This page compares TV shows or movies (reel) to the novel or historical event (real) it is based on. If you are a student needing a good visual reference to help you understand what you're reading or if you are a teacher wanting a good movie to enhance the learning experience, this page gives my recommendations.
to walk invisible
comparing BBC movie to real life. 2017 Made-for-tv movie. tv-pg
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I have to throw out a disclaimer with this review. I have not yet done my due diligence on the heavy research into the true lives of the Bronte sisters. I know a bit. I have done more than just skimmed the surface. So watching this movie with my decent but not seriously in depth background knowledge, I loved it. :-) I loved the costumes! They were much brighter than I've seen in other depictions but still very realistic to the women's status and reality. There were certain 'story development' moments (like Emily's church friend telling of what is obviously the basis of Wuthering Heights) that I doubt actually happened in real life but it was a moment that made me smile pretending to be caught up in the forshadowing of the incredible novel it would become.
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It did feel like an abrupt ending when their brother Branwell died but I thought it was a neat visual transition from the Bronte home to the modern museum scene. Definitely inspiration for a road trip!
If you want to use this TV movie to help teach / understand the background of the Bronte sisters and their struggles and inspirations... why not. I might change my mind with more research but at this moment, I think it's close enough to help bring to life the women behind some of the most amazing works of literature of its century.
If you want to use this TV movie to help teach / understand the background of the Bronte sisters and their struggles and inspirations... why not. I might change my mind with more research but at this moment, I think it's close enough to help bring to life the women behind some of the most amazing works of literature of its century.
Victoria
comparing pbs masterpiece miniseries to real life. 2016 tv miniseries. tv-pg
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If we are talking historical accuracy for costuming... Nailed it!! Absolutely loved the wardrobe. Beautiful, inspiring, truly lovely. There were a few scenes that made me raise the proverbial 'Ummm, is that right?' eyebrow (like the costumed ball scene) and I don't know anything about tiaras, crowns and the like. But the day to day gowns and hairstyles... I was geeking all over myself.
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If we are talking about historical accuracy of the early years of Queen Victoria's reign... Meh.
I realize this miniseries was made for entertainment purposes and certain things play out 'dramatically better' than others but it makes me a little sad when people that have the means and opportunity to truly and factually educate the masses decide that ratings matter more.
Having said that, all of the actors played their parts well. It's just what the script had them doing or saying was not the way it really happened. One can always argue "How do you know? Anyone alive back then is long gone." While this is true, Queen Victoria's own personal diaries were supposedly used as references for this show. The contents of her diaries can be found with just a few clicks on the fabulous internet. One quick read will show you what she wrote in her diaries is simply not what ended up on screen, beautifully coutured as she may have been.
If you want to use this TV series to help teach / understand the history of Queen Victoria's reign... watch it to understand the style and times and the names/relations of people in her court but not for any serious study of factual events.
I realize this miniseries was made for entertainment purposes and certain things play out 'dramatically better' than others but it makes me a little sad when people that have the means and opportunity to truly and factually educate the masses decide that ratings matter more.
Having said that, all of the actors played their parts well. It's just what the script had them doing or saying was not the way it really happened. One can always argue "How do you know? Anyone alive back then is long gone." While this is true, Queen Victoria's own personal diaries were supposedly used as references for this show. The contents of her diaries can be found with just a few clicks on the fabulous internet. One quick read will show you what she wrote in her diaries is simply not what ended up on screen, beautifully coutured as she may have been.
If you want to use this TV series to help teach / understand the history of Queen Victoria's reign... watch it to understand the style and times and the names/relations of people in her court but not for any serious study of factual events.
Madame bovary
comparing gustave flaubert's novel to sophie barth's 2015 movie. Rated r.
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Mia, what happened??!! (Sigh. Face palm.)
Part of it was the fault of the script. (It sucked.) It absolutely gutted the passion and dimension out of many characters but especially Emma. But the acting... (It sucked.) Mia Wasikowska spoke her lines with cardboard in her mouth. It was painful to watch. I was so disappointed. I had been disappointed with the movie version of Jane Eyre but not with Mia's portrayal of the character. In Jane Eyre, I thought Mia did her best with a difficult role. But Madame Bovary was totally different. I'm disappointed with all of it. No, not ALL... the one really wonderful thing about this movie was the costuming. (STUNNING!!!) Major kudos to costume designers Christian Gasc and Valerie Ranchoux. Nailed it!! |
If you want to use this movie to help teach / understand the novel... DON'T DO IT!!! If you've never read the novel, watching this movie first will only make you not want to read it. The novel is full of such passion; you love hating Emma and her emo ways. The movie does not do it any justice.
The Great Gatsby
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Comparing F. Scott Fitzgerald's novel to Baz Luhrmann's 2013 movie. Rated PG-13.Well done, Mr. Luhrmann! As many critics have already said, this version of The Great Gatsby truly captures the spectacal and extravagance of Fitzgerald's novel. I guess budget and technology finally caught up to Fitzgerald's vision. As always, a few things were left out and/or added in for the sake of time (this is a 2 hr 23 min movie) but overall it is an outstanding version. No, it still doesn't replace actually reading the novel but it is a brilliant tool to help understand the author's intent.
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If you want to use this to help teach / understand the novel... rock on! I highly recommend it!!
Jane Eyre
Comparing Charlotte Bronte's novel to Cary Fukunaga's 2011 movie. Rated PG-13.
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Very disappointing. :-( As it happened, when this version was released I had just finished the novel with a student. We decided to meet at the theater on an unofficial field trip. I was so excited. Then I was so disappointed. It's like they wrote the script using a Reader's Digest version of a Cliffs Notes summary. I've seen many of the hundreds of versions out there; I really expected this one to be amazing. It so wasn't. Leading lady Mia Wasikowska (of Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland) did a good job acting (Jane is a very difficult character to portray) and many critics praised this adaptation but I was approaching it from an educational- not just entertaining- point of view. The costumes and setting were beautiful. The acting was fine, too. But the amount of story detail they covered... very lacking.
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If you want to use this to help teach/understand the novel... don't. It's big and pretty but just doesn't cover enough of the novel. There are way too many other versions out there that are more accurate. Read on...
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Comparing Charlotte Bronte's novel to A & E 1997, 2-part series.
This is a much more accurate depiction of Charlotte Bronte's novel. As usual, some scenes are blended together or left out but that is to be expected. Some critics don't like this version because they say there is not much chemistry between the two adult leads. Actually, Samantha Morton (who plays Jane Eyre) does a wonderful job of keeping her emotional cards close to the chest (which is EXACTLY how Jane Eyre is). Jane Eyre is an extremely complex character and Samantha Morton does it just right. Being a 2-part series, this version has more time to develop the story and play it out to the fullest. |
If you want to use this to help teach/understand the novel... I'd say this is a very good choice. If I come across a better one, I'll let you know.
Wuthering Heights
comparing Emily bronte's novel to pbs masterpiece classic 2009, 2 part series.
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I streamed this from Netflix. The actress that introduces the series gives some really interesting information about Emily Bronte. This series offers excellent visual context. Watching this makes it easier to understand the setting of the book and lifestyle of the characters if you're not familiar with life in the mid 1800's.
For the sake of length, some scenes were combined and time lines were sped up. For the most part, the overall essence of the book was kept intact. However, some meaningful characters and moments suffered from the 'downsizing'. For example, the character of young Linton (in the book) was a sickly, spoiled, whiny, annoying little twit. The character of Ellen Dean did an excellent job narrating his condition and attitude. In the movie, Linton was almost too minor a character to have any impact. |
If you want to use this to help teach/understand the novel... I'd say this is a decent choice. As much as I didn't care for some of the changes, it's the best version out there I've come across so far. It is not accurate enough to replace the novel (what movie ever is??) but it is good as an embellishment.
Dracula
COMPARING BRAM STOKER'S NOVEL TO FRANCIS FORD COPPOLA'S 1992 MOVIE. RATED R (PROBABLY FOR BRIEF NUDITY)
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There are millions of Dracula movies out there. This version is good for the purpose of visual context. And there are some scenes that stay true to the essence of the novel. My biggest complaint is the 'sexification' of the whole thing, including Count Dracula but I know that's nothing new. The character of Dracula has been turned into a sexy, alluring 'bad boy you want to be with despite yourself' character from the very start. Even Bela Lugosi was sexy (for that time period... no, really). Coppola's Dracula was a really good movie (AMAZING COSTUMES!) as long as you are not comparing it to the novel. Gary Oldman's performance as the bad boy vamp was outstanding. It just wasn't true to the character Bram Stoker created.
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If you want to use this to help teach/understand the novel... I'd say only use certain clips. Email me and we can decide what would be good scenes to use for your specific purpose. If you want a movie that is a little more accurate to the novel, the 1922 classic Nosferatu is really a much better version if you can get past the totally campy images. For my "It's Alive" event, I actually played up the campiness by doing a little MST 3000 with it. The campiness could also serve as a great side topic: study the technology available in the 1920's. Make your own silent movie and make it look as 'period' as possible. Even this version is not totally accurate but it comes pretty close... and nobody has sex in a graveyard.
Slaughterhouse Five
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Comparing Kurt Vonnegut's novel to George Ray Hill's 1972 movie. Rated R.Really awful movie. REALLY!! Slaughterhouse 5 is a difficult novel to teach on its own. This movie won't make it any easier. Some of the scenes are similar enough between book and movie but nothing worth digging through to get decent clips.
If you want to use this to help teach/understand the novel... Don't waste your time. I don't know of any other English version so either pick another novel or pick a different movie of the same genre to supplement. *I did make a bulletin board for the novel. It might help you work in different aspects so be sure to look on my Bulletin Board page.* |
Anna Karenina
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Comparing Leo Tolstoy's novel to BBC 2000 TV miniseriesI cannot say enough good stuff about this series!!!! Helen McCrory (you might recognize her as Narcissa Malfoy in Harry Potter movies) was OUTSTANDING as Anna Karenina! To be honest, at first I was a bit disappointed because the book makes such a big deal about Anna being so incredibly beautiful. Helen McCrory is by all accounts a pretty lady but I just wasn't feeling it. (My sincere apologies, Ms. McCrory!!) By the time the story got to where Anna was really losing her mind, Helen McCrory's performance had me riveted to the screen. My heart was in my throat. She was absolutely amazing!!! I had actually watched the 1948 version with Vivien Leigh first and was pleased enough with it. My love for Vivien Leigh goes way back. She plays a wonderful 'crazy'. But this BBC version will forever be my #1 choice. (Sorry, Viv. I still love you, girl.) Another bonus is the talented Kevin McKidd (of Grey's Anatomy). He plays Anna's love interest, Count Vronsky, and gives an incredible performance. This series is full of wonderful details that most big screen versions leave out. I'm totally geekin' over this one!
If you want to use this to help teach/understand the novel... ABSOLUTLY! I highly recommend it! |