From Page to Screen Archives - Page 3 of 4

After 30 Years….”The Force Awaken” (Star Wars), by Alan Dean Foster

Approximately 30 years after Return of the Jedi, comes The Force Awakens. It traces Rey, Finn, and Poe Dameron and their battle with the Resistance. Led by veterans of the Rebel Alliance, they fight members who are decedents of the Galactic Empire.

“Thirty years after the destruction of the second Death Star, Luke Skywalker, the last Jedi, disappeared. The First Order has risen from the remains of the Fallen Galactic Empire, and seeks to eliminate Luke and the Republic.”
The Force Awakens was filmed in Abu Dhabi and Iceland, and other photography took place in Ireland and England. It premiered on December 18, 2015, which was more than 10 years after the release of Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sixth. The film stars Harrison Ford, Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, Adam Driver, and others.

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Inside His Brain….”Grey”, by E.L. James

To celebrate fictional character, Christian Grey’s birthday, author E. L. James, announced a new book which tells the erotic story of 50 Shades of Grey, from Christian’s viewpoint, entitled “Grey: Fifty Shades“. James said she had so many fans request a version of her best-selling novel which shows the billionaire playboy as seen through his own eyes.

The book was shrouded in strict secrecy, with one rumor being that a copy of the new version had been stolen. However, no proof was ever found, so the police investigation was suspended. Now, copies are circulating and reviews have started being printed. One such review said, “James’ characteristic internal monologs provide a direct line into Christian’s mind, revealing his deepest, darkest desires…..and they don’t disappoint”. (Francesca Cookery….Vietnam)

The book is said to continue in the same “harder, coarser, and more direct attitude……..destroying the criticism of some that the books are “light” erotica or “mummy porn”.

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“Becoming Steve Jobs”, by Brent Schlender & Rick Tetzeli

Newly published book, Becoming Steve Jobs (March 2015) by authors Brent Schlender and Rick Tetzeli, is an unauthorized biography about legendary C.E.O. Steve Jobs, who died from complicated liver failure. The sub-title of the book: The Evolution of a Reckless Upstart Into a Visionary Leader, gives the reader immediate insight as to the tone of the book. Jobs was known by his fellow executives as a skilled manipulator of many people, and favored those who stayed closest to his way of thinking.

The book strives to more sympathetically picture Jobs as a man misunderstood due to his early explosive years. However, critics seem to agree that this new book does not do much to help Job’s posthumous reputation. But, at least the last chapters show how he cared for his colleagues. In his final days, he especially became more melancholy. For example, just before Jobs was to be announced as a new Board Member of Pixar, he pulled aside Disney C.E.O. Bob Iger to let him know that his cancer had returned and gave him the chance to back out of the deal. Of course, he did not change the agreement and they became friends and had a productive alliance.

A film is due in October 2015 based on Walter Isaacson’s biography, Steve Jobs. The director is Danny Boyle with Screenplay by Aaron Sorkin. Jobs will be played by Michael Fassbender.

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“Fifty Shades of Grey”…by E.L. James

British author, E. L. James, published a highly controversial novel about erotic romance. Fifty Shades of Grey is the first in the Fifty Shades trilogy, published in 2011, with the second and third volumes, Fifty Shades Darker and Fifty Shades Freed, published in 2012. The trilogy follows a maturing relationship between characters, Anastasia Steele, a college graduate, and Christian Grey, a young, billionaire businessman. The novel is noted for it’s explicit mental visual of sexual practices involving “bondage/discipline, dominance/submission, and sadomasochism (BDSM)”.

The series has sold over 100 million copies worldwide. It set a record in James’s own country, the United Kingdom, as the fastest selling paperback of all time. Critics have given mixed reviews of the novel with the sexual content and less than perfect prose. However, the film adaptation is due out on Valentine’s Day 2015.

Fifty Shades of Grey, the movie, is directed by Sam-Taylor Johnson. The novel, which became a global phenomenon, .stars Jamie Dornan as Christian Grey, and Dakota Johnson as Anastasia Steele. The other two novels in the trilogy have been confirmed to be upcoming sequels to the current movie. The rumor is that Dorman and Johnson (daughter of Don Johnson and Melanie Griffith, and in her first major role) did not get along very well, so there is a question of whether they will star in the sequels.

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The Legend….”American Sniper”, by Chris Kyle and Scott McEwen

“American Sniper” by authors Scott McEwen, Jim DeFelice, and Navy SEAL Chris Kyle, is an account of SEAL Kyle’s career from 1999 to 2009 as having the most career sniper kills in U. S. military history. The insurgents in Iraq feared him more than anyone, and called him al-Shaitan (the devil). He had a $20,000 bounty placed on his head by the insurgents.

Through four combat deployments, Kyle fought alongside fellow SEALS, Marines, and Army soldiers earning legendary respect from all. He protected them from rooftops and from positions that were totally undetected. He earned seven medals for bravery with the inclusion of two Silver Stars. He was also awarded the Grateful Nation Award from the Jewish Institute for National Security. After his deployments were completed, he became a chief instructor for the training of Naval Special Warfare Sniper and Counter Sniper teams.

Chris Kyle’s account of his extraordinary battle experiences will rank as one of the greatest war memoirs of all time. Clint Eastwood has directed a by the book interpretation of “American Sniper”. The movie has been Academy Award nominated for best movie, actor, actress, supporting actor, and supporting actress. The end of this remarkable life will bring even the most jaded of readers to tears.

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Perfect Teenage Story with Refined Rage Against What Is Perceived To Be the Cruel And Powerful Adult World…”Mockingjay”, by Suzanne Collins

As the last installment of The Hunger Games, author Suzanne Collins published Mockingjay in August of 2010. The book carries forth the story of Katniss Everdeen. She and her sister and friends are working at unifying the district of Panem, as there is rebellion against the tyrannical Capitol. They live in the highly structured District 13, where the attempt at unification is being spearheaded. Katniss grudgingly agrees to act as the poster child for the rebellion….. the Mockingjay.

The ins and outs of battles, missions, and attempted assassinations, fill the fictional novel with excitement, mystery, deception, loyalty, and betrayal. The series tackles issues like severe poverty, starvation, oppression, and the effects of war. The main theme can be boiled down to being a seemingly perfect teenage story with refined rage against what is perceived to be the cruel and powerful adult world.

The film adaptation of Mockingjay, Part 1 is set to be released on November 21, 2014, and Part 2 on November 20, 2015. Francis Lawrence, director of The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, returns to direct the two final movies. Cast members are! Jennifer Lawrence, Katniss Everdeen; Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth, Woody Harrelson, Donald Sutherland, Phillip Seymour Hoffman, Julianne Moore, and others.

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Distance between Different Cultures and Desires…”The Hundred-Foot Journey”, by Richard Morais

Richard Morais is a former Forbes magazine correspondent turned author, when he wrote his first novel, The Hundred Foot Journey. An American who was raised in Switzerland, Morais has spent most of his life overseas, giving him an international perspective in his work. He now resides in New York City.

The Hundred Foot Journey began as the main character, Hassan, leaves India after tragedy strikes. He takes his family with him as they begin a long trip to find their niche in the world of culinary service. Eventually, they end up settling in a small village in the French Alps. In this village, they open an inexpensive restaurant infusing the sleepy little town with the spices of India. By doing this they incite a culinary war with the town’s famous French Chef. Eventually, she agrees to mentor Hassan, which leads him to Paris and the opening of his own restaurant. The Hundred Foot Journey refers to the distance between a new Indian kitchen and a traditional French one that represents the gulf between different cultures and desires.

The novel has been adapted to film and was released in August 2014. The director for the film is Lasse Hallstrom for DreamWorks Pictures (and others). The cast includes Helen Mirren and Manish Dayal as the French Chef, Madame Mallory, and the Indian chef, Hassan.

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Strength and Healing….”Wild”, by Cheryl Strayed

The non-fiction novel by Cheryl Strayed, “Wild”, was voted best non-fiction book of 2012 by several review outlets. The personal story she relates is from her experience in making an impulsive decision to hike more than a thousand miles of the Pacific Crest Trail. The route originated in the Mojave Desert and continued through California, Oregon, and ended in Washington State. The most harrowing part of the impulsive decision…she did it alone.

When just twenty-two years of age, Cheryl felt that she had lost everything in her young life. Her mother passed away, which prompted the family to scatter to other places leaving her alone. And, if that weren’t enough trauma, her own marriage fell apart. It was then that she made the commitment to begin her journey.

Wild is a powerful narrative of a young woman who feels desperation and the need to connect with nature on her own terms. The novel captures all the terror and triumphs of one young woman who forged ahead on her journey against all odds. The experience was maddening, but also resulted in giving her strength and healing.

The film adaptation of “Wild” is due to be released on December 5, 2014. The movie will give justification to the motto of the book…”From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail.” The movie will star Reese Witherspoon as Strayed, with cast members Laura Dern (as Strayed’s mother), Toby Hoffman, Thomas Sadoski, Michiel Huisman, and Kevin Rankin. Director for the project is Jean-Marc Vallee’, distributed by Fox Searchlight Pictures.

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Victims Turning Everything on it’s Head….”The Maze Runner”, by James Dashner

Author James Dashner’s novel The Maze Runner is the first in a trilogy of post-apocalyptic, young adult, science fiction novels. Before this first of the trilogy stories, Dashner also wrote a prequel entitled “The Kill Order“.

The novel follows a group of boys who have been deposited after the apocalypse, at a place known as the Glade. It is the epitome of science fiction with mechanical creatures called Grievers, who roam the Maze at night. The Gladers, as the boys are known, have made a community in which each Glader has an assigned job to perform. The Maze is outside of the Glade which is protected by huge doors surrounding it that close every night to give protection from the creatures.

The main character, Thomas, learns more and more about the Glade, and gets the feeling that he has been there before. He befriends fellow Gladers named Chuck ad Newt, and feels strangely connected to the only girl ever deposited at the Glade, named Teresa. The whole plot revolves around the three Gladers performing as runners who explore the Maze and bring back information, all the time avoiding getting stung by the Grievers. Dashner’s original motivation for the novel came from an idea he had where, as quoted directly from the author……..”a bunch of teenagers living inside an unsolvable maze full of hideous creatures, in the future, in a dark dystopian world. It would be an experiment to study their minds……Until the victims turn everything on its head.” And so goes Maze Runner.

The novel has been adapted for film and is due to be released today! The director is Wes Bell with a cast of Dylan O’Brien as Thomas, Blake Cooper as Chuck, Thomas Brodie-Sangster as Newt, and Kaya Scodelario as Teresa.

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He Said-She Said…”Gone Girl”, by Gillian Flynn

American author Gillian Flynn wrote the novel, Gone Girl, based on the suspense created by suspicion of the main character, Nick Dunne and whether he murdered his wife.

Nick and Amy had a less than perfect marriage for several reasons. He lost his job as a journalist and relocates them from New York City to Carthage, Missouri which was Nick’s small hometown. Amy was not happy to leave New York…….she was a city girl. All phases of their marriage were becoming more and more dysfunctional.

Amy disappears on the day of their fifth wedding anniversary. The suspicion and suspense begins. In this novel, Flynn tries to depict the ultimate commitment…marriage. According to author Flynn, marriage turns into the ultimate he said-she said mystery.

The novel has been adapted for film by Reese Witherspoon’s film production company and 20th Century Fox. They reportedly paid $1.5 million for the screen rights. The director is David Fincher with cast members being Ben Afflek as Nick, Rosamund Pike in the role of Amy, joined by Neil Patrick Harris, Emily Ratazko, and Tyler Perry.

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