So many books have been made into movies. Most movies can't hold a candle to the original book. What movies do you think actually help tell the story? Are there any movies which are actually better than the book they're based on?
2006-06-30 17:29:56 · 18 answers · asked by maryquast 3 in Arts & Humanities ➔ Books & Authors
The Silence of the Lambs - The movie actually clarifies some motivations and plot points
Jaws - The movie jettisons all the soap opera between the chief's wife and the shark expert, and focuses on the best part of the book; the shark and the hunt for it.
The Searchers - John Ford takes Alan LeMay's grim revenge story and fills it with such beauty, humor, and complexity that a potboiler becomes a meditation on Savagery, Civilization, and America.
The Maltese Falcon - Dashiell Hammett's fine detective novel becomes a great movie; John Huston tells Hammett's story faithfully, and through brilliant casting and direction adds a sly humor and a sense of caring to Hammett's hard boiled world view.
The Dead - John Huston again. The only case I know of where an unquestionably great piece of literature (in this case James Joyce's story) is transformed into an equally great film. Every time I read the story I think of the film; and every time I see the film I am moved to read the story.
The Third Man - Graham Greene wrote a film treatment, then wrote a novel based on it. Then Carol Reed's film appeared, altering and improving Greene's original story. Greene's novel is polished and literate as thrillers go; Reed's movie is a masterpiece.
2006-06-30 21:15:17 · answer #1 · answered by Theatre Guy 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Only one I can think of is Harry Potter & The Goblet Of Fire. I have read all the books watched all the movies. GOF is the only one that comes close to capturing the excitement of the book. I wouldn't say it's better then the book, but it really is good. It is the best one of the Harry Potter movies.
Oh, and Charlie & The Chocolate Factory, which I did even know was a book until the movie was out. I watched the Willy Wonka one it was a childhood favorite.
As soon as I knew it was based on a book I had to run out and get it. They got that movie right on.
2006-07-01 01:54:08 · answer #2 · answered by Ivy 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Blade Runner was a movie based on the book Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? Having seen the movie first, I was disappointed with the book, but It may have been that the cinematography was such a powerful force in the movie that it overwhelmed the story
2006-07-01 01:12:45 · answer #3 · answered by yeeooow 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Mary Poppins comes to mind as a movie which is so much better than the book could ever dream of being.
The Lion the Witch and The Wardrobe, as much as I loved the book, I have to say the characters became more developed than in the book. Not to mention how well done the costumes and special effects were.
But I have to say that Star Wars (original book by George Lucas) is one of the worst books ever written and that the film is so much better. (I like other Star Wars books though).
2006-07-01 00:32:35 · answer #4 · answered by laney_po 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think "The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe" was a really good movie that was almost as good as the book. There were minimal changes and the special effects, scenery, and costumes really brought the book to life in a way that I haven't seen in any other movie.
2006-07-01 01:28:09 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
1. Lord of the Rings trilogy
2. Dances with Wolves (much more visual and still keeping the feeling of the orignial source.
3. much of the Jane Austen novels starring Emma Thompson
Translating a written source, especially a long novel is very
difficult into a visual medium and you've got to keep the original
feelt, characters and plot, all the while keeping into to the
length of time you have to show a movie.
There probably are more but that's all I can think of off hand.
2006-07-01 10:00:37 · answer #6 · answered by karrenia_rune 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Dances With Wolves stayed very true to the written story.
Also the A&E version of Pride and Prejudice starring Jennifer Ehle and Colin Firth, don't waste your time on the newer version with Keira Knightly.
Honestly I love to watch movies after I've read the books, and those are the only two that really seemed to stay true that I can think of.
2006-07-06 13:02:52 · answer #7 · answered by kennypop 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
no such thing as a movie better than a book, because hollywood is attracting an audience that have the attention spans of goldfish. and if you can't hold there attention, they'll sue you for that vandalism they commited when they were supposed to be watching your long *** ******* movie. but they is one better than the poem its based of, O' Brother Where Art Thou, good movie actually based of the Odeyess Written by Homer. and a comment to mjhazard, harry potter sucked, it got it totally wrong and Chris Columbus sucks ***
2006-07-01 00:33:45 · answer #8 · answered by chuckles 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The movie 'Chocolat' starring Johnny Depp is actually better than the book it is based upon.The necessary plot changes make the movie great.'The lord of the rings' stays true to the book.Actually it is more interesting than the book which meanders on.
2006-07-01 10:46:42 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Brokeback Mountain definitely lives up to the book - some consider it even better. It perfectly illustrates the short story, causing a viewer to feel the same strong emotions as a reader feels when he or she reads the book.
2006-07-01 00:39:00 · answer #10 · answered by Sean 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋