Read Not Watched

Author: Mimas

This is a list of books that I’ve read but haven’t watched the film adaptations for.

1. A Clockwork Orange – I’ve been putting off watching this because there are some features of the book I like that I can’t imagine being translated to film format very well e.g Nadsat (the made-up slang) which is used to desensitise the reader to the violent events that occur, but if what’s happening is just shown it doesn’t work as well. Out of all these this is the probably one I should watch the most given how visually influential it is.

2. Bladerunner/Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep – I didn’t know this was Bladerunner when I read it because different title obviously. I imagined the book completely different to what I see on the film posters. With a name like Bladerunner I assume it’s more about fighting and action but what I really liked about the book was the class commentary, Isidore (character they cut from the film) and kipple (also cut).

3. Uzumaki 2000 – One of the features I like about Ito’s art style is the cross-hatching, it’s such a useful tool he uses in his works to convey tension and panic. I like how it makes everything feel closed in but it’s still clear to make out. Ito’s style is just distinct in general to be honest so I’m totally uninterested in a live action version, especially when even anime adaptations for it have struggled to carry that out as well. This is kind of different to the others on my list due to it being a comic.

4. Christiane F/H – I heard of this film after Thirteen and adjacent films gained a resurgence in popularity. Aside from Wes, most fans of this film I’ve seen seem a little annoying to say the least. When films are adapted from books they usually cut out important stuff but given that this is based off true events it feels odd to me (probably because I know what’s missing/changed).

5. We Need To Talk About Kevin – The book is structured as if it is a series of letters to her husband who we only learn is dead at the end of the book. It’s a huge twist and it only works because she keeps addressing him in present tense the whole time. However I will say that the actor that plays Kevin in the film (Ezra Miller) became a criminal in real life so maybe there’s a little authenticity to the film.