MovieMusic.com Message Boards: What books would make great movies?

Message Boards

Movie Soundtracks

What books would make great movies?

Archive of old forum. No more postings.

Please visit our new forum, The MovieMusic Lobby, to post new topics.

Author	Topic: What books would make great movies?

Spicy Ramen Standard Userer	I have read Steven Pressfield's Gates of Fire and Tides of War and I seriously think that both need to be made into movies. Gates of Fire is about the Spartan/Athens alliance against Persia. The book is beautifully written with breathtaking battle passages meant for the movies. Without further ado, here is the movie adaptation. Director: Alex Proyas Composer: David Arnold Lead Actor: Robert Redford
posted 07-16-2002 10:12 PM PT (US)

Dinko Standard Userer	Two books that should be made into good movies: Les Miserables. The Three Musketeers. Battlefield Earth would have made a great movie. Had it been done properly. I would like to see a movie version of Claremont/Lucas' Shadow Wars trilogy - the continuing journeys of Willow. That's all I can think of. Director, for both: Nicholas Meyer. Composer: William Ross. Actors: a bunch of unknowns. [Message edited by Dinko on 07-17-2002]
posted 07-17-2002 06:33 AM PT (US)

Philipp Standard Userer	"Flashforward" by Richard Sawyers. An experiment fails, and for 2 minutes every human on earth is transportet 21 years intot the future. Director: Alex Proyas/David Fincher/Jonathan Mostow Score by: Danny Elfman/Jerry Goldsmith/ Richard Marvin Lead Actor: James Cavaziel Lead Actress: Tia Carrere
posted 07-17-2002 07:08 AM PT (US)

JoeinAr Standard Userer	Manhattan Hunt Club,by shclock writer John Saul, who final wrote a decent novel. This is really cinematic stuff. Has a Misery type quality to it. Its about a starchamber system of justice. Those found guilty by this system must survive the hunt in the NY sewers and subways systems. If they reach the surface they go free. NOBODY ever makes it to the surface. And guilt isn't part of the equation. The finale is terrific. Oh the justice. Awesome book
posted 07-17-2002 07:20 AM PT (US)

Marian Schedenig Standard Userer	I'm still dreaming of a document-style TV series based on Tolkien's Silmarillion. That's probably the only way this could work as film, but I think it could be really good. Would have to have a huge budget for a TV production though. NP: Les Miserables (Basil Poledouris)
posted 07-17-2002 07:35 AM PT (US)

Widescreen Standard Userer	Most folks in film will tell you as soon as a book is available to buy in hardcover (or paperback as the release may be), its rights have already possibly been sold- as I think the case may be in the Simarillion. (Forgive the spelling if it is inaccurate). Now, the fact somebody bought the rights to something doesn't mean they'll do anything with it. Ten years ago I actually met and spoke with Dale Brown, a techno-thriller novelist in the vein of Tom Clancy. He's a bestselling novelist now. Carolco Pictures (now defunct) had bought the rights to one of his books but if anything had come of it, we would've seen it on the screen by now. However, here's my "packaging" game submission: Story: Beowulf Director: Paul Verhoeven Creature Effects (Grendel): Stan Winston Screenplay by: Tony Gilroy &/or William Wisher based upon the translation of Beowulf by Burton Raffel and "Grendel" by John Gardner Leads: Arnold Schwarzenegger (Older Beowulf), Ralf Moeller (younger Beowulf), Max Von Sydow (King of Attacked Village) Music: no question, Jerry Goldsmith. Why they had to go and make a techno-medieval film as in the Chris Lambert version I'll never understand. The only decent version of the story I've seen depicted is the peripheral "The 13th Warrior", better known as Eaters of The Dead.
posted 07-17-2002 08:34 AM PT (US)

Bulldog Standard Userer	I just picked up this book called Jaws from the library...can't put it down...keep thinking a movie version would turn Hollywood upside down....
posted 07-17-2002 08:48 AM PT (US)

dgoldwas Standard Userer	quote: Originally posted by Widescreen: Music: no question, Jerry Goldsmith For BEOWULF?? Dude, you just said that it was basically made as THE 13TH WARRIOR. So Goldsmith basically alreay wrote his score. No... this would call for a Poledouris score like you wouldn't believe. Dan
posted 07-17-2002 09:06 AM PT (US)

TV's Frank Standard Userer	There is a collection of Welsh myths and legends called The Mabinigogian, which was excellent. There were some stories where not a word or scene would have to be altered and could be translated to screen directly without losing its impact.
posted 07-17-2002 09:28 AM PT (US)

David Maxx Standard Userer	More Alex Cross novels!!!
posted 07-17-2002 10:31 AM PT (US)

jeffy unregistered	My boss just secured a book deal for about $500,000, and the wolves are already circling the camp looking for a movie deal. The book is basically - and I know my boss might hate me for describing it like this - "Waiting to Exhale" with Latinas. J. Lo was interested, as was Salma Hayek. Right now, she's a little disgusted with the whole situation and she doesn't want a movie to be made. But from what I heard, it could be a good one if the right actresses are involved. It would be funny and quite real, as my boss is Latina. Anyway, from a personal standpoint, I think the Darryl Billups novels by Blair S. Walker are pretty good. They're pretty short; if combined, they would make a compelling film. I'm not good at trying to guess a director or composer, but Barry Levinson might like to do it (the stories are set in Baltimore), and that might mean - ugh! - Hans Zimmer might do it. Goldenthal might be OK, but the material isn't suited for his musical tastes.
posted 07-17-2002 10:56 AM PT (US)

Lancelot Standard Userer	Neil Gaiman's Stardust really should be a film...maybe an animated--probably a stop-motion puppet/claymation film. Or probably something that combines both animation and live-action, like "James and the Giant Peach"....I couldn't pick a director on this one, but I'd really love to hear either Kamen or Elfman's score. This might be a pleasant change of pace for Zimmer, as well, as it offers a romance/adventure with a fantasy aspect.
posted 07-17-2002 11:13 AM PT (US)

John Zimmer Standard Userer	Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card. It's as simple as that. This is even more simple Directed by Steven Speilberg Music by John Williams Starring Haley Joel Osmet (sp? the kid from A.I. ) as Ender Jz [Message edited by John Zimmer on 07-17-2002]
posted 07-17-2002 01:14 PM PT (US)

BMikeJ Standard Userer	I would love to see a series of movies based on the Lost Regiment books by William Forstchen. I thought I'd read somewhere that Tom Cruise's production company had picked up the rights but who knows if they'll do anything with the property. For those, that don't know, it's about a group of Civil War era soldiers being transplanted to another planet where they are pitted against a race of creatures that know the best way to serve man. Along the way, the soldiers cross paths with pockets of other cultures that have also been deposited on the planet. Very exciting stuff... I would love to see some of Steve Gould's books, like Jumper or Wildside made into movies. Jumper is about a young boy who discovers that he can teleport. Farside is about a group of teenagers who find a portal into a world that has been untouched by Man. Unfortunately, the government has learned about the portal, also... I would also love to see a movie made of Ken Grimmwood's excellent novel, Replay. It's about a man who dies of massive heartache in the first chapter and wakes up in the second chapter to find himself back in college, in the prime of his life, with all the knowledge of the future. He continues replaying his life up until the moment of his death until he can find some way to break the pattern.
posted 07-17-2002 01:39 PM PT (US)

dgoldwas Standard Userer	quote: Originally posted by John Zimmer: Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card. It's as simple as that. Yup. And it's as simple as a net search on Google: http://www.frescopictures.com/movies/ender/endersgame_update.html Dan
posted 07-17-2002 01:57 PM PT (US)

Widescreen Standard Userer	Dan, Of course I'm aware Goldsmith did 13th Warrior. Freekin' DUH. But incidentally, your Poledouris idea would be cool. Here's another package that should be going on for a project that's been tossed around like crumple up paper: Superman Reborn Director: Robert Zemeckis Screenplay: William Broyles Jr., & Ronald Bass Leads: Dylan McDermott (Superman), Bridget Moynahan (Lois Lane), Matthew McConaughey (Lex Luthor) Brainiac creature effects by Rick Baker Music - come on, no brainer! John Williams. And if he wasn't coming back, get someone to write totally new music, even a new theme that could top Williams. About the only one I can think of that can is Alan Silvestri. Or how about this: Batman Vs. Superman (actually being packaged right now) Director: Stuart Baird Screenplay: Jim Cash & Jack Epps, Jr. Leads: Gary Sinise (Batman), Brendan Fraser (Superman - even though he'd need dental work) Music - in this case, go ahead and make it Alan Silvestri
posted 07-17-2002 02:08 PM PT (US)

joan hue Standard Userer	I really like the Lincoln Rhymes� novels by Jeffery Deaver. The movie made of his first Rhyme novel, The Bone Collector, was just okay. He has published two more Rhyme novels that are outstanding and would make excellent action movies. I love Denzel, but has Hollywood considered Christopher Reeves for Rhymes? One of the best thrillers I read in the past year is Deaver�s The Blue Nowhere. Really exciting thriller about a serial killer who uses a computer as his main weapon. The police have to release one of the world�s best hackers to track down the killer. We are introduced to the world of hackers who are the only ones who can find the blue nowhere on the web. The chess/keyboard match between these two is fascinating, and the arrogance and massive egos of hackers leads to tragedies and deaths. The book is riveting. Either Bernstein or Goldsmith could provide both the action music and human themes needed for such a movie. NP Babe
posted 07-17-2002 05:12 PM PT (US)

Spicy Ramen Standard Userer	quote: Superman Reborn Director: Robert Zemeckis Screenplay: William Broyles Jr., & Ronald Bass Leads: Dylan McDermott (Superman), Bridget Moynahan (Lois Lane), Matthew McConaughey (Lex Luthor) Brainiac creature effects by Rick Baker Music - come on, no brainer! John Williams. And if he wasn't coming back, get someone to write totally new music, even a new theme that could top Williams. About the only one I can think of that can is Alan Silvestri. Bah, this movie is either gonna be the greatest stinker ever made or a humongous blockbuster. Given that this film is likely to draw its source material from comic books instead of novels or literary sources, I predict a Spider-Man approach to the film ( cg Superman flying around Sheesh if you thought the CG Spidey was bad )
posted 07-17-2002 09:27 PM PT (US)

Kirkinson Standard Userer	quote: Originally posted by Spicy Ramen: Given that this film is liekly to draw its source material from comic books instead of novels or literary sources... Comic books are "literary sources." The Acadmey just gave the first nomination ever (to my knowledge) to a screenplay based on a comic book, Ghost World. Heck, they might do it again this year for Road to Perdition. Don't be so quick to dismiss the art form. Oh wait... you were talking about Superman, weren't you? Nevermind. Anyway, if that project did happen with Zemckis at the helm, you can bet your bottom dollor that Silvestri would take the baton. Zemeckis hasn't worked with anyone else in twenty years. quote: Originally posted by Lancelot: Neil Gaiman's Stardust really should be a film...maybe an animated--probably a stop-motion puppet/claymation film. Or probably something that combines both animation and live-action, like "James and the Giant Peach"....I couldn't pick a director on this one.... I think you answered your own question there. Henry Selick would be the man for that project. But he's off doing Neil Gaimain's Coraline instead, which will also make a great film (I haven't read Stardust yet). Coraline would be best served with a score by Richard Band. And I'm not saying that just because I always say he should score movies; in this case the story really fits him perfectly. But since that probably won't happen, I'd say Anne Dudley. I love her fantasy music (The 10th Kingdom is staggering) and she's already collaborated quite nicely with Henry Selick on Monkeybone. On the subject of Ender's Game, I do think that it would be a truly great film, but I don't think deciding who should make it (or even how it should be made) is that simple. The main problem is the timeline. These kids have to age from, what was it, 5 years old to 12? It's going to be hard to find kids who can do that convincingly. From a directorial standpoint, the battle room scenes would probably constitute both the biggest challenge and the most fun any director is likely to have in his or her career. Being able to experiment in so many ways with perspective (down and up being wherever you decide it is, and so forth) would be a tremendous visual workout, one that I'd think any director who likes his job would be eager to try out. Spielberg could do it, especially with Januz Kaminski at his side. I'm not too keen on the idea of Wolfgang Petersen, but we'll see how it goes. Incidentally, I think this would be a great project for James Newton Howard or David Arnold. Kirk NP - John Adams: Century Rolls
posted 07-17-2002 10:06 PM PT (US)

nightwing Standard Userer	I would love to see an adaptation of Poe's Masque of the Red Death, or for that matter any of Poe's works. Brilliant author. Directed by Tim Burton perhaps and hence Danny Elfman. How about a good Tarzan? Kenneth Branagh needs to do Richard III, my fav Shakespeare play.
posted 07-17-2002 10:19 PM PT (US)

Spicy Ramen Standard Userer	quote: Comic books are "literary sources." The Acadmey just gave the first nomination ever (to my knowledge) to a screenplay based on a comic book, Ghost World. Heck, they might do it again this year for Road to Perdition. Don't be so quick to dismiss the art form. Bah I apologize for my little typo, but yes while comic books have been garnering great praises from Hollywood because of serveral recent successful adaptations in terms of gross (Spider-Man, MIB2) I feel that most of these films requires an extremely intricate crafting of the screenplay and story to suit the audience. Understandably, audience members realize that what they are watching are indeed *comic adaptations* and as a result expect nothing much more than popcorn fare. Literary sources in its traditional sense gives a director a foundation in which to work with( such as the Bible, Beowulf, Ender's Game). Free reign is usually given to the director to flesh out who best fits the characters in the story and what type of settings would be appropiate. Comic books generally require a certain specific approach to working out the visual aspect of the film because of the art already involved ( could be the costume or the look of the hero). So for example, in the case of Superman, people would imagine a certain physical "requirement" in order to play the part.
posted 07-17-2002 10:26 PM PT (US)

Spicy Ramen Standard Userer	quote: Originally posted by nightwing: I would love to see an adaptation of Poe's Masque of the Red Death, or for that matter any of Poe's works. Brilliant author. Directed by Tim Burton perhaps and hence Danny Elfman. Wow, I never thought of a Poe-Burton-Elfman collaboration. They seem perfect for each other. quote: How about a good Tarzan? With a score by Zimmer to boodt quote: Kenneth Branagh needs to do Richard III, my fav Shakespeare play. Given that this guy has done more Shakespeare plays than anyone, it should be coming soon.
posted 07-17-2002 10:31 PM PT (US)

Camillu Standard Userer	quote: Originally posted by Lancelot: Neil Gaiman's Stardust really should be a film...maybe an animated--probably a stop-motion puppet/claymation film. Or probably something that combines both animation and live-action, like "James and the Giant Peach"....I couldn't pick a director on this one, but I'd really love to hear either Kamen or Elfman's score. This might be a pleasant change of pace for Zimmer, as well, as it offers a romance/adventure with a fantasy aspect. Is this it? http://www.apple.com/trailers/paramount/stardust/ Looks like this could give us a great score... the trailer site says music by Ilan Eshkeri.
posted 04-14-2007 04:21 AM PT (US)

Lancelot Standard Userer	I'm extremely hopeful they don't screw this up.....seriously. I had such a vision of the book. Now, they've cast Michelle Pfeiffer and Robert DeNiro...no slouches when it comes to acting, but...I guess it comes down to script. Gervais looks to be improving in some of the clips, and that doesn't seem to be showing much faith in the material..... I'm eager for a good score, as well. I'm not sure I'd envisioned an ideal composer for this project. I'd selected some David Arkenstone music for a self-created "literary soundtrack", ('Another Star in the Sky' was the album), but...honestly, at this point I just don't know... Please please don't screw this one up, powers that be.
posted 04-14-2007 07:36 PM PT (US)

joan hue Standard Userer	There is a new Cormac McCarthy book out called THE ROAD. (He wrote All The Pretty Horses.) This is one scary look at a post apocalyptic world probably due to a nuclear war/winter. A father tries desperately to survive with his small son. It is a bleak, horrifying, and tragic novel elevated by a father's immense love for his child. It would make quite a movie.
posted 04-14-2007 11:16 PM PT (US)

Lancelot Standard Userer	Ask and ye shall recieve, apparently.
posted 04-15-2007 12:40 PM PT (US)

joan hue Standard Userer	Thanks for this information, L.
posted 04-15-2007 05:09 PM PT (US)

sdtom Standard Userer	A really good release of Jim Thompson's The Killer Inside Me. It is an excellent noir/hard boiled crime novel. Thompson worked with Kubrick on The Killing and also wrote The Getaway and The Grifters.
posted 04-15-2007 09:27 PM PT (US)

vdemona Standard Userer	The Instance of the Fingerpost, with a score composed by Wojciech Kilar. Or The Autobiography of Henry VIII with score composed or arranged by Sequentia
posted 04-16-2007 07:52 PM PT (US)

Ken S Standard Userer	<BLOCKQUOTE><font size=1 face=arial>quote:</font><HR size=1>Originally posted by Widescreen: Superman Reborn Leads: Dylan McDermott (Superman), Bridget Moynahan (Lois Lane), Matthew McConaughey (Lex Luthor)<HR size=1></BLOCKQUOTE> Took me five years to notice this. LOL! (I liked Dylan very much in MIRACLE ON 34TH STREET, but can't quite imagine him in those tights -- especially if the costume would have been the same as on Brandon Routh) ********* Hollywood can't nowadays do anything right, so these movies will never surface: H. P. Lovecraft's THE THING ON MY DOORSTEP Screenplay by Ken Sundberg Starring: Michael Damian & Jennifer Connelly Music by Patrick Doyle (inspired by Frankenstein and Exit to Eden) H. P. Lovecraft's THE MOON-BOG Screenplay by Ken Sundberg Starring: the special effects department Music by Don Davis (inspired by The Beast) not a Walt Disney production: PHANTOM MANOR Screenplay by Ken Sundberg Music by Marc Shaiman (partially based on John Debney's original score based on Buddy Baker's original score and partially inspired by Jerry Goldsmith's The Burbs and Innerspace) ......... okay, that's enough. Dreaming is still how the strong survive. KEN [Message edited by Ken S on 11-10-2008]
posted 04-17-2007 03:02 PM PT (US)

Ken S Standard Userer	Sorry to bump this up; I was just cleaning some things... KEN [Message edited by Ken S on 11-10-2008]
posted 11-10-2008 09:40 AM PT (US)

Ken S Standard Userer	--
posted 11-10-2008 09:41 AM PT (US)

Stargate Standard Userer	Well I would say you just made a bigger mess :P
posted 11-10-2008 09:55 AM PT (US)

John C Winfrey Standard Userer	They have yet to make a really good film on the Battle of Guadalcanal. The documentary with Leslie Nielsen was good but a great film on this showing what all happened would be great. Unbelievable courage there. The Thin Red Line only shows the aftermath and total fiction. Guadalcanal Diary from 43 ok but leaves out most of the story. There are many like this. J.
posted 11-11-2008 08:42 AM PT (US)

John C Winfrey Standard Userer	They have yet to make a really good film on the Battle of Guadalcanal. The documentary with Leslie Nielsen was good but a great film on this showing what all happened would be great. Unbelievable courage there. The Thin Red Line only shows the aftermath and total fiction. Guadalcanal Diary from 43 ok but leaves out most of the story. There are many like this. J.
posted 11-11-2008 08:42 AM PT (US)

franz_conrad Standard Userer	YOUTH WITHOUT YOUTH (Mircea Eliade), PROFITS OF WAR (Ari-Ben Menashe) and NORTHERN LIGHTS (Phillip Pullman) would all make great films. I say this with surety, even though I've recently seen films of the former and latter than weren't particularly good.
posted 11-11-2008 04:13 PM PT (US)

nuts_score Standard Userer	quote: Originally posted by franz_conrad: YOUTH WITHOUT YOUTH (Mircea Eliade). . . even though I've recently seen [the film] of the former . . . [it wasn't] particularly good. Bah! You're a fool! [Message edited by nuts_score on 11-12-2008]
posted 11-12-2008 12:29 PM PT (US)

Mark Hatfield Standard Userer	I've always thought that one of the seminal SplatterPunk novels, THE LIGHT AT THE END by John Skipp and Craig Spector, would make a fine movie; as it has other fish to fry than just grue. Be Well and Happy, all. ---- Mark
posted 11-12-2008 01:17 PM PT (US)

franz_conrad Standard Userer	quote: Originally posted by nuts_score: Bah! You're a fool! I love the photography. I love the music. I love the idea. I love the framing. But the tone and pacing of the whole thing is too haphazard for me to call it good. It's like THE BLACK DAHLIA - oh how I wanted to like it.
posted 11-12-2008 10:04 PM PT (US)

John C Winfrey Standard Userer	Franz, I was afraid that would be the case on the new version of that. So I passed on it. The TV film from '75 was pretty good. Did you ever see that? It had Luci Arnaz and Efrem Zimbalist Jr. I read several books on this in last few years and the newest one about the art angle on this is fascinating. J.
posted 11-21-2008 07:16 PM PT (US)

Old Infopop Software by UBB