改编的教学材料
From Page to Screen
By James Hope
Reading a book and watching a film are two very different experiences, but it's normal to have high expectations when a film of a favourite book is made. There are very many times I have been disappointed by a film of a book I love.
The films may be adapted from classic novels, short stories, comic books and stage plays, as well as non-fictions, even those written by ghostwriters. All can work well, but why do many adaptations fail with both cinema audiences and critics?
A key question is obviously how close to the original the film is. Since a typical film is only around two hours long, it becomes a question for the screenwriters to decide what to leave out and how to write the dialogue. Also, sometimes there may be changes to the plot, additions, and even different endings. I, like many people, have often left the cinema feeling “the film is not like the book”.
Another problem area is the cast. Finding actors acceptable to film audiences can mean the difference between success and failure. Readers have their imaginations about how characters look and sound. This is where I think many film adaptations fall down.
People may be wrong in thinking that the book writer is the one who is in the best position to do film adaptations. In fact, sometimes the authors do take part in the adaptation, but they find it too difficult because they are too close to the material. Other times they are not invloved, and some writers have been very unsatisfied with the film versions of their work. Roald Dahl and Stephen King are examples of this. For me, anyway, it is always a bad idea to watch a film of a book you love.
Despite the challenges, there have been some highly successful films made from popular books. For me, Jaws, Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings all fit this category. And possibly the best example is the James Bond series, adapted from the 007 novels. Perhaps strangely, audiences seem to accept the change of actors who have played James Bond, although everyone seems to have their favourite. I know I do.
原教学材料
From Page to Screen
By James Hope (Arts correspondent)
Reading a book and watching a film are two very different experiences, but it's normal to have high expectations when a film of a favourite book is made.
There are very many times I have been disappointed by a film of a book I love. Although highly regarded books do not always make good films, it is safe to say that great movies may be made from not particularly good books. (The Godfather immediately springs to mind.)
The source material may be taken from classic novels, short stories, comic books and stage plays, as well as non-fiction such as biography and autobiography, even those written by ghostwriters. All can work well, but why do many adaptations and indeed remakes fail with both cinema audiences and critics?
A key question is obviously how close to the original the film is. Since a typical film is only around two hours long, it becomes a question for screenwriters to decide what to leave out and how to script the dialogue. Sometimes there may be changes to the plot, additions, and even different endings to please producers, directors and test audiences. I, like many people, have often left the cinema feeling “the film is not like the book”.
Another problem area is the cast. Finding actors acceptable to film audiences can mean the difference between success and failure. Readers of the book use their imaginations to visualise characters and have very definite ideas about how characters look and sound. This is where I think many film adaptations fall down.
Some books are just too difficult to film for technical reasons, although movies like The Life of Pi are changing this perception. CGI (Computer Generated Image) technology has had a huge impact on the movie industry. It allowed the previously unfilmable to become a reality.
One may think that it is the book writer who is in the best position to do film adaptations. In fact, sometimes authors are very involved in the process and may even be the screenwriter. This can actually be a bad thing because they may be too close to the material and find it difficult to adapt. At other times they are not, and there are instances where writers have been very unsatisfied with the film versions of their work. Roald Dahl and Stephen King are examples of this. Even more extreme was novelist J. D. Salinger, who made sure no film versions of his popular novel A Catcher in the Rye could ever be made. In this situation it is clear that viewers will not be disappointed! For me, anyway, it is always a bad idea to watch a film of a book you love.
Despite the challenges, there have been some highly successful films made from popular books. For me, Jaws, Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings all fit this category. And possibly the best example is the James Bond series, the majority of which has been derived from the 007 novels of Ian Fleming. Perhaps strangely, audiences seem to accept the change of actors who have played James Bond, although everyone seems to have their favourite. I know I do.