It seems more and more filmmakers are turning to books for their next film projects.

The formula is not new, of course, but there is certainly a lot of excitement; especially for YA audiences. Here's the latest book to movie adaptation, this time from acclaimed author Deb Caletti. Here's a glimpse into the author:

I think being a writer is about who you are, more than about the task itself. It is a way of looking at the world, a state of observance coupled with a deep need to make sense of the life and the people around you. If this is truly you, you won't be able to help the desire to write, but you'll need to learn to write and write well. Read everything you can. That is the best way to learn - reading the bad stuff, reading the great stuff. Write, write and write some more, and submit your work wherever you can. More than anything else, focus on the goal and don't let go.

Being an author is one of the Big Dreams. You have a better chance of becoming a rock star or an astronaut, so persistence is everything. QUEEN, the first of my books to be published, was the fifth book I wrote. If I didn't have this feeling that being a writer was who I most was, and that giving up on the dream would be giving up on myself, I likely wouldn't have kept going. I was (and still am) motivated by my profound love and respect of books and the feeling that being a writer is the ultimate PRIVILEGE. If you want to be a writer, have the determination of a dog with a knotted sock. Sink your teeth in and don't give up. Become who you are, as Nietzsche said. That's author Deb Caletti.

Rory Culkin and Emma Roberts hit the right balance between savviness and clumsiness as teenagers who are smart enough to see what their parents try to conceal. Both show depth and a sure comic instinct, thanks to a script by writers who know the territory first-hand. They avoid the coy Sundance-style cuteness so often found in comedies about teenagers learning how dumb their parents can be, says ScreenDaily.

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Finally, something for the young audience at this year's Toronto Fest! Aside from Zac Efron's Me and Orson Welles, Lymelife is a coming-of-age film worth anticipating.

In the Spotlight: The Culkin brothers, Keiran and Rory, are talented young actors who have, time and again, shown us their ability to dive into their characters and turn in amazing performances. Keiran is of course known for his roles in Igby Goes Down and The Dangerous Lives of Altar Boys. He was supposed to play the younger brother but due to the delays in the filming, he got older and was allowed to play the older one. Rory, on the other hand, is known for his roles in Mean Creek, Signs and The Night Listener.

Update:  James Franco will be hosting Saturday Night Live on Sept. 20th!

James Franco is more than just the villain or supporting actor that some might think he is. While he played second lead to Tobey Maguire in the Spiderman franchise, a number of upcoming projects may put Franco in a much brighter light. Aside from Milk, where he's part of the terrific ensemble cast, he's also in another high-profile film called Howl.

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Oh, why My Own Private James Franco? It's actually just a reference to his interview by the New York Times, where he mentioned the Gus Van Sant film as the reason why he decided to become an actor...

Here's more from The Hollywood Reporter:

David Strathairn, Alan Alda, Jeff Daniels, Mary-Louise Parker and Paul Rudd are attached to join James Franco as Allen Ginsberg in the beatnik biopic "Howl." Telling Pictures documentarians Rob Epstein and Jeffrey Friedman will make their narrative writing, producing and directing debut with the 1950s-era tale, focusing on the obscenity trial launched to censor Ginsberg's groundbreaking book-length poem. The pair were approached by the Allen Ginsberg Trust to make a film commemorating the 50th anniversary of "Howl."

Among the real-life characters featured in the film are prosecuting attorney Ralph McIntosh (Strathairn), Judge Clayton Horn (Alda), prosecution witness Professor David Kirk (Daniels), radio personality and prosecution witness Gail Potter (Parker) and literary critic and defense witness Luther Nichols (Rudd). Gus Van Sant is executive producing the project. WMA and Cinetic Media are onboard to assemble financing and handle sales.

Over at Geeks of Doom, there was a cool interview with The Forbidden Kingdom writer John Fusco, who talks about the main characters played by Jet Li and Jackie Chan. But there was also mention made of one of tMF's favorite young actors, Michael Angarano.

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I watched the movie and saw it again on DVD and I'm surprised that Angarano can get into character with such ease and style. After seeing him in Black Irish, one of my favorite Angarano movies, I'm amazed he can play such a different kind of role altogether.

Here's what Fusco has to say, when asked about Michael's character:

G.o.D: Michael Angarano’s character Jason is obsessed with kung fu and you have already mentioned your own background in kung fu. Did you transcribe part of yourself into him, yearning to learn kung fu from the best of the best?

JF: I feel blessed that I do, in fact, study kung fu with a highly regarded master from an amazing lineage. I also got to study with a famous tai chi master while we were working in China. When I was a younger guy, like Michael’s character, it was my dream to study with bona fide masters. I feel fortunate that I have gotten to do that and also make a movie with the two Bruce Lee’s of this generation. [ read more ]

In preparation for our upcoming Top 50 Hottest Young Actors list, we have made the rounds of upcoming movie listings and selected the 10 young actors with the most exciting and challenging roles - from independent films to foreign productions and even some big budget feature films!

Here are our choices (in no particular order):

Jake Gyllenhaal - two upcoming roles: as Tommy Cahill in Brothers and as Prince Dastan in Prince of Persia.

Based on Susan Bier’s film, also entitled Brothers, Jake Gyllenhaal plays Tommy Cahill, the brother of Sam Cahill (played by Tobey Maguire). Tobey’s character is a soldier who goes missing in Afghanistan, and Jake’s character tries to comfort his older brother's wife Grace (played by Natalie Portman) and her children.

The original Bier film is a drama about a UN-soldier who is in a helicopter crash somewhere in Afghanistan and is believed to be dead. His wife and younger brother both deeply mourn him, but eventually finds comfort in each other's company, leading to the two of them falling in love. Months later, the soldier reappears alive but deeply traumatized.

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In Prince of Persia, based on the 2003 video game of the same name, Jake plays the title role. The film is directed by Mike Newell and also stars Gemma Arterton, Ben Kingsley and Alfred Molina. Filming is taking place in the United Kingdom and Morocco. As Prince Dastan, Gyllenhaal is a 6th century prince of Persia who teams up with Princess Tamina (Gemma Arterton) to rescue the Sands of Time, a gift from the gods that controls time, from the hands of the villainous nobleman, Nizam (Ben Kingsley).

Fox 2000 has emerged from a competitive bidding situation with the rights to "Water for Elephants," Sara Gruen's best-selling historical love story.

Francis Lawrence is attached to direct, and Richard LaGravenese is writing the adaptation, which will be produced by Andrew Tennenbaum, Gil Netter and Erwin Stoff. The book centers on a 90-year-old man reminiscing about his life and is set during the Depression, when he found work at a B-level circus taking care of the animals. He sees the brutality of circus life while falling for the wife of an abusive animal trainer. The book spent 12 weeks on the New York Times best-seller list in 2006 and hit the list again last year when it was released in paperback. More than two million paperbacks have been sold, according to the studio.

Fox 2000 beat out Warner Bros., Universal and Paramount for the project, in part because the producing team and director were won over by the company's passion and track record with literary adaptations and the attention it gives them.

Sara Gruen is a best-selling author. Her books deal mainly with animals and she is a supporter of numerous charitable organizations devoted to animals and wildlife.

If you ask IMDb viewers, then the answer is yes. E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial was indeed better than eventual Oscar winner Gandhi. If I remember correctly, our Film Review Admin Jeremy Welsch launched his tMF Top 5 lists with a feature on Best Oscar Losers and he put Spielberg's film at Number 3.

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Says Jeremy:

At the time, E.T. was Steven Spielberg’s masterpiece. 25 years later it still might be. Gandhi may have featured a great impression, er…, performance by Sir Ben Kingsley, but E.T. has withstood the test of time. It is the science fiction movie for non-science fiction fans. A fantastic story dealing with the simple theme of loss, this was the first film I remember seeing that actually moved me to tears.

Richard Attenborough, the director of Gandhi, recently admitted that his film was inferior to Spielberg's 1982 box office hit:

Steven Spielberg film ET: The Extra-Terrestrial was a better film than Gandhi and should have won more Oscars, its director Richard Attenborough says. His biopic about Indian independence leader Mahatma Gandhi won eight awards, including best director and picture, at the 1983 Oscars compared with ET's four. Lord Attenborough told BBC Radio Five Live Gandhi was a wonderful story "because it's about a wonderful man".

ET was "extraordinary" as it "depended on the concept of cinema," he added. In an interview with presenter Simon Mayo, Lord Attenborough said ET was "an infinitely more creative and fundamental piece of cinema" than Gandhi.

One of our top 50 book to movie adaptation picks was Richard Yates’ Revolutionary Road, the story of a young couple living in a Connecticut suburb during the mid-1950s and struggling to come to terms with their personal problems while trying to raise their two children. The upcoming adaptation stars two of cinema’s most popular and talented actors: Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet.

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Say the actors:

''Revolutionary Road is so painful and beautiful to read, simply because of the brutality of the honesty that Frank and April end up experiencing together," Kate told Entertainment Weekly.

''I looked at it almost like doing a play,'' says DiCaprio. ''It was one of those situations where it just focused on these two characters, the degradation of their marriage, and who they think they are. I just thought, Wouldn't it be a wonderful experience to do it with Kate?''

The excitement about and anticipation for the Sam Mendes film is mounting. Entertainment Tonight is about to show a segment featuring Di Caprio and Winslet, looking back at the Titanic couple and discussing the new film, their roles and the Oscar buzz.

One of Di Caprio’s fansites posted the video featuring the special ET segment.

There's an unspoken sadness in each character throughout the entire film, but things are rarely talked about. That's essentially what the film is about - the disconnect between people in the wake of a tragedy - and I hope that comes across to the viewers, says filmmaker Matthew Nourse.

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There are certain movies that I watch that linger with me for weeks or even months after the viewing. There is a sense of identity and connection. It's like travelling with your best friend:  you don't have to entertain him or worry about him getting bored. You simply carry on thinking your own thoughts and at times, you can even forget he's there with you. True intimacy allows us to be ourselves. I think that's what some films do - they allow us to identify with the characters and share with the filmmakers in their journey...

Then there are times when you watch a movie without any sense of expectation. Then, as the film rolls, you just knew you're gonna love it. That's The Pacific And Eddy for me. In this interview, tMF talks with filmmakers Matthew Nourse (director) and Thomas J. Rasea (producer)...

Updates! Screen Daily reports that Martin McGartland has settled his case and will not pursue any legal actions anymore:

I have today been given a copy of the film, which I have also viewed. As a result, I can now confirm that I am happy with the film. Furthermore I have today entered into a confidential agreement, with filmmakers (and other third parties), and I have also waived my moral rights.”

“The matter is now concluded and no further statements will be made by me on the matter, nor will any of the parties disclosed any further details concerning the agreement.

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Last time, we reported that Jim Sturgess is one of Hollywood's most sought-after young actors. This time, his latest movie - Fifty Dead Men Walking and reportedly, his finest performance yet - may encounter a hitch as a lawsuit has been filed by Martin McGartland, the man who is the focus of the story.

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Over at Filmstalker, the controversy was revealed. Says Richard Brunton:

The story of a British agent who worked for years undercover in the terrorist group the Irish Republican Army (IRA) has been stopped from being shown on Friday, just a week before the film première at the Toronto International Film Festival .

The organisers of TIFF are adamant that they will go ahead with the screening, despite the man who is the subject of the story refusing to waive his rights over his life story.

On Friday British lawyers for Kari Skogland's Fifty Dead Men Walking met in London with the man who is the focus of the story, Martin McGartland, and offered him GB £10,000 and the waiving of his moral rights over his life story to allow the film to be shown. However he refused the deal and the discussions have ceased. [ read more ]

It will be a shame if we don't get to watch this movie from Canadian filmmaker Kari Skogland, who made her directorial debut with The Size of Watermelons in 1996. Her latest two features are The Stone Angel (released in 2007) followed by the controversial Fifty Dead Men Walking.