Can the Movie Match the Book?

Upcoming Adaptations

Adaptation of books into movies often cause a split amongst book fans. Some fans hate them, claiming that the movies never live up to the expectations set by the books; however, other fans love them, as they are visual representations of some of their most beloved characters and story-lines. In the remainder of 2013 alone, many of these movies are scheduled to come out.

November 8th: Great Expectations
            Based on "Great Expectations" by Charles Dickens

This movie is being remade... Again. But with Helena Bonham Carter, Ralph Fiennes, Robbie Coltrane and more, it'll he sure to draw attention back to Pip's classic story.

http://www.movieinsider.com/m9846/great-expectations/#.UnQtJJm9LCQ

November 8th: The Book Thief
            Based on "The Book Thief" by Markus Zusak

Turning Pages, Changing Channels

The Vampire Diaries: Dripping with Differences

**Spoilers Alert**

The CW’s The Vampire Diaries has won multiple People’s Choice, Teen’s Choice, Do Something, and Young Hollywood Awards in its five-season run.  The television series is based on the book series of the same name written by L.J. Smith.  The original books came out in the early to mid-nineties.  Since the television show gained acclaim, however, more books have been added to the series.  The show debuted in 2009, among the vampire craze caused, in part, by the Twilight franchise.  Though both series keep you on the edge of your seat by following Elena Gilbert into a world of supernatural love triangles and plots for revenge, the books and show have substantial differences. 

www.goodreads.com

  

   

Let’s start with the characters.  Both the show and the books portray Elena Gilbert as the town’s golden girl.  In the books, however, the phrase is a bit more literal; Elena is fair with blonde hair and blue eyes.  On the show, she has dark hair and eyes.  The casting of Stefan and Damon Salvatore, the vampire brothers in love with Elena, is more accurate to their descriptions in the book.  The cast of characters, in general, is different from the original set in the books.  On the show, Elena has a teenage brother, Jeremy, but, in the books, she has a toddler sister.  Elena also has three best friends in the books: Bonnie, who has a connection to the druids, Meredith, who seems to always keep her wits when facing a crisis, and Caroline, who eventually gives in to her dark side.  In the show, Bonnie is a descendent of the Salem witches and Caroline eventually becomes a vampire.  The role of Tyler, the local teenage werewolf, is also much larger in the television show than the books.  The role of the history teacher and vampire slayer, Alaric Saltzman, is also much different in each series.  In the books, he is a mentor and friend.  He helps the group of teenagers protect the town from several supernatural threats and, eventually, dates Elena’s friend, Meredith.  On the show, he plays the role of friend and mentor, but only for a limited time.  Eventually, he is turned into something supernatural, as well, and killed.