I just re-read Fitzgerald’s The Curious Case of Benjamin Button in the event I find myself sitting in a movie theater watching the Brad Pitt screen adaptation. You know, so I can seethe at the screen when something is glaringly different—like what happened when my Despereaux-obsessed eldest daughter saw the movie version on Saturday.
Poor thing. She is young enough to still believe Book/Story = Film adaptation. She learned the hard way that important elements inexplicably change, are omitted, or are ridiculously embellished.
In my current condition, my takeaway from re-reading Benjamin Button after about 15 years is WHAT ABOUT HIS MOTHER? She birthed a 70-year-old man and is barely mentioned. Mrs. Button survived, because she is referred to in passing when his “parents” are alluded to.
I guess I can’t do fantasy or suspend disbelief any more?
I haven’t read it, but yeah, seems like that might be kind of a key point to cover. Of course, with a story like this it might be hard to suspend disbelief on a few other major ideas…
Beth – Total Mom Haircut’s last blog post..Scratchy-Eyed
Excellent question. That was my first thought when I heard the premise of the story. E-gad. But I’m still a-gonna see it, and Despereaux, and anything else I can get to once this snow goes AWAY.
Inkling’s last blog post..Wrapping it up.
It’s my favorite thing: to read the book, see the movie and gripe about the differences.
After seeing “Despereaux” in the theater, I immediately read the book. (SO DIFFERENT!)
And I read Benjamin Button and plan to see the film. I’ve seen trailers with him as a tiny old-man baby, but the story says he’s a full-grown old man. . . I can see I will have much to gripe about. 🙂
Mel’s last blog post..Tidbits of this and that