In light of the forthcoming releases of crazy-big literary works such as “The Da Vinci Code” and the third (and probably last) entry in the X-Men series entitled “The Last Stand,” I thought it was proper to write about this. “The Da Vinci Code” is all over the news as it was expected, the producers and media alike letting the church singlehandedly provide more than half of the movie’s marketing campaign exploits hyping the hell (ha! I said hell) out of the adaptation from the best-selling novel written by Dan Brown, urging devotees to not believe a word of what the book/movie suggests. The church should grow a backbone. Why the hell (see? I did it again!) should the institution freak out about a fictional story? Unless it’s true, of course, and they’re trying to cover it up… making the real-life church part of a conspiracy that’s hiding the truth about the foundations of the most popular religion in the world and there you go, brother, we’re back at square one and got ourselves into a real world Da Vinci Code scenario. Personally, I like it when someone shakes up the dominating forces of the world, including both the catholic/christian church and American republicans. I turn giddy just thinking about it… oh, and before I forget: going a little off-topic here, but I suggest you take a look at this if you haven’t already. I didn’t care much about Colbert before, but now I totally get what he’s doing.

The story follows one symbiologist named Robert Langdon who’s stuck in the middle of a secret conspiracy that could bring down the church and with it the very foundations of mankind, belief and religion itself. Quite a touchy subject for our paranoia-ridden post 9/11 society… when I read it I imagined it as a great summer blockbuster; it was accessible with not-so-complex characters you could identify with tackling a situation that’s bigger than themselves and overcoming it (somewhat) and now that it pretty much IS a summer blockbuster, I think I’ll be there opening day even though I know for a fact that the blockbuster in my head will be leaps and bounds better than the one I’ll see come May 19. I’m going because of Jean Reno… I’ll be damned if he can’t play a badass mercenary. Anyway, this movie reeks of “Passion of the Christ” hype but without the pain fetish and like most big summer movies of the past 5 years, it won’t fill my expectations to it’s fullest. Hype hurts a lot sometimes.

Which brings me to the next offender: “X-Men: The Last Stand.” I read comic books more than I do regular books. Hell, if you ask me for my influences the top 5 are comic book creators, easy. That said, When “Blade” came out and opened the door for more serious comic book adaptations, I took notice. “X-Men” was awesome… it’s sequel? Brilliant. A true sequel, improving on everything the first one had faulted in… then “Spider-Man” came and blew the floodgates open to pave the way for the superhero-infested box office of the next few years and I’ve been a happy fanboy in most cases (fuck what you think, I thought “Hulk” was awesome)… yet now that the creative force behind the first two movies (Bryan Singer) moved on to even bigger, more iconic superheroes (*ahem* “Superman Returns” *ahem*) X-3 looked doomed. Then Brett “Rush Hour” Ratner hopped on board and for a while, things didn’t just looked doomed, they smelt, tasted and felt doomed. The rumor mill is so out of proportion that my (and most of the comic-reading, geek community) doesn’t care anymore, and are expecting it the same way millions of fans (myself included) awaited for the conclusion of the one-and-only space saga of one Anakin Skywalker in “Star Wars Episode III: The Revenge of the Sith.” That sense of “I want it to end so I can let it go.”

The Expanded Universe of Star Wars, where the story continues past the movies in both book and graphic novel form, is mostly shit aside from “Dark Empire” but it was much more imaginative than anything the Prequel Trilogy could muster as much as Episode III *almost* succeeded in winning me over regarding that whole debacle… but I digress. Wit movies being such a great vehicle to get literary works noticed by a broader audience it makes me think just how lazy some people are to pick up a book and just make up your own movie instead of waiting for someone else’s vision to be shoved into your vision, usually butchering much of what made the stories in their original form work and transcend. As great as the “Lord of the Rings” trilogy is, with “timeless classic” written all over it, I like my rendition of Gandalf better. Of Aragorn. Hell, Frodo and Sam’s relationship doesn’t look as gay in my mind than it does in the movies. With comic books it’s easier to adapt them to a moving pictures form… half the concept work is done for you already. But there’s something in books that lets you get more involved and that’s what I love about the medium… and that’s why I’ve decided it’s what I want to do with my life.

Think about the recent movie adaptations of literary works and you’ll see that in practically all cases (save one, but I’ll get into that in a minute) the movies are either “different” or “just as good” as their literary counterparts. “Memoirs or a Geisha?” My geisha was more fleshed out. “The Lord of the Rings?” Just as good, but they left A LOT out. “The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy?” It should’ve been much better, but the humor in the books is the way Douglas Adams wrote them rather than the situations he pits his characters in… I loved Marvin, though. “Constantine?” It was different than the source material (for those not in the know, John Constantine is british and blonde in the movie’s source material… the “Hellblazer” comic book) but very enjoyable, they sticked to what counted regarding both the essence of the character and the world he lives in. “The Chronicles of Narnia?” Give me a fucking break; Aslan’s more badass than that. The “Harry Potter” adaptations? They’re great, just as good as the books and they could even be better since Rowling is not the best narrator on the planet. “Sin City” is EXACTLY like the comic books, so much it’s scary and amazing. “Batman Begins?” Great reboot. Almost made me forget “Batman & Robin.” “Spider-Man 1/2?” Raimi batting .500 with his take on the character. I could go on and on, but the connecting thread out of all of these examples is that none of them improved on the source material… save for one.

Back in the 80’s (1982, to be exact) one British man named Alan Moore created a serialized “graphic novel” (by the way, I think I despise that term. I feel like like I’m apologizing for loving comic books every time I say it) with artist David Lloyd called “V for Vendetta,” about the exploits of a terrorist in a Guy Fawkes mask named simply “V” as he tries to liberate a fascist British government in a not-far-away future where America has fallen as the world’s dominating superpower and everything when bat-shit crazy. This year the movie adaptation of the work was released under the watchful eye of the Wachowski Brothers (The “Matrix” Trilogy, anyone?) and with the direction of James McTiegue created a faithful adaptation that managed to surpass the original work, in the sense that it made the story’s themes more universal… and as a result, making it easy to relate to the current American government. Alan Moore distanced himself from the adaptation, as he has from other adaptations of his previous works (I don’t blame him, since I saw “League of Extraordinary Gentlemen.” Do yourself a favor and get the collected works) and even lashed out at the producers saying that they pretty much butchered his piece in order to tailor it for American audiences. In many ways, he might be right… but personally, I believe the movie is “V for Vendetta” without as much exposition, and it makes it one of my favorite movies released this year.

The validity of movies and literature represents a marriage that together brings culture to the masses too lazy to pick up a book, yet rabid enough to flock movie theaters every week and watch utter crap. And with the current idea well which has run dry, making the Hollywood machine recycle their own past works (each with their own faults and merits) this is a welcomed type of entertainment that, I believe, has the potential to make at least one moviegoer an avid reader. Regarding movies, I gave up on Hollywood a long time ago… now my favorite type of cinema is the one being produced outside of America and in trying to make my friends see how much more vicious, imaginative and revolutionary they are, so far I have failed. They are not avid readers either, much less, so trying to get them to read is also a lost cause… so in my book, adaptations are a great tool as long as they don’t destroy their source material.

If you’re interested in getting into reading, here is a great place to start. Whatever genre you prefer, there’s always going to be something for you. If i make a suggestion, though… I think that if you have certain restraint in getting into this whole “reading” thing, I suggest you give these so-called “graphic novels” a try. The term might cause chalkboard-screeching noises in my head, but they might work for you… comic books are not just superheroes anymore. My recommendations: “Watchmen” by Alan Moore & Dave Gibbons, “Ex Machina” by Brian K. Vaughan & Tony Harris, “Maus” by Art Spiegelman, and if you want superheroes but without the sillyness, here’s “Kingdom Come” by Mark Waid & Alex Ross, as well as “Marvels” by Kurt Busiek & Alex Ross.

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