officerripley
Well-known Member
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I remember thinking a few times that some movie I just watched was even better than the book, but I can't remember which ones they are right now. I'm usually satisfied with a movie enough that I don't make that comparison. But it happens sometimes when the disparity between the book and the film is glaring.LOTR is one of my favorite movies; I have the set of three, plus the more recent, better Hobbit. Once or twice a year, I do a marathon watch of them.
Yes, not as good as the books but IMHO no movie based on a book is ever as good as the book itself.
It may be that I am, in general, not a big movie fan. Books seem to give me a broader choice of interpretation, using imagination. The author's choices of words and phrases is sometimes impressive, along with how they develop the plot, character portrayals, etc. Sometimes I actually feel a connection with the author. I may read a phrase several times and think, "What a great choice of words".I remember thinking a few times that some movie I just watched was even better than the book, but I can't remember which ones they are right now. I'm usually satisfied with a movie enough that I don't make that comparison. But it happens sometimes when the disparity between the book and the film is glaring.
I never read the book. They did make a movie from it, but I wasn't that impressed. I don't know if it was widely acclaimed as a good film or not. I remember my father making a bid deal out of the film, so he liked it.Last night, when I went to bed, I picked up the Kindle and started reading The Old Man and The Sea (Hemingway). I have read that book so many times, dozens? No exaggeration. I don't know if a movie was ever made but I don't think it could begin to portray what Hemingway has done. I am having a difficult time expressing this.
I couldn't get anything out of that book as is the case with most of the Hemingway books I've tried.It may be that I am, in general, not a big movie fan. Books seem to give me a broader choice of interpretation, using imagination. The author's choices of words and phrases is sometimes impressive, along with how they develop the plot, character portrayals, etc. Sometimes I actually feel a connection with the author. I may read a phrase several times and think, "What a great choice of words".
Last night, when I went to bed, I picked up the Kindle and started reading The Old Man and The Sea (Hemingway). I have read that book so many times, dozens? No exaggeration. I don't know if a movie was ever made but I don't think it could begin to portray what Hemingway has done. I am having a difficult time expressing this.
It is interesting how different people connect. Hemingway is my favorite author of all time.I couldn't get anything out of that book as is the case with most of the Hemingway books I've tried.
But to answer your question, yes there is a movie of The Old Man and The Sea starring Spencer Tracy. I haven't seen it, but I remember my brother saying he liked it.
I did enjoy "A Farewell To Arms". It was the first Hemingway I read.It is interesting how different people connect. Hemingway is my favorite author of all time.
Spencer Tracy? Hmmm....not sure if he was a good choice for that role. I may see if I can find that movie but at the same time, am a little afraid t watch it, lol.
The first publication was only a few hundred copies, I think. It sold out immediately. It was then offered by the Book of the Month; I am not sure if the hard copy I have is a first edition or from the BOTM. Anyway, I remember reading it as a child, along with For Whom the Bell Tolls and Kon Tiki. And Kipling's stories. After Mom died, I asked my sister if those books were in all those boxes she went through. She found The Old Man...but not the others. I still wonder where they went.I never read the book. They did make a movie from it, but I wasn't that impressed. I don't know if it was widely acclaimed as a good film or not. I remember my father making a bid deal out of the film, so he liked it.
Oh Yes! Farewell to Arms is another I love. There is also a collection of essays/short stories, some of which are about hunting in Africa. I find them a little difficult. Thanks for the reminder.I did enjoy "A Farewell To Arms". It was the first Hemingway I read.
I think he assumes you will already know what it's like to experience the things he writes about and doesn't attempt to bring anymore insight to it.
I fell in love once so I could appreciate the story in Farewell. But i haven't been in war so Whom The Bell Tolls was a dry story.
OldFeller: I wondered if anyone not having read the books could appreciate the movies as much.
I agree. I was sorry he was killed off. He was the highlight of that first movie.As a youth I tried to read The Lord of the Rings, but it was not my cup of tea.
Decades later, married with children, we got the DVD and watched it. Along with Gone With The Wind, it turned out to be one of the best movies I ever watched. And it also had one of my favorite British actors, shown here...
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