13 November 2017

Remakes Blogfest

Today is the Remakes Blogfest, hosted by Alex J. Cavanaugh and Heather M. Gardner!


Remakes – most of them suck. Now and then, one comes along that is as good as, if not better, than the original. And after all of the bad ones we’ve endured, we want to know about some good ones.

On November 13, 2017, blog about your favorite remake: movie (or television show into movie and vice versa), song, or book – or all three! Post a YouTube video and links where we can find these treasures. Tell us why THIS remake doesn’t suck!

This was a tricky one! Because originals are *usually* better. But then I remembered a certain movie series that I've always enjoyed that are based on books...but when I tried to read said books, I was, well...disappointed...is one way of putting it...mortified is another...



JAMES BOND! Or Casino Royale, to be specific, because it's the only book I read. I will never try to read another. 

I've seen ALL the movies. My husband and I really enjoy them. We don't actually go out to the movies all that much but we always make sure to catch the new Bond films in IMAX. So, since I've always liked the movies, I thought I'd give the books a shot. 

MISTAKE! HORRIBLE MISTAKE. 

I'm sorry, but the book Casino Royale was probably the worst piece of sexist drivel I've ever laid my eyes upon. I know it was first published in 1953, but still....no, just no. Obviously, in the movies Bond is a womanizer, but in the book, he just seems like a sexist a-hole. He just wasn't likable at all, all of the charisma you usually see on screen replaced with bitter inner monologues and incredibly degrading views of women ("bitch" comes up a lot, and that's not even the worst of it). The story itself wasn't all that great, either. I really didn't expect it to be so boring. 

I think I'll stick to the movies. More action, less blatant sexism. 

Do you like the James Bond films? Ever tried reading the books? 

24 comments:

  1. Too bad that the book was that bad. Interesting how they were able to take the story idea and make it into such popular movies. I used to watch them when I was younger but not so much anymore. That's great that your husband and you like them so much.

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  2. I've never read the books, and I've seen a few of the movies. I liked some better than others.

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  3. I've never read the books. Now I definitely won't. Always been a fan of the Bond films and I don't want that ruined.
    Thanks for participating in the blogfest!

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  4. Haven't read the books either. Love the films, though. I love the remake of Casino Royale. The first was a spoof and so disappointing in light of the other movies. I wasn't very fond of Never Say Never (remake of Thunderball) except for Sean Connery. What's not to like with him? :)

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  5. My dad took us as kids to all the Bond movies starring Roger Moore and I loved them. I don't think I ever read any of the books and I definitely won't bother to now! Thanks for the heads up.

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  6. I've never read any of the books, but I've seen most of the movies. Casino Royale is my favorite of the bunch.

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  7. I've seen some of the Sean Connery Bond films. Never read the books. Not my thing.
    My link didn't work on the Linky. I think it's because I screwed up the path with the switch to my new, cranky blog. www.cleemckenziebooks.com

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  8. The only James Bond movies I've ever seen are the ones starring Daniel Craig, and I LOVE him, though I didn't really care for the second one in the series. The others were really good though. I love how he can be really cold and ruthless in one scene but utterly charming in another.

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  9. I wouldn't read anymore books either! Funny, I kinda felt that way about the Dune series. I saw the movie first and then read the book. I thought Paul Atreides was a jerk in the books.

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  10. Interesting. We've seen most the films, but as action sequences have become less and less believable and the female characters less...dressed? We've back off. You know what remake I'm looking forward to? Jumanji. We very much disliked the film with Robin Williams, but the new one coming out in a couple weeks looks hilarious. And let's face it, who doesn't need to laugh a little more?

    Book to film adaptations... I think the second Harry Potter film was better than the book, and Princess Bride was better than the book. Usually it is the other way around.

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  11. I've never read any James Bond books and you haven't convinced me to try either! LOL

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  12. I've read a one of Ian Fleming's books. It felt really different from the movies. I do like the Bond films though. Cheers - Ellen

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  13. Casino Royale is one of my favorite remakes. I loved Daniel Craig as Bond. Great choice!

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  14. I'm glad you said that. Bond is a terrible womanizer, but we kind of overlook it because he's cute?

    Thank you for joining our blogfest today!!!
    Heather

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  15. I had not thought of that but I agree. I love the movies but will not read the books.

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  16. Good choice and insightful analysis. I read most of the Bond books back in the sixties when I was still in high school. Can't say that I remember much about them, but I know I liked them back then. After all I was a teenage boy. I've also seen all of the films and they are better than the books because of all the visuals. Who wants to read about that?

    Both versions of Casino Royal were good, but they were also very different. I prefer the newer version. The first was...uh, different, but it was kind of fun.

    Lee
    Tossing It Out

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  17. Interesting contrast the movie and the book. I wonder if all were like this. My son read his books as a teen and said he liked. Hmm...glad the movie was an improvement at least.

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  18. my husband loves Bond and i'm ok with him-- not my favorite genre. Daniel Craig has been my favorite Bond (although Sean Connery and Pierce Brosnan are nice to look at).

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  19. Egads! I shall avoid them and stick to the movies also.

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  20. I'd been wanting to check out the books and see what they were like, having grown up on Bond films, but it sounds like it's best not to.

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  21. Interesting choice. No, haven't read the Bond books, quite like many of the films, so don't think I want to. Thanks for the warning!

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  22. Sad to say, after spending a childhood being dragged to at least 7 James Bond films, I can truthfully say that I detest all Bond films, no matter who plays him.

    I Are Writer!

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  23. I loved the films, and have read most of the books (a long time ago) but they were never as much fun as the movies. they were too dark for me.

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  24. I've read several James Bond books and seen all the films (I think). Unusually for me I actually prefer the films.

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