Books made into films
 

I was reading the review of the film Atonement yesterday and it basically said that it was a brilliant book that should never have been made into a film because of the lousy job they've done of it.

For me, Captain Corelli's Mandolin was exactly the same - amazing book and lousy film. Yet, the Harry Potter films have all done quite well and have kept fairly true to the books. What does everyone else think?

Re: Books made into films
 

I am an avid reader, I find that books made into films are a let down. Maybe that is because when reading we set the scene in our imagination and the picture a film potrays doesn't match what we imagined!!:confused:

Re: Books made into films
 

I was just about to say the exact same thing!

Re: Books made into films
 

Great minds think alike!!:)

Re: Books made into films
 

I think one of the worst let downs in a film from a book for me was 'The Firm', I couldn't put the book down but he film left out such a lot. I am glad I had read the book first, otherwise I probably would never have read the book.

I also agree with Bernadette and Margaret that whilst I am reading a book I am setting the scene in my head.

Re: Books made into films
 

I read the James Bond books before they made the films - was so disappointed with the first few films that have I have not seen the rest

Re: Books made into films
 

I saw the film of Captain Correlli's Mandolin before I read the book, Gayle. I quite enjoyed the film, particularly John Hurt's performance. Then I read the book and realized the story was almost, but not quite, completely different from Hollywood's version and much, much better. It's rare to find a film that matches up to any book.

Re: Books made into films
 

I do think it makes a difference which way round you see or read the film or book.

For most films to be true to the book they'd have to be about ten hours long.

I can't say I've ever been to disappointed at filmed book adaptations, other than I could have probably cast it better myself.:D

Re: Books made into films
 

i am an avid reader of stephen king
and have yet to appreciate a film convert
it has already been said reading creates
vivid pictures in our own minds that are hard to dispell

Re: Books made into films
 

I love reading horror too - but sometimes struggle to watch film depiction of it and have to switch off - seems I can cope with my own imagination of it but not theirs :confused:

Re: Books made into films
 

I've never seen Captain Corelli's Mandolin but was in Kefalonia when they were filming it. I assumed that it would be nowhere near as good as the book so never bothered with it. I have to agree that they also did a lousy job with the Firm, which is a great book but terrible film..

Re: Books made into films
 

I'm also an avid reader and often prefer the books the only film that didn't let the book down in my opinion was Silence of the Lambs, loved the book and film.

Re: Books made into films
 

I enjoy crime/detective fiction, I think the BBC did a fair job with the Dalziel/Pascoe series , but the books by Reginald Hill are much better .

Re: Books made into films
 

Re: Books made into films
 

Depends sometimes the book is better than the film and sometimes the film is better than the book. A book though tells you the background as well a film doesnt. I liked the book Silence of the Lambs but prefer the film - Anthony Hopkins was brill in that talk about creepy. I watched the film Hunt for the Red October and liked that - so i read the book and liked that and started reading the rest of Tom Clancy's books but when they made the rest of them into films didnt like the films preferred the books.

Re: Books made into films
 

I don't really think you can compare books to films, even if the film is an adaptation of the book. They're just so different mediums of story telling.
Just my opinion of course.

Re: Books made into films
 

I am a fan of Stephen King but would rather have the book to a film. I watched The Running Man before reading the book and prefered the book as "artistic licence" ripped it apart. Better if they stick as close as they can to the book its taken from. As for any other then Lords of the Ring as a book as opposed to the films.

Re: Books made into films
 

I was just to post something similar. It's like comparing a painting and a sculpture..... different beasts.

Re: Books made into films
 

For me, the best film from a book was The Godfather. And the best loosely based film from a book, Apocalypse Now. Also the scene in My Own Private Idaho, with stuff from Henry IV, I.

Re: Books made into films
 

Here's a nice painting of a sculpture.

http://glynnblack.info/wp-content/up...070707-wip.jpg

It may take me a little longer to find a sculpture of a painting.:D

Re: Books made into films
 

I think Peter Jackson did a great job with the Lord of the Rings Trilogy

Re: Books made into films
 

I saw Trainspotting(film) before reading the book and thought it was very good indeed, it's just a shame they havn't made a film of the follow-up, Porno, 10 years on and the story hits the ground running. Excellent book, how much would it cost to get the cast on this time round?, probably the reason they havn't made it.:mad:

Re: Books made into films
 

It's not a trilogy;) But still a great job.

Re: Books made into films
 

2 goats wandering about on the set of 20th century fox,and one of them puts his head into a garbage can and takes out a 12 inch piece of used cinema film,he is halfway through eating it when the other goat askes whats it like to eat,and the 1st goat says its ok but not as good as the book, sorry i know its a poor joke but i might get some karma for it *******

Re: Books made into films
 

I always try to read the book first before I watch the film, because films do change some things and miss things out (I know they have to because of timing!) so that I always get the full story of whats going on. I'm not generally disappointed with film adaptations but I seriously was with The Da Vinci Code, I loved the book but the film was quite frankly crap! I really, really hope they do a better job with Angels & Demons, as that is a better book!

Re: Books made into films
 

The Bible ... In the Beginning (1966)

I enjoyed the film much more than the book, but then the cinema was much warmer than the little classrooms at the back of the church where they held Sunday school. :)

Re: Books made into films
 

I love both a good read and a good film. Although not strictly a "film," for me you can't beat John Thaw as Inspector Morse -Colin Dexter's books are brilliant. I also love David Suchet's Poirot - beautifully produced programmes with great period detail, I read a lot of Agatha Christie on holiday as a girl. All the Beebs versions of Jane Austen and Dickens novels are worth watching -the books were always made tedious by having to study them at school! Howard's End is a lovely film -I like anything showing the English countryside- but i admit to not having read the book (yet!)
Lord of the Rings and Harry Potter are both excellent book and films. My 15 yr old son is a big fan of Star Wars and re-reads the books and has watched the films more times than you've had hot dinners....!

Re: Books made into films
 

Another thought -I have a much watched video of Jeanette winterson's "Oranges are not the only fruit.." I also loved the book as it reminded me of so much of my childhood growing up in Accy. I know she is quite a controversial figure but she really does capture a lot of the essence of the town back in the 70's. Many of the moments she describes at her school (Peel park) bring back memories -my mum used to teach her and tried out the cross stich embriodery on me and my sister at home before making the class do it for a competition as she describes in the book! I also knew Mrs. Virtue ( a real name and perfect for the book!) -she was one of the other teachers...
Love the scenes in the film showing the Coppice, the market and fish market and all the other places around town too -I watch it when I'm feeling homesick!
I Like the Hetty Wainthropp series too -lovely views of the Pennines and Lancs in general -I admit to not having read the books though...must look them up on Amazon...

Re: Books made into films
 

Same here...I also found the film a bit of a let down...

The Angels and Demons book is an excellent read...:)

Re: Books made into films
 

It was the first time I've watched a Tom Hanks film and not totally enjoyed it. Don't get me wrong, it was ok, but I think a lot of the failings of the film were due to him being miscast.

Re: Books made into films
 

I thought that too Gayle...It just wasn't the right role for him...don't know why...can't quite put my finger on it!!! Too young for it maybe??

Re: Books made into films
 

maybe it was the idea of an American being an intellectual history professor , kind of an oxymoron dont you think.

apologies to my countrymen ;) ;)

Re: Books made into films
 

like shaker n others say,cant really compare books-films, think very few work though on the big screen, one that stands out to me in film was - The Devil Rides Out, agree the Da-Vici-Code was garbage on the screen, most conversions are.

Re: Books made into films
 

When I was reading both Angels & Demons and then The Da Vinci Code, I always pictured Jeff Bridges playing the role of Robert Langdon. Possibly because of his performance in Arlington Road which was vaguely similar (and a very good film).
I don't think Hanks was particularly bad in the role or mis-cast, I just think the film should not have been made. It was one of those knee jerk reactions to a massively popular book. The film companies saw the opportunity to make a buck and made the film as quickly as possible with the biggest names they could find (Hanks and McKellen). It's not an awful film, it does have it's good points.

Re: Books made into films
 

Thought both " silence of the lambs" and "Jaws" were scarier in book form but both films were great too.
Agrre with the point about Dalziel and Pascoe; books are better though Warren Clarke is the ideal Dalziel.
The only case I can think of where the book and the filmed production are equal is Morse. I have read every book and seen every episode and they are both a joy. ( Except the last book and last programme, I can't face the fact of Morse dying, I have both but can't bear to go through with it ; sad I know !)

Re: Books made into films
 

I heard that a film of Porno is in the pipeline.

I enjoyed the film of Trainspotting, but it isn't a patch on the book. The book is much, much darker.
Porno was enjoyable, but I don't think it's Welsh's best effort.

Re: Books made into films
 

It takes a specialised typy of authour to create what I call 'page turners,' these are the only novels suitable for making film versions, some may only write one in their career, but there are exeptions. My nomination would be John Grisham, all his novels have been successfull films, to name a few, as at present my mind is rather clouded with medication, so dear reader please bear with me. 1 A time to die,2 The client, 3 The Pelican,4 Brief,5 The fiirm,6 The street lawyer,7 The chamber, there are more but my patience is at an end, please do not mention the rubbish churned out for little old ladies by the 'Geordie woman who'm my late dear mother was hooked on Catherine Cookson or her Blackburn born phlagarist Josaphine Cox in the same breath as this great man. rant over ta.

Re: Books made into films
 

I read American Psycho after reading a review in the Sunday Times saying 'do not read this book'. Well, always the rebel, I of course went out and bought it.

It is a cheap literary trick. Half a book of the most mundane details about what people ate/wore, then WHAM, the most shocking, disgusting sadism, in all it's gory detail. I thought the book was great, and went on to read everything by it's author Bret Easton Ellis, and enjoyed them.

I was very disappointed at the film. It certainly didn't have the slickness of the book, nor the almighty shock factor.

Re: Books made into films
 

I loved Ellis' use of humour in American Psycho, which I felt the makers of the film did not get at all.
Some of the dialogue really had me chuckling, and then asking myself why would I laugh at such a disgusting scene, which I also loved. Good books always make you second guess the way you feel about their characters.

Re: Books made into films
 

No.

Whoosh.

Right over their heads.

:D

Re: Books made into films
 

I don't get it. :confused:

:D

Re: Books made into films
 

i read a book about 10 yrs ago called go ask alice,now i missed the film on tv and ive tried to get hold of it ever since,where is the best place to look for the it,ive tried ebay but cant find it

Re: Books made into films
 

I've just thought of another book and a film that I like equally.

I read Alice Walker's The Color Purple when it was first published in 1982. I read it on holiday by myself in Greece, and I found it really moving.

The film, released two years later was brilliant, but nothing like the book. All evidence of lesbianism had been removed from the story, but the cast, including a memorable performance from Oprah Winfrey, turned it into a great film, in my opinion.

I've just watched part of the film on YouTube. It's when hard drinking sinner Shug, is reunited with her preacher father. The music is by Quincy Jones, and it fills my heart with joy, and the hairs on the back of my neck stand up, everytime I watch it.:)

YouTube - "God is trying to tell you something." - (The Color Purple)

Re: Books made into films
 

Good one, Garinda -brilliant film and snubbed at the oscars that year. I have to admit to not having read the book, will put it on my list of books to read.
Another film I loved was Possession with Jennifer Ehle and Gwyneth Paltrow, the book by A.S.Byatt is a challenging read but well worth the effort..

Re: Books made into films
 

Sat here watching Lord of the Rings Two Towers its on channel 4 at the minute. Love the films but cant get into the books have tried many times to read the book but have never got past the first 20 pages

Re: Books made into films
 

I always find when I watch a film adaptation of a book, graphic novel etc that I want the bits they missed out. To pick out 2 of the better adaptations

Dead Zone I wanted the wheel of fortune scene,
Lord of the Rings Where is Tom Bombadil.

I know they have to cut it but why always choose the bits I want to see.

Actually I find Stephen King's novellas are well done as films (Lawnmower man excepted). His novels for me have too much mindplay to make a good film.

It's the same with Philip K Dick's stuff Bladerunner is a lot more cheerful and takes away a lot of the wonderment than the book (Do Androids Dream Of Electric Sheep), the main question of which is whether Deckard is a replicant, and don't get me going on Total Recall pure shambles.

Re: Books made into films
 

I have read all of Torey Hayden's books. They made one of her books, 'One Child' into a film and it was abysmal whereas the book was very good. I found it inspirational as are all her books.

Re: Books made into films
 

[quote=Gayle;466642]I was reading the review of the film Atonement yesterday and it basically said that it was a brilliant book that should never have been made into a film because of the lousy job they've done of it.

[quote]
I saw Atonement yesterday and found it quite a visually stunning film. The plot is a typical McEwan story, dark with a twist to it. I will probably read the book now.:coffeecup

Re: Books made into films
 

84 Charing Cross Rd. with Anne Bancroft and Anthony Hopkins not really a novel , more a short story (80 odd pages of letters going back and forth ) but the film was fairly good .

Re: Books made into films
 

I loved the book The Thornbirds, by Colleen Mc'colough..but in the film Richard Chamberlin and Rachel Ward were superb ,,,

Re: Books made into films
 

I think the films "Gettysburg" and "Gods and Generals" were very true to the books.

Brian

Re: Books made into films
 

Yes - although they did truncate "Gods and Generals" quite a bit - for obvious reasons since the focus was Stonewall Jackson. The VMI museum in Lexington, Virginia has on display the slicker Jackson was wearing when he got shot. Wonder if Ted Turner has any plans to complete the trilogy? The books are excellent.

Re: Books made into films
 

I believe that's also where they have General Lee's horse on display (stuffed of course).