How Does a Good Book Get Turned Into a Bad Movie?

This seems to be a common thing these days. Mostly with teen novels. Hollywood is trying to find the next big thing with the young adult aduience, but that can't seem to do it right. Personally, I think if the novel is really good then the movie should be just as good right? Obviously, something gets screwed up in translation, and the movie people can't seem to get it right.

Of course sometimes just because the mass public doesn't like a movie doesn't mean wasn't actually a good movie. Sometimes its public opinion that gets things wrong. But I digress.

The book/movie that I'm thinking of is Vampire Academy. The first book, of the same name, by Richelle Mead was more than just good. The story was enteraining, the writing was well done and engaging. And the characters were well rounded and likable when meant to be, and unlikable when also meant to be.

The movie, on the other hand, while mildly entertaining is not something I would recommend to others. While the plot doesn't for the most part follow that of the novel I feel that those making the movie were trying way too hard to make another Twilight and fell flat. Although, my low opinion of the Twilight Saga is a whole other story, and a matter for another day. The movie was riddled with jokes that more often than not didn't hit their marks. Both the fight scenes and the romance were more cheesy than realistic, and I found the way that the movie portrays Dhampir, Rose, as able to see into her best friend Vampire, Lissa's, head as awkward at best. They also employ voice overs way to often in the movie to give the complicated backstory. In the movie these voice overs and some long winded dialogue is more than a little info dumpy. But in the book this complicated history works very well to build the world of The Vampire Academy, but doesn't come across the screen the same way.

I will say despite the way that the overall movie turned out that they did an amazing job casting. The young group of actors in the movie were above average in a less than average movie. Although, it seems that the good talent was wasted on this attempt of a movie, a shame. This movie, after reading a great book, could have been amazing but the attempt failed.

I did say that I found the movie mildly entertaining, and think that is because I enjoyed the novel so much. For fans of the novels I think the movie will be better than those who are going into it cold.

Hollywood you need to work hard to make better movies out of these amazing books that we have out here.

TNT,
Words by Ali




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