Roald Dahl: Esio Trot
The Book: Far gentler than most on this list, Esio Trot is the story of Mr Hoppy, an old man, in love with Mrs Silver. Mrs Silver lives in a flat below with her pet tortoise, Alfie.
The story follows Mr Hoppy’s attempts to win Mrs Silver’s hand in marriage. These attempts involve an elaborate magic tortoise scam. Well, if he’d just asked her to dinner it wouldn’t have been much of a story, would it?
The Movie: Directed by Jean-Pierre Jeunet, the film has an arts-and-crafts feel to it. Flicking between animated felt collages and real-life, it slightly over-indulges on the tortoise theme, but we enjoy it anyway.
It’s quaint and family-friendly, without the syrupy sentimentality usually associated with these sorts of films.
Sample Dialogue:
Mrs Silver (after having accepted Mr Hoppy’s marriage proposal): “It’s all due to Alfie.”
Mr Hoppy: “Good old Alfie. We’ll keep him forever.”
Next: Generation X
Comments
minorityreport
Jul 16th 2009, 11:19
Interesting feature, but just one thing with regard to Thief Of Time: Death isn't Susan's father, he's her grandfather.
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crowbar990
Jul 16th 2009, 12:50
thanks total film, had heard of d wasp factory from a friend, had been planning on reading it, now youve saved me the bother by giving away the ending to fill up another useless top ten to flesh out your website, this site and your mag are going downhill at a rate of knots.
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Ostrich
Jul 16th 2009, 13:33
How about Necroscope? Centres around a young boy called Harry who can speak to the dead. Written waaaaaaay before Harry Potter, for adults, and very good.
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lpatterson
Jul 16th 2009, 15:23
Oops, good spot, minorityreport! Sorry about giving it away crowbar990, but we gave a synopsis for all the others. We'll be sure to put a spoiler alert on next time.
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Catchphrase
Jul 16th 2009, 16:38
I've been saying The Wind Singer would make an awesome film for ages now, THANKYOU for agreeing with me. I hope, if someone ever decides to make it a film, that it actually works :(
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somewhatfrail
Jul 16th 2009, 22:07
Absolutely YES to The Wasp Factory. It was the book that got me into Iain Banks' work and I haven't looked back since. His sci-fi would make some cracking cinema as well, in my opinon, either Consider Phlebas or Look To Windward.
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Mrmotion
Jul 17th 2009, 19:09
Oh good- another pointless article to flesh out the website. When it's not horrible speculation and 'what ifs' its terrible film reviews. Get back to delivering news on upcoming films!
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booradley
Aug 4th 2009, 1:31
Franny & Zooey should be a wonderful film but lotsa luck getting salinger to sign off on it.
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thedicewoman
Mar 28th 2011, 13:24
SECONDED. crowbar990 Jul 16th 2009, 12:50 thanks total film, had heard of d wasp factory from a friend, had been planning on reading it, now youve saved me the bother by giving away the ending to fill up another useless top ten to flesh out your website, this site and your mag are going downhill at a rate of knots. Read more: Film features: 10 Great Books That Could Be Movies | TotalFilm.com
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