Adaptation: Book VS Film discussion

Does this happen? Most people rave about how the book is so much better. What Films do you think were WAY better than the book??

To me, The film 127 HOURS (2010) was so much better than the book 'Between a rock and a hard place' by Aron Ralston. I am fascinated by his story of survival/endurance and researched him greatly, even watching the doco 'Desperate Days at Blue John Canyon' (found on you tube) which was a great doco. The book felt so technical and i wanted to love it since it was a memoir, but it just couldnt reach me the way the visual medium did. I would like to re-read the book again however. His story is pretty incredible and heart stopping.

FIGHT CLUB is another. I hated the book but loved the film (like so many people) while I understood the book was meant to be crude and almost have a desolate feel to it, I really didn't like it at all.

Let's see, I think these were better than the book:

* The Princess Bride
* The Bourne Identity
* 2001: A Space Odyssey
* Edge of Tomorrow
* Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (2011)
* The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2009)

I heard **GIRL with the Dragon Tattoo (havent seen or read either) was really well adapted...?
I would like to see and read **Tinker Tailor,
I saw the Film **No country for Old men while I was living in America and had just taken a road trip across country, the film was strange, it felt very indie to me and it reminded me so much of the small towns across Oklahoma and Kansas I visited, especially the scene where the villian is in the convinience store (a scene I liked where he flips a coin) It reminded me of a small convinience store In Arkansas or Kansas I visited. For that, The visual medium appealed to me even though the genre is not one I would normally visit. The book i researched yesterday funny enough....and I would like to read it.

Brett wrote: "Fritz, would you say all of those adaptations are still worth reading after seeing the film? ..."

Hmmm. Off hand, I'd have to say that it depends on how much time you have and how much of a completionist you are. A lot of the novel versions of the films I mentioned are well-liked, so there's something there. From a personal perspective, I have a lot of things to read (and write) so I've become more selective and more willing to abandon a book that I'm not getting into.

Kerry wrote: "I heard **GIRL with the Dragon Tattoo (havent seen or read either) was really well adapted...?
I would like to see and read **Tinker Tailor ..."

I abandoned both The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo and Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, both a considerable way in, as I found the writing dry and expository (don't get me wrong, I like good expository writing, so it wasn't that entirely). On the other hand, the films (and I mean the Swedish version of The Girl..., not the Hollywood version) have great character actors and better pacing.

Hey Fritz, I know what you mean about abandoning a book you aren't connecting with - I try and push on but it can be difficult. I am finding that now with 'The Book Thief' which is v popular and came highly recommended. Beautifully written for the most part with a fresh look at the human condition (and war) but somethings missing 3/4 the way into it... I've often found the foreign films much more representative and true to source material rather than hollywood remakes of them. I have heard great things about TGWTDT hollywood version and have heard relatively nothing about the swedish (what does that tell you? :) I know both films you mentioned were nominated in their respective awards seasons

Kerry wrote: "Hey Fritz, I know what you mean about abandoning a book you aren't connecting with - I try and push on but it can be difficult. I am finding that now with 'The Book Thief' which is v popular and ca..."

I (almost) never used to abandon books. Now, well, my patience for banging my head against a story that doesn't do anything for me has diminished. (I have finished a dozen or so novels in the past three or four years that I almost abandoned. More times than not, I want my time back.)

The Swedish version of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo was much longer (a little over 3 hours), and takes the time to do the plot and the characters justice. The Hollywood version was okay, but suffered from condensing.

time is precious! :) ('I want my time back') :)
condensing is absolutely the issue thats why it sucks when a movie just doesnt cut it and people often dont pick up the book because of it (and miss out on some really great and perhaps inspirational stories)

another film I thought was better than the book=
LIFE OF PI (the film was visually stunning and easy to follow and connect with where as, as much as I tried to read the book, it bored me and I just could not connect) Both the book and the film were big successes.

Along Came a Spider, The Secret Life of Bees, Their Eyes were Watching God( great book but better movie), and The Women of the Brewster Place, The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman were all movies that I loved but the books were either terrible or good but not as good as the movie.

I have wanted to read THEIR EYES WERE WATCHING GOD for a LONGGGGG time and still haven't! I've avoided the film just incase (So I can read the book first since it is such a classic) THE SECRET LIFE OF BEES i have heard good things about both, not seen/read yet (want to)

The time traveller's wife was better in the film than the book. It was easier to see the transition from past, present, and future in the film.

hi sarah, ive heard so many diff opinions on that particular book/film, i tried 2 read it but stopped, saw the film and was half half on it

Forrest Gump and Gone with the wind were better movies than books.

The film adaptation of Stardust was better than the book, but they both sucked, so that doesn't say much for either.

HAHAHAHAH OMG HESTER SOOOO FUNNY :) Never seen or read.....

Lulu wrote: "Forrest Gump and Gone with the wind were better movies than books." TOTALLY AGREE WITH GONE WITH THE WIND LULU!!!! AMAZINGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG MOVIE. JUST AMAZING, the book was no where near as good, i agree. Just shows how well they adapted that book and brought the location and decade to life! Kudos to EVERY ACTOR in that film who just amplified and ran with their characters!!!

Forrest Gump I have not read as the film is a fave and ever person who has read the book, as you have, has told me how dissapointed they are.... there is also a sequel to FG , i think the book is called bubba gump or something...it's on my shelves...have you read it? The author was actually unhappy with the film.....hmmmm

Cuckoos nest

I love Non-fiction. and non-fiction various survival stories.
The other day I saw CAPTAIN PHILLIPS with Tom Hanks and i loved it. mind you when Hanks is good- He's good.
the true story I am currently reading - is not as good. Film better. I did/do want to read the first point narrative of Cpt Phillip's ordeal. He speaks alot about her early life which has no impact on his ability to get out of a dicey situation. I am enjoying it, but no where near as good.

AND WHILE I AM ON THE TOPIC OF THE FILM WAS BETTER and survival stories.

i LOVE the film '127 HOURS' I love the documentary I love it all, It inspires me and just takes me somewhere where any pain I have physically i think of Aron and go - well that dude had 2 cut off his arm...i'm okay i can tough out whatever pain i'm in.
THE BOOK ah lordy, sooooo technical and boring and LONG.

Admire you Aron but ah.

FILM Captain Phillips....BOOK

Dont even bother with the book- the film gives you more.
My review below



https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Kerry wrote: "FILM Captain Phillips....BOOK

Dont even bother with the book- the film gives you more.
My review below

..."
thanks for sharing that. nothing worst that wasting your time on a book

Imitation of Life

Lulu wrote: "Imitation of Life"

Ooohh that book seems very much up] my alley. W]HI]CH of the 2 fi]lms i]s best?

Kerry wrote: "Lulu wrote: "Imitation of Life"

Ooohh that book seems very much up] my alley. W]HI]CH of the 2 fi]lms i]s best?"

I've only seen the 1934 version once, but I love the 1959 version. I think the 1934 goes more with the book.

Thanku for] that LuLu]!

Man On Fire

"Whale Rider" was a superior movie to the novel. Obviously the book is quite different to the movie (as far as I remember, read and watched it about 15 years ago), yet the movie touched my very much, whereas the book left me sort of indifferent.

I went to go see The free state of Jones. It was so much better than the book. I recommend the movie over the book.

The Shining. Book is too slow-going. It picks up near the end, but still...

Leslie- I actually liked the 1st half of the shining better, i just finnished it. book was good but film good also in different ways- the textures are so different and the film is not like the book i think.

NOCTURNAL ANIMALS : (novel - Tony and Susan)
save the trouble and watch the film....review here

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

The Martian (with Matt Damon) translated so much better on screen. Really good movie 'meh' book

Big Little Lies I'm currently watching the HBO series. I like this more than the book

I'll have to check this out. I liked the book.

Kerry wrote: " The Martian (with Matt Damon) translated so much better on screen. Really good movie 'meh' book"

I haven't read the book yet, but it's on my list of things to read (as an audiobook). I very much liked the The Martian movie, and could easily see how a condensation of the try-fail-try-fail-try-succeed loops in the written version could become tedious where the film is forced to keep the time spent in such loops down to a minimum.

FRITZ yes tedious is the right word for me, the character has humour but it is tedious yes. it may be amazing on audio book. let us know :)

I read Perks of Being a Wallflower, and honestly did not enjoy it much. I don't have anything in particular against it, but I didn't connect with the narrator enough to get invested in his story.

HOWEVER, Logan Lerman was fantastic as the male lead in the film. I had low expectations for it, thinking that the all-star cast was a little gimmicky, but it blew me away. His raw emotion near the end of the film actually (view spoiler)[ sent me into a full blown panic attack because I was reacting so strongly (hide spoiler)].

American Sniper: The Autobiography of the Most Lethal Sniper in U.S. Military History The FILM was INCREDIBLE. Amazing lead by Bradley Cooper, however the book bothers me. Kyle writes it himself and comes off very arrogant and not particularly likable. (where as how Cooper played him, he was very humble, kind yet introverted and proud and just a good person.) The real Kyle from his own words doesn't seem to imbody these things. He comes off proud yes in an arrogant way, abrasive, loud and totally opposite to the film character.
See the film of his life though- very good , (though somewhat tragic ) story. (bless,)

I havent read or seen Wallflower though it's great when something impacts you so much.

Maya wrote: "Big Little Lies I'm currently watching the HBO series. I like this more than the book"

Me too Maya! I started watching the series, loved it, then started reading the book (am nearing page 200). Hoping to finish b/4 the series is over. Funny how I like the series better -- can't believe how much they changed the women. (ex/ Bonnie seems more likeable in the book vs. the series.)

Plus, some of the book seems cheesy ("Oh calamity!") ;D

I just finished ROOM (Emma Donoghu) and the movie brought all the emotions that I thought I would have had while reading the book.

So true LuLu. After reading the book, there was one thing that disturbed me while reading. I was glad to see it wasnt really in the movie, like it was in the book, and the little boy was great in the movie!

LULU / SHANIKA
I LOVED ROOM THE MOVIE couldnt stand the book! hated it.
Totally agree the boy (and mom) were great in the film and it did pack an emotional punch i found lacking from the writing style of the book.

LESLIE I think I may like to have a look at the BIG LITTLE LIES series but Im not interested in the book. :)

Kerry wrote: "LESLIE I think I may like to have a look at the BIG LITTLE LIES series but Im not interested in the book. :)"

Hey Kerry, just saw your post. Let me know what you think if you watch it.

Just finished reading Lord of the Flies, and am re-watching the movie (watched the 1990 version years ago). LOVED the movie -- it's more fast-paced than the book (found the book to be slow-going and a bit confusing at times, although it did pick up near the end -- suspense). I vote for the film on this though.

Leslie I loved Lord of the flies. Never thought to read the book. If the book is a slow read then I know I won't ever get around to reading it.

Leslie wrote: "Kerry wrote: "LESLIE I think I may like to have a look at the BIG LITTLE LIES series but Im not interested in the book. :)"

Hey Kerry, just saw your post. Let me know what you think if you watch it."
Hi Leslie, well ive watched 4 or 5 eps of big little lies, and im not really enjoying it :( i love reese but think shes over acting, so many good actors in it but i dont know, just doesnt feel super true to me,

I just finished Lord of the Flies a couple of weeks ago. I didn't know it was a movie. The book was something serious. I'll have to find the movie now. lol