Thanks to Mike’s recommendation I read the book by Scott B. Smith that The Ruins (official site) is based on. I thought the book was one of the more entertaining fiction books I’ve read in a long time. I didn’t want to put it down once I started reading. I read the whole thing in one week (over half of it in one day).I’ve been hearing a LOT of really good things about the movie. I’ve been hearing people talk about how this isn’t your average horror film and how this is a different kind of scary movie. Well, after reading the book I could certainly see how this movie could be something special so I got back on Pop Critics (shameless self plug) and checked out the articles Mike had done on the movie and watched the trailers for the film (Scott B. Smith’s “The Ruinsâ€Â? trailer, New poster and Red Band trailer for horror flick ‘The Ruins’)
Unfortunately, I’m just really confused now. If you’ve read the book and seen the trailers you probably know what I’m talking about. They seem to have completely rewritten major elements of the plot and story for the screen. The ruins themselves do not seem to be anything like they are described in the book. In the film, one of the has a cell phone. In the book they specifically mention how they do not have a cell phone and it actually plays an important role in part of the story. They also changed another one of the fundamental story dynamics when they had the “vine” get inside one of the girls in the movie (at least according to the trailer). This is completely different from the book.
Having said all that, I should mention that the author of the book is the one who wrote the screenplay. I’m guessing they had reasons for changing the things they changed. I’m not sure if they were good reasons, though. I really enjoyed the book so I can’t see how those changes could make it any better.
At any rate, we have a bunch of new images from the film so check ‘em out:
The Ruins stars Jonathan Tucker (The Black Donnellys), Jena Malone (Pride and Prejudice), Shawn Ashmore (X-Men: The Last Stand), Laura Ramsey (She’s the Man) and Joe Anderson (Across the Universe). The film is directed by Carter Smith from a screenplay by Scott B. Smith.
The Ruins opens in theaters on April 18, 2008.
Glad you liked the book man, this movie is going to be friggin’ CREEPY.
Yay, another PG-13 horror movie! I was just thinking to myself–we need ANOTHER generic PG-13 horror movie…
Thank goodness “The Ruins” is coming!
Generic?
You obviously didn’t read the book…might want to before you knock it.
We’ve just had a lot of discussion weeks ago about how Hollywood is out of ideas and should turn to books more instead of remaking crap, so this is what they did with the Ruins, and you still have a problem with it, lol.
No, I have a problem with a horror movie rated PG-13. How can a fan of the book actually like that fact?
I’m sick of watered down “horror” movies–we see them every week, and they all suck. Will this one be better? At PG-13, the odds aren’t very good.
If this was a straight Rated R scare fest, then yes, I’d say there would be some reason to be excited. This movie could have been another Descent, but they took the easy way out to pander to teenagers.
You got to like it just for the sake Jimmy Olsen or Iceman is in it!! =)
I dunno, rated R or not, some of the previews have been pretty gruesome.
Although, there is one scene in it and I’m curious how much they’ll show at the PG13 level.
This one is more creepy than gory, so PG13 may be OK. I’m a little concerned about the plot changes, but am really looking forward to this one.
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