Best Movie Adapted from a Book(s)

The MG Renegade · Nov 6, 2011

Debated this with my wife for hours, so I thought I would add it to this foum.

My question is simple; What is your favorite movie that was adapted from a book?

Mine is easily LOTR: Return of the King. Jackson's adaptation was great with the exception of the end. I wanted to see Saruman, Wormtongue, and their gang taking over Hobbiton. But overall, this was an amazing movie. I have watched it over 30 times and never get bored of watching it.

Her favorite was the Stephen King novel, Rose Red. It was a mini-series, so it encompassed the entire novel. While I thought it was OK, I'm not a horror fan.

So what's your favorite? :evil

thothguard51 · Nov 6, 2011

Recently, GRR Martins, A Game of Thrones. I anxiously await season 2...

The MG Renegade · Nov 6, 2011

I'm not familiar with that... I had to google it... lol..

But wow, it got 13 Emmy nominations! I just ordered it off of Amazon to check it out!

DeleyanLee · Nov 6, 2011

The Princess Bride. Of course it helps that the novel was written by an experienced screenplay writer (who also did the screenplay).

I didn't know Rose Red was a novel. There's a novel based on the Ellen's life/diary, but I thought that just covered the backstory, not the main part of the mini-series.

The MG Renegade · Nov 6, 2011

LOL, didn't know that! I just questioned the wife and she said it was scripted by Stephen King, but there was a novel called The Diary of Ellen Rimbauer: My Life at Rose Red. But it was this short novel that got her interested. Apparently, it was done as a promotional novel for the mini-series and later made into a movie. I told her that this doesn't count. lol. :rant:

The MG Renegade · Nov 6, 2011

I can probably add the Harry Potter novels to this. While a MG/YA series, it definitely translated well into movies. My personal favorite was Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. It was actually Socerer's Stone movie that got me into the books in the first place.

thothguard51 · Nov 6, 2011

The MG Renegade said:
I'm not familiar with that... I had to google it... lol..

But wow, it got 13 Emmy nominations! I just ordered it off of Amazon to check it out!

Don't get attached to any one character... that's all I am going to say.

Jehhillenberg · Nov 6, 2011

The Godfather

Done.

The MG Renegade · Nov 6, 2011

Jehhillenberg said:
The Godfather

Done.

Ooohhh... Great movie... I must admit that I never read the book. I'm gonna have to get it from the library...

I'm starting to think this thread was a bad idea... There's probably gonna be too many things added to my want list. :Shrug:

areteus · Nov 7, 2011

It's easier to say what is not a great adaptation as there are far more of them

In my opinion, the Harry Potter films are better than the books in the same was as True Blood (the series) is better than the Southern Vampire mysteries (the books) but that could simply be because I find both the authors' writing styles slightly irritating in parts.

Neither Watchmen, From Hell nor V for Vendetta are better than the original graphic novels but they are still excellent adaptations. The less said about The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen the better...

I agree with the Princess Bride being a fine film as well as LOTR though I mainly respect Peter Jackson for his ability to make good use of special effects (i.e. not everything was CGI as happened in some other films of the same period *ahem* Star Wars *ahem*

)

Her Dark Star · Nov 7, 2011

Trainspotting, Irvine Welsh. The book is pretty difficult to read and the film captures of the essence of it all, brings it to life in a way that the book struggles to. Have to rate it as the best adaption in terms of making something more from the source material.

dgiharris · Nov 7, 2011

I never read The Princess Bride

but given how that is the best movie EVAR then it wins and you can now lock this thread

I can't believe how well that movie holds up even today. I saw it again a few months ago, just flipping through the channels and lo and behold I stopped just to watch a scene. Next thing I know, its 80 minutes later...

Mel...

Lyra Jean · Nov 7, 2011

Fight Club

katiemac · Nov 7, 2011

Forrest Gump

Lyra Jean · Nov 7, 2011

I second "The Princess Bride" and the LOTR trilogy.

Torgo · Nov 7, 2011

TV? Boringly, 'The Wire', adapted loosely by David Simon from his amazing 'Homicide - A Year on the Killing Streets." Filmwise, probably 'The Maltese Falcon'.

JohnnyGottaKeyboard · Nov 7, 2011

The Wizard of Oz. Obviously.

(I wouldn't call it my favorite movie adaption of a book, or even in my top 10, but it is the quintessential example of a rather shoddy book turned into a great set-piece of a movie.)

Silver King · Nov 7, 2011

A few that come to mind:

Schindler's List

Papillon

Jaws

The English Patient

Das Boot (The Boat)

The Perfect Storm

For Whom the Bells Toll

And several dozen others, if I took the time to list them all.

rhymegirl · Nov 7, 2011

Silver King said:
A few that come to mind:

Schindler's List

Papillon

Jaws

The English Patient

Das Boot (The Boat)

The Perfect Storm

For Whom the Bells Toll

And several dozen others, if I took the time to list them all.

Isn't it For Whom the Bell Tolls?

Silver King · Nov 7, 2011

rhymegirl said:
Isn't it For Whom the Bell Tolls?

You're right. Thanks for pointing it out.

lastlittlebird · Nov 7, 2011

I much prefer the TV series Dexter to the books... completely different feel IMHO.

CrastersBabies · Nov 7, 2011

thothguard51 said:
Recently, GRR Martins, A Game of Thrones. I anxiously await season 2...

I'm having a hard time waiting myself.

We need a season 3 just to see Jaime's character arc begin to come full circle.

I'm on board with LOTR. There was no way to make that thing 100% canon and they did such a lovely, beautiful "tribute" to the books.

bongalak · Nov 7, 2011

Jurassic Park

I know, the movie was a lot different from the book. But it was good different, it had its own kind of excitement.

Charles Farley · Nov 7, 2011

The Exorcist

Get Shorty

The Dark Half (Stephen King)

The Basketball Diaries

M.A.S.H

shit many more . .

Dr.Gonzo · Nov 8, 2011

Lyra Jean said:
Fight Club

Yes. Yes. I have manlove for David Fincher.

Best Movie Adapted from a Book(s)

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