MovieChat Forums > Ask the Dust (2006) Discussion > Disappointed

Disappointed

posted 18 years ago by justin-106
8 replies | jump to latest

I'm not going to type up a review of the film, just merely wanted to state that as a lover of the novel, the film adaption left me very disappointed. I don't fault the actors however, I believe they were quite good. And I suppose the screenplay and all that was fine, it's just that the film didn't come anywhere near reaching the greatness of Fante's book. The power, the humour, the level of the emotion that is in the written words simply does not get translated here.

Oh well, that's just my opinion. Maybe others that enjoyed it will find themselves reading Fante's work for the first time and that can only be a good thing, right?

thanks.

[–] Lazymoo 18 years ago

Indeed. The book is vastly superior to the film.

[–] explainmyself 18 years ago

Usually books are better than their movie counterparts. For me, the movie just had the feeling like it was more of a (drawn out and flat) framing of events interspersed with witty dialog... I never really felt too involved with any of the characters (slight exception for Idina's). The movie lacked a certain pulse... I haven't read the book yet, but going on what others are saying, this movie was a pretty shoddy adaptation, so I still might give it a whirl.

[–] justin-106 18 years ago

I think you should, explainmyself, as the book to me is a really great, enjoyable read. The humour is so... perfectly wrong. Fante's writing is simple in most regards, but the choice of words displays a far deeper expression than the film is capable of. Hopefully you'll understand that, especially after reading the novel.

[–] obelix_le_faf 18 years ago

I justed finished West to Rome, my 5th in a row Fante's book today. I wasn't disappointed once by his books. They are all very interesting. Fante's has the way to tell a simple story of a typical american family that isn't typical at all. Has I already said in a previous thread, Fante has a way to because Thw good guy and the bad guy in a really quick laps of time. Which make his books intensively emotional. Going through the stade of loving him, hating his attitude, then loving him again. I felt this book was about a relationship betwin two persons from a different background but attached because of their difference. You'll see explainmyself that when you'll read this book, you'll LOVE IT!

[–] lampworkingartist 18 years ago

I just finished watching the film and I, too, was disappointed. Besides the last third of the film which was a complete deviation from the novel, the characters just weren't right. Salma is too much of a beauty and Arturo was much more of a disturbing character. Their love-hate relationship isn't as evident in the film yet is paramount in the book. There are many aspects of the film that were not true to the novel; indeed the story was sugar-coated to appeal to a wider audience than being true to the book would have been.
For example, Arturo's impotence is not even hinted at in the film, neither is his main reason for being attracted to Camilla.

The book, however, is oddly satisfying in every way. If you haven't done so already, read this book! If you have read it, but years ago, read it again.
You will be in for a treat!

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[–] Desertman84 14 years ago

Normally the book is vastly superior as compared to the film adaptation. It rarely happens that the reverse happens.