the good and the bad: book to movie adaptations

I'm on a movie BUZZ right now. I'm currently taking a film class and all I do is watch/analyze movies (i've only read 40+ books this WHOLE year... who am i...). Because of the class, I'm starting to branch out and watch different movies/genres, buuuuut I'll always go back to my roots: book to movie adaptations. I have seen a LOT of book to movie adaptations and, like any bookaholic, I have my "bookish checklist" and mediocre expectations. AND I KNOW NO ONE ON TWITTER WANTED THIS but too bad sweeties !!! it's movie time. 😘

Now, we all know that perfect book to movie adaptations don't exist (13 y/o me learned that the hard way w/ divergent 😔) Every movie adaptation will have its flaws and yeah I know... perfection is this "distorted idea" society created etc, etc. The topics I list below are just certain things I look for in a book to movie adaptation. Cool? Cool.

☑ ADAPTATION HAS A BASIC FILM STRUCTURE 

But Anna, what ARE the basics of a film structure? I'm so glad you asked! The four basics I'm aware of are narrative (plot, setting, characters), aesthetic (wardrobe, lighting, color schemes), technological (cinematography, camera angles, sound), and social history (religion, politics, cultural trends). The economic factor of a movie is also a "basic" but it's not something I think of *before* my viewing experience (usually after the movie because I Google Everything). Wow, thE FILM STUDENT IN ME JUMPED OUT. I'm sorry but I'm obsessed with this stuff ok.

Anyway, I'm not really that picky about the structure !! except it's gotta be somewhat decent and... you know... make sense. Oh and the movie must look pretty because that aesthetic factor doesn't seem important but, oh honey, IT IS. The ✨newer✨ book to movie adaptations have killed this film structure, but I gotta give props to A Monster Calls. The narrative is very STRONG and aesthetics are so there (two words: british countryside). Sorta weak in the social history factor but this movie takes gold in the technological factor. So yeah, adaptations usually do fine in this category but some just... don't *coughs paper towns the maximum ride the 5th wave coughs*.

☑ ADAPTATION HAS POC AND LGBTQ+ MAIN CHARACTERS

What can I say? Hollywood LOVES their angsty teen white boys and heterosexual love stories. This is probably just a "me thing" but if a book/movie/tv show/WHATEVER isn't gay, I quickly lose interest in the, uh, book/movie/tv show/WHATEVER. I'm only sorta kidding. Thankfully, young adult books are starring/including more amazing POC and LGBTQ+ characters. Book to movie adaptations, however, are slowly understanding the fact that POC and LGBTQ+ characters exist. 🙄 At least they're doing better than blockbuster films. And honestly, indie films are the backbone of diverse representation in the film community... no printer just fax.

IN SHORT: there's a 101% chance I won't see a book to movie adaptation if the adaptation doesn't have a POC/LGBTQ+ main character. One of the best examples of a diverse adaptation is The Miseducation of Cameron Post. The movie is about Cameron Post, who is sent away to a gay conversion camp after kissing the prom queen. The movie is about her journey before and after the camp. Sadly, I didn't see this movie in theaters (@ desiree akhaven I'M SO SORRY BUT I'M BROKE AND I CAN'T DRIVE) but I'm definitely buying the DVD !!! From my knowledge, Jane and Adam (friends of cameron) are well-rounded POC and LGBTQ+ characters. And the film director herself, Desiree Akhavan, is a POC and bisexual. We NEED to support more movies like this !!!!!

☑ ADAPTATION HAS A KILLER SOUNDTRACK

When I first started watching book to movie adaptations, having a killer soundtrack wasn't important. All I wanted was an adaptation that *actually* followed the book (@ younger me pls lower your expectations). But now I'm older and I always have Spotfiy playing everywhere I go. I think soundtracks really depend on the adaptation. If an adaptation is a dystopian then I want more plot and action, but if the adaptation is "coming-of-age" then I want more music and character development. Does that make sense? I feel like I'm rambling now haha. I also think a soundtrack should match the timeline of the adaptation. Like, if the adaptation is set in 80s, I don't wanna hear Katy Perry in background?? Why.

Usually book to movie adaptation soundtracks will SOLELY have popular pop songs because apparently teens only like popular pop songs. Who knew!? 😱😲😩 Anyway, the soundtrack for Love, Simon sorta strays away from popular pop songs and includes some alternative/80s hits. The soundtrack actually came out before the movie so I was practically blasting the soundtrack days before the movie, which got me more excited for the movie !!!!! The Love, Simon soundtrack is definitely one of my favorite soundtracks because it strays away from the norm and there's like 5 original Bleacher/Jack Antonoff songs on it ugh my heart.

☑ ADAPTATION FOLLOWS THE BOOK

I mean, DUH !!!! but sometimes, this box doesn't get checked off. I'm not even surprised anymore if an adaptation strays off from its original source. Having an inaccurate book to movie adaptation is so normalized in the book community. White-washing, plot holes, and careless casting are just a few things that bother me in a flawed adaptation. And I absolutely HATE it when people blame the author. They have NOTHING to do with the adaptation- blame the director, production, and distribution company. It's the littlest things that bother me I swear. 💅

Now, I could list a bunch of flawed adaptations but let's stay postive. To All the Boys I've Loved Before is a great example of a dedicated movie adaptation. The movie followed the book plot really well and they didn't white-wash Lara Jean (can u believe they ALMOST did like My God No). For this adaptation in particular, I feel like it really captured Lara Jean and her crazy love letters. 💕 And the movie became SUPER mainstream, which was kinda cool! I'll be honest, 2018 was a good year for dedicated book to movie adaptations but who knows what 2019 will bring.

WE GOIN ✈ 2018/2019 ADAPTATIONS

1. Dumplin' by Julie Murphy (2015)
(USA NETFLIX) Release date: Late Fall (2018)
POC MC: No
LGBTQ+ MC: No
Listen to the first song off the soundtrack!

2. Chaos Walking by Patrick Ness (2008)
(USA THEATERS) Release date: March 1st (2019)
POC MC: No
LGBTQ+ MC: No

3. Mortal Engines by Philip Reeve (2001)
(USA THEATERS) Release date: December 14th (2018)
POC MC: Yes
LGBTQ+ MC: Unknown
Watch the trailer!

4. All the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven (2015)
(USA THEATERS) Release date: Unknown
POC MC: Yes
LGBTQ+ MC: No

5. The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas (2017)
(USA THEATERS) Release date: October 5th (in select theaters) and October 19th (2018)
POC MC: Yes
LGBTQ+ MC: No
Watch the trailer, listen to the first song off the soundtrack, and find showtimes near you!

6. The Sun is Also a Star by Nicola Yoon (2016)
(USA THEATERS) Release date: May 17th (2019)
POC MC: Yes
LGBTQ+ MC: No


Happy Friday bookaholics! What's YOUR favorite book to movie adaptation? Excited for the 2019 adaptations? Let me know in the comments 🎥

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