Corsame Lane

There are a great number of inspiring real life stories that have been turned into films. Many have drawn upon written autobiographies and tales passed down through the generations. Good examples include the political thriller Veronica Guerin and Malcom X, both of which were positively acclaimed. However, this article provided by Love Reading reveals that the power of some tales has been lost in translation.

1492 Conquest Of Paradise

There is a great deal of excellent source material regarding Christopher Columbus. Much of it was used in the writing of The Race To The New World: Christopher Columbus, John Cabot and a Lost History of Discovery by the historian Douglas Hunter. Perhaps the film retelling would have been better if Director Ridley Scott hadn’t seen fit to embellish the facts and invent enemies.

Alexander

There are many historical textbooks that shed light on the life and times of Alexander the Great. Few address the sexual orientation of the ruler to the same extent as this film. You will also struggle to find mention of the Irish accent used by Colin Farrell in the adaptation.

Backbeat

In recent years a number of top quality films about the early years of the Beatles have been released. There’s Nowhere Boy starring the fresh faced Aaron Johnson as John Lennon and George Harrison: Living In The Material World, directed by Martin Scorcese. However, you will find out more about the relationship between Lennon and Stuart Sutcliffe by reading texts by Allistair Taylor and Philip Norman, rather than watching Ian Hart’s Backbeat.

The Boy In Blue

You could gear up for the upcoming Olympics by watching entertaining sporting flicks such as Chariots of Fire or On A Clear Day. However, it is best avoiding this film about a Canadian rower which is painfully predictable and clichéd. For a greater insight into the motivations of the multiple medal winner you should check out Wendy Lewis’s book, Fire On The Water.

Great Balls Of Fire

Perhaps film maker Jim Mcbride should have shelved the Myra Lewis’s book, Great Balls of Fire, instead of adapting it for the big screen. Although the movie is at times entertaining, it shares flaws with it’s subject Jerry Lee Lewis, who was known as  a muddled character. One critic said that people interested in the history of rock and roll should look elsewhere.

The Babe

Sports writer Leigh Monteville recently released a biography of the Big Bam to critical acclaim. Unfortunately the film about Babe Ruth wasn’t received so positively. The critics pointed out that despite John Goodman’s humorous credentials, he was too big for the part of the superstar baseball player.

The Doors

The music created by Jim Morison, John Densmore and Robby Krieger has captured the interest of various writers over the years. Most fans are in agreement that their legacy was better recognised by author Ben Fong Torres than film maker Oliver Stone. The casting of  Kyle MacLachlan was particularly questionable.