I read the book years ago when it first came out, yes very dark and similar in some ways to the futuristic Handmaid's Tale.
I like Clive Owen and have seen previews, but I doubt that the movie will actually make it to our small town, so I will have to wait for the DVD rental from Netflix.

Pat

I saw the previews for the movie when we went to see Casino Royale a couple of weeks ago. After the movie, we ended up at the bookstore, which just happened to have a copy of the book sitting right by the front door, so I bought it. It was hard to resist with Clive Owen looking at me from the book cover. I haven't had time to read it, though.

I was going to ask about this book having seen it at Borders. Quite a few books are popping up lately that have had movies come out based on them. How about The Painted Veil by S. Maughm? I've never read anything but short stories before but that sounds very good. Also I think I'll take Martin's recommend and read Notes On A Scandal. Perhaps all these book based movies may get a few more people reading...dare I hope?

Don't we wish! :) Actually, this isn't a new phenomenom. If you look at movies from the first 50 years, you'll see a slew of them based from books (or plays). It started changing a bit after that, tho it does seem like more movies are doing it again. Maybe coz their own orignal work is so horrid lately that they need to go to a better source for their material :)

My other online reading group is discussing Painted Veil in a few months. I picked up the book and and felt like I was reading Banville - which for me isn't a good thing. But I'll give it another try. I do know that Maugham was very popular, and find it interesting that he is coming back.

I wonder about the nets influence on the titles of books and movies. We have so many outlets now for finding what we'd like to read and watch. It seems as if more and more, I am finding 'new' writers from decades ago appearing in posts and blogs. This might be why we are also seeing more movies based on books (rather than my rather snarky reason above). And this is a good thing.

I also read the book years ago and found it similar in subect to The Handmaid's Tale - haven't yet read 'The Road' but expect to be reminded of both texts when I do.
1984 is I think the most terrifying so far because we are now living - in, and on the edge of, Oceania.

Jankin, I eagerly await your commentary after you find time to read "The Road." I'm still pondering it....

I have never read the book but I saw the movie. Not a happy movie! Very thought-provoking and action packed, but also very graphic and violent. I think the book would be even more depressing because books have more impact on me.

I saw the movie also. Dreary, depressing and violent. I was tricked into going by the presence of excellent actors like Julianne Moore and Michael Caine. Don't let that fool you. They had very small (though significant) roles. -- Kathy

I'm going to read the book because I've heard it was quite good. The movie is another story. Clive Owen was very good, but in general the movie was awful.

The problem? It had FIVE screenwriters and it showed. Think of movie-by-committee. One guy was put in charge of biblical references, another political message, another environmental messages, another dropping in references to Nazi Germany ..... well, you get the idea.

I discussed the movie with a friend of mine just to confirm my major issue with the movie - unanswered questions piled up like cordwood and soon I was looking around for a match. The director said that he felt moviegoers were smart enough to figure things out for themselves. True, but you gotta give viewers dots to connect. All kinds of things were thrown out there and while you were struggling to find a piece for the puzzle, three more were thrown your way.

The world went to hell in a handbasket, leaving only England limping along with some semblance of social order. What destroyed the world? Nuclear....environmental....meteroite?
If England is basically an island how did the hoards of Fugees (refugees) make it to their shores?
Why haven't any babies been born in 18 years? Give us a clue.
Do the writers undertstand the difference between illegal aliens and refugees?
Who were the people that ambused the convoy? Obviously rebels with what affiliation?
Who's the woman in the wheelchair and why was she tortured and what her relationship with Clive Ownens character?
Clive Owen was an activist...again...political, environmental...what?

In the middle of the movie Michael Caine's aging hippie character had a line that was the most interesting thought in the movie - - "How do we have hope when sometimes our existence and that of those we love comes down to chance?"

Expand on that thought, make that movie. It would have been much more interesting.

There's the trite "fat cat dines while Rome burns" scene, replete with a huge fat pink pig balloon wafting over London. Dumb.

The ending was so.....there aren't words to describe it, but a teenager sitting near me turned to his father and said, "That ending would only be profound if you were smoking Michael Caine's weed!"

There have been so many more effective dystopic movies made over the years. Take a pass on this one. I will however, read the book.

In answer to your 'why the fertility', if I recall correctly, the book doesn't offer an explanation. But its been a while since I read it.

Just been reading through this thread as I was unfamiliar with the book and find that in the ten previous 'follow-ups' there is not ONE mention of the author of Children of Men.
I know I could look it up, but perhaps someone would humour me!

Hee - P.D. James, an author known more for her decective/mystery books rather than futuristic tales.