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Name a film that's better than the book

221 replies

pamplemoussemousse · 08/08/2023 20:01

Off the back of a discussion with DH where we can't think of any, is there a film adaptation (or tv adaptation) that's better than the original book?

I can think of some that are on par (Wolf of Wall Street, One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest, for example) but none where the screenplay was better!

I'm happy to read/watch any suggestions!

OP posts:
Bobbybobbins · 08/08/2023 20:36

Totally agree with Game of Thrones, Shawshank Redemption.

Lightningspeed · 08/08/2023 20:36

The mist

jays · 08/08/2023 20:37

I loved Far FromThe Madding Crowd .

YoDood · 08/08/2023 20:37

The Martian

Kabbalah · 08/08/2023 20:39

Fever Pitch, Wings of a Dove, Atonement

StillNoFuckingEyeDeer · 08/08/2023 20:39

nocoolnamesleft · 08/08/2023 20:18

The Princess Bride.

Agree - the film of The Princess Bride is definitely better than the book

Whinge · 08/08/2023 20:41

nocoolnamesleft · 08/08/2023 20:18

The Princess Bride.

100% I absolutely love the film, but I couldn't get on with the book at all.

HermioneWeasley · 08/08/2023 20:41

Bridges of Madison County

Chattycatty · 08/08/2023 20:42

The green Mile
Shawshank

hanahsaunt · 08/08/2023 20:43

The recent film interpretation of David Copperfield.

CharliesAngles · 08/08/2023 20:45

Gone With The Wind

HeyHoTheChinHairsGrow · 08/08/2023 20:47

Trainspotting.

The book is dire.

Waterweir · 08/08/2023 20:47

The English Patient. The film is better than the book although the book is good.
I love the book, Room with a View but the Helena Bonham Carter film is just wonderful.

KohlaParasaurus · 08/08/2023 20:48

Every film ever made of a Roald Dahl story has been better than the book.
Not a film, but Inspector Morse was much better on screen than in print.
With all those shouts for Atonement, I'm going to have to watch the film now because I loved the book.

Piggywaspushed · 08/08/2023 20:48

The English Patient. Wonderful film, laborious book.

BarelyLiterate · 08/08/2023 20:48

Harry Potter, from Phoenix onward. The books became far too long with too much extraneous detail and irrelevant politics. Narrative got lost and the plots became slack & unfocused. They needed substantial editing, but by that point JKR presumably had a veto on this. The films cut out much of the verbiage, got on with the story and were much better for it.

Piggywaspushed · 08/08/2023 20:48

Ha just seen Waterweir just said it!

GoodChat · 08/08/2023 20:49

BarelyLiterate · 08/08/2023 20:48

Harry Potter, from Phoenix onward. The books became far too long with too much extraneous detail and irrelevant politics. Narrative got lost and the plots became slack & unfocused. They needed substantial editing, but by that point JKR presumably had a veto on this. The films cut out much of the verbiage, got on with the story and were much better for it.

Harumph. Living up your username I see!

Sorry, sorry, sorry, I'm joking. Order of The Phoenix is my favourite book Grin

Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g · 08/08/2023 20:50

Tezza1 · 08/08/2023 20:03

The Godfather

Beat me to it!

Clawdy · 08/08/2023 20:52

Whistle Down The Wind. Great film, very disappointing book.

BlackAmericanoNoSugar · 08/08/2023 20:53

I think High Fidelity (the movie, I haven't seen the series) is better than the book. Possibly About a Boy is a better movie too. It might just be that I don't like Nick Hornby's writing style.

Soubriquet · 08/08/2023 20:54

It. There’s no underage orgie in the film

Theswiftsareback · 08/08/2023 20:54

Mary Poppins

Merrow · 08/08/2023 20:56

StillNoFuckingEyeDeer · 08/08/2023 20:39

Agree - the film of The Princess Bride is definitely better than the book

Show quote history

Also agree!

And I prefer the Stardust film to the book (even with the Ricky Gervais cameo)

Tiredanddistracted · 08/08/2023 20:58

Agree completely with Game of Thrones and Trainspotting, which is film perfection as far as I'm concerned.

Totally disagree with the Stephen King adaptations as I'm a bit obsessed with ol' Steve and find his books have so much more depth to characters that films find it hard to convey. The Shining is monumentally better as a book.

Atonement- both film and book are equally excellent. Couldn't choose.

I've also been prompted to buy Jurassic Park the book based on this- haven't read it since I was about 14!