I have a love/hate relationship with book-to-movie adaptions. Sometimes they’re the best thing to have happened since man landed on moon (because they’re OUT OF THIS WORLD HAHAHA) and sometimes they’re the worst thing to happen since squirtable cheese. (But really: cheese in a can. Why?) (Assuming no one who follows my blog has a thing for cheese in a can. No offense, of course.)
But if the following books were turned into films as perfectly as I wanted them… YES. I would be the first in line to buy in tickets. I would be sitting outside the theater for months because these books are epic already. Putting them on a screen with physical people and thrilling theme songs?
the winner’s trilogy by marie rutkoski
This is the latest on the list (I’ve only read them two or three weeks ago) but I am absolutely infatuated with everything about these books! The books are action-packed and romantic, but they also explore somewhat taboo topics. The setting was inspired by the Greco-Roman period, so think slaves and villains and horses and ballgowns. Also: the main character can’t fight. She’s not a Katniss Everdeen or Tris Prior; she’s feminine but still a highly skilled strategist and very sneaky. I love that! I could relate for once. (So here’s to the girls whose primary exercise is carrying towering stacks of books.)
The book trailer alone is so fantastic, can you IMAGINE a movie trailer?!
It also feels historical, which I LOVE. I mean, I can enjoy a dystopian or sci-fi just as much as the next girl, but historical-like books or ones with a medieval feel give me life! All that to say: this book is different, but every bit as captivating as the newest trend in YA and Hollywood. (I also would not protest to seeing the gorgeous gowns featured in the movie.)
super proud of that picture! ^_^
finding audrey by sophie kinsella
I had to close my eyes and imagine this one, but now I can easily see it as a cute film I’d go see. The thing about this one that’s different is it’s not just a “cute book” or film. This story deals with anxiety and social issues and depression. But the talent of Sophie Kinsella is that she managed to combine all of that with humor! The book had me laughing so hard, at Audrey’s hilarious family and her adorable love interest. I think it could be the perfect movie for a girls’ night: a good laugh, a good cry, cute boy, and that girl-power inspiration that leaves you feeling great.
the selection series by kiera cass
The more books I read and the more time that passes since having read these books (almost two years) the more I realize that the books themselves do have some flaws. THAT SAID… I unashamedly adore them. They get a bad wrap in the book world for being cliche or cheesy and whatnot but sometimes you just need a book like that to lighten things up! The boys in this book are sooo fictional (translation: sheer perfection), the clothes would be fab (excuse the fashionista side of me showing, oopsie-daisy), the plot continues to thicken… there are tougher, more emotional parts of the story (The Elite had me sobbing: it’s my favorite) but I also loved all the relationships! Marlee and America and all the girls Mer connects with… GAHHH it would just make an epic movie!
(pssssst. and guess what? it’s being considered to be a movie, YESSS. More info about it can be found here. Keeping my fingers crossed!)
Of course I’m also not gonna pass up the chance to take a picture of my white book when our entire yard is white. Snow, you make every picture look 100 times more beautiful.
the lunar chronicles by marissa meyer
I see space ships and so many ships (hahaha get it??!) and epic sets and scenery and a killer actor as the evil Queen Lavana (I see Julia Roberts… she rocked it as the evil queen in Mirror, Mirror! Or Angelina Jolie as Maleficent, though I haven’t seen that one. They’re just great for evil queen roles! Anyone else??) and SO MUCH ACTION and bloodshed and plague and intrigue and a whole crew of famous actors. The friendships and relationships in this series are the best part, I think! What Marissa Meyer did well was incorporate SO many people and perspectives and still manage to make the books make sense. So if this were to be turned into a movie, I would want a cast of well-known actors to excite a TON of fans. (Plus how fun would behind-the-scenes videos be with that crew be?!) And I’d need a part two and three and four because these books cover SO much. THE FEELS AHHHHH.
interrupted by rachel coker
I see this being something like the hallmark movie, The Lost Valentine (which is MY GO-TO romantic, “I just wanna have a good cry” movie. EVERY DANG TIME PEOPLE.) Also: maybe produced by Pure Flix or Hallmark. I love the focus on not just the romance or WWII (though both are perfection) but the main character’s faith, and her struggle with Christianity. Annnnd… okay, the romance too. (Have you MET Sam Carroll?!) This book has everything: romance, faith, tears, plot… and it’s historical fiction! Set during WWII, nonetheless. I would cry if I found out it was being made into a movie. And WHY it doesn’t have a billion awards, I can’t seem to figure out. This book is a hidden masterpiece!
code name verity by elizabeth wein
Here’s another WWII historical fiction (because WWII ones are my favorites!) that has so much possibility. It reminded me a bit of the movie Unbroken (which is intense… but amazing, and based on a true story!) because our protagonist is a pilot who ends up in a Nazi imprisonment camp. Except what I adore about Code Name Verity is the main character – whose name isn’t revealed until the end, so we’ll call her Verity – is female, and there isn’t any romance in this book! (*gasp* A young adult book with no romance?! But what young adult would read that?!) This is a story about best friends and how they met, and Verity’s story as a British spy. It’s a Holocaust story but it’s not just this period in history that touches you at the end. The story itself is brilliantly plotted, and every word is well-researched and stunning. I would love to see that translated on the big screen.
have you read any of these books? would you like to see them as movies? and do you have any to add to the list?
Oh em geee EMILY. My dream is to direct and produce The Lunar Chronicles movie and when I heard it’s being considered for a movie I was so so happy but also really scared that Hollywood was going to mess it up! I know that sounds like a long-shot dream but gurl, we need to talk I have a story for you!!
I would cast Brant David Daugherty as Thorne or Cody Allen Christian (which one do you think fits best?) I’d cast Zendaya as Winter and maybe Lily James as Cress? And Francesca Angelucci Capaldi as Scarlet. (She’s really young but by the time SOMEONE makes a movie I think she’ll be the perfect age.
GO FOR IT IZEL! Seriously, though! If you were the director for that movie, you have to promise to get me a seat the premiere. 🙂 There is no way I’d miss that for the WORLD.
I’m not big on picking out casts; I simply don’t know/pay attention to enough actors, but I can see Lily James as Cress. Brant Daughtery not so much for Thorne… he’s just not what I pictured, so I would prefer Cody Allen Christian. I pictured Thorne as a blonde, plus Cody Christian is a good ten years younger than Daughtery and he looks more the part. 😉
SHE WOULD! Or at the very least in a flashback of some sort. She’s pretty adorable. 🙂
I promise I will! For you and Brooke of course!! 😉 Front row and you’d be walking the red carpet to the premier…;)
I imagined Thorne with blonde hair but I re-read the seires and saw that Marissa Meyer said he had dark hair so my image of him changed.
Great, I’m looking toward to it!
OMG what. I had absolutely no clue. What. No way. That’s impossible. Thorne can’t have dark hair. No. No way.
I’m just in shock, okay. No. No.
Yes to all of these! I would go to a midnight premier of The Lunar Chronicles…..or at the very least the next day. I dont really have any ideas for actors but I agree with Marissa Meyer. Sam Claflin would be a perfect Thorne.
And a Code Name Verity movie would be so great. The book was so powerful so I can’t imagine seeing it. It’d be great.
Finding audrey would be an adorable movie. Not really the type of movie I would normally see but I believe I would go watch it. They’d have to get people with accents though.
And the Selection movie would be good. Not a movie I would see with my parents but maybe with a few friend .
YES. I would totally go to that. And just think if Izel really did become the director of it… we could all meet up for the premiere. A girl can dream… *far away sigh* He would. But I think now that Izel mentioned Cody Allen Christian, I like him more. Plus he’s 20 and the other two are 29 and 30, and I vote for a younger Thorne.
It would! It would just be… amazing. I’d probably cry like a baby.
Yeah, I getcha. 🙂 I know! I can’t imagine Audrey with an accent; I’ve heard the audio is cool though because they are British.
Haha. Yeah. I’d probably see it with my mom, but definitely a few friends. Plus I’ve got Hayden and Sydney reading them, as well as two other friends… heeheehee.
I LOVED Unbroken, the book. The movie? Meh. I liked Jack O’Connell well enough as Louis, but the book covers SO much more. The movie doesn’t do it justice. That’s usually the case with movie adaptations of books, though. Very few are on par with Harry Potter, and even the diehards think that those books were still better than the movies. As for movie adaptations of books that I’d like to see, my list mostly consists of my favorite romance authors: Denise Hunter and Becky Wade (Christian), and Katie Fforde (British). I’ve been disappointed lately with the quality of recent chick flicks. Nicholas Sparks’s books are better than his movies, The Last Ride being a prime example. Romance movies and books might not have as many plot twists and action as other genres, but I enjoy a happy ending. Real life is complicated and exhausting enough. I prefer my entertainment to be happy.
I haven’t read the book! I did see it in Barnes & Noble the other day and considered buying it, but didn’t. I didn’t realize when I watched the movie that it was a book, but I enjoyed it a lot.
Of course. The books are always better than the movies, although lately I’ve been thinking that’s a plus about watching the movie before the book, because you’re watching as a movie-watcher, not critiquing it as a reader.
I’ve never heard of those authors! I’ll have to look them up.
I’ve never read a Nicholas Sparks book, but I have seen a few… The Last Song and A Walk to Remember are my favorites. I really should see about reading one of his books.
I know what you mean!
Thanks for the comment, Karen!
There are so many books I would love to see as a film, but at the same time if one was actually announced I would be so worried it wouldn’t be how I imagine it! I’d love to see the book I’m reading now as a film (Words of Radiance by Brandon Sanderson), mainly because I’d be interested to see who would get cast in the main roles.
I’m going to start the Lunar Chronicles next though, and I’m now even more excited about it thanks to your description of it!
YES! I getcha, Laura; I feel exactly the same way. While at the same time I’m thrilled, I can also be super paranoid… :-/
I need to look that book up! The title alone sound amazing.
AWESOME! Trust me, you’re in for a whirlwind… 🙂 Cinder, the first one, actually isn’t my favorite, but it only gets better and better!
I completely agree with Code Name Verity- except for the fact that if they did it well it would be completely amazingly sad and we would probably all cry. But it would make an amazing movie.
RIGHT. My heart would get stomped over all over again. As if it weren’t already enough destroyed. *endlessly cries* (and cries and cries some more) Totally didn’t see that one coming. But I definitely would not miss that movie.