Unbroken discussion

Apparently Universal Pictures is making a movie version of this book with Nicolas Cage attached to star as Zamperini.

Oh wow, that is great news!! I rarely go to the theatre any more (except to take the grandkids), but I'll sure go to see this one. And I love Nicholas Cage, he'll be great as Louie.

this book is written to be made into a movie! Not sure Cage can pull it off, he is too old, character is young 20's most of the book

How right you are, I hadn't even thought of that.

I read this book and loved it. It was amazing and one that I gave a rare 5 star rating to. Although I like Nicholas Cage, I think he is way too old for this part. I probably will see the movie though just to see how it is handled as a movie.

I also loved, loved, loved this book! Not sure about Nicolas Cage though. I used to love Nicolas but he hasn't pulled off a good movie in quite awhile. He's been playing in some very bizarre science fiction type movies the last few years and it's hard for me to imagine him playing such an important part of a very serious book!

I thought one of his better movies was Face-Off, with John Travolta. I still think that's one of my favorite movies ever watched.

I just hope hope hope they do the book justice, it is so rare to see a book moved into an awesome movie worth seeing and I don't want to see Hollywood take anything away from all these awesome Veterans that have provided our freedoms!

I can hardly wait and this will be one of the few movies that I see at the theater. What a terrific book this is. I just hope the movie does it justice.

Laura Hillenbrand's book will always stay on my top ten best reads. I've researched quite a bit about Philippine prison of war camps and found her book amazing in depth of history and emotion, and a gripping story from start to end. I'm a Laura Hillenbrand wannabe.
Bailey

When will this movie come out?

I can't find anything on the internet that says specifically a timeline. I don't find anything that even says that filming has started.

I agree that Nicolas Cage is too old and an odd casting choice at this point in his career. Hopefully that detail will change before the movie enters production.

Don't you think this picture could start another war?

Unbroken

I am really excited to hear they are making a movie. I'm not so sure about Nicholas Cage though. I would think someone like James Franco or Christian Bale would be a better fit, especially since he is college age during most of the book. Hope the flick turns out half as good as the book is. It is one of my favorites!

So often the movie version of a terrific book is a let-down so let's hope they do a top-knotch job of bringing this incredible story to life. I agree that Cage seems too old for the role. I could see either James Franco or Christian Bale in the role too.

As I read the book I could imagine the film that would likely follow. It is a very engaging story. I hope the characters are richly developed & the international relations carefully portrayed.

No, to Nick Cage. He is too mature. The main characters should be in their 20s or if really necessary some military officers could be in their 30s and 40s. I agree that the relationships between military combatants and the relationships between the prisoners and the jailers needs to be done carefully. I don't think any one denies that Japanese were brutal during WWII yet and still not all Japanese were sick masochistic S.O.B.s

I find it fascinating to compare Japan and Germany then and now. It may be helpful in understanding why people do these horrible things to each other. In Japan I believe it was the bushido training more than anything else that affected the soldiers. They were drilled from an early age and throughout society that surrender was shameful. So they had no respect for prisoners. And they fought to the death quite often even against impossible odds.

It is fascinating how early training can have such a hold on people, and yet, the occasional individual still rises above the crowd and expresses empathy and humanity in the midst of all the cruelty. Can happen in any society.

I'm in the middle of this book and it is so horrific and graphic it haunts me that this is a true story. I rally hope this man has a beautiful life by the end- no spoilers please.
I too think Nicholas Cage is too old but he is a ver charismatic actor and I can see him in the role.
A completely amazing story!!

I think people are getting overly worried about Nicolas Cage. He is a great actor, and special effects can work wonders today. I believe his body size is perfect for the part of a thinning man.

Jimmy wrote: "I think people are getting overly worried about Nicolas Cage. He is a great actor, and special effects can work wonders today. I believe his body size is perfect for the part of a thinning man."

Yes, he's good, but he's way too old! It would be ridiculous to star him

I think one of the most poignant facts about war is the youth of the men involved. I hope the producers find a young man.

Ugh! Nicholas Cage?! Please, no. The book is much too incredible for the part of Louie to be played by someone so mediocre.

I agree with Emily, someone as daring as Louie Zamperini should be playig him, not stoic like NICK CAGE! Unbroken was a great book, one i will remember for a long time!

I do enjoy Nicholas Cage's movies but after watching Windtalkers and then Saving Private Ryan while also reading Unbroken, I am not sure he is the right actor for the part. Also, this book is so rich in details, I feel it needs to be filmed in the same fashion as Saving Private Ryan. Unbroken comes across as a two or three film series. There is so much information about his childhood and running years, that is a film in itself. All the various missions could be another film and then the POW years, another.

Paul said:Unbroken comes across as a two or three film series. There is so much information about his childhood and running years, that is a film in itself. All the various missions could be another film and then the POW years, another.

Well, I do think there should be more than one film but, maybe four would be the answer. The first would be about his childhood, the second about the olympics(a short film), the third on his missions( including the crash and floating on the raft) and the last on his POW years and the rescue.

I think we are all thinking mini series.

Pearl

Please don't have Nicholas Cage stare as Zamperini! The whole time reading the book I would mention to my friends how they do not make men like that anymore. I just think there are stronger / younger mean who can portray Zamberini (I'm thinking WWII era) - I can't picture Cage lifting a wooden beam over his head for a long period of time. I just imagine a smart treasure hunter :) But LOVE the idea that this is turning into a movie the book was AMAZING and I keep advising friends to read it.

Cheryl wrote: "So often the movie version of a terrific book is a let-down so let's hope they do a top-knotch job of bringing this incredible story to life. I agree that Cage seems too old for the role. I could ..."

Cheryl wrote: "So often the movie version of a terrific book is a let-down so let's hope they do a top-knotch job of bringing this incredible story to life. I agree that Cage seems too old for the role. I could ..."

Christian Bale would be good especially for the POW years. He lost an incredible amount of weight for his role in the Machinist. Actually, life threatening amount of weight.

I hope the movie does the book justice. Zamperini was one of the "Greatest Generation" and it will be difficult to protray. The book is immense in the span it covers and the experiences he survived intact.

Christian Bale would be great. He was the lead in "Empire of the Sun" so is certainly familiar with the terrain.

Oh no! Not another favorite book being turned into a movie. I guess Hollywood writers are running out of script ideas, because it seems that every good book is soon coming to a theater near you. Honestly, I can't imagine chomping popcorn while watching certain pivotal scenes from the book. If I couldn't handle viewing Marley and Me or The Lovely Bones, I'm staying clear of days at sea and Japanese POW camps. Some things are best left to my imagination.

I am a school librarian. I often tell my students that if a book is made into a movie, it is probably a great book - but if a movie is made into a movie, it is probably a gimmick to sell you a book. I loved this story and wondered why I had never heard of this heroic man. I hope that the movie is as well made as The Help.

Lisa wrote: "Oh no! Not another favorite book being turned into a movie. I guess Hollywood writers are running out of script ideas, because it seems that every good book is soon coming to a theater near you. ..."

I agree with you 100%! Loved the book, but wouldn't (couldn't) watcha movie of it.

I loved loved loved the book! I would like to see it in movie form (if they stick totally to the book!) I really think his story needs to be told-especially, since people still wait for the movie-before the book.

Agree that Cage is not the type!!!!

After watching the Band of Brothers movies, that may be the way to go with as much content as the book had. I have yet to see "The Pacific" but it is on my list of "to watch".

Nick Cage isn't a very good choice. He is too old and not the best of actors. However, he has friends in high places. His uncle is Francis Ford Coppola. It's not what you know, but who you know!!

The book was my favorite of 2011 out of probably a hundred books I read. I anticipate the movie with great trepidation, as I always do when I book I love is made into a movie. They do a good job occasionally, but only occasionally. "The Help" was a pretty good movie, I thought.

Boyd Lemon-Author of "Digging Deep: A Writer Uncovers His Marriages," a memoir of the author's journey to understand his role in the destruction of his three marriages, helpful for anyone to deal with issues in their own relationships. Information, excerpts and reviews: http://www.BoydLemon-Writer.com.

could be a good movie, but cage would kill it, beat it with a stick, and burn it i think that there arent really any actors for this role, i think that the best fit though would be tom cruise

The actor in I am number four also would be a good choice

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Hope they get a great unknown for the part. This story deserves it. Would rather see it in a "documentary" format than a Hollywood movie style.

Just not a Cage fan and don't go to movies much but when I do it is for the story.

My first reaction was "Ohhh no, not Nicholas Cage". I loved the book, but I will skip the movie if Cage plays Louie.

You and me both. Just can't imagine. No offense to anyone who likes him. We'll see I guess.

I vote "no" on Cage. I like him, but not for this role. I probably will not watch if he is Zamperini, unless he plays Mr. Zamperini!

Cage as Zamperini has to be a ridiculous rumour.

Hope so but more important is how they present the story. I keep saying documentary style and I mean it:}