Books to Films

I started this thread as I've just found out that a film version of The Lovely Bones is due out next year. I'm a bit dubious as it was one of my favourite books. I also absolutely adored the Time travellers Wife and avoided watching the film of that in case it spoiled it. What do others think about books being made into films? I know its inevitable and sometimes it can really work well but I'm always really wary if I have loved the book. The only exception, in terms of favourite books of mine is concerned, was A Room with a View. That was exactly how I pictured it in my head and it was beautifully made. I loved Dracula but Keanu Reeves deserved a good flogging after his horrendous portrayal of Jonathan Harker in the film.
Anyway, I've said my piece Happy

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6 replies since 5th December 2009 • Last reply 5th December 2009

Reply #1:

Nice thread because I have A LOT of feelings about books made into movies. I am all for it, I love seeing the things I have built up in my head come to life BUT I also have problems with it, especially when things are changed for the sake of getting more people to see the movie. I have finally come to terms with the fact that the movie based on a book is the directors interpretation of the the book. Just like when a muscial or play is revived on Broadway and is slightly differant from the original (sorry I am a theatre person and this was the best way for me to let go of my anger when things are changed). I have also found that reading the book after watching the movie has helped. I fall in love with books and am constantly disappointed with the movie versions.

I was really disappointed in Blood Work, The Devil Wears Prada, and Bridget Jones The Edge of Reason ( I am sure there are more, I just cannot think think of any more at this time).

I LOVED Where the Wild Things Are (best example of taking an old classic and staying true to it yet the director Spike Jonze made it his own) and The Lord of the Rings Trilogy.

I liked Briget Jones Diary, The Nanny Diaries, Kenneth Branagh's Frakenstein and Hamlet, The Deep End of the Ocean, The Great Gatsby, The Maltese Falcon, and any Agatha Christie movie.

I have also enjoyed the Harry Potter movies because I decided to seperate the movies from the books. There is no way they could please me completely when an 800 page book is made into a two and a half hour movie. However, I cannot say the same thing for the last two movies. Since they split Deathly Hallows into two movies, I expect EVERYTHING to be in the them.

I am also looking forward to The Lovely Bones and do not want to get my hopes up. I trust Peter Jackson but am not having good feelings about the movie. We shall see........

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Reply #2:

Just had a look at the trailer for Lovely Bones and it actually did look pretty good. Peter Jackson seems to have captured the magic and the scariness. Also checked out the trailer for the Time Travellers wife (another favourite book) and wasn't so struck. I don't think I'll bother with that one as the book was amazing.

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Reply #3:

I agree with Ali B., especially about HP. I always went to see the movies, and then would harp on about how they don't follow the books at all. The clincher came when, in movie #6, they burned down the Weasely house, and Harry and Ginny's relationship was a secret. Finally, though, I came around to the idea of just separating the books from the movies.

I also agree, however, that they BETTER follow book 7 for those last two movies, or there will be consequences. xD

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Reply #4:

The Time Traveler's Wife was a good movie variation.
White Oleander both book and movie are delicious
All Nicholas Sparks books are better as movies
Harry Potter and Twilight are AWFUL movies
Stand by Me is the movie version of Stephen King's, "The Body," and they're both good.
Shawshank Redemption, again Stephen King, are good books and movies

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Reply #5:

I loved both the books and movies The Color Purple. Some others that I enjoyed would be Big Fish, Jarhead, A Time to Kill, Gangs of New York, Lord of the Flies, Fight Club, Schindler's List, Of Mice and Men, Interview with a Vampire, Perfume, Brokeback Mountain, Red Dragon, The Diving Bell and Butterfly -and I'm sure there are more, but can't think of them.


Choke, Memoires of a Geisha, Queen of the Damned, Shogun, The Secret Window and the two Dan Brown novels were very disappointing with the movie versions -as were MANY more that I care not to think of.



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Reply #6:

I was totally disapointed with Bridigt Jones too, I find the movie version to be lacking in alot.

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