The teaser for the the movie Jumper, based on Steven Gould's books Jumper and Reflex, has hit the net.
I really, really like the books, so when I heard there was going to be a movie I was excited, and then worried. As with any book to film transition there is going to be changes. But they made some really big changes with this one.
In the original book, a teenaged Davey first learns of his ability to jump (aka teleport) when trying to get away from his physically abusive father. Through the two books he learns how to use his powers, falls in love, gets involved in thwarting some international terrorists, and tries to avoid an organization that has caught on to his unusual traveling capabilities. Throughout these books he is the only person to be able to teleport, and the government has one hell of a time trying to figure out what he is and how to detain him.
In this upcoming movie, he is but one of many teleporters that have been pursued throughout history by some secret society that kills any teleporters they find.
The original books had more than enough story to fill out a super exciting Hollywood crapfest,so I don't see why they had to add extra plot devices like this. Maybe if they made the first movie, and it did well, then wanted to expand upon it...
The author of the books, Steven Gould, wrote a new Jumper book to tie in with the new movie. Jumper: Griffin's Story gives the background for one of the newly fabricated characters for the movie. This book is as good as the original Jumper books, but obviously in a different universe than them. It all reminds me of the multitude of different universes in the comic book world.
After reading Griffin's Story I had higher hopes for the movie, knowing it wouldn't be a movie truly based on Gould's books, but inspired by them. But now after seeing the mess of a teaser they put up, I'm back to being worried it'll be any good.
I know the point of a teaser is to...tease, but all this was was a bunch of special effects strung together without any cohesive story.
In the end 20th Century Fox will most likely get my money, but I still think the fucked up perfectly fine story or three. Why must Hollywood keep saying "hey this is a really good/popular book, let's make it into a movie and change it from what made it so good."?
2 comments:
Hear, hear!
I haven't read the books (yet) but this trailer doesn't do much for me - like you said, it's all just a bunch of flashes of special effects without any reason for being. I guess I need a little more story to tease me, not just action.
OMG, I watched the movie (how can you not, the special effects alone was worth it. the storyline was not he best, but still good. left me dying for more. picked up and JUST finished reading the third book. I hope more books are coming. I don't care how it comes, just give me the story....Can't wait to see what happens after "hello boys"!!!!
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