knightni and kid gleason brought this up in the Films thread, and I thought it would make a nice discussion topic...

 

What movies have you see that were better than, or as good as (or almost?) as the books they were based on?

 

Obviously the list is short. Here are what come to mind for me...

 

The Hunt for Red October - I'd say as good as, or very close. And I liked the book a lot.

 

LOTR Trilogy - Very well done adaptation, and I think I may have enjoyed the films more than the books (I'll probably get scolded for this one)

 

There are probably others, I'll think of more later. What do you have?

Jaws. The movie was much better than the book. The book had a ridiculous affair between Hooper and Brody's wife. The scene where Quint talks about the USS Indianapolis, which I liked, was not in the book. Jaws sequels were horrendous, but no matter, the original was a real good movie. The book, for me anyway, was disappointing.

The Shawshank Redemption. Granted, it was just a short story and not a whole book, but...

LOTR Trilogy - Very well done adaptation, and I think I may have enjoyed the films more than the books (I'll probably get scolded for this one)

 

I loved the Lord of the Rings books and for years thought what a great movie (or movies) that it would make. But, I didn't think it could really be done well enough. However, it was. The movies were indeed great.

 

Another one I thought of was A Clockwork Orange. Good book, great movie.

Most people probably never heard of it but "The Eye of the Needle" comes to mind.

 

If you are a fan - all of the Harry Potter movies are as good or better than the books - amazing how the movies capture the essence of the books.

 

 

The Shawshank Redemption. Granted, it was just a short story and not a whole book, but...

 

Also from the same book, Stand By Me.

 

The Shinning was pretty good too although the book was a bit better IMHO.

 

Misery comes close too.

Another one I thought of was A Clockwork Orange. Good book, great movie.

 

The book is dang near impossible to read thanks to all the flipping to the back for the definitions of the slang. I gave up on it.

Catch-22. Great book, great film.

 

Agree with Big Ed on Jaws. It's amazing how good the film is out of such a bad book.

 

Old (and probably untrue) story. Ernest Hemingway and Howard Hawks were discussing the relative merits of literature vs. film. Hawks proclaimed that he could make a very good film out of Hemingway's worst novel. Next day. Hemingway handed Hawks a copy of To Have and Have Not. There's an example of a film that's lots better than the novel.

The movie "The Karate Kid" was way better then the novelization I got in the Scholastic Book Club at age 8.

Catch-22. Great book, great film.

 

 

I couldn't disagree more. C22 is my favorite book. I saw the movie recently after looking for it for years. It was ok, and got the basic plot out, but it was missing so, so much of what made the book so great.

I think the movie and book Willy Wonka (original movie) is one where both the book and movie were equally good.

Edited November 13, 200718 yr by Soxbadger

I think the movie and book Willy Wonka (original movie) is one where both the book and movie were equally good.

I have to disagree. But I'm biased. As a kid, there was a period of time where Roald Dahl was my favorite author, and I read everything he wrote, including both Wonka books. The more recent adaptation, with Mr. Depp, was quite good. But, still not as good as the books.

 

I read all the books as well, Glass Elevator was my favorite, but then again never made into a movie.

 

Adaptations of James and the Giant Peach, Witches etc were not as good.

 

I just thought that the movie of Willy Wonka was as good as the book, even though it is different.

 

 

Jaws. The movie was much better than the book. The book had a ridiculous affair between Hooper and Brody's wife. The scene where Quint talks about the USS Indianapolis, which I liked, was not in the book. Jaws sequels were horrendous, but no matter, the original was a real good movie. The book, for me anyway, was disappointing.

 

Bingo, that was the first one I thought of. Did you see the making of Jaws extra? Spielberg wanted a scene where the harbor master was washing out a coffee mug at the dock. As they pan away you see one by one, sails starting to rocking until all of them are rocking. It was decided the scene would have been too expensive to shoot so they went with the guys fishing with the huge beef roast instead.

If you are a fan - all of the Harry Potter movies are as good or better than the books - amazing how the movies capture the essence of the books.

 

You are certifiably insane.

 

The Potter films are fun enough, and I understand the need to take certain liberties to streamline the storyline into 2 hour installments. But they don't hold a candle to the books.

 

I think a lot of these films would be worthy of assigning in a film appreciation class. But, then again, you just know some of the students would cheat and be lazy and just read the books instead of actually watching the movies . . .

 

 

I Kid Tex Because I Care®

I couldn't disagree more. C22 is my favorite book. I saw the movie recently after looking for it for years. It was ok, and got the basic plot out, but it was missing so, so much of what made the book so great.

Maybe we disagree here because I saw the film before I read the book. A great book like Catch-22 almost defies adaptation, but I felt like the film did a good job with it.

 

It's been a while. Maybe I should refresh my memory.

I think a lot of these films would be worthy of assigning in a film appreciation class. But, then again, you just know some of the students would cheat and be lazy and just read the books instead of actually watching the movies . . .

 

 

I Kid Tex Because I Care®

 

well played. Nice to see the old man still has it. Of course they would have to toss in some porn to "challenge" the students.

 

I Kid Jim Because I Care®

Maybe we disagree here because I saw the film before I read the book. A great book like Catch-22 almost defies adaptation, but I felt like the film did a good job with it.

 

It's been a while. Maybe I should refresh my memory.

 

Perhaps you were watching the movie version of M*A*S*H

 

Two movies coming out from books that I am waiting to see, and my predictions:

 

I Am Legend is in my favorite Top 10 list of all time. It will suck as a movie to the fans of the book. Although I love the irony of Will Smith in the title role.

 

Beowulf the movie will be waaaay better then the book. The book is only a classic because it is the oldest surviving story in Old English.

The original Planet Of The Apes. I've tried reading the book. Blah.

 

 

Perhaps you were watching the movie version of M*A*S*H

 

Two movies coming out from books that I am waiting to see, and my predictions:

 

I Am Legend is in my favorite Top 10 list of all time. It will suck as a movie to the fans of the book. Although I love the irony of Will Smith in the title role.

 

Beowulf the movie will be waaaay better then the book. The book is only a classic because it is the oldest surviving story in Old English.

O no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no... No. No. Just, no.

The more recent adaptation, with Mr. Depp, was quite good.

 

Wow...

The Shawshank Redemption. Granted, it was just a short story and not a whole book, but...

 

While the movie is very good, the short story is still exceptionally better. Reason being, Stephen King does a much better job explaining the trial and why Andy was convicted. In the movie, he's just convicted and we're not really told why.

Edited November 13, 200718 yr by BobDylan

Also from the same book, Stand By Me.

 

The Shinning was pretty good too although the book was a bit better IMHO.

 

Misery comes close too.

 

The book was a lot better. If not for Jack Nicholson's superb acting job, Kubrick's adaptation of that book is pure crap.

 

God, I'm starting to sound like a Stephen King fan. Which I am, but not much of one.

 

And speaking of Kubrick, his adaptation of Lolita was pretty bad too. (Though, still a decent movie.)

 

I'd be interested to see what people say about the Coen Brothers new movie, "No Country for Old Men." I've never read the book, but damn, the movie was incredible.

Edited November 13, 200718 yr by BobDylan

O no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no... No. No. Just, no.

 

I second that.