Week 19 - Best (and Worst) Adaptations

[Joanna]

Hope everyone’s week has been off to a great start so far!

All right! Best and worst book adaptations. We all have firm opinions on this, I’m sure. Well it’s time to share them! What adaptations are the best, that stick to the heart of the book, and leave you feeling satisfied? What adaptations do you think are the worst, that miss the point entirely, and leave you with a weird taste?

And possibly more controversial – is there an adaptation you think better than its source material?

None of you will be surprised when I say that I feel The Lord of the Rings adaptations are some of the best around. I think they really speak to an understanding of the heart of the books. While not perfect, they’re pretty close for me.

On the flip side, The Hobbit movies are some of the worst. The first movie I felt captured the spirit of the book while also balancing it with the tone of the LotR movies, a hard line to do. But then the other two just went off the rails. I know objectively this was because the studio decided to turn what was two movies into three so they had to be padded out (plus I’m pretty sure they’re responsible for some plot developments done during reshoots such as the love triangle). But I still hate them.

Along with The Hobbit for worst adaptation, is the Eragon movie (yes, yes, most of my examples are fantasy). I actually enjoy the movie itself however, I don’t enjoy it as an adaptation of the Eragon book. The plot lines they cut, the changes that were made all lead to a movie that I think just misses. Also, they could never do a sequel because they cut out crucial bits needed to do it. And we won’t talk about the Percy Jackson movies. Just no. I am so excited Disney is doing an actual series for it.

Another great adaptation was Heartstopper (no, I will never stop talking about this lol). The show is a testament to what happens when you let the author have creative control over other media of their works. You get something that while it might do some plot lines a bit differently, still hits the heart of the book and just makes you happy.

Is there an adaptation I feel better than its source material? Yes, I hold one of these controversial opinions lol. Wicked is one of my favorite Broadway plays yet I despise the book it’s based off of. I read Wicked and just couldn’t. I still don’t understand how such an amazing play could come from such a book.

All right! Let us know your thoughts on adaptations even if they disagree with mine. :D

[Kayzee]

It's been a while since I've read it, but I remember liking the movie The Joy Luck Club better than the book. I think I just had an easier time following the movie (it maybe time for a re-read).

The Joy Luck Club

One I remember really disliking the movie adaptation of White Oleander. I just remember the movie being bland and forgettable.

White Oleander

[Ann]

You know my obsession with all things Middle Earth, and while I agree with you about the Hobbit movies as adaptations, I enjoy watching them. 1) I am obsessed with New Zealand (and mountains), and 2) there are parts of each movie not in the book that I love (can we say war pig?).

That said, my favorite subject of adaptation is... Sherlock Holmes. There are so many to choose from: Jeremy Brett, Robert Downey Jr. (my only complaint is I want more), The Young Sherlock Holmes (I saw it recently and thought it held up well). So many actors have played him. There's a Holmes for everybody.

My not favorite adaptation is Angels and Demons. And while I enjoyed The Da Vinci Code, I didn't think much of Angels and Demons. At some point, he lost me. Probably in the rare book archive of death.

[Joanna]

These are all such great answers! Thank you to everyone for sharing.

Shannon - I completely forgot about Stardust. I think like you, I prefer the movie to the book but I did really enjoy the book (unlike Wicked).