Trailers trailers all the trailers

It seems that there are quite a few awesome novel adaptations coming out this Christmas and during the New Year, and my goodness me am I excited. 

In honour of this, trailer posting/synopsis time, as well as adding "must buy these books" to my growing list of books.

Anna Karenina, Leo Tolstoy (adapted by Tom Stoppard, directed by Joe Wright)

I just saw the trailer for this today, and basically any ideas I had about being productive (putting on a load of washing, sewing another curtain, etc) have just gone out the window. I am now watching the trailer again, going through the cast list, and all that.

I wrote about this last year, and now the trailer's come out I'm doubly excited. The cast has changed somewhat from what I read on The Guardian, from memory, but who cares. Teddy Lupin/Luke Newbery is in this! The Potter fans got what they asked for. Maybe. I don't know. WHO CARES TEDDY LUPIN GETS SCREEN TIME.

Right, okay, definitely not the only reason I'm watching this. I'm watching this because the book was magnificent (which I already own, thanks to the challenge last year), and because Tom Stoppard wrote the screenplay. I don't know about you, but that is just instant joy to me. Joe Wright also makes me extremely happy, and I'm looking forward to another game of 'count how many symbolic hand shots he uses'. 

The general plot is, as follows, stolen from my previous post because I am a lazy sod.

The sensual, rebellious Anna renounces a respectable yet stifling marriage for an affair that offers passion even as it ensnares her for destruction. Her story contrasts with that of Levin, a young, self- doubting agnostic who takes a different path to fulfillment. 

For more about the plot summary, Sparknotes has it down. Or, you know, read the book. Even though it's daunting, it is well worth it.

Click on the picture, it should take you to Booktopia's page for it. 

The film is apparently out next January for the Australian folk (17th, to be precise).

Les Miserables, Victor Hugo (adapted by William Nicholson and others, directed by Tom Hooper)

I have not seen the musical, I have not read the book. Everything I know about this comes from the recently released trailer. 

But... wow. Wow does it look good.

I've sneakily read what it's about (I love me some spoilers) and I am currently buying the book.

The cast looks awesome (okay, Russell Crowe perhaps not but he could always surprise me) and I am just so excited.

Plot premise, as stolen from Wikipedia. (I could have put the entire plot summary, but that thing spans for miles).

Jean Valjean, a Frenchman imprisoned for stealing bread, has broken his parole and must flee from police Inspector Javert. The pursuit consumes both men's lives, and after two decades on the run, Valjean finds himself in the midst of the 1832 June Rebellion in Paris.

For a longer summary, Sparknotes again. Want to buy the book, as I am doing?

This copy also lives at Booktopia.
The film is set to be released on the 26th of December this year, for Australian audiences.

The Great Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald (adapted by Baz Lurhmann and Craig Pearce, directed by Baz Luhrmann)

I am a huge, huge fan of Baz Luhrmann. Even after the epically long 'epic' that was Australia, he does no wrong in my eyes. Why? He made Moulin Rouge. He made Romeo and Juliet. And he made Strictly Ballroom. For those three, I can forgive him Australia. I'm hoping for this film, he's going back to the more red curtain style that he did for his good films - they were the reason I became besotted with anything made by him, and partly why I'm so excited for this.
As I said a couple of days ago, I haven't read Gatsby, because I have a small fear I won't enjoy the movie. But you know what? I don't care any more. I'm buying the book and I'm reading it before the movie comes out, because I have at least a 6 month wait and that is too darn long.
Everyone probably is aware of the cast already, but for those who are unaware, Leonardo DiCaprio is Gatsby, and Carey Mulligan is Daisy, and Tobey Maguire is Nick, our illustrious narrator.

Plot summary, stolen from MovieWeb.com:

The Great Gatsby follows Fitzgerald-like, would-be writer Nick Carraway as he leaves the Midwest and comes to New York City in the spring of 1922, an era of loosening morals, glittering jazz and bootleg kings. Chasing his own American Dream, Nick lands next door to a mysterious, party-giving millionaire, Jay Gatsby and across the bay from his cousin, Daisy and her philandering, blue-blooded husband, Tom Buchanan. It is thus that Nick is drawn into the captivating world of the super rich, their illusions, loves and deceits. As Nick bears witness, within and without the world he inhabits, he pens a tale of impossible love, incorruptible dreams and high-octane tragedy, and holds a mirror to our own modern times and struggles.

As before, a detailed summary lives at Sparknotes.
I adore this copy of the book, from Book Depository.

However, if you want a similar one from a local retailer, Booktopia's is here.
Australian audiences, you'll be able to see the film around the 10th of January next year.

I don't think I've ever been so excited for December and January.

30 Days of Books, Day 23.

[A book you've wanted to read for a while but still haven't.]

Two for you today, because it's Indecisive Sunday here.

Firstly...

The sensual, rebellious Anna renounces a respectable yet stifling
marriage for an affair that offers passion even as it
ensnares her for destruction. Her story contrasts with that of Levin,
a young, self- doubting agnostic who takes a different path to fulfillment. 

Why I want to read it: The storyline looks to be fantastic. Of course, I've had any spoilers well and truly spoilt after reading both the Wikipedia entry and the Sparknotes entry, but kaphwoar this looks to be great reading. The majority of reviews on Goodreads declare it perfection, Dostoevsky described it as "flawless as a work of art", and it has been criticised countless times, referenced in myriad novels, and adapted into film, TV, opera, radio, ballet, theatre and a not-so-well-received stage musical. 

Even the Quirks got a hold of it.

I'll admit it: there is something in me that wants to read it for the sake of reading a Tolstoy. When I'm invited to a literary party (you know, the sort that Gary Shteyngart trains his writing students for), it will be bliss to go, "Oh? Tolstoy? Yes, I've read Tolstoy. Who hasn't?" 

But that's only a small part. The majority of me responded to this:

hypocrisy, jealousy, faith, fidelity, family, marriage, society, progress, carnal desire and passion

and said, "I NEED TO READ THIS BOOK RIGHT NOW."

Why I haven't read it yet: Alongside my "Of course I've read Tolstoy; are you still reading Twilight?" snobbery that I jokingly long for, there's the fear.

What fear? you ask. 

If you buy the Penguin Classics version, it's 864 pages. I've felt how thin these pages are, too. They're borderline tissue-paper. Probably just a tiny bit thicker than the pages in my Bible. Of course, it's not as daunting as War and Peace in this same version (1440 pages, thin as rice paper). Still, very daunting.

Other things that I've realised in writing this post: Joe Wright is making a movie out of this. The cast is reportedly as follows:

Keira Knightley (Anna), Jude Law (her husband, Karenin), Matthew MacFadyen (Oblonsky), Kelly Macdonald (his wife, Dolly), Olivia Williams (Countess Vronskaya, Vronsky’s mother), Saoirse Ronan (Kitty, Dolly’s sister), Aaron Johnson (Anna’s lover, Vronsky), Andrea Riseborough (Princess Betsy) and Domhnall Gleeson (Levin).

Of course Keira is the leading lady (Joe Wright, be creative! Find someone new!). Extremely excited for yet another Matthew MacFadyen drool-fest (though, once again... be creative, Joe). Apparently Kitty and Levin marry one another... I tell you, I'm going to be getting so confused throughout this entire movie. "NO! LIZZIE, STOP KISSING WATSON. GO BACK TO MR DARCY. Incidentally, why is Mr Darcy with the Grey Lady? AND BRIONY YOU ARE NOT FLEUR STOP ATTEMPTING TO SEDUCE BILL."

If that's the correct pairings, anyway.

However, I'm most excited about Tom Stoppard writing the script. Squee x a million.

Next up...

Falsely accused of treason, the young sailor Edmond Dantes is
arrested on his wedding day and imprisoned in the island
fortress of the Chateau d'If. Having endured years of
incarceration, he stages a daring and dramatic escape and
sets out to discover the fabulous treasure of
Monte Cristo, and to catch up with his enemies.

Why I want to read it: This book seems to be the great adventure novel I've been searching high and low for. I don't know much about it to see how accurate that is. Once again, Goodreads made it look very promising, as did a quick Wikipedia scan (I didn't read too much for fear of spoilers. I refuse to have this one spoiled). It looks like it's going to be filled with brilliantly written characters, which is my absolute favourite thing when reading.

Character relations in the novel (click to enlarge. You'll need to).
The saying "it's a small world after all" clearly came from
a fan of this book.

My friend Joshua has been extremely inspired by this book, and has urged me countless times to read it. Much to his dismay, I still haven't actively hunted for it and haven't bought it when it's been right in front of my face. (I can still remember the day when I bought a Sophie Kinsella novel instead of this one. He nearly cried.) So that's another reason: I sort of promised him I would before I died.

Why I haven't read it yet: I'll chalk this one up to laziness, and there always being an easier read around. Case in point, I'll choose chick-lit over something that will stimulate my mind more. (No offense, chick-lit writers. I'm probably going to be one of you anyway.) With books like this, I have an, "Eh, next time" frame of mind as I'm scouring libraries. I nearly missed out on the joys of Jane Eyre, The Virgin Suicides, and Pride and Prejudice as a result of this, but still I persist in this way of thinking.

Other things I realised in writing this post: Jim Caviezel (aka Guy Who Starred in A Movie Once With Jennifer Lopez, But Who Is More Commonly Recognised Due To Playing Jesus in The Passion Of The Christ) is in the most recent (?) film adaptation.

Guy on the right.
Who is guy on the left, though? And can I have his sword?

Apparently, he makes the ladies swoon.

Caviezel outwardly is calm, but inside is frantically
trying to remember the DRABC method.

The question remains... when will you get around to reading these books?

Oh, all right. Stop twisting my arm. I'll aim to do it by this time next year, okay?

I have a full list of books I've been meaning to read but keep forgetting to. But I'll put these ones first, because I love you all.