City of Ember

There was a small note in a recent issue of Entertainment Weekly that Tom Hanks is producing an adaptation of City of Ember by Jeanne DuPrau. IMDB says it is supposed to come out in October 2008, but with the writers' strike that might change. Bill Murray and Tim Robbins have roles. Saoirse Ronan, who is in Atonement, will play Lina.

Pictures of Hollis Woods

On Sunday, December 2nd at 9:00 pm, CBS will show the made-for-tv movie, Pictures of Hollis Woods based on the Newbery Honor winning book by the same title by Patricia Reilly Giff. The movie stars Sissy Spacek and Alfre Woodard. Hollis Woods is played by Jordelle Ferland.

Prince Caspian

Can't wait for May 16th 2008? Get your Narnia fix at Narnia Fans. Find out what's happening with the Prince Caspian movie.

The Water Horse

The movie adaptation of Dick King-Smith's The Water Horse opens on Christmas Day. I've seen the trailer, and it looks promising. Hope it turns out as well as the adaptation of his book Babe.

Life gets in the way

Ok, so like I haven't posted anything to my blog in six months. And, I've hardly gone to see any movies. Actually, I did see Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix a couple of times. Like Goblet of Fire, I liked the move better than the book. Although I think HPatOotP didn't have to be the shortest of all the movies so far. The music was good, especially the theme for Professor Umbridge -- played wonderfully well by Imelda Staunton. I'm not sure I like what they did to poor Cho Chang, making her the betrayer, but Professor Snape did make it clear that she was under the influence of veritaserum. Evanna Lynch did a good job as Luna Lovegood. Has anyone noticed that Neville has taken on tasks that Dobby did in the books? In GoF he comes up with the gillyweed solution and in OotP he finds the Room of Requirement. There were also those lingering looks from Ginny (that girl has quite a reducto curse!). The DVD is supposed to be out on December 11th. I'll have to watch it again then.

Nancy Drew

This is not officially a book adaptation since I think it falls into the same category as the superhero movies, but it IS Nancy Drew. Who among us hasn't read some Nancy Drew books and imaged ourselves in her roadster (whatever kind of car that is)? The new movie with Emma Roberts starring as Nancy will be out June 15th. The burning question will be: is that really titian blond hair?

Warner Brothers' official website is a little sparse at the moment, but maybe more will be added as we get closer to the release date. The History of Nancy Drew at the Nancy Drew Sleuth Unofficial Website has a lot of information for fans of the series. And check out the tie-in to the California Summer Reading program, Get a Clue.

Inkheart

Cornelia Funke's website has information about the movie version of her book Inkheart. Filming started last November with an expected release date in 2008.

Bridge to Terabithia

It looks like, despite the misleading trailers, that Bridge to Terabithia is holding up for reviewers, at least. Rotten Tomatoes gives it a fresh rating.

The Invention of Hugo Cabret possible movie

A friend just let me know that a movie version of the new book, The Invention of Hugo Cabret: a Novel in Words and Pictures, by Brian Selznick, might be made into a movie with the possibility of Martin Scorsese directing. Read more about it at Variety online here. The book has not been out long and is a 500 plus pages book that you can read in a couple of hours. Find out more about the book here at NPR.

Eragon Music

I still haven't read the book, Eragon or seen the movie, but I have listened to the movie's soundtrack composed by Patrick Doyle. Patrick Doyle composed worked on Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, as well as Bridget Jones' Diary. The soundtrack is now one of my recent favorites. Many of the tracks inlcude variations on a strong central theme. While I don't know what happens (obviously), the music does evoke mood and images that give a sense of what kinds of action/events are taking place.

Blood and Chocolate opens today

Blood and Chocolate based on the book by Annette Curtis Klaus opened today to lackluster reviews.

What's Coming Up

There are a number of books to movies in the works that won't be released until after 2007. The list includes:
Peter Pan in Scarlet by Geraldine McCaughrean;
Inkheart by Cornelia Funke;
Prince Caspian by C.S. Lewis;
King Dork by Frank Portman;
The Dark is Rising by Susan Cooper;
Spiderwick Chronicles by Tony DiTerlizzi;
Horton Hears a Who by Dr. Seuss;
The Tale of Desperaux by Kate DiCamillo;
Coraline by Neil Gaiman;
Chasing Vermeer by Blue Balliett;
Uglies by Scott Westerfeld;
Flipped by Wendelin Van Draanen;
and The Book Thief by Markus Zusak.

Upcoming movies

A number of book adaptations are scheduled to come out this year in theaters. Here are a few:

Blood and Chocolate based on the book by Annette Curtis Klause on January 26

Bridge to Terabithia based on the book by Katherine Patterson on February 16

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix based on the book by J.K. Rowling on July 13

Stardust based on the book by Neil Gaiman on July 27

The Golden Compass based on the book by Philip Pullman on December 7

The Trouble with Operation Stormbreaker

I always thought the Alex Rider books by Anthony Horowitz would be well-suited to the big screen. But the movie, Operation Stormbreaker, which I finally watched this past weekend on DVD, proved to be a disappointment. The screenplay, written by Mr. Horowitz, included some of the same action sequences as the book. In spite of this, the sense of urgency and peril that kept me on the edge of my seat while reading the book, did not come across in the movie. The cartoonish portrayal of some of the characters undermined the suspense. In particular, I found the characterization of Nadia Vole and Mr. Blunt jarring. Now I like Bill Nighy, but it's not good when the head of Special Operations for MI6 reminds you of the singer Billy Mack from Love Actually -- at least I didn't start humming "Christmas is all around you." While there is some humor in the books, such as the penchant for hokey names which must be a nod to Bond, they have come across to me as being deadly serious (as much as they can be with a 14-year-old repeatedly saving the world). The over-the-top performances, and that really weird fight scene between Jack and Nadia Vole -- what was that about?! -- detracted from movie. The makers might have done better to go the way of the new Casino Royale and grounded the film in gritty reality.

Some of the story changes that were made didn't bother me, such as the introduction of Sabina Pleasure in this book. The change of Sayle's nationality from Egyptian to American may have had something to do with today's international politics. But the story worked with him being an American. I guess crazed psychopaths can come from any culture.

I don't have a point system worked out. The movie was entertaining, but not outstanding. If they make more Alex Rider movies, I think they could do better.