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Equality72521
09-19-2008, 05:58 PM
I don't know if this has already been done, and if it has, my bad, but what would you guys say is the best movie adaptation of a book??
LitNetIsGreat
09-19-2008, 06:27 PM
Easy peasy, The Talented Mr Ripley, though I am biased as this is my favourite film and is far better than the novel.
Emil Miller
09-20-2008, 12:38 PM
As usual with this type of question, it isn't easy to pick just one but 'The Spy Who Came in from the Cold' must be a contender.
James Bond is the silly schoolboy's idea of spying but this film is what it is really about. The book was quite good in its way but the film easily surpasses it.
minoa
09-22-2008, 12:05 AM
"Bliss" by the amazingly quirky and talented Australian writer Peter Carey, was adapted into a great film. It's a bizarre story, so this was quite an achievement!
ravilobo
09-22-2008, 11:40 AM
I liked SILENCE OF THE LAMBS movie better than the book. It solved few doubts which I had after reading the books.

I feel following are equally good in movie and book version,
1. Gone with the wind
2. Godfather


I was very skeptic about Catch -22 movie. However it is very good (may not be as good as the book).
bazarov
09-22-2008, 03:12 PM
The Godfather.
JBI
09-22-2008, 04:04 PM
Yes, Bazarov hit it right on the head. The first two Godfathers were superb works, which far surpassed the quality of their original. The third was rubbish.

In terms of a good movie based on a good book however, try The Leopard (Il Gattopardo).
ravilobo
09-22-2008, 04:04 PM
Probably books by Stephen King are a good candidate here. Though, King is a talented writer; sadly he writes mostly horror.

Following great movies are based on his books.

1. Shawshank redemption
2. Hearts in Atlantis
3. Green Mile
bazarov
09-22-2008, 04:13 PM
Yes, Bazarov hit it right on the head. The first two Godfathers were superb works, which far surpassed the quality of their original. The third was rubbish.



Yes, it was obvious that 3rd part had nothing with novel.
Desert Rose
09-22-2008, 05:01 PM
Silence of the lambs + shakespeare in love those r 2 of the best movie adaptation ...
JBI
09-22-2008, 11:09 PM
Silence of the lambs + shakespeare in love those r 2 of the best movie adaptation ...

Sorry to nitpick, but Shakespeare in Love, I don't believe, was based on another text in the sense of adaptation. Sure, the historical context is lifted, and the Shakespeare's writing was borrowed, but as far as plot, and pretty much characters, there isn't even historical accuracy. Though I must agree with you, it is a fantastic movie.
SirRaustusBear
09-22-2008, 11:41 PM
Great ones that come to mind are City of God, Fight Club, American Psycho, Ran, Clockwork Orange.

Recently No Country for Old Men and Into the Wild were both terrific.
ravilobo
09-23-2008, 10:46 AM
Great ones that come to mind are City of Recently No Country for Old Men ..

I loved NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN movie. later tried to read the book, it is a difficult dry book.
*Classic*Charm*
09-23-2008, 01:04 PM
I liked SILENCE OF THE LAMBS movie better than the book. It solved few doubts which I had after reading the books.

I liked the book more having seen the movie first. I think having Anthony Hopkins in my head made the book better, because Hannibal is not the kind of character that you can easily imagine, despite physical description.

It goes on the top of my list of Film Adaptations.

I also like The Cider House Rules
mona amon
09-23-2008, 01:43 PM
Two movie adaptations which I really liked are the Lord of the Rings trilogy and Remains of the Day. I saw them both before reading the books, and I think they really added to my reading experience.
tubagod81
09-23-2008, 03:15 PM
What about Stand By Me based on Stephen King's "The Body"? I also agree that The Shawshank Redemption and The Green Mile were great adaptations.
Julian Koller
09-26-2008, 09:18 PM
Woman In the Dunes
bounty
09-30-2008, 10:09 PM
its been years since ive read the book or seen the movie but i remembering thinking "watership down" was wonderfully done...

and for what it is worth---forrest gump is the only movie ive seen that i thought was better than the book! (though the book has some of the same innocent hilarity)
cfgs
10-02-2008, 12:53 AM
a clockwork orange
idiosynchrissy
10-03-2008, 10:27 PM
How about Rear Window which is based on a short story entitled "It had to be Murder" by Cornell Woolrich? The visual medium of film really lent itself to the voyeuristic nature of the plot. Also, in my opinion, Fight Club was a much better movie than book.
RogerL
10-04-2008, 12:35 AM
I think Graham Greene's books translate very well to film. The movies made of his (1) The Power and the Glory, (2) The Tenth Man, (3) The Quiet American, and most recently (4) The End of the Affair were all very powerful.

I agree that Stephen King translates well to film. I think this is due to the fact that his greatest strength as a writer is his plot development. Dolores Claiborne and The Shining are two more wonderful films based on his books.
pgwodehousefan
10-04-2008, 03:06 AM
"A Good Woman'' based on Lady Windermere's Fan by Oscar Wilde was a great adaptation. I also liked the way they changed the time period from the Victorian era to 1930. I think Marnie and My Fair Lady were good too.
LitNetIsGreat
10-04-2008, 05:40 AM
"A Good Woman'' based on Lady Windermere's Fan by Oscar Wilde was a great adaptation. I also liked the way they changed the time period from the Victorian era to 1930. I think Marnie and My Fair Lady were good too.

Thanks for that, I have checked it out and ordered it, looks good.
pgwodehousefan
10-04-2008, 07:30 AM
Oh one more, Out Of Africa. Super fabulous movie-Meryl Streep and Robert Redford. I've only read part of the book but I fell madly in love with the movie.
phoebelll25
10-04-2008, 08:18 AM
I think that the best should be My fave Austen book Sense and Sensibility.
Ang Lee exceeded all his work.
phoebelll25
10-04-2008, 08:19 AM
plus A room with a view
Cellar Door
10-04-2008, 09:35 AM
Easily, Into the Wild, Lord of the Rings, and Great Gatsby (the one with Robert Redford and Mia Farrow- '70's)
Tallon
11-10-2008, 06:27 PM
Catch-22. Although the film was a bit of a flop it's an absolute gem.
livelaughlove
11-10-2008, 10:23 PM
I really like the film adaptations of A Room With A View and The English Patient.
Cailin
11-11-2008, 05:54 AM
I thought Chocolat was MILES better on film than it was on the page (could have been all that mouth-watering food and Johhny Depp that swayed me though :lol:)

Also agree with the comment on Rear Window
Kevets
11-11-2008, 07:51 AM
I also like The Cider House Rules
That's my nomination. Perfect casting, superb acting, and the parts they cut (because, let's face it, it's a long book) didn't destroy the meaning.
ben.!
11-11-2008, 10:00 AM
No Country for Old Men gets my vote.
Bitterfly
11-11-2008, 10:19 AM
Death in Venice.... wonderful book, beautiful film (by Visconti, who also directed The Leopard).
And for Sade aficionados, Salo or the 120 days of Sodom is Pasolini's take on the 120 days of Sodom (as well as fascism and Dante). Not for the faint-hearted.
The Comedian
11-11-2008, 10:52 AM
I liked A River Runs Through It, adapted from Norman's Maclean's novella. And recently, V for Vendetta, was a compelling adaptation of Alan Moore's work.
Petya
11-11-2008, 03:40 PM
Did anybody else like the adaptation of October Sky? Loved both the book and the movie. The movie goes a long way to reinforcing the life that they all lead. Shawshank Redemption would be other one of my favorite adaptations. Although I fear "best" and "favorite" will differ greatly.
March Hare
11-11-2008, 11:20 PM
Well just to throw in my lot with some people at the top of this thread Godfather 1 & 2 are the only movie I recall having seen that I liked as much as the book. Of course, I'm considering only books I liked. Plenty of movie adaptations are better than the bad books they are based on.
Zybahn
11-12-2008, 01:56 PM
1. One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest.
2. I enjoyed the original Frankenstein movie better than the novel.
3. Ran was a brilliant take on King Lear, though not necessarily better, since it's a brilliant work to begin with.
4. 2001: A Space Odyssey is better than the short story it was based on ("The Sentinel").
islandclimber
11-12-2008, 05:27 PM
Death in Venice.... wonderful book, beautiful film (by Visconti, who also directed The Leopard).
And for Sade aficionados, Salo or the 120 days of Sodom is Pasolini's take on the 120 days of Sodom (as well as fascism and Dante). Not for the faint-hearted.

that book made me feel sick.. I could not imagine watching a movie based upon it.. :(

I would say:

The Shining
The Silence of the Lambs
One Flew over a Cuckoos Nest
The Godfather I and II
The Cider House Rules
Death in Venice
Rear Window
Into the Wild
To Have and Have Not (just amazing)

now a few of these were based on crap books, lol.. but still the films were just great..
*Classic*Charm*
11-13-2008, 02:28 AM
Did anybody else like the adaptation of October Sky? Loved both the book and the movie. The movie goes a long way to reinforcing the life that they all lead. Shawshank Redemption would be other one of my favorite adaptations. Although I fear "best" and "favorite" will differ greatly.

I liked October Sky as well.

I'll add to my list:

White Oleander
The Outsiders (what a great film...all that leather and hair gel:sick:)
National Velvet
islandclimber
11-13-2008, 03:47 AM
I liked October Sky as well.

I'll add to my list:

White Oleander
The Outsiders (what a great film...all that leather and hair gel:sick:)
National Velvet

White Oleander was so so good. I didn't know it was an adaptation of a book...

I know why you would like National Velvet ;) besides the fact that it is a really good movie.. maybe something to do with horses :D
Kevets
11-13-2008, 07:58 AM
To Have and Have Not (just amazing)
Ah, you just changed my mind. A 19 year old Lauren Bacall climbs into Bogart's lap and kisses him. Why'd you do that? I wanted to see if I liked it. Well? So she kisses him again, much more deeply. Climbs off his lap and says, "it's even better when you help."

That whole scene ("you know how to whistle, don't you Steve?") is up on Youtube. I believe the movie will be on cable broadcast on Tuesday (TiVo alert).

Although I haven't actually read the book. I'm not a Hemmingway fan (would've posted in most over-rated) but probably because I haven't read enough.
billyjack
11-13-2008, 10:48 AM
the shawshank redemption.

the short story by Steven King is so-so, but it does explain some parts of the movie that dont make sense. For instance, in the book Red is an irishman.
*Classic*Charm*
11-13-2008, 12:48 PM
White Oleander was so so good. I didn't know it was an adaptation of a book...

I know why you would like National Velvet ;) besides the fact that it is a really good movie.. maybe something to do with horses :D

The book is amazing, but I think I liked it so much partially because I already pictured Michelle Pfeiffer in the role.

Haha the book National Velvet is actually terrible. And how can you not love a 12 year old Elizabeth Taylor?
Mockingbird_z
11-13-2008, 03:33 PM
I have watched The Grapes of Wrath film - Oscar winner by the way, but the book is a lot better I should say, though it is my opinion.
I like Pride and Prejudice adaption of BBC (if I amnot mistaken).
Mockingbird_z
11-13-2008, 03:38 PM
and I have just remembered- Forrest Gump !!!!!!!!!! it is a very good adaption of the Book.