Movies That Actually Do the Book Justice - Page 1

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[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Movies That Actually Do the Book Justice (Page 1 of 4)

Posted: 8/9/2017 9:11:10 PM EDT

Obviously the biggest issue with turning a book into a screenplay is time allotment. The second issue is taking the descriptions and making them translate to film with the same impact.

I know there is more, but I'd like to suggest two. These are books I've read and enjoyed, and I think the movies were damned good. I don't know if watching the movie without being familiar with the book would make a personal impact, however. That's the magic of a good book.

1. Of Mice and Men-1992 version.

2. On the Road-2012. Yes, I know it's the Twilight chick. But watching her give a dual handi-J, cross country skiing style was some of her most convincing work.

Posted: 8/9/2017 9:14:12 PM EDT

[#1]

The Godfather.

Jaws.

Posted: 8/9/2017 9:15:26 PM EDT

[#2]

Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas.

Posted: 8/9/2017 9:15:30 PM EDT

[#3]

The Cain Mutiny

I read the book first. Bogart and Jose Ferrar were epic.

Posted: 8/9/2017 9:16:21 PM EDT

[#4]

The road

Posted: 8/9/2017 9:16:24 PM EDT

[#5]

Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption.

Posted: 8/9/2017 9:17:46 PM EDT

[#6]

the english patient

leaving las vegas

Posted: 8/9/2017 9:17:50 PM EDT

[#7]

Interview with the Vampire

Silence of the Lambs

Posted: 8/9/2017 9:17:58 PM EDT

[#8]

Lord Of The Rings Trilogy.

OTOH, The Hobbit trilogy was better than the book -- neither of which was all that great.

Posted: 8/9/2017 9:18:29 PM EDT

[#9]

The Hobbit

Posted: 8/9/2017 9:18:44 PM EDT

[#10]

Once an Eagle

Posted: 8/9/2017 9:19:06 PM EDT

[#11]

Quote History

Quoted:

OTOH, The Hobbit trilogy was better than the book .

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uh, fucking NO!

Posted: 8/9/2017 9:19:18 PM EDT

[#12]

The Godfather.
Jaws.
Black Hawk Down.

Posted: 8/9/2017 9:19:19 PM EDT

[#13]

No Country For Old Men

Posted: 8/9/2017 9:19:37 PM EDT

[#14]

lol Starship Troopers

Posted: 8/9/2017 9:20:37 PM EDT

[#15]

Good examples so far. Plus some new ones I need to check out.

Posted: 8/9/2017 9:21:36 PM EDT

[#16]

Quote History

Quoted:
lol Starship Troopers

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The movie was good, but entirely different from the book. Definitely a 'get both' situation.

Posted: 8/9/2017 9:22:52 PM EDT

[#17]

Kick-Ass - better than the graphic novel

Posted: 8/9/2017 9:23:23 PM EDT

[#18]

The Man Who Would Be King is an excellent adaptation of the Kipling short story.

Posted: 8/9/2017 9:23:27 PM EDT

[#19]

LA Confidential

Posted: 8/9/2017 9:23:35 PM EDT

[#20]

Quote History

Quoted:
The Godfather.

Jaws.

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Except the Godfather movie completely ignored Sonny's bit on the side.

Posted: 8/9/2017 9:25:41 PM EDT

[#21]

Quote History

Quoted:
lol Starship Troopers

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Yes that is one hell of a lol

Posted: 8/9/2017 9:26:19 PM EDT

[#22]

I generally don't read fiction, but, I had a friend that read fiction books and I had just seen the John Carpenter re-make (The Thing) of the movie "The Thing from another World" in the 80's and asked him about the book it was based on called "Halt! Who goes there?" The description he gave me of the book indicated that John Carpenter's remake of the movie "The Thing" was a lot more accurate and faithful to the book than the original movie "The Thing from Another World" with James Arness and Kenneth Tobey. I'm guessing they didn't have the budget for the special effects back in the 50's, so they went low tech and changed up the book to make it cheaper to film.

Posted: 8/9/2017 9:26:29 PM EDT

[#23]

The Hunt for Red October

Posted: 8/9/2017 9:26:50 PM EDT

[#24]

Quote History

Quoted:
LA Confidential

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did not know it was a book, probably why it is one of my favorite films because it just flows really well and captivates the audience.

Posted: 8/9/2017 9:27:16 PM EDT

[#25]

No Country for Old Men.

And as much as I hate to give Clooney credit for anything - Solaris.

Posted: 8/9/2017 9:27:43 PM EDT

[#26]

Quote History

Quoted:
LA Confidential

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I like the writing style of the author but the movie was a lot better than the book. That one book, very few likeable characters. Movie they were all seriously flawed but nothing like the pieces of shit in the book.

Posted: 8/9/2017 9:27:48 PM EDT

[#27]

Jurassic Park

Posted: 8/9/2017 9:27:53 PM EDT

[#28]

Outlaw Josey Wales is better than the book

Posted: 8/9/2017 9:28:08 PM EDT

[#29]

The 13th Warrior (Eaters of the Dead)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_13th_Warrior

Posted: 8/9/2017 9:28:49 PM EDT

[#30]

Quote History

Quoted:
Lord Of The Rings Trilogy.

OTOH, The Hobbit trilogy was better than the book -- neither of which was all that great.

View Quote

The hobbit was the worst thing to happen to a story since the phantom menace.

Posted: 8/9/2017 9:30:20 PM EDT

[#31]

Quote History

Quoted:
Except the Godfather movie completely ignored Sonny's bit on the side.

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Quoted:

Quoted:
The Godfather.

Jaws.

Except the Godfather movie completely ignored Sonny's bit on the side.

What part of Sonny's giant dong and Lucy Manzini's loose gaping vag didnt you enjoy?

Likewise for Jaws, did the book's description of the mafia angle and Ellen Brody/Matt Hopper highly charged sexual affair not entertain you?

Posted: 8/9/2017 9:30:44 PM EDT

[#32]

Quote History

Quoted:
The 13th Warrior (Eaters of the Dead)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_13th_Warrior

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Wrong. Try reading the book.

Posted: 8/9/2017 9:30:56 PM EDT

[#33]

Silver Bullet was pretty good, werewolf makeup could have been a bit better.

Posted: 8/9/2017 9:31:54 PM EDT

[#34]

Quote History

Quoted:
Once an Eagle

https://pisces.bbystatic.com/image2/BestBuy_US/images/products/2428/24283158_sa.jpg;maxHeight=550;maxWidth=642

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Damn good book. Holy shit that was a saga and a half but i can't even describe how hard that book hits home for people who chased war and glory...

Posted: 8/9/2017 9:32:32 PM EDT

[#35]

"The Outlaw Josey Wales" was an excellent adaptation of "The Rebel Outlaw: Josey Wales" ("Gone To Texas") by Forrest Carter.

Such a shame Eastwood didn't make "The Vengeance Trail Of Josey Wales."

Posted: 8/9/2017 9:34:10 PM EDT

[#36]

The Green Mile

Posted: 8/9/2017 9:35:10 PM EDT

[#37]

Quote History

Quoted:
Outlaw Josey Wales is better than the book

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Concur. But the movie followed the book more closely than most movies follow books.

Posted: 8/9/2017 9:38:02 PM EDT

[#38]

Quote History

Quoted:
The Cain Mutiny

I read the book first. Bogart and Jose Ferrar were epic.

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Boy, you nailed that one. One of my favorite movies.

Fred MacMurray is great in it too.

Posted: 8/9/2017 9:39:10 PM EDT

[#39]

Band of Brothers
Blackhawk Down

Posted: 8/9/2017 9:39:32 PM EDT

[#40]

Quote History

Quoted:

The hobbit was the worst thing to happen to a story since the phantom menace.

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"The Hobbit" for illiterates.

Posted: 8/9/2017 9:40:37 PM EDT

[#41]

Fight Club. In a few ways it improved on the book. DVD commentary track with the author and screenwriter is awesome.

Winter's Bone. Fucking outstanding.

Posted: 8/9/2017 9:40:48 PM EDT

[#42]

Quote History

Quoted:
Jurassic Park

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Nailed it.

Posted: 8/9/2017 9:40:54 PM EDT

[#43]

Quote History

Quoted:
lol Starship Troopers

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Quoted:
lol Starship Troopers

I was going to say that one, but only as a joke.

It's really hard turning philosophy books into action movies.

I will say that Ender's Game wasn't perfect, but they made a good effort, and didn't completely ignore the fact that it was after all, a philosophy book.

What Dreams May Come was a very interesting version. The whole "landscape made out of paint" theme wasn't in the book. Plus, in the book he wasn't actually saving his wife from hell exactly - I mean she was there, but she would only remain there until the end of her natural lifespan. He was just trying to pull her out early. He finally saved her (made her recognize him) by choosing to stay with her in her own hell, instead of going back to heaven. Then they decided to be reborn (again - they'd had lives together before).

Quoted:
Fight Club

In a few ways it improved on the book. DVD commentary track with the author and screenwriter is awesome.

Good point. I've watched the commentary too, and remember a couple of changes they talked about.

The fat for the soap was from liposuction trash, but it was from Marla's mother. Also the line, "I haven't been fucked like that since grade school," was originally, "I want to have your abortion."

Posted: 8/9/2017 9:43:50 PM EDT

[#44]

Quote History

Quoted:

What part of Sonny's giant dong and Lucy Manzini's loose gaping vag didnt you enjoy?

Likewise for Jaws, did the book's description of the mafia angle and Ellen Brody/Matt Hopper highly charged sexual affair not entertain you?

View Quote

I thought the whole thing about the ob/gy doctor fixing her problem in the book was interesting and should have been included.........In the book of Jaws Hooper gets eaten, in the movie not so much. Hell I'd have cheered if Dreyfus got eaten, he was beyond obnoxious.

Posted: 8/9/2017 9:45:43 PM EDT

[#45]

Quote History

Quoted:
Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption.

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I'll agree with this.

Posted: 8/9/2017 9:49:02 PM EDT

[#46]

Well shoot, I had a bunch typed up but read the thread before posting and they've all been said.

It's not out yet but Ready Player One could be close.

Posted: 8/9/2017 9:51:27 PM EDT

[#47]

Quote History

Quoted:
The hobbit was the worst thing to happen to a story since the phantom menace.

View Quote View All Quotes

View All Quotes

Quote History

Quoted:

Quoted:
Lord Of The Rings Trilogy.

OTOH, The Hobbit trilogy was better than the book -- neither of which was all that great.

The hobbit was the worst thing to happen to a story since the phantom menace.

Throw the Kingdom of the Crystal Skulls on that list while you're at it. Fucking awful, but I at least enjoyed The Hobbit trilogy.

Basically, that's what happens when they market and make something for kids that wasn't a kids' story to begin with.

Posted: 8/9/2017 9:52:02 PM EDT

[#48]

Dune

The 80s version of the movie was hard to follow because the book is complicated. The movie is panned at times but does follow the book in dialogue and feel.