[Film] Film As Good As The Book

[Swansman]

Jurassic Park. Read it almost by accident when I was dulled out taking care of my friends summer house for a week. The book was infinite levels of shit. The movie is ok.

 

[Garry Nelson's Left Foot]

Green Mile

On a similar theme(author) I'm going to tentatively suggest Stand By Me. Tentatively because I've not actually read it but it'll have to be an incredible book to be better than the film.

 

[Muhammad - I’m hard - Bruce Lee]

In the Dune thread it was suggested that we have a thread on films that were as good (or better) than the book.

The consensus in that thread was that the David Lynch version of Dune was most definitely not even close to being as good as the book

We all know plenty of film adaptations that are far inferior to the original book, but generally its much harder to find the opposite

So, here it is, what films do you think are better than the book . I don't mean books of the film but the original source material on which a film was based

One that springs to mind for me is the Lord Of The Rings films, the original books are somewhat inconsistent in style, have some strange chapters that don't really fit in with any other part of the narrative (Tom Bombadil), and whilst the film alters several characters, removes some, and changes a few plot lines (and does away with them entirely (scourging of the shire)it is a more cohesive and rounded whole than the books, and despite the multiple false endings (also an issue with the books) does tell the tale pretty well.

While I agree the films (including the hobbit trilogy) were absolutely fantastic, I have to say as a self confessed LoTR addict, the books are brilliant.
I first read the books in the 70s and always wished someone would make a film about them. I would have loved to see the scourging of the shire in the films.
If they had stuck to the book the films would have been too long admittedly.
I will also concede the Tom Bombadil character had no place in the film although was a magical part of the book.
Incidentally, I have just started reading the books for the umpteenth time.

 

[Lenny Rider]

The Godfather and Wise Guys which became Goodfellas.

 

[wellquickwoody]

Harry Potter, all 8 films. Amazing work from the entire team, liasiing with JKR throughout, magical.

Beat me to it!

 

[boik]

I would say The Prestige. Though, it is one of my favourite films, and I saw the film before reading the book. The film doesn't stick slavishly to the book, completely changing some key aspects.

How strange. Haven't read the book, but watched the film just the other day. The crap about Telsa annoyed the hell out of me. We're all different I guess.

 

[Weststander]

Beat me to it!

A long way from Melbourne, have you been to the Harry Potter part of Universal Studios, Orlando?

It’s stunning, no expense spared.

We inadvertently hadn’t researched or looked it online beforehand, making it all a wonderful surprise, a day we still talk about!

 

[Boys 9d]

As a lover of French Cinema I nominate the 2 films based on a 2 volume novel (which I read in its English translation). "Jean De Florette" and Manon De Sources" had a brilliant performance by Daniel Auteuil who even (just) outshone Yves Montand who appeared in both and easily Gérard Depardieu who was in the first. Both book and films excellent plots.

 

[Weststander]

Goodbye Mr Chips (original 1939 version) Robert Donat and Greer Garson

A small novella, a great, great film.

One of the greatest movies ever made, Donat and Garson are incredible, a real tear jerker.

 

[Seagull27]

Can't believe Harry Potter has even been mentioned on this thread. So many important plot points changed or missed out, and some truly awful child actors.

Great films, with some of the best (adult) British actors, but not a patch on the books.

 

[wellquickwoody]

No, and unlikely too as I am not a fan of the US (sweeping statement I know).

But we have seen the stage show, ‘Harry Potter and the Cursed Child’, just brilliant! Not cheap, but do not let that put you off. It has played at 3 or 4 cities around the world.

Edit:

Now seven cities, in London right now it seems.

 

[jakarta]

In the Dune thread it was suggested that we have a thread on films that were as good (or better) than the book.

The consensus in that thread was that the David Lynch version of Dune was most definitely not even close to being as good as the book

We all know plenty of film adaptations that are far inferior to the original book, but generally its much harder to find the opposite

So, here it is, what films do you think are better than the book . I don't mean books of the film but the original source material on which a film was based

One that springs to mind for me is the Lord Of The Rings films, the original books are somewhat inconsistent in style, have some strange chapters that don't really fit in with any other part of the narrative (Tom Bombadil), and whilst the film alters several characters, removes some, and changes a few plot lines (and does away with them entirely (scourging of the shire)it is a more cohesive and rounded whole than the books, and despite the multiple false endings (also an issue with the books) does tell the tale pretty well.

Totally disagree, ****ed around with the narrative, changed the way the characters spoke and behaved in the Book (it is one Book, just three volumes).

Killed off Saruman half way through when he was a key player at the end of the Book.

I didn't realise all Orcs were Cockneys, all Hobbits were from Dorset and all Dwarfs were Scottish.

What he did to the Hobbit, a Children's Book was even worse but we won't go there...

 

[Harry Wilson's tackle]

Mary Poppins. One of my favourite films. The books are shit.

 

[Thunder Bolt]

Cannot agree with the Harry Potter votes.
From the 3rd film onwards, so so much good content is missing in the films.
The books win it for me hands down.

My shout is Forrest Gump.

I agree.

 

[banjo]

The Hobbit

 

[Joey Jo Jo Jr. Shabadoo]

On this note, The Catcher In The Rye - I'm not sure if there even is a film, but anything would be better than the festering pile of shite book.

Sallinger refused to allow the book to be made into a film after the poor reaction to another of his stories being adapt for the cinema. He hated the changes made to his narrative and remained against any of his works being made into films for the rest of his life. His estate have kept the same stance since his death. I'm sure he, or his estate, stopped a proposed squeal book written by a fan from being released that followed Caufield as an old man.

I think we'd have to wait until 2080 for a film to be made under the 70 years after death copyright law.

I agree with The Godfather as mentioned by someone else, I loved the film and enjoyed the book, although the film does leave out a very dark part of the book, but I think that was the right decision.

 

[The Clamp]

Drive. The book is okay pulp fiction, as is the sequel, Driven. More like Jack Reacher really. The film was amazing.

 

[schmunk]

Mary Poppins. One of my favourite films. The books are shit.

Book Poppins is a Stone Cold Bitch. I had to stop reading it to my daughter as it was so bleak.

 

[Weststander]

The Hobbit

Starring Ole.

 

[Harry Wilson's tackle]

Book Poppins is a Stone Cold Bitch. I had to stop reading it to my daughter as it was so bleak.

Quite.