differences too for the most part.
Kind of interesting when you consider the author of the book wrote the screenplay too. I guess he just wanted to play around with the narrative a little more and the director Carter Smith also may have requested some changes.🐭
sharemelbs721- I too, read the book in advance of the movie. I COULD NOT WAIT to see this film back in 2008!
The book, as you know, was a virtual page-turner, in that, I stayed up WAY LATE reading the pages, because it was SO GOOD!
The movie is released, and I drag (literally!) a group of my friends to see this awesome film, right?
The movie SUCKED! It did follow the story line of the book, but the excitement, the terror, which had me SO captivated while the book was totally not there!!
We walked out of the theater, and my friends kept asking me, "Why did you insist we see this movie again?"
So embarrassing! (They are just now, after 7 years!) allowing me to "choose the movie" for our group!
This is the ABSOLUTE WORST ADAPTATION of a book to movie I have EVER seen!
The book is OUTSTANDING!
(They are just now, after 7 years!) allowing me to "choose the movie" for our group!I didn't think it was too bad, but such a sad story. Sniff! Choke!
I agree, cager97. The book was a classic page turner. The movie was okay, and I never mind catching a little bit when it's on tv, but I'm glad I didn't rave to my friends and convince them to see it in a theater. Oops.
I'm pretty openminded about movies, so generally I'm happy enough to go along with what other people pick instead of being responsible for everyone else having a good experience. (I miss the time when two people could do the whole "movie with popcorn and drink" for <$20 instead of $50. It wasn't so tragic if you stumbled into a few duds.)
Be sure and check out Scott Smith's first novel, A Simple Plan--another fascinating story that didn't hold up nearly as well on film.
To cpoet- I took your advice a while back and read Scott Smith's first novel, "A Simple Plan."
The book was released in 1993, the movie (which I found and watched) released in 1998.
As you probably know, Scott Smith also did the screenplay for this movie as well.
I liked this movie much more than "The Ruins."
I still, to this day, do not understand Scott's screenplay adaptation of his own work on "The Ruins."
It really irked me to no end that an author of such an outstanding story, would butcher his own creation!
Wouldn't you think that after all the time, energy, sweat, money, etc. that you put into "your baby", you would guard it with your life?
I admit, I am no novelist. Nor am I a screenwriter. But, if I only had a couple of books to my credit, wouldn't you strive to write the absolute BEST screenplay ever? I mean, for God's sake, he wrote the book!
Maybe it was just all about the money.
I read the novel after watching the movie and actually like them both. I like the novel because it was just so captivating and kept you interested in the characters and what happened to them. The movie did this too imo, it made me feel for some characters and dislike others and it held the tension high from they got to the ruins to the end of the film. One of the best novel film adaptions I think, even with the drastic changes
shareOk so do they go in depth as to the vines/plants in the book? That is my only thing. I tried reading it nut couldnt get into it...this is of course after I had seen the movie...which the alternate ending is the best one I think. really adds a omg she brought it back...whose next?
I worked at a bookstore and had tons of people ask me about the book. I just told them what I knew. Some bought it some not so much.
But I really wanted to know if it went into the background of the temple.