I have to agree with you there. I'm actually glad I read "I Am Legend" before they started making a movie based on it. Now I don't have to think of that horrible movie every time I see the book.
HA! I am glad I'm not the only one to hate that movie. Though to be fair a friend of mine who loved the book told me all about it and spoiled the ending before the movie ever came out, so I was pissed when I saw the damned thing when a roommate rented it.
Horribly enough this is also my policy. I don't like editions with these sorts of "as seen on TV" cover, or "the book with harrison ford in it", etc. Books with, as covers, the poster of a movie that completely betrayed the content are even more irritating.
I feel that novels and lousy adaptations (heck, even novels and adaptations in general) should be as dissociated as possible. But yeah, beyond this, there's also the "hah, i didn't need your movie" pride, and its little symbolic manifestation.
I don't see why it's horrible. What's horrible is that the book's not allowed to just be a book. Somebody plays the role on TV and suddenly we need them on the book cover like the actor just owns that character now. Now every time you pick up the book you've gotta stare at this actor.
How would we like it if they did that with other things? Well we've had this new Batman movie, so let's from now on sell all our Batman comics with a live-action photo of Christian Bale's face on the cover, even the back issues and trade paperbacks which were initially published before the release of the movie. While we're at it, let's put Christian Bale on the cover of the previous Batmovies and on our DVD boxed set of the 1960's live action series and on the cover of every cartoon that's ever been released because Christian Bale is Batman now. Batman's not a character, he's a real person and that person is Christian Bale.
I mean I get if maybe they want to throw out an alternate cover, but it shouldn't just be the new cover. It should be some novelty thing.
I don't like it, but can you blame a publisher from taking advantage of the heat they get off of a popular movie? More people watch a film than read the book that it was adapted from.
The only thing that would be a problem to me is if the original book isn't available.
Can't blame them in the least. It's the only sensible decision. I just get frustrated when I walk into a bookstore and every single copy is the new cover. Even that though I don't know if it's because the publisher stopped putting out the old cover or if it's because the bookstores know which cover's gonna sell and that's all they order, though by trade if that's all anybody's ordering then I can hardly fault the publisher for ceasing the production of any covers but the new one.
It is just frustrating though. Actors aren't characters. Actors portray characters the same way an illustration or text portrays characters. Feels like we're invalidating any portrayals of the character who are not this flesh and blood person when we just start plastering the actor all over every pre-existing rendition.
Whatever they can do to sell more books. They're not so concerned about what the cover looks like, because they're not selling you a different book on the inside.
Yeah! That would be as stupid as Green Lantern comics slapping Ryan Reyolds face and a promo on the cover of every Green Lantern book out that month! DC would neeeeever be that stupid! Right? Um.. right?
I usually avoid them, but usually for one of two reasons: 1. The movie wasn't as good as the book. (If it's outright terrible, like with The Postman, I won't even touch books with the movie poster. Seriously, I physically will not touch them.) 2. The movie poster is ugly. If I have a choice of covers, I want the one that looks better.
The problem with movie posters is that they usually make crappy book covers. That is the only reason to buy the original cover. Otherwise, there is absolutely no shame in reading a book because you liked a movie.
Yeah, I for one discovered quite a few great books whose movie adaptation I loathed after reading the novel. Knowing that, I sometimes read a novel because the movie is about to be released and I like the trailer, so as not to be badly spoiled by a poor adaptation.
Which means I'm usually grateful to the production team for the fact that they tried to adapt and I deeply despise them for doing such a crappy job. I wish they would not label those movies as adaptations but as "loosely inspired by". That would be just great. And honest, too.
I haven't bought a copy of Isaac Asimov's I Robot because I can't find one without Will Smith on the cover. The original hardcover version has an awesome dust cover, I never seem to see it when I have the money to pick it up.
To me, the difference between regular books and comics/graphic novels is the art. I buy the comics for the art. Ergo, why would I want an actor's face on the cover? I would rather my money go to an artist who actually created something for the cover, not something a movie conglomerate chose to represent that character.
Vintage books that tie into feature films are awesome, though. I have one for The Boogens and The Abominable Dr. Phibes, as well as a copy of I Am Legend that mentions The Omega Man on the cover.
I usually do this. Mainly because I like having the original book jacket design. if I liked the movie and the poster, I'll buy the DVD and poster. I don't want it on the damned original book. I even hate when they have "Now A Major Motion Picture" printed on the cover. At least stickers you can take them off. It's almost as bad as those damn Green Lantern movie promos they put on DC and Vertigo books that month or two.
It is especially annoying when they shred the book in their shitty film. I Am Legend is maybe the worst offender I can think of. They completely decimated the book in the last half of the film and utterly change the entire meaning of the title. Spoiler. Will Smith isn't supposed to be Jesus and savior of humanity. He's supposed to be the devil of the new human race!
I always buy my DVD's in the form of the movie's script, for the same reason.
ReplyDeleteDo people still do that? If you didn't know about it first then a) who cares? and b) why lie about it?
ReplyDeleteThis does need an "it's true" tag. Gotta admit I never buy the book with movie poster cover.
ReplyDeleteI have to agree with you there. I'm actually glad I read "I Am Legend" before they started making a movie based on it. Now I don't have to think of that horrible movie every time I see the book.
DeleteYou read it before the 1964 "The Last Man On Earth"? Wow.
DeleteHA! I am glad I'm not the only one to hate that movie. Though to be fair a friend of mine who loved the book told me all about it and spoiled the ending before the movie ever came out, so I was pissed when I saw the damned thing when a roommate rented it.
DeleteI will admit to avoiding movie poster covers, especially if it's a book in a series and clashes with the rest of the covers. I am a book nerd.
ReplyDeleteHorribly enough this is also my policy. I don't like editions with these sorts of "as seen on TV" cover, or "the book with harrison ford in it", etc. Books with, as covers, the poster of a movie that completely betrayed the content are even more irritating.
ReplyDeleteI feel that novels and lousy adaptations (heck, even novels and adaptations in general) should be as dissociated as possible. But yeah, beyond this, there's also the "hah, i didn't need your movie" pride, and its little symbolic manifestation.
I don't see why it's horrible. What's horrible is that the book's not allowed to just be a book. Somebody plays the role on TV and suddenly we need them on the book cover like the actor just owns that character now. Now every time you pick up the book you've gotta stare at this actor.
DeleteHow would we like it if they did that with other things? Well we've had this new Batman movie, so let's from now on sell all our Batman comics with a live-action photo of Christian Bale's face on the cover, even the back issues and trade paperbacks which were initially published before the release of the movie. While we're at it, let's put Christian Bale on the cover of the previous Batmovies and on our DVD boxed set of the 1960's live action series and on the cover of every cartoon that's ever been released because Christian Bale is Batman now. Batman's not a character, he's a real person and that person is Christian Bale.
I mean I get if maybe they want to throw out an alternate cover, but it shouldn't just be the new cover. It should be some novelty thing.
I don't like it, but can you blame a publisher from taking advantage of the heat they get off of a popular movie? More people watch a film than read the book that it was adapted from.
DeleteThe only thing that would be a problem to me is if the original book isn't available.
Can't blame them in the least. It's the only sensible decision. I just get frustrated when I walk into a bookstore and every single copy is the new cover. Even that though I don't know if it's because the publisher stopped putting out the old cover or if it's because the bookstores know which cover's gonna sell and that's all they order, though by trade if that's all anybody's ordering then I can hardly fault the publisher for ceasing the production of any covers but the new one.
DeleteIt is just frustrating though. Actors aren't characters. Actors portray characters the same way an illustration or text portrays characters. Feels like we're invalidating any portrayals of the character who are not this flesh and blood person when we just start plastering the actor all over every pre-existing rendition.
Whatever they can do to sell more books. They're not so concerned about what the cover looks like, because they're not selling you a different book on the inside.
DeleteYeah! That would be as stupid as Green Lantern comics slapping Ryan Reyolds face and a promo on the cover of every Green Lantern book out that month! DC would neeeeever be that stupid! Right? Um.. right?
DeleteI usually avoid them, but usually for one of two reasons: 1. The movie wasn't as good as the book. (If it's outright terrible, like with The Postman, I won't even touch books with the movie poster. Seriously, I physically will not touch them.) 2. The movie poster is ugly. If I have a choice of covers, I want the one that looks better.
ReplyDeleteI liked The Postman :/
DeleteThe problem with movie posters is that they usually make crappy book covers. That is the only reason to buy the original cover. Otherwise, there is absolutely no shame in reading a book because you liked a movie.
ReplyDeleteYeah, I for one discovered quite a few great books whose movie adaptation I loathed after reading the novel. Knowing that, I sometimes read a novel because the movie is about to be released and I like the trailer, so as not to be badly spoiled by a poor adaptation.
DeleteWhich means I'm usually grateful to the production team for the fact that they tried to adapt and I deeply despise them for doing such a crappy job. I wish they would not label those movies as adaptations but as "loosely inspired by". That would be just great. And honest, too.
"I for one discovered quite a few great books whose movie adaptation I loathed after reading the novel."
DeleteWhy hello there, White Oleander! Your words were so pretty, why did the movie have to feel so shallow in comparison?
*cough* *starship troopers* *cough*
DeleteHipster scheming!
ReplyDeleteI felt like such a poser buying Game Of Thrones book with the "Now on HBO" cover recently, even though I read my girlfriends copy in the 90's...
ReplyDeleteI have more than one SF novel with Will Smith on the cover. I am not ashamed.
ReplyDeleteBut I did buy the Millennium series with attractive stylized covers, not the movie posters.
I was buying the non-movie cover before it was cool.
ReplyDeleteIf it's worth buying the book, it's worth paying for the hardcover, and hardcover editions never have the movie poster for cover art.
ReplyDeleteOther than that I read whatever edition the library has and no fucks are given.
What ever my local library has on the shelf is what I read. I just check out the book with the cover art I like.
DeleteDude, don't buy The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo!
ReplyDeleteI haven't bought a copy of Isaac Asimov's I Robot because I can't find one without Will Smith on the cover. The original hardcover version has an awesome dust cover, I never seem to see it when I have the money to pick it up.
ReplyDeleteTo me, the difference between regular books and comics/graphic novels is the art. I buy the comics for the art. Ergo, why would I want an actor's face on the cover? I would rather my money go to an artist who actually created something for the cover, not something a movie conglomerate chose to represent that character.
ReplyDeleteYeah, you buy comics for the art, but sometimes the art drawn on the cover isn't even a correct representation of the issue inside!
DeleteAnyway, comics very rarely have live action movie characters on them. You're more likely to see them on licensed products that started as films.
Vintage books that tie into feature films are awesome, though. I have one for The Boogens and The Abominable Dr. Phibes, as well as a copy of I Am Legend that mentions The Omega Man on the cover.
ReplyDeleteThe expression "Don't judge a book by its cover" has gained new depths of shallowness this day.
ReplyDeleteSOON TO BE A MAJOR MOTION PICTURE...
ReplyDeleteOUR VALUED CUSTOMERS: CONVERSATIONS FROM THE COMIC BOOK STORE: The Movie!
Starring: Johnny Knoxville as The Dope, Dane Cook as The Jerk, Kevin Smith as The Creep and Olivia Munn as The Crazy Chick.
Written by McG
Directed By Uwe Boll
Tommy Wiseau should be the creep.
DeleteHoly crap, the autism is thick in here today. I guess 'you can't judge a book by it's cover' isn't relevant anymore.
ReplyDeleteAnybody here ever read 'Blade Runner' by Philip K Dick? Harrison Fnord was great in that book.
^
ReplyDeleteDoesn't work because that's not the book's title.
That was the joke.
DeleteSurely judging a cover by the art on it does not imply judging the book by its cover.
ReplyDeleteThumbs up for this one.
DeleteI usually do this. Mainly because I like having the original book jacket design. if I liked the movie and the poster, I'll buy the DVD and poster. I don't want it on the damned original book. I even hate when they have "Now A Major Motion Picture" printed on the cover. At least stickers you can take them off. It's almost as bad as those damn Green Lantern movie promos they put on DC and Vertigo books that month or two.
ReplyDeleteIt is especially annoying when they shred the book in their shitty film. I Am Legend is maybe the worst offender I can think of. They completely decimated the book in the last half of the film and utterly change the entire meaning of the title. Spoiler. Will Smith isn't supposed to be Jesus and savior of humanity. He's supposed to be the devil of the new human race!