5 Books That Should Be Movies!

A shoutout to Jordan and Eddie (The Movie Guys) who I got this list idea from and who graciously let me borrow it for this post 🙂  Except I’m only doing 5 and I’m bad with choosing dream directors so I went the go big route 😉

As most of you know, I read quite a bit and well, I watch even more movies in comparison.  Over the years, after I’ve graduated from university, its something of a hidden goal to catch up on as much reading as I possibly can.  I’m very happy to see that a lot of books I enjoyed have been made into movies especially as of late, even if I haven’t had the chance to see them.  However, there are tons of books that deserve to be movies and I think maybe they are a little bit too independent for it to get enough exposure.  Still, the selections are endless so lets see if I can put together this list.

This is in not specific order but rather just how I remembered the titles.

The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern 

A mysterious circus. A duel between young magicians placed by their mentors. A young love that grows from what cannot be. And finding a way out of a deadly situation. The Night Circus is fantasy, imagination, adventure, thrilling all at the same time.  I loved every minute of reading the book and when I closed it, I kept hoping for it to be turned into a movie.  I do believe that in the hands of a right director and someone who could organize the script to flow well without being convoluted, this could be better than The Prestige or all those magic movies you see out there.

Dream director: Guillermo del Toro

The Water Rat of Wanchai (Ava Lee Series) by Ian Hamilton

This is just the first book in a series and this series is kicking some series ass.  I’m a few books behind from being fully caught up but after 5 books in, this series is really strong.  Ava Lee is our main girl here and she is a sexy, smart and literally kick ass girl in her late 20s or early 30s (I can’t remember exactly).  I think I wrote it before on one of the reviews.  I can see some young Asian actress doing great in this role like Maggie Q.  I’m not a huge fan of hers but I can totally see her as Ava Lee. The only barrier here would be that Ava Lee is not into boys. Although that doesn’t bother me, I do think it might be an issue for something for the big screen.  Although her love life is rather in the background a lot until the later books.  As a mystery thriller, this would be great.  Its like Mission Impossible mixed with Sherlock Holmes or something.

Dream director: Martin Scorsese

Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn

Gone Girl was a hit and Dark Places a flop.  I was never a fan of Dark Places because its not ripe for the big screen and with a director that doesn’t have the experience and touch like David Fincher. Dark Places had no other expected result even with the fully charged cast.  Gillian Flynn wrote another book between these two and its Sharp Objects.  This book is powerful and messed up just like the other two.  The main girl has issues (as with all of Gillian Flynn’s lady characters).  Sharp Objects could carry a great cast and this dark story. You already know who I think should be the director.

Dream director: David Fincher

I am Number Four by Pittacus Lore

Let us forget that I am Number Four happened with Michael Bay.  That was uber garbage.  The idea of I am Number Four was not about the explosions, okay? I am Number Four is a YA novel but its also a strong series with a great premise about aliens on Earth.  They aren’t here to takeover, but to stay alive and to find the right opportunity to go back to Lorien and just keep their bloodline going while being chased by the enemy alien race that sought to destroy them. These are the Gardes and their Cepans (like mentors and guardians) as they grew up. I’m not saying I am Number Four doesn’t have explosions because it does at the finale scene and maybe that’s the part that Michael Bay gets right in that movie but there’s so much more to it. The movie could’ve taken a completely different angle.  This stuff is ripe for something on CW but as a movie series, it could definitely work and I wished there was another director that would tackle it and make it into something worthwhile.

Dream director: Stephen Spielberg

The Dinner by Herman Koch

The Dinner would be a really hard movie to put on screen.  It would be mostly focused on one setting between two couples as they reflect.  If this were to be something, it would be someone who would focus on small reactions, details in movements and flashbacks and whatnot. Its a pretty dark story and the characters are extremely ugly and twisted.  It would make for a fantastic psychological thriller because in the end, they are two couples dancing around a secret that slowly unveils itself and touches some questionable themes and topics.

Dream director: Christopher Nolan

What books should be a movie? Who would you like to direct it?