Films based on the books of Ray Bradbury: the best adaptations, audience reviews

2024 Author: Leah Sherlock | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 05:25

The famous American writer became famous for his fantastic works, especially the dystopia "451 degrees Fahrenheit" and the cycle of stories "The Martian Chronicles". In different countries, many films based on the books of Ray Bradbury were released, the list of which has about a hundred. Moreover, even in the Soviet Union, several feature and animated films were shot based on his works.

"Fahrenheit 451" (1966)

One of the most famous films based on the book by Ray Brabury, was the first and only work in English by French director François Truffaut. It was also his first color painting. Film critics reacted ambiguously to the film. Famed director Martin Scorsese felt the work was underappreciated and had a strong influence on his own paintings. Bradbury was pleased with the adaptation, howevernoted that it was a big mistake to invite Julie Christie, who played Clarissa, and Linda Montag, to play two roles at the same time. In the feedback from the audience, it is noted that the director of the French "new wave" managed to correctly convey the mood of people and the motivation for actions under the yoke of totalitarian power. And that the system, proclaiming the goal of making people happier, actually breaks human destinies.

The action takes place in the world of the future, where the storage, reading of books is prohibited by law, and firefighters are engaged in their destruction. Young fire sergeant Guy Montag (Oscar Werner) is hard at work, though he secretly keeps a few books at home. He meets a charming girl Clarissa, communication with which more and more convinces the guy of the senselessness of the work of destroying books. Guy thinks about the meaning of life and soon he himself falls under persecution for dissent.

"The Man in Pictures" (1969)

The picture is based on three stories of the writer from the collection "Man in Pictures" - "Veld", "Tomorrow is the end of the world" and "Endless rain". The reviews for this film, based on the works of Ray Bradbury, note that this is an excellent film adaptation, in which the short stories of the science fiction writer are screened as authentically as possible.

Young guy Willy (Robert Drivas) meets strange man Carl (Rod Steiger), tattooed from head to toe. He is looking for a woman, Felicia (Claire Bloom), who gave him tattoos. If carefullylook at tattoos, they show the future…

"That's the Way Evil Comes" (1983)

The title of the film based on the book by Ray Bradery is borrowed from the tragedy by William Shakespeare. Initially, the writer wrote the script for the American actor Gene Kelly. However, he could not find the money for filming, and Bradbury rewrote the story in the form of a novel. Subsequently, the film was nevertheless filmed, and the writer was directly involved in the filming of some episodes.

In a small town, two boys - Will (Vidal Peterson) and Jim (Shawn Carson) - are trying to figure out the mysteries of a sinister carnival that has arrived in town. Its owner, Mr. Duck (Jonathan Pryce), invites the townspeople to fulfill their childhood wishes. As reviewers noted, the film retained the mystical atmosphere of the original, and the creators got a scary children's fairy tale.

"Ray Bradbury Theater" (1985-1992)

In six seasons, 65 short films based on Ray Bradbury's books were released. Many of his works have been adapted into television series. The writer himself acted as a screenwriter, producer, participated in the casting of actors and even directly in the process of filming. Bradbury appeared at the beginning of each film with a brief introduction, talking about the plot and sometimes participating in skits.

The audience noted the great creative range of the writer, since each series is a separate story, one film can be just like a child'shorror stories, another space opera or drama. And some stories are full-fledged horror. On the other hand, the diversity of plots of various styles and genres caused a negative reaction from some critics. However, for those who want to quickly get acquainted with the work of the famous writer, the series has become a real gift.

"Dandelion Wine" (1997)

This four-episode television film based on the book by Ray Bradbury, which was filmed over the course of seven years, has had a difficult fate. The picture was the last work of the great Soviet actor Innokenty Smoktunovsky, who played Colonel Firlei. The role had to be voiced by Sergei Bezrukov. According to the audience, the character of Smoktunovsky became the brightest image, whose digression into the past painted vivid pictures of bygone days for curious children.

The film takes place in the middle of the 20th century in a small provincial American town around four boys: brothers Tom (Sergey Kuznetsov) and Douglas (Andrey Kuznetsov) Spalding and their friends. Grandfather (Vladimir Zeldin) and grandmother Esther (Vera Vasilyeva) prepare the famous wine from dandelions, after drinking which a person begins to feel the world around him in a different way. The audience noted the good play of the actors, who managed to create a unique atmosphere of Bradbury's works, despite the modesty of the scenery.

"Neon Life" (2001)

Several animated films based on books by Ray Bradbury have been filmed in various countries. Russian animatorscreated a film adaptation based on the story "The Martian Chronicles". The audience noted that the filmmakers were able to create an interesting fantasy world with intricate characters.

The owner of the diner SAM became the last person left on Mars. The neon sign features the infinity symbol. The Martians fly through it in flying shuttles, and one day they invited a man to fly with them.

"Thunder Came" (2005)

Ray Bradbury's highest-budget film flopped at the box office, grossing only $10 million at a cost of $80 million. As one reviewer wrote about this adaptation, it's a ridiculous adaptation of a brilliant story. The picture was filmed for a long time, in 2002, during filming in Prague, a severe flood began, which paralyzed not only the work of the film group, but the whole of Europe. Actors and scenery were damaged, as a result, the filming process was delayed.

In the distant future, time travel becomes a daily reality for we althy people. They can go on a prehistoric safari led by Travis Ryer (Edward Burns) where they can kill a dinosaur that should in reality be dead in a few minutes. It is only necessary to follow the rule - do not change anything in the past. Because even a crushed butterfly can lead to global changes in evolution.

"Fahrenheit 451" (2018)

In the pastA new film based on Ray Bradbury's novel was released in 2008 and received many negative reviews from critics. They noted that, apart from a good visual range, there is practically nothing to note in the picture. Viewers in their reviews wrote that there was practically nothing left of the book. But if we perceive the film as a separate story, and not as a screen adaptation, then such a departure from the content of Bradbury's work, from the work of which, in fact, only the world remains, where books are destroyed by a team of firefighters, is perhaps quite justified.

The action of the film, based on the book by Ray Bradbury, moved to our near future. The main character is now black fireman Guy Montag (Michael B. Jordan). During one of the raids, on a tip from an informant, Clarissa (Sofia Boutella), they find a huge library. Out of curiosity, Guy takes one of the books for himself. Having made friends with a girl, he begins to doubt the correctness of his life. The audience noted that the main conflict in the film is the relationship between Guy and his boss, Fire Chief Beatty (Michael Shannon), who feels good within the system. He reads forbidden literature and even quotes some authors.