Back to School 2011: Manori's "Reading" List

With every new school season, comes a new set of books you're expected to devour in record-breaking time. In an effort to cope with your endless list of reading lists, you are often forced to turn to the next best thing to the book: the movie adaptation. In an attempt to get into the back-to-school spirit - and possibly give you a head start on your slacker studying - over the next week, we will be giving you a sampling of our favourite page-to-screen adaptations.

THE NAMESAKE

Release Date (Book/Movie): 2003 / 2006

What the Back Cover Should Read: The Namesake, based on Jhumpa Lahiri’s 2003 book, quietly captures the realities for second-generation immigrants in North America, particularly those of us wedged firmly between South Asian roots and an American upbringing. As Gogol Ganguli (Kal Penn) struggles to form an identity that isn’t at direct odds with his parents’ wishes, he soon comes to realize that the only way he can know himself is to know where he came from. Lahiri’s beautiful tale about the confusion of being caught between two cultures is deftly realized by director Mira Nair.

Why It’s Worth Checking Out: Lahiri’s novel is perfection, but Nair’s adaptation of this immigrant tale is sublime, bringing to life a story that is eerily familiar to many second-generation youth. Penn is a suitable Gogol–hard-jawed and pensive–but it is his parents, masterfully played by venerable actors Irfan Khan and Tabu, and the stories of their lives that will break your heart.

LORD OF THE FLIES

  

Release Date (Book/Movie): 1954 / 1963

What the Back Cover Should Read: This story about a group of young boys marooned on a deserted island provides a grim commentary on the very essence of survival, and the dark places people can go when placed squarely out of society’s watchful eye. Peter Brook’s 1963 film is both a comprehensive and loyal companion to Golding’s controversial novel (incidentally, his first!).


Why It’s Worth Checking Out: I was fascinated by Lord of the Flies in high school (don't ask), and was blown away by the detail afforded to the 1963 film. The barbarity that the boys must either align themselves with or against is rawly captured by Brook, whose characters possess an earnest quality that’s just not present in the 1990 film. (Also: if it’s required reading for English, your best bet is with the 1963 version, which does serious justice to Golding’s story.)

 ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO'S NEST

Release Date (Book/Movie): 1962 / 1975

What the Back Cover Should Read: One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest is purportedly borne straight out of author Ken Kesey’s experiences as an orderly at a California mental health facility, and follows a group of men living in a similar institution. When hell-raiser McMurphy (Jack Nicholson) is admitted to the ward, the boundaries of authority–particularly that of the formidable Nurse Ratched–are pushed as far as they will go, with dire consequences for everyone involved. Kesey’s story is the ultimate missive on power, madness and masculinity within institutions.

Why It’s Worth Checking Out: You mean, other than the fact that Milos Forman’s film won five Oscars at the 1976 awards–including Best Picture!–and is ranked as the #8 film on the IMDb’s Top 250 films of all time? Jack Nicholson’s performance in One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest is un-real, and the lovable cast of misfits he’s surrounded by in the ward can’t be forgotten anytime soon, either.

Back to School 2011: Ava's "Reading" List

With every new school season, comes a new set of books you're expected to devour in record-breaking time. In an effort to cope with your endless list of reading lists, you are often forced to turn to the next best thing to the book: the movie adaptation. In an attempt to get into the back-to-school spirit - and possibly give you a head start on your slacker studying - over the next week, we will be giving you a sampling of our favourite page-to-screen adaptations.

BREAKFAST AT TIFFANY'S

Release Date (Book / Movie): 1958 / November 1961

What the Back Cover Should Read: A postcard for the 1960s Beatnik New York generation, the film captures the NYC skyline, the Upper East Side, and, of course, a certain jewelry retailer that lends mythology to the world-class city (when that mythology was still enigmatic and alluring, of course.) Audrey Hepburn's flighty yet perfectly poised Holly Golightly staring forlornly at Tiffany's in the opening scene is likely the most iconic, if not, ubiquitous example of radiant Old Hollywood glamour.

Why It's Worth Checking Out: The whole gang--socialite Holly, her writer friend Varjak, her former husband Doc and that "damned" cat--makes it in the film, though fleshed out in a 2D, Hollywood blockbustery way. Can you tell I read the novella first? Yet not even Truman Capote could have captured hearts like Hepburn's spellbinding rendition of "Moon River." And my second favourite cinematic quote: "I'm like cat here, a no-name slob. We belong to nobody and nobody belongs to us. We don't even belong to each other."

THE OUTSIDERS

Release Date (Book / Movie): 1967 / March 1983

What the Back Cover Should Read: The coming-of-age tale of the societal clashes between argyled, prepster Socs and comb-in-back-pocket Greasers oozes and festers until tragedy forces the toxicity of societal prejudices to surface. With their cooler-than-Fonzie swagger, the gang of impoverish Greasers is defined by the kind of bond where friendship and brotherhood dissolve into each other. It also bestowed our lexicon with Ponyboy, Socs (pronounced "So-SHAS") and Ralph Macchio. A tearful rendition of the Robert Frost poem, "Nothing Gold Can Stay" makes the film the epitome of the loss of childhood, innocence and cowlicks.

Why It's Worth Checking Out: World: Meet Rob Lowe. Director Francis Ford Coppola could not have selected a more perfect embodiment of Sodapop Curtis, S.E. Hinton's Adonis specimen of a 17-year-old boy (not creepy!). Shouts to Matt Dillon, Patrick Swayze and Tom Cruise--yeah, it's pretty much a testosterone-laden who's who of Hollywood's golden boys before they were old enough to (legally) order a drink.

P.S. I LOVE YOU

Release Date (Book / Movie): 2004 / December 2007

What the Back Cover Should Read: If you can get past the whole receiving letters from your dead husband deal, the film tenderly crafts the love saga of a couple through enough flashbacks and conversations to maintain the momentum of a continual love story. Except he's gone and the Ghost of Perfect Husband Passed looms over Holly's life like a shadow. What's apparent is that Gerry will forever love his wife and that death comes as a sweet relief to persistent spousal nagging.

Why It's Worth Checking Out: The lush Emerald Isle could not have asked for a better promo video or spokesperson in Gerald Butler (sorry ladies, he's actually a Scotsman). And when he serenades a lovestruck Holly for the umpteenth time, you'll have already booked your one-way ticket to Ireland in search of your own whistling leprechaun. Good luck ladies! Just don't bring the book by Cecelia Ahern for your plane ride.

Back to School 2011: Michelle's "Reading" List

With every new school season, comes a new set of  books you're expected to devour in record-breaking time. In an effort to cope with your endless list of reading lists, you are often forced to turn to the next best thing to the book: the movie adaptation. In an attempt to get into the back-to-school spirit - and possibly give you a head start on your slacker studying - over the next week, we will be giving you a sampling of our favourite page-to-screen adaptations.

THE TALENTED MR. RIPLEY

Release Date (Book / Movie): 1955 / 1999

What the Back Cover Should Read: Tom Ripley finds a solution to make ends meet when he begins to put his talents to work, the talents of forgery, impersonation and lying. What originally begins as mistaken identity as the friend of someone wealthy, becomes realized as an opportunity and Mr. Ripley too easily obliges.

Why It's Worth Checking Out: Turns out, Mr. Damon shares similar talents to his character's and plays the role surprisingly well. No, really, you may even gasp at times at how well he pulls it off. But the entire cast also does amazingly well in their roles. My advice if you're planning on seeing this film, don't read the book first. The plot twists are just as much shocking.

REQUIEM FOR A DREAM

Release Date (Book / Movie): 1978 / 2000

What the Back Cover Should Read: Set in Coney Island, four narratives intertwine and spiral deep into addiction, confusing reality with dream-like states along the way.

Why It's Worth Checking Out: Two things that you won't find in the book: Darren Aronofsky's direction and Clint Mansell's score. This film portrays disturbing psychological torment in the way that Black Swan did not. It's so unsettlingly dark and poetic. And Mansell's haunting music pairs perfectly.



THE LORD OF THE RINGS TRILOGY

Release Date (Book / Movie): 1954-1955 / 2001-2003

What the Back Cover Should Read: THIS FILM IS THE MOST EPIC FILM EVER. (Can you tell that I'm a mega fan?) OK, for real this time.

Frodo Baggins is tasked with the most important duty of his life: to deliver the evil ring of Sauron to the fires of Mordor. But carrying such a powerful ring comes temptations, as well as draws the forces of Sauron's wraiths closer. The journey ahead is dangerous but the courageous little hobbit knows he's the only one who can make it.

Why It's Worth Checking Out: Amazing, brutal battles. Peter Jackson as a passionate director. A screenplay that both respects and embraces the original books. Beautiful sets. Heart-warming and heart-breaking scenes. Brilliant cast... I'm going to refrain from talking about what it was like for me and my friends when these films were released for fear of embarrassing myself and exposing our insane fandom. But I will say that I opted for the special extended edition for my collection, rather than the theatrical cuts. That's 12 hours of LotR. Anyone up for a marathon?

Back to School 2011: Emily's "Reading" List

With every new school season, comes a new set of  books you're expected to devour in record-breaking time. In an effort to cope with your endless list of reading lists, you are often forced to turn to the next best thing to the book: the movie adaptation. In an attempt to get into the back-to-school spirit - and possibly give you a head start on your slacker studying - over the next week, we will be giving you a sampling of our favourite page-to-screen adaptations. First up - Emily's ecclectic DVD library faves.

AMERICAN PSYCHO

Release Date (Book / Movie): 1991 / April 2000

What the Back Cover Should Read:  A tame rendering of the despicable (yet brilliant, in a fucked-up-for-a-reason way) of Bret Easton Ellis' oft-banned, 1980s-set book. The Stateside serial killer in question is Patrick Bateman, a bone-coloured business card carrier by day and misogynistic murderer and rapist by dinner reservation time.

Why It's Worth Checking Out: If the plot sounds even mildly too-much for you, you might want to steer clear. (And DON'T EVEN THINK OF reading the book.) But if you can handle gore and appreciate a quality Huey Lewis and the News analysis, rent it now. There's plenty of buff Christian Bale bod in it for you.

LITTLE WOMEN

Release Date (Book / Movie): 1868 / Christmas 1994

What the Back Cover Should Read: A sweet, family-friendly imagining of the Louisa May Alcott novel of the same name, which like the literary classic, follows the March Sisters (Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy) as they grow from play-putting-on imps into truly individual ladies.

Why It's Worth Checking Out: While it technically takes place in the late 1880s, Winona Ryder plays the second-eldest and most interesting sister (Jo, a.k.a my personal idol) with early 1990s rebel girl panache. Oh, and Christian Bale (apparently the dude just knows good page-to-screen adaptations) will knock your highly elaborate knickers off as the original boy next door, Laurie.

 TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD

Release Date (Book / Movie): 1960 / 1962

What the Back Cover Should Read: A Southern 1950s summer as recounted by Scout Finch, a tomboy and daughter to the town's top attorney, Atticus Finch. While racial tensions within the community heat up, Atticus takes on a controversial case (rumour has it a black man, Tom Robinson, raped a young white woman) and Scout becomes obsessed with the town recluse Boo Radley.

Why It's Worth Checking Out: One of the best film adaptations of all-time. Seriously. Even Harper Lee (the truly amazing Pulitizer Prize-winning book's author) didn't complain. It's that spot-on. The story is well-maintained. And the casting is impeccable. I mean, Gregory Peck IS Atticus Finch.