Hollywood always makes movies out of successful books / stories… There are a few that catch my interest:
The Other Boleyn Girl (2007)
based on a novel by Phillipa Gregory
Director: Justin Chadwick
Writers: Phillipa Gregory (novel), Peter Morgan (screenplay)
Casts: Natalie Portman, Eric Bana, Scarlett Johansson
Link: IMDB
Plot: When rumors begin to circulate that King Henry VIII (Bana) is no longer intimate with his wife who has been unable to give him a male heir, Sir Thomas Boleyn concocts a plan to bring his family back to prominence: his daughter Anne (Portman) shall seduce the King and provide him with a son. However, the scheme goes off course when the King takes to the other Boleyn girl, Anne’s younger sister and best friend Mary (Johansson).
My comments: Henry VIII is a damn interesting historical figure and seems like everyone in the entertainment scene likes to make money out of him. I have no idea what the story would tell though. Besides, the three big names in the cast catch my interest, esp the talented Natalie Portman and Eric Bana. I’m not a big fan of Scarlett, I know she’s a bombshell and all that, but acting wise she doesn’t really impress me. But one thing for sure, she’s got hot offers and she’s very wise in choosing her parts.
Phantasmagoria: The Visions of Lewis Carroll (200?)
based on Alice in Wonderland by Carroll Lewis
Director: Marylin Manson
Writers: Lewis Carroll (novel), Marylin Manson
Casts: Marylin Manson, Lily Cole
Link: IMDB
Plot: Victorian England. A haunted writer in an isolated castle is tormented by sleepless nights and visions of a girl named Alice. He finds himself becoming a symptom of his own invention. “Now all my nightmares know my name.” He is Lewis Carroll. Terrified of what waits for him each night.
My comments: Firstly, I’m not so sure if this movie’s going to happen or not but I hope it is. Secondly, it’s Marylin Manson making a movie. I cringed at the idea but I can’t help being curious. Will we get to see another side of that scary and extravagant make-up? I’m 99% sure it’s a horror.
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008)
based on a short story by F. Scott Fitzgerald
Director: David Fincher
Writers: F. Scott Fitzgerald (story), Eric Roth
Casts: Brad Pitt, Cate Blanchett
Links: IMDB, Benjamin Button blog
Plot: Benjamin Button was born as a withered old man, who’s shunned by his own father and the society. He ages backwards and grows younger as time passes and encounters complications when, at age 50, he falls in love with a woman who is 30.
My comments: There has been such a hype over this movie (yeah it has its own blog!). The premise is really interesting, and David Fincher teams up with Brad Pitt again. And to top it off, you have Cate Blanchett. Dave Fincher is well-known for his thrillers but this one suspiciously sounds like a drama. The original short story is bizarre, a little sad, and really interesting, and I just hope that Hollywood won’t romanticise this so much, and stay faithful to the story. But then again, changing the name of Benjamin’s (I presume) wife from Hildegarde to Daisy is not a good sign. Still, my hopes are high.
I, Lucifer (2008)
based on a novel by Glen Duncan
Director: Dan Harris
Writers: Glen Duncan (novel), Michael Dougherty, Dan Harris, David Logan
Casts: Daniel Craig, Ewan McGregor
Link: IMDB
Plot: God is giving Satan a last shot at redemption: Satan must live out a blameless life as a human. Slick negotiator that he is, Lucifer negotiates a ‘try before you buy’ period. One month. London. He has no intention of taking God up on His offer. Lucifer simply wants to put a body through as much drugs, sex, and other vices as possible. But inhabiting a human body gives rise to feelings the Ol’ Devil never thought possible. Could he want to take God up on the offer after all?
My comments: I don’t know how many times I’ve picked up this book in bookstores but decided against buying it. The premise is really interesting too. Since I haven’t got hold of the book, I’m curious about the ending as well. Furthermore Mr. Bond himself is playing the devil, and we’ll also have the charismatic Ewan McGregor. So I’ll join the queue.
The Time Traveller’s Wife (2008)
based on a novel by Audrey Niffenegger
Director: Robert Schwentke
Writers: Audrey Niffenegger (novel), Jeremy Leven (screenplay)
Casts: Eric Bana, Rachel McAdams
Link: IMDB
Plot: The Time Traveler’s Wife, is the story of Clare, a beautiful art student, and Henry, an adventuresome librarian, who have known each other since Clare was six and Henry was thirty-six, and were married when Clare was twenty-three and Henry thirty-one. Impossible but true, because Henry is one of the first people diagnosed with Chrono-Displacement Disorder: periodically his genetic clock resets and he finds himself misplaced in time, pulled to moments of emotional gravity in his life, past and future.
My comments: They’re making a movie out of my favourite book! It’d better be good, or else! Get the book now, it’s funny, touching, wonky, bizzare, magical, it’s an epic (gotta stop the ranting). As for the casts, I’m not 100% satisfied with both Eric and Rachel, but I’m growing to accept the fact (I was kinda hoping for Christian Bale as Henry and Bryce Dallas Howard for Clare). Many devoted fans were horrified at the thought of Hollywood making a movie out of this. They will come and judge, so this makers will face a daunting task in satisfying as many as possible.
Pompeii (2009)
Director: Roman Polanski
Writers: Robert Harris (novel and screenplay)
Casts: Orlando Bloom, Scarlett Johansson (both rumoured!!)
Link: IMDB
Plot: Even as Rome’s richest citizens relax in their villas around Pompeii and Herculaneum, there are ominous warnings that something is going wrong. Through the eyes of four characters – a young engineer, an adolescent girl, a corrupt millionaire and an elderly scientist – Robert Harris brilliantly recreates a luxurious world on the brink of destruction.
My comments: When I first heard about the fall of Pompeii and the extraordinary finding of its ruins (it was in English class), it gave me goosebumps. Many years later I was mildly interested to find out that it’s gonna be made into a movie. Isn’t it the usual period, epic, destruction type of movie? And the casting’s… yawn, yawn, but wait… it’s going to be directed by Mr. Roman Polanski!! Isn’t it a valid reason to come and watch?
