Books to Movies

In honor of this week's highly anticipated release of "The Da Vinci Code", I have decided to dedicate this blog to books that have made the transition to movies.
Hear me out! I know about the failures of Stephen King's "It", Michael Chricton's "Congo", "Gigli" and other's like it.
I have come to a realization that I am going to write a book about. Scratch that, make a movie about.

Recently I asked Kyla a question:
"Honey, if you asked me to take out the trash, but when you walked into the living room you saw me reading a book, how mad would you be?"
"No very mad."
"What if it was the same situation and when you walked into the room I was watching a movie, how mad would you be?"
"I would be pretty frustrated."

AAHHHAAAAA!!!

Is there anything less productive than reading a book??
NO!
Video games may have crossed your mind, as the thought crossed mine. As Ken Griffey Jr. once mentioned, video games encourage hand-eye coordination. He would play video games all the time and last time I checked, he was something of a pretty good baseball player.

And here is my point.

Now I know what you are thinking,
"Matt, reading a book is more academic..."
"... it encourages you to use your imagination..."
"... they don't require you to watch a movie in upper level academic classes..."

Well they should!

1. Movies are more productive.
Have you ever folded clothes while reading a book?
If so, you are a better person than I am!

2. Movies encourage social interaction.
I've never had a date to a book, maybe you have.
How often have you heard "Dumb and Dumber" quoted over the last year?
Same question for "Of Mice and Men."

3. Movies are more effecient.
Ever dedicated a week to watch a movie?
Even "The Lord of the Rings" was considered too long. It was only 3 hours!
I've never read a book in three hours. (magazines don't count)

4. Movies are more friendly on the pocket book.
A new hard back copy of your favorite book will roughly run you $25.00.
For the same price, you can buy two tickets and that huge tub of popcorn you have always dreamed of.

If you notice the little bio next to my picture at the top right of this page, you will notice that I listed enjoying a good book before a good movie. I would in no way consider myself a book worm, but I am getting the bug.

We celebrate directors Peter Jackson (Lord of the Rings, King Kong), Ron Howard (Apollo 13, Cinderella Man, The DaVinci Code), M. Night Shyamalan (The 6th Sense, Signs, Unbreakable, Lady in the Water) and they are all still very much alive.

More often than not we celebrate authors post-mortem. I am glad to see that Dan Brown, Stephen King, Dean Koontz and other of my favorite authors are getting credit while they can enjoy it.

Enjoy "The DaVinci Code". Both of them.

M@