based on book | Susan Hated Literature

14 April 2013
Cast: Andrea Riseborough, Melissa Leo, Morgan Freeman, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Olga Kurylenko, Tom Cruise
Script: Joseph Kosinski, Karl Gajdusek, Michael Arndt
Genre: Action, sff
Setting: 2070s, the future
6 Stars
0 comments

Oblivion [based on book by] by Arvid Nelson, Joseph Kosinski directed by Joseph Kosinski

Jack is a drone repair man. Before his assignment on earth his memory, and that of his communications officer, was wiped, to protect the mission. 60 years ago, or so, the alien scavengers attacked. They destroyed the moon and forced … Continue reading →

16 December 2012
Cast: Adam Brown, Aidan Turner, Barry Humphries, Cate Blanchett, Christopher Lee, Dean O'Gorman, Elijah Wood, Graham McTavish, Hugo Weaving, Ian Holm, Ian McKellen, James Nesbitt, Jed Brophy, John Callen, Ken Stott, Mark Hadlow, Martin Freeman, Peter Hambleton, Richard Armitage, Stephen Hunter, Sylvester McCoy, William Kircher
Script: Fran Walsh, Guillermo del Toro, Peter Jackson, Philippa Boyens
Genre: sff
Setting: Middle earth
9 Stars
1 Comment

The hobbit : An unexpected journey [based on the book by] by J.R.R. Tolkien directed by Peter Jackson

I really have no idea where to start this review. I mean, there is no point in recapping the plot is there? Either you’ve read the book, or see LOTR, or heard somewhere else that “In a hole in the … Continue reading →

17 September 2012
Cast: Dominic West, James Purefoy, Lynn Collins, Samantha Morton, Taylor Kitsch, Thomas Haden Church, Willem Dafoe
Script: Andrew Stanton, Mark Andrews, Michael Chabon
Genre: Action, sff
Setting: 1880s, C19th, Mars
7 Stars
3 Comments

John Carter [based on the book by] by Edgar Rice Burroughs directed by Andrew Stanton

In the 1880s a young Edgar Rice Burroughs is summoned to his uncle’s home. But when he reaches it he discovers that John Carter is already dead and the body is locked away in his crypt. Ned is to inherit … Continue reading →

7 January 2012
Cast: Christopher Plummer, Daniel Craig, Goran Visnjic, Rooney Mara, Stellan Skarsgard
Script: Steig Larsson, Steven Zaillian
Genre: detective & mystery
Setting: Sweden
8 Stars
5 Comments

The girl with the dragon tattoo [adaptation] by Stieg Larrson directed by David Fincher

I haven’t read any of the book in the Millenium series, nor have I seen the Swedish version of this film. So I can’t comment on how well or not this adapts the source material. I will say that it … Continue reading →

27 December 2011
Cast: Brad Pitt, Jonah Hill, Philip Seymour Hoffman
Script: Aaron Sorkin, Michael Lewis, Stan Chervin, Steven Zaillian
Genre: drama, sport
Setting: 2000s, California
7 Stars
3 Comments

Moneyball directed by Bennett Miller

Billy Beane is general manager of the Oakland As, and they have just lost the final game of the season. Again. And they are losing their best players. Teams with more money can always buy in talent, but for those … Continue reading →

12 September 2010
Cast: Alison Pill, Anna Kendrick, Ellen Wong, Johnny Simmons, Kieran Culkin, Mark Webber, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Michael Cera
Script: Edgar Wright, Michael Bacall
Genre: Action, sff
Setting: Canada
2 Comments

Scott Pilgrim vs. the World directed by Edgar Wright

Scott Pilgram is dating a highschooler. A 17-teen year old Chinese American highschooler to be precise. But then he encounters Ramona Flowers and becomes a “nice guy” dick and starts seeing her two. But Ramona has a past, 7 evil exes, and for some reason Scott must fight and defeat them all. Continue reading →

12 July 2010
Cast: Ashley Greene, Bryce Dallas Howard, Jackson Rathbone, Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson, Taylor Lautner
Script: Melissa Rosenberg
Genre: romance, sff
5 Comments

Eclipse directed by David Slade

Okay, so for those of you who have been wise enough to avoid all the Twilight nonsense, here is a quick catch-you-up; a young girl called Bella moves to live with her father after her mother remarries in order to … Continue reading →

29 March 2010
Cast: Jae Head, Kathy Bates, Lily Collins, Quinton Aaron, Ray McKinnon, Sandra Bullock, Tim McGraw
Script: John Lee Hancock
Genre: drama, sport
Setting: Dorset, Florida, Texas, USA
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The blind side by Karen Russell directed by John Lee Hancock, Lasse Hallström

I was a bit uncertain about this film. It sounded just a bit too heart-warming, as though it’d be full of overly sentimental “and everything works out in the end” stuff that makes me think of the flawed philosophy behind stories such as The Pursuit of Happyness:”":http://www.susanhatedliterature.net/2007/01/18/the-pursuit-of-happyness/, you know the sort of victim blaming that says you wouldn’t be poor if only you tried harder.

Luckily enough this film is not like that. Okay, it has the heart-warming aspect. Heart-warming by the bucket-full. But it is told in such a way that you just can’t help but smile.

Continue reading →

8 March 2010
Cast: Liam Aiken, Mark Wahlberg, Michael Imperioli, Michael Peña, Rachel Weisz, Saoirse Ronan, Stanley Tucci, Susan Sarandon
Script: David Koepp, Fran Walsh, Peter Jackson, Philippa Boyens, Scott Silver, William Monahan
Genre: drama, sff
7 Comments

The lovely bones [based on the book] by Alice Sebold directed by Peter Jackson

I read the book this was based on a long time ago. So long ago that I don’t really remember the details. But I do remember thinking that it wasn’t the most film-friendly of novels when I heard that it was to be adapted. But of course neither was The Lord of the Rings and look how well Jackson et al did there. This, however, is a very different kettle of fish from LOTR Continue reading →

1 March 2010
Cast: Alan Rickman, Anne Hathaway, Barbara Windsor, Crispin Glover, Helena Bonham Carter, Johnny Depp, Matt Lucas, Mia Wasikowska, Michael Peña, Michael Sheen, Paul Whitehouse, Stephen Fry, Timothy Spall
Script: Linda Woolverton, Sarah Williams
Genre: sff
1 Comment

Alice in Wonderland directed by Tim Burton

Ever since I saw the trailer for this with the wonderful character design I wanted to see it. Plus, Wonderland as seen through Tim Burton’s eyes! And Johnny Depp! And the fact that it is 3D. Of course with all those positives there was always the chance for expectations being far too high and the film itself being a disappointment.

This isn’t really an adaptation of Carroll’s book, instead we have a 19 year old Alice, and all the characters in Wonderland, or the Underland, are wondering if she is the right Alice, especially as she doesn’t seem to remember being there before. They need Alice to be their champion and fight the jabberwock and so defeat the Red Queen. But if she isn’t the Real Alice can she do it?