Favorite Book into Film, Not Yet Done?

POSTED BY: Indigo
UPDATED: Tuesday, September 4, 2007 17:39
VIEWED: 57073
PAGE 10 of 19

airylii wrote:

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Oh, I know what you mean...Another voice I love is Clive Owen's. I think he'd make reading a phonebook sound interesting.

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Oh I'll have to listen out for him. I hadn't noticed before. Another fav is Michale Gambon, and Jonathan Price, and Chrisopher Lee of course. Have you heard the way he says "Sleepy Hollow".... It's fantastic!

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Good grief, I'm so sorry. I don't think I've found a male counterpart like that and hopefully I never, ever will. :P

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I say a few it's only been two, but that's enough for me... Lets just say I hope you never do either.

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Yeah...We can't all live in bomb shelters for our entire lives :suddenly remembers Nathan Fillion's cameo in Blast from the Past:.

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You know I saw that just the other day, it was on TV. I wasn't really paying attention, I think I was writing an email, and it was on in the background, then I heard his voice! I recognised him straight away then turned to the tv to see and yup there he was picking a fight with Brendon Fraser.... Strange huh! It's sort of strange seeing him next to Alicia Sylverstone?!?!

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Hahaha good on you...if only we had some more of that over here.

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He, he... I bet you think we're like Giles or Wesley now :)

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Hahaha exactly. Incidentally, I was rereading the book the other day trying to figure out how one would write a screenplay...NOT as easy as one would think. Damn Hugo and his obsession with saving high gothic cathedrals....

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I was doing this last time I read it. What I've done is to place post - it notes at the beginning and ending to key moments of drama/action/dialogue etc and disregard much exposition about the time or flowery prose about Paris... As we were talking about earlier, I concentrated on Gringoire aswell. He's the best character as he gets around a bit more.
That said it isn't easy at all and lately I've been wondering if I shouldn't take the stance more from the point of view of Esmeralda. This would allow me the chance to make Quasimodo more of a shadowy figure. A kind of mysterious 'Batman' type that is revealed to us through Esmeralda... I'm not sure though.... It's such a tricky choice. On one hand Gringoire has so much comedy around him that it's a great way to follow the story, however I wonder if some of the drama and tragedy would fall flat when it came to it.... What do you think?

The
Somnambulist

www.cirqus.com

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Originally posted by TheSomnambulist:
Oh I'll have to listen out for him. I hadn't noticed before. Another fav is Michale Gambon, and Jonathan Price, and Chrisopher Lee of course. Have you heard the way he says "Sleepy Hollow".... It's fantastic!

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Ah yes..also excellent voices. When does Lee say "Sleepy Hollow"? I can't say I'm familiar with that. I loved Richard Harris' voice as well. He always sounded so...wise. But then that's probably because the only film's of his I have in recent memory are Gladiator and the first Harry Potter films.

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I say a few it's only been two, but that's enough for me... Lets just say I hope you never do either.

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Hahaha. I'll run away at first glance.

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You know I saw that just the other day, it was on TV. I wasn't really paying attention, I think I was writing an email, and it was on in the background, then I heard his voice! I recognised him straight away then turned to the tv to see and yup there he was picking a fight with Brendon Fraser.... Strange huh! It's sort of strange seeing him next to Alicia Sylverstone?!?!

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Isn't that weird? The first time I saw the film I didn't even notice it, and when other people pointed it out to me, I was like holy crap! Heh. It'll be weird to see him in a horror flick like Slither; the only characters I can see him as are as Mal and an evil preacher.

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He, he... I bet you think we're like Giles or Wesley now :)

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Yes! Non-prick-like watchers! That is, of course, excluding the first seasons of Giles and Wesley.

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I was doing this last time I read it. What I've done is to place post - it notes at the beginning and ending to key moments of drama/action/dialogue etc and disregard much exposition about the time or flowery prose about Paris... As we were talking about earlier, I concentrated on Gringoire aswell. He's the best character as he gets around a bit more.
That said it isn't easy at all and lately I've been wondering if I shouldn't take the stance more from the point of view of Esmeralda. This would allow me the chance to make Quasimodo more of a shadowy figure. A kind of mysterious 'Batman' type that is revealed to us through Esmeralda... I'm not sure though.... It's such a tricky choice. On one hand Gringoire has so much comedy around him that it's a great way to follow the story, however I wonder if some of the drama and tragedy would fall flat when it came to it.... What do you think?

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Ooh, I so wanted to put post-its all over the book, but alas, I was on an airplane and none were to be found. I think one really must disregard all that flowery prose, as you said. At the same time though, I really do want to preserve the original intent of the novel, which was to preserve Notre Dame. I think the chapter "Ceci tuera cela" is really important, although how one would go about really depicting the essence of that is a mystery to me. Possibly why Hugo made this a novel instead of a play.

I really would love the focus to be on Gringoire, and I think you're intention of Quasimodo as Batman through Esmeralda is brilliant. Most of the adaptations I've seen focus on Quasimodo and Esmeralda as the main characters, but in the book, Quasimodo really is a very shadowy figure. I'd seen the Disney version before reading the novel, so throughout the first 2/3 of the book, I was like, where the hell is the hunchback? We really don't see too much of him until the end. So I think the focus really should be on Gringoire. And Frollo, of course. I feel like Esmeralda's really a foil for everyone else and the cathedral. It's as if Hugo set out to save a great gothic work of art and just happened to have a great Romantic tragedy as a by-accident. Figures. :P

As for the actual tragic elements, I think they'd actually work quite well with Gringoire. Because while he is a comic and sometimes even flat character, I feel like he's the most human. What was Hugo's description of him? Something about him being one of the few people who could stee

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Somnambulist and Airylli:

I have to ask- there's a film version of
notre dame that stars Salma Hyek(sp) as Esmeralda.
Did either of you see it and if so what did you
think of it.

I enjoyed it greatly, but I've never read the
book. I wondered how it compared.



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Originally posted by dbell46:
Somnambulist and Airylli:

I have to ask- there's a film version of
notre dame that stars Salma Hyek(sp) as Esmeralda.
Did either of you see it and if so what did you
think of it.

I enjoyed it greatly, but I've never read the
book. I wondered how it compared.

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Really! I had no idea. Do you know when it was made? I'd love to see it. Airylii do you know of this version?

I thought I'd have heard of this as Salma Hayek is in it... Hmmm maybe our idea has been done and all our chit-chat has been in vain.... Oh well. It's fun anyhoo.
:)

Thanks dbell46.

The
Somnambulist

www.cirqus.com

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airylii in the light of dbell46's info perhaps we've been beaten to the punch. I'd like to see this version to see how they interpreted the book.

That said I'm glad you still think Gringoire is still the better character to follow the plot along with.

This chapter: "Ceci tuera cela" that you spoke of is the one that's put many people off who I've suggested read the book. At first I was a little put out by it because I wanted to find out what was happening to the characters. However upon further reading I do quite like this chapter. Of course for a film it'd have to be basically removed or put across through clever visuals and editing, but still I think you're right about why Hugo kept it in.

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When does Lee say "Sleepy Hollow"? I can't say I'm familiar with that.

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He had a small part in Sleepy Hollow as a judge. He had to utter the words to Ichabod Crane.

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Isn't that weird? The first time I saw the film I didn't even notice it, and when other people pointed it out to me, I was like holy crap! Heh. It'll be weird to see him in a horror flick like Slither; the only characters I can see him as are as Mal and an evil preacher.

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Have you seen him in Two guys and a Girl? This was the first time I'd ever seen him. Later I saw him in Firefly and at first I struggled to see the crossover. He is however no definitely Malcolm Reynolds - no question. He's really made that character.

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What was Hugo's description of him? Something about him being one of the few people who could steer a middle course through everything. I can't remember the exact line.

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That's a fair point.

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Most of the adaptations I've seen focus on Quasimodo and Esmeralda as the main characters, but in the book, Quasimodo really is a very shadowy figure.

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Yes the thing is though that very significantly Hugo Describes Quasimodo as something like the very gargoyles upon the catherdral - which always struck me as though he were a physical manifestation of the Catherdral itself....Come to life to explore the very city it sits within, and in so doing becomes aware of just how out of place he/it [the catherdral] is within Paris of that time.

However even with these thoughts I think we're both slanting towards Gringoire - which for me says he is the way to go.

Select to view spoiler:

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You know something just occured to me which I think would make the film even more profound. You mentioned in your spoiler what Gringoire does in the end, and I think this is very important. As an audience travelling along with Gringoire this last act that he does would seem incredibly heartless and dispassionate. I think it would tear the audience up even more!!! Which is a great idea - he'd come across as having let 'us' down in not intervening to save Esmerelda's life, thus adding to the emotional drama and tragedy!!!

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That is now I think key to the approach. What do you think?

OK now I've waffled on too long

Cheers
The
Somnambulist

www.cirqus.com

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Originally posted by TheSomnambulist:
in the light of dbell46's info perhaps we've been beaten to the punch. I'd like to see this version to see how they interpreted the book.

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I actually have heard of this version. In fact, before I ever read the book, I was channel surfing and saw Edward Atterton, which stopped me because I'd remembered him from Alias (and now as Atherton Wing!) and Salma Hayek and something about a noose. So naturally, I was curious but then it went to commercials and I forgot all about it. Only later did I figure out what the movie was..I think it was a TNT TV movie with Richard Harris as Frollo. I've always wanted to see it, but I never saw it again on television. I'll have to hunt it down..

From all reports, it's very good, but not entirely faithful. Which I can't begrudge, since the book is very difficult. But I say we go ahead with our project .

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That said I'm glad you still think Gringoire is still the better character to follow the plot along with.

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Absolutely. Of course I may be slightly biased since I love Gringoire to pieces...

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This chapter: "Ceci tuera cela" that you spoke of is the one that's put many people off who I've suggested read the book. At first I was a little put out by it because I wanted to find out what was happening to the characters. However upon further reading I do quite like this chapter. Of course for a film it'd have to be basically removed or put across through clever visuals and editing, but still I think you're right about why Hugo kept it in.

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Really? I'd have thought "Bird's Eye View" would turn people off more...It took me nearly hours to finish it. I liked "Ceci tuera cela", although it was a bit difficult as well; I only figured out I liked it after half the chapter had gone by. Then I was like hmmm...I feel like Hugo thinks this is important. But yeah, it'd be really hard to do on film..maybe as like a side conversation? Dunno..

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He had a small part in Sleepy Hollow as a judge. He had to utter the words to Ichabod Crane.

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Ohh that Sleepy Hollow! With Johnny Depp, possibly? I was going to go rent that, along with Sinbad and Argonauts and Ed Wood...totally on a film kick. Just finished Princess Bride again along with the Indiana Jones films and I saw Edward Scissorhands for the first time. It was depressing, but I'm officially convinced Tim Burton is a crazy genius. So I've decided I must see every one of his and Depp's films. :P

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Have you seen him in Two guys and a Girl? This was the first time I'd ever seen him. Later I saw him in Firefly and at first I struggled to see the crossover. He is however no definitely Malcolm Reynolds - no question. He's really made that character.

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Ah, not yet, but I've been dying to since I found out Fillion was in it. But I agree that he totally sells Mal; sheer brilliance.

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Yes the thing is though that very significantly Hugo Describes Quasimodo as something like the very gargoyles upon the catherdral - which always struck me as though he were a physical manifestation of the Catherdral itself....Come to life to explore the very city it sits within, and in so doing becomes aware of just how out of place he/it [the catherdral] is within Paris of that time.

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I like that bit about Quasimodo being a manifestation of the cathedral. Every time I try to analyze this book, I learn something new...that's really interesting. I'm going to be thinking about this forever. But I just hope the gargoyles don't sing and dance in the TNT version...;)

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However even with these thoughts I think we're both slanting towards Gringoire - which for me says he is the way to go.

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Yuhuh. He's just too cool to not focus on. I swear that last sentence made sense.

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Select to view spoiler:

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You know something just occured to me which I think would make the film even more profound. You mentioned in your spoiler what Gringoire does in the end, and I think this is very important. As a

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