Films as good as the book?

[Mad Dog Smith]

One thing I'll say about film, if the film comes after the movie ...

Is you get a chance to iron out all the rough parts. Showcase the good, get rid of the bad.

It gives you a chance to really streamline things, if done right.

And that's not to mention all the new fun things you can do if you have a good screen writer or director, or the original author wants in on the action.

I think anytime you do another draft of something, you can potentially make it better. Even across other mediums.

[Gaines]

Cider House Rules and Water for Elephants were movies that were as good as the books. That's just a short list.

[CDawson]

I liked Vonnegut's Mother Night. The movie was even better. You have to see it. Nick Nolte played the lead. John Goodman was in it also. Vonnegut made a cameo.

[sdenyer]

"As I lay dying" movie. Faulkner

[brianpatrick]

Originally Posted by sdenyer

"As I lay dying" movie. Faulkner

Really? Hmm... saw that one on Netflix and wondered. I love the Faulkner novel, and can't imagine a movie being anywhere near its equal.


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[Mohican]

Originally Posted by Prodigalson

I agree. I'm not much of a Stephen King fan but his books do film well and with those two stories he was at the top of his game. I'd say the book and movie were neck and neck for those two.

There is also the 2004 version of 'Man on Fire'. Its treatment of life and death and the sacrifices we make and why may have struck a chord only because I was doing chemo when I saw it, but I read the book afterward and felt the movie accurately portrayed it.

The Mini Series rendition of The Stand was better than the book. I'd like to see the Dark Tower series made as a movie.

[CDawson]

Apocalypse Now, loosely based on the Heart of Darkness, is a great movie. You can't go wrong with either one.

[Motley Crew]

The movie the Englishman who went up a hill but came down a mountain is bad the first time because it's based on a novel based on a real story that makes it better and better everytime you watch it. The Hardy Boys television series was equally good to the books but the Harry Potter movies were NOT! Nor was Deathly Hallows up to par with the rest of the series. Can't think of any others. Now if only I could enhance the signal of this television I could get some broadcasts from home. There's on right now that seems realistic.

BANG! Crackle! Fizz!

On the other hand if I hadn't messed with it it wouldn't have blown out!

[Checker]

Jurassic Park, easily. I dislike the book.

As I Lay Dying wasn't even close. The book was amazing, and the movie was absolutely awful.

[chat bot]

Harr poeter

[Escriber*]

My impression of "The Hours", an adaptation of Virginia Woolf's Mrs.Dallowaywas not sentimental. An excellent account of WWI, the movie really did flesh out the important points of the novel.

England during the war is one of my favorite subjects. I look forward to more movies on the subject.

[kev]

I read One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest-Ken Kesey-in the late sixties and really enjoyed it. In the mid seventies I was walking past a cinema in Rotterdam and saw it advertised as playing.
I hadn't been to a cinema since I was a kid, but that tempted me inside.
I came out of the cinema in a glow.
Whoever the director was, he hit the nail on the head....brilliant.
It's the only book I've read and film of the book that I've seen, that I can say that both were equally enjoyable.

[BluebellCharm]

I'm afraid I'm one who always votes the books are always better than the movies.

One flew over the cuckoo's nest, the shining, the beach plus so many more are way better than the movie.

I'm currently reading 'The Martian' which I'll go see soon. Hope it'll live to the book. x

[Nick Pierce]

Originally Posted by BluebellCharm

I'm afraid I'm one who always votes the books are always better than the movies.

One flew over the cuckoo's nest, the shining, the beach plus so many more are way better than the movie.

I'm currently reading 'The Martian' which I'll go see soon. Hope it'll live to the book. x

Dearie, dearie, dearie. Anytime you put writing where the public can view it serves you well to proof the post.

Look at your last sentence.

Don't you really intend to say: "Hope it'll live up to the book"?

[Prodigalson]

Hey. That's my job.

By the way, Nick -- the baby is with its aunties once again. A couple more trips and it will (I hope) be ready for the world.

The end of the year is still a possibility.

[Nick Pierce]

Originally Posted by Prodigalson

Hey. That's my job.

I was savin' your place.

Now I can return to relaxing in the gutter of my mind.

[BluebellCharm]

Indeed you are right Mr P.

Thanks for your keen observation.

Originally Posted by kev

I read One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest-Ken Kesey-in the late sixties and really enjoyed it. In the mid seventies I was walking past a cinema in Rotterdam and saw it advertised as playing.
I hadn't been to a cinema since I was a kid, but that tempted me inside.
I came out of the cinema in a glow.
Whoever the director was, he hit the nail on the head....brilliant.
It's the only book I've read and film of the book that I've seen, that I can say that both were equally enjoyable.

Kesey hated it. After he read the screen play, he divorced himself from the film and claimed he never watched it. He also sued the film makers. His biggest beef was that it wasn't told from the Chief's P.O.V. He didn't like Nicholson either and wanted Gene Hackman.

But I agree with you. I think they're both are great. It's probably one of my favorite adaptations.

[kev]

Thanks for the extra info Binx.

I liked The Postman Always Rings Twice - the book and the original film. Lana Turner especially was good.

[Gsmo22]

I love reading books just to simply watch the movie after and 99% of the time get disappointed, yet I have to admit Harry Potter book to movie (first 3 only so far) has been very accurate. I am currently reading the series starting book 4 and I watch the movie after each book and the word for word dialogue is on point! Although, they do take out some chunks of the books, and otherwise cut out some rather un-useful information to a movie watcher, I like to think the movie makers had their reasonings. Otherwise though every scene in the movie is nearly exactly as it is in text which is a booklovers dream. I do hope (only reading the first 3) that the movies stay the way they are throughout the rest of the series!

[EricRomm]

Watching the film is easier and entertaining, and you also know the story. Many would disagree but reading is slow and you have your own imaginations.
The Godfather justified the novel.

[Eilean donan]

The Godfather, both book and film, were at least equally bad. Just my opinion, of course.

[...]

Originally Posted by Mike C

Ah, thought of one.

Lord of the Rings.

The books are cool if you're, like, 13. Or if you're a hippy and it's 1967. But characters lack any emotional depth and in many cases are 2 dimensional avatars. And there's the dreadfully dull Tom Bombadil bit.

The movies are pared down, action heavy, faux-history light, and all the better for it.

I agree.

[EricRomm]

Not movie, but I must say, The Game of Thrones is amazing as a TV series!

[JesseK1213]

One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest.

The book is fantastic - easily in my top three. That being said, the movie isn't as good (shocker) but comes surprisingly close.

The best part for me was re-reading the book and hearing Jack Nicholson's voice throughout.