Books-Turned-Movies --- recommendations?
02-01-07, 01:21 PM
#1
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Books-Turned-Movies --- recommendations?
I was in the bookstore yesterday (big surprise), and came across two books of which I instantly had an interest. Why, because I saw the trailers for the movie versions recently released.
The first, Little Children, and the second, Notes On A Scandal, looked like interesting movies, but I didn't have a chance to see them. When I came across them in book form, I snatched them right up. I love it when movies were books first, as opposed to the other way around (notable exception being The Omen, which reads like an original novel instead of a novelization).
I also saw What's Eating Gilbert Grape yesterday, but I figure I'll pick that one up next time. Two books are enough for my wallet. I saw The Devil Wears Prada, too...wasn't sure I'd like that one...
Speaking of Leonardo DiCaprio (because of Arnie Grape), I think I have most of the books that he eventually starred in: This Boys Life, The Basketball Diaries, The Beach, Titanic, and eventually, What's Eating Gilbert Grape.
What other books-turned-movies are worth an investigation? Bookstores used to have a whole section for this, but I never see it anymore. Going through the aisles without an idea in your head for what you want to pick up is like a treasure hunt sometimes. You can find many treasures one day, and find absolutely nothing of interest the next.
The first, Little Children, and the second, Notes On A Scandal, looked like interesting movies, but I didn't have a chance to see them. When I came across them in book form, I snatched them right up. I love it when movies were books first, as opposed to the other way around (notable exception being The Omen, which reads like an original novel instead of a novelization).
I also saw What's Eating Gilbert Grape yesterday, but I figure I'll pick that one up next time. Two books are enough for my wallet. I saw The Devil Wears Prada, too...wasn't sure I'd like that one...
Speaking of Leonardo DiCaprio (because of Arnie Grape), I think I have most of the books that he eventually starred in: This Boys Life, The Basketball Diaries, The Beach, Titanic, and eventually, What's Eating Gilbert Grape.
What other books-turned-movies are worth an investigation? Bookstores used to have a whole section for this, but I never see it anymore. Going through the aisles without an idea in your head for what you want to pick up is like a treasure hunt sometimes. You can find many treasures one day, and find absolutely nothing of interest the next.
02-01-07, 07:18 PM
#2
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If you're asking what really good books have been made into movies, pretty long list.
LONESOME DOVE
LAST PICTURE SHOW
TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD
THE OUTSIDERS
ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO'S NEST
and a zillion others
LONESOME DOVE
LAST PICTURE SHOW
TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD
THE OUTSIDERS
ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO'S NEST
and a zillion others
02-01-07, 08:14 PM
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A lot of Elmore Leonard books have been made into movies:
Tishomingo Blues (coming Soon)
Get Shorty
Be Cool
Out of Sight
3:10 To Yuma
Jackie Brown (Rum Punch)
Homber
The Moonshine War
Mr. Majestyk
Some others:
Dances with Wolves
Cold MountainJaws
Miami Blues
Of Mice and Men...
Tishomingo Blues (coming Soon)
Get Shorty
Be Cool
Out of Sight
3:10 To Yuma
Jackie Brown (Rum Punch)
Homber
The Moonshine War
Mr. Majestyk
Some others:
Dances with Wolves
Cold MountainJaws
Miami Blues
Of Mice and Men...
02-02-07, 10:07 AM
#6
DVD Talk Limited Edition
I'm a little confused by the subject of this thread.
Is it asking just for good books that just happen to have been turned into movies (where the movies are of various quality)? (And that list is unfortunately quite long for good books that became bad movies.)
Or is it for good books that have been adapted into good movies? (So that this thread is recommending movies as much as it is books.)
Is it asking just for good books that just happen to have been turned into movies (where the movies are of various quality)? (And that list is unfortunately quite long for good books that became bad movies.)
Or is it for good books that have been adapted into good movies? (So that this thread is recommending movies as much as it is books.)
02-02-07, 11:15 AM
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The Godfather is a very entertaining book and, of course, an excellent film.
(It probably doesn't even need to be said that most film adaptations aren't very good.)
(It probably doesn't even need to be said that most film adaptations aren't very good.)
02-02-07, 12:52 PM
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Thread Starter
Did an extensive search on Amazon, and came across titles that are now on my "wish-list" (will buy one at a time, very slowly):
the howling
carlito's way
what's eating gilbert grape
primal fear
extreme measures
the hours
midnight cowboy
sophie's choice
house of sand and fog
talented mr. ripley
the sweet hereafter
a thousand acres
end of the affair
bastard out of carolina
cool hand luke
drugstore cowboy
whether they're good or not, I'll find out. The reviews have been positive for the books, even if the film versions were meh.
the howling
carlito's way
what's eating gilbert grape
primal fear
extreme measures
the hours
midnight cowboy
sophie's choice
house of sand and fog
talented mr. ripley
the sweet hereafter
a thousand acres
end of the affair
bastard out of carolina
cool hand luke
drugstore cowboy
whether they're good or not, I'll find out. The reviews have been positive for the books, even if the film versions were meh.
02-02-07, 03:29 PM
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The only one of those that I've both read the book and seen the movie is The Talented Mr. Ripley. The book was better.
(By the way, if you like it and are interested in reading more by Highsmith, her Strangers on a Train was the source for the Hitchcock film, so that would be another that satisfies your criteria.)
(By the way, if you like it and are interested in reading more by Highsmith, her Strangers on a Train was the source for the Hitchcock film, so that would be another that satisfies your criteria.)
02-02-07, 04:01 PM
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Originally Posted by djmont
The Godfather is a very entertaining book and, of course, an excellent film.
(It probably doesn't even need to be said that most film adaptations aren't very good.)
(It probably doesn't even need to be said that most film adaptations aren't very good.)
I'm shocked nobody has mentioned The Lord of the Rings. I also prefer the movie in this instance and that is odd... I most often prefer the book.
Last edited by Easy; 02-02-07 at 04:14 PM.
02-10-07, 02:01 PM
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Oh, totally disagree -- Thank You for Smoking is a terrific book. (Very good film, too.) Chris Buckley is a wonderful writer, and that's probably my favorite book of his.
02-14-07, 08:31 PM
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The thing that I am really looking forward to is Phillip Pullmans "His Dark Materials" that is going to be in theaters this winter around Christmas. Its gonna have Nicole Kidman and the new James Bond in it as well.
The book trilogy was just unbelievable. I hope that the movie does it some justice.
The book trilogy was just unbelievable. I hope that the movie does it some justice.
02-15-07, 07:37 PM
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Originally Posted by djmont
The only one of those that I've both read the book and seen the movie is The Talented Mr. Ripley. The book was better.
(By the way, if you like it and are interested in reading more by Highsmith, her Strangers on a Train was the source for the Hitchcock film, so that would be another that satisfies your criteria.)
(By the way, if you like it and are interested in reading more by Highsmith, her Strangers on a Train was the source for the Hitchcock film, so that would be another that satisfies your criteria.)
02-15-07, 10:55 PM
#18
DVD Talk Ultimate Edition
Originally Posted by Buttmunker
Did an extensive search on Amazon, and came across titles that are now on my "wish-list" (will buy one at a time, very slowly):
the howling
carlito's way
what's eating gilbert grape
primal fear
extreme measures
the hours
midnight cowboy
sophie's choice
house of sand and fog
talented mr. ripley
the sweet hereafter
a thousand acres
end of the affair
bastard out of carolina
cool hand luke
drugstore cowboy
whether they're good or not, I'll find out. The reviews have been positive for the books, even if the film versions were meh.
the howling
carlito's way
what's eating gilbert grape
primal fear
extreme measures
the hours
midnight cowboy
sophie's choice
house of sand and fog
talented mr. ripley
the sweet hereafter
a thousand acres
end of the affair
bastard out of carolina
cool hand luke
drugstore cowboy
whether they're good or not, I'll find out. The reviews have been positive for the books, even if the film versions were meh.
Another recommendation: I Am Legend.
02-17-07, 02:58 PM
#19
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Originally Posted by djmont
Oh, totally disagree -- Thank You for Smoking is a terrific book. (Very good film, too.) Chris Buckley is a wonderful writer, and that's probably my favorite book of his.
I enjoyed both immensely. That's the only Buckley book that I've read, but based on a friend's recommendation Little Green Men has been added to my reading pile.
03-08-07, 03:43 PM
#20
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Thread Starter
Originally Posted by Buttmunker
what's eating gilbert grape
primal fear
talented mr. ripley
To be fair, the films are still unique - Leonardo DiCaprio's interpetation of Arnie Grape, for instance, is what makes What's Eating Gilbert Grape a good movie, as does Edward Norton's supporting performance in Primal Fear and Jude Law's supporting performance in The Talented Mr. Ripley - but the books outdistances the movie in such a way that I didn't quite expect it. I know that the books are "always better," but until reading these three, I didn't know how much better.
Primal Fear and The Talented Mr. Ripley are fantastic books - so much more richer than the movies. Having read both the books and seen the films, I can honestly say that a big fan of either book would have issues with these films (screenwriter and director in particular).
Last edited by Buttmunker; 03-09-07 at 07:27 PM.
03-10-07, 10:46 AM
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The Godfather is a terrific book; The Basketball Diaries, the autobiography of Jim Carroll, was a good read as well.
Bridges of Madison County was better than I expected it to be. Much better.
Bridges of Madison County was better than I expected it to be. Much better.
03-14-07, 03:44 AM
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Originally Posted by rkndkn
Scott Smith's A Simple Plan is wonderful.
Last edited by InnocentBlood; 03-14-07 at 03:57 AM.
06-21-12, 11:00 AM
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Re: Books-Turned-Movies --- recommendations?
I just started reading Ian Flemming's James Bond novels. I started with OHMSS and now am on YOU ONLY LIVE TWICE. I would like to continue in this order. Since I know the order of the movies and know that they didn't follow the order of the books. Can someone tell the order of the books?