Tag Archives: movies based on books

Everything in Planet of the Apes (1968) Came from These 6 Twilight Zone Episodes

It’s no secret that Rod Serling co-wrote the screenplay to the original Planet of the Apes in 1968. That was four years after his signature TV series, The Twilight Zone, had left the air. I’ve heard people talk about the … Continue reading

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Patriot Games Just Got a Whole New Layer of Complexity

While most people were watching the Patriots defeat the Seahawks at the Super Bowl last Sunday, I was watching Patriot Games and discovering something profound about it. What I learned is far more intriguing to me than any football game. … Continue reading

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Forgotten Film Gems: Exodus (1960)

They don’t make ‘em like they used to. Old epics are usually better than new ones. Seriously, I’d rate Spartacus (1960) higher than Gladiator (2000), Tora! Tora! Tora! higher than Pearl Harbor, and The Ten Commandments (1956) higher than this … Continue reading

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10 Amazing ’80s Directors Who Lost Their Mojo in the ’90s

It’s not always easy for directors to make the transition from one decade to the next. For every Steven Spielberg there are several Francis Ford Coppolas. Filmgoers’ expectations change, technology improves, and the industry moves in a new direction. If … Continue reading

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Thanks to Days of Future Past, X-Men Is Finally the Series It Always Deserved to Be

I saw X-Men: Days of Future Past this weekend, and I can’t help feeling that this is what the X-Men series was always meant to be. All of the series’ strengths are on display here and almost none of its … Continue reading

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Movie Matchups: Dr. No vs. 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea (1954)

Dr. No was the first true attempt to bring an Ian Fleming novel to the silver screen back in 1962. Eight years earlier, Buena Vista Distribution had debuted its first feature film – an adaptation of the classic Jules Verne … Continue reading

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The Always Good (But Never Great) Writer/Director Gary Ross

Poor Gary Ross. As a writer and director, he’s never made a bad movie. But he’s also failed to make a big impression on movie audiences through his films. Filmmakers like Steven Spielberg, George Lucas, and James Cameron, for all … Continue reading

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Forgotten Film Gems: The Hunt for Red October

The first movie with Jack Ryan, Tom Clancy’s put-upon CIA agent, is still the best in that series. The Hunt for Red October came out in March 1990, it made a killing at the box office, and then it quietly … Continue reading

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10 Classic Films You Probably Didn’t Know Are Based on Books

This isn’t the first time I’ve delved into film adaptations of novels. I’ve listed movies that barely resemble the books they’re based on and movies that contradict their books’ endings. This time I’ll go a little more obscure and share … Continue reading

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Movie Matchups: Chitty Chitty Bang Bang vs. Santa Claus Conquers the Martians

Christmas is coming early this year. I usually save my Christmas article for later in the month of December, but the good folks at Rifftrax preempted me by scheduling their riff of Santa Claus Conquers the Martians to come to movie … Continue reading

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