With the week I’m between Irish Orals and college interviews so I don’t have the time to watch the movies I want to review (Its criminal). So I’ve decided to do something different that will hopefully take less time for this week. I have compiled the film adaptations of books according to their worldwide gross profit (Figures can vary from sources but the order is correct) But I couldn’t help notice that I didn’t like it all that much but I understand you might think differently. The list goes like this:
1. The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003) - $1,129,219,252
2. Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone (2001) - $968,657,891
3. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix ( $938,212,738
4. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (2009) - $933,959,197
5. The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002) - $921,600,000
6. Jurassic Park (1993) - $919,700,000
7. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005) - $892,194,397
8. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002) - $866,300,000
9. The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001) - $860,700,000
10. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004) - $789,458,727
I was amazed at the fact that all the Harry Potter film made thus far (Only one more to go, book that is, technically two films) holds six out of the available ten places while Lord of the Rings takes three more places. But alone, placed bang in the middle, a three time Oscar winning film, Jurassic Park. That movie that has to be one of my all time favourites (I remember wearing out the VHS of it we had from watching it too much). I guess the increase in cinema at the turn of the millennium made this list the way it is. I would love to say that all these films deserved there places but think about it, aren’t there films adaptions of books you would rather watch instead…
I am going to give my list of the top ten film adaptions of books I have seen and would recommend anyone. Some of these didn’t make as much money as those but damn they were they good, weren’t they:
1. Jurassic Park (1993) - $919,700,000
2. Jaws(1975) - $470,600,000
3. The Green Mile (1999) - $286,601,374
4. Goodfellas (1990) - $637,355,253
5. The Jungle Book (1967) - $560,704,100
6. Fight Club (1999) - $497,104,100
7. Apocalypse Now (1979) - $151,071,511
8. Forrest Gump (1971) - $679,400,525
9. Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring (2001) - $870,761,744
10. The Shawshank Redemption (1994) - $282,414,69
The lists here as you can clearly see are completely different and I'm aware I can't define the list just host my opinions, but that's what I am also asking you to do, show me your list and it won't be the same I can guarantee it!
I'm not oblivious as to the fact of how the list has ended up like this, there was a lot more money at the turn of the millennium and leisure time activities surged. But my concern is for the old film adaptations, what will become of them in twenty or forty years will they even be on the late night TV anymore, only to be remembered when there is no 'Lost' or Desperate Housewives to show instead. It even saddens me to think that that's where they'll stay as new generations forget about them, never hearing the songs from the Jungle Book that I simply can't forget or the brilliance of Tom Hanks bringing the character of Forrest Gump alive on front of are very eyes from the pages of a classic. Instead they will simply remain stored in film magazines archives as a simple review that drove the crowds to them in the first place, here's one person who sincerely hopes they read the books only because I fear they will never see the films.
But this isn't what bothers me the most (Although it drives me mental let it be said) What probably bothers me the most is that I could bark all day and it won't change. Even if I decided to bite, If I sent letters to magazines, they would just be published in an editorial for those to laugh or even ignored like the charities we don't feel like contributing to or worse, it could incourage a more ''accurate'' rating system for films. So I best take J.K Rowling's advice and ''Never poke a sleeping dragon in the eye''.
I can't help thinking it’s not going to change any time soon. Of course the old films will never enter this list again, for they have had there shot and must be content with placing in my list. But with hope, in the future, the books that have yet to be written (i.e books by Stephen King are always a winner for adaptations) to become films will immortalise themselves in this ''elite'' list of ten. Well, until the new Harry Potter films come out…
I'm not oblivious as to the fact of how the list has ended up like this, there was a lot more money at the turn of the millennium and leisure time activities surged. But my concern is for the old film adaptations, what will become of them in twenty or forty years will they even be on the late night TV anymore, only to be remembered when there is no 'Lost' or Desperate Housewives to show instead. It even saddens me to think that that's where they'll stay as new generations forget about them, never hearing the songs from the Jungle Book that I simply can't forget or the brilliance of Tom Hanks bringing the character of Forrest Gump alive on front of are very eyes from the pages of a classic. Instead they will simply remain stored in film magazines archives as a simple review that drove the crowds to them in the first place, here's one person who sincerely hopes they read the books only because I fear they will never see the films.
But this isn't what bothers me the most (Although it drives me mental let it be said) What probably bothers me the most is that I could bark all day and it won't change. Even if I decided to bite, If I sent letters to magazines, they would just be published in an editorial for those to laugh or even ignored like the charities we don't feel like contributing to or worse, it could incourage a more ''accurate'' rating system for films. So I best take J.K Rowling's advice and ''Never poke a sleeping dragon in the eye''.
I can't help thinking it’s not going to change any time soon. Of course the old films will never enter this list again, for they have had there shot and must be content with placing in my list. But with hope, in the future, the books that have yet to be written (i.e books by Stephen King are always a winner for adaptations) to become films will immortalise themselves in this ''elite'' list of ten. Well, until the new Harry Potter films come out…
1)Goodfellas
ReplyDelete2)Fight Club
3)The Godfather Part I/II
4)Shawshank Redemption
5)The Lord Of The Rings
6)The Shining
7)Casino Royale
8)The Green Mile
9)No Country For Old Men
10)High Fidelity
Theres 3 or 4 there i havent read yet but i'm definitely going to. Films are no rival to the books, people who don't read are seriously missing out.
I'm so glad High Fidelity made your list, Richard.
ReplyDeleteHowever, I see no end to people watching old films, no matter how much technology improves. We're all still watching Citizen Kane and Gone With the Wind and all of that. I think good films survive.