TRUE TO YOUR SHELF

What makes a great movie adaptation

Movie adaptations are considered to be either hits or misses and spark large controversy. I don’t necessarily believe one is greater than the other, but as someone who is an avid film enjoyer, there are important elements in movie adaptations that give a more raw and entertaining feel.

Cinematography is crucial in movies, especially in movie adaptations of books, because compared to a book, there isn’t as much dialogue. Directors are able to create visually striking scenes that are aesthetically pleasing to the eye.

One such case is the movie adaptation “Emma” (2020). Directed by Autumn de Wilde, based on a screenplay written by Eleanor Catton, “Emma” is a modernized adaptation of the novel by the well-known writer Jane Austen. The movie follows a young and naive woman from England, who is trying to balance friendship and romance.

ARTICLE BY AUBREY PHUNG • ILLUSTRATION AND DESIGN BY SHIBANI GHOSH • PHOTOS COURTESY OF CREATIVE COMMONS

The cinematog raphy is absolutely captivating and jaw-dropping. Shot by cinematographer Christopher Blauvelt, he was able to fabricate a soft, yet elegant look that provided a sort of angelic feel. Blauvelt focused on the scope and scale of Emma’s environments in the form of Victorian styled architecture and the English countryside. Small details that Autumn de Wilde put in are tiny but significant. I remember when I first watched the movie it was like being transported into the early 19th century, and becoming the titular character through Anya Taylor Joy’s acting.

Another tool directors use is music. Film music progresses the story and invokes emotions in the viewer, creating a so much emotion, causing a viewer to suddenly be in a puddle of tears. deeper understanding of the plot. Movies have the ability to capture moments that perfectly represent the character in a single scene, such as an emotional gut-wrenching scene.

Movies immerse the audience into the characters’ world, which is the reason we empathize with them so much. Along with the character’s actions, their costumes add to the overarching aesthetic of the film.

The actions of the characters are everything. A single scene can show

I’m not even sure where to even begin with the costumes, but let’s just say Alexandra Byrne is one of the best period drama costume makers to ever exist. With Alexandra Byrne’s astonishing costume wardrobe, “Emma” received two Academy Award nominations for Best Costume Design and Best Makeup and Hairstyling at the 93rd Academy Awards. Anya Taylor Joy, playing the character Emma Woodhouse, donned spot-on, accurate costumes that seemed like they were pulled out from a painting of the 1800’s.

But why are historically accurate costumes so important? Because it tells viewers what time period they are in, without having to describe it, or straight out tell the audience.

If you look at some of the costume details, they are authentic and historically accurate to outfits from the Regency Era (1811-1820). Almost every garment, hairstyle and piece of clothing are precise to the time the movie takes place in.

In the movie, viewers see soft and pastel colors throughout scenes and costumes, creating its own exquisite color palette. This adds the ethereal feeling that Blauvelt was striving to create. Sometimes, there is a pop of vibrance in the character’s costume, such as Emma’s signature bright yellow pelisse that matches with the frames. This yellow coat fits with the background paints, streets and wallpapers, while simultaneously making Emma stand out.

The movie’s plot is also essential in the making of a great movie adaptation. Because movies can take anywhere from an hour to three, that can be a dramatic contrast to reading books. Depending on the reader, it can take days to being confusing. This is why I like longer-paced movies because it gives the director more time to play out the plot, without being lost.

Though the movie and novel are similar, the movie isn’t completely loyal to the Jane Austen book. The main difference between the two is that director Autumn de Wilde decided to add her own twist of light comedy into the movie. In my opinion, de Wilde’s personal decision to make Emma more of a comedy, rather than just a sweet romance, gave the movie much more depth, and it was refreshing.

Watchers also feel a sense of vulnerability to the characters. Mr. Knightly, the male lead in Emma, is shown crying multiple times throughout the movie even though is the movie adaptations are better, they get shut down and told they’re wrong because it’s an unpopular opinion. I think that an overarching reason why general audiences favor books over its movie adaptation is because movies have a certain time limit, which can cause a movie to end up being rushed. finish reading a novel. When you spend more time consuming a piece of media, such as a book, the plot almost comes to life and the characters start to seem almost real.

Audiences can feel that the movie just wasn’t well thought out, and was created only to make money. However, with books, authors can take their time with a slower ending because they don’t need a big budget to write.

Directors have only so much time to tell a story, so they have to figure out how they will tell the whole story in a matter of a few hours. When movie adaptations are shorter, the plot can move too quickly and the viewer starts to lose sense of the complexity of the plot. Key elements of the book’s plot may be cut out of the movie, and the movie can end up supposed to be this know-it-all uptight man. Or the moment when Emma gets a nosebleed when Mr. Knightly confesses his love to her. The audience is able to see the vulnerable and human man underneath all of his protective armor. I really appreciate the film for putting that modern twist to fit today’s societal audience.

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But that doesn’t mean there can’t be an amazing adaptation of those novels. Using breath-taking visuals and composed audio converts a story from fantasy to reality. Directors have the power to play to the audience’s emotions and connect with them through those characters. Essentially, they are able to turn a fictional character into a real person who people can relate to and love.