Truer to the Text: Difference between revisions

Everything About Fiction You Never Wanted to Know.
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* Thirdly, not all fans of the movie/show actually read the source material. This means that they have no idea what they're supposed to be waiting for, so it might feel like this second version is just more of the same.
* Thirdly, not all fans of the movie/show actually read the source material. This means that they have no idea what they're supposed to be waiting for, so it might feel like this second version is just more of the same.
* Finally, depending on the differences between mediums, such as the inevitable problems that come with adapting a book into a film, "more faithful" does not necessarily equate to "better".
* Finally, depending on the differences between mediums, such as the inevitable problems that come with adapting a book into a film, "more faithful" does not necessarily equate to "better".



Compare [[Mythology Gag]].
Compare [[Mythology Gag]].


{{examples}}
{{examples}}

== Adapted from [[Comics]] ==
== Adapted from [[Comics]] ==
* Arguably, the purpose of the [[Marvel Cinematic Universe]]. It's run by Marvel Studios, rather than owned by an independent studio (such as Fox, Sony or Universal), so they have direct control over the movie they put out. ''[[The Incredible Hulk (film)|The Incredible Hulk]]'' and ''[[Captain America: The First Avenger]]'' are significantly more faithful to the source material than Ang Lee's ''[[Hulk (film)|Hulk]]'' or ''[[Captain America (1990 film)]]'' were.
* Arguably, the purpose of the [[Marvel Cinematic Universe]]. It's run by Marvel Studios, rather than owned by an independent studio (such as Fox, Sony or Universal), so they have direct control over the movie they put out. ''[[The Incredible Hulk (film)|The Incredible Hulk]]'' and ''[[Captain America: The First Avenger]]'' are significantly more faithful to the source material than Ang Lee's ''[[Hulk (film)|Hulk]]'' or ''[[Captain America (1990 film)]]'' were.
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== Adapted from [[Literature]] ==
== Adapted from [[Literature]] ==
* ''[[Bram Stoker's Dracula|Bram Stokers Dracula]]'' and ''[[Mary Shelley's Frankenstein]]'' were intended as faithful adaptations of two books that had been quite heavily changed in previous film adaptations. They had their own changes and quirks, though.
* ''[[Bram Stoker's Dracula]]'' and ''[[Mary Shelley's Frankenstein]]'' were intended as faithful adaptations of two books that had been quite heavily changed in previous film adaptations. They had their own changes and quirks, though.
* The 2000 ''[[Dune]]'' miniseries took some liberties with Frank Herbert's book, but compared to the 1984 David Lynch movie, its fidelity is nigh-slavish.
* The 2000 ''[[Dune]]'' miniseries took some liberties with Frank Herbert's book, but compared to the 1984 David Lynch movie, its fidelity is nigh-slavish.
* The 1997 miniseries of ''[[The Shining]]'' was far closer to Stephen King's book {{spoiler|with the huge exception of the [[Bowdlerise]]d ending}}. This is a strong example of "more faithful" not equaling "better": the miniseries was underrated (and scarily effective in its own right), and the 1980 film has significant weaknesses, but Kubrick's vision—however un-Kinglike—still resulted in a better movie.
* The 1997 miniseries of ''[[The Shining]]'' was far closer to Stephen King's book {{spoiler|with the huge exception of the [[Bowdlerise]]d ending}}. This is a strong example of "more faithful" not equaling "better": the miniseries was underrated (and scarily effective in its own right), and the 1980 film has significant weaknesses, but Kubrick's vision—however un-Kinglike—still resulted in a better movie.
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* Carson McCullers adapted her novel ''The Member of the Wedding'' for the stage herself, despite never having written a play before, to preempt the production of a more conventionally theatrical adaptation by another writer.
* Carson McCullers adapted her novel ''The Member of the Wedding'' for the stage herself, despite never having written a play before, to preempt the production of a more conventionally theatrical adaptation by another writer.
* The first two ''[[Harry Potter (film)|Harry Potter]]'' films are noticeably closer to the text than the movies the followed. On the [[Sliding Scale of Adaptation Modification]], the first two movies would score a "4" and the rest would score a "3". Fans are divided over which approach was better. Critics are less divided and prefer the later films (except for [[Roger Ebert]]).
* The first two ''[[Harry Potter (film)|Harry Potter]]'' films are noticeably closer to the text than the movies the followed. On the [[Sliding Scale of Adaptation Modification]], the first two movies would score a "4" and the rest would score a "3". Fans are divided over which approach was better. Critics are less divided and prefer the later films (except for [[Roger Ebert]]).
* [[John Carpenter]]'s ''[[The Thing]]'' compared to ''[[A Thing From Another World]]''. The older film used the beginning of the plot of them finding UFO in the ice and it containing and alien, but from there diverged quite a bit. Carpenter's version had the alien keep it's assimilation powers and overall stayed much closer to the plot of the book.
* [[John Carpenter]]'s ''[[The Thing]]'' compared to ''[[A Thing From Another World]]''. The older film used the beginning of the plot of them finding UFO in the ice and it containing an alien, but from there diverged quite a bit. Carpenter's version had the alien keep its assimilation powers and overall stayed much closer to the plot of the book.


== Adapted from [[Manga]] ==
== Adapted from [[Manga]] ==
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* ''[[Hellsing]]'', in a rather similar vein, got a more faithful adaptation in the form of an [[OVA]] series, titled ''Hellsing Ultimate''.
* ''[[Hellsing]]'', in a rather similar vein, got a more faithful adaptation in the form of an [[OVA]] series, titled ''Hellsing Ultimate''.
* ''[[Mahou Sensei Negima]]'' is an interesting case. The recent OVA releases have been faithful to the manga, but they're so deep into a story that none of its [[Adaptation Overdosed|multiple previous adaptations]] properly covered, that they won't make much sense to anyone who hasn't read the manga.
* ''[[Mahou Sensei Negima]]'' is an interesting case. The recent OVA releases have been faithful to the manga, but they're so deep into a story that none of its [[Adaptation Overdosed|multiple previous adaptations]] properly covered, that they won't make much sense to anyone who hasn't read the manga.
* A new anime for ''[[Hunter X Hunter]]'' has been announced for the [[Fall 2011 Anime]] season, to be a retelling from the beginning. Whether or not this turns out to be a "truer" adaptation has yet to be seen.
* A new anime for ''[[Hunter X Hunter]]'' has been announced for the [[Fall 2011 Anime]] season{{when}}, to be a retelling from the beginning. Whether or not this turns out to be a "truer" adaptation has yet to be seen.
* ''[[Dragon Ball Kai]]'' serves as a remastered [[Adaptation Distillation]] of the first ''[[Dragonball Z]]'' anime, with most of the [[Filler]] removed (not to mention greatly reducing the original show's infamous abuse of [[Talking Is a Free Action]]).
* ''[[Dragon Ball Kai]]'' serves as a remastered [[Adaptation Distillation]] of the first ''[[Dragonball Z]]'' anime, with most of the [[Filler]] removed (not to mention greatly reducing the original show's infamous abuse of [[Talking Is a Free Action]]).


== Adapted from [[Visual Novels]] ==
== Adapted from [[Visual Novels]] ==
* The anime version of ''[[Tsukihime]]'' left many fans quite bitter over how much it deviated from the source material. Correction, [[Memetic Mutation|there was no Tsukihime anime]]. There was, however, a manga that retold the original story quite faithfully.
* The anime version of ''[[Tsukihime]]'' left many fans quite bitter over how much it deviated from the source material. Correction, [[Memetic Mutation|there was no ''Tsukihime'' anime]]. There was, however, a manga that retold the original story quite faithfully.


{{reflist}}
{{reflist}}

Revision as of 21:37, 19 November 2018

If a book or comic becomes sufficiently popular, it will almost definitely get a TV show or a movie. While some fans rejoice upon hearing that their favorite series is getting an adaptation, all too often the hardcore fans will find themselves bitterly disappointed, and problems are especially likely to surface when the story is ongoing and the staff has to work with incomplete source material. The result of such circumstances tends to be a Base Breaker.

Sometimes, these complaints are heard, and the result is a Truer to the Text adaptation. When this happens, the story gets another adaptation, or at least go out of their way to cover what they missed out on last time. This time there will be no annoying additions, no alternate ending, no important details ignored, just the original story, pure and proper. If done well, the Fandom will probably be quite pleased.

However, it's important to keep in mind that this is not necessarily a good thing. There are four closely related problems with this sort of adaptation.

  • The first is that, however divergent, a series' first adaptation will probably at least begin with the same basic plot, which could give it a repetitious feel; the reboot starts by covering ground that's already thoroughly trodden.
  • Thus the second problem: the beginning might have to deviate from the original story to make a re-adapted story seem new.
  • Thirdly, not all fans of the movie/show actually read the source material. This means that they have no idea what they're supposed to be waiting for, so it might feel like this second version is just more of the same.
  • Finally, depending on the differences between mediums, such as the inevitable problems that come with adapting a book into a film, "more faithful" does not necessarily equate to "better".

Compare Mythology Gag.

Examples of Truer to the Text include:

Adapted from Comics

Adapted from Literature

  • Bram Stoker's Dracula and Mary Shelley's Frankenstein were intended as faithful adaptations of two books that had been quite heavily changed in previous film adaptations. They had their own changes and quirks, though.
  • The 2000 Dune miniseries took some liberties with Frank Herbert's book, but compared to the 1984 David Lynch movie, its fidelity is nigh-slavish.
  • The 1997 miniseries of The Shining was far closer to Stephen King's book with the huge exception of the Bowdlerised ending. This is a strong example of "more faithful" not equaling "better": the miniseries was underrated (and scarily effective in its own right), and the 1980 film has significant weaknesses, but Kubrick's vision—however un-Kinglike—still resulted in a better movie.
  • The Coen Brothers said this was their intention when they made their film adaptation of True Grit.
  • Carson McCullers adapted her novel The Member of the Wedding for the stage herself, despite never having written a play before, to preempt the production of a more conventionally theatrical adaptation by another writer.
  • The first two Harry Potter films are noticeably closer to the text than the movies the followed. On the Sliding Scale of Adaptation Modification, the first two movies would score a "4" and the rest would score a "3". Fans are divided over which approach was better. Critics are less divided and prefer the later films (except for Roger Ebert).
  • John Carpenter's The Thing compared to A Thing From Another World. The older film used the beginning of the plot of them finding UFO in the ice and it containing an alien, but from there diverged quite a bit. Carpenter's version had the alien keep its assimilation powers and overall stayed much closer to the plot of the book.

Adapted from Manga

Adapted from Visual Novels

  • The anime version of Tsukihime left many fans quite bitter over how much it deviated from the source material. Correction, there was no Tsukihime anime. There was, however, a manga that retold the original story quite faithfully.