Why movies differ from books

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• vwo
• Leerjaar 3

The truth behind 'Pretty Woman'

"3,000, a dark fable about a financially destroyed America and the perils of showing the good life to people who had never experienced it before."

Today: different endings

But first: why are books so different from movies? 

Let's think about this for a second...

Goal for today's lesson: you will be better equipt to answer this question:

Did the film director add or leave out different scenes from the book, or did the director change anything else? If so, what and why do you think he/she chose to alter the scenes from the book?  

Books top movies because?

Films are better for...?

Read this first

Messala having passed, the Corinthian was the only contestant on the Athenian’s right, and to that side the latter tried to turn his broken four; and then; as ill-fortune would have it, the wheel of the Byzantine, who was next on the left, struck the tail-piece of his chariot, knocking his feet from under him. There was a crash, a scream of rage and fear, and the unfortunate Cleanthes fell under the hoofs of his own steeds: a terrible sight, against which Esther covered her eyes.

"Show, don't tell"

a principle in writing. What does it mean? 

I enjoy watching movies more than reading books

True, books hurt my brain

True, I have no time

True, books are boring

False, books give me life and purpose

False, movies are boring

False, I like them just the same

The assignment

Rewrite the ending of a famous Hollywood movie.

Make it grim. 

Steps

1: Briefly summarize the plot of the movie of your choice.

2. Choose 3 characters from the story.

3. Tell the reader how their lives turned out. Use 50-100 words per character. 

4. Discuss with the rest of the class. Find out if your peers like your script. 

Example

From: the Lord of the Rings

Frodo: Instead of living out the rest of his life with the elves, Frodo faces a terrible storm at sea. It turns out that elves can't swim and they cannot save him when he falls off the ship. Still severely weakened, Frodo is unable to keep his head above the water and he sinks to the bottom of the sea. A giant octopus drags his body into an underwater cave. Frodo is slowly devoured and no one will ever find his body. 

Hand in your finished assignment at the beginning of your next lesson.

Good luck!