Are Books Turning Into Movies a Positive or Negative Thing?

A lot of books as movies are being optioned and produced lately. But with the increasing number of movies from books, is the quality lacking? Should we be happy or nervous about seeing books that are movies on the big screen? Usually it's a case-by-case basis, but for the most part there are a few different things that can make books as movies a good or a bad thing. The first positive thing is definitely getting to see the story and the world come to life. Especially when you are talking about a book that is magical and has a lot of fantasy elements to it, sometimes seeing that world come to life can be an incredible experience. But such a wonderful concept also comes with big risks. Perhaps the budget left a lot to be desired and so the sets and effects are not all they could be. This can really ruin a story and unfortunately the visuals the movie provides become ingrained when you read the book again. Another thing that is really exciting about seeing books as movies is getting to see the characters we envisioned while reading come to life before our eyes. It can be really cool to see new and established actors make our favorite characters a reality. But again, if an actor just doesn't fit the role physically and as far as skill level is concerned, then movies from books can be more of a letdown than a positive experience. The most wonderful thing about books hitting the big screen is that it tends to have this effect on the masses, drawing in people to read books that are movies because they enjoyed the film. A lot of times these people are not normally readers and it's definitely a positive thing any time something gets people reading and exercising their minds. The only negative effect this has overall is that the supply and demand of books must be met. So we tend to see an increase in books that are cranked out too fast and end up being low quality and copycat storylines of other books. No matter what though, the nice thing about getting to witness books as movies is that it entails more exposure for the book, author, and reading in general. If it's a story we love, then it's nice when a lot of people know about it and you can talk about it with them! But it also can be a little annoying when fans from the movie crossover to being fans of the book and claim to be the biggest fans, when in reality the biggest fans are those who increased the exposure of the book itself to the point of it being optioned as a movie. Whether you're a fan of books as movies or not is something we all must decide on our own. But either way, the incredible world of movies from books is becoming more popular every day and something that will hopefully only increase in quality to the satisfaction of both book lovers and movie buffs alike.

Why Do We Love Violence In Movies?

The level of violence in movies and its acceptability has been debated for decades. It is no closer to being resolved now than when it first began. There have been countless studies into the effects of movie and TV violence on children. They've studied the effects on levels of aggression, IQs, emotional intelligence, socialisation and psychosocial development. Over recent years they've also included the effects of violent computer and video games. Results generally indicate that movie violence does lead to increased aggression, bullying, as well as the retardation of emotional intelligence and socialisation. However, it is always cautioned that they cannot entirely rule out other contributory factors such as family circumstances, circumstances at school and family history of mental illness. In order to try and regulate the age of movie audiences, age restrictions were introduced. Some are rated as strictly no under 15s or no fewer than 18s, while others have a PG rating. PG stands for Parental Guidance and it means that children of a certain age are allowed to see the movie if they are accompanied by an adult. However, these restrictions are very seldom adhered to, as cinema owners are more interested in making a profit than in promoting the welfare of children and usually turn a blind eye to ticket sales. The same goes for places where you can rent dvds or videos. They are very seldom concerned with the age of the person renting the movie so long as the money is paid. This gives children of all ages access to all levels of cinematic violence. A man much accustomed to the use of violence and gore as a form of entertainment, pondered the issue of violence in movies and the public's love with violence in general. In a column that he writes for Entertainment Weekly, Stephen King, whose portrayal of violence is often graphic, often gory, but never gratuitous, looks first at his own his own history of violence and then at the obsession that so many other people seem to have. He has, on two separate occasions, wiped out nearly the entire population of Earth. On one of those occasions most of the survivors became mindless zombies. He's had a clown prey on children, and he's turned an entire town into vampires. On one memorable occasion he described a noise as sounding something like blowing gently over a glass bottle filled with dead fingers. In his article he describes the morality of violent entertainment as currently being "no more than a warm-button issue" in America. He believes it's because it's not serious enough to demand the attention of politicians but "floats to the surface" of newspaper editorials regularly. "Sort of like a drowning victim that won't stay on the bottom" is how he puts it. An apt image considering the subject at hand. He considers both sides of the violence in movies argument. There are the people who are proponents of free speech, who are of the opinion that the world is a violent place and that movies that don't comment on that fact hide from reality. They are also fond of pointing out that of all the people who see violent films, very few will feel compelled to commit acts of violence and proceed to do so. On the other side, the NRA and gun fanatics - guns don't kill people, people kill people - also agree that it's a violent world. They also point out that most people handle weapons carefully and responsibly and don't go about the place shooting at people, cars and buildings for fun. Both sides have arguments that are ironically similar. Of course there are people for whom seeing a violent film at the wrong time will cause some sort of mental implosion. For those in his or her immediate vicinity there is the potential for things to get very exciting. However, for people like this, it need not necessarily be a film that sets them off. It could a news bulletin on the radio; they could be receiving messages from a personal deity via their bedroom curtains. Anything can upset an unstable mind. It could even be the fact that last night's dishes haven't been washed. In Stephen King's conclusion he has no answers, only the hope that we use violent movies as a mental gutter through which we channel our worst fears and impulses and so cleanse our emotional systems. It's not a bad theory, violent movies as a form of catharsis. The child bullies, delinquents and a growing number of child rapists don't quite conform to it though. It seems that children still need monitoring when watching TV, movies or playing games. When we consider that their very lives are at stake, it seems the least that we can do to protect them. Meanwhile the war against violence continues. One of the latest battles involves posters that include pictures of guns. More importantly the guns are aimed in the general direction of the viewer. Is there anything more frightening that a picture of a movie poster gun? This highlights the importance of picking your battles, and distinguishes the difference between a valid argument and nitpicking.

The Top Four Movie Soundtracks of 2012

The Top Four Movie Soundtracks of 2012 Hundreds of movies are released each year, and many of them receive praise for their graphics, actors and themes. What about the soundtracks? A soundtrack adds color to a movie through music; many pieces in films have full orchestras, professional singers and musicians who help create a unique soundtrack to make scenes fly by with energy and conviction. Some of the top soundtracks this year have footing in hard rock, while others are better at showing the cultural differences in music and the soul of adventure. Take a look at the top four soundtracks of 2012 and decide for yourself which should be on top. Brave The music of "Brave" is a mix of Patrick Doyle and Julie Fowlis's talents. The 16 tracks include Touch the Sky, Into the Open Air, Learn Me Right, Fate and Destiny, The Games, I Am Merida, Remember to Smile, Merida Rides Away, The Witch's Cottage, Song of Mor'du, Through the Castle, Legends Are Lessons, Show Us the Way, Mum Goes Wild, In Her Heart and Noble Maiden Fair. These songs have beautiful lyrics that children and parents alike can enjoy even after the movie is finished. The music has a culturally Scottish sound that makes it unique. The Disney movie is a charming look into the heart of a brave Scottish girl, and the soundtrack all the more adds to the heart and soul of the movie. Rock of Ages With 20 tracks, "Rock of Ages" will bring you back to a time of Rock N' Roll. Remakes of popular songs are showcased in this movie, including Paradise City, Sister Christian, Juke Box Hero, Hit Me with Your Best Shot, Waiting for a Girl Like You, More Than Words, Wanted Dead or Alive, I Wanna Rock, Pour Some Sugar on Me, Harden My Heart, Shadows of the Night, Here I Go Again, Can't Fight This Feeling, Any Way You Want It, Undercover Love, Every Rose Has Its Thorn, Rock You Like a Hurricane, We Built This City and Don't Stop Believin'. Remixes of the popular songs are done by Julianne Hough, Mary J. Blige, Alec Baldwin and Tom Cruise, among others. This movie will keep you rocking out the entire time, and when you're done watching, you can download the soundtrack and keep on jamming. The remakes are unique takes on the classic originals, so you'll never get tired of hearing them again and again. The Dark Knight Rises The deluxe version of "The Dark Knight Rises" has 18 tracks that audience members will be able to enjoy. A Storm Is Coming, On Thin Ice, Gotham's Reckoning, Mind If I Cut In?, Underground Army, Born in Darkness, The Fire Rises, Nothing Out There, Despair, Fear Will Find You, Why Do We Fall?, Death by Exile, Imagine the Fire, Necessary Evil, Rise, Bombers of Ibiza, The Shadows Betray You and The End are all included in this disc. Hans Zimmer was the director and artist for these tracks. Mainly a musical soundtrack, this haunting music will remind you of the dark world of Gotham and the adventures of Batman and his cohorts. From the time you start listening until the soundtrack is over, the swells of the orchestra will keep you interested while you enjoy the film. The Hunger Games "The Hunger Games" soundtrack has 16 tracks that come straight from the movie. Abraham's Daughter, Tomorrow Will Be Kinder, Nothing to Remember, Safe and Sound, The Ruler and the Killer, Dark Days, One Engine, Daughter's Lament, Kingdom Come, Take the Heartland, Come Away to the Water, Run, Daddy, Run, Rules, Eyes Open, Love is Childlike and Just a Game are all in this movie's original soundtrack. Artists such as Maroon 5 and Miranda Lambert have parts in the movie's music theme. This soundtrack is perfect for those who enjoyed watching "The Hunger Games" and want something interesting to listen to on the way to work or at home. The variety of musical talents gives the entire soundtrack a varied feel, so you can jump around to the music that best suits your emotions for the day. Soundtracks are a great way to reminisce a movie you love without spending time watching it all over again. The emotions you felt during the movie are sure to come back while you listen to the soundtrack of your choice, so you can feel happy and rock out or have a calmed "Dark Knight" atmosphere that brings back the excitement of the movie with just a push of the play button.