Is past one week I have seen 3 different movies, belonging to 3 different genre, the only thing tying them together is, each is derived or is an adaptation from written work, from Homers "Illiad", to Asimovs series of books on Robots and a best selling novel "The Notebook" by Nicholas Spark.
The 3 movies I am talking about are,as you might have guessed by now, Troy, starring Brad Pitt as Achilles, an adaptation from Homers Illiad (ok its not a novel per se, but a poem), I-Robot, starring Will Smith as skeptical Policeman, in futuristic world of NRC(National Robotics Company), wherein robots are as human like as possible, with 3 basic laws of robotics governing their behaviour, an adaptation from Asimovs books on Robots. I have read some where though that that this movie has been boycotted by fans loyal to Asimov as it bears but very little resemblance to depiction of Robots in Asimovs work.
Finally The Notebook, poignant love story set in late 1940s of America in a small town called Seabrooks in North Carolina. Few things about this movie that amazed me are, miniskirts were common even then, kissing and open exhibition of love making was not uncommon then too..Apart that it is a story about an old man (james garner) reading to a story from his faded notebook to an old woman (Gene Rowlands) in a nursing home, about couple of young kids from different social and economic backgrounds, meeting in a carnival, falling in love and the eventual, triump of love.
The interesting thing was, as we entered the theatre, there were a couple of young women outside with paper napkins in hand, asking people to carry one as they entered the theatre.
Did I like these movies. You bet I did. Each one had its own unique quality about it.
Troy reminds me of the grandness of wars fought in years gone by, similar epics from hinduism are Mahabharata, which as a child I watched on TV every Sunday morning.
I-Robot, gives one the feeling of being in the hightech world of corporate america, wherein technology wonders are every where for everyone to see on daily basis.
Finally, Notebook is class apart, delving into psyche of human emotion. Excellent balance of History, Science, and Psychology for intellectual minds to chew on.
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2 comments:
Finally, a topic that I can fully understand :-) I have seen Troy, but not the other two, so can't comment on it. I haven't read Iliad, but I think the movie is far removed from a purists' dream. From what I know, Greek mythology is incomplete without Gods, and all references to anything heavenly was removed from the movie. Plus, Brad Pitt can't act. Period. My theory is that movies rarely match the books they are based on. As well as they make the LOTR or HP series, or any other, they can't capture the big picture that the book presents. If I am pressed to name a few exceptions, the only one that really comes to my mind is the Yes Minister series. The performances and the 'no-dumbing-down' policy made it as pleasing as the book itself. Avi, do you agree?
On a second matter, we have such rich mythology as heritage. I wish we could make sensible movies based on our stories too.
Sorry for the late response. BTW did u know that there is another version of the movie troy in which Achilles is protrayed as a villian? Oh well, artisitc license, what else. BTW my theory is that a film can never be better than it's book. And the only film, according to me, which does justice to the book it's based on is The Godfather.
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