So far,90 minutes in, it's Ok. I keep waiting for it to rise above its adolescent rebellion theme.

I first heard about this story in an EFL book that I was using... then the book and movie came out, so I never went to see it, nor did I read it. Any good?

I'm watching the movie "Into the Wild" from the book by John Krakauer.

I watch it in 30 minute chunks as I know how it will end and 30 minutes at a time is about as much as I can handle.

Has anyone read the book and seen the movie? Do they deserve one-another?

Is there no original thought in Hollywood? I am continually amazed when I realize a movie I've seen is, in fact, a book. I have an old black and white copy of End of the Affair in my DVD library. Just now I saw the book and didn't realize at first why the synopsis sounded so familiar.

Ed wrote: "I assume the schedule of lectures sponsored by the NYHA is available on the internet for us casual visitors to the Apple. "

https://www.nyhistory.org/web/default.ph...

I assume the schedule of lectures sponsored by the NYHA is available on the internet for us casual visitors to the Apple.

David wrote: "Vince,
Thanks for the tip about Schama occasionally speaking at The New-York Historical Society. Here is a blurb from the current N-YHS brochure.

An Evening with Simon Schama
Wednesday, Januar..."

Thanks David

We, my wife & I, are members and have tickets for the series of historians speaking.

Probably get there once a month or so on average,

Many of the events there are with authors so book signeing and book selling orietnted.

Earlier this year, if you are a long Broolkyn resident, there was a series of three session with Robert Cato - author of the Power Broker on Robert Moses - so it is now on my list to read but will have to wait for a bit I am afraid.

Vince,
Thanks for the tip about Schama occasionally speaking at The New-York Historical Society. Here is a blurb from the current N-YHS brochure.

An Evening with Simon Schama
Wednesday, January 20, 6:30 pm

Simon Schama is University Professor of Art History and History at Columbia University. He has written 14 books and has won many awards, including the Wolfson Award for History, the National Academy of Arts and Letters Award for Literature, and the National Book Critics’ Circle Award for Nonfiction. His essays for The New Yorker earned him a National Magazine Award and he has written and presented more than 30 documentaries on art and history for the BBC.

(this is one of a 3 part) Benefit Series:
$150 for three evenings, $75 for one evening.

Champagne receptions and book signings with the authors to follow the programs.
Thank you for supporting the New-York Historical Society!

Vince wrote: "...For those not too far from New York, sorry Ed, Schama is teaching at Columbia and speaks from time to time in the area - at least once a year in the recent past it seems at the New York Historical Society. ..."

I know he does... positively drool, I do. I wonder if I'll be able to catch something this summer when I am a little closer!

Hi Folks

I am a new member of your group invited by Ed.

Just thinking about this I would have to say that parts of "Saving Private Ryan" follow very closely Stephen Ambrose's book D-Day and I am pretty sure that Ambrose was a consultant for the movie.

For those not too far from New York, sorry Ed, Schama is teaching at Columbia and speaks from time to time in the area - at least once a year in the recent past it seems at the New York Historical Society.

Saw Anne Rice's name mentioned up there. Related with history, she made a story about one of the supernatural characters (Lasher) as the son of Anne Boleyn (who was a witch in the book and had the legendary extra finger). As in the real world, Anne, accused of witchcraft, is subsequently arrested, tried and executed.

Yes kind of like Wayne Newton, the ultimate entertainer and showman.

carol (akittykat) wrote: "Micheal Jackson, a man tortured by many demons (vices),was certainly entertaining and a consummate entertainer."

I came up just short of despising MJ until I saw the Documentary.

Now I admire his talent and his dedication to his fans and his co-workers. A side of MJ, I didn't know existed.

I was never even tempted to read the Anne Rice stuff. I doubt if I will ever read the "Twilight" books. My TBR list is too long as it is. The movies have no appeal for me either.

I did read the first two Harry Potter books and I actually liked the first movie. Seems to be all down hill from there - books and movies.

My Father in law loved the HP books and read them twice in his 80's. When I asked him why, he told me to read them and then I'd know why he read them - wrong!

So many other books - so little time.

I don't care for Anne Rice books either, having read the first 3 when they first came out. The first one was ok at the time...I was in my mid-20's and happened to work not too far from the scene of the books, or at least where the interview actually took place and that lent it some sort of ambiance for me. I did attempt a reread last year, and couldn't stand it, couldn't get more than a dozen or pages into it. How our tastes change. :)

I've only read the last Harry Potter, and didn't see much too it, although reading the last in a series isn't really any basis for a real understanding of the thing. So I won't close the door, but I'm not anxious to walk through it either.

I try to remember Michael Jackson as that cute kid that I first saw.

Micheal Jackson, a man tortured by many demons (vices),was certainly entertaining and a consummate entertainer.

Anne Rice; not a big fan of her books. I tend to agree with Hayes, I gagged my way through one. That was enough for me. I am unfortunately not a fan of Harry Potter either. I just outgrew that fantasy. I did not enjoy the first movie so subsequently i did not see any of the others. That is my loss I expect.

Wont read the vampires (had an intense physical reaction *gag* while reading the Rice book (lol), and refuse to open another!), but confess to being an HP fan. Like the movies too (especially the first!), but the books are the best.

Michael Jackson makes me gag too (but not his music)... when it comes to satellite I'll watch the fil-um.

I am, I'm afraid, well over 18, and I have read Twilight.

I had a head cold, and it was a pleasant way to spend an evening in bed with it. I can see why the teenaged girls love it, though I didn't (I gave it three stars, I think). It's wish-fulfillment and a "safe" way of being dangerous. On the other hand, I thought I was going to lose it if I had to read another description of how pretty Edward was.

I love the Harry Potter books, though. Saw the first movie and wasn't tremendously impressed, and haven't seen the subsequent ones.

Saw "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" on the flight from Los Angeles to HK. I'm glad I did not read the book.

Am I a heretic?

And what is it about the Twilight series of books and movies? I can't find anyone over the age of 18 who's read them.

BTW, "This Is It", the Michael Jackson documentary totally changed my opinion about Michael Jackson. The film does an incredible job and all without any narration.

If you haven't seen it, get off your butt and do so.

The Guns of Navarone was written by Alistair MacLean. A number of his books were made into movies: Ice Station Zebra, Puppet on a Chain, Force 10 from Navarone, Breakheart Pass, Where Eagles Dare, etc.

His books translate well into film because his focus is on plot and action not character.

The movie, "The Thin Red Line", I thought was disappointing. "From Here to Eternity: is one of the top 50 films of all time IMHO.

carol (akittykat) wrote: "I know every time I hear Nearer My God To Thee I think of the Titanic.
You know one of My favorite movies is Guns Of Navarrone,and every holiday we watch the movie starring Gregory Peck,Anthony Qui..."

Guns of Navarrone is based on a book? Wow.

Btw, has anyone seen The Thin Red Line?
I think the adaption was okay, although not as emotional as the book. I have been waiting to read and watch the other (probably more famous) Jones's work: From Here to Eternity.

I played Nearer My God To Thee on electric guitar :P it was awesome xD

Pontalba wrote: "Susanna wrote: "Pearl Harbor? Oy. For that subject on film, I prefer Tora, Tora, Tora...."

For some reason the Pacific Theatre of action just doesn't interest me as the European Theatre does.

"
I loved the short story The Burmese Harp and the movie also.

Susanna wrote: "Pearl Harbor? Oy. For that subject on film, I prefer Tora, Tora, Tora...."

For some reason the Pacific Theatre of action just doesn't interest me as the European Theatre does.

carol (akittykat) wrote: "I was a big fan of Alaister MacClean and Helen MacInnes.

I will have to re-read some of those old books. A few of MacClean's books were made into movies. I don't recall if any of MacInnes books we..."

The only McClean's movies I've seen is Ice Station Zebra and loved it. Haven't read the book though. The original reason I watched it was Patrick McGoohan. :) Of course, I'd have watched him in anything.

Loved MacInnes's books...not sure if any were turned into films though. Wait....
Here's a link. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helen_MacIn... it looks like 4 of her books were made into films. I thought some must have been but wasn't positive.

I was a big fan of Alaister MacClean and Helen MacInnes.

I will have to re-read some of those old books. A few of MacClean's books were made into movies. I don't recall if any of MacInnes books were made into movies. I love both of these authors and their books.

How could it not be with that cast! I don't think I've seen it all the way thru (invariably fall asleep in front of the small screen).

(small historical note: my grandmother's second husband was on the Titanic when a young child... his teddy went down with the ship. Aside from a Naif painting of the ship, iceberg, and survivors standing on the ice, no mention was ever made of the experience in the family.)

I know every time I hear Nearer My God To Thee I think of the Titanic.
You know one of My favorite movies is Guns Of Navarrone,and every holiday we watch the movie starring Gregory Peck,Anthony Quinn, David Niven and an all-star cast. In this case I think the movie is much better than the actual book.

Susanna wrote: "With Titanic I couldn't stand the romance (my brain kept trying to replace Kate Winslet with Mary Pickford, which was very ..."

Nothing beats "A Night to Remember" for Titanic films From the book by Walter Lord: A Night to Remember.

Film: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0051994/

The orchestra playing as the ship goes down gets me every time.

Pearl Harbor? Oy. For that subject on film, I prefer Tora, Tora, Tora.

With Titanic I couldn't stand the romance (my brain kept trying to replace Kate Winslet with Mary Pickford, which was very weird), but the sets/costumes/special effects were worth watching.

Love I, Claudius and yes it is pretty close to the books.

Gettysburg was a good movie but I prefer the novel, The Killer Angels, which is excellent.

I know sometimes you just can't connect with the mini series or the movie. I might get bored with it but that is what's nice about dvd's . Fast forward hahahaha

carol (akittykat) wrote: "I just finished John Adams, now I need to watch the mini series. I really enjoyed this book. I learned so much about the man and his Presidency, that is not taught in school. He was an absolute gen..."

I loved the book.

I watched the mini-series when it first came out. I was disappointed. John and Abigail were just a little too earnest for me. I even surprised myself since I like Paul Giamatti and Laura Linney so much. Paul Morse playing George Washington had me in stitches.

For whatever reason, the mini-series didn't grab me the way the book did. Directing? Writing? I have no idea why.

I just finished John Adams, now I need to watch the mini series. I really enjoyed this book. I learned so much about the man and his Presidency, that is not taught in school. He was an absolute genius with words and law.

Candy wrote: "Hey Hayes, I hope you like Jared Diamond's book. I think it's wonderful.

Ed, should have known you would have liked Diamond. I've read Collapse too and I like his positive attude on how we can avo..."

The essay was fascinating and he wrote it in 1987, incredible. Thanks for sharing it.

Hey Hayes, I hope you like Jared Diamond's book. I think it's wonderful.

Ed, should have known you would have liked Diamond. I've read Collapse too and I like his positive attude on how we can avoid collapse. I sure don't want to be another economy that was oblivious to it's collaspe.

:)

Sister Wendy is a hoot!

Here is a classic essay by Jared Diamond from 1987...

http://www.environnement.ens.fr/perso/cl...

Hayes wrote: "...and Sister Wendy...

I forgot about her! One of the books I used to teach EFL had a chapter about Sister Wendy.

Havent heard of GG and S... will see if I can track it down. Thanks Candy."

Guns, Germs, and Steel blew my mind. It's written by Jared Diamond who is a physiologist not an anthropologist. I have his latest, Collapse How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed and will be starting it soon.

I gotta look up this Sister Wendy Beckett. My be the first nun I can admire. (Grin)

...and Sister Wendy...

I forgot about her! One of the books I used to teach EFL had a chapter about Sister Wendy.

Havent heard of GG and S... will see if I can track it down. Thanks Candy.

Ah, I mentioned I, Claudius as one of my favourite contemporary history books. I absolutely loved the mini-series, found it true to the book...and have ment to purchase it some day on dvd.

Hayes, i am quite fond of Simon Shama's work. In fact, I can see my hardcopy book of The Power of Art right now. I've watched tha adaption a few times and I highly highly recommend the tv doc for all people who want to open their hearts or minds to art. Especially people who feel they don't "get" art. I think Simon Shchma and Sister Wendy are two of the best advocates for introduction to art history.

Another adaptation of a boo to film is the documentary version of Guns Germs and Steel. I think considering how large Jared Diamond's feild of study is in his Pulizer Prize winning book...the documentary did an excellent job of applying and presenting his observations and history.

I can not wave my arms wildly gesticulating and begging people enough to see both The Power of Art and Guns Germs and Steel .

:)

David wrote: "I saw the TV series I, Claudius long ago, and thought it was great. Was it true to the book? I don't know. I only read parts of the book, and that was many years later."

Oh...! I've got that on my TBR soon.

David wrote: "I saw the TV series I, Claudius long ago, and thought it was great. Was it true to the book? I don't know. I only read parts of the book, and that was many years later."
It's been years, but IIRC, the mini series follows the books fairly faithfully. There were parts only alluded to in the series that were more thoroughly covered in the book, but as I recall the accuracy was good.
That is one of my all time favorites. :)

Ed wrote: "This was my reply to Silvana:

I think that's agreat idea. I'll set up a separate topic for it. Let's include mini-series, also like Shogun, Roots and Band of Brothers.

I thought "300 Spartans" wa..."

I watched 300 Spartans when in high school, before reading The Histories. Maybe since I'm a sucker of epics, I fell in love immediately. Nevertheless, it is still wayyyyyy better than the sacrilegious, bright-red-undies-laden 300

The Longest Day, I beg to differ, was a highly dramatized movie full with silly love stories, whereas it's supposed to be as great as (and romance-less) the other adaptation of another Cornelius Ryan's masterpiece, A Bridge Too Far. Now that is a movie I could watch over and over and over again.

Pearl Harbour was...oh my. It gives me headache (still!) just to think of it.

I haven't watched and read Gettysburg and I, Claudius but am planning to do that one day.

I saw the TV series I, Claudius long ago, and thought it was great. Was it true to the book? I don't know. I only read parts of the book, and that was many years later.

Gettysburg without a doubt. It's almost word-for-word as the book is.

Hayes wrote: "I don't know if Simon Schama's series would fit in here. They are documentaries, really, but excellent. I was able to see them on satellite here (in Italy), but they disappeared before..."

I saw the History of Britain Documentary. It actual encompasses three volumes. The TV presentation was outstanding. I see no reason why they could not be included.

We are, if nothing, eclectic.

Hayes wrote: "I don't know if Simon Schama's series would fit in here. They are documentaries, really, but excellent. I was able to see them on satellite here (in Italy), but they disappeared before..."

Haven't seen the TV but it was a major undertaking read-wise in late spring. Excellent!

I don't know if Simon Schama's series would fit in here. They are documentaries, really, but excellent. I was able to see them on satellite here (in Italy), but they disappeared before I could see them all. There was the History of Britain (missed only one), and I saw one or two of the Power of Art.

Has anyone read any of his books?

This was my reply to Silvana:

I think that's agreat idea. I'll set up a separate topic for it. Let's include mini-series, also like Shogun, Roots and Band of Brothers.

I thought "300 Spartans" was a joke as a movie but "Different strokes for different folks".

I also thought "The Longest Day" was good for its time.

I agree with Marco that "Pearl Harbor" was a total disappointment.

This is what Silvana said:

I think we could discuss books made into movies. For instance, yesterday I've just checked the coming-soon movies and found The Men who Stare at Goats. Starring Clooney, McGregor, Bridges and Spacey. It was based on a non-fiction The Men Who Stare at Goats.

I am a rather literary purist and was often scandalized by the silver screen interpretation of history (especially nonfiction) books ;p

Examples:
Good interpretation: Black Hawk Down, Jarhead, 300 Spartans
Bad interpretation: The Longest Day, The Great Raid, Munich

Silvana suggested this. What movies or mini-series do you think really captured the spirit of the book or story and which were a disappointment?

I think it would be best if we focused on historically oriented books, actual or fictional.