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Amanda’s Adaptations: Will ‘Fifty Shades Of Grey’ Film Be Better Than The Book?

Fifty shades of grey

Until that long-awaited trailer arrived, much of the adaptation of Fifty Shades of Grey had been kept under wraps. The filmmakers are really trying to keep this film to themselves – probably because we have until Valentine’s Day 2015 before it actually arrives in cinemas so they don’t want people to find out too much too soon.

So, with the book by E.L. James dividing readers across the globe, will FIFTY SHADES OF GREY be the kind of adaptation which actually garners more popularity than the source text? The book seems to be loved and hated in equal measure so it will be interesting to see if people feel that in this case, contrary to the norm, the film was far better than the book.

First of all, there is Jamie Dornan to consider. Dornan, who took over from Charlie Hunnam as the intriguing Christian Grey, is an actor and former model. He also certainly has the chiselled features of Christian, something which should please many fans. Of course, with only a glimpse of the all-important on-screen chemistry between him and his co-star Dakota Johnson, it’s hard to see if those features will be enough to see him through. Johnson herself has been acting for many years – yet this will be the first time she takes centre stage on such a large scale.

It’s also worth noting that the supporting cast is a mix of relative unknowns and well-established actors like Marcia Gay Harden and Max Martini, so there is plenty of potential for both good and bad.

Arguably, one of the film’s biggest strengths is that one of the most infuriating parts of the book is the writing. Badly edited and full of laughable metaphors (that poor washing machine), it’s hard to take the book seriously and get really swept up in the delicious naughtiness and eroticism of it all. In a film adaptation, all of that goes away (hopefully!) and what’s left is the dark, sexy and alternative love story between the two main protagonists.

There was a lot of interest in just who would be taking on this film as the director. The director, especially for a film such as this, would be the one to set the tone. Will we be taking this seriously? Making it a light-hearted joke? When Sam Taylor-Wood (director of NOWHERE BOY) signed on, the film immediately gained an art-house feel.

Of course, for all that counts in the film’s favour, there is one key element which may well be the film’s downfall. One of the major reasons the book did so well was because it was a naughty treat to enjoy in private, a guilty pleasure. Sold on Kindle, women could read the story without anyone knowing what they were reading. It was escapism, it was naughty and it was private. Word spread and it became like a secret code between women who discussed it amongst themselves. Convert that onto the big screen and the privacy is lost.

After all, would you really want to take a story you enjoyed reading in secret and watch it on the big screen, surrounded by strangers?

We’ll find out next Valentine’s Day….

1 Comment

1 Comment

  1. Laters, baby! (@50Latersbaby)

    Sep 27, 2014 at 6:27 pm

    While the book may for some have been the secret book they read in private, it was also quickly a topic for discussion. I don’t think the jump from reading to watching in a theatre with strangers is that far for most people. I think there are a lot of people who are curious, but don’t want to dedicate the time to reading the book. But, they’ll be curious enough to spend 2 hours on it.

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