Book & Review Forums: Moby Dick
Differences between book & film *book spoilers within*
I finished the book on Friday and then watched the movie last night. I had always thought the movie was held in high regard and considered faithful and so I was very surprised at how much they changed the text.
Ahab became obsessed with Moby Dick to the point where he did not care about hunting other whales. Starbuck tried to talk the other officers into mutiny. Queequeg requested the coffin be built after foreseeing his death.
The biggest change that surprised me was Ahab's death. The ending was one of the few things I remembered from seeing the movie as a child with Ahab's body lashed to the side of Moby Dick. By contrast the ending of the book seemed almost rushed and anti-climactic.
I appreciate that the book was very hard to adapt and the film did capture a lot of the tone but it just made me wonder if all of the people who thought the film was a good adaptation had ever read the book...
Replies (7)
Posted by
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Which movie did you see? I like the one with Patrick Stewart as Ahab.
Aug 9, 2007 3:44 pm
by danahuff -
It was the old version with Gregory Peck as Ahab.
I haven't seen the Patrick Stewart version but I am very interested in seeing what he did with the role.
by cresswga -
Oh, he was great. Ishmael was played by Henry Thomas (most famous as Elliott from E.T.), and Starbuck was played by Ted Levine (Buffalo Bill from Silence of the Lambs). It was made for the USA network about 10 years ago, but it's available on video. Whether you can get it at Blockbuster or not, I don't know.
Oh, Gregory Peck makes a cameo as Father Mapple. That was good.
by danahuff -
I was able to catch the Patrick Stewart version on cable this weekend. I really enjoyed it.
It seemed a strange amalgam of the book, the original film and some new material but I was very pleased with the characterisations and found the relationship between Ahab and Starbuck was especially faithful.
Thank you for the recommendation.
by cresswga -
I downloaded Moby Dick because I heard Ray Bradbury speak about the difficulty he had with Herman Melville's book. Now, I know why. This is a beautifully written book. However, as a screenwriter myself, I can see why Bradbury had such concern about a script. I'm glad I read it in order to recognize the challenge of such literary masterpieces.
Jul 26, 2010 1:38 pm
by director -
Hi,I am new in this forum,well yes exactly there was a difference between book and film though Books and movies are both written but then
when watching a movie you can see and hear the details, where as when reading a book you are able to imagine them, and create the pictures in your head.
While writing a book the author only has to imagine it and write it down, but when making a movie the director, producer, and screenplay writer gave to work together to create the scenes, make the special effects, and of course find the perfect actors/ actresses for each major and minor roles.
There is also a considerably more amount of money involved in making a movie. you have to make the scenes, hire the actor, pay the workers, directors, producers, buy the advertisements pay for the reels that the movies are made on, and last but not least they either have to make their own story, or buy the rights from the original author of the story they decide to use.Jul 30, 2010 12:12 am
by Japcy07 -
Hi,I am new in this forum,well yes exactly there was a difference between book and film though Books and movies are both written but then
when watching a movie you can see and hear the details, where as when reading a book you are able to imagine them, and create the pictures in your head.
While writing a book the author only has to imagine it and write it down, but when making a movie the director, producer, and screenplay writer gave to work together to create the scenes, make the special effects, and of course find the perfect actors/ actresses for each major and minor roles.
There is also a considerably more amount of money involved in making a movie. you have to make the scenes, hire the actor, pay the workers, directors, producers, buy the advertisements pay for the reels that the movies are made on, and last but not least they either have to make their own story, or buy the rights from the original author of the story they decide to use.
by Japcy07
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