Films/DVD Asylum

Posted by Bambi B on November 17, 2004 at 17:00:21

In Reply to: Bambi B, in a post below, brings up an important point posted by Victor Khomenko on November 17, 2004 at 10:12:42:

Victor,

Yes, it is very tempting to judge the movie against the book, but as the example we were talking about- "Master and Commander", there is really too much prejudice brought to bear before the movie is even finished. I guess in modern life we break into factions as soon as possible! Critical cults everywhere.

There is even another layer to this- look at the speculation around the now TWO new versions of "War of the Worlds" - one a "literal" Well's version, the other set in present day. The variance in setting is imagined to result in a very subtle non-competition between them, but watch the sparks fly later! Now the criticism and predjudices will be on another plane as everyone will compare the new versions to each other, and the 1950's one, AND the book. People will be using the word "authentic" with great abundance and inaccuracy.

Will anyone be happy? Probably only if they do as you suggest and position themselves in a critical limbo and see the movie afresh and separate, but in the complex world of constant remakes (I'll never forgive those who remade "Diabolique") and new adaptations (everything of Austen, even the diabolical Hamlet with Mel Gibson- (I call this version "Hamfat"), Mutiny on the Bounty, War of the Worlds, etc.), there is so much critical baggage.

Cheers,

Bam