Book-to-Movie AdaptationsBy Quinn OxleyAugust 2, 2017There’s something magical about the moving picture, especially when it’s on the silver screen itself. The salty, buttery waft of popcorn hanging thick in the air, the tint of the marquee, the hush (hopefully) just before the trailers begin. My trip to the movies is the highlight of my week. So it’s only natural that, as a species, we would want to translate our favorite written stories to this divine format, especially considering the human inclination to make as much money for as little work as possible.

What’s funny is that no one ever seems to think that the movie matches the vision of the book. Of course, this is because the imagination is not limited by budget, actor availability, or the current abilities of technology.

So why do they keep trying?

Well, the quality of any piece of art is completely determined by its function. Take a child’s artwork, for example: his purpose is to express himself, and not necessarily to meet some kind of objective artistic standard. Captain America: Civil War serves to further the stories of several characters in whom we’ve already become invested and entertain with interesting action sequences and blunt, witty humor. For what it is, it’s incredible, but no one would ever compare it to Shawshank or The Godfather - because it’s made to do something totally different.

That’s how I like to view book-to-movie adaptations. While I’m not an avid reader, I have twice read the books in preparation for the movie: The Hunger Games franchise, and The Disaster Artist. I can’t yet give an opinion for James Franco’s upcoming interpretation of Tommy Wiseau’s interpretation of reality. However, I can say with confidence that I enjoyed each installment of The Hunger Games because I understood that it was, at its core, a completely different art form. You can say that the books are a better experience, but you can’t say that they’re “better.” The standards for film are completely different than the standards for literature.

Just food for thought.

Interestingly enough, this weekend’s major release, The Dark Tower, isn’t actually an adaptation, but a film sequel to a book, which is… strange, to say the least.

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