Films that are better than the book

[72930]

This came as a spin-off of the Best Film thread...

I mentioned that a film I love is About A Boy, which was originally a Nick Hornby book. Although the book was IMO O.K. I much preferred the film. I also loved the High Fidelity film greatly, but not as much as the book, however Fever Pitch the film was a load of crap.

The most argued upon as far as I can tell are The Shining and Lord Of The Rings...

So, what films do you think are better than their respective books (books written before the film only) ?

 

[Blue Velvet]

2001: A Space Odyssey based upon The Sentinel...

 

[epochblue]

High Fidelity the movie was almost identical to the book except they moved it from London to Chicago and replaced the British slang with American slang A lot of the dialogue from the book remained in the movie.

As for movies that are better than the book, I think this'll be a short list I thought Fight Club was a remarkably well-done representation of the book, but I'm having a hard coming up with a movie that was actually better than it's book...

 

[princealfie]

Although lousy books make the best movies... That's my rule of thumb.

Perhaps Terry Southern's book Candy is equal to the movie itself.

 

[shecky]

in my opinion, Croenenberg's Naked Lunch was way better than Burroughs' book.

(note that i most likely incorrectly spelled both names there)

 

[miloblithe]

I think short stories translate into books much better than novels do (excepting novels that are essentially screenplays, like how Michael Crighton, et al write).

 

[princealfie]

in my opinion, Croenenberg's Naked Lunch was way better than Burroughs' book.

(note that i most likely incorrectly spelled both names there)

What???

Headslaps himself!!!

 

[TequilaBoobs]

WE ARE SPARTANS!!!


do comic books count?

 

[princealfie]

WE ARE SPARTANS!!!


do comic books count?

300 is not a comic book; it is a graphic novel.

 

[TequilaBoobs]

300 is not a comic book; it is a graphic novel.

thanks, i wouldn't have known it was a novel cause im still learning to read...

 

[princealfie]

thanks, i wouldn't have known it was a novel cause im still learning to read...

no prob

 

[Jasonbot]

The most argued upon as far as I can tell are The Shining and Lord Of The Rings...

No way for The Shining, it pays no homage to the book. There are no topiary animals, none of the awesome flash backs. nothing! But there is all-work-and-no-play-makes-jack-a-dull-boy and the infamous "Here's Johnny"

 

[nateDEEZY]

Fight Club

 

[miloblithe]

300 is not a comic book; it is a graphic novel.

Which is a type of comic book.

 

[Jasonbot]

Which is a type of comic book.

Sinner! How can you say that You'll see, Stan Lee's goanna come open a can of whup ass on ur ass now!

 

[comictimes]

The Bourne Identity I thought was an awesome movie, but it had absolutely nothing to do with the book, apart from being about a US agent who loses his memory while in Europe...

 

[SMM]

The Bible, or Deep Throat

 

[jdechko]

In order to participate, must you have read the book?

Reminds me of a bit Jim Gaffigan does...

"The book was much better."
"Oh really, you know what I liked about the movie? No reading. I was done in 2 hours. Had time to take a nap."


I really like High Fidelity - one of my favorites
Lord of the Rings is also very good.

 

[BoyBach]

Jaws.

 

[Black&Tan]

I thought Stand by Me was outstanding, and based on a short story by Steven King. I agree with miloblithe, short stories tend to translate better.

 

[~Shard~]

300 is not a comic book; it is a graphic novel.

Correct, but it is actually non-fiction based off The Histories by Herodotus, which is an amazing read. The sad thing is, I don't know how many people actually know that fact...

 

[princealfie]

Correct, but it is actually non-fiction based off The Histories by Herodotus, which is an amazing read. The sad thing is, I don't know how many people actually know that fact...

Yes, I am reading this book right now!

Of course Herodotus is not the most accurate however. There are some scholarly studies about the Battle of Thermopylae and you can check out the Hot Gates which are a bunch of essays by William Golding.

 

[yellow]

The Shawshank Redemption for the win!!!

Ok, so it wasn't a book.

 

[Lovesong]

Fight Club

Oooh.... I'm sure you'd hear some arguments there. I thought the book was as good, though slightly different- more typical of Chuck's other stuff.
I'd have to vote for The Thin Red Line (awesome movie, sub-par book, inspired by Norman Mailer's The Naked and the Dead), and while, I feel that Kazansakis's Zorbas the Greek was an excellent book (I've read it three times), Anthony Queen pulled it off really well, and in many ways the movie is more cohesive.

 

[~Shard~]

Yes, I am reading this book right now!

Of course Herodotus is not the most accurate however. There are some scholarly studies about the Battle of Thermopylae and you can check out the Hot Gates which are a bunch of essays by William Golding.

Excellent, it is a good (long! ) read, but very enjoyable - whether it is 100% accurate or not is somewhat moot (as long as the reader is aware of that), as it's simply fascinating...