Why Make movies of your favourite book?

Harry Potter. City of Ember. Inkheart. These are all some of my favorite books that have been translated onto the big screen. So many of my beloved stories that have impacted my life have been visually made for my enjoyment. You would think I’d be elated, except for the fact that I have spent most of my time scoffing at the butchering of my favorite stories. Movie producers should not have the right to alter main points in the plot of a movie based off a book. If someone is going to make a movie from a preconceived plot, such as from a book, they should stick as close to the original plot as possible.

I understand the need to compress certain parts. Take the Harry Potter series for example. Those books are extremely long, and even though I may not mind a six-hour movie, not everyone feels this way, but not everyone feels this way. What I don’t understand is why they have to cut out characters or important character development scenes. If there really isn’t enough time to get in all the important elements of the novel, then break it up. Turn it into a couple of movies. Don’t make the movie at all if it causes the story to lose what made it special in the first place. I am sick and tired of my favorite parts sacrificed, weakening the movie because no one has any feelings for the character.

That is one of my biggest pet peeves. When I read a book that makes me fall in love with a character, I want to fall in love with them all over again when I see them on-screen. What usually ends up happening, though, is that all the characters in the movie become hollow shells of the characters from the book. I don’t feel for what happens to them in the movies as I did when they were placed in the same situations in the book.

Also, not only do the characters have no personality, but sometimes someone wouldn’t even know what was happening if they didn’t have the background information from reading the book. Because directors do have to gloss over so many scenes, not all the details are mentioned and some plot elements are left out, which can make the movie confusing and hard to follow.

Despite my complete trashing of movies based on books, I always get excited when I hear a book I like is being turned into a movie. No matter how many times I am disappointed, I take the movies individually. Even after so many disappointments, my expectations have never fallen.