Ink to Film

"Oft hope is born when all is forlorn." Tolkien speaks to us from another age, when the world had just begun to recover from a terrible darkness. Join Luke & James as they look for a little hope of their own as they kick off the final installment of their Lord of the Rings trilogy of projects with the first 6 chapters of THE RETURN OF THE KING.  In episode 129, they discuss living with the threat...

It's time to explore the original adaptation of Ray Bradbury's classic novel as directed by François Truffaut. James takes this opportunity to educate Luke about the "French New Wave" movement in cinema. They also discuss reality TV, the role of genre fiction, and more in this former patron-exclusive episode. The 2018 HBO adaptation also comes up—so which was the better version? Listen to find out...

The hunt is on for the monster in both the second half of Stephen King's novel and the last five episodes of the HBO series, and things are changing because of it—for better or worse. In episode 128, Luke and James compare the adaptation to the source before deciding once and for all which version was better: the book or the show! Episodes covered: 6. "The One about the Yiddish Vampire" 7. "In the...

The Doppelgänger, the Evil Twin, el Coco, Bogeyman, Vardyger, the Sack Man, and on the list goes outlining this mirror self. The twin stranger is a long-standing myth and fear, and The Outsider on HBO has brought that terror to life. In episode 127, Luke and James discuss how Stephen King's work is in good hands with Richard Price, who is crafting an oppressive crime/horror drama that is not to be...

The King proves he still has it (as if anyone doubted) with a doppelgänger tale like no other. He blends True Crime with the supernatural to create something that feels fresh yet remains solidly  Stephen King . In episode 126, Luke and James return to the master of horror with the first half of the novel--the beginning of a 3-week excursion into the unknown.  Spoilers Begin: 32:19 Questions: The p...

Where did the prequel to John Carpenter's 80s classic go right and where did it go wrong? How does Matthijs van Heijningen Jr.'s film hold up? Does it have anything in common with the original source novella, "Who Goes There?" Give this (former patron-exclusive) episode a try as Ink to Film experiments with their first adaptation-adjacent coverage! Become a Patron to listen to even more content li...

Former Ringling Bros. circus clown, writer, and co-host of the "Writing Easy" podcast Mary Mascari joins the show to give some important context to all-things circus for Frances Lawrence's adaptation of Sara Gruen's novel! In episode 125, Mary, Luke, and James cast their votes to determine once and for all which was better, the book or the movie? Topics include: setting the record straight, leadin...

Sara Gruen's historical romance about running away to join the circus was a bestseller for a reason, but does it connect with readers new to the genre? In episode 124, Luke & James ride the rails into parts unknown. Spoilers begin: 19:10   Topics include: a NaNoWriMo success story, the "rules" of romances, emotional resonance with Jacob Jankowski, the tragedy of old age, what a bull hook is exactl...

Philip K. Dick's short story "The Minority Report" led eventually to a Steven Spielberg adaptation nearly 50 years after it was written, but was the adaptation an improvement on the original? In episode 123, Luke & James discuss both versions before coming to a consensus on which was the superior telling of this Sci-Fi thriller of precognition and the existence of free will. Topics Include: PKD's...

SciFi author Curtis C. Chen returns to cast the deciding vote on whether or not "John Carter" the film or Edgar Rice Burrough's A PRINCESS OF MARS is better. In episode 122, Luke, James, and Curtis dive into all the possible reasons behind one of Disney's biggest flops, and even suggest some ways the disaster may have been avoided. Listen to find out how to enter to win a signed copy of both of Cu...

SciFi author Curtis C. Chen joins the show to discuss Edgar Rice Burroughs' original "planetary romance," A PRINCESS OF MARS. From its early pulp magazine origins to its sweeping influence on the SciFi of today, the story of John Carter is an important piece of literary history. In episode 121, Luke, James, and Curtis prove that there's more to ERB than just Tarzan! And make sure to listen to find...

Should auld acquaintance be forgot and never brought to mind? No! In episode 120, Luke & James take a look back at all the things they covered in 2019. Topics include: most surprising subject, top 5 most downloaded-in states, least favorite book, favorite book, top 5 most downloaded-in countries outside the U.S., least favorite movie, favorite movie, top 10 most downloaded episodes of 2019, and wh...

You're a mean one, Mr. Grinch. You really are a heel. You're as cuddly as a cactus, you're as charming as an eel. You're a bad banana with a greasy black peel. You're a monster. Your heart's an empty hole. Your brain is full of spiders, you've got garlic in your soul. I wouldn't touch you with a thirty-nine and a half foot pole! Topics: The fascinating life of Dr. Suess, the surprising inspiration...

Strap in and shoot up, it's time to turn and burn at high G! Prepare for season 4 of THE EXPANSE by returning to the book by James SA Corey that started it all, LEVIATHAN WAKES. In episode 118, author Jessie Kwak joins the show to help Luke & James close out their coverage of the modern space opera. Topics: who might make a better 'ship' for Naomi instead of Holden, the Amos pronunciation controve...

Blood's on the wall, beratnas, we gonna rise up! In episode 117, SciFi author Jessie Kwak joins Luke and James to discuss the final episodes of season one of THE EXPANSE. Join the entire crew again next week for the second half of LEVIATHAN WAKES by James SA Corey. Topics: Jessie's connection to the series, what sets Chrisjen Avasarala apart as a character, the Holden pout, meaning behind belter t...

Activate your gravity boots, because it's time spin up the first season of THE EXPANSE! Learn about the backstory behind how Jeff Bezos saved the show with Amazon, followed by an in-depth discussion about episodes 1-5. Last week, Luke & James read the first half of LEVIATHAN WAKE by James S. A. Corey, so in episode 116 they compare it to the adaptation! Topics: The Miller-Holden reversal, Amos & N...

The Expanse series by James S. A. Corey is the creation of co-authors Daniel Abraham and Ty Franck, borne from developing a setting for a game, and now is an epic series spanning multiple novels and a massive TV series on Amazon about to premiere its 4th season! In episode 115, Luke & James get their first taste of life on the belt when they go back to where it all began with the first half of LEV...

Director Mike Flanagan takes on the immense challenge of making a film that is both a sequel to Stephen King's 1977 classic novel THE SHINING and Stanley Kubrick's iconic 1980 film of the same name with his movie, DOCTOR SLEEP. In episode 114, Luke & James discuss where the ambitious movie succeeds, and where it might miss the mark.    Spoilers Begin: 36:49 Topics: what makes for a good sequel, th...

Stephen King's sequel to the Shining comes to its thrilling end this week on Ink to Film. In episode 113, Luke & James cover the plot of the second half of the book in advance of the new film's release. Topics: NaNoWriMo while reading Stephen King, the meaning behind having the True Knot infected with measles, the potential genre differences in the novel, the variations in Jack Torrance's characte...

Danny Torrance is all grown up in Stephen King's sequel to the Shining and dealing with some harrowing demons of his own. In episode 112, Luke & James give their overall SPOILER-FREE reactions to the first half of the novel, before diving into the plot so far (chapters 1-9) in detail. SPOILERS BEGIN: 27:45 Topics: Road vampires, potential sequel problems, how new-era Stephen King compares to old S...

What if the American Dream came true? The iconic graphic novel by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons explores this question, among others as challenging, but does Zack Snyder's film handle the subject just as well? In episode 111, Luke & James explore the polarizing adaptation in an attempt to weigh the good against the bad, all while exploring the concept at the heart of the podcast: What makes for a gr...

In episode 110, SPOONBENDERS author and comic book writer Daryl Gregory joins the podcast to discuss Alan Moore and Dave Gibbon's WATCHMEN--a graphic novel that influenced his work and is considered a masterpiece by many critics. Daryl chats with Luke & James about the comic that changed everything, and even shares the surprising inspiration for one of his characters! Topics: Daryl's experience re...

Alfonso Cuarón's darker version of the world of Harry Potter was enormously important to the series going forward. He's a talented filmmaker just starting to come into his own for this movie, but how does it hold up as an adaptation? Are there flaws to be found? Luke & James discuss in episode 109 of Ink to Film. Topics include: clever filmmaking techniques expertly employed by Cuarón, the artisti...

Fall is here and it's time to go back to school--Hogwarts to be exact! Grab your Firebolt racing broom and take to the skies for this exploration of J.K. Rowling's third entry into her iconic young adult fantasy series in episode 108 of Ink to Film. Topics include: the injustice in the Wizarding World, the terror of the dementors, what makes Sirius Black's story surprising, Snape's longstanding je...

Sci-Fi author Mark Niemann-Ross re-joins the podcast for episode 107 to discuss Denis Villeneuve's "Arrival" starring Amy Adams and Jeremy Renner. Storm Area 51 this week as the guys come face-to-whatever-that-thing-is with the heptapods. Listen to this episode to learn how to win a signed copy of Ted Chiang's "Story of Your Life," the story that the film was based on! Spoilers begin: 34:50 Topics...