Books vs adaptations

[Evil_Mush]

Has anyone ever read (or tried reading) Trainspotting? Took me a couple of goes before my brain finally clicked into the phonetic Scottish writing style - felt like a kindergartener first attempt sounding out the words to figure out what they were saying before giving up (temporarily)!!!

Was a good read once I got into it but still preferred the film I think.

Similar deal with Clockwork Orange, getting head around all the weird Russian slang put me off at first, but enjoyed it also (but not as much as film) once I got into it.

 

[nöyd]

Read a few of James Patterson's Alex Cross novels after seeing the movies.

Books obviously go into greater descriptive details but it's pretty cool to be able to imagine Morgan Freeman acting out the scenes as you read.

 

[Frankus]

Another one although, very low key is Drive. The book was average at best but the movie was enjoyable.

Casino Royale (admittedly one of only 2 Flemming novels I have read) had a far better film in my opinion.

 

[azzah72]

The Movie filth does well in adapting the book, even showing some scenes I didn't think they would.

The Book is better but it could have been diabolical.

The movie ended up pretty good.

James McAvoy is Brilliant

 

[bileduct]

One Flew Over The Cuckoos Nest.

Book > Movie.

 

[Danish]

The Jurassic Park book is a lot different to the movie.

The movie is a great blockbuster adventure with some horror elements but it only captures the superficial elements of the book. The book is a horrific thought provoking techno-thriller.

I'm not being critical of the movie, I saw it in the cinema again a couple of years ago, it's great for what it is and it holds up well.

I highly recommend the book.

I remember trying to read Jurassic Park when I was 10 years old after the movie came out... I didn't even make it through the first chapter :lol:. Read it years later and yep the book is terrific.

For how successful Jurassic Park was as a movie, it always baffles me why they so thoroughly changed the plot of the 2nd movie compared to the book when making Lost World. They are not even remotely similar. The plot of Lost World novel could have been so easily turned into a brilliant sequel, completely void of any dumb ass child gymnastics

 

[Bazal]

The Lost World is one of the worst movies of all time, the book is absolutely brilliant and neatly meshes some pretty controversial science for the time and a thrilling story together. Crichton was a great story teller. I'm amazed he let them get away with that mess if a movie.

People rag on JP3, and it was terrible, but given the source material it absolutely blows Lost World away in terms of quality.

The first movie was good, but the book is still so much better.

 

[Dogs Of War]

Has anyone ever read (or tried reading) Trainspotting? Took me a couple of goes before my brain finally clicked into the phonetic Scottish writing style - felt like a kindergartener first attempt sounding out the words to figure out what they were saying before giving up (temporarily)!!!

t.

I just pretended that billy Connolly was reading the book to me. Added bonus of making everything funnier

 

[Sans Souci Sainter]

The Vampire Lestat

Book >>>>> Movie

 

[LESStar58]

Has anyone ever read (or tried reading) Trainspotting? Took me a couple of goes before my brain finally clicked into the phonetic Scottish writing style - felt like a kindergartener first attempt sounding out the words to figure out what they were saying before giving up (temporarily)!!!

Was a good read once I got into it but still preferred the film I think.

Similar deal with Clockwork Orange, getting head around all the weird Russian slang put me off at first, but enjoyed it also (but not as much as film) once I got into it.

Try reading Ulysses by James Joyce! That'll f**k you up!

 

[Dogs Of War]

Good call on Fight Club though. I cant say that it is superior to the novel, another line ball for me.

The movie Fight club is the closest recreation of a book I have ever read, other than the extra chapter in the book. No point reading the book if you have seen the movie unless you want to watch the movie, then flick to the last chapter of the book for a bonus scene!

Seconding Running Man. I said if I win one of those stupid powerball jackpots by myself I'm buying the rights and making a faithful recreation of the book.

 

[elyod138]

Speaking of Michael Crichton and adaptations, I have high hopes for HBO's version of Westworld next year.

 

[Dogs Of War]

Oh yeah I forgot that they are doing a TV show of Red Mars, Green Mars, Blue Mars books. That should be pretty awesome.

 

[bileduct]

The movie Fight club is the closest recreation of a book I have ever read, other than the extra chapter in the book. No point reading the book if you have seen the movie unless you want to watch the movie, then flick to the last chapter of the book for a bonus scene!

The only noticeable difference I remember is that in the book the buildings don't get blown up.

 

[DiegoNT]

I read the first quarter of Wiseguys on a free trial but never bothered buying the whole book as i couldn't get into.
Goodfellas on the other hand hooks you from the start and is easily one of the greatest movies ever

 

[veggiepatch1959]

Two great books that were turned into great mountains of turd by Hollywood.

The Sum Of All Fears by Tom Clancy.

Escape From Alcatraz by J. Campbell Bruce.

 

[Dogs Of War]

Escape From Alcatraz by J. Campbell Bruce.

I never read the book but I thought the movie was fine. Having a quick look at IMDB and even Robert Egbert think thats the case as well.

 

[Parra]

Agree with Goodfellas

 

[Parra]

Two great books that were turned into great mountains of turd by Hollywood.

The Sum Of All Fears by Tom Clancy.

Escape From Alcatraz by J. Campbell Bruce.

That's sort of the point vege. There are heaps of examples where the movie does not do the book any justice. The Sum of All Fears is a great example.

What we're looking for here is examples where the adaptation is superior.

First Blood was a good adaptation. Not as dark or deep as the book.

Wake In Fright - Ted Kotcheff did an amazing job of creating a movie that was more confronting than the novel.

 

[T.S Quint]

I'm going to be controversial here:


Lord of the Rings movie series is better than the book.