Book vs Movie

[Bamboo Grove]

Having read the book sometimes in late -90's, I saw the movie last night. Usually, if you've read a book then the movie based on that will not live up to your expectations, will it? This was an exception for me though. The book and the movie was Rob Roy and I truly have enjoyed both the book and the movie. Enjoyed the language used in both of them as well.

[caller]

I now treat them as different things with different expectations. Jaws, the book, was literally a jaw dropper and the subsequent film was great, but the book was better, or so I believed. The film is rightly a classic of its kind in its own right, but different to the book.

Sideways, the book, was funny and at times, laugh out loud - not a classic, but a good read. The film has far more pathos and much less humour. But it has become one of my all time great 'comfort' films, that I can watch time and again (and do).

JW mentioned the Larsson trilogy in another thread. I am normally cynical about such hyped bestsellers and only bought the 1st 2 on a two for the price of one in Tesco's. Wow! Could not put them down. Brilliant reads - tonight or tomorrow I will watch the Tattoo DVD. I expect it to be different, just hope its as good, or as near as, as the book!

[migrant]

I like to read and often will see a movie if I like the book. Usually I'm fine with the movie even if it strayed, because the plot is somewhat similar.

I'll say in a contest I've liked the book more than the movie versions over the ones I've seen

[sandman67]

the two that come to mind for me are Name Of The Rose (Umberto Eco) and Fatherland (Robert Harris)

I thought both were done really well for different reasons.

Name of the Rose, even though it did change the ending and some of the details, turned a really stodgy hard going read (but well worth it if you can understand basic latin and know some early church history) into a ripping good period drama.

Fatherland was just well done because it was a convincing alternative history view of what may have been had the Third Reich not fallen, and Rutger Hauer is a great actor when he tries.

I Claudius and The Borgias were pretty good translations from books to TV series.

Other than that La Reine Margot is a pretty good rework of a Dumas book about the St Bartholemews Day Massacre, (Queen Margot in english version), beautiful eye candy, and a great watch. Isabel Adjani is just stunning ... hubba hubba.

An honourable nod also goes to the mid 70s Michael Caine films The Last Valley and Kidnapped both of which do the novels they are based on justice.

[JoeSchmoe]

I know this is true of most answers, but the books are 90% always much better than the movies. I love movies they are much more "entertaining" and more of a social, shared activity, but reading a book before a movie always leaves me feeling disappointed.

[richard]

LOTR were both good

Bookwise you get more detail and form your own mind re. characters
Filmwise it stays more or less to the theme but the graphics sell it

I await the hobbit

[hhfarang]

Code: Select all

LOTR were both good

Bookwise you get more detail and form your own mind re. characters
Filmwise it stays more or less to the theme but the graphics sell it

I await the hobbit

I think, books are always better than movie versions because the book can give much more time to describing characters in detail and you have a better understanding of the underlying plots, or sub themes of the story.

As for Lord of the Rings, when I heard they were coming out with movie versions I reread the books (4) so I could enjoy them again before seeing the story on the big screen. The books were better although the movies exceeded my expectations except in the absence of "The Hobbit" as Richard mentioned. For people who had not read the books, "The Hobbit" is necessary in understanding the full story as it sets the background for understanding what the rings are all about and also in understanding the character of Gollum. I think the movie folks made a big mistake by not making it and releasing it first.

[migrant]

Books can cover so much more than a movie so I tend to like the books best. But movies are a great quick fix!