The books Behind the films

[November Rain]

IN order to educate the masses, please come here and tell us about the popular films of our times that have been based on books.

You can simply comment and point out the original books films have been adapted from.

or you can discuss the similarities and differences between the portrayal of stories in different media

Enjoy.

 

[Spider-Who?]

note: the rating is not how good I thought the movie was, but how close the movie was to book...

Film: No Country for Old Men
Book: of the same name
Book - to - film rating: 5/5
This is a damn near perfect adaptation of the book. Nothing "new" is added to the film (cough, The Lost World, cough), and almost every detail is kept, regardless of its insignificance. There are of course a few scenes that are whittled down, but it doesnt take away from the story.


Film: Sphere
Book: of the same name
Book - to - film rating: 3/5
Visually, the movie does a good job of creating a world described by the book. The cast (IMO) is a perfect choice, even if they don't look like how the characters are described. The book has alittle more action (two additional events take place with the Squid then what is in the movie). The film changes the climax of the book somewhat, but that doesnt really bother me.

Film: Jurassic Park: The Lost World
Book: The Lost World
Book - to - film rating: 2/5
The film has little to do with the book. Main characters from the book are completely cut from the movie, or combined into one character. Dozens more characters were created for the movie, as well as action scenes and events (T.Rex let loose in San Diego, as cool as it was, was not in the book). The book is more of a diaoluge on conservation and the effect we have on nature, with a few action bits thrown in, so I guess Spielburg felt he needed to switch the formula around. The movie on it's own is only decent; its only saving grace is the Rex in San Diego, which again, was not in the book.

 

[tzarinna]

The Color Purple, was a super short book. I don't recall be as moved by it as much as by the movie.

American Psycho, was a great read, funny and disturbing. The book was hard to put down.

Waiting to Exhale, another quick read, movie was a little different and moving.

The Hellbound Heart adapted to Hellraiser, should I give this one away?

The Midnight Meat Train, I've only read the GN, the movie added a lot more and I enjoyed both.

The Bridges of Madison County, really quick read, loved the movie.

The Curious Case of Benjamin Buttons, short, short story, still moving much changed in the movie which so extremely moving.

I'll have to come back. There's just so many.

 

[SLVRSR4]

Holes!!! Both were terrible

 

[BlackLantern]

The Hunt for Red October - the stuff that was taken out wasn't major, and the last confrontation was changed because the Red October took damage in the book, but still a good movie and chronologically, takes place after Patriot Games

Sahara - The first Clive Cussler book I ever read and was a lackluster adaptation...basically taking the bare bones story points and leaving out the whole Lincoln sub-plot entirely

A Time to Kill - both are excellent....

 

[Eggyman]

Just finished Fear and Loathing In Las Vegas.

This book has jumped straight onto my top ten list. Hunter S. Thompson's Dr Gonzo style of writing is pure bliss to read. A first-person perspective which is anarchic, progressive, captivating... and above all, funny as hell.

You won't understand quite what I mean if you haven't read it, but this book is fantastic. A drug-fuelled comedy with an always present feeling impending doom. The film captured this quite well, and after reading I have an even higher respect for Depp who played the effigy of Thompson with crystal clear precision.

Truly epic in what it does, and it does it so effortlessly.

It's funny, but this book's been sat on my shelf for over a year. I noticed it yesterday and decided to read it. Now I can't believe I haven't read it sooner.

10/10

 

[Watson]

The Godfather by Mario Puzo is a great read

 

[BlackLantern]

Die Hard was based on a novel (Nothing Lasts Forever), Die Hard 2 and 3 were based on short stories, and Live Free or Die Hard is based on an article in 'Wired' about the computer run infrastructure in the United States

 

[Mrh7448]

I am Legend by Richard Matheson

Adapted to film in Original I am Legend with Vincent Price, then again as the Omega Man with Charlton Heston and once again in a giant crap fest starring Will Smith.

At least the Heston version was based off the book but used a different title for the movie so it doesn't feel as offensive.

While completely independent as a movie on it's own merits the Will Smith version was okay, a bit of fun but as an adaptation it's complete garbage. The book gives a greater sense of desolation and loneliness that Neville feels. In the book he has no one, I mean no one, no dog nothing. He later meets the dog whose afraid of him and he has to do a lot of coaxing to get it to come to him.

There really is no comparison...read the book.


The Time Machine H.G. Wells.

Awesome book and standard for the time. Thematically about the difference in class distinction which grow further apart in time creating the Eloi and Morlocks. The most recent version of the Movie again has no basis on using the title and should have been a completely seperate movie.

Come to think of it pretty much all of Wells books to film get butchered

War of the Worlds (both versions, though at least the Spielberg had some sense of the book, barely)
Island of Dr. Moreau
The Time Machine
The Invisible Man