Is there a film that you think is better than the book?

[Jan]

ch wrote: "Thanks for mentioning this Jan, I will check out the movie. Haven't read the book, but I generally like Cohen Bros movies and it has good reviews"

You bet. I don't know how Tommy Lee escaped getting an Oscar.

[[deleted user]]

I forgot about Girl, Interrupted. I enjoyed the movie and struggled to finish the book.

[Bionic Jean]

Until I found Goodreads I felt I was the only person in the world who would answer, "No, but I've read the book!" whenever I was asked if I'd seen a film. So much so that I tended to avoid films of books I'd read, as I expected them to be a disappointment.

Now that special effects have been taken to a new level though, I often really enjoy the fantasy films, including those mentioned here. The Harry Potters, Jurassic Park, all the Lord of the Rings trilogy and the Hobbit all give a different take on the books they are based on.

[Anna]

Jurassic Parks I like both films and books. The books are more scienific but I like that about them. also love the films for the dinosaurs.

[Jan]

As far as non-fiction is concerned, has anyone read "The Closing of the Muslim Mind" by Robert R. Reilly? I just picked it up for the 2nd time. Any scholars of Islam that could critique it out there?

[ch]

Has it been adapted to film, Jan? I didn't see any documentaries with that title. The book looks very interesting, though, and I've added it to my shelf!

[[deleted user]]

Thomas wrote: "The Maltese Falcon. I thought the book was awful and I do mean awful.

The Thin Man. The book didn't capture any of the fun between Nick and Nora..."

I've never read either of the books but I loved both films.

[Julia]

I love the film version of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead by Tom Stoppard. Gary Oldman and Tim Roth are simply perfect, and as someone who directed theater, I was really impressed with the sets, costumes--just everything.

The question game alone is such fun! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=swqfF...

[Agata]

Julia, that is one of my favourite films! But then, I am a little bit in love with both Roth and Oldman...

[Julia]

The two of them together are simply wonderful. So many tiny details get missed on the first viewing--all the little references to modern times, etc. And who could NOT love these two!

[Thomas]

Ben-Hur. The movie with Charlton Heston is fantastic.

[Catherine]

Most definitely, 'The Firm'. I've just read the book and the writing isn't that great and it doesn't have the fast pace and tension of the film. There were also quite a few changes in the film....for the better as far as I'm concerned!

[Francine]

I actually found an old copy of the novel Mr Blandings Builds his Dream House and it was not nearly as good as the classic film. The movie has much more charm and the plot changes were all improvements.

[Elizabeth]

Catherine wrote: "Most definitely, 'The Firm'. I've just read the book and the writing isn't that great and it doesn't have the fast pace and tension of the film. There were also quite a few changes in the film....f..."

I'd have to disagree with you on that one Catherine. I haven't read many Grisham novels but loved The Firm - it kept me turning the pages. I thought it was a fast-paced and thoroughly enjoyable story. He isn't a great writer, but is a great story-teller, I think.

I read the novel just before the film came out, and couldn't wait. And yet, I was so disappointed with the film - nearly walked out of it because so many changes had been made. That was also the defining moment when I realised I didn't like Tom Cruise, as well. Can't bring myself to watch anything he's in!

[Linda]

Big Fish.

[Beatriz]

Elizabeth wrote: "Catherine wrote: "Most definitely, 'The Firm'. I've just read the book and the writing isn't that great and it doesn't have the fast pace and tension of the film. There were also quite a few change..."

I disagree with you. I don't care for all his books, but The Firm is one of my favorites.

[Catherine]

Well we are going to have to agree to disagree then! The end of the book where they sit around in the hotel room waiting was a wash out for me. I really enjoyed the film and thought 'I must read the book' - what a disappointment.

[Erin *Proud Book Hoarder*]

JAWS, Dolores Claiborne, Carrie, to name a few.

[Linda]

there is a film of Suite Francaise coming out next year,one of my favourite books...fingers crossed for a decent translation to screen. Agree that Big Fish was better as a film!

[Laurel]

Oooo... Suite Francaise. Hadn't heard about that one!

[Hasselhh]

Charlie St. Cloud! The movie is really sweet, so I thought that the book would be great, but it is way too religious for my taste!

[Tytti]

Laurel wrote: "Oooo... Suite Francaise. Hadn't heard about that one!"

I actually have that book, found it via BookCrossing. Hadn't heard of it before. Not sure when I feel like reading it, though. Last year a novel about Marina Tsvetaeva and her daughter won the Finlandia prize, it probably has some similar themes. I haven't felt like reading that, either...

[Jo]

We've just re watched The Talented Mr Ripley. I haven't read the book, but it is hard to imagine it being better so I have ordered the book and intend to find out!

[Erin *Proud Book Hoarder*]

Adding in Requiem for a dream

[Gisela]

I know it has been a long time and I had watched and read Love Story and whilst I loved and cried over the film, the book was very diappointing.

[Duane]

2001: A Space Odyssey is an iconic sci-fy movie, way ahead of it's time, and better than the book. Yes, I saw the movie first.

[Jon]

The 1st 4 Sean Connery James Bond films: Dr. No, Goldfinger, From Russia With Love, Thunderball

MASH: A Novel About Three Army Doctors was made into a far superior movie by Robert Altman

Several of P.K. Dick's short stories/novels were turned into better movies:

Blade Runner
Minority Report
Total Recall

[Trine]

I really preffered Of Mice and Men the movie... Sinise ftw<3

[Cyurry]

Practical Magic movie featured Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman.

[Jon]

Jaws by Peter Benchley was a pot boiler that Spielberg turned into a far better film

[Paul]

Jo found this link earlier:

http://caboodle.nationalbooktokens.co...

I have only read three of the books and never yet seen the films! Are there any books that you have read that have been ruined by the film?

[Catherine]

I think both films based on Charlie and the Chocolate Factory were dire. The one with Gene Wilder and the newer adaptation with Johnny Depp. Very disappointing.

[Jo]

Some more books being made into films for 2015....

http://media.bookbub.com/blog/2015/02...#.

[Debbie]

Jo wrote: "Some more books being made into films for 2015....

http://media.bookbub.com/blog/2015/02...#."
Quite an eclectic selection, the one I am most excited about is In the heart of the sea. You??

[Jo]

Yes, it's quite a mix, isn't it? I will be looking forward to Far From The Madding Crowd..... takes me back to my school days!

[Paul]

Nice list Jo! I want to read / see Child 44, In the Heart of the Sea: The Tragedy of the Whaleship Essex, The Martian,

[Tytti]

Ah, I don't think I like the accents in Child 44. They get annoying after a while and make it sound like a joke. I have heard enough Russians speaking English and I'm not sure their accent is that strong. And of course when I know they are fake it makes everything so much worse. (It seems I'm not the only one who thinks so, Russians seem to be pissed off, too.)

I also had to check where they have filmed it, now that Helsinki doesn't stand in for Leningrad (or Moscow) anymore. :-P

[Paul]

I can imagine Tytti. It is pretty grim when others try an mimic an English accent

[Jo]

Paul wrote: "Nice list Jo! I want to read / see Child 44, In the Heart of the Sea: The Tragedy of the Whaleship Essex, The Martian,"

Ditto all three, though FFTMC is close to my heart! I remember the essays about Bathsheba and Gabriel I like it was yesterday.

[Tytti]

Paul wrote: "I can imagine Tytti. It is pretty grim when others try an mimic an English accent"

I can maybe understand it if it is supposed to be an English movie with English characters but the actor is a foreigner (or a bit of accent if the character is supposed to be from somewhere else) but here they are supposed to be Russians speaking Russian. And I have also watched enough Cold War era movies in which Russians with heavy accents were always Evil. It gets tiresome after a while.

Also heavy accents in pretty much every movie have always been played for jokes, even foreign exchange students from the Nordic countries (our English tends to be pretty good) are portrayed as a bit slow and stupid, with poor English skills. I guess it's supposed to be funny...

[Paul]

Jo wrote: "Ditto all three, though FFTMC is close to my heart! I remember the essays about Bathsheba and Gabriel I like it was yesterday...."

Even though Hardy lived in Wimborne for a time, I have still never read any of his books

[Cathy]

In the Heart of the Sea looks good - anyone read the book?

[Debbie]

Jo wrote: "Yes, it's quite a mix, isn't it? I will be looking forward to Far From The Madding Crowd..... takes me back to my school days!"

oooh yes that one too!! I love Thomas Hardy x
I don't think I would like to read Child 44, read the book and it is a very traumatic thriller I found some of the scenes unbearable to read.

[Debbie]

Cathy wrote: "In the Heart of the Sea looks good - anyone read the book?"

I have it is very good, it was a while ago now so haven't documented it on GR.I would highly recommend it. May be a good one for a monthly book choice.

[Cathy]

Thanks for the recommendation, Debbie. Sounds like a great story. I tried reading Moby Dick a couple of years ago and it is languishing half read on my kindle now. :(

[Trine]

The *real* story is Moby Dick is fine, it is just waay to much filling in it for it to be good - at least for me!

[Debbie]

Cathy wrote: "Thanks for the recommendation, Debbie. Sounds like a great story. I tried reading Moby Dick a couple of years ago and it is languishing half read on my kindle now. :("

Oh no, it is a difficult read.

[Cathy]

Maybe I'll go back to it one day...I hate being defeated by a book. But I read that MD always up there on those lists of books that people don't finish, so it seems I'm not alone!

[Cassie]

In the Heart of the Sea is excellent! Even though I read it several years ago, I still find myself thinking of it now and then. I forced myself to read Moby Dick (to the end) last year while on a backpacking trip. It was awful, but it was the only book I brought so I was kind of forced to keep reading.

[Maggie the Muskoka Library Mouse]

Only a very select few have ever passed my inspection for film adaptation being better than the book. It is rare I say this. "The Great Gatsby" and "Mockingjay" are the latest ones to sway me.