The Perks Of Being A Book Addict discussion
best and worst movie adaptations
the best book adaptation was the Fight Club imho
Megan wrote: "I really liked book 7 adaptation. I liked them both all up until the final battle. That's when I was like "Oh come on!". They butchered the ending.(Harry Potter)"
I agree, Megan. I was glad they split the movie into two so they could include a lot of the little details, which had mostly been left out of the previous movies. But I really didn't think they did the end justice - it was no where near as emotional as the book and the final face-off between Harry and Voldemort came across as silly, I thought.
Wow, you guys are so limited in your fiction...mostly YA, which is fine...but there's a whole wide world out there of books to films. Good ones: The Godfather, Red Dragon, Silence of the Lambs, The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, The Shipping News, Misery, The Exorcist, Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolfe (which is actually a play), High Fidelity, The Firm, Contact, and the Harry Potter series.
Bad one: Silver Linings Playbook, Jaws, Hannibal, Valley of the Dolls, Wizard of Oz (GREAT film, but BAD adaptation), Pet Semetary, 'Salem's Lot, Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, The Time Machine (the last one), The Shining
Mediocre ones: Lord of the Rings, Gone With The Wind, The Stand, Dreamcatcher, The Perks of Being A Wallflower
Movies that never had a chance because the book sucked to begin with: the Twilight series
Stephen King books. either become awesome or disastrous. Awesome ones include Carrie, Shining, and Misery. Awful ones include Diary of Ellen Rimbauer. Harry Potter was done well after years 1 and 2. LOTR was amazing. Girl with the Dragon Tattoo was ok. I love Gone With The Wind. I wish they would finally do Outlander.
Michelle wrote: "Stephen King books. either become awesome or disastrous. Awesome ones include Carrie, Shining, and Misery. Awful ones include Diary of Ellen Rimbauer. Harry Potter was done well after years 1..."Too funny...that's just what I was thinking about King novels. Shawshank & The Green Mile were great movies. I saw The Langoliers before I read the book, and I think I hated the book just because all I could think of was the horrible acting in the movie!
Films where they totally change the endings are ones I hate! My sisters keeper and Cujo are two that spring to mind
* movies of the Twilight Saga. the books were bad, but the movies seemed a parody of the books.* The hunger games, I do not like the movie. lost the focus of the book. The actors were good, so I guess it was for the director. But he lost all the excitement.
* Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2.They changed many things.
** The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian, and The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader. Too different to the book.
The time travelers wife.The movie didn't live up to the book.
Michelle wrote: "Stephen King books. either become awesome or disastrous. Awesome ones include Carrie, Shining, and Misery. Awful ones include Diary of Ellen Rimbauer. Harry Potter was done well after years 1..."If you've read The Shining, you know that Kubrick massacred the book when he turned it into a film. Stephen King has famously panned the film.
And the LofR was only ok. It was a great film series, but not quite as loyal to the books as many would assume. Entire plot lines and characters were eliminated from the film. That's not a good adaptation. And same with Gone With the Wind. The film chose to focus on Scarlett O'Hara and her romance with Rhett Butler, but the book is so much more powerful and immense than that. It's a statement of life before, during and after the Civil War. Ths film is just weak in that sense.
And I am pleased as punch to tell you that Outlander has been greenlit for a mini-series on Starz. Fingers crossed it does the book justice.
Eragon was, by far, the worst adaptation that I have seen so far. So much was changed and all it did was ruin an extremely magical story.I saw the first Percy Jackson installment before I read the book but when I did get around to reading the book I was instantly dissappointed with the things that were changed. I do understand that the movie adaptation cannot possibly be identical to the book. but things that could remain the same should probably remain the same. like the age progression of the protagonists.
I love all the Harry Potter movies. To me its an example of an amazingly well done adaptation.
My sister's keeper was well written book and a well done adaptation. Though the movie did a complete 180 with the ending, all it did was serve to shock me twice. Which I don't mind at all
I'm amazed at all the people who thought LotR was a great adaptation. I was ok with Fellowship, but when it got to Two Towers, I sat in the theater in full-on nerd rage. I'm still pissed at what they did to that movie. Eragon is a good movie as long as you haven't read the book. I saw the movie first and wondered why everyone was so mad. Then I read then book and was like, "Ok, now I get it."
Some movies I refuse to watch because I loved the book so much. One is IT and the other is Where the Red Fern Grows. Yeah, I know it's a kid book, but I cried when I read it at 12, and I've cried every time I've read it since. That's sacred, so no movie version for me. In fact, I refuse to even look at the DVD box. LOL
Legend of the Seeker was a good show until you read Wizard's First Rule. I couldn't even watch the second season of the show because it was so far from the books. I think I stopped at book 6. It was definitely not as good as the earlier books.
Now that I think about it, I'm never really happy with the movie versions. Most of the time, I get a version I can live with. Sometimes I end up with Sahara: loved the book, mediocre movie. And then there are the ones that suck the life out of me through a bendy straw. Yes I sat through a couple of Twilight movies. No, that's time out of my life I will never get back. I've seen cardboard boxes with more expression than Kristen Stuart.
One of the best movie adaptions was the Swedish version of "The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo" One of the worst adaptions was "One for the Money". The hallmark of Evanovich is her quirky sense of humor, the movie was humorless.
I thought that Silver Linings Playbook was a horrible movie adaptation. Completely off from the book. Everything was changed, even Pat's last name. (Pat Peoples became Pat Solitano.) Half the things that happened in the movie didn't happen in the book. While the casting was fantastic, the acting was amazing, and definitely worthy of the many nominations it received this year, in terms of book to screen adaptations, it was one of the worst I've ever seen. I would've liked it much more if I didn't read the book.Perks of Being a Wallflower was a fantastic adaptation. The characters were cast perfectly, the acting was phenomenal, and Stephen Chbosky did a fantastic job directing the movie. A few things were cut out, but that is expected of a movie that's being adapted from a book. The script stayed true to its roots, and overall, it was a beautiful film and adaptation.
I'm so excited The Host to come out (for those of you who have already seen the pre-screenings or something, I'M JEALOUS AND I WILL STRANGLE YOU THE SAME WAY IAN STRANGLED WANDA)! From what I've seen of the clips so far, it's going to be a fantastic movie. I love that they brought more attention to the Seeker, and though like Stephenie, I am going to miss Walter, I understand that there are sacrifices to be made. One of the things I'm afraid of about this movie are the relationships between Jared and Melanie, Ian and Wanda, and Melanie and Jamie. From what I've heard, the film does focus on the relationship between Melanie and Jamie, and I'm very ecstatic to hear that. But, from what I've seen, it looks like the film is really hitting hard on the Jelanie relationship. (Personally, I would like a little more O'Wanda in there...)
And I'm nervous for the City of Bones and Divergent movies. My prejudice against Jamie Campbell Bower may be because I dislike Jace so much, and Jamie has already been in the major fan-base movies: Harry Potter, Twilight, and now this. For now, I just don't agree with the casting not including Lena Headey, Robert Sheehan, and Godfrey Gao. But we'll just have to wait and see how it turns out. Divergent, on the other hand, fantastic book. Personally, I thought the movie had lost all hope when they casted Shailene Woodley as Tris- I don't think Shailene has the "look" to be able to play a character as strong as Tris, based on her previous roles in her career. BUT, the recent casting news has been amazing. Maggie Q as Tori, KATE WINSLET most likely as Jeanine, Zoe Kravitz as Christina...again, we'll have to wait and see how the movie turns out.
Found this on my facebook feed a while back and this is how I feel about books made in to movies But best adaption for me was THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION
the worst The Lovely Bones. I just wanted it be as good as the book and it was not.
I think some people forget that movies are "based on" books rather than movies are the books on screen. It's harder to judge whether the film adaptation was good or not, as too many compare it to the book counterpart and not judge it on its own merit. For instance I'm quite happy with the way voldermort died in the 8th film of harry potter, it was different, it gave me a chance to see another ending and one that sits better with me and the whole (SPOILER)villain talks the hero to death, and harry gets to show off in front of everyone.
Sure a mix of both would have been the better choice, and I would have loved to have seen that. I can honestly say I loved all 7 books of harry potter and all 8 films (especially the later ones) most probably because they are so different.
I'd say the worst is Twilight, but then I'm not a fan of the books either :s
Favourite adaptation is definitely The Notebook. Personally, i think that the book is really bad and they succeeded in filming such a good movie out of it. The worst movie adaptation would have to be Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close. The boy is really annoying and I think that in the book the character is much more likeable. :)
I think one of the best adaptations was The Help. I thought the Harry Potters were good except for 4 and 5. Life of Pi was done very well. Book was awesome and movie was quite good. I really liked the American The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (haven't seen Swedish). From the actors who played the characters to the scenery it matched my images from the novel.One of the worst Imho was Memoirs of a Geisha. I thought that book was amazing and found the the movie lacking
I wholeheartedly agree about Shawsank Redemption..great story and great movie. I also liked The Green Mile adaptation as well.
I know people love to hate on Twilight but I liked the books and the movies. Well ..except for New Moon, the movie. I think their choice of director was way off on that one.
Not trying to start something here but why go see a movie of a book you hate/don't like?
Kyle wrote: "The first book that springs to mind is Timeline. I read the book before watching the movie. When I first saw the film I hated it. It was very different from the book. JUST different however. ..."I totally agree about legend of the seeker.. I was so aggravated after I watched it. -.-
I prefered the Bourne Movies to the books.
Melissa wrote: "Not trying to start something here but why go see a movie of a book you hate/don't like?"I went to see the first movie in the cinema. I didn't overly like it, it was "okay". But my friend insisted I read the books as they're better and yeah, I didn't like that either. I don't love to hate twilight, I just hate twilight.
Carly wrote: "Melissa wrote: "Not trying to start something here but why go see a movie of a book you hate/don't like?"I went to see the first movie in the cinema. I didn't overly like it, it was "okay". But m..."
I thought both the movie and the book were trash. The writing wasn't terrible but the characters, plot, and all else was. But I also think there's too much hype on how awful it is, I mean.. worse things have been published.
ʟᴇ ♥ cнᴇʏʟᴀ wrote: "Carly wrote: "Melissa wrote: "Not trying to start something here but why go see a movie of a book you hate/don't like?"I went to see the first movie in the cinema. I didn't overly like it, it was..."
I'm glad you put it that way. I completely understand people not liking something that is vastly popular and not understanding why it is so popular (I did not like 50 Shades and it is very popular). I just don't get the rants on and on about how crappy something is yet seeing all the movies and reading all four novels. Thanks for responding.
Carly wrote: "Melissa wrote: "Not trying to start something here but why go see a movie of a book you hate/don't like?"I went to see the first movie in the cinema. I didn't overly like it, it was "okay". But m..."
Thanks for responding. It makes more sense that the movie was seen first and then giving the book a fair shot.
Michelle wrote: "Stephen King books. either become awesome or disastrous. Awesome ones include Carrie, Shining, and Misery. Awful ones include Diary of Ellen Rimbauer. Harry Potter was done well after years 1..."I completely agree, stephen king has movies which are either amazing or a complete disaster. nothing in the middle. i particulary liked the mist, the idea to change the ending helped it alot as well.but misery is one of my favourite movie adaptations!
In my opinion, the best adaptation would be LOTR. Its just brilliant, hats off to Peter Jackson. For the worst, I would have to choose Beastly. The characters in the movie are so not like what the author described in the book. I think people would want to watch the movie because of the actors (I mean, hello?? Alex Pettifier?)
I love the film adaptation of the hunger games (although in my personal opinion, it would have been better if the part when Peeta said "you here to finish me off, Sweetheart?" was included. MORE sweet moments at the cave would have made the fans go gaga!! I also like the adaptation of the time traveler's wife although the ending wasn't as bittersweet as it was in the book... PERCY JACKSON AND THE OLYMPIANS; The lightning thief MOVIE... uh oh... it was such a downer for me... I mean, I'm so IN LOVE with greek mythology and stuff and I so love PJ&THe Olympians series so I was kind of pissed when I saw the movie... It was so... not what I though it would be. In a scale of 1-5 i'd probably rate it 2 and a half :P so im kinda hoping that they'll make it up to us through THE SEA OF MONSTERS come August
I know a lot of people loved the Harry Potter films but I couldn't stand them - after the first two I refused to watch any more. Probably because I'd read the books so many times I could see every single detail they screwed up. They got the casting ok though I have to say, but the rest of it was ugh.I've seen the Beautiful Creatures movie and haven't read the book yet, while the film was OK I will say this: it reallllly made me wana read the books because of how much they missed out (you can tell).
I feel sorry for fans of Avatar because apparently the movie was SO bad.
As far as good ones go, Mary Poppins was a brilliant adaption.
Eragon was ok in the beginning but they screwed a lot of things later on. The half blood prince movie from the harry potter series was a disappointment . Percy Jackson and the Olympians first movie lightning thief had all the facts wrong though I do like the casting .
Best:Harry Potter except for Goblet of Fire
BBC's Pride and Prejudice (Collin Firth)
Swedish version of Girl with the Dragon Tatoo
Worst:
Beautiful Creature( Really removing a main character, revealing the plot twist too soon..ect.)
One for the Money (when they said Katherine Hegel I was leary and rightfully so)
Angels and Demons/ DaVinci Code (Tom Hanks Really?? He just looked slimy and changing so much grrr..)
I thought Where the Heart Is was an amazing book& they did ok with the movie but it could have been better.
I really enjoyed the Green Mile adaptation..great movie,great book
George wrote: "I really enjoyed the Green Mile adaptation..great movie,great book"the book was great, I was vaguely aware they had made it into a movie. Is it horror? The book wasn't, though I can see how the film could be made into something scary.
Sami wrote: "George wrote: "I really enjoyed the Green Mile adaptation..great movie,great book"the book was great, I was vaguely aware they had made it into a movie. Is it horror? The book wasn't, though I ca..."
No its not a horror movie..its actually mystery/drama/suspense.You should absolutely see it if you liked the book,one of the movies i've seen that were really moving (as is the book of course).
George wrote: "No its not a horror movie..its actually mystery/drama/suspense.You should absolutely see it if you liked the book,one of the movies i've seen that were really moving actually (as is the book of course) "I didn't just like the book, I loved it :). And the ending was moving/horrible/poignant too. How long ago was it released? I doubt there will be a DVD version if it's very old (the book itself was set in the 30s wasnt it?)
Sami wrote:"I didn't just like the book, I loved it :). And the ending was moving/horrible/poignant too. How long ago was it released? I doubt there will be a DVD version if it's very old (the book itself was set in the 30s wasnt it?)"My feelings exactly! :) The movie was released in 1999 starring Tom Hanks as Paul,Michael Clarke Duncan as John Coffey and so on.Im sure you can find it,its not that old.Have fun!
just saw the host and it was literally one of the worst movie adaptions I've seen nothing was the same and a lot of parts were taken out it was absolutely horrific. BUt I do have to say when I was watching it today I told myself to just try and enjoy the movie as a separate thing and I did it was a great movie. But compared to the book to many things were changed!
Best two book related movies of the year, THE HOBBIT AN UNEXPECTED JOURNEY, and LES MISERABLES!
In my opinion, the Percy Jackson movie was a complete flop. It didn't portray the movie events as well as it should have, and it wasn't the characters. In my opinion, it was the MOVIES plot line, not the book's, that made it so different and faulty in movie form.
Brittany wrote: "Best two book related movies of the year, THE HOBBIT AN UNEXPECTED JOURNEY, and LES MISERABLES!"Oh and I loved all the Lord of the Rings movies. I read the books, The only thing they messed up were the scourging of the shire, and the part where Sam follows Frodo when his wife dies, across the sea
Best StardustWorst Eragon, Avatar the last air bender (Not a movie adaption from a book, however, the cartoon adaption to the movie was awful)
The Host movie adaptation was horrific.
Lacey wrote: "The Host movie adaptation was horrific."that's what I was saying the movie seemed like it didn't even try to match the book like at all!
Lacey wrote: "The Host movie adaptation was horrific."really?
George wrote: "Sami wrote:"I didn't just like the book, I loved it :). And the ending was moving/horrible/poignant too. How long ago was it released? I doubt there will be a DVD version if it's very old (the book..."what book is it?
The Perks Of Being A Book Addict
Books mentioned in this topic
Life of Pi (other topics)Winter's Bone (other topics)
Bridge to Terabithia (other topics)
The Walking Dead: Compendium One (other topics)
Wuthering Heights (other topics)
(Harry Potter)