BOOK-A-HOLICS discussion

I only know of one movie that was better than the book, or, in this case, short story. Shawshank Redemption, written by Stephen King. I don't think he liked their adaptation, and they did change some things, but they added some scenes (opera music is one example) that I thought made the story even more compelling, and althought the book's narrator was white, Morgan Freeman's style of narration turned Stephen King's words into the heart and soul of the movie. Are there any other movies that were as good or better than the book?

Sean Penn's film adaption, of "Into The Wild" by Jon Krakauer, was excellent and exceeded my expectations, and while I still like the book, I find the film more moving and lovely.

However, must say, most book adaptions are an awful disappointment.

Not a movie, but a BBC production ... the 1995 version of Pride & Prejudice with Colin Firth, Jennifer Ehle & many other wonderful actors. I've watched it over & over & never tire of any of the scenes.

The time traveler's wife by Audrey Niffenegger.I read this novel before watching the movie and both were excellent. During my read, I was wondering how they would put those individual scenes that are quickly glossed-over in the novel into movie scenes. I think the screenwriter Bruce Joel Rubin is brilliant.

Usually I prefer books over movies because movies lack the depth of details that books offer. However, Veronika decides to die in my opinion is the best movie to deliver the same depth of details delivered in a book.

Do plays count? Because I really love "Much Ado About Nothing" by William Shakespeare. The film by Kenneth Branagh followed the play almost perfectly, and was very entertaining!
Does it count if I haven't even read the books yet? :x Because I'm a HUGE FAN of the Lord of the Rings trilogy - MOVIES - but I haven't read the books yet!! :0

Into the Wild if you have not seen this movie then it is a must see. It is best to read the book first but some people find the book hard to read. The movie does a fine job of telling the story.

The revised version of Shogun by James Clavell and starring Richard Chamberlain & Toshiro Mifune (actually a mini-series with around 9 hours of actual film). The first try was a bit incomprehensible to people who had not read the book (I had to tell the folks in my carpool each morning what they'd seen the night before).

But when they added the voice-overs for the repeat run, it made all the difference in the world for new viewers. One of the few "movies" I've seen that stayed pretty close to the book.

I believe it's available on DVD now (probably a set).

A Town Like Alice by Nevil Shute. It was done by the BBC for Masterpiece Theater and adds up to a five hour video. My personal feeling is that the British do a better job of making films from books in general. This one in particular was spectacular.

Martha wrote: "Not a movie, but a BBC production ... the 1995 version of Pride & Prejudice with Colin Firth, Jennifer Ehle & many other wonderful actors. I've watched it over & over & never tire of any of the sce..."

I completely agree! The A&E Pride and Prejudice is a FANTASTIC show! My family loves quoting the parents. "He simpers and smirks and makes love to us all." Love it. :)

My favorite is Memoirs of a Geshia. I loved the movie, it was the first adaptation I had ever seen that did the book justice.

Memoires of a Geshia was a good movie, although I felt that the book created a lot more empathy for the main character.

I think "The Help" was done very well. Basically word for word from the book. Such a great movie and book. Cried my eyes out.