Books turned into movies

[Cerberus]

Originally posted by *happy*phantom*

Originally posted by Ain
What about GREAT EXPECTATIONS? This is a fabulous movie!!! One of my favorites!

I heard some mixed reviews about the movie version starring Gwyneth Paltrow and Ethan Hawke. Some like it, some didn't. As for me, I liked it a lot . I really think Anne Bancroft was brilliant in this movie.

I guess, you are really your own best critic.

hey *happy*phantom*! You're not alone. I liked the movie too. But not necessarily for aesthetic reasons (The plot, characterization and acting had far too many flaws). I liked the film because I was able to relate to it in a deeply personal way (The relationship and fate-like bond between the Estella and Finn was depressingly familiar). And it had it's share of magical moments (ex. The fountain kissing scene).

This film gave me the same magical feeling when I saw Before Sunrise which, in my opinion, is Ethan Hawke's best film. I'd agree with you though, that we really are indeed our own best critics. Directors like Terrence Mallick (Many people say "The thin red Line" was bad---I disagree) understand this more than anyone.



[Edited by Cerberus on 05-15-2001 at 09:32 PM]

[blimp]

fight club by chuck palahniuk and trainspotting by irvine welsh. liked both movies but haven't read them yet.

[Groucho]

most of the time the books are far superior than the movies but was there a case where the movies made the book more evocative and poetic than it deserves?

i can think of two.

for those of you who read Fannie Flagg's FRIED GREEN TOMATOES AT THE WHISTLE STOP CAFE will know that the movie clarified a lot of loose ends in the book. not that the book was bad (Fannie Flagg did the screenplay for the film), but somehow the movie was able to flesh out the magic and mystery of women-bonding more meaningfully than in the book. the only gripe was the insistence of the movie to suggest that Idgie (played by the late great Jessica Tandy) could have been the beekeeper (played by Mary Stuart Masterson in earlier times), and the fact that the covert lesbianism in the book was downplayed a bit in the movie. but despite that, the movie was absorbing and was able to capture the Southern feeling that was quite absent from the book.

Ditto with Waller's THE BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY which is not the best modern piece of literature but was heartbreakingly brought to screen life by Clint Eastwood. Meryl Streep's Francesca broke my heart in the last scene.

The other film whose origin is also good but can be considered under this category because of the magnificence of the film is THE ENGLISH PATIENT.

THE ENGLISH PATIENT, for me, is a good film not because my favorite filmmaker Anthony Minghella (MR. WONDERFUL, TRULY MADLY DEEPLY) was at the helm, but that he was able to make the points clearer more successfully than Michael Ondaatje's "unfilmable book". The book has its gloriousness that recalls Margaret Atwood at times, but the film is such a beauty that its almost inconceivable not to be entranced by its still beauty.

[Bostsip]

keep on posting guys!

[*happy*phantom*]

Originally posted by Cerberus
hey *happy*phantom*! You're not alone. I liked the movie too. But not necessarily for aesthetic reasons (The plot, characterization and acting had far too many flaws). I liked the film because I was able to relate to it in a deeply personal way (The relationship and fate-like bond between the Estella and Finn was depressingly familiar). And it had it's share of magical moments (ex. The fountain kissing scene).

The aesthetic beauty of the movie is the main reason why I liked it. I appreciated the beautiful camera shots and the cinematography. I remember there was one particular frame (i.e. scene) which struck me as a picturesque landscape photograph. This scene was shown towards the end of the film when Finn and Estella were about to meet again.

And that fountain scene, woooh!

This film gave me the same magical feeling when I saw Before Sunrise which, in my opinion, is Ethan Hawke's best film. I'd agree with you though, that we really are indeed our own best critics. Directors like Terrence Mallick (Many people say "The thin red Line" was bad---I disagree) understand this more than anyone.

Before Sunrise is probably one of the best films I ever saw! The script was excellent and the film did not rely on too much brouhaha to be exquisite! No wonder it was a big hit in the Sundance Film Festival. Before Sunrise is a movie where the basics of excellent filmmaking was brilliantly incorporated--a well-crafted script, beautiful setting and good actors.

[klimts]

Originally posted by oRanGe555
Usually, the novels are way, way better than the movies they were made into. But, there are exceptions to this rule. I've heard that Bridges of Madison County the movie was better than the novel. I can't attest to that since I haven't read the novel yet. Schindler's List was also much better as a movie than as a novel. The novel was dragging and wasn't too descriptive. And all those German and Jewish terms left my head spinning.

not really, i've read the book and saw the movie. i find them both wonderful! Meryl Streep as always makes her every performance her best. I love the scene where she was wanting to get out of their truck to run into Clint's truck..i never felt that emotion while reading the book..it was so intense..but the book never fails to give as much emotion. sobrang love ko itong book na ito! one of the best reads..

[pale_pilsen]

i havent read FIGHT CLUB but i've seen the movie a couple of times. after discussing it in my queer theory class (how the story involves a number of queer elements), i am trying to get my hands on the text.

[Noel_P]

Okay kasi may nagmention na pwede ang Shakespeare dito. (although plays iyon, actually). Hamlet by Kenneth Brannagh was excellent! Iyung Hamlet na pinakita dati sa Hallmark Channel, walang kwenta.

The Les Miserables movie by Liam Neeson really sucked. Iniba pa ang ending. Sayang, nandoon pa naman si Geoffrey Rush.

[angelicDAW]

Never judge a book by its movie.
~ J. W. Eagan ~

[Ænema]

Originally posted by Jacob


I didn't catch that sa movie. What part na minention na Filipino siya?

Actually, Juan Rico's nationality was established as a Filipino only in the book. That part was conveniently left out in the movie and he was called "Johnny" instead of "Juan".

[*happy*phantom*]

Anybody here saw Bridget Jones' Diary? How was it?

[yubby]

Originally posted by tsadi
ow, has anyone read "Message in a Bottle" by Nicholas Sparks ??? ... bigay naman kayu ng feedbacks o ... hanggang sa movie lang kase ako kase ang mahal ng book, hehehe ...
ang "The Notebook" ni Nicholas Aparks rin ang ganda ...

isa pa, ive also read "The Bicentennial Man" by Isaac Asimov nung high school ako ... i still remember how the story once touched me, i liked it so much ... but, i never saw the movie , i missed it by a day sa moviehouse, hehe, sa mga nakapanood, was it good ?

Hey Tsadi, I really loved message in a bottle! too bad, you weren't able to read it... I bought the book at NBS at Php 275.00, tapos when I wen to Booksale, nakakita ako worth 30 pesos lang! and I also got a copy of the notebook at 16.00. I got it from booksale also. I guess you better try your luck going to booksale and look the book (be patient nga lang...) It's much nicer sa book, very touching too, mas feel mo pag nabasa mo mismo yung mga letters. I hope I gave you an idea. Have a nice day and enjoy reading!

[KevinLee]

movies that were better off as books:

1. The Firm by John Grisham
2. Misery by Stephen King
3. Sands of Time (TV movie) by Sidney Sheldon
4. In the Eyes of a Child by Richard North Patterson


books that were better off as movies:

1. Sleeping With the Enemy
2. Jurassic Park
3. The Bridges of Madison County

[*happy*phantom*]

KevinLee,

I didn't know there was a tv movie for The Sands of Time. But, I remember how unsatisfied I was with the tv movie of Nothing Lasts Forever. Nasira talaga yung plot! The major conflict was deleted in the movie.

[oozbao]

Originally posted by *happy*phantom*
Bridget Jones's Diary The Movie will be out soon. Hopefully, the movie does justice to the book. I read a good review of the movie in Time magazine specifically praising Renee Zellweger for her portrayal of Bridget Jones. I'm planning to watch the movie. Hopefully, I won't be disappointed.

Like you, i'm also excited to see if the movie will be as good and funny as the book. I would love to see the characters of Perpetua, Daniel, Sharon, Jude, Tom and Jones' mom and dad come to life in the movies. I haven't seen it's trailers yet, but i think Renee Zellweger would fit the role. What about Mark Darcy? Who will be playing his character?

[*happy*phantom*]

I think the character of Mark Darcy was played by Hugh Grant. I'm not so sure, though.

Calling Yoshi!

[Endless]

Harry potter!!!
almost all book of Michael Crichton writer of jurassic park.
Hannibal.. etc...

[sampaguita]

"tuesdays with morie".

they showed this a couple nights ago on tv. starring the late Jack Lemmon.

made me cry.

[Lush]

These movies aren't necessarily better than the books they were adapted from, but they're pretty good and are enjoyable movies in themselves - and they happen to be some of my favorite films!

1. The Last Unicorn
2. The Princess Bride
3. Fight Club
4. Stand By Me (from Stephen King's novella, "The Body")
5. The Virgin Suicides
6. House of the Spirits
7. Dangerous Liaisons/Cruel Intentions
8. James and the Giant Peach
9. Breakfast At Tiffany's
10. A Clockwork Orange

I also loved Much Ado About Nothing, Dracula, The Mighty, Trainspotting, High Fidelity and A Little Princess.

The adaptations of Lolita (2 versions), Lord of the Flies (2 versions), Matilda, Interview With A Vampire, Little Women, Girl, Interrupted and a good number of period movies based on classic novels are so-so, but at least they're good-looking.

In general, though, I think that most movies based on contemporary books aren't very good (Stephen King, Michael Crichton, John Grisham, anyone?). I'm wary about seeing Bridget Jones' Diary on the big screen but Lord of the Rings and that Harry Potter film look promising.

[ozmen]

The End of the Affair... lovely movie, i like neil jordan's style. it focuses on the love story more than the book does, the entire last part is completely different. the novel is deeper and more focused on the religious themes, but the movie is good on its own right, well worth your time.

The Princess Bride loved the movie, it's one of my favorites! the book is truly wonderful too. they're quite similar and if you're a fan of the movie you should have the book

Stand By Me is a good movie. i read the stephen king novella ages ago but i don't remember how good it was, but i'm sure it was a good read.

Lolita, the original one, is wonderful and the dialog is simply delightful. it doesn't capture the novel's richness of language but it's a work of art on its own right

Trainspotting is a great, great film. a lot more happens in the book than does in the film, but the film gets the essence, and in some ways i think the film does it better (the toilet scene!)... but it's hard to judge, two different artforms like they say, and i'm an irvine welsh fan as well

High Fidelity loved it! as good as the book, which i got after watching the movie, and nick hornby's "about a boy" too

Clueless is an adaptation of jane austen's "emma," and so far the best of the lot, in spite of the fact that it's been translocated to 90210

Fast Times at Ridgmont High is a really good teen movie, a certified classic. there's a lot more stuff in the book, though, and the characters are more complex. wish the movie could have included the disneyland sequence

The French Lieutenant's Woman i have this thing for the victorian era... anyway, great movie, really great book

Women In Love you have to see this movie. i haven't read the book though