Send us a text Imagine stepping onto a perfect, hidden beach and feeling your life accelerate—years slipping by in hours, bodies racing ahead of minds, and secrets surfacing as quickly as the tide. That’s the uneasy heart of Sandcastle and Old, and we dig into why the same premise lands so differently on the page and on screen. We trace how the graphic novel’s eerie hints—a watcher on the cliff, a fleeting mention of a hotel—become the film’s full-blown surveillance network and resort pipelin...
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Send us a text Imagine stepping onto a perfect, hidden beach and feeling your life accelerate—years slipping by in hours, bodies racing ahead of minds, and secrets surfacing as quickly as the tide. That’s the uneasy heart of Sandcastle and Old, and we dig into why the same premise lands so differently on the page and on screen. We trace how the graphic novel’s eerie hints—a watcher on the cliff, a fleeting mention of a hotel—become the film’s full-blown surveillance network and resort pipelin...
Send us a text Imagine stepping onto a perfect, hidden beach and feeling your life accelerate—years slipping by in hours, bodies racing ahead of minds, and secrets surfacing as quickly as the tide. That’s the uneasy heart of Sandcastle and Old, and we dig into why the same premise lands so differently on the page and on screen. We trace how the graphic novel’s eerie hints—a watcher on the cliff, a fleeting mention of a hotel—become the film’s full-blown surveillance network and resort pipelin...
Send us a text Ever wonder if passionate love can withstand decades of separation? "The Last Letter from Your Lover" takes us on a journey through time where handwritten correspondence becomes the bridge between star-crossed lovers. In 1960s London, Jennifer Stirling wakes in a hospital bed with no memory of her life or wealthy husband. When she discovers hidden love letters signed only with the letter "B," she unravels a past filled with forbidden passion and missed opportunities. These let...
Send us a text Death has never been so captivated by a human as he is by Liesel Meminger, a young girl navigating the treacherous landscape of Nazi Germany with stolen books as her compass. When Death first encounters Liesel at her brother's gravesite, he watches her pilfer her first treasure – The Gravedigger's Handbook – marking the beginning of her journey as the Book Thief. Words become Liesel's salvation in a world determined to burn them. After arriving at the home of her foster parent...
Send us a text What happens when a deeply personal memoir about loss transforms into a Hollywood comedy-drama with Kevin Hart? "Two Kisses for Maddy: A Memoir of Love and Loss" and "Fatherhood" tell the same heartbreaking story from radically different angles, revealing how adaptation can both honor and re imagine true experiences. Matthew Logelin's raw memoir chronicles the devastating loss of his wife Liz to a pulmonary embolism just 27 hours after giving birth to their daughter. Left sudd...
Send us a text Forty-two may be the answer to life, the universe, and everything, but is the book really better than the movie when it comes to "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy"? Join me as I navigate through Douglas Adams' beloved science fiction comedy and its 2005 film adaptation starring Martin Freeman, Zooey Deschanel, and the voice of Alan Rickman. My relationship with this interstellar adventure has been nothing short of a cosmic journey itself. From absolutely despising it in mi...
Send us a text Delving into Edward Ashton's sci-fi novel "Mickey7" and Bong Joon-ho's film adaptation "Mickey 17," this episode presents a rare case where the movie might outshine its source material. The story follows an "expendable" human—Mickey—whose job is to die repeatedly for the colony's benefit on the ice planet Niflheim. Each death results in a new Mickey with the previous memories, until an unexpected survival creates two simultaneous Mickeys, something strictly forbidden in ...
Send us a text That age-old question haunts every book lover who's watched their favorite novel get adapted to film: "Is the book really better?" For Shirley Jackson's masterpiece "The Haunting of Hill House" and its 1999 film adaptation "The Haunting," the answer is complicated by fascinating behind-the-scenes copyright issues that forced filmmakers to create something almost entirely different from both the source novel and the beloved 1963 film adaptation. Orlando and I dive into this str...
Send us a text Lawrence Wright's "Going Clear: Scientology, Hollywood and the Prison of Belief" pulls back the curtain on Scientology's most guarded secrets, revealing a world where science fiction becomes religious doctrine and Hollywood celebrities become powerful pawns in a global organization. The journey begins with Lafayette Ronald Hubbard—a charismatic science fiction writer whose creation of Dianetics evolved into a belief system involving alien spirits called Thetans and promises of...
Send us a text Margaret Atwood's chilling vision of a dystopian America transformed into the theocratic Republic of Gilead has captivated readers since 1985, but how does this haunting story translate from page to screen? Diving deep into both the original novel and its acclaimed Hulu adaptation, this episode explores the fascinating creative choices that shape our understanding of Offred's nightmare. From the stunning watercolor imagery of Renee Nault's graphic novel adaptation to the contr...
Send us a text In a snow-covered suburb of 1981 Sweden, a bullied boy finds an unlikely ally in the mysterious girl next door who only appears after dark. This seemingly simple premise launches us into the haunting world of "Let the Right One In," a vampire tale unlike any other. John Ajvide Lindqvist's 2004 novel and its acclaimed 2008 Swedish film adaptation both weave an unforgettable story of childhood loneliness, predation, and the desperate human need for connection. While most vampire...
Send us a text Candice Carty-Williams' acclaimed novel Queenie takes on new life in its 2024 television adaptation, offering viewers and readers two complementary visions of one powerful story. Following a 25-year-old Jamaican-British woman navigating the complexities of modern life in London, both versions capture the raw emotional journey of finding yourself when caught between cultures. What makes this adaptation particularly fascinating is how thoughtfully it re imagines key aspects of Q...
Send us a text The age-old question of whether books truly outshine their film adaptations takes an intriguing turn with "Our Towns," a fascinating exploration of America's overlooked communities. Unlike traditional adaptations, this HBO Max documentary serves as a complementary companion to James and Deborah Fallows' non-fiction journey across the United States. For five years, the Fallows traveled to dozens of small cities and towns that rarely make national headlines, documenting how thes...
Send us a text What makes a horror story truly terrifying? Is it supernatural elements like Satan and witchcraft, or the painfully realistic portrayal of psychological manipulation? In this special guest-hosted episode of Books vs Movies, Orlando delivers a compelling breakdown of Rosemary's Baby that might forever change how you view this classic horror tale. The 1967 novel by Ira Levin and its 1968 film adaptation directed by Roman Polanski tell essentially the same story—a young woman bec...
Send us a text Discover the spine-chilling world of Stephen King's "Doctor Sleep" in my latest episode, where I delve into the rich narrative of trauma, redemption, and supernatural terror. As I compare the novel to the critically acclaimed 2019 film adaptation, directed by Mike Flanagan, I unpack the complex character dynamics and haunting experiences that shape the journey of Danny Torrance and Abra Stone. Both narratives uncover the pain of addiction and the shadows of the past while weavi...
Send us a text Join me for a riveting journey through Colson Whitehead’s poignant narrative of “The Underground Railroad.” As we peel back the layers of this complex story, listeners will discover the stark contrasts between the original novel and its breathtaking miniseries adaptation. Reflecting on the harrowing experience of Cora, a slave escaping from a Georgia plantation, we unpack how Whitehead transforms the metaphor of freedom into a literal Underground Railroad. The transformative jo...
Send us a text What if your favorite movie could turn into a slightly disappointing experience just because of a trailer that gave away too much? Join me, Lluvia, as I bring you on a cinematic journey through my top 10 films of 2024, kicking off with the suspense-filled "Speak No Evil." While James McAvoy’s performance was nothing short of captivating, the movie stumbled due to spoilers and frustrating character flaws. And what happens when nostalgia meets comedy? "Sonic the Hedgehog 3" races...
Send us a textJoin me, Lluvia, as I navigate the tangled web of movie critiques and reviews, tackling these questions and more in my latest episode of Books vs Movies. I'll share my journey through 2024's theatrical releases, uncovering the top 10 films that left me less than impressed. From the unnecessary continuation of beloved series like "Kung Fu Panda 4" to the pitfalls of sequels over saturating the cinematic landscape, there’s plenty to unpack. I'm also on a quest to find the best pla...
Send us a textJoin us as we welcome Moshe, a multifaceted theatrical professional, who shares his passion for musicals and their cinematic journeys. Prepare to uncover the fascinating world of theater prop management and how adaptations can breathe new life into stage productions, drawing in fresh audiences. We discuss the highs and lows of film adaptations, spotlighting "Dreamgirls" as a success story while "Mean Girls" misses the mark, and consider the unique inspirations behind these adapt...
Send us a textWhat if books and theater had the power to change lives? Join me, Lluvia, as I promise a journey through my top 10 favorite books of 2024, where stories leap off the page and into your heart. From a whimsical adventure in "Ollie's Odyssey" by William Joyce to the hauntingly beautiful love story in "Swimming in the Dark" by Tomasz Jedrowski, I explore how contemporary literature captures the spectrum of human experience. Expect a special El Paso mention in "Our Towns" by James an...
Send us a textEver been let down by a book that had all the promise but none of the payoff? That's exactly what happened to me, Lluvia, as I navigated through my top 10 least favorite books of 2024. It wasn't just a list of grievances but a journey through the personal tastes that shape our reading experiences. From the whirlwind yet predictable romance in "Lucky Leap Day" by Anne-Marie Walker to the art history depths that failed to keep me engaged in Laura Cumming's "Thunderclap," these rea...
Send us a text Imagine stepping onto a perfect, hidden beach and feeling your life accelerate—years slipping by in hours, bodies racing ahead of minds, and secrets surfacing as quickly as the tide. That’s the uneasy heart of Sandcastle and Old, and we dig into why the same premise lands so differently on the page and on screen. We trace how the graphic novel’s eerie hints—a watcher on the cliff, a fleeting mention of a hotel—become the film’s full-blown surveillance network and resort pipelin...
