Film vs. Book -- Which was better?

[Tell you what...]

I wanted to go back and read the story again, but the two links on this thread have gone now...does anyone have another link that is still active?  Thanks.

Tell you what...Go to http://community.livejournal.com/wranglers/

It says READ THE STORY up in the top Header.  You can read it there.   Gary

Also look for a story by Madlori called Human Interest.  Really good Fan Fiction about Jand E!!  15 chapters and counting...

[ehjj]

You left out a few important words that follow "suffused with a sense of pleasure"...and they are " because Jack Twist was in his dream." And at the end of the story Ms Proulx writes  that these are dreams from which "he would wake sometimes in grief, sometimes with the old sense of joy and release; the pillow sometimes wet, sometimes the sheets."



I think the above quote from Annie is just beautiful, and a *perfect* sentence.  I had to choose the book.  First, because I read it before I saw the movie, and it's usually hard for a movie to live up to a favorite book, for me.  Secondly, and I hope this isn't blasphemy on here (<g>), but I *liked* the Ennis in the book better.  He didn't seem quite as miserable all through his life (but that didn't diminish the tragedy of what happens), and I liked that he was more communicative (e.g.,he told Jack how he felt about him in the motel after their reunion - the line about 'wringing it out').

Also, if I were truly honest, I'd have to admit that a good part of why I love the movie so much is seeing these two very beautiful, talented actors together.  Truthfully, if the actors really fit the descriptions of the characters in the book ("cave chested", "bucktoothed", etc.), I wouldn't have enjoyed the film nearly as much.  I think that although that does reflect shallowness on my part (and I hate myself for it <g>, but looking at beautiful people is one reason we go to movies, isn't it?), it also reflects the fact that the movie, though incredibly moving, isn't perfect.  I think it's just slightly slower/longer than it needs to be, for one thing. And I think that in pumping up the women's stories to appeal more to straight audiences, it lost some of the power of the sharper focus of the short story.  So, to me, the movie is wonderful, but the short story is perfect.  JMHO

[helen_uk]

I wanted to go back and read the story again, but the two links on this thread have gone now...does anyone have another link that is still active?  Thanks.

Tell you what...Go to http://community.livejournal.com/wranglers/

It says READ THE STORY up in the top Header.  You can read it there.   Gary

Also look for a story by Madlori called Human Interest.  Really good Fan Fiction about Jand E!!  15 chapters and counting...

Ooops - I'm in that community and never noticed there was a link to the story! Duh!  Thanks for pointing it out! 

I'm not too keen on that particular story, although it's well written.  There are parts about it that I enjoy, but feel that it has now crossed the line into deep deep fantasy.  Bobby suicide?  Jack/Lureen shagging? Uh uh.  *shakes head*  I preferred the more everyday stuff they were doing.

[alma]

I think it's just slightly slower/longer than it needs to be, for one thing. And I think that in pumping up the women's stories to appeal more to straight audiences, it lost some of the power of the sharper focus of the short story.  So, to me, the movie is wonderful, but the short story is perfect.  JMHO

You know, one of the reasons that I thought the book was stronger than the film was the fact that Ennis and Jack were so ordinary llooking (especially the image of the older Ennis in the prologue). It just made the whole thing so real  - these were people who you wouldn't give a second glance to in the street and yet they shared this incredible passion.

I agree that the short story is perfect. It also gives you a much better sense of the developing relationship before the first night in the tent. I love when Ennis can't remember ever having had such a "high time" in his life and that he felt he could "paw the white out of the moon." This is missing for me in the movie.

I love having both in my head when I watcvh the movie now.

And I agree that the ordinariness of the looks of the characters is an advantage in the story and would have been a disadvantage in the film.

[PALeben]

I also thought that the Ennis in the story is not quite as miserable, but after seeing the film several times I really started to notice that Ennis has his happy moments too. Watch when he smiles - and not just with Jack. There are times throughout the film where he seems to have some happiness.

Jake also does a wonderful job at playing Jack. I think both of them really got into the characters' skins and deserve great credit for it. I don't think either will be rewarded for their performances though.

And I stand by my previous remarks that both the film and story are great. They complement and complete each other as do Jack and Ennis.

[Pierre]

www.10percent.com has this on their site!!   April 4th!!!

This would be poor judgement for Focus. Way too soon and would cut it's theater run shorter then necessary.

[ToolPackinMama]

I read the original story, and saw the movie (not in that order).  I think the movie is much better, and more important.

[mary]

took me two or three viewings of BBM to appreciate Jake's performance, and I like Jake.  At first I still saw all arms and legs and goofy eyebrows. too Bubble Boy - with better hair.  Then I watched a couple of fan movies showcasing Jake and BBM.  Many of Jake's scenes were played in slow motion so you could actually see the subtlety of his performance - a change in posture, a change in facial expression.  Jake is a very physical actor and I had not appreciated that until these fanflicks.  Now I'm behind him all the way for the Oscar.  I still think Heath's performance was outstanding, but in retrospect, I feel that Jake had the harder job of emoting.  He had to create the illusion of hope and possibility and love and willingness in Jack's character.  Amazing.

It took me a couple of viewings to appreciate Jake as well (and I had no idea who he was going into this film) and I love his performance but I still have to say that Heath as Ennis is the most amazing performance I have ever seen - to this day I still cannot fathom that it's Heath Ledger on the
screen - it's Ennis.  Amazing  OK maybe that belongs in the Heath thread 

But to get back on topic: Still have to say for me the book is ahead by a bit but I am have more and more troubel seperating the tow in my head - thery are so entwined in my head sometimes I can't recall which is which (and I've lent out my last copy of the book)

[maturben]

Evenin', folks---I vote for equally good.  I mean after all we are comparing the written word and film.  The Scribner ppb of BBM story to screenplay has essays by Proulx, McMurtry, and Ossana.  If you haven't read them, you should.  Damn, even some of their comments made me tear up.
 
PS  some of my friends are muttering about staging an intervention for me re BBM.  To hell with 'em, I say.  These are the same ones telling me they've seen the movie more than once or want to go with me to see it again because I have "studied" it more. Thanks to all of you on this forum for providing me with the textbook.

[alma]

Has anyone noticed the fact that Jack had been on the mountain once and this was Ennis's first time? I do think this points to Ennis being the virgin (in more ways than sexually - even in how to handle someone like Aguirre and his unreasonable demands - metaphor for the unreasonable demands of society) and Jack being the one with experience that guides him (including his greater self-awareness of being attracted to a man).

What do you think?

[maturben]

alma---good points!!  Even more to think about   Egads, my head she is shhpinning!

[downloaded1]

I have read the short story.
I have read the screenplay.
I have seen the movie .....uh, ....LOTS.
I think I would choose the movie as the most powerful. The visuals of it all really adds to the impact you feel.

[Marge_Innavera]

I liked the story; but the film had an element of sensuality that it lacked. And IMO the ending had more depth.

[ingmarnicebbmt]

I just read the story over and over again, and I find it now almost impossible to decide whether it's superior to the movie or not. So much is said in so few pages, it's simply a masterwork. And Lee's performance is exactly to have created something entirely new out of this story-skeleton, full of genius, full of warmth, and shown in a completely CINEMATOGRAPHIC manner. He's a genius, too!
Both are great at telling powerful, overwhelmingly human stories without WORDS, with allusions, hints, ambiguities.

[Jeff2]

Equal peaks on neighboring mountains. Word and film. There are some things AP carved in words that are just impossible on film. Several have been mentioned. Some things Lee did on film AP could not have done --e.g., opening scene, Ennis' poverty told through Heath breaking the cigaret in half to save for later. Also, easily telling us Jack is the drinker with four empty bottles of beer in front of him at the bar to Ennis's one.

You know what I really want? A voice-over in a few key places. I imagine the dozy embrace on film, for example, with Robert Redford's read of Proulx's text. In the film as is, you get the sense it's important to Jack, for sure, with the flash back etc. But the real power of the scene is in what Jack is thinking, masterfully, brilliantly sketched by Proulx.