The Only Four Movies-Made-From Books I Can Bear to Watch
Why are movies-made-from-books so often ruined?
(1) Movie-makers leave out important parts of the book.
(2) Movie-makers change important parts of the book.
(3) Movie-makers appear to not understand the important parts of the book.
(4) Movie-makers appear not to have read the book.
Here are the only movies-made-from-books I can bear to watch:
To Kill a Mockingbird
The Hobbit
Gone With the Wind
Harry Potter What movies-made-from-books do you recommend? Maybe I am missing some good movies-from-books.
Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girlin January of 2018. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together. Each Tuesday That Artsy Reader Girl assigns a topic and then post her top ten list that fits that topic. You’re more than welcome to join her and create your own top ten (or 2, 5, 20, etc.) list as well. Feel free to put a unique spin on the topic to make it work for you! Please link back to That Artsy Reader Girl in your own post so that others know where to find more information.
You've selected some wonderful Books to movies. I can think of a lot of books to movies that I've enjoyed a lot:
These are just a few that I seem to watch over and over again it seems: Misery; Stephen King ; Silver Lining Playbook; Matthew Quick; Of Mice and Men; John Steinbeck; Bridges of Madison County; Robert Waller
I agree with you on movies made from books, for the most part. I have tried to teach myself to let go of the book and enjoy the movie for itself. My husband is the biggest LOTR fan ever and he was pleased with the movies. Not exactly the same, but he said you could tell that Peter Jackson was also a big fan. As to books to movies, I've found two that I can think of that I liked the movie better than the book - Practical Magic and How To Make An American Quilt.
I think it's the best situation when a filmmaker chooses the book to make into a movie because he feels such a connection to the story. I wonder if sometimes filmmakers are assigned films.
I think the Harry Potter movies are probably my favourite book to film adaptations! My TTT: https://jjbookblog.wordpress.com/2019/05/14/top-ten-tuesday-211/
These are all very good book to movie adaptations! They are pretty much the standard bearers. I don't mind it if they change a few things in the book as long as it does not change the meaning or purpose of the book too much. My TTT: http://bookloverspizza.com/2019/05/top-ten-tuesday-page-to-screen/
I agree and have been disappointed by watching books-to-movies far too often. However, I really think the screenplay writers for these did a great job:
The Princess Bride
Fried Green Tomatoes
84, Charing Cross Road
The Help
The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo (and the others in this series)
(4) Movie-makers appear not to have read the book - absolutely one of my pet hates too! I tend to only like movies from books if I haven't already read the book and so cannot cringe at the errors! That said, I would highly recommend A Very Long Engagement starring Audrey Tautou. It sticks closely to the book (which I've read) and is utterly charming :-)
I try to look at the movies and books as two different things, two different interpretations of the books. That way I'm less likely to get disappointed by either.
Not fiction, but the first time I thought the movie was as good as the book was Rocket Boys / October Sky. Wonder wasn't bad. Neither was The Fault in Our Stars.
I can handle when parts of the books are changed if it makes sense but your #3 drives me the craziest. If you don't appreciate the book than why are you making a movie/show about it? Why not just leave it be or find someone who is passionate about it?
Holes by Sachar. The movie is excellent and very true to the story. Stardust by Gaiman. The movie is better than the book. Shawshenk Redemption by King. Of course, it is from a short story not a novel.
I love The Princess Bride and Sound of Music. Brokeback Mountain. Stand By Me. Sense & Sensibility. Otherwise, yes, I agree with you.
If I watch the movie first, I do a better job at accepting the movie as itself and the book as itself instead of being disappointed in the changes--I did that with Silver Linings Playbook.
I have yet to see To Kill a Mockingbird. I know *roll eyes* that's hard to believe. I think it's on Netflix so I'm gonna to catch it before it disappears We watched the TLoTR triology but not The Hobbit. Years ago I caught Gone With the Wind on cable at my in-laws and saw it. I couldn't enlist my husband or kids to watch it but I enjoyed. Years later we bought it on disc and finally roped him in to seeing it which he admited in the end that he liked it better than he thought. lol I haven't seen any of the Harry Potter films but not opposed to it. Thanks for sharing.
I liked starwars but I think it was the other way round for them. Though I like LOTR and the Hobbet films I much prefered the books
ReplyDeleteI preferred the books, too. I (almost) always prefer the books.
DeleteYou've selected some wonderful Books to movies. I can think of a lot of books to movies that I've enjoyed a lot:
ReplyDeleteThese are just a few that I seem to watch over and over again it seems: Misery; Stephen King ; Silver Lining Playbook; Matthew Quick; Of Mice and Men; John Steinbeck; Bridges of Madison County; Robert Waller
I will look for these. Thank you for the suggestions!
DeleteI agree with you on movies made from books, for the most part. I have tried to teach myself to let go of the book and enjoy the movie for itself. My husband is the biggest LOTR fan ever and he was pleased with the movies. Not exactly the same, but he said you could tell that Peter Jackson was also a big fan. As to books to movies, I've found two that I can think of that I liked the movie better than the book - Practical Magic and How To Make An American Quilt.
ReplyDeleteI've never thought about it like that, but I think you are right....I need to let go of the book and enjoy the movie for itself. Thank you, Kay.
DeleteYou're right. Many adaptations have those issues. It's nice when filmmakers truly understand the story they're telling.
ReplyDeleteMy TTT.
I think it's the best situation when a filmmaker chooses the book to make into a movie because he feels such a connection to the story. I wonder if sometimes filmmakers are assigned films.
DeleteI need to watch To Kill a Mockingbird. I do hate when it seems like they never bothered reading the book!
ReplyDeleteGregory Peck is the ideal father.
DeleteI think the Harry Potter movies are probably my favourite book to film adaptations!
ReplyDeleteMy TTT: https://jjbookblog.wordpress.com/2019/05/14/top-ten-tuesday-211/
We have been watching the HP movies during the last few months with my sister and her husband, who are both huge fans.
DeleteThese are all very good book to movie adaptations! They are pretty much the standard bearers. I don't mind it if they change a few things in the book as long as it does not change the meaning or purpose of the book too much.
ReplyDeleteMy TTT: http://bookloverspizza.com/2019/05/top-ten-tuesday-page-to-screen/
I don't mind if a few things are changed. I get frustrated when a movie is missing the heart that drives the story.
DeleteI agree and have been disappointed by watching books-to-movies far too often. However, I really think the screenplay writers for these did a great job:
ReplyDeleteThe Princess Bride
Fried Green Tomatoes
84, Charing Cross Road
The Help
The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo (and the others in this series)
I haven't seen any of these except Princess Bride (a movie-from-a-book that is quite extraordinary, I admit). I will look for the others.
DeleteI do enjoy Colin Firth/Jennifer Ehle version of Pride and Prejudice. And a big yes to Princess Bride.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you on both of these. Perhaps I was feeling a little cranky when I was writing this post....
Delete(4) Movie-makers appear not to have read the book - absolutely one of my pet hates too!
ReplyDeleteI tend to only like movies from books if I haven't already read the book and so cannot cringe at the errors! That said, I would highly recommend A Very Long Engagement starring Audrey Tautou. It sticks closely to the book (which I've read) and is utterly charming :-)
I will definitely look for this one. Charming is a genre I like.
DeleteI try to look at the movies and books as two different things, two different interpretations of the books. That way I'm less likely to get disappointed by either.
ReplyDeleteThat is a good way to look at it. I always expect my books to come to life, and with expectations always come disappointments.
DeleteNot fiction, but the first time I thought the movie was as good as the book was Rocket Boys / October Sky. Wonder wasn't bad. Neither was The Fault in Our Stars.
ReplyDeleteI can handle when parts of the books are changed if it makes sense but your #3 drives me the craziest. If you don't appreciate the book than why are you making a movie/show about it? Why not just leave it be or find someone who is passionate about it?
ReplyDeleteHoles by Sachar. The movie is excellent and very true to the story. Stardust by Gaiman. The movie is better than the book. Shawshenk Redemption by King. Of course, it is from a short story not a novel.
ReplyDeleteI love The Princess Bride and Sound of Music. Brokeback Mountain. Stand By Me. Sense & Sensibility. Otherwise, yes, I agree with you.
ReplyDeleteIf I watch the movie first, I do a better job at accepting the movie as itself and the book as itself instead of being disappointed in the changes--I did that with Silver Linings Playbook.
One of the main reason I'm always a bit hesitant to watch book-fo-film adaptions is because important parts important for the plot are left out.
ReplyDeleteThe adaptations of Pride and Prejudice and The Hunger Games are very good. Have you watched any of them?
Happy readings!
Tânia @MyLovelySecret
I agree that, mostly, I don't like the movies made from books that I've read. I can handle Pride and Prejudice PBS or BBC series. :-)
ReplyDeleteDeb,
ReplyDeleteI have yet to see To Kill a Mockingbird. I know *roll eyes* that's hard to believe. I think it's on Netflix so I'm gonna to catch it before it disappears We watched the TLoTR triology but not The Hobbit. Years ago I caught Gone With the Wind on cable at my in-laws and saw it. I couldn't enlist my husband or kids to watch it but I enjoyed. Years later we bought it on disc and finally roped him in to seeing it which he admited in the end that he liked it better than he thought. lol I haven't seen any of the Harry Potter films but not opposed to it. Thanks for sharing.
Mary Poppins! It's not exactly like the book, but it's just so fun.
ReplyDelete