Spring Break
Children's books that made bad movies
Jennifer Washburn
Issue date: 10/21/09 Section: The Edge
Several movies released in recent years have been based on children's or young adult books. The release of "Where The Wild Things Are" and "Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs" adds to the growing list of reads that have been made into feature-length films.
Movies like "Inkheart," "Freaky Friday," "Flicka," "Nim's Island," "Night At The Museum," "Meet The Robinsons," "Ella Enchanted" and "The Golden Compass" were books before they were brought to the big screen. Some Dr. Seuss books have also been made into films, like "Horton Hears A Who" and "How The Grinch Stole Christmas."
While these are just a handful of the many movies that have evolved from books, there are some that should not have made the transition from print to screen.
"James and the Giant Peach"
This story is about a boy who wishes to get away from the two aunts he is living with. He gets a bag of crocodile tongues, trips, and one of the tongues falls onto the root of an old peach tree. James then enters the peach and interacts with the spiders, worms and other creatures in it. He flies to New York City with the peach and learns to stand up to his aunts. This sounds like "Through the Looking Glass," but only with a peach and a boy instead of a mirror and a girl.
"The Secret Garden"
An inspirational tale of sorts about a girl who is orphaned and is forced to live with her uncle. He's always gone, and she finds a safe spot in the garden his late wife kept. She meets two boys and becomes friends with them, and they help her restore the garden. This also makes her uncle happy, because Mary and Dickon help Colin learn to walk. Though it is a good book, the movie doesn't hold attention very long.
"Twilight"
Yeah, I know that "Twilight" is popular nowadays, and I hate to admit that I have seen the movie and read the books, but it still shouldn't have been made into a movie. It just gives teenage girls an ideal world to dream about. They always want that perfect guy, and this shows that everyone can have that perfect person. It is just a fantasy.
"The Cat In The Hat"
Several Dr. Seuss books have been transformed into movies, but this is probably the worst of the bunch. Mike Myers does a good job at playing the Cat, but the digital animation and acting brings this movie down. It is hard to make a successful Dr. Seuss movie because everyone knows the book from childhood.
Movies like "Inkheart," "Freaky Friday," "Flicka," "Nim's Island," "Night At The Museum," "Meet The Robinsons," "Ella Enchanted" and "The Golden Compass" were books before they were brought to the big screen. Some Dr. Seuss books have also been made into films, like "Horton Hears A Who" and "How The Grinch Stole Christmas."
While these are just a handful of the many movies that have evolved from books, there are some that should not have made the transition from print to screen.
"James and the Giant Peach"
This story is about a boy who wishes to get away from the two aunts he is living with. He gets a bag of crocodile tongues, trips, and one of the tongues falls onto the root of an old peach tree. James then enters the peach and interacts with the spiders, worms and other creatures in it. He flies to New York City with the peach and learns to stand up to his aunts. This sounds like "Through the Looking Glass," but only with a peach and a boy instead of a mirror and a girl.
"The Secret Garden"
An inspirational tale of sorts about a girl who is orphaned and is forced to live with her uncle. He's always gone, and she finds a safe spot in the garden his late wife kept. She meets two boys and becomes friends with them, and they help her restore the garden. This also makes her uncle happy, because Mary and Dickon help Colin learn to walk. Though it is a good book, the movie doesn't hold attention very long.
"Twilight"
Yeah, I know that "Twilight" is popular nowadays, and I hate to admit that I have seen the movie and read the books, but it still shouldn't have been made into a movie. It just gives teenage girls an ideal world to dream about. They always want that perfect guy, and this shows that everyone can have that perfect person. It is just a fantasy.
"The Cat In The Hat"
Several Dr. Seuss books have been transformed into movies, but this is probably the worst of the bunch. Mike Myers does a good job at playing the Cat, but the digital animation and acting brings this movie down. It is hard to make a successful Dr. Seuss movie because everyone knows the book from childhood.
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