Moviefone Copyright 2011, HuffingtonPost.com, Inc. Moviefone Good old fashioned elbow grease. “The Great Gatsby,” which opens this Friday, could be the most satisfying version of the novel yet. Author F. Scott Fitzgerald’s 1925 masterwork has been made into a movie four other times -- the last being a 2000 TV production starring Paul Rudd -- and none have adequately met with fan approval. Of course, the first film, a silent picture from 1926, is entirely lost, and the loosely characterized 1949 take is hardly available. Still, neither was received that well anyway, perhaps because “Gatsby” is widely believed to be one of those classic books that’s simply unadaptable.

Movies based on classic literature don’t always have such an excuse, though. Many are just badly scripted. Others are miscast. A lot of the failures take too many liberties with beloved stories and characters. Below we’ve selected a number of examples of film adaptations that really disappointed both readers and moviegoers alike. Fortunately, failures like these can’t do much damage to such treasured source material.

]]> Wed, 8 May 2013 10:58:32 EDT 3237814 “Pain & Gain,” it didn’t sound like the usual Michael Bay movie. For one thing, it’s the director’s lowest budget production since his feature debut. For another, it’s based on a true story of a kidnapping plot, so it seemed more like a crime drama without room for massive explosions, giant robots, or demolition missions into outer space (i.e. the sort of stuff we expect from Bay at this point).

Now that it’s hitting theaters it does tonally and thematically appear to fit Bay’s oeuvre, but it is certainly a smaller movie for the director of such epic blockbusters as “Armageddon,” “Pearl Harbor,” and “Transformers.” Occasionally we see such surprising turns from filmmakers, and below we’ve highlighted a number of these directors and the unexpected directions they once took.

]]> Thu, 25 Apr 2013 10:44:46 EDT 3155070 Summer is heavy with blockbusters, but the hottest season of the year isn’t reserved just for big-budget action, sci-fi, and superhero movies. Some of us like alternative (or supplemental) programming, and, fortunately, there are lots of small films with huge appeal catering to our hunger for indie goodness.

Among the little gems you’ll find from May through August is a new film from the director of “The Avengers” (the biggest movie of 2012) and debut features from filmmakers who’ll be big names in the years to come. You'll also see some familiar faces in these movies, which star actors from the “Harry Potter,” “Iron Man,” “X-Men,” “Twilight,” and “Amazing Spider-Man” franchises. See? Something for everyone.

Below, check out Moviefone's round-up of indie films we're betting money on (and into, with our date-night dollars) this summer.

]]> Tue, 23 Apr 2013 21:30:54 EDT 3142086 “The Big Wedding,” the situation goes a step further as the groom’s mother and father (Robert De Niro and Diane Keaton) need to pretend they’re still happily married. That sounds like either a recipe for disaster or a conceit that will bring them back together.

Both directions have been common ground for movies. A large subgenre of the screwball comedy involves remarriage. And many melodramas and black comedies throw exaggerated tribulations into the land of splitsville. These movies may serve as a guide for anyone looking to survive time with their ex, and below we’ve kicked off a helpful look at what to do and what not to do if you hope to come out of the experience with your life, or maybe even a rekindled flame.

]]> Tue, 23 Apr 2013 16:45:38 EDT 3141810
While movie studios don’t do their taxes annually all at once, we can’t help recalling on Tax Day the $200 million write-down Disney took last year when “John Carter” was determined to be a major flop. And that makes us want to look at the list of the largest financial failures in film history.

The following titles are taken from box office data reports and websites like The Numbers, which figures the losses based on the usual deal where distributors get back only 50 percent of the reported gross. These losses are also adjusted for inflation, and where available the budgets include marketing costs.

]]> Mon, 15 Apr 2013 10:02:49 EDT 3084668 “42,” opening this weekend.)

Granted, many wrongs are pointed out only through those who experienced the events first hand, and a lot of these are subjective offenses about how persons are portrayed or characterized. There’s also great issue taken with whitewashed depictions, as well. Then there are the easily provable errors, like when Congressman Joe Courtney made a big deal earlier this year about an incorrect vote count spotted in “Lincoln” regarding Connecticut’s approval of the 13th Amendment.

Below are 10 infamous inaccuracies from biopics, each of which is found faulty with simple research and debunked with quite accessible evidence.

]]> Tue, 9 Apr 2013 17:42:19 EDT 3047715
Most classic movie made for nothing may be taken for granted nowadays when digital cameras, computer software, and crowdfunding websites allow anyone to produce a feature-length film very cheaply without it looking that way. Not all of them are good, of course, which relates to why size doesn’t matter with film budgets. Great storytelling is great storytelling at $200 or $200,000 or $200,000,000.

Here we present the best of the cheapest -- excellent films that (initially) cost anywhere below $1 million and are every bit as entertaining or satisfying as any high-priced “Avatar” or “Avengers” tentpole.

]]> Thu, 4 Apr 2013 10:56:44 EDT 3014811
In “G.I. Joe: Retaliation,” an enemy of the Joes’, Zartan, has secretly taken over the White House disguised as the President of the United States. As POTUS, he labels the Joes traitors and unleashes a military strike that wipes out almost the entire team. The survivors must then go up against COBRA while being at the top of America’s Most Wanted list.

Fortunately, Joes are trained for survival, and in this case knowing is even more than half the battle. So, in the very unlikely event that it happens to you, use the following movie-inspired tips to prepare for, avoid, or survive being framed by the government.

Have friends on the inside
A lot of secret agents are antisocial, which is often a plus when it comes to the isolating nature of the job. But it doesn’t help when you’re framed with no one to turn to. It’s good to have at least one connection or a single person of significance who will always trust you no matter what. In “Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol,” Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) and the rest of the IMF is blamed for an attack on the Kremlin. He’s picked up by the organization head, who says he’s always considered Ethan a friend and explains the situation, recommending that he escape, go rogue, and complete his mission.

It’s even better to have friends on the outside
It’s much easier to trust friends who aren’t in the government, but close friends are the first place the bad guys will look. So have someone who is just close enough that it isn’t obvious. In “Shooter,” framed sniper Bob Lee Swagger (Mark Wahlberg) heads to the home of a late buddy’s widow (Kate Mara), and she treats his wounds. In “Enemy of the State,” framed lawyer Robert Clayton Dean (Will Smith) sees an old girlfriend (Lisa Bonet), and she sends him to an ex-NSA agent in hiding (Gene Hackman) for help. Former operatives, especially if they’re anti-government, are typically the best, like the disavowed agents (Ving Rhames and Jean Reno) recruited in the first “Mission: Impossible” movie.

Kidnap people and make them your allies
Don’t have any friends? Make some! How? Kidnapping is the easiest method, but it’s best to pluck random young women who are definitely not involved in the conspiracy and are susceptible to Stockholm syndrome. It works for Bourne in “The Bourne Identity” with Marie (Franka Potente) and long before that for Joe Turner (Robert Redford) in “Three Days of the Condor” with Kathy (Faye Dunaway). It’s risky, of course, because you turn them into a wanted person, too, and they’ll also probably eventually be killed (spoiler alert!). So make sure not to like them too much, or it’s going to hurt.

Don’t stay friends with your exes (if you’re married)
At this point, it may seem important to have as many trustworthy friends as you can find. But ex-girlfriends are not an option if you’re a married man, because the trust of your wife is the most important of all when you’re in a situation like Dean’s in “Enemy of the State.” Unfortunately, the bad guys set it up so that it looks like he’s having a criminal and romantic relationship with an ex lover whom he’d been seeing only professionally. Fortunately, Will Smith is smooth enough to convince his wife (Regina King) of his innocence. Unfortunately for the ex, the government baddies killed her to further frame Dean.

Don’t have an affair with the First Lady
Being friendly with exes is can get sketchy, and having an affair (past or present) could put you in the awkward position of being framed and/or blackmailed. But the worst thing you can do romantically (if you’re a guy) is have an affair with the President’s wife. This is the predicament of Secret Service agent Pete Garrison (Michael Douglas) in “The Sentinel.” His need to be discreet leads to him being set up as the mastermind behind an assassination attempt. He also develops a reputation as a wife-stealer, which initially keeps him from having that a friend on the inside to help him out in a pinch.

Learn to be an amazing detective
If you work for the government (or feel you might be framed by the government one day), start taking some criminology or private detective courses. Or, maybe it’s enough to simply read detective novels and watch procedural movies, miniseries, and TV shows. The point is you need to be a great investigator, one better than the police and/or FBI who are looking to find you guilty. When you’re framed, you’re going to be forced to find the truth yourself. It certainly helps if you’re already in the crime-fighting profession, like John Anderton (Tom Cruise) in “Minority Report.” He easily adapts to the hardboiled P.I. role, acting more like a detective than a man on the run.

Make sure you’re not bugged
This should be a given, but that doesn’t mean it’s not worth mentioning. In “Enemy of the State,” we get to follow along with the NSA whiz kids as Smith works with Hackman to remove the never-ending list of tracking and recording devices they’ve hidden on his person. Eventually, this leads to Smith stripping to his underwear in public. Funny, right? Well, imagine that’s you. More extreme instances of de-bugging include the eye replacement in “Minority Report” and the nose extraction in “Total Recall.” Good times.

Always carry a recording device. Always.
There’s a good chance you’ll end up in the presence of the person who framed you, and that person will likely confess due to an overwhelming urge to show you how smart they were to hatch such an elaborate scheme. So keep a recorder handy! It’s a very cliche conclusion to a frame-up plot, yet it shows up in the best of them. In “The Bourne Supremacy,” even Jason Bourne tapes a confession from Ward Abbot (Brian Cox). Also, broadcasting a confession can work, too, as in “Enemy of the State,” “The Negotiator,” and so many others.

Answer any and all mysterious phone calls
Answer any calls from unknown numbers appearing on your cell phone or pick up random phones that ring in your vicinity because it’s probably someone who is looking to help or offer instructions. In “The Matrix,” Morpheus (Laurence Fishburne) sends Neo (Keanu Reeves) a cell phone and then uses it to guide him to safety. In “Eagle Eye,” a mysterious woman calls Jerry Shaw (Shia LaBeouf) to warn him of an FBI raid and then helps him escape custody.

Agree to a special mission
The same government that framed you might give you the chance to fight for your freedom with a “very dangerous mission.” In “Lockout,” that mission is to save the President’s daughter from escaped convicts-turned-hijackers who’ve taken control of a prison located in space. The upside for framed CIA agent Snow (Guy Pearce) is that the evidence he needs to prove his innocence might also be found at the space prison. What a coincidence!

Don’t be afraid to kill when necessary
Some framed protagonists are able to get through their ordeal without being a tough guy and maybe even without having to shoot anyone in self-defense. But it’s more likely that you’ll need to be strong, talented in all kinds of combat, and lethal without hesitation. You can be like Bourne and not even think about whom you’re taking out so long as it’s for your own survival. In “A-Team,” B.A. Baracus (Quinton “Rampage” Jackson) makes a vow of nonviolence because he regrets having ended so many lives. At the end, though, he has to break that promise in order to save the lives that matter most and exonerate the team.

EARLIER ON MOVIEFONE:
]]> Thu, 28 Mar 2013 17:22:01 EDT 2974445 would likely be hostile. But that shouldn’t stop us from fantasizing about the alternative. Who doesn’t like to dream of a day when extraterrestrials arrive and only want to communicate, provide us with renewable energy alternatives, and be our best friends.

Instead, we tend to get movies about nasty, ugly, lethal aliens, especially because they better represent our fears in times of red scares and terrorist threats. Even the new movie “The Host” is about an alien race claiming to be peace-loving, while taking over human bodies in order to defeat our planet.

In response, we’d like to spotlight a number of legitimately peaceful aliens, most of whom are unsurprisingly from the fantastically Spielbergian 1980s.

]]> Wed, 27 Mar 2013 12:11:33 EDT 2964142 conjuring up tons of money at the box office and “The Incredible Burt Wonderstone” opening Friday, this is a great time for magic at the movies.

Since the dawn of cinema, movies and magic have gone hand in hand. One of film’s most important pioneers, Georges Melies, was even a stage illusionist before discovering motion pictures. And the profession of magician has been a focus for great movies ever since by the likes of Christopher Nolan, Ingmar Bergman, Jacques Tati, and Sir Richard Attenborough.

We’ve selected 14 of our favorite magic-makers in film below.

]]> Tue, 12 Mar 2013 12:51:36 EDT 2861174 “Jack the Giant Slayer.” Here he voices the primary head of a two-headed giant named General Fallon. John Kassir, best known for voicing the Crypt Keeper, is his other, lesser half.

Fallon is the latest in a long history of extra-large characters dominating the big screen. Will he rank among the greatest giants, monsters, robots, and legends we’ve collected below? We’ll find out soon.

VIDEOS:
]]> Wed, 27 Feb 2013 11:25:43 EST 2774097 “Identity Thief.” In the movie, Melissa McCarthy plays a woman who commits fraud and charges items under the name and credit of a man (played by Jason Bateman) who lives across the country.

It’s unclear from the trailers whether McCarthy acquires Bateman’s information through the help of the web. However, as we’ve seen for years, identity theft has been around a lot longer than the Internet has.

Below, we take a look at ten films that depict the ways people have stolen the persona of someone else.

VIDEOS:
]]> Tue, 5 Feb 2013 10:58:00 EST 2622996 Oscar nominees for Best Documentary Feature this year show that the power of film can make a difference. One has changed policy at the Pentagon, another could change policy for Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territories and yet another has blown up the career of a singer-songwriter nearly 40 years after his last album was released to little notice. The other two docs offer remarkably inspiring chronicles of positive activism.

Any of these films might be called important, necessary, compelling, astonishing and deserving of the Academy Award. However, while "Searching for Sugar Man" is the expectant frontrunner for the honor, it wouldn’t be surprising if the Oscar went to "The Invisible War," "The Gatekeepers," "How to Survive a Plague" or "5 Broken Cameras."

Check out the guide on all these nominees below to understand why they’re all worthy, as well as where you can see them for yourself.

PHOTOS:
]]> Mon, 4 Feb 2013 16:21:53 EST 2617904 “Warm Bodies,” an adaptation of Isaac Marion’s novel of the same name about a zombie boy who falls in love with a human girl. Star-crossed lovers are one thing, but affairs between monsters and mortals are even less likely to work out than paramours from different houses.

You can see from the following group of creatures crushing on human characters that unless the beast becomes a beauty in the end (or the beauty becomes a beast), he probably won’t get the girl. In fact, he’ll probably end up dead.

VIDEOS:
]]> Wed, 30 Jan 2013 16:23:44 EST 2584674 “Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters” may be the freshest take on the Brothers Grimm fairy tale, but it’s nowhere near the first adaptation of the story on film, nor is it the only one out this year. In fact, there are at least four other versions with a release date of 2013, including the obvious cash-grab “Hansel & Gretel: Warriors of Witchcraft,” Germany’s effects-heavy “Hansel and Gretel in 3D,” the Asylum horror flick “Hansel & Gretel” and the stoner movie modernization, “Hansel and Gretel Get Baked.”

It’s also not the first adaptation from Wirkola, who wrote and directed a short student film titled “Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters” while still at school in Australia in 2006. And he’s reportedly been dying to make the feature-length for Hollywood ever since. Fortunately for him, studio execs were interested, even with all the “Hansel and Gretel” film incarnations we’ve seen over the past century. To give you an idea of the history, we’ve selected a number of these previous versions below.

PHOTOS/VIDEOS:
]]> Tue, 22 Jan 2013 12:46:11 EST 2527513