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Arts and Eloquence >
Which book did you like the movie better?
It has only happened once for me but I was wondering if anyone else has read a book but enjoyed the movie more.
I liked Fahrenheit 451 the movie more than the book. Mostly because I didn't really understand the book. Probably skipped too many passages to keep up.
I absolutely love the movie Practical Magic (yea, yea... fluffy magic, romantic blah blah) and have seen it several times, but when I finally read the book - an author I really like & I didn't realize she wrote this one - it was depressing & melancholy and I hated it by comparison. It was so disappointing, because usually the book has so much more detail & goes deeper into the characters, making the whole story that much more rich. I hate that it wasn't the case for this one.
I felt the same way about Practical Magic, Sher.
I'll sound like a broken record here, since I've said it before, but the movie Children of Men was sooooooo much better than the book. The book is not fit to be read, it was filled with stupid characters doing stupid things. The movie was beautiful and disturbing.
I loved the book Practical Magic, but always steered clear of the movie. Maybe I'll check it out. The movie version of The Prestige felt more satisfying than the book - I think it was the ending.
I agree, Sarah! The differences between what the machine did in the book vs. the movie really heightened the theme of sacrifice for me (trying to be vague so I don't spoil either for anyone), and I just loved how the movie was structured to mirror the structure of a magic trick. The Prestige is one of my top favorite movies ever.
Love Jaws, Ko. That's a movie that if I come across it playing on tv, I'll watch.
Girl With a Pearl Earring, and NOT just because it starred Colin Firth. :)
Carlie, I loved the Jaws book! I'd read the book and then dragged two friends to a drive in movie to see the movie, and the movie was great too. They both were worth experiencing. The book was chilling too!
The Jaws book was fun, but the movie was definitely better. Good call. I might say the same thing about "Fletch", while we're in the 70s...though "better" is a fine line.
Better brace yourselves, ladies! Any minute now some rabid Tolkien fan is going to descend upon you, like the wrath of God (or Sauron)! ;)
I think that's another case where both versions have their merits. I love the books, but Tolkein plotted them strangely; they don't really move along conventional story arcs. I think Peter Jackson did a great job of bringing them to life, and actually imbuing them with more oomph in the process.Another ambivalent one for me: I thought High Fidelity was fun as a book, but the character was more likeable in the movie.
The World of Henry Orient.The book was good too. I learned it was a book just a couple of years go, but I was attached to the plot of the movie, which was changed somewhat from the book, and the girls really came alive in the movie. It's one of my favorite movies from when I was young.
I can't believe High Fidelity was a book... it just doesn't seem, um bookish. Well now, wait, maybe it does. It's just with the movie the music was a constant underscore and so important, I guess I just couldn't imagine that in book form. But, his narrative throughout the whole thing def is.
Hmmm.... now I must check it out. curiostiy & the cat & all.
The top ten lists work really well in the book. I've enjoyed all of his books that I've read, and I think they film very well (though I haven't seen or read Fever Pitch).
It amazes me that the sweet little boy from the movie About A Boy is the same actor as the bad boy in the BBC series Skins....
Ok, I’m going to admit to being an incurable romantic here and slightly against the thread as I haven’t read the book, I nominate Pride and Prejudice (the version with Matthew Macfadyen and Keira Knightley). I can’t imagine that the book could be better than the film.
I feel that way about Sense and Sensibility, Stephen. The movie was SO good, the book seems to pale in comparison.
I don't feel that way about P & P, though.
I sort of appreciate the Keira Knightly version's ability to tell the story without repeating every single line in the book verbatim. I liked the Colin Firth version, but sometimes I wanted them to edit it a little bit more since what is readable doesn't always translate into what is watchable.
OMG how could u possibly appreciae the Knightley version! I'm shocked. Definitely the COlin Firth version is to die for. Though I still say, I enjoyed the book better. But that's it isn't it Stephen....u didn't read the book. For shame!
Haven’t yet is a better description.
Donald Sutherland was good in it too, great casting for the whole movie and the director did well in concentrating on the sharp dialogue while letting the photography and the music set the feel of the whole thing. Top marks.
Personally, I think the Weird Al Yankovich version with a guest apearance from Kool & the Gang was superb. Much better than Knightley or Firth... :)
(Yes, I am on cold medicine. Why do you ask?)
Continue...
"The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie." The movie (with Dame Maggie Smith) is wonderful! I found the book to be very disappointing. Also, "The Accidental Tourist". I enjoyed the book until the ending which was rather cold. The movie version was more touching.
Me too, loved the movie, but god the book was so slow and depressing.Cosmic Sher wrote: "I absolutely love the movie Practical Magic (yea, yea... fluffy magic, romantic blah blah) and have seen it several times, but when I finally read the book - an author I really like & I didn't real..."
I actually liked the book, but have not seen the movie yet, so who knows. The concept of the book just sticks in your mind. Will be the first to admit it is not a good or well written book, but still stuck with me.I'll sound like a broken record here, since I've said it before, but the movie Children of Men was sooooooo much better than the book. The book i..."</i>
Amelia, are you & Brooke twins? Just wondering cause you both said almost the same thing about Children of Men. Now I have to go check it out to make sure neither of you is lying. ;)
Look, there is a whole list based on this question!http://www.goodreads.com/list/show/104.T...
I just can't agree with the #1 choice, The Princess Bride. Both the book and the movie are so equally wonderful; the movie brings things to the table that the book doesn't, but the book also has the wonderfuly witty narration that just doesn't translate onscreen. I wouldn't be able to pick one over the other.
They just couldn't resist listing it, I bet, Brooke. Because then they could drag in Princess Bride quotes, and who doesn't want to do that?
Thought she said she hated the book?Cosmic Sher wrote: "Amelia, are you & Brooke twins? Just wondering cause you both said almost the same thing about Children of Men. Now I have to go check it out to make sure neither of you is lying. ;)"
I haven't seen the movie yet, so I will have to see. Cosmic Sher wrote: "Yes, I guess you're right. I just meant you both loved the movie. Never mind. :)"
Actually, I did hear this past Friday that the movie rights for Pride and Prejudice and Zombies had been optioned, so it's just a matter of time... Feeling rather ambiguous about that, as it happens...
Its a bit confusing Amelia, because when you respond first and then quote the person you are responding to second its gets a little unclear. Like at first I thought you were responding to Maysoon's comment on The Accidental Tourist because that was right before your post, but then when I got to the quote realized you were responding to Sher's earlier comment about Practical Magic.
Wow! You're right Bun, I sort of sailed right on past that. Is this a new feature? Because I'm thinking it will be pretty confusing to have the text one is responding to come last... What if it's a long post, that addresses more than one thing?
Abigail wrote: "Wow! You're right Bun, I sort of sailed right on past that. Is this a new feature? ..."
Hmm. Looks like its not.
I was also bothered by how every post was added to the bottom of the list no matter who you were responding to, it makes it confusing. Wish there was a way to list the responses with the one you are commenting on.
Amelia no, there is no way to make your comment appear with the comment it is responding to. Comments appear in the order in which they were written. I like it because its more like a real conversation that way - the fickle finger of fate writes and moves on!
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Books mentioned in this topic
The Prestige (other topics)High Fidelity (other topics)
