You would think, that upon hearing my favorite book was to be adapted as a movie, I would at least be slightly intrigued, but my reaction was more akin to that of disgust. (I imagine it was much the same as when someone sugested that J.D Salinger's "Catcher in the Rye" be defiled--perphaps too strong a word, but can you imagine the life of Holden Caulfield being put to song and dance? It creates a perplexing mental picture to say the least- on broadway--I believe his response was along the lines of "holden wouldn't want it")..The book in question is Ayn Rand's "Atlas Shrugged"- if you've read it perphaps you'll understand why I can't fathom Angelina Jolie as Dagny Taggart, or Brad Pitt portraying the infamous John Galt...No offense intended, but Atlas Shrugged isn't "The Golden Compass", or "Lord of the Rings" (both of which were "good" books that translated into "good" movies), there's a deeper message in those 1069 pages that shouldn't be twisted and condensced into a two hour movie. I suppose I just can't see how a film could possibly do justice to "Atlas Shrugged". Unfortunaly, Rand isn't alive to protect Dagny, Hank and John as Salinger was Holden. I wonder if she left guidelines for posthumous actions taken to her books?
I swear by my life, and my love of it, that I will never live for the sake of another man, nor ask another man to live for mine.
By krr167 - Posted on March 31st, 2008
I heard about this a couple of years ago. I'm interested to see how it turns out. The Golden Compass was a book I loved, but I was disappointed with the movie.
I have hope for Atlas Shrugged because, it doesn't seem like something a lot of people would be interested in seeing. Maybe that's why Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt are cast as the 2 main characters--to draw an audience. If they're working that hard to get people to come see the movie, perhaps it is something worth watching? Maybe I'm just overly optimistic.
If nothing else, perhaps it will promote the book among those who didn't take advanced placement literature in high school? ;-) I didn't take AP Lit. either; I read the book on my own. But I am not most people.
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"...There is a crushing guilt that comes with being a Catholic. Whether things are good or bad or you're simply... eating tacos in the park, there is always the crushing guilt."
-30 Rock-
I'm not sure. They may be able to make a decent movie from "Atlas Shrugged." So much of the book is details, describing physical appearances and scenery, which can be portrayed visually as opposed to in words. I am sure that much of the book will need to be cut out simply because of the length of the book. I am not sure how they are going to show the many messages the book touches upon, so I am guessing they will have to cut a few of the themes and ideas out. I am actually a little excited to see it, although I may be let down as I often am when books are made into movies. Guess we'll just have to wait and see...
than that of the 1949 atrocity "The Fountainhead" by Warner Brothers. That film had glanced over so many hundreds of pages of Rand's writing that it was pathetic. And how exactly was it that Rand wrote the screenplay, fought with Warner's executives to leave the story in tact as she wrote its adaptation. Yet SOMEHOW things like Gail Wynand killing himself at the end of the movie are permitted to stand.
To me, this would be just another example of movie execs taking liberties with great books that are meant to convey so much more. In my opinion, if Rand's estate were to allow this to come to fruition, then they'd just be handing over one of the greatest books of all time to the looters.
I just can't imagine that the liberals in Hollywood can even comprehend Ayn Rand's message let alone do it justice.
It is so far removed from anything they actually believe that it inconceivable that they will be able to accurately portray Rand's ideas.