Comments on: Books on Screen: The Water Horse

By: Lucia

Lucia — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 02:24:19 +0000

Hi Dawn,
So glad to see this review…hadn’t heard of either the book or the movie so I will look forward to checking them out. I am with you on the movie/ book thing…I usually can’t stand to see movies made from books I have read. I just can’t get past the images I create in my head while reading a book and the movie always feels like a let down.

By: Heather Johnson

Heather Johnson — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 12:56:33 +0000

Me again – just letting you know that I linked back to this post from one I did today about The Spiderwick Chronicles, FYI.

By: Corinne

Corinne — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 19:05:53 +0000

Well, I’m with you on this one Dawn. I read the book to both my 7 year old and 5 year old. They adored the book and I went to the movie first in anticipation that I would take both of them to see it later.

I didn’t take either of them to see it.

Not that I didn’t enjoy it for myself (those Scottish accents would’ve been enough…) but it was way too intense for my kids too. Even though my older daughter does know about WWII somewhat, I still feel it would’ve been too much for her. In a couple years, maybe, we’ll watch it together and discuss it.

Thanks for the post Dawn, I like your perspective

By: Cami

Cami — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 02:49:27 +0000

I totally agree. I read the book in prep for the movie, and everything I really liked about the book was gone from the movie. I thought Babe was an excellent adaptation and true to the overall tone and theme of the book. This, on the other hand, really went overboard and moved completely from the light-hearted fairy-tale feeling of the book. Too bad.

By: Michelle

Michelle — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 01:01:54 +0000

Oh I’m so with you on movies changing books. I’ve actually consciously decided to NOT watch any movie of a book I’ve read. It’s just too disappointing and frustrating. About the only exception I can think of is Joy Luck Club where I would hear whole phrases from the book come out of the characters’ mouths and make me smile!

Good review, Dawn!

By: JessicaAPISS

JessicaAPISS — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 23:48:35 +0000

I totally get your perspective. I don’t mind if movie adaptations have to condense plot, leave out characters, hurry up storylines in order to fit in a great book in 100 minutes. But when they completely change it and the result is totally lacking? I am always ticked.

I look forward to enjoying this book with my family. The movie? Feeling fine that I’ve skipped it thus far.

Thank you!

By: Veronika

Veronika — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 17:26:05 +0000

I haven’t seen or read the story, so I’m not much help.

I would like to see your opionion of the recent Narnia movies, though. There are various and sundry opinions amongst my friends and I on this one…

By: Julie

Julie — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 14:15:11 +0000

Great post! I haven’t seen this movie, or read this book, but agree that for the most part Hollywood takes too many liberties with movies based on books. My dh is a huge Stephen King fan and was so disappointed with the adaptation of Running Man, saying it was nothing like the book. I myself picked up the Princess Diaries series after seeing the movies but found the two to have not much in common. In fact, book 6 actually makes fun of the two movies lol!