While that question is perhaps a bit biased — I'm sure there will be plenty of people claiming so in the comments — it's hard to argue with the lists released after every major festival and awards show that detail which cameras were used on the films. Without fail, the higher budget films are almost always shot on Alexa, with some occasional love for Sony and RED cameras, as well as film.
A video recently released by ARRI at IBC 2015 might offer some answers as to why this is. Of course, this video is an advertisement, but it's fun to watch and it takes a swing at pinpointing the characteristics that make the Alexa, Amira, Alexa Mini, and Alexa 65 such popular options in their respective categories:
Of course, image quality — both in terms of dynamic range and color reproduction — is at the top of the list of reasons for the Alexa's dominance (more about that later). However, I firmly believe that the last reason in that video, the reliability and intuitiveness, are the driving forces behind why cinematographers (and producers) continually choose these cameras project after project. When you combine the fact that the Alexa is dead simple to learn and operate (at least compared to several competitors) with the fact that these cameras are built like tanks and steadfastly reliable, and then you throw in the superb image quality, it's no wonder why people return to the Alexa time and time again.
And while we're at it, let's take a look at some of the most notable footage from each of these cameras. First up, the most recent showreel of Alexa footage, which was just released at IBC this week.
What do you guys think about why ARRI's cameras are used so often throughout the industry, despite stiff competition from Sony, RED, and now Panasonic with the new Varicam35? Share your thoughts with us down in the comments!
When you're working on adapting a book into a movie, there's a lot of pressure on you. You have to get the fans of the book to buy into the movie, even though you might be leaving some of their favorite parts out. You also have to get fans of movies to buy into the story even if they've never read the book.
Some movies do it better than others, but I think the following movies are excellent examples of how it should be done.
Let's take a look at eleven of the best book-to-movie adaptations.
1. The Godfather
Directed by Francis Ford Coppola, written by Mario Puzo and Francis Ford Coppola (based on the novel by Mario Puzo). Cast: Marlon Brando, Al Pacino, James Caan, Robert Duvall, Diane Keaton.
This is one of the best movies of all time. It trims some of the tangents from the novel and focuses in on the Corleone family, specifically Michael's journey.
2. Little Children
Directed by Todd Field, written by Todd Field and Tom Perrotta (based on the novel by Tom Perrotta). Cast: Kate Winslet, Patrick Wilson, Jennifer Connelly, Jackie Earle Haley, Noah Emmerich.
I love this book so much. The movie could never cover the breadth of suburban ennui, but I think what it does do well is really centralize the story to one affair and make it more universal.
3. Jurassic Park
Directed by Steven Spielberg, written by Michael Crichton and David Koepp (based on the novel by Michael Crichton). Cast: Sam Neill, Laura Dern, Jeff Goldblum, Richard Attenborough, Ariana Richards.
The book is cynical and nihilistic, but the movie uses those motifs and actually tries to turn it into something hopeful and magical in the end. It's a really smart way to tell this story.
4. The Lord of the Rings Trilogy
Directed by Peter Jackson, written by Fran Walsh, Philippa Boyens, and Peter Jackson (based on the novel by J.R.R. Tolkien). Cast: Elijah Wood, Ian McKellen, Viggo Mortensen, Sean Astin, Liv Tyler.
Taking on this trilogy is the work of a lifetime, and Jackson and his team were able to honor the books while making great fantasy genre movies. They keep a whole sense of adventure and worldbuilding while being accessible.
5. Little Women
Directed by Greta Gerwig, written by Greta Gerwig (based on the novel by Louisa May Alcott). Cast: Saoirse Ronan, Emma Watson, Florence Pugh, Eliza Scanlen, Timothée Chalamet.
I like this adaptation in particular because it feels like it was made with modern sensibilities but has the heart of the original novel at all times.
6. To Kill a Mockingbird
Directed by Robert Mulligan, written by Horton Foote (based on the novel by Harper Lee). Cast: Gregory Peck, Mary Badham, Phillip Alford, John Megna, Ruth White.
A beautiful and groundbreaking book that was adapted very quickly into a beautiful and groundbreaking movie. Very few works on this list feel as vital or as important as this classic.
7. Children of Men
Directed by Alfonso Cuarón, written by Alfonso Cuarón, Timothy J. Sexton, David Arata, Mark Fergus, and Hawk Ostby (based on the novel by P.D. James). Cast: Clive Owen, Julianne Moore, Michael Caine, Charlie Hunnam, Chiwetel Ejiofor.
I love this science fiction movie so much. It takes us into the near future and uses tech that wasn't available in the novel to normalize that world for us.
8. Gone Girl
Directed by David Fincher, written by Gillian Flynn (based on her novel). Cast: Ben Affleck, Rosamund Pike, Neil Patrick Harris, Tyler Perry, Carrie Coon.
This modern thriller was adapted by the author, so it's an interesting study of how the same writer tells the same story for two different mediums. This one goes less into backstories and plays with tone to sell certain scenes.
9. The Silence of the Lambs
Directed by Jonathan Demme, written by Ted Tally (based on the novel by Thomas Harris). Cast: Jodie Foster, Anthony Hopkins, Scott Glenn, Ted Levine, Anthony Heald.
Thomas Harris's novel is more violent, and the movie sort of saves moments of violence as payoffs. It also delivers enough of an investigation juxtaposed against two character studies.
10. Election
Directed by Alexander Payne, written by Alexander Payne and Jim Taylor (based on the novel by Tom Perrotta). Cast: Matthew Broderick, Reese Witherspoon, Chris Klein, Molly Shannon, Jessica Campbell.
There are a few changes from script to screen here. But the thing that carries over is all the narrators and their points of view. It's so smart and I think the visuals add so many layers to this story
11. The Wizard of Oz
Directed by Victor Fleming (and others, uncredited), written by Noel Langley, Florence Ryerson, and Edgar Allan Woolf (based on the novel The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum). Cast: Judy Garland, Frank Morgan, Ray Bolger, Bert Lahr, Jack Haley, Margaret Hamilton.
Hard to argue against the classic. The original Wizard of Oz movie takes a story with many sequels and just creates a core tale focusing on one central person's journey home. It's the gold standard.
Summing Up The 11 Best Book-to-Movie Adaptations
So, there you have it. Those are some book-to-movie adaptations that I think are excellent. A writer's job is to take the essence of the book and get it to the screen. These movies all have those essences, but I also think they stand on their own as great films.
They may not be your favorites, but they're some of mine.