Film Locations: Paris

Good afternoon film and book fans! Last weekend, I went somewhere I'd never been before - Paris. While most people would enjoy the Eiffel Tower (which I did - don't get me wrong) and the croissants and French onion soup ('course there they just call it onion soup), I took a slightly different approach to my first visit - I looked up film locations.

I should explain, I have done this to a certain degree in the past - but this is the first time where I actually did some pre-holiday preparation. This was a little more organised than the time I walked around Battery Park in New York, suddenly stopped and said "OH MY GOD that's the door in Men in Black!", just because it was so familiar to me - or the time I wandered the stunning Central Park only to stumble on a staircase and cry "Ah! That's where the kid gets kidnapped in Ransom!".

I know many, many films have been shot in the gorgeous French capital and I merely scratched the surface. For me, though, there was something magical about going to the café where Audrey Tatou worked in Amelie, taking a boat trip along the River Seine - where Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy had THAT moment under a bridge - walking the halls of the Louvre and discovering Mona Lisa's secrets like Tom Hanks did in The Da Vinci Code (well not exactly like he did) and wandering the cluttered passageways of Shakespeare and Co (yes it was a film location too but my word those books are stunning!).

So where is your favourite film location and where have you stopped and stood in awe, knowing whose steps have come before yours and returned home to put on a film and scream "I been there!" like a small child, giddy with excitement.

Inside Amelie's café

 

Yup - we even found the grocers where she buys her artichokes!

 

Stephen King to Write Sequel to The Shining

The Shining was one of author Stephen King's most controversial adaptations. The book, published back in 1977 is one of King's most popular tales and the film adaptation of the same name (1980), which starred Jack Nicholson is equally popular with audiences - though not perhaps with King's fans who hated the changes made to the source text. 

Now, more than twenty-five years later, it seems King is set to revisit the story of the Torrance family with a look at young Danny Torrance in Doctor Sleep. Now middle-aged and working at a hospice, Dan is trying to shake his own demons and the terrifying legacy left by his father. Whilst working at the hospice, he meets a 'special' 12-year-old girl, Abra Stone and soon Dan must save her from a tribe of murderous paranormals, called the True Knot.

Doctor Sleep is described as "an epic war between good and evil, a gory, glorious story that will thrill the millions of hyper-devoted readers of The Shining and readers new to King, too."

The book will be released next September and an audio sample of King reading the prologue can be found on the CD or download of The Wind Through the Keyhole.

Source: We Love This Book

 

DVD/Blu-Ray Alert: The Cabin in the Woods and The Raid

It's a brilliant coincidence that my two favourite films of the year so far are both getting a DVD/Blu-ray release on the same day - Monday 24th September. The films in question are the action-packed The Raid and the brilliantly original slasher film The Cabin in the Woods.

The Raid is an Indonesian martial-arts spectacle that follows our hero Rama (Iko Uwais - remember that name!) as he tries to take down an apartment complex jam-packed with criminals. The film is written and directed by the incredibly talented Welshman Gareth Evans.

Alternatively, you might like to check out American horror film, The Cabin in the Woods, directed by Drew Goddard and co-written by him and Joss Whedon. The film lovingly takes every horror cliché going and makes something wholly original that manages to be both scary and hilarious.

Enjoy and happy viewing!

Movie Tie-In Edition Cover Revealed for Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell

Before the film adaptation of David Mitchell's incredible book Cloud Atlas hits cinemas early next year, Sceptre - the publishers of the book - have lined up a movie tie-in edition, to be released in November. Check out the gorgeous new book cover below and order your copy now if you haven't yet read it. It's hard work but well worth the effort.

This sweeping epic looks at six seemingly different but somehow connected stories over time using different styles, language and customs to illustrate the changes.

Directed by Lana Wachowski, Andy Wachowski and Tom Tykwer, the film adaptation stars Tom Hanks, Halle Berry, Jim Broadbent, Hugh Grant and many, many more...

Check out my review of the book here.

COMPETITION: Win 'Life of Pi' by Yann Martel and 'Lawless' by Matt Bondurant

THIS COMPETION IS NOW CLOSED

There have been numerous adaptations out in 2012, from the jumps in Woman in Black to the mythical fairytale of Snow White via some Salmon in the Yemen. The year isn't over yet though as plenty more adaptations head our way... 

This Friday (7th September) the film adaptation of Lawless hits cinemas. The film, based on the book by Matt Bondurant, stars Tom Hardy, Gary Oldman, Shia LaBeouf, Guy Pearce & Jessica Chastain and is directed by John Hillcoat.

Then in December, another great story - Life of Pi by Yann Martel - hits cinemas. The adaptation, directed by Ang Lee is set to be a magical take of the award-winning novel.

Both of these fantastic books are published by Canongate Books - with Lawless having its first UK publication last month. Courtesy of the lovely people at Canongate, these two books could be yours. To win both incredible books, simply email filmvsbook@gmail.com, put "Competition" in the subject line and let us know what your favourite adaptation of 2012 has been so far...

THE COMPETITION IS AVAILABLE WORLDWIDE AND CLOSES AT MIDNIGHT ON 30TH SEPTEMBER 2012 SO GET ADAPTING...

'Lawless' Blurb

The Bondurant Boys were notorious gangster brothers who ran liquor though Franklin County during Prohibition. LAWLESS is their story.

Based on the true account of Matt Bondurant's grandfather and two granduncles, this is a gripping tale of bootlegging, brotherhood and revenge.

'Life of Pi' Blurb

Now a major motion picture from Academy Award-winning director Ang Lee and Winner of the Booker Prize.

One boy, one boat, one tiger . . .

After the tragic sinking of a cargo ship, a solitary lifeboat remains bobbing on the wild, blue Pacific. The only survivors from the wreck are a sixteen year-old boy named Pi, a hyena, a zebra (with a broken leg), a female orang-utan and a 450-pound Royal Bengal tiger. The scene is set for one of the most extraordinary and best-loved works of fiction in recent years.

Dorothy Koomson's 'The Ice Cream Girls' to Become ITV1 Drama in 2013

Author Dorothy Koomson announced recently that her book The Ice Cream Girls is set to be adapted for a three-part ITV1 drama series. The show, currently scheduled for release in 2013, will be the first time that Dorothy's books have been adapted for the screen.

Left Bank Pictures bought the option for the book and have since developed a script with Kate Brook.

For those who are, as yet, unfamiliar with the plot, here's the official blurb:

As teenagers Poppy Carlisle and Serena Gorringe were the only witnesses to a tragic event. Amid heated public debate, the two seemingly glamorous teens were dubbed ‘The Ice Cream Girls’ by the press and were dealt with by the courts. Years later, having led very different lives, Poppy is keen to set the record straight about what really happened, while Serena wants no one in her present to find out about her past. But some secrets will not stay buried – and if theirs is revealed, everything will become a living hell all over again . . . Gripping, thought-provoking and heart-warming, The Ice Cream Girls will make you wonder if you can ever truly know the people you love.

According to Dorothy's post, Serena is going to be played by Lorraine Burroughs (Fast Girls, DCI Banks), and Poppy is going to be played by Jodhi May (Defiance/Strike Back).

Dorothy does warn fans of her books though that, while she is clearly delighted with the news, she does know that the ending has been changed as sadly she has no say in the matter. Fingers crossed they do the book justice and it doesn't become another My Sister's Keeper.

Dorothy had this to say on the news when I spoke to her: "Television is a different medium to novels where you have more time to explore characters and make stories truer to life. The TV adaption will be nothing like my book, I've been told, so I'll be watching it like anyone else who watches TV dramas because it'll be a completely altered tale. I had no say in this because once you sign the rights away the adapters do what they feel is best. Like I say, I'll be watching it with interest."

Dorothy's new book, The Rose Petal Beach is out now. The review will be up at Novelicious soon ...