A movie that's better than the book it's based on?

[Deleted User] · February 2013

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[Deleted User] · February 2013

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[Deleted User] · February 2013

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ShartsRainbows · February 2013

Pride and Prejudice (1995 and 2005) but ONLY because the visuals are so much better than what I pictured while reading the book, and because I like hearing the actors and actresses speaking the lines because their inflection is more dynamic than I make it in my head while I'm reading.

KJmashup · February 2013

Another vote for The Shining

scoutkate · February 2013

Becoming Jane

SCSmith2011 · February 2013

All of the LOTR movies. I mean the books are good but Tolkein is hard to read sometimes and I can watch the movies over and over again.

scoutkate · February 2013

Jreidknox:

ShartsRainbows:
Pride and Prejudice (1995 and 2005) but ONLY because the visuals are so much better than what I pictured while reading the book, and because I like hearing the actors and actresses speaking the lines because their inflection is more dynamic than I make it in my head while I'm reading.

and 2005??

NO.

I'll give you 1995 because, you know, Colin Firth.

I actually prefer the 2005 version. The first proposal scene is HOT.

ShartsRainbows · February 2013

scoutkate:
Jreidknox:

ShartsRainbows:
Pride and Prejudice (1995 and 2005) but ONLY because the visuals are so much better than what I pictured while reading the book, and because I like hearing the actors and actresses speaking the lines because their inflection is more dynamic than I make it in my head while I'm reading.

and 2005??

NO.

I'll give you 1995 because, you know, Colin Firth.

I actually prefer the 2005 version. The first proposal scene is HOT.

I like them equally. Matthew McFadyen's Darcy is f'ucking delicious.

[Deleted User] · February 2013

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[Deleted User] · February 2013

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CinemaGoddess · February 2013

Forrest Gump.

I hated the Kubrick version of The Shining and adored the miniseries from the 90s. I realize this is a major UO.

CindyRelluh · February 2013

About to get my nerd on: Lord of the Rings, extended edition.

kmawb · February 2013

The Princess Bride. The movie is WAY better than the book.

The Shawshank Redemption. Morgan Freeman and Tim Robbins bring that short story to life in a way that my imagination just couldn't.

Fight Club. Again the actors make this movie into so much more than the book could ever have been.

Jaws. I'm willing to bet the book didn't scare people away from going in the water the way the movie did.

I'm on the fence with LotR. The books are a hard read to get through which would put the movies on top but there is so much more content in the books and depth to some of the characters that puts the books on top.

kmawb · February 2013

EllaHella:
kmawb:

Fight Club. Again the actors make this movie into so much more than the book could ever have been.

No, just no. The book is ever bit as amazing as the movie. I've always argued that the movie is the best adaptation of a book ever. I can't even wrap my head around thinking the book was lacking.

Ok Ella, I'll concede this one to you, they are equally great. I guess to me the movie just gives a better first impression of the story than the book KWIM? Andplusalso, Brad Pitt shirtless...

kmawb · February 2013

gwinnygirl:

Stand by Me. It was based off the short story "The Body" by Stephen King.

IMO, in general:

Stephen King short stories/novellas < movies (I include The Green Mile here since it was originally a serial release).

but

Stephen King novels > or = movies

kmawb · February 2013

EllaHella:

I will say that Fight Club is the one exception where it's totally ok to watch the movie before the book. And I do love me some Marla Singer. HBC does an amazing job and embodies the character. You can't help but see her when you read.

I did watch the movie before reading the book which may be why I think the movie may be slightly better. I guess in this case it just made the book better to see the characters and hear them in my head (as portrayed in the movie, especially HBC) when I read the book. I will usually refuse to do that under normal circumstances, since I like to imagine the characters myself rather than have an actor dictate them to me.

kmawb · February 2013

MandJS:
Bridget Jones' Diary. Because again. The swoon factor makes it worthwhile. Colin Firth and Hugh Grant? Yum.

On one hand I agree with you because of Colin Firth and Hugh Grant (drool), but on the other hand I did not like Ren?e Zellweger's portrayal of Bridget.

kmawb · February 2013

EllaHella:

The two work so very well together which is why I will argue that the movie isn't better than the book but rather a great compliment.

<gavel>

I offically retract my previous statement that Fight Club is a better movie than the book.

[Deleted User] · February 2013

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mmdd20 · February 2013

scoutkate:
Jreidknox:

ShartsRainbows:
Pride and Prejudice (1995 and 2005) but ONLY because the visuals are so much better than what I pictured while reading the book, and because I like hearing the actors and actresses speaking the lines because their inflection is more dynamic than I make it in my head while I'm reading.

and 2005??

NO.

I'll give you 1995 because, you know, Colin Firth.

I actually prefer the 2005 version. The first proposal scene is HOT.

This! I LOVE the 2005 version. I probably watch the movie once a month and read the novel once or twice a year.

Dubwife79 · February 2013

I'm gonna date myself and say the natural.

LuckyDad · February 2013

Mean Girls is better than Queen Bees and Wannabes.

Adaptation is better than The Orchid Thief.

It's probably cheating to name movies based on non-fiction books.

missyishere · February 2013

EllaHella:
kmawb:

Fight Club. Again the actors make this movie into so much more than the book could ever have been.

No, just no. The book is ever bit as amazing as the movie. I've always argued that the movie is the best adaptation of a book ever. I can't even wrap my head around thinking the book was lacking.

Chuck Palahniuk is my favorite author, and Fight Club was an amazing book. It's not my favorite (Haunted is my fave), but dammit, he's a great author.

insertclevername · February 2013

Mackalien13:

LoisLane23:
Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants?

I have a total girl crush on Alexis Bledel.

Samesies

missyishere · February 2013

No Country for Old Men. The book was good, but the movie really did it in for me. And how depressing was The Road?!

insertclevername · February 2013

Mackalien13:
NY Mama:
Mackalien13:

LoisLane23:
Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants?

I have a total girl crush on Alexis Bledel.

Samesies

Are we the same person? Sometimes I think we are.

Great minds think alike.

526SadieSadie · February 2013

Fried Green Tomatoes. I wanted to like the book, I truly did: but I loved how the movie focused on Idgie and Ruth, not their descendants like the book did.

I've been told that the Silver Linings Playbook movie is better than the book but I haven't seen or read it.

There really aren't many of these...maybe the two Anne of Green Gables movies but only because Meagan Followes is too adorable and completely animates Anne in a way the book falls short. I adore the Emmeline Harris character in the second movie, she doesn't exist in the second book.

MrsJ723 · February 2013

526SadieSadie:
Fried Green Tomatoes.nbsp;nbsp;I wanted to like the book, I truly did: but I loved how the movie focused on Idgie and Ruth, not their descendants like the book did.

Agreed. In the same vein, I found Divine Secrets of the Ya Ya Sisterhood to be a better movie than book.And The Godfather. I love Mario Puzo, but found the movie cut out some of the unnecessary parts of the book.

kristyand · February 2013

Jurassic Park

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