Books without films

Velocity219e · 23 Oct 2006 at 13:39

Dried Graze said:
The Player of Games by Iain M Banks. Apparently Pathe Guild had the option to film and even mentioned Luc Besson as a possible director. There's also a rumour that Cruise has the rights to Consider Phlebus.

I would have to kill that crazy little freak if he got his hands on Consider Phlebas
and who's he seriously going to play? the Changer? not exactly a chameleon given that he's only 5 foot nothing ...

But seriously, CP is not the best Banks book to be making into a Movie imo. its got far too much Idiran stuff in it to make any sense without either cutting 90% of it out and having generic bad guys but with three legs, or having a two or three part movie.

Nelson said:
Any of the Michael Marshall Smith novels; Only Forward, Spares or One of Us (or am I the only one here who's read these?)

Dreamworks were going to do Spares but the Island ripped it off and got in there first! Work has started on an adaptation from Hell Heth Enlarged Herself but that was only a short story. Spares would've made an awesome film too

No, I've read all of Michael Marshall Smiths books, Spares would make the simplist and most accessible and generically horrifiying film of the lot, but I personally think that Only Forward could be the better choice, the city is genius, its real meaning is so clever and terribly sad at the same time, Stark is just the coolest cookie in the world, love those shirts!

and lets face it, anywhere that has a neighborhood called Red just because its easier to clean up after the violence has gotta be put to the big screen.

Would need a narrator tho.

Simian · 23 Oct 2006 at 13:50

'Web' or 'Trouble with Lichen' even 'The Cracken Wakes' by John Wyndam...

You could say (and I do because they were crap) 'The Day of the Triffids' and The Midwich Cookoos" Both Excelent books that deserve to be made into films Proporly, as "The Village of the Damned" was Pants and don't get me started on TDotT (film or TV wise!!)!!...

What can I say!... I'm a John Windam fan!!..

WillyNelson · 23 Oct 2006 at 13:53

Velocity219e said:
I personally think that Only Forward could be the better choice, the city is genius, its real meaning is so clever and terribly sad at the same time, Stark is just the coolest cookie in the world, love those shirts!

and lets face it, anywhere that has a neighborhood called Red just because its easier to clean up after the violence has gotta be put to the big screen.

Would need a narrator tho.

Agreed. Certainly the best book and would be a brilliant film. They've got the skills & technology to do it but you'd have to very careful in the adaptation so it didn't get messed up.

Quite a lot of stuff to squeeze into a movie too. The Jeamland bits could fill an hour by themselves easily.

Mat · 23 Oct 2006 at 13:54

Moredhel said:
The Amtrak Wars series by Patrick Tilley. There have been movies of it touted in the past and a film company has the rights, but nothing yet.

Seconded and also the Rama series by Clarke although the first one is due out in movie form soon...

Gilly · 23 Oct 2006 at 13:54

Phate said:
Philip Pullman - His Dark Materials.

I knew this'd be mentioned.

Turgid at best, crap at worst. The most annoyed I've been after a trilogy ever. Including the Matrix.

Phate · 23 Oct 2006 at 13:56

Gilly said:
I knew this'd be mentioned.

Turgid at best, crap at worst. The most annoyed I've been after a trilogy ever. Including the Matrix.

Well....I liked them

and so did half of my school lol. I heard rumours of them making a film after the 2nd Harry Potter film but nothing ever came of it.

Velocity219e · 23 Oct 2006 at 13:59

Nelson said:
Agreed. Certainly the best book and would be a brilliant film. They've got the skills & technology to do it but you'd have to very careful in the adaptation so it didn't get messed up.

Quite a lot of stuff to squeeze into a movie too. The Jeamland bits could fill an hour by themselves easily.

yeah, although a lot of the Jeamland stuff could be just really jarred and fast because you ain't really supposed to get what its about until about half way through anyway, it'd certainly need to be a fairly long movie to make it worthwhile tho. mebbe 2hrs 30 - 3hrs.

ojo · 23 Oct 2006 at 14:00

iCraig said:
Rats by James Herbert.

It is a film... not that good but it exists.

panthro · 23 Oct 2006 at 14:10

I am Legend

Any of the Flashman Chronicles

All of Nelson DeMilles books that havent been made into films should be

Angels and Demons

chimaera · 23 Oct 2006 at 14:16

Rama by Arthur C Clarke.

Apparantly Morgan Freeman owns the rights and wanted to play lead role, it was even listed on imdb for a while but nothing ever seems to have come of it.

CChrisca · 23 Oct 2006 at 14:18

Any of the Kay Scarpetta novels by Patricia Cornwell

I read on her website a couple of years ago that there were talks going on about one of them being turned into a film. Nothing seems to have come of if though.

Can't decide who might play her in the film though, anyonewho has read any of them got any ideas??

robmiller · 23 Oct 2006 at 14:21

Albert Camus's L'Étranger. It's short, it's simple, it's powerful in its message and it seems like it would be really easy to make into a great film. I have no idea why it hasn't been.

PinkFloyd · 23 Oct 2006 at 15:02

Moredhel said:
The Amtrak Wars series by Patrick Tilley. There have been movies of it touted in the past and a film company has the rights, but nothing yet.

Thirded.
Have read the whole series of books so many times, would be a brilliant film.
Need to read the books again actually.

Also thumbs up to any Iain M Banks storys such as Use of Weapons etc.

UOcUK Poopscoop · 23 Oct 2006 at 15:20

The Nights Dawn Trilogy by Peter F Hamilton.

Would be the *ultimate* SF/ Space trilogy if ever made.

God, I hope someone does make it into a trilogy of films one day.......

Arcade Fire · 23 Oct 2006 at 15:24

A Million Little Pieces by James Frey. I think it would make a perfect, gritty drama. Probably directed by Alejandro Innarritu or Tony Kaye, and starring Edward Norton. Yes yes.

Wyrdo · 23 Oct 2006 at 15:48

Gilly said:
I honestly can't think of a book I've read and enjoyed that hasn't been made into a film. I've been thinking for a while now and not thought of one.

[edit]A-ha! The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant haven't been put to film and they're excellent books.

Good call, I'm actually just about to finish the second Chronicles. Should have it finished tonight, they just arrived in Andelain on their way to Mount Thunder!

Wyrdo · 23 Oct 2006 at 15:49

Phate said:
Philip Pullman - His Dark Materials.

Excellent 3 books.

And it's being made into one at the moment.

Pinkeyes · 23 Oct 2006 at 15:51

Pretty much anything by David Gemmell. All very filmy IMHO. I always see Brian Blessed as Druss anyway.

Consider Phlebas (Iain M Banks) was written as if it was a film too. Although I agree with the reply about too much Idrian. I can't see any of his science fiction being made into a film, without a great deal of back story being removed, and then the depth would be taken out of them.

Mr. Brightside · 23 Oct 2006 at 16:08

Phate said:
Philip Pullman - His Dark Materials.

Excellent 3 books.

Quoted for truth

null

welshtom · 23 Oct 2006 at 16:12

Maybe the Rama series by Arthur C. Clarke.

goes it a bit off the rails at the end i think though.