8 Phenomenal Books Begging For New Adaptations

By Samuel Clements /

5. Slaughterhouse Five

Aliens, World War Two and personal trauma; these three features would lend themselves to movies with exceptional ease. Kurt Vonnegut€™s semi-biographical account of the bombing of Dresden has become one of the most popular anti-war novels of its time, and as war seems to be a never ending component of our civilisation, it is important to remember this landmark work. The book begins and ends with the author€™s narration, and this provides an ample opportunity to create a voice over; Patrick Stewart€™s introduction of mutants in the first X-Men film (and Days of Future Past) was incredible. A similar narration would introduce us to Billy Pilgrim, and allow us o understand how he €˜has come unstuck in time.€™ A 1972 adaptation of the book was made, but the film€™s narrative is confusing due to the way in which the book is written; there is a non-chronological structure with aliens seeing time as less linear and more holistically, so the story jumps all over time and space. A modern adaptation could remedy this easily, as audiences are far more accustomed to convoluted or seemingly unlinked narratives that are tied together in a climactic scene, such as in Pulp Fiction or Love Actually. The Allied bombing of Dresden saw an entire town flattened; this drastic attack lends itself to the screen with remarkable ease as it provides a vital action scene, as well as being a pivotal component of the book.