Howdy Bookworms!
Today is TUESDAY and as such, we’re teaming up with the ladies of The Broke and The Bookish for some listing goodness. Today we’re listing out movie adaptations. Ready?!?!
The Good
1. Fried Green Tomatoes. This movie takes a lot of liberties when you compare it to the original book. Despite the fact that it’s not perfectly true to the narrative book, it’s true to the spirit of the book. It captures a special sense of whimsy and sorrow and humanity that’s unique to Fanny Flagg. I don’t care if it’s kitschy, I love it!
2. The Fellowship of the Ring. I can’t claim to have read all the books (yet.) However. Having read The Hobbit and The Fellowship of the Ring, I know that Tolkien and I aren’t fast friends. It sounds sacrilegious, but these books are just not my jam. That said, I think I was helped along in the reading process by being familiar with the movies. It probably doesn’t hurt anything that there were some very pretty people cast in said movies. The question that still lingers in my mind, though… Why did Tom Bombadil even exist? Seriously.
3. The Wizard of Oz. Now this SHOULD fall into the “ugly” category because it is so very different from the book. At this point though? This movie is every bit as iconic as the book, and deservedly so. Also, it was released the same year my house was built, and I think the decision to change the silver slippers to ruby was downright brilliant. And fashionable. So. It is a horrendous movie if you rate it by its closeness to the book, but it doesn’t matter. Its standalone wonder makes up for it.
4. The Hunger Games. Alright, this movie was not perfect. However, I thought they did a good job with it. Though I balked somewhat at the mockingjay pin coming from Prim, I decided to let it slide. I actually liked the emphasis they put on the game-makers- I found that element fascinating, even though we didn’t see a whole lot of it in the book. I still think the book was much better, but Jennifer Lawrence is awesome and she did Katniss justice.
The Bad
5. Twilight– I’ll own up to it. I read these books before the movies were released. I gave zero thought to the fact that Bella was a crappy role model for young girls or that Edward was a stalker or that it’s really creepy for Jacob to imprint on a baby. All I could think of was the squealing of my inner 12-year-old who was swooning and moping and engrossed in the drama. Then I saw the movie, and… well? Not so much. I wasn’t crazy about the casting, I wasn’t crazy about Robert Pattinson’s bad American accent, I just wasn’t a big fan. I didn’t even bother to see the rest of them in the theaters.
6. The Time Traveler’s Wife– I absolutely ADORED this BOOK. The movie? Well. They made an effort, but it just wasn’t enough. I didn’t feel connected with the characters, I didn’t feel the heartbreak and the urgency. It was a muddled mess. The script for the movie didn’t have enough back story, I think. It just didn’t work, and I feel bad about that, because I really wanted to like it!
Source
7. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory– I’m talking about the Tim Burton version. I read a description somewhere (I can’t recall where, but I’m not claiming it as my own idea because I’m not that brilliant) that described the difference between Gene Wilder’s Willy Wonka and Johnny Depp’s Willy Wonka as subtle creepy vs. outright “I will not let my children near this man” creepy. I realize this may be an unpopular opinion, but I don’t really care for Tim Burton movies in general. There are a few exceptions of course, but his Alice in Wonderland and this Charlie and the Chocolate Factory are both so bad. They remove all the whimsy from both of the stories and leave you with nothing but nightmares. No thank you, Mr. Burton. *Why is this not on my “ugly” list? The kid who played Charlie stole my heart. Love that kid.*
The Ugly
8. Les Miserables– I’m specifically referring to the 1998 version where Liam Neesson plays Jean Valjean, Geoffrey Rush is Javert, Uma Thurman is Fantine, and Claire Danes is Cosette. It loses points first for NOT being the musical (which really, how did it take them so long to make a movie version of my beloved musical?!) But then? THEN? What in the fresh hell is this nonsense? The final scene shows Jean Valjean happily crossing a bridge realizing that Javert is dead and he can go on and live his merry little life. I’m SORRY, but Victor Hugo wanted that man DEAD, y’all. You don’t MESS with Victor Hugo! (Don’t even get me started on Disney’s Hunchback of Notre Dame. I mean, I can’t actually get started on it because I never saw it, but I’ve heard things… Terrible things. And I’m a huge Disney fangirl, so for me to say that, you know it’s got to be bad.)
9. My Sister’s Keeper– Jodi Picoult is known for her twist endings. When you remove the twist ending, you RUIN EVERYTHING. I don’t know how this can be a SPOILER because there’s was a massive uproar about this when the movie was released but… They killed the wrong sister. Are. You. Kidding. Me? I mean, if you didn’t like Picoult’s melodramatic twist, they you shouldn’t have picked this script! Grrr, Hollywood! Oh and PS- Cameron Diaz as the mom? Not so much.
10. Great Expectations- We’re talking the Ethan Hawk version. Okay, so I get what they were trying to do. They were trying to make this movie like the rock-n-roll Romeo + Juliet that made an entire generation of 8th grade girls fall in love with Leonardo DiCaprio. Despite Great Expectations having my favorite movie soundtrack of all time, the film itself sucked hard. The fact that the main character was called PIP was a CENTRAL PLOT POINT in the novel, and in the movie he’s suddenly called Finn?! No. No, that is not okay. It is NOT OKAY!
What book-to-film adaptations are on your Good, Bad, and Ugly lists? Tell me about it, Bookworms!
In case you missed it somehow, The Fellowship of the Worms had their first “meeting” yesterday and it was amazeballs. Be sure to check it out and leave your thoughts!
Nish
I have to confess, when it comes to Twilight, I like the movies better than the books.
I loved that baseball in the rain scene, and him saving her from the car accident scene, and even the vampire fights looked so much better than what I visualized when I read the books (which I disliked btw).
Totally with you on Tolkien, I liked The Hobbit, but the rest of the books were ok, but the movies were so much better. I don’t get the purpose of Tom Bombadil either…but that story, there were a number of useless characters in there.
I did a couple of versions of this meme already not realizing I could have scheduled it for top ten…but if your’re interested here are the links:
http://nishitak.com/2013/06/05/meme-book-vs-movie/
http://nishitak.com/2013/06/27/5-of-the-funniest-comedies-based-on-books/
Words for Worms
LOL, oh Twilight. It’s so divisive :). Tolkien and his extraneous characters make me nuts. I’m going to have to check out your posts! Thanks!
Katja Weinert @ YA's the Word
I had no idea they kill the wrong sister at the end of My Sister’s Keeper…that totally changes the tone of the movie. Makes no sense.
Words for Worms
Admittedly, the book’s twist was kind of random and ridiculous, but still. That’s not a good reason to ruin it. Pick a different cancer book, you know? It’s not like there’s a shortage…
Katja Weinert @ YA's the Word
Ha! yes, it was random 🙂 I didn’t think it was very clever but my guess was the ending tried to convey that nothing is a given. You can’t assume that you can put someone through hell for a moment because they are guaranteed a lifetime of good times, in which you and the universe will make it up to them. From the mother’s mindset she would be burying a child and she didn’t want that and she was battling against this likely outcome- possibly ineffectually. Yet, life’s never a given, the mother could have tripped down the house stairs, been hit by a car or suffered a fatal heart attack/stroke from a condition she didn’t know she had because her attn was all taken up. She didn’t have control over everything, and we never can have that…I always suspected that the control and always trying to have a plan B was why the brother was being so destructive.
ashley
I guess I should read My Sisters Keeper! Most movies I always read the book First. (I think I made this embarassing confession before butI’m a pretty big Nicholas Sparks fan…) I still cry when I watch the movie The Notebook. I cry when I read the book too, but I must say I like the movie better than the book!
Words for Worms
I shall not shame you for the Nicholas Sparks. Read what you like! I’ve never watched all of The Notebook, or read it. I probably should, and probably won’t LOL.
Andi (@estellasrevenge)
LOL, good choices! I agree on all your good adaptations, but sometimes I like the bad because they’re so bad they’re good. Get all that? Even though I’m a Great Expectations freak, I actually liked this movie because the world got to see what a beetch Estella is, and Havisham was wonderfully freaky. But yeah, wtf Finn?
Words for Worms
Havisham was pretty hilarious, I’ll give her that!
Rory
Great Expectations is one my list as well, however I do love the soundtrack as well. Count of Katie to have good ’90’s music taste.
I have several issues with the movie, starting with the name Finn. Why change? Why? To add to my irritation, my young son’s name is Finn (not named for the movie), but occasionally I get people who ask me if I named him after Great Expectations. My first reaction is a sputtering no, my second, I think ‘well you didn’t read the book’.
And My Sister’s Keeper. I’ve never watched it because I read they changed the ending – refuse.
Words for Worms
Your little boy is named Finn? Do you get “is he named for Glee?” much? At least that’s the character’s real name. I would totally correct people on the Great Expectations thing, because I’m an insufferable know-it-all. Don’t even watch My Sister’s Keeper, it’ll make you stabby!
Rory
It is and I do. I rarely get ‘are you Irish?’, which I was I was expecting. Finn was born in ’08, pre-Glee days, but I still get the Glee question…
Words for Worms
Personally, I’d say something to the effect of “oh what a good strong Irish name” because it is, and you’re Rory O’Connor. I kind of want to send you things with shamrocks on them.
Rhian
Wherefore art thou, Harry Potter? On my good list that’s for sure. I remember squeeing with happiness over the casting when the first movie came out. I thought the movies captured the essence of the books perfectly.
Words for Worms
I thought about including HP, but some of the movies were better than others. Like the first one? Perfection! But some of the later ones cut out so much that I loved about the books I had a hard time. I mean, I still appreciate them, because Harry Potter, but I don’t know how to pick and choose fave among them.
Akilah
I’m not a Tolkien fan, either. Also, I am not a Burton fan and thought his Chocolate Factory was terrible, and I’m not that enamored of the Gene Wilder version.
Words for Worms
The Gene Wilder version had issues… Like why weren’t the Buckets English? That made no sense. But still, I have fond childhood memories of it and I want to go to the room where everything is made of candy!
The Leopard Seal Society of Greater Texas
You did not review “March of the Penguins.” Our favorite part is when the Leopard Seals attack. There was a movie adaptation. We take it you did not like it? Figures you would be against the mighty Leopard Seal. We will keep a close eye on you. Unless a Penguin waddles near us, then we will keep a close eye on the Penguin. Unless it is one of those Madagascar Penguins. They are tricky and have tools to fight us off. We believe they are faking being German as well.
Words for Worms
You blood thirsty beasts! Why must you keep tormenting me! Leopard seals! Gah!
Liesel Hill
Great list. I kind of want to give Jodi Piccoult another chance, but I’ve heard a lot about her books, and I’m actually not a fan of her kind of twists. They always feel fake to me. Though I haven’t read the book, I saw the movie of My Sister’s Keeper and actually liked it. It felt like a focused, complete story and I appreciated that. I understand if it’s way different than the book that the fans wouldn’t like that, but after seeing the movie, I heard how the book ended and thought it was bizarre and not in keeping with the themes of the story. With you on Les Miz, though. I liked the Neeson film, but that was because I hadn’t read the book back then. Now that I have, I can see what an epic failure it was. I much prefer the musical version that just came out. As for Disney’s hunchback, there are things I really liked about it–like the sound track for one thing. The thing that shocks me is that anyone would seriously consider trying to turn that story into a kids film. All KINDS of adult stuff going on there, you know? Anyway, great list! 😀
My TTT
Words for Worms
Meh, Jodi Picoult is hit or miss for me. I don’t think you’re missing out on anything major by avoiding her. And seriously. Whose idea was it to make the Hunchback into a Disney film? What with the flogging and the whoring and the like. Yikes.
Ashley@sorry kid your mom doesn't play well with others
The hunger games.. Eek. I tried to watch it but when it showed the first kid that went down I literally puked- right in my popcorn. The twilight books were better than the movies probably because fugs(pattinson) wasn’t there to ruin it. saying he was the most gorgeous man ever is a damn lie. The last movie took a lot of alcohol to be able to sit through, even with that, it wasn’t worth the hangover…
They killed the wrong sister. What?!? I MUST go to the library…
Words for Worms
Yes. You MUST go to the library! But, did you puke into the popcorn because you got sick or because you were preggo with the latest little one? 🙂
Wayne
I hate to admit it being a guy but I truly loved the movie made of * Les Miserables*. Having Jean Valjean portrayed by Hugh Jackman was a great choice. And Peter Travers of Rolling Stone said, “Besides being a feast for the eyes and ears, Les Misérables overflows with humor, heartbreak, rousing action and ravishing romance. Damn the imperfections, it’s perfectly marvelous.” And truthfully the movie was about the triumphed of the good, something we seldom see from Hollywood done convincingly. I also know that I will NEVER read the whole novel, all 2783 pages of it 😉
Words for Worms
Oh no, Hugh Jackman’s Les Mis I ADORED. Like, embarrassing fangirling went on. I wrote a whole post about it. This was a late 90s non musical version and it was subpar.
Wayne
There is a 1935 movie version of * Les Miserables* staring Fredric March as JeanValjean/Champmathieu, Charles Laughton as Inspector Émile Javert, Cedric Hardwicke as Bishop Myriel, and Rochelle Hudson as Cosette. Pretty high falutin’ casting huh? It was nominated for an Academy Award as Best Picture. Maybe parts of it are on youtube.com
lenoreva
Ha! I also hated the Liam N. version of Les Miz because it wasn’t the musical. I am obsessed with the musical – and the new movie (and Eddie Redmayne… maybe).
Words for Worms
I don’t blame you in the slightest. Eddie Redmayne is dishy!
Heather
Good: Silence of the Lambs (better than the book)
Bad: All of the LotR movies. I’m still so mad at Peter Jackson for messing them up.
Ugly: Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood, Queen of the Damned
Words for Worms
I think the LOTR die hards agree on that score, though I’m a mere dabbler, I enjoyed them!
ChrissiReads
Fabulous list. I meant to add The Hunger Games in my list too, but somehow managed to forget it! Oops. I also agree with you about the Tim Burton version of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. So creepy.
Kayla Sanchez
I haven’t seen My Sister’s Keeper, but the book was my first from Picoult, and still my favorite after reading several more from her. I think I’ll stay away from that movie now!
Words for Worms
Probably a good idea, or you may end up yelling at the TV.
Turn the Page Reviews
Love your list! Yes- Fried Green Tomatoes was a great movie, as was The Hunger Games- she really nailed Katniss (just rewatched last night-my 13 yr old daughter is getting tired of me always picking it) When I read My Sister’s Keeper-I was all-holy sh#$!!! great ending- the movie sucked it big time-great post
Words for Worms
Oh man, I love Fried Green Tomatoes so much, it’s ridiculous. Glad I wasn’t the only one to use profanity while watching My Sister’s Keeper!
Megan M.
I read the first Twilight book and loved it but the second one started to irritate me because I had read more than 100 pages and it seemed like nothing much had happened. Nothing makes me more mad than when a story could be told in one or two books and they stretch it out just to make money. I saw the movie out of curiosity and thought it sucked big time. I hate K-Stew. Soundtrack was killer, though.
I really liked The Hunger Games and I was totally okay with them taking Madge out, because what did she really do other than give her the pin and then die? I thought it made more sense to have the pin come from someone else who was more important to the story. I’m SO excited to see Catching Fire. Just watching the trailer makes me all verklempt.
My Sister’s Keeper was also my first JP book and I loved it. I haven’t seen the movie, I’d heard they changed the ending but I didn’t know how. Wasn’t that film also done by Nick Cassavetes who directed The Notebook? He changed the ending to The Notebook too. It must be his “thing.” I’ve gotten tired of JP though b/c it seems like she throws in a “twist” ending even when it really doesn’t serve the story.
Tim Burton, I used to love, but he’s gotten a little tired as well. We get it, you love Johnny Depp and your wife, but do something different, huh? Plus Kevin Smith makes him sound like a real tool. I didn’t hate his Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, I kind of liked the backstory he gave his Willy Wonka, but no one can be a better Wonka than Gene Wilder, it’s just not possible.
Words for Worms
I agree with just about everything in here! Like, New Moon was all pages and pages and pages of desperate sadness and I was like… Okay, there’s more books, I KNOW he’s coming back… Dude. And I did forgive them for having Prim give her the pin, even though my literal self was like “WRONG” throwing Madge into the movie would have been weird. I have to take JP in small doses, sometimes she drives me nuts. And Tim Burton DID give Wonka a good backstory, but you’re right. He hasn’t released anything recently that isn’t all Johnny Depp/Helena Bonham Carter. Not that I don’t like both those actors, but they can be in other stuff too, you know. Gene Wilder will always be my Wonka!
Shannon (Giraffe Days)
I have zero interest in watching My Sister’s Keeper – it was the first Picoult book I read, years ago, and I loved it, thought it was so well done and god I cried a bucket! But when I heard they were doing a Hollywood version, I thought Oh no way, it’ll be SO self-indulgent and weepy in that emotionally-manipulative way, and then I heard Cameron Diaz was playing the mother and I had to shudder. It sounded like a disaster waiting to happen. Hadn’t heard before that they kill the other sister but it so doesn’t surprise me. What a stupid decision. Ugh. God. You’ve got me all riled up now! 😉
Incidentally, while I grew up with Gene Wilder as Wonka, he was so angry he really intimidated me – I was a child easily intimidated by angry men, who all seemed so huge, so I never enjoyed it as much as I wanted to.
My TTT
terribruce
Oh, interesting that you thought Wilder was angry in Willa Wonka – I’ve always thought he was incredibly sad. Just watching his face/eyes makes me well up!
Words for Worms
Was that filmed before or after he lost Gilda? He does have rather sad eyes, I always attributed it to the loss of his wife…
Words for Worms
Ha! I like you when you’re riled! It’s so cute! I never saw Gene Wilder as angry, just weird… Of course, I used to cry every time the Wicked Witch of the West or the flying monkeys came on in the Wizard of Oz, so I get it. Stuff is different when you’re a kid.
Lori
BEST:
The Secret Life of Bees: The cast was superb, especially Dakota Fanning. I was simply amazed at her stellar performance and the lack of recognition she received for that role.
Under the Tuscan Sun: The book read like a travel essay and the movie created a story. Different, yes, but I think anyone who suffers a broken heart should get to move to Tuscany, buy a villa to fix up and eat all the pasta they can and not get fat. It is my number 1 “go-to” movie.
WORST:
My Sister’s Keeper: Completely concur!! Cameron Diaz?! Why is she even an actress? The ending?? I don’t get it.
Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood: Agree with Heather! This was a wonderful book turned into a muddled mess with a fantastic cast!! So frustrating and disappointing.
Fresh hell?! Love it and can’t wait to use it in a sentence as soon as possible 😉
Words for Worms
I never saw The Secret Life of Bees, but I loved the book. I saw Under the Tuscan Sun but never read the book. I also never read The Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood, though I’ve seen the movie. I feel like i can’t comment on anything but what I’ve already complained about. What in the fresh hell, Lori? You’re leaving me speechless! (see what I did there? ahhh fresh hell. As opposed to the old stinky one.)
kristinshafel
Good: The Godfather
Bad: World War Z (I had fun with it, but totally different from the book)
Ugly: Where the Wild Things Are
Words for Worms
I’ve not read The Godfather, and I’ve not seen World War Z or Where the Wild Things Are. Sounds like I’m safe from the films but should read The Godfather, no?
kristinshafel
The Godfather is probably one of those rare cases where the movie is better than the book. Part I and Part II are based on the book, but I think that Part III is pure moviefilm (and not so great anyway). Diehard fans of the film will probably be happy they read the book, though! http://mylittleheartmelodies.com/2013/05/03/the-godfather/
Sarah Says Read
Oooo The Time Traveler’s Wife! So I saw that in the theaters before reading the book and really liked it for the most part (it’s also the first and only movie I’ve gone to see by myself… I should do that more). But then I read the book… and I hated the book! I was really turned off by the grunge and druggy side of it.
I think this is a thing though. I almost always like the movie if I see it first, but if I read the book first and THEN see the movie, it usually seems terrible. Interesting, that is.
Words for Worms
Oooh see I think that’s part of why I loved it so much- I went through a grunge phase and I was like “OMG he’s seeing the Violent Femmes at The Vic?! I’VE BEEN THERE!!!!!!!” Because I grew up in the Chicago area. It was either the Vic or the Aragon Ballroom. I don’t remember. The point is I connected with the venue AND the angst. Not so much the drugs, but I was the prissiest grunge kid who ever walked the planet.
Kendra @champagneorcoffee
I 100% fully agree with you on My Sister’s Keeper! I Just add that as a bonus worst book on my list! I HATE when screenwriters decide to change the ending of a well known book!
Words for Worms
I sort of feel this way a little bit about Wicked the Musical, too. Like… Talk about a loose adaptation, right? Turning people into scarecrows? Running off into the sunset with your scarecrow boyfriend? That was NOT A THING. So. I feel you, girl. I so feel you. On multiple levels, apparently!
Ashley F
I’m so conflicted when it comes to film adaptations because 99% of the time I’m horribly disappointed.
As for the good….I’m going to say Harry Potter. Yes they left a ton out and lightened it up a bit, but overall? It’s a win. Especially visually and in terms of casting.
The Bad…..Bram Stokers Dracula. Yeah, with Keanu Reeves. It was good in that it showed the style of the book through letters and diary entries. I just can’t stand how badly Winona Ryder and Keanu Reeves were in this movie.
Memoirs of a Geisha…another bad. Again, visually cool, but they cut most of the stuff out that I loved like her early training and all the scenes about the hair and clothes and the bitchy girls that lived with her.
The Ugly…..The Other Boleyn Girl. OMG. The casting, the acting. It was bad. All of it was BAD. I don’t have words to describe how bad.
The whole think makes me wish they NEVER make a film/tv version of Outlander because honestly? Jamie doesn’t exist in real life and I’m pretty sure that I’m going to become violent if they ruin it for me.
Words for Worms
Bwahahahaha I’d forgotten about Keanu Reeves in Dracula. That was SO BAD! I didn’t see The Other Boleyn Girl, but I loved the book, so I’m glad. I don’t get how Natalie Portman can be so good sometimes and produce suck stinkers other times!
Ashley F
It was so bad, Portman had no sex appeal at all, and Scarlett Johansson, who is generally pretty hot was cast as the mousey suzie-homemaker sister. It was bullshit.
terribruce
Great list – I totally need to read Wizard of Oz and Alice in Wonderland…I’m ashamed to admit I’ve never read either. I think it’s true about LOTR – fans of the book feel very stabby about the movies. I’ve never read the books so I loved them 🙂
Words for Worms
Oh they’re a treat, and super quick reads! LOTR definitely has a lot of die hards… I’m not among them LOL
PinotNinja
I had a horrible experience with The TIme Traveler’s Wife (the movie). I also loved the book. When the movie came out, I insisted, loudly and repeatedly, that all of my friends had to come with me to see the movie because it was going to be phenomenal. I waxed poetic about how great the story was.
And then the movie was horrible.
My friends actually booed me as we walked out of the theater, and I’ve never been allowed to choose the group movie since.
Words for Worms
OH nooooooooooo! That’s awful! You didn’t know how badly they’d butcher everything!
PinotNinja
I know, right? I have decided that I’m going to print out your post and use it as Exhibit A in my case to get to pick movies for the group again. That one was not my fault!
Words for Worms
Tell them! You tell them Katie said you could pick the movie again! (Because I clearly hold SO MUCH SWAY over your friends…)
somer
A lot of people complain that the book is always better than the movie. Well, for me, they’re simply different ways of telling a story. A perfect example of this is Catch Me if You Can. Both the book and the movie are good, but for different reasons. If you follow a book exactly, sometimes you get The Time Traveller’s Wife. For whatever reason, it just doesn’t work. Having said that though….did the filmmaker’s even read World War Z? I understand that stories have to be changed slightly to fit the format, but it seems to me they just took the title. One of the best adaptations I’ve seen is Interview With a Vampire, and it’s no coincidence that Anne Rice wrote the screenplay for the film.
Words for Worms
I’m typically in the camp that says the book is always better, but there are definitely occasions where I can appreciate the book and the movie each for their own merits. I don’t think that The Time Traveler’s Wife sucked because it stuck too closely to the book, I just think the screenplay could have used some serious tweaking. But seriously- World War Z? I can’t bring myself to see it knowing it basically only took the title.. Then again, I really like zombies… I’m so conflicted!
Heather
I totally agree with you on the non-musical Les Mis. I mean, how do you even attempt to make that into anything other than a musical when the fantastically wonderful stage version is out there. (Yeah, I fangirl squealed through most of the Hugh Jackman version…).
I must also openly admit that I have not seen the Hunger Games movie. It’s in my Amazon queue, but I’m really scared I won’t like it.
On my list:
Good- The Princess Bride. Love the book, love the movie. Even though Rob Reiner took some liberties with the movie and left out a couple of things I really enjoyed in the book, I still love the movie adaptation. itcaputres the spriti of the book so well.
Bad- A Time to Kill. Don’t even get me started on how much I hate what they did with Sandra Bullock’s character. I love her as an actress, but that was just not right.
Ugly- World War Z. Maybe it’s because it’s fresh in my mind, but I kind of felt like all they did was steal the title and a couple of plot points and call it a day. The movie was NOTHING like the book, and while I knew they couldn’t capture the same essence from the novel in the movie, I just really didn’t like what they did with it at all.
Words for Worms
I love that we get squealy about the same things. Les Mis, Outlander… Actors within Les Mis and Outlander :). I’ve not read The Princess Bride or A Time To Kill. I loved the Princess Bride movie-wise (it helped that I had a crush on Fred Savage the first time I saw it.) I think you’ll actually like The Hunger Games. I’m really bitchy and I’m willing to forgive its less than perfect moments. I think you’re safe. And, on the off chance you hate it? You can come back and rub it all in my face and I will grovel. GROVEL I tell you! All to get back in your good graces 🙂
Heather
Oooh – I like good grovel! 🙂 I’ll have to watch it soon and let you know what I think.
A Time to Kill is my favorite John Grisham book. I actually don’t read much of his stuff any more, but A Time to Kill was one of (if not the) first books I read by him, and it is so wonderfully written that I just fell in love. I know your TBR list is almost as long as, if not longer than, mine, but you should give it a shot.
Who didn’t have a crush on Fred Savage when they saw The Princess Bride? Although, I did quickly get over him and start focusing on the Dread Pirate Roberts. Sigh. Oh, and Half Price Books is reading The Princess Bride for their summer book club, so there’s lots of awesome discussion about that going on over on their website if it’s something you want more background on before you read it.
RebeccaScaglione - Love at First Book
Oooooh My Sister’s Keeper was so ugly it was one of those “You’re so ugly” jokes. It was horrible. I walked out angry.
Another good to add is Matilda!!!
Words for Worms
Bwahahaha now I’m thinking of “yo mama” jokes.
lostinliterature108
I have found two cases of the movies being better than the book:
1. The Wizard of Oz for sure. Read that and was all like…what? And there are a lot of decapitations in that book. Even if the Tin Man was trying to protect Dorothy….still..
2. Julie and Julia. I found the book to be kinda despicable and dark. I know it was a true story so I should be less critical but I couldn’t even finish it. So dark emotionally and horrible language.
The movie, however, I loved. Outstanding..
Words for Worms
I never read Julie and Julia, but I did like the movie. Amy Adams is so freaking cute!
Kathleen
Can I just go out on a limb and not be hated and say it: I loved both World War Z the novel and the movie. There, feel free to stone me. But I knew going in that the movie was going to be NOTHING like the book (and seriously, why didn’t they consult me in making the movie. I have the perfect way to do it and it is both awesome and a major blockbuster – I think it’d make cinematic history….) so I just enjoyed being slightly scared and going “Oooohh, that WAS in the book” to my very patient husband.
Bad:
How about Something Borrowed? It is one of my favorite chick-lit novels and then the movie was sort of spot-on but seemed to lack something.
Good: Harry Potter….all of them. Although, again, parts they didn’t put in were some of my favorites in the book.
Bad: I’m also going to agree with A Time to Kill (even though Matthew McConaughey was totally yummy). Could have been an awesome movie.
And I don’t HAVE any ugly ones, because I usually HATE how the films change the book but I’m also usually entertained! Maybe I just don’t watch enough movies. I think that’s it. Clearly, it’s something I will have to rectify once my daughter is in college (in 17 years).
Words for Worms
I think going into WWZ with no expectations that it would be like the book would probably be the way to do it. I bet it’s an awesome zombie flick!
tinykitchenstories
I have to say that I’m glad I didn’t read the book for My Sister’s Keeper because…well, I can’t say that I “liked” the movie, as I bawled my eyes out so bad they almost swelled shut (true story!)..but I thought it was pretty powerful. I guess not so much if you read the book.
Overall, I’m one of those people shouting in the theater “That didn’t happen in the book!” (which may be why my husband doesn’t want to go to the cinema with me?). I’m going to go WAY back and say that Apocalypse Now was a brilliant updating of Heart of Darkness, and I think they did a pretty great job in the FOTR. There were parts where I actually felt that it was realized how I’d imagined it.
Oh, Gone Baby Gone and Mystic River. More GBG–Ben Affleck’s little brother Casey as Patrick? Seriously? And whatsherface playing Angela Gennaro? Seriously, an Irish girl playing an Italian? I had waited YEARS for them to film a Lehane novel. Horrible. And Mystic River–fairly good, I mean, it won an Oscar, but it left SO much out.
Bram Stoker’s Dracula–overall, terrible. But Gary Oldman was pretty amazing!
There’s so many that I just can’t remember right now. Thanks for a great topic!
Melinda
I’m obviously late in commenting, but I also read Twilight and I loved the books! I saw The Time Traveler’s Wife, but I never read the book… your comments made me want to read the book now, because I now have higher expectations of the book 🙂
Les Miserables I’m yet to read and I also didn’t like the fact that they changed Jodi Picoult’s ending to My Sister’s Keeper! I remember being upset about it and a colleague said that she actually prefer the movie’s ending, because now Anna can get a chance to have a real relationship with her mother. I understand that, but I liked the shock factor of the ending of the book!
Words for Worms
Thanks Melinda! Seriously, read The Time Traveler’s Wife, it was so good! My Sister’s Keeper… I mean, if they didn’t like the ending, they should have written an original screenplay and not adapted a book, you know? It’s not like Picoult has a copyright on kids with cancer. Makes me all growly-like.
Melinda
A good movie adaptation for me, is when it stays true to the book! So you are right in saying they shouldn’t have adapted the book. I will read The Time Traveler’s Wife (I think I might have the ebook somewhere)