A note on picture books

Since they are so small all picture books to movies are going to be in the major category. Producers simply have to add something to make an actual one and a half hour movie plot. But while some are simply atrocious others can keep with the spirt of the books, but add an interesting overarching storyline. An example is the two part series based off Ronald Dahl’s “Revolting Rhymes”. The book is simply a compilation of poems based on original fairy tales by Dahl, no real story arc. In the two part video the rhymes are used almost the exact way you see in the book. But they are all being narrated by a wolf, who weaves them more together then in the book and seems to have a agenda of his own. Some movies though seem to turn the books into a gimmicky kids movie that may or may not have the main themes of the book. One horrendous example is “Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs”. The books, are a funny story of a land seemingly straight from dreams. Food simply falls from the sky and the storyline explores how this affects the islands society. The movie still talks of the island, but the food comes from the sky because of a typical cute, but mad scientist who is the main character. It also features common gags such as a clothed, but mostly mute monkey, a grown man in baby clothes and the socially awkward nerd girl who fall for said scientist. The movie takes the simple story completely over the top. Which leads to my finish, some books simply shouldn’t be turned into movies if they aren’t interesting enough on their own and you have to start adding such gimmicks to cater to the modern child audience. I could go on, but since I haven’t even watched the other adaptions who trailers made me cringe. I will hold my tounge concluding this post.