Movies that are superior to the books upon which they're based
01-08-10 | 06:51 AM
#52
Moderator
Re: Movies that are superior to the books upon which they're based
None of those were short stories. Shawshank and The Mist were novellas. The Green Mile was a full-length novel (originally released in a serialized format).
01-08-10 | 07:28 AM
#53
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Re: Movies that are superior to the books upon which they're based
Really? Too each their own. After reading the book I could never look at the Classic Universal film the same way.
01-08-10 | 08:16 AM
#54
DVD Talk Godfather
Re: Movies that are superior to the books upon which they're based
Plus the way Jurassic Park the movie ended, vs. the novel created it's own little problems and inconsistencies when continuing on the franchise.
01-08-10 | 10:12 AM
#55
DVD Talk Special Edition
Re: Movies that are superior to the books upon which they're based
01-08-10 | 11:23 AM
#56
DVD Talk Gold Edition
Re: Movies that are superior to the books upon which they're based
01-08-10 | 11:36 AM
#57
DVD Talk Hall of Fame
Re: Movies that are superior to the books upon which they're based
I found The Bridge on the River Kwai better developed and engrossing than Pierre Boulle's The Bridge over the River Kwai novel.
As for Frankenstein, or The Modern Prometheus, I think the narrative structure is very difficult to translate to a different medium (ditto Stoker's Dracula). Comparing the original source material with its adaptation is problematic and possibly unfair.
And, for the sake of conversation, I'd posit that one should really see and read both versions of The Tailor of Panama to get a sense of the full story. Le Carrre's novel devotes a lot more attention to Louisa than does the film, which in turn shifts its focus to some other aspects of the story.
As for Frankenstein, or The Modern Prometheus, I think the narrative structure is very difficult to translate to a different medium (ditto Stoker's Dracula). Comparing the original source material with its adaptation is problematic and possibly unfair.
And, for the sake of conversation, I'd posit that one should really see and read both versions of The Tailor of Panama to get a sense of the full story. Le Carrre's novel devotes a lot more attention to Louisa than does the film, which in turn shifts its focus to some other aspects of the story.
01-08-10 | 11:42 AM
#58
DVD Talk Legend
Re: Movies that are superior to the books upon which they're based
Not only that, but look at the movies based upon Stephen King short stories -- Maximum Overdrive, Children of the Corn, The Mangler, Sometimes They Come Back. It's the short stories that have been the basis for the worst King movies.
01-08-10 | 01:40 PM
#60
DVD Talk Hall of Fame
Re: Movies that are superior to the books upon which they're based
Jurassic Park: The Lost World. The movie was lousy, but the book was an abysmal piece of dinosaur shit.
Some random thoughts:
Thomas Harris's novels declined with each one ... which means, IMO, that Silence of the Lambs was not the best ... Red Dragon was. The drop-off in quality was slight from RD to SOTL; after SOTL the drop-off was epic.
The LOTR movies were not superior to the novels ... they were simply much more accessible. The novels are not easy reads by any stretch of the imagination. However, the novels did not feature
I saw Bram Stoker's Dracula before I read the book ... it amazed me how close the two actually were when it came to the erotic undertones.
Some random thoughts:
Thomas Harris's novels declined with each one ... which means, IMO, that Silence of the Lambs was not the best ... Red Dragon was. The drop-off in quality was slight from RD to SOTL; after SOTL the drop-off was epic.
The LOTR movies were not superior to the novels ... they were simply much more accessible. The novels are not easy reads by any stretch of the imagination. However, the novels did not feature
I saw Bram Stoker's Dracula before I read the book ... it amazed me how close the two actually were when it came to the erotic undertones.
01-08-10 | 01:48 PM
#61
DVD Talk Limited Edition
Re: Movies that are superior to the books upon which they're based
Mine is Fight Club which I'm not sure everyone will agree with. I much prefer the movie.
01-08-10 | 01:53 PM
#63
DVD Talk Limited Edition
01-08-10 | 02:11 PM
#64
DVD Talk Hall of Fame
01-08-10 | 04:46 PM
#66
DVD Talk Limited Edition
Re: Movies that are superior to the books upon which they're based
I guess I just don't like Mary Shelly then, her book was a chore to read. Maybe it was the subject matter, or her writing style. It certainly wasn't because I didn't want to read books, I read most of H.G. Wells' works in 7th grade, and in the same (HS) class as "Frankenstein", I also had to read "Brave New World" and "Fahrenheit 451". I really enjoyed the last two books.
01-08-10 | 07:32 PM
#67
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01-08-10 | 08:19 PM
#68
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01-08-10 | 09:03 PM
#69
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Re: Movies that are superior to the books upon which they're based
What I was going to say was: The novels did not feature prolonged semi-homo-erotic-Hobbit bed jumping scenes.
01-08-10 | 09:05 PM
#70
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Re: Movies that are superior to the books upon which they're based
Help me with this one -- Fight Club keeps getting mentioned ... I don't recall the book being very different from the movie. Maybe it is because I have seen the movie too many times. What were the differences?
01-08-10 | 09:19 PM
#71
DVD Talk Gold Edition
Re: Movies that are superior to the books upon which they're based
They meet on a nude beach, but other than that. Nothing springs to mind. Fight Club works better as a film, methinks, particuarly with Fincher, though the book was very very close.
Same with No Country for Old Men, very similar book, minus one slightly major character. Works better as a film.
Can't believe no one mentioned the Shinning. Great book, perfect film.
Same with No Country for Old Men, very similar book, minus one slightly major character. Works better as a film.
Can't believe no one mentioned the Shinning. Great book, perfect film.
01-08-10 | 09:43 PM
#72
DVD Talk Legend
Re: Movies that are superior to the books upon which they're based
Kubrick and Nicholson crapped on the book by changing Jack Torrance from an alcoholic on the edge of destroying his life and trying not to until the hotel gets a hold of him, to a guy who's just bat-shit insane from start to finish.
01-08-10 | 09:57 PM
#73
DVD Talk Limited Edition
Re: Movies that are superior to the books upon which they're based
They meet on a nude beach, but other than that. Nothing springs to mind. Fight Club works better as a film, methinks, particuarly with Fincher, though the book was very very close.
Same with No Country for Old Men, very similar book, minus one slightly major character. Works better as a film.
Can't believe no one mentioned the Shinning. Great book, perfect film.
Same with No Country for Old Men, very similar book, minus one slightly major character. Works better as a film.
Can't believe no one mentioned the Shinning. Great book, perfect film.
01-08-10 | 10:38 PM
#74
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Re: Movies that are superior to the books upon which they're based
The Maltese Falcon
01-08-10 | 10:55 PM
#75
Moderator
Re: Movies that are superior to the books upon which they're based
I agree with that selection, although it may not be popular with Tolkien fans. Loved The Hobbit but didn't care for Rings.
I'll suggest:
The Bourne Identity. I liked the changes made and preferred the movie to the book. I thought that making the woman who aids Bourne a German, as opposed to a Canadian, worked well.
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. The longest, and my least favorite, Harry Potter book worked well when abridged into the movie. By contrast, the movie version of Goblet of Fire was a travesty; it was abridged out of all recognition.
I'll suggest:
The Bourne Identity. I liked the changes made and preferred the movie to the book. I thought that making the woman who aids Bourne a German, as opposed to a Canadian, worked well.
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. The longest, and my least favorite, Harry Potter book worked well when abridged into the movie. By contrast, the movie version of Goblet of Fire was a travesty; it was abridged out of all recognition.