Despite the huge numbers of novels adapted for film, movies are rarely quite able to capture the magic of a book, even when the movie is really good. And it’s easy to understand why: With the shorter format, it’s tough to please both the purists and the casual viewers alike and provide the same depth of experience as a great novel. All the same, some of the greatest movies of all time have been based on books.
So what is your favorite book to film effort?
For me, The Godfather is an easy answer, but the movie elevated more than captured the essence of the book. The Shawshank Redepmtion is another one, but it’s arguably easier to translate a novella than a full novel.
So I’d probably have to go with a novel and movie I loved in equal measure: The Big Sleep by Raymond Chandler and the 1946 adaptation starring Bogart and Bacall.
What about you?
Lord of the Rings. Definitely.
FORREST GUMP. The book was funnier. The movie had the advantage of the awesome soundtrack.
TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD
I think it probably has to be 'Gone With the Wind', because I enjoyed the film as much as the book, but I have two runners-up: 'The Dead Zone' and the big surprise which was 'The Time Traveler's Wife', because I dreaded it so much, and when I eventually steeled myself to watch it, and expected that I'd be criticising it non-stop, it was pretty much perfect.
To Kill a Mockingbird – best ever!
Lord of the Rings! 8D
Hostage is the only movie that I liked better than the book. The bad guys were actually sympathetic. I loved it!
I'm going to jump on a different train and say a television series I like better than the book. And, really, I'm an 8th grade English teacher so you have to give me a break.
But, for what it's worth, I think The Vampire Diaries show is WAY better than the books. I mean, in so many different ways that I can't sum it up in a comment and will henceforth write a blog post about it.
Ooh, tough call. Still, Lord of the Rings wins. Just a general rule for me.
Second place: Stardust. I actually liked the movie version much better than the book. That's the only movie I can think of that breaks the rule, since I'm usually an incredibly staunch purist.
Friendly Persuasion.
Gone with the Wind.
Ride with the Devil Book: Woe to Live On)
To Kill a Mockingbird.
I'm with Rowenna – Atonement.
And it's all about the typewriter noises.
It was one of those books that you read, love, and cringe when you hear there's a movie coming out… I love being proved wrong!
Also, Lord of the Rings. Just because of the scope of the scenery.
"Winter's Bone" by Daniel Woodrell is my favorite. The movie was nominated for best picture award this year, even though it was a little independent film and not too many people had a chance to see it. The book is dark, gritty, and realistic. I didn't think a movie could do it justice, but it was perfect.
Since you're going to disqualify my first choice (The Body/Stand By Me), because it's a novella, I'll go with Fight Club. But I disagree that a novella is easier to adapt. Despite the ease the length creates, many novellas have not been adapted well, which tells me it's still a fine, fine art. (And since we're on the topic of the Bachman books, I'll point to Running Man as a particularly horrible example of a novella being adapted to screen.)
Probably Coraline.
Here's my Vampire Diaries post if anyone's interested:
Harry Potter. They do a great job of capturing the world and the warmth of the books even though things are changed a bit.
To Kill a Mockingbird
Howard's End
Howard's End was spectacular, but my vote goes for "The Joy Luck Club." It was a fine read, but I had no experience to begin to imagine the scenery and the culture of the mother's lives in China.
I like the movie of The Princess Bride waaaay better than the book. And Ghost World is my favourite movie of all time – but it was originally a graphic novel. Still.
Into the Wild…..what a phenominal film
Chocolat was better as a movie simply because the ending was better (oh, and there was also Johnny Depp to sigh over), even though the book is beautifully written.
The Princess Bride and Sahara
Stardust
As everyone has echoed, The Princess Bride, Wizard of Oz, and Lord of the Rings, but I do love the 2005 Pride and Prejudice with Keira Knightley and Matthew MacFadyen. Sigh. 🙂 Or the 1995 Frances Hodgson Burnett's A Little Princess, anyone?
The Lord of the Rings trilogy. Brilliant. Silence of the Lambs. Manhunter (based on the book Red Dragon by Thomas Harris). Shane. Forrest Gump. Psycho. Blade Runner (Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep, philip K. Dick). Sophie's Choice. the Thing (Who Goes There?). L.A. Confidential. Stand By Me. Dances With Wolves. The Last of the Mohicans. Die Hard (Nothing Lasts Forever). The Princess Bride, From Here to Eternity….okay, I over did it…but what the hey.
My favorite adaptations are The World According To Garp and The Accidental Tourist. Third nod goes to The Secret Life of Bees.
HARRY POTTER of course. All the HARRY POTTER movies are fabulous. In my opinion they brought the books to life even moreso. Great read and great watch, and I enjoyed them all.
Only one other person said it, but I agree Jurassic Park. Truly the only the movie that improved my imagination's picture of Michael Crichton's words. However, now I must see Fight Club. Thank you again, Nathan for another thought provacative post.
mbb
What about musical adaptations? Wicked was head and shoulders above the book!
The Princess Bride. I quote both book and movie with equal relish.
I love LOTR and watching it 'live' was a dream come true. However, some of the changes didn't sit well, and that soured it just enough to bump it out of first place. Aragorn never doubted himself. He always knew who he was. Even so, I can't wait to see The Hobbit!
Joy Luck Club
Rosemary's Baby is not only the greatest adaptation of novel to screen, it is also the greatest film ever made.
Followed closely by Jaws.
Rosemary's Baby is the book. Jaws is one hundred times the book.
The Virgin Suicides is my number one. I think it perfectly captured the tone of the only book I've ever called "haunting."
The Princess Bride might be better than the book.
I loved the Time Traveler's Wife, but I also love love loved the book and was kind of determined to like the movie, so I may be biased.
And you didn't ask but my least favorite adaptation? Anything by Asimov.
As the biggest consumer of chocolate on the planet, I have to say that seeing Charlie and the Chocolate Factory bought to life was awesome. The Gene Wilder version that is (agree with Mira). When I found that book as a child it completely captured my imagination. Seeing it's translation was magical. And, ahem, I still have the DVD of the Gene Wilder version, which my kids now love and enjoy.
I also really, really liked Forrest Gump and the Wizard of Oz.
Breakfast at Tiffany's
Stand by Me
Into the Wild
Twilight Saga
I know, quite a mix I added!
The animated Charlotte's Web
Patti, you beat me to it with HOLES. Also, for everyone who said TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD–Duh! Why didn't I think of that? LOTR & NARNIA did what couldn't be done. They were almost as good as the books plus imagination. Books beat movies on those. As for TV adapatations, I loved BLEAK HOUSE with Diana Rigg as Lady Dreadlock–I mean Deadlock. Have to admit I haven't read the book. Waiting to be ready to get seriously depressed.
Harry Potter, esp. Prisoner of Azkaban.
Alan Rickman as Snape is perfection in all the movies.
The Bridges of Madison County.
American Psycho. A book that seemed unfilmable turned into a decent film.
Stand By Me, from Stephen King';s novella "The Body"
The absolute worst adaptation was Tom Clancy's THE SUM OF ALL FEARS.
The Green Mile is up there on my list, but so is Marley & Me by John Grogan. I have 2 dogs, one aging and the other not too far behind, so it was a preview of what's to come for me and my wife with those two. I saw the movie before reading the book; it's the only book I've immediately bought after seeing the movie. Highly recommend both to anyone who likes/loves dogs.
To Kill a Mockingbird is one of few adaptations I feel stands up to the book.
The Painted Veil. The plot is the same, but the outcome in the movie is so much deeper and more beautiful. Not to mention the landscapes.
I agree it is easier for a movie to fully capture a novella, but I think my favorite is Lord of the Rings–added a little romance where Tolkein was prudish, and didn't require the tolerance of where he gets verbose (though I wouldn't love the movies so much if the story underlying wasn't so great)
I absolutely adore the Keira Knightley version of Pride & Prejudice. They don’t quite stick to every detail of the novel, but they capture the spirit of it beautifully. Every character is portrayed with love, Knightley is a great fit for Elizabeth, and they manage to explain some of the subtleties of the era that modern audiences might not understand on their own (like the genuine concern behind Mrs. Bennett obsession to marry off her daughters). One of my most-watched movies!
Jurassic Park… and yes, I am serious.
Gone With The Wind.The heroine in the book was not someone you wanted to cheer for. The movie was visually stunning and impossible to describe in a book.