What do you think about Christian novels being made into movies?
Since it happens so rarely in the Christian book industry, I’m always fascinated when a Christian author has a story reach the big screen.
We’re likely all familiar with Janette Oke’s Love Come Softly movies and more recently her When Calls the Heart Hallmark series.
Karen Kingsbury has had a handful of books turned into movies including: Maggie’s Christmas Miracle, A Time to Dance, The Bridge, and Like Dandelion Dust.
Beverly Lewis has The Confession, The Shunning, The Reckoning, & Saving Sarah Cain.
One of my favorite contemporary Christian romance authors, Denise Hunter, has had two Hallmark movies: The Convenient Groom and A December Bride. Robin Jones Gunn has Hallmark movies: Finding Father Christmas and Engaging Father Christmas. Just this year, another fabulous author, Rachel Hauck, had her book Once Upon a Prince made into a Hallmark movie.
Here on our Inspired by Life and Fiction blog, Deb Raney had a movie made of her debut book, A Vow to Cherish. And Lynn Austin had a Hallmark movie made of Hidden Places.
Another impressive book-to-movie feat involved Charles Martin’s The Mountain Between Us. I read the novel last year and really loved it. So when I realized there was a movie adaptation, I was eager to rent it and share the fascinating story with my family.
It wasn’t until just about a week ago that we finally had the chance to rent A Mountain Between Us. We gathered in our family room around the big screen, sprawled out on couches, blasted the central air, and prepared to be wowed…
As the movie unfolded, my family had to listen to me say with ever-increasing frequency and frustration, “That didn’t happen in the book” or “the book is way different” or “I like the characters in the book much better.”
The clincher came when the couple ended up in bed together in a very steamy sex scene (with very little left to the viewer’s imagination). (Please note: the scene was NOT in the book.) Granted, I understand that Hollywood believes sex sells movie. Unfortunately (and sadly), movie couples end up in bed so frequently, we hardly blink an eye when it happens.
However, in this case by throwing the couple into bed, Hollywood made the characters less likeable. In the book and movie, the main characters are both still highly connected to their significant others. In fact, the heroine is engaged and only a day away from her wedding when the crash occurs. Having sex with someone else while you’re engaged is cheating. Right? And cheating is pretty despicable (just ask anyone who’s ever been cheated on, and they’ll tell you how painful it is).
Unlike the movie, in the print version the characters remain faithful to the loved ones they left behind. While a bond definitely develops between the leads, they don’t act on those feelings. And that makes them even more heroic because they deny their passion, do the hard thing, and maintain boundaries.
Once they each get home, their parting is bittersweet. Of course, after much soul-searching and releasing their old relationships honorably, the lead couple finally gets their happily-ever-after.
Why, oh why, couldn’t Hollywood follow the book and portray the relationship the way it was written—based on honor? Is honor so old-fashioned nowadays that people don’t care anymore? Has cheating become so commonplace that we can excuse it, maybe even justify it?
Whatever the case, I couldn’t cheer for the couple in the movie the same way that I could for the couple in the book. For me, the book was definitely better than the movie.
Okay, so I’m stepping down from my soap-box! What about you? Have you read or watched The Mountain Between Us? What did you think? Are there other books-to-movies you watched that disappointed you?
Jody Hedlund
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I recently read “The Mountain Between Us” and absolutely loved it as well! Thankfully, I gathered from the preview that the movie was going to be much different and so steered clear of that particular disappointment :). I generally love seeing my favourite books turned into movies, but it is always pretty disappointing if they veer too far off course.
I agree! I checked the movie out from the library and talked my husband into watching it because it was such a good book. But then when the seen in bed came on I was so disappointed that they had to add that. It was such a good book without it! And the sad thing is that is is almost expected anymore in any love story on screen. I believe that is why Christian fiction is so important. Showing healthy relationships based truth and faithfulness is what needs to be promoted if we want our marriages to be lasting. This should be what non Christians want also.
Thanks for your very candid, needed remarks about this issue. I do enjoy books by Christian authors who portray Christian romances in their books. I haven’t read the book nor viewed the movie discussed here. I am amazed that the author could not have had more control over the content/outcome of her book to movie.
Charles Martin spoke about this book/movie during his speech at last year’s Christy Awards. It’s well worth the listen if anyone gets a chance (I believe it’s still available through the Christy’s Facebook page). I tend to do one or the other (read it or watch it)… and rarely do both. Sometimes I wonder if the people involved in making the movie even glanced at the book. HA!
It seems like all the movies are different than the books. I realize that there would be production issues with some scenes from the books, but to change the story happens way too often. Then it’s a whole different story and not at all like the books on which they are supposed to be based.
I have read the book but never watched the movie. With this email I won’t bother. It is truly disappointing when there are such great departures from the original book. I hope that those of us who don’t want to see steamy scenes in a movie will band together and refuse to watch this garbage. Its hard enough to see a book that you have enjoyed be distorted in a movie without the inappropriate scenes. Thank you for the warning about the movie!!
Jody – Your comments are spot on. I rarely consume both the book and movie of the same story. Partially because of time constraints, but also I want to be able to enjoy the movie without being disappointed.
I did watch The Mountain Between Us a couple years ago, and I remember enjoying the powerful story of man/woman vs. nature and how these strangers had to rely so completely upon each other and the bond that created between them. However, I, too, was gravely disappointed in both of them when they slept together.
I strongly dislike the message portrayed in many movies as well secular romance novels that if two people love each other then it’s impossible for them to deny themselves the pleasure of sex or that love somehow makes it right. You nailed it when you said the characters would be much more likable and heroic if they denied themselves the immediate gratification and held true to their commitments and moral code. I’m glad to know that this is exactly what they did in the book. Hooray!
In today’s increasingly selfish society, we need more voices speaking truth about the nobility of sacrifice and honor and doing right even when it means denying personal desires.
It’s a shame that the movie contradicted the author’s portrayal of noble characters who fight and win against sin. I’m sorry Charles Martin’s intent wasn’t honored.
C.S. Lewis once said something to the effect that the world didn’t need Christian novels as much as they needed good books by Christian authors. The same goes for movies. “Hidden Places” was made when Hallmark Hall of Fame movies stood for high-quality productions and I enjoyed it.
After a few too many crushing disappointments, I rarely watch movies of books I’ve enjoyed–I haven’t even been able to finish The Hobbit trilogy. I do make an exception if I hear the author has written the screenplay or has had significant say on how it goes (such as The Princess Bride, the animated The Last Unicorn, or the recent Good Omens)–then I will gladly watch it and try to accept the changes made for a better visual story.
Almost every single time, I am disappointed by the movie version of a book I have enjoyed. Great writing does not seem to transfer well to the big screen. I thoroughly enjoyed reading The Mountain Between Us, and am so sorry to hear that they did not stick to the storyline for the movie. The fact that their relationship did not become sexual was vital to the story! I will probably not watch this movie now, and I did intend to. Very disappointing…
I completely agree with you about the movie of The Mountain Between Us. That was the first Charles Martin book I had ever read and thoroughly enjoyed it. I was so excited to see when a movie was made. I had talked the book up to many of my friends and then really had to backtrack after I saw the movie!!!! I couldn’t believe my eyes at what they had done to that wonderful story—the worst of which was that steamy sex scene. SOOOOO Disappointed!
I read Rachel Hauck’s “The Royal Wedding” series as each installment came out and enjoyed them. I didn’t know that the adaptation of “How to Catch a Prince” had been on Hallmark Channel until after the fact.
Authors (or their literary executors if deceased) do have input on their novels being adapted for movies. It’s not common to see the author’s name as an executive producer. How the final screenplay/script comes out is its own project.
Have not read this book or seen the movie, but I wholeheartedly agree about movie adaptations. The worst I’ve seen are the movies of Richard Paul Evans’ The Mistletoe Promise and The Mistletoe Inn – absolutely awful. I assume that the author signs over all rights in these situations. Nicholas Sparks is another author whose books to movies have numerous changes, but not as bad as The Mistletoe series.
The Mountain Between Us was my first taste of Charles Martin’s brilliance. I read it several years ago. I was so excited to see Hollywood embracing his book and bringing it to life on screen, but wondered if they’d put their own spin on it. I said the same things to my family as we watched (which resulted in lots of eye rolls and “We know, we know–the book is always better than the movie!”).
Jody, thanks for getting on that soapbox – I totally agree with you and others! Rarely has a book been adapted well and since I had heard about this particular title and the changes, I’m going to pass on that movie. I adore Charles Martin’s books and don’t want someone spoiling them for me. And I have believed that the book is always better than the movie for years!
I haven’t read any books by Charles Martin yet but his books are high on my TBR list. I do remember an article regarding the movie when it first released and the author’s words about his book and the movie.
I’m not a huge moviegoer but do watch action movies with my teens and animated movies with my little one. I strongly encourage my children to read the book first then watch the movie. Even they agree that books are usually better than the movies based on those books.
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