July 12, 2011
Thanks to an interview with writer Steve Kloves on Collider.com we know a bit more about the upcoming (2012) film The Amazing Spider-Man.
You should go read the interview yourself, but here's the important bit that was important to me:
"I wrote this [The Amazing Spider-Man screenplay] very, very naturalistically. A lot of humor, but naturalistic humor, not jokes. But really trying to make them seem like real characters."
In the interview we also learn that Kloves mostly worked on character and dialogue. If you don't know who Kloves is you can check out his full IMDb. Most notably he wrote The Wonderboys screenplay and all but one of the Harry Potter movies.
Converting a well-loved book into a film is not unlike translating a well-loved character. Watch the differences Kloves makes in the move from the Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince book into the screenplay.
Excerpt from Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince novel:
(Rowling J.K., Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince, U.K.: Bloomsburry, 2005.)
"Now ... you came to ask me for help, Narcissa?"
"Yes, Severus. I -I think you are the only one who can help me, I have nowhere else to turn. Lucius is in jail and ..."
"The Dark Lord has forbidden me to speak of it," Narcissa continued, her eyes still closed. "He wishes none to know of the plan. It is ... very secret. But"
"If he has forbidden it, you ought not to speak," said Snape at once. "The Dark Lord's word is law."
...
"There!" she said triumphantly to her sister. "Even Snape says so: you were told not to talk, so hold your silence!"
"It so happens that I know of the plan,"
...
"Aren't you listening, Narcissa? Oh, he'll try, I'm sure ... the usual empty words, the usual slithering out of action ... oh, on the Dark Lord's orders, of course!"
"Certainly, Narcissa, I shall make the Unbreakable Vow," he said quietly. "Perhaps your sister will consent to be our Bonder,"
Now compare that to the same scene in the movie:
Narcissa: I know I ought not to be here. The Dark Lord himself forbade me to speak of this.
Snape: If the Dark Lord has forbidden it, you are not to speak. (Bellatrix picks up a clock) Put it down, Bella, we mustn't touch what isn't ours. As it so happens, I am aware of your situation, Narcissa.
Bellatrix: You? The Dark Lord told you?
...
Bellatrix: Swear to it. Make the unbreakable vow. It's just empty words. He'll give it his best effort, but when it matters most, he'll just slither back to a hole. Coward.
Snape: Take out your wand.
This is what Kloves means about naturalistic. Notice the bit of humour when Bellatrix picks up the clock. It's not a joke exactly, but situational humour that requires an actor's delivery. See how much tighter the writing is even when much of the wording is similar. The movie dialogue isn't quite as lofty. Real people don't say "Certainly, I shall make the Unbreakable Vow." The film's dialogue is much more direct.
I'm a big fan of this kind of writing for a Spider-Man movie. My Spider-Man doesn't make quips and puns, though he is funny. My Spider-Man isn't some goofy caricature. My Spider-Man is funny in spite of himself.
But what do you think? Does Steve Kloves bode well for The Amazing Spider-Man?
Originally posted on BrokenFrontier.com.