Book to Movie > Likes and Comments

If I enjoy a book then I want to see the movie when it comes out. However, if I see the movie first then I don't want to read the book. Example: I loved the horror movie The Shining, but when I tried to read the book it bored me to tears.

I thought The Shining was a disappointing adaptation of a really great book. It made too many changes to the plot.
One of the best directors of books to movies was George Roy Hill. Best known for The Sting, and Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, he made Slaughterhouse Five, a book I considered unfilmable, and The World According to Garp. Those two films were faithful adaptations, which rarely happens.
Another Steven King novel I thought was well done was Tobe Hooper’s TV miniseries Salem’s Lot. While Mr. Barlow looked nothing as described in the book, the series did a good job of bringing the story to life.
Another terrific movie of a book was Jackie Brown, Quentin Tarantino’s adaptation of the Elmore Leonard novel, Rum Punch.

Most movies from books have been disappointing. The one I actually liked was Practical Magic by Alice Hoffman. It was a good movie and book.

I don't usually like movies made from books, but the one exception, so far, is Secret Window, Secret Garden, by Stephen King. I liked the ending in the movie better than the book.

I try and read the book first before the movie. But usually if I see the movie first I want to read the book because the book has more in it than the movie.

Do TV movies count? Is anybody watching Shogun? It's a good adaptation, but the book is so much better. The book goes into so much more detail, and you get much more explanation of the Japanese history, culture, and traditions. Actually, I liked the Richard Chamberlain version done in 1980 much better.

I like to reread books made into movies, After I watch the movie or series, doubts arises in my mind and I start asking myself questions like “is it how I remember?”
Right now I am slowly going through Game of Thrones. The series helps a lot visualizing kingdoms and great houses. The hundreds of characters are easier to remember and as I read and get introduce to a new one, I know already if he is going to be important and pay more attention.

I agree. I thought the HBO series was done really well. There were a tremendous amount of characters and locations in the books, and the movie series really helped define them. The books were exceptionally detailed and really helped fill in any blanks.

I prefer to read the book before seeing the movie. It adds to the movie if I have already read the book - like reading background history. They cannot cover the entire book in the movie so it makes the movie more interesting to have the additional story.

I have watched tv shows made from books and I have this to say British tv does so much better job, than American tv. The characters are like in the book, where American tv changes them, a good example is Rizzoli and Isles, tv made them completely frivolous.

I just read Daisy Jones and the Six and enjoyed it so I watched the series on Prime immediately after. That’s a lesson learned. With the book so fresh in my mind I didn’t enjoy the series as much as I would have if I had let some time pass (and therefore forgot many details).

I try to read the book first. And then I search for comparison of book and movie on the internet. I want to know how much changed. Resulted in some movies not being watched.

I agree with Gwen that British tv does a better job than American TV.

Rizzoli and Isles is a good example. I've seen the series first and decided to try the books. Yeah, bad idea. Because all I see are the tv characters and it's not a match.

Another thing where the series changed the characters. TV series Bones. TV Bones is a completely different character than book Bones.

One series were books and movies are perfect. Harry Potter. Probably due to Rowling having veto rights and using them.

I like to read the book first, although this often sets me up for disappointment when I see the movie.

Book than movie

I like to read the book first as well but sometimes I end up seeing the movie first.

I saw Forrest Gump first and then read the book and enjoyed it. There were some humorous parts that weren't in the movie.

I hope they turn the Fourth Wing into a movie

Yvette wrote: "I hope they turn the Fourth Wing into a movie"

Right, loved this book. Cannot wait for the second part to come out the 21st of January.

I read The Last Duel by Eric Jager. A medieval true story based on descriptive records. The book by Jager was published in 2004.

The great Ridley Scott produced and directed the film of the same name in 2021.

The film was not a blockbuster, but I loved it.

Scott accurately did bring the "he said she said" dilemma of the injured parties and the trial by combat as was written.
The brutality of life and injustice in 1386 and hand to hand warfare was accurate.
There was a small issue over an armor detail being embellished to give the film audience a partial view of the actors' faces as they are trying to kill each other.

The Duel was between two battle seasoned Knights who were of equal rank at the time of the duel.

They had been friends, but one was always favored by the by Count Pierre d'Alençon. Both men were the vassals of the Count.

The challenger was Sir Jean de Carrouges IV. His wife claimed she was attacked and assaulted while alone in her husbands stronghold by Sir Jacques le Gris.

At this time, women were considered the property of their husbands. Not sovereign beings in their own right.

The issue escalates to the King, who gives permission for the duel to be fought with high stakes, resting on the outcome.
The rest is in the book or film.

Three books that I think were done very well as movies: The Hel, Where the Crawdads Sing, and A Man Called Ove. The way Ove was Americanized to Otto and kept the concept of having a government issue (the Ove issue wouldn't work for the U.S.A.) was impressive!

I enjoyed the book "The Help" by Kathryn Stockett, even laughed outloud. I found the movie equally as impressive! I'm still leary of chocolate pie when I am given a piece and no one else is eating! ;)😉

I liked the tv movie The Man In The Brown Suit. Then I got the book & read it. Somethings are really differant but I guess you can't put everything in a 2 hour movie. I liked both.

Most times I will watch the movie if my family is interested. I usually like the book over all but there are times I just want to see how the actors play out the narrative in a movie.

Most books are more popular than the movie version. I think the reason is because the movie deviates to far away from the book.

The book The Horse Whisperer was much worse than the movie.

I think a lot of people, especially men, don't read anymore. And mainstream publishers seem to only publish works written by women. I think a lot of people would prefer to watch a movie or a television series than invest the time and effort in reading.

Randall I couldn't agree more.

I have a shirt that says “the book was better!” I agree most books to movies are based on women books…I guess a drama or love story is better than acting out how to replace bolts on a 1964 mustard engine (I don’t even know if bolts are in a 1964 mustard engine…but replace my comment with any how to manual.) hahaha