Best/Worst Adaptations

I was watching The Talented Mr. Ripley last night and thinking about how while a great book it made for a mediocre film. Possibly because they changed it so much.

So Ok people so what films do you think rank up there as the BEST and WORST book adaptations?

Best
The Pianist- just like the book
The Outsiders- not bad
Dune (the mini series)- if it wasnt for the movie I think the book wouldn't have made sense. Stay away from the 80s film with Sting though- unless you're high.

Worst
Atonement- they shouldnt have tried the book is wonderful and the movie is just cant live up to it
Handmaid's Tale- ouch why did they try
fahrenheit 451- they need to do a remake, I did an event with Ray Bradbury and he said its been optioned many times since the low budget version and so far they haven't been able to write a good script.

Just because
I actually thought who ever wrote the Twilight adaptation did a really good job because if you look at that book the structure is all wrong, there are like 300 hundred pages and then the main action and plot happens in a few chapters and its over. Which maybe you can get away with in a book (I am neither a huge fan nor a total critic of the series) but definitely not in a movie. So well done there.

I have read The Reader, havent seen the film yet. Cant image how they managed that one. The book was eh. I am currently reading Trainspotting, I think in that case just watch the film its easier.

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Permalink Reply by Fire Fairy on June 26, 2009 at 5:46am

I thought 'Atonement' was a really good adaptation of the book... The worst has to be 'The Other Boleyn Girl', utter trash!

Permalink Reply by Mrs. B on June 26, 2009 at 12:48pm

I really like Michael Crichton, and I don't think any of the movies measured up to his books. OK, Jurassic Park had such good special effects that it was worth watching, but it was missing a lot, like the fact that John Hammond dies at the end. Another book that has never been adapted well is Frankenstein.

One that I like is Romeo + Juliet by Baz Luhrmann. It was passionate but not sappy, and I love that he used the actual dialogue from the play and totally made it work.

Permalink Reply by rebecca pierzchala on June 26, 2009 at 5:50pm

I actually thought Atonement was a great adaptation - I love the book and I love the movie, and I am not very lenient with adaptations. I'll have to think on some more than I've read/seen. There are plenty that I've read but not seen or seen but not read (mostly because of my anti-adaptation bias) but I'm sure I can come up with some!

Permalink Reply by Lauren Cummings on June 26, 2009 at 10:23pm

Wow rebecca and Fire fairy are probably the last two people in the world who think its a good adaptation. I am not saying its a terrible movie. Just rather dry. The multiple points of view and the awakening of the young narrator just is not articulated through the movie, and truly I dont see how they could have done it. I think its an issue of plot vs. story. The movie captures the plot but not the real story, and really the plot of Atonement is rather unremarkable whereas the story is the real achievement. It isnt what happens its what happens and what it means. Perhaps some books just can never make good films.

Permalink Reply by rebecca pierzchala on June 29, 2009 at 2:25pm

I'm pretty sure there are other people who agree with us. Hyperbole = not always your best friend.

Permalink Reply by Caitlin D on June 29, 2009 at 8:00pm

For me, the best adaptation was probably To Kill A Mockingbird. The Secret Life of Bees was also really good. I didn't care for the Outsiders adaptation, but I read/saw it a very long time ago. I was really disappointed by both adaptations of All the King's Men.

I think to a certain extent, I've learned to accept that no movie is going to be the same or "live up" to the book, but I get made when they change significant elements or details, instead of just leaving parts out for length, which is inevitable. Even though there were differences, TKAM and The Secret Life of Bees both captured the essence and mood of the book, which worked for me.

Permalink Reply by Kira on July 18, 2009 at 7:37pm

I think they did a pretty good job with Everything is Illuminated. The book's better, but the movie's pretty good too.

Permalink Reply by Tiffany on July 19, 2009 at 6:39pm

Since I'm a big fan of classic lit, a lot of my favs haven't been adapted, except on television miniseries. My favorite one of those, however, is the 2006 Masterpiece theater version of Jane Eyre; it remained truest to the book, although they did change several crucial parts, as well as rushing through her childhood.

In my personal opinion, though, the worst adaptation of a book I've seen is the 2005 Pride and Prejudice. Although neither Keira Knightley nor Matthew Macfayden were right for the parts, the worst part was the interpretation of Mr. Darcy as "shy." He was proud--it's in the title, people!

Permalink Reply by Adgirl on July 28, 2009 at 8:07pm

Best Adaptions:
I agree with you on the Twilight front. Plus with the film you get to look at Robert Patterson. In the book there is a lot of bad writing. The descriptions of character's behaviours annoys me and is repetitive: Edward sneers or smirks all the time!

Memoirs of a Geisha. I actually really enjoyed the book and the film. I still prefer the book but I thought they did a good job anyways.

Harry Potter - I always enjoy the films (apart from the first when the acting was wooden) as much as I enjoyed the book. They are a lovely visual feast.

Worst.
The Golden Compass - so disappointing. It's pretty and magical but doesn't capture the depth of the book which is the most appealing thing. They are too scared to tackle the religious issues I think.

Captain Corelli's Mandolin - maybe I can't say this since I refused to watch it. I loved the book so passionately that I didn't want it ruined by Nicholas cage. How can he ever be Corelli???????? NO HE IS NOT CORELLI!

Permalink Reply by Quinn Perkins on August 6, 2009 at 2:25pm

I liked the 1984 Dune version...as it's own entity. P. S. Peter Berg is going to do another adaptation.

The worst adaptation I think I have ever seen is Ella Enchanted. The movie was terrible.

I think one of the best Adaptations I have seen is A&E Pride And Prejudice (the 5hr one with Colin Firth). I remember being so pleased the first time I saw it as the book is one of my all time favorites.

Permalink Reply by Chelsea McQuaid on March 26, 2010 at 1:25pm

The Good
The Shawshank Redemption - great story, amazing movie
Harry Potter - 75% good
The Time Traveler's Wife

The Bad
Any John Grisham
Most Stephen King
The Sum of All Fears (maybe other Tom Clancy's)

Best/Worst Adaptations

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