BY BLUE KAUFMAN
It’s not unusual anymore to see a poster of your favorite book with the words “Coming soon to Theaters” printed beneath it. By turning bestselling novels into films, moviemakers are guaranteeing themselves instant fans and large crowds at the theater. Just look at popular films such as Lord of the Rings, Twilight or Harry Potter. Seeing a favorite novel on the big screen is a temptation no book lover can resist. It’s also a major lure for producers, seeing as these movies tend to rake in oodles of cash for the franchise. This year is no different, as 2012 holds a hefty list of anticipated movies based off beloved books. Movie lovers will not be disappointed this year, as bestselling books are leaping off the shelves and into theaters everywhere.
The Perks of Being a Wallflower
From its remarkable dialogue to its brutal honesty, The Perks of Being a Wallflower is the perfect depiction of what it’s like to be in high school. The story is told from the point of view of Charlie, a confused freshman barely getting by. He writes down his experiences in form of letters addressed to “Dear friend”, an anonymous person the reader never discovers the identity of. As the story unfolds, you can’t help but be drawn in. Charlie’s letters are cleverly written and remarkably funny, giving the book a unique, humorous quality. Because of its large teenage following, fans are eagerly awaiting its movie debut in December. The film was directed by the novel’s author, Stephen Chobosky and stars Logan Lerman and Emma Watson. However, because of the unique letter format the book is written in, people are skeptical as to how this literary technique will be adapted on screen. Nevertheless, The Perks of Being a Wallflower is worth a trip to the movies this December.
The Lorax
Possibly the most influential children’s book ever written on the environment, Dr Seuss’ award winning The Lorax is now blossoming into a major animated motion picture. Starring Zac Efron, Taylor Swift and Betty White, this beloved children’s story was released in theaters on March 2. However, aside from the needs of the Truffula trees, this story is not just another ditsy animated film. The Lorax has now become a popular metaphor for protecting the environment. Directors Chris Renaud and Kyle Balda (creators of the film Despicable Me) have added a new twist on to this classic bedtime story. No doubt kids and parents everywhere will be entranced by the bright characters while having their eyes reopened by the tree loving Lorax as he tries to protect his home from the destructive Once-ler.
The Hunger Games
For all those currently going through Katniss withdrawal, the wait is over, as the highly anticipated The Hunger Games movie was released March 23. Based on the popular series written by Suzanne Collins, The Hunger Games is set in a post apocalypse scenario where 12 randomly selected children are forced to fight to the death on live television each year. This heart pumping, page-turning story about rebellion, sacrifice, and friendship, has already won a number of awards, including a New York Times Bestseller and one of Publisher Weekly’s “Best Books of the Year” in 2008. The film stars Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutchenson and Liam Hemsworth, and some believe it has the potential to become the next big teen series.
The Lucky One
It’s about time for another sentimental chick flick based off a bestselling novel written by Nicholas Sparks. Just like The Last Song and Dear John, The Lucky One offers a similar sappy romance plot. It even has all the typical criteria: a charismatic solider searching for something, a beautiful country setting and of course, let’s not forget the pretty widowed woman with an adorably dimpled son. Directed by Denise Di Novi, the story is about a marine who finds a picture of a woman during the war in Iraq. Although she is a complete stranger to him, he believes that she brings him luck and that they are destined to fall in love. Naturally, he begins the search for this mysterious picture woman. We’ll have to wait until April 20 to find out whether the Lucky One offers any suspense or if it’s just another chick-flick.
The Hobbit
Elves and dwarves rejoice, the release of the highly anticipated film The Hobbit has finally been announced. Although the first three films in The Lord of the Rings series were a massive worldwide success, getting J.R. Tolkien’s prequel, The Hobbit, into theaters has proven to be a challenge. With MGM carrying a debt of 4 billion dollars, and several studio feuds, the production of The Hobbit has struggled for the last decade. However, now that the rights have finally been secured and Peter Jackson has been appointed director, filming is now underway. In The Hobbit, Bilbo Baggins goes on an unexpected journey to the Lonely Mountain along with 13 dwarves to recover a stolen treasure from the fearsome dragon Smaug. Starring Martin Freeman, Evangeline Lilly and Ian McKellen, the first part of the film is set to be released on December 14 and is a must see for anyone who wishes to know what happened before the battle of middle earth.
Life of Pi
After surviving a shipwreck, Pi Patel finds himself stranded on a lifeboat with a zebra, a hyena, an orangutan and a royal Bengal tiger for 227 days. Written by Yann Martel, this inspirational story about faith, determination and courage, won the Asian/Pacific American Award for literature as well as the Best Adult Fiction for 2001-2003. Now after what seems more like 227 years, Life of Pi is finally being made into a movie and will be released on December 21. Directed by Ang Lee, and staring Suraj Sharma as Pi Patel, this beloved story is sure to make a splash in theaters.
