I LOVE Alfonso Cuarón’s sci-fi action movie Children of Men. I’ve watched maybe six times and every time, the ending always almost brings me to tears. So when I learned it was adapted from P.D. James’ book of the same name, it was a no-brainer deciding what my next book would be.
After finishing the book, it wasn’t difficult to reach to the conclusion that I enjoyed the movie better.
While James’ book gives a more in-depth look at how human infertility and humanity’s slow death march towards extinction affects the sexual dynamic between men and women and almost demented ways humans try to cope with a world without children or a race of dead men walking, I feel the book dedicates WAY too much time describing the failing of human civilization and the Regrets and guilt of Theo Faron. It’s not even until after 2/3 through the book where it feels like the plot and story are properly paced and stuff of consequence actually begin to happen.
The film’s adaptation by, comparison, feels consistent in its pacing and the world building and woe-is-mes of Theo feel more compact a take up less of the audience’s time.
What books do you feel were worse than its film adaptation and why?
The Shining.
I can’t believe that there exist people who prefer the book. It is so by the numbers and bland. It has no self awareness, takes itself waaay too seriously, has little to say and the fantasy/horror elements are laughable.
The film takes this weak kernel of a story and creates a rich masterpiece that achieves everything Stephen King could only dream of.
I love how Kubrick males the family dynamic a representation of the current American nuclear family. He really digs into how this family unit dynamic has rotted away. The way Jack slowly transitions into the antagonist is believable, subtle, tragic but also amazing to watch. None of Stephen King’s melodramatic cheesy none sense.
Everything about the film is about as close to perfection as possible.
I could go on and on about how amazing the film is and sub par the book is, but you get the point. The only real criticism I concede about the film is Danny who can be hard to put up with, however that’s only in parts and the actor does a much better job in the second half.
Also the whole thing about American colonialism and genocide of the natives looming in the background was fantastic. I love how it plays a quiet role in showcasing why this American nuclear family unit is eroding in the current day. Also says a lot how much of this message was blatantly ignored when it first came out. Reminds me of films like Fight Club or Starship Troopers. The general audience and even film critics seem unable to catch on to when they are the subject of criticism themselves, or they do take on but reject it.
And if you needed anymore proof how much Stephen King missed the boat here go and attempt to watch his own tv mini series version of the book. Painful to watch, has little to nothing to offer. Again melo dramatic to the extreme and is cheap and not in the slightest bit scary, an absolute wooden bore.