Book To Movie Adaptations

It may be because The Hunger Games movie is fast approaching (YES!), but I've been reading about movie adaptions everywhere. Not too shocking (in fact, I've already written a post about different adaptions I like/dislike). But, what did surprise me were all the negative things I'd seen. I've come across a ton of discussions on Goodreads where people hope their favorite books don't get turned into movies and I've even seen authors blog about being annoyed that their novel is being optioned for film rights. If something I write is ever even in discussion to become a movie I would be singing from the rooftops and walking on sunshine and any other cheesy image I can conjure! Let's face it, I would be freaking thrilled!

But maybe it's because I'm just an all-media kind of girl. Books definitely take top rank, but I absolutely love television shows and movies, and I LOVE when one of my favorite books gets turned into something else. A few examples of my favorites are Harry Potter, Vampire Diaries, Lord of the Rings and The Notebook. I can't wait for The Hunger Games to be released and I've heard talk that some of my other favorite series, like Vampire Academy or The Mortal Instruments, are in the works to become films too.

For me, it's just more ways to interact with characters I love. I hate when a series ends and you have to say goodbye. Movies or TV shows are just something else to look forward to. Sometimes the scripts follow the books really well and sometimes they don't, either way I usually still enjoy it. Something like Harry Potter is somewhat sacred, so I loved that the movies followed the books almost to a T. But I still enjoyed Blood and Chocolate, which completely changed the story from the book, but I just took it as sort of an alternate reality featuring characters I liked.

I'm a little worried they'll change The Hunger Games to make it more commercial (making some of the characters that die seem older or making the romance take a much bigger role), which would be a shame, but I'm pretty confident I'll still love the films. I'm going into it with an open mind, not expecting a rehash of the book. After all, when an author signs over the rights to his or her book, the director gets control and it becomes a whole different story. Maybe the same plot, but seen through new eyes.

What do you guys think? Do you love when your favorite books get turned into movies? Hate it? Worried about The Hunger Games adaptation or just annoyed that we can't watch it yet?

In honor of my movie love, here are some trailers for movies I am really (really!) excited for:

The Hunger Games Trailer

Snow White & The Huntsman Trailer

Mirror Mirror Trailer

The Avengers Trailer

Gone Trailer

Dueling Snow White's, Dueling Genres - Comedy Versus Drama

Almost everyone I know who loves paranormal stories grew up loving fairy tales. I will totally admit to my Disney addiction - Little Mermaid is my favorite, then Belle then probably Jasmine. And, even though she doesn't make my top three, Snow White is a pretty classic fairy tale figure that I'm sure most of you know is about to get revamped with dueling movies - 'Mirror Mirror' and 'Snow White and the Huntsman.' I loved both trailers, but watching them got me thinking about how different the same story can be told, one version comedic and the other dramatic. Obviously, you need a little drama and a little comedy in every story, but I think every story leans closer to one end of the spectrum and I don't know which I prefer.

When I sit down to read a chick-lit, think Sophia Kinsella, I expect comedy, but when I sit down to read a paranormal romance, I think I just expect the drama. I like to laugh, obviously, and think a humorous protagonist is fantastic, but I get wrapped up in fantasy worlds more when there is a dramatic slant. Meg Cabot writes great paranormal romance that is completely comedic and I would combat that against something like Twilight, which is very dramatic.

So, I started thinking about the differences between each genre, and what the pros/cons are. Essentially, it all comes down to tension. Drama is all about building tension, where as comedy is all about releasing it. Drama is about the tear and comedy the laugh.

In my opinion, the absolute best thing about drama is that it is page turning. Drama is always building and is always keeping people interested, because you can present situations that make the reader wish for an outcome they know they can't have. Think about 'Romeo & Juliet' for example. In the first page, you are presented with the entire story - 'a pair of star-crossed lovers take their life' - but when you read it, you keep going just hoping that the beginning wasn't true. Drama can really make a reader attached to characters and their drama, and you can present those impossible loves and give the reader hope that a happy ending will somehow occur.

However, comedy is amazing too because everyone loves to laugh and feel that joy. With comedy, I think the reader is more likely to align him or herself with the main character - it's not so much about hoping for an outcome as truly becoming the main character. No one I know is one hundred percent confident in who they are and all of their quarks, but a humorous main character allows readers to be okay with that because humor transforms the awkward into the entertaining. I don't speed through a comedy because I have to know how it ends, I read comedies because they are fun and I can relate to them, which makes the reading experience even more enjoyable.

So, what do you think? What are the main differences between these two genres and which do you enjoy the most?

And, in case you haven't seen them, here are the two Snow White trailers to help explain my points more. Enjoy!

Mirror, Mirror:

Snow White and the Huntsman: