Films which are better than the books that they are based on

[Marc Joan]

Carol Rose's irritation at remakes of already perfect films (movies) in another thread reminded me of how I usually dislike seeing movies (films) based on my favourite books...because they never live up to what went on in my head when I was reading it. Also, the director inevitably rewrites or leaves out or reinterprets some favourite passage ... grrrr... But there have been a couple of notable exceptions where I found the film (movie) to be even better than the story. One such was Birdy -- I thought the film by Alan Parker actually eclipsed an already great story by William Wharton. Anybody else seen a film that was better than the great book on which it was based?

 

[Nicole Wilson]

So, I liked both The Hunger Games books and movies, but I liked them each for different reasons. The book was much better at the internal struggle Katniss was going through, but the movies were **so** much better at depicting the actual action going on around her. The movies probably win over the books IMO.

 

[Jason Byrne]

I can tell you right off the top of my head some movies that aren't as good as the books.

Anything made from a Stephen King book. They just can't seem to get them right.

Okay, now...

THE LORD OF THE RINGS MOVIES ARE BETTER THAN THE BOOKS!

 

[Marc Joan]

I can tell you right off the top of my head some movies that aren't as good as the books.

Anything made from a Stephen King book. They just can't seem to get them right.

Okay, now...
View attachment 339
THE LORD OF THE RINGS MOVIES ARE BETTER THAN THE BOOKS!
View attachment 340

Oh wow. That was reckless.

 

[Jason Byrne]

Oh wow. That was reckless.

Yeah, see, I've got the riot shield...

 

[Steven McC]

LA Confidential is one of my favourite movies ever. Surprisingly, I wasn't that keen on the book when I read it. For me, the film was superior and a masterclass in how to compress a complex plot into the short window movies/TV offer, something the hopelessly convoluted and erratic True Detective 2 failed to learn from...

 

[Marc Joan]

The thing is, I've never seen the LOTR movies, and yet I still totally disagree with you...because I just know they can't possibly be as good as the read version.

I just know, OK??!! Don't mess with my Tolkien...snarl snarl

 

[Karen Gray]

The thing is, I've never seen the LOTR movies, and yet I still totally disagree with you...because I just know they can't possibly be as good as the read version.

I just know, OK??!! Don't mess with my Tolkien...snarl snarl

For a start they are in order on a proper timeline lol I too agree that the LOTR films are way better than the books, as is The Hobbit BUT 3 films was just milking it. MILKING IT!

I was so hyped up abotu His Dark Materials and it just didn't live up to the books at all. Neither did Eragon. So sad.

 

[Carol Rose]

I thought LOTR movies were better than the books, too! There. I said it. LOL!!

 

[Carol Rose]

The only movie based on one of Stephen King's books I liked as much as I enjoyed the book - not better than but liked just as much - was The Green Mile. The casting was perfect and Tom Hanks is just … well … he's always perfection.

 

[Marc Joan]

I thought LOTR movies were better than the books, too! There. I said it. LOL!!

Aaargh!! It's the end of civilisation...

 

[Carol Rose]

And I adore both the movie and the book versions of To Kill A Mockingbird.

Oh, and they did a very good job with Little Women in 1994.

 

[Carol Rose]

Aaargh!! It's the end of civilisation...

It had to go somehow…

 

[Karen Gray]

And I adore both the movie and the book versions of To Kill A Mockingbird.

Oh, and they did a very good job with Little Women in 1994.

Oh yeah! I forgot about Little Women!

I liked the books and films for both 1984 and Animal farm.
Oh! Much Ado About Nothing and
Romeo and Juliet (I'm a big Baz Luhrmann fan)

 

[Jason Byrne]

It had to go somehow…

Not with a bang but with a whimper...

 

[Jason Byrne]

One Stephen King adaptation that went really well was the TV miniseries of The Shining. Not the movie. The one with Steven Weber and Rebecca De Mornay.

 

[Carol Rose]

Not with a bang but with a whimper...
View attachment 341

LOL!!

 

[Carol Rose]

One Stephen King adaptation that went really well was the TV miniseries of The Shining. Not the movie. The one with Steven Weber and Rebecca De Mornay.

YES. MUCH better than Stanley Kubrick's version, although Jack Nicholson was his usual insane self and carried that part for him and Shelley Duvall both. But I still love "Stop swingin' the bat. Put the bat down, Wendy. Wendy? Give me the bat…" and "Heeere's Johnny!" LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Carol Rose]

AND that's 1000 posts for me…

 

[Jason Byrne]

AND that's 1000 posts for me…

WOOHOOOOOO!
Congratulations, oh Venerated One.

 

[Jason Byrne]

Haven't seen James Marinero in a long time.

 

[Carol Rose]

WOOHOOOOOO!
Congratulations, oh Venerated One.

Are there cookies? I was told there were cookies...

 

[Jason Byrne]

Yeah... it was... damn it who was supposed to bring the cookies?!

 

[Jason Byrne]

 

[Jason Byrne]

Oh hell yeah.

 

[Carol Rose]

MUCH better!! LOL!!

 

[Karen Gray]

WOOHOOOOOO!
Congratulations, oh Venerated One.

Yay! *waves special occasion flag*

 

[Jason Byrne]

Yay! *waves special occasion flag*

How do you get one of THOSE?!

I notice I pretty much have two expressions — no three —
This is true to life.

 

[Karen Gray]

How do you get one of THOSE?!

I notice I pretty much have two expressions — no three —
This is true to life.

Lol We all have our favourites. My go to smiley isn't here! :/ a little gutted otherwise mines are

 

[Jason Byrne]

Lol We all have our favourites. My go to smiley isn't here! :/ a little gutted otherwise mines are

I get the feeling you make these faces as lot.