Today’s entertainment world has been full of remakes and adaptations, with many movies and series adapted from novels and comic books. It has been the same as before but has never been as rampant as today. Whether we celebrate that trend or not, many of these adaptations have worked well, with some films and series being reviewed as better than the original book.
Many bloggers in the Davao Bloggers Society are movie geeks, so some of them have shared their favorite book-to-film adaptations in this blog post. Read on.
Scott Pilgrim
“When you talk about comic books that were adapted into films, your mind immediately thinks about superhero movies such as The Avengers and Justice League. But most people don’t know about the films from different genres that were also adapted from comic books and graphic novels. One of my favorites is Scott Pilgrim vs. the World. The film is directed by Edgar Wright, which highlights his signature shots and editing style that he’s known for. The film also has some comic book and videogame elements to it that I personally love. It literally feels like watching a comic book come to life, full with pop art explosion.”
-Josef Cagas, Davao Geek Hub
Sabrina, the Teenage Witch (Made-for-TV Movie, April 1996)
Sabrina, The Teenage Witch, was one of the most popular sitcoms in the 90s, but only a few people know that before the 7-season series was released in September 1996, there was already a made-for-tv movie of the same title in April 1996, which also stars Melissa Joan Hart as the title character. The series was like an extension of the film, and the movie and series were light and funny.
In 2018, The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina was also released, but it didn’t prompt me to watch it, just like its sister series, Riverdale (based on the characters from Archie Comics). Both concepts were dark versions, and I didn’t want to ruin my perceptions of my favorite fun-loving characters.
I have always been a fan of Archie Comics, and while the Sabrina comics were not widely released in the Philippines, I would get little pleasures of reading them as bonuses in my usual Archie, Betty and Veronica, Jughead, and Archie’s Pals’n’Gals comic collection. Until now, I’m a bit sad that I can’t get a hold of any Sabrina, the teen-age witch comic book. Hence, I rewatched the movie and the series.
Like the comic strips (which I read from the Archie comics), the movie and the series of Sabrina are full of her slice-of-life circumstances with her loveable aunts, Zelda and Hilda. The movie is almost like a 10-page comic strip of Sabrina, wherein she faces a bigger obstacle.
In times of adversity and uncertainty, I recommend that you check out the Sabrina comic book and tv series after watching the made-for-tv movie. Sabrina, the Teenage Witch’s adventures are feel-good without being shallow. Best of all, it knows no gender and age.
-NeP-C Ledesma, The Pop Blog
The Martian
“I have always been a fan of sci-fi. Growing up, I was a huge science nerd, and it’s no wonder why I took and finished a degree in life and physical science back at the university. When I first saw Andy Weir’s The Martian at Fully Booked, I immediately bought a copy. I didn’t do a quick Google search; I just trusted my gut instincts. And I was right. Andy Weir’s sarcasm and humor, infused with scientific facts and space jargon, were the right ingredients for this almost perfect novel. I can’t stop reading it, to be honest. I was drawn, enthralled, and my imagination went overboard as I leafed through chapters.
That’s why my expectations were high when this book became a film years later. I was unforgiving, and I scrutinized every detail. I couldn’t help myself; I was borderline obsessed with The Martian. Sure, some parts from the book didn’t make it to the final cut, but overall, the film adaptation gave justice. Matt Damon was a perfect cast for Mark Whatney. And oh, the soundtrack for this film gave the movie the right ‘feels’!
I highly recommend everyone read The Martian. It’s an adventure you can’t afford to miss! Also, Andy Weir’s latest novel, Project Hail Mary, is even better than The Martian. There are talks that this book will be adapted to a film, maybe two years from now. Again, I am looking forward to this!”
-Renz Bulseco, The Geek Travels
The Lord of the Rings
“I would say The Lord of the Rings. I’ve never read the books but always have been fascinated by the lore since I was a kid. My brothers and I would watch the old 1978 film over and over, so you can just imagine our excitement when the new trilogy was announced. Nowadays, I am watching The Rings of Power, which tells the events leading up to The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings. The stories of brotherhood, perseverance and loyalty live on and never fail to amaze.”
-Andrew Dela Serna, Drew.Blog
