Matrim Fox Cauthon Posted March 28, 2015 Share Posted March 28, 2015 In my boredom, I decided to give the Sci-Fi miniseries Legend of Earthsea a re-watch. The last time I saw it was when it was released. I made it a grand total of two-minutes into the first episode before stopping, as my mind was flooded all in an instant by just how terrible it was as an adaptation. But that got me thinking: what is the worst fantasy book adaptation to film? Not worst fantasy film or even worst fantasy film based on a book. This is more about how badly adapted the book was going to film. (Eragon is a bad film, but can it be considered a bad adaptation when it exists as a bad book?) The Hobbit was painful, but I'm not sure if it's anywhere near as bad as some of Earthsea's adaptations have been. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neumond Posted March 28, 2015 Share Posted March 28, 2015 Ha ha. When I read the title I instantly thought of the earthsea-saga. :bang: This was the baddest thing ever. Second tier might be Lynchs Dune. What the heck with the weird voice-overs, the pug and the rain at the end?But the fact, that I am able to name concrete fails is due to the fact that it was so much better than the earth-sea adaptation... I also thought the mists of Avalon were nowhere near the mystic-eerie feel of the book. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Veltigar Posted March 28, 2015 Share Posted March 28, 2015 Of the top of my head, I can only think of the Hobbit trilogy right now. Three bad to terrible films (I assume, I couldn't muster the courage to submit myself to the third one). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LordStoneheart Posted March 28, 2015 Share Posted March 28, 2015 The Jackson Abomination that was The Hobbit I'd say yes, Eragon can be considered bad even though the book is likewise bad. It oversimplified many things in the books, it completely changed the Eragon/Saphira dynamic, the enemies were nothing as described in the book including Galbatorix who wasn't actually in the first book, and it got just about every character description wrong. (Note; I am truly not defending the defending the book, I'm only pointing out why the adaption from book to screen was bad.) Every single Beowulf adaption is bad (or so I hear for a few of them that I can't bear to watch.) The very first Hobbit cartoon (hilariously bad, but still bad.) There's some good points to the animated Hobbit, LotR, and RotK, but most people will focus on the bad like the monty python Witch King, the whip song, and OH HO HO HOOOORAYYYY!!!! Samwise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Veltigar Posted March 28, 2015 Share Posted March 28, 2015 I'd say yes, Eragon can be considered bad even though the book is likewise bad. It oversimplified many things in the books, it completely changed the Eragon/Saphira dynamic, the enemies were nothing as described in the book including Galbatorix who wasn't actually in the first book, and it got just about every character description wrong. (Note; I am truly not defending the defending the book, I'm only pointing out why the adaption from book to screen was bad.) It's hard for me to count Eragon since I thought the film was far superior to the book (not really a compliment since they are both terrible). At the very least it took less time to plow through, which has to count for something. Every single Beowulf adaption is bad (or so I hear for a few of them that I can't bear to watch.) There is one exception to this. Beowulf (1999) with Christopher Lambert. It's undeniably a B-movie, but Seven Hells it's fun. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Talleyrand Posted March 28, 2015 Share Posted March 28, 2015 I won't hear shit against David Lynch's Dune - the film is just great. Sure it has some crappy and some incredibly campy moments but those only serve to improve its greatness. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rhom Posted March 28, 2015 Share Posted March 28, 2015 I never actually watched it, but I'm going to assume that Legend of the Seeker was not a faithful adaptation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Theda Baratheon Posted March 28, 2015 Share Posted March 28, 2015 Eragon was a bad book and a bad movie but the movie is still a bad adaptation of the book.I liked the first Hobbit movie, hate the second and can't bring myself to watch the third. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cashless Society Posted March 28, 2015 Share Posted March 28, 2015 Obviously The Hobbit. The Golden Compass was a very terrible adaptation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bluetiger Posted March 28, 2015 Share Posted March 28, 2015 This http://youtu.be/YdXQJS3Yv0Y is a torture to my eyes and ears. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bluetiger Posted March 28, 2015 Share Posted March 28, 2015 Eragon was a bad book and a bad movie but the movie is still a bad adaptation of the book.I liked the first Hobbit movie, hate the second and can't bring myself to watch the third.Third part was even more ridiculous than second... it looked like unfinished... some say that WETA was late with digital effects...Also this scene: http://youtu.be/oOfaIQXk2Ec is it still Hobbit or Robert at the Trident?"Let's give this bastards a good hammering" "I'll smash his pretty face" http://youtu.be/j-SG2o_rEHsReally? Noble lord and ruler of Iron Hills talks to king in this words? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Theda Baratheon Posted March 28, 2015 Share Posted March 28, 2015 Obviously The Hobbit. The Golden Compass was a very terrible adaptation.Oh yeah the Golden Compass :( such a bloody disappointment aye Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
williamjm Posted March 28, 2015 Share Posted March 28, 2015 Oh yeah the Golden Compass :( such a bloody disappointment aye I really liked how they portrayed the daemons in the film, but the rest of it was disappointing. It was a poor script and the last section of the film felt like it had been hastily re-edited. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lady narcissa Posted March 28, 2015 Share Posted March 28, 2015 "The Dark is Rising: The Seeker" based on Susan Cooper's wonderful novel "The Dark is Rising" is absolutely horrible. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matrim Fox Cauthon Posted March 28, 2015 Author Share Posted March 28, 2015 This http://youtu.be/YdXQJS3Yv0Y is a torture to my eyes and ears. Strangely catchy. I can't believe I forgot about the Golden Compass. Ugh. Still though, the Sci-Fi channel Earthsea was cringe-fest. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Galactus Posted March 28, 2015 Share Posted March 28, 2015 The Disney Lloyd Alexander adaptation was awful. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Howdyphillip Posted March 28, 2015 Share Posted March 28, 2015 What was the name of the Neil Gaiman book that was adapted? I remember Robert DeNiro in the movie, and I remember not liking it much a all. The Dresden Files was also an incredibly bad adaptation. I wish someone would get the rights and do a better version. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
felice Posted March 28, 2015 Share Posted March 28, 2015 I never actually watched it, but I'm going to assume that Legend of the Seeker was not a faithful adaptation. It was a definite improvement, though. The first season, anyway; I haven't watched the second yet, and I haven't (and don't expect to) read the second book. Good cheesy fun episodic fantasy adventure that also had a pretty solid season arc. It didn't do enough to show how horrific the Confessors' powers actually are, but that flaw is pretty fundamental to the books and I'm not sure it could be fixed while still being able to claim the result as an adaptation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
all swedes are racist Posted March 28, 2015 Share Posted March 28, 2015 What was the name of the Neil Gaiman book that was adapted? I remember Robert DeNiro in the movie, and I remember not liking it much a all. The Dresden Files was also an incredibly bad adaptation. I wish someone would get the rights and do a better version.Stardust Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
williamjm Posted March 28, 2015 Share Posted March 28, 2015 What was the name of the Neil Gaiman book that was adapted? I remember Robert DeNiro in the movie, and I remember not liking it much a all. I really liked the Stardust film, although I've never read the book so I don't know how accurate it was as an adaptation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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