Quit Letting Me Down Hollywood!

I just want to say that I am SO tired of movie endings being the complete opposite of the book it is based on. I get that there are going to be changes and alterations, but is it really necessary to completely change the ending, the overall message, or both (My Sister's Keeper cough cough)?

My favorite books to read are the ones that have a movie based on them. I'm not sure why though because I am rarely satisfied with the movie once I've read the book it's based on. There have only been two exceptions where I have enjoyed the movie more than the book...The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants and The Notebook. I feel like the writers in Hollywood must be running out of movie ideas because there have been a ton of movies based on books come out lately, especially over this past year. I only seem to be getting more and more disappointed with the movie counterparts. The one that has had the largest impact on me was My Sister's Keeper. I refuse to watch the movie because the ending (I've heard) is the complete opposite of the book's. Another big upset for me was He's Just Not That Into You. I LOVED the book; it really opened my eyes up in terms of relationships. I loved the message of the book, "you are the rule, not the exception." I loved ALL of the actors/actresses in the movie. However, I did not love that in the movie almost all of the relationships went completely against the 'principles' of the book.

I'm undecided if I'm going to see Dear John. I've heard through the grapevine (aka Facebook) that once again, the movie's ending is opposite of the book's ending. I read that book three years ago and I don't really remember a lot of the details, other than I loved it. I think I might be able to see it and not get so mad at the changes. Maybe that's what I need to do, wait and see the movie until after I forget about the details from the book. Or see the movie first since I generally like the books better, that way I won't be so disappointed. At least I usually wait until the movie is out on DVD, and I rent it so I don't waste my money at the movie theater.

I blame my sister for my love of books with movies based on them. It all goes back to when I was in third grade, and I read The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe and then watched the British version of the movie. We made compare/contrast charts and did all kinds of fun activities comparing the two, but apparently it only set me up for future disappointment in the movies based on books industry.

I bring all this up now because I am going to watch The Time Traveler's Wife tonight. I really really liked the book, but if Hollywood messes this one up, I don't know if I will ever watch a movie based on a book I've read again. Well maybe I'll make an exception for The Lost Symbol (based on the book by Dan Brown) and The Last Song (based on the book by Nicholas Sparks).